Chapter 100 (1/2)
Chapter 100. The Threads of Bonds Coming Together (2)
“Hm? What is it?”
“Also, I have a couple of favors I'd like to ask you.”
Prihi stared at Seol Jihu, who suddenly turned serious. What was the youth trying to say?
“I'll listen to the favors first.”
“Can you prepare a new habitable land in Haramark using this gold bar?”
“…Land?”
Prihi's tone went up, and his usually-calm eyes narrowed slightly. It was as if he heard something completely unexpected.
Seol Jihu continued without a pause.
“In addition, please lend me Master Ian.”
“Ian Denzel?”
Prihi's eyes clearly narrowed to a slit, his expression forming a frown. Ian Denzel was a Magician affiliated with the royal family and one of the few Earthlings Prihi trusted. There was no need to even mention the value of a Magician. He might understand if the youth gave a good reason, but he didn't feel good being told to 'lend him' out of the blue.
“Father.”
When Teresa tried to step in, Prihi raised his hand to stop her.
“Is this related to what you wanted to tell me?”
“Yes.”
Prihi gave the young man a deeply profound look. Seeing this gaze that seemed to be asking for an explanation, Seol Jihu opened his mouth. He told him about the village head of Ramman Village and the ghost saintess trapped in the Forest of Denial's tomb. As the story continued, the king's indifferent expression changed to one of interest.
“…I see.”
Prihi leaned forward, locked his fingers, and rested his chin on them.
“You want us to accept the villagers into the city.”
“I heard that the castle has limited capacity, but I'd like to ask you if it is at all possible.”
“Hm, to be frank, it is quite difficult. The castle is already at max capacity. A couple dozen might be acceptable, but accepting hundreds of villagers is a bit….”
Prihi sounded reluctant. Helping a large group migrate wasn't an easy task. If he simply allowed them into the city and forgot about them, they would only become homeless and displaced. If that were to happen, it was better to not accept them in the first place. Thus, granting Seol Jihu's request meant he would have to prepare them shelter as well as means of living.
“Your Majesty, you said that the royal family is fair in rewards and punishments. One is a retired old man living in seclusion and the other is a soul, but I believe they have the right to be rewarded more than anyone else who partic.i.p.ated in this mission.”
Seeing the king in thought, Seol Jihu pleaded earnestly.
“…It is true that Ramman Village is in an awkward location. I won't deny that I thought it couldn't be helped.”
Prihi let out a deep sigh and nodded his head.
“This isn't a matter I can decide on easily. But with this gold bar, I can examine it favorably.”
“Then!”
Just as the youth rejoiced….
“But, why?”
Prihi's eyes suddenly flashed.
“I want you to hear me out without misunderstanding me. Are you not an Earthling?”
“Your Majesty.”
“I am not trying to discuss philosophy, nor am I trying to discuss right and wrong. It is just that… you are an Earthling.”
Prihi emphasized the last line.
“Setting aside the matter of the Forest of Denial, is there a need to do so much for Ramman Village?”
“I don't doubt that you understood me, but I will be frank. The villagers will be ecstatic and grateful if you simply send them a supply of food. You will also have repaid your debt to the village head.”
It wasn't that Seol Jihu hadn't thought of this. A part of him wanted to put on airs and take the gold bar for himself.
“If it is weighing on your conscience, I shall tell you this. The current Haramark cannot afford to look after its people. I can easily decline your request of kindness given the circ.u.mstances we face.”
He was right. Pleading with the king only to be turned down because it was difficult. What better excuse was there?
“In other words, no one will criticize you for taking this gold.”
He was right again. Who would criticize him? All he had to do was keep his mouth shut. Moreover, he would become rich as long as he took this gold.
“You want to use this gold for a cause which will not benefit you. I can't help but be curious about your ulterior motive.”
Right, it wasn't that he was selfless. However, to him, there was something even more important than the gold in front of him. If he didn't look at the gold bar with his Nine Eyes, he wouldn't have noticed it until the end. But he had seen it and come to a conclusion.
“There is nothing I'd call an ulterior motive.”
He could now say this without hesitation.
“I am only acting according to my rule.”
“Rule?”
“If you owe a debt, it is only natural to pay it back. An opportunity to do so has landed right in front of me. What reason do I have to not take it?”
Prihi looked dumbfounded.
“I do not understand you at all. You don't seem to be the type who likes to play with words.”
Seol Jihu almost answered, 'I do, actually', but he managed to stop himself from ruining the tension. He got to the main point.
“I call it the Golden Commandment.”
“Golden Commandment?”
“The ghost saintess and the village head. Both of them treated me well. I cannot shamelessly pretend the achievements were mine alone, and it is improper for me to compromise with myself when I am treating others. After all, doing so would be deceiving my benefactors. I would rather not treat them unless I do it to my fullest power.”
“Your Majesty, if I cannot pay my debts to those two, I cannot expect them to treat me the same again. That is what I fear the most.”
When the youth looked up at the king after a long monologue, he saw the king blinking his eyes repeatedly. He looked as if he had taken a blow to his face.
“You cannot expect them to treat you the same again….”
A few minutes went by before the king decided to open his mouth again.
“Indeed.”
He leaned back on his chair and said as he ma.s.saged his nose.
“I am beginning to understand you better. Humans all have a limit to their vessel. The same goes for ghosts.”
'A limit to their vessel….'
For some reason, that line touched him. He felt like it was the perfect summary of the Golden Commandment.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“I didn't give a clear answer yet, so I want to ask you one final question.”
Prihi asked in a soft voice.
“Is this truly what you want?”
“Yes!”
Seol Jihu answered with hesitation. Rather than being uncomfortable, spending the gold this way made him feel a thousand times better. Seeing the bright smile on the youth's face, Prihi made his decision.
“…I see.”
So this is why you wanted me to meet him so much. He murmured to himself quietly so that Seol Jihu couldn't hear him.
“Then fine.”
Finally, the decision was announced.
“I, Prihi Hussey, hereby permit all villagers of Ramman Village to settle in the city. The gold bar rewarded to Seol Jihu shall be used to support them both materially and spiritually.”
A royal decree. Although his position no longer possessed the glory it once held, the weight it carried made it such that his decisions could not be flipped lightly.
“Furthermore, we shall partially support the appeasing of the pitiful soul trapped inside the Forest of Denial's tomb.”
Partially support? What did that mean?
“He means he will raise the level and quality of the Ceremony.”
Teresa whispered in his ear.
“Her status does not disappear just because she became a soul. Although it was hundreds of years ago, didn't you say she was canonized by the Empire? I mean to show her the appropriate level of respect.”
Seol Jihu's jaw dropped at Prihi's statement. He had been expecting a simple rite where she was offered food and someone to talk to.
When he imagined how much the saintess would rejoice, a smile bloomed on his face. And seeing this satisfied smile, Prihi rested his chin on his hands.
“And?”
“Pardon?”
“We can finish discussing official work here. Why don't we continue what we were talking about before? Something small, if possible.”
Seol Jihu wasn't an idiot. He realized what the king was implying right away. Although he put a restriction of it having to be small, he was saying he wouldn't allow the young man to return empty-handed.
“Uh… well….”