Hermit Wizard

The Invitation of White Deer (4)

After sitting down on the ground, the gatekeepers gave us a short greeting. They then jumped right back up and disappeared beyond the surface.

-Creek

As soon as we stepped into the village, Yusu returned to his original form and stretched out his back.

“Oh, I’m going to live now.”

I asked him, “Well, it would be uncomfortable to be a human being, wouldn’t it?”

Yusu replied with crackling its long nose.

“Exactly. It feels like I’m wearing something that doesn’t fit.”

I knew because there were times when I transformed with magic. If I changed into a person of a similar body type, it was okay. Still, if I changed into the Fake God with a big difference, the uncomfortable sensation heavily pressed my body. I get tired easily.

Parvache explained that the nervous system was easily exhausted. I had to move a foreign body after all. Moreover, for a Maek that had a different body from humans, the fatigue would be greater.

“The gatekeepers knew our destination and only took us to the village entrance. I think it’s still scary to get close to Elder Mago.”

“What? Why?”

“Because they used to get hit a lot.”

Ah…

Yusu looked around for a while, checked the location, and asked me.

“Do you have any dreams of flying in the sky?”

Yusu asked, who knew that I could now realize the dreams. I shook my head.

“It’s very useful, so if I collect it, I’ll use it right away.”

It was especially comfortable when going to and from Hun-neung.

“I don’t have anything good to collect right now either. These days, everyone sleeps outside… so I can’t help it. Let’s walk a little.

Yusu and I headed north. In the distance, I could see the magnificent mountains surrounding the village like a folding screen. Our destination was there.

“It’s still impressive, this scenery,” I said as I stepped inside the village.

“That’s what your city looks like to us.”

There was an alley full of old-fashioned buildings. The eye-catching walls were lined with murals and sculptures of energy flows from a single tiled sculpture. In the area corresponding to the intersection, towers similar to those in national history books were often seen.

Even though we continued to walk through the village, no residents were visible.

“It’s very quiet.”

“It’s still daytime, so most of them will be meditating or practicing.”

“There are many people who have transformed into humans these days and go outside, right? There must be a reason why there are a lot of people out. I can’t tell if they go too far, but I can see them moving around the Channel.”

“Yes. Many of these days, those capable of turning into human beings are busy wandering around this country. Of course, not everyone went out to play. It’s also a survey.”

“You mean the Guardians of the Great Convention?”

“Exactly. Even if you are an excellent master, wouldn’t you be able to monitor the whole country?”

That was the part that had already been talked about.

“But I can’t deny the fact that you and I both supported and dash out for the reconnaissance.”

“… Still, it would be amazing.”

“Most of the residents have no experience in human society except for those who were called elders, who were born as the first or second generation to cross the wall before the Dragon appeared. It’s something you need to understand.”

It was said they had to stay only on the island after fighting the Dragon. I nodded.

“Some of these people, like Mrs. Pearl, are unique. She was born and living as an ordinary mortal in the age of Dragon. She crossed the wall by herself on land. In particular, Mrs. Pearl has lived in human society for a while after crossing the wall.”

“Ah… so she said she had a relationship with humans.”

“She did. Anyway, except for the elders and people like Mrs. Pearl, many residents spent most of their lives in White Deer.”

“Including you?”

“Yes, including me.”

I thought Yusu had lived a very long time since it had Daejong-maek and priest’s title, but I guessed he wasn’t that old yet.

“Therefore, I am coming and going to the human world from time to time, whether the journey is long or short. Except for those who play an essential role in the village, such as the elders or the gatekeepers, which are not good at transforming, or those who are reluctant to go out for

When I heard that, I was curious at the moment. I quietly turned to Parvache.

‘If they go around like that, would it be impossible to call this village’s economic activity? Oh, are they races beyond that anyway?

[It doesn’t seem that the Maek here alone needs a lot of food constantly like ordinary mammals.]

I agreed with Parvache. Garam said something similar.

[Excluding essential things, food, and village affair…]

‘Either way, magic will solve it to some extent.’

[Yes. After production, maintenance will be almost perfect, so there will be no need to rebuild constantly, and the consumption of resources will be slow.]

If they didn’t care about fashion, they could make a suit and wear thousands of years and even houses. All of the artifact-level items I received were in excellent storage conditions.

[Even so, if there are insufficient resources, it will be enough to find them all at once… and I can’t call that it’s an essential economic activity that we need to focus on the village for a long time. If they have confidence in the town’s defense, there’s no need for more people to stay.]

I asked Yusu, “Then don’t you want to go outside more often and freely?”

“I still have work to do, after all.”

Yusu seemed to be a part of the ones who played an essential role in the village among the class it exemplified.

“As a priest… do you take care of many things?”

“Because the priest of White Deer is the only one who can hear the word of God.”

Actually, Parvache and I were guessing that the reason it refrained from going out was besides ceremonies. I glanced down at the dirt I was stepping on.

We were now walking on a large field out of a densely populated area. I could see cows grazing in the distance. Those were ordinary livestock that slept over the wall and had nothing to do.

Even that wide nature was part of the realm of White Deer.

“I felt it the last time… but the air here is really nice.”

I took a deep breath and exhaled. The sun was warm, and the air was cool. The temperature was just right for living things. The air was so clean that it felt nice and couldn’t be compared with downtown Seoul.

“When we go outside, we feel such terrible burns and smells.”

“That’s understandable.”

I thought it was the first time since I was born to walk on such land on Earth and not in another dimension.

But…

‘It’s also awkward.’

This vast but plain-looking land was sunk at the bottom of the Han River. If the town was narrower than this, and if it was a dusty, smelly land left under magical lights, it wouldn’t have been this strange.

It was understandable that this village was concealed and quarantined by barriers. The barriers surrounding that space were magical. It was said to be created with the power of the elders in the village.

The unexplainable part was the ‘existence’ of this village beyond that barrier.

The land that extended beyond the horizon. That vast land, which could be seen to be 4-5km in radius, is within the Han River’s width?

Even before, it was located in Baengnok-dam. Inside that crater, whether it was about 500 to 600 meters in diameter.

Yes, I could see it as the power of magic that controlled space.

What was even more strange, however, was the strange pleasantness the village showed.

-Wheeng

Once again, a refreshing breeze blew. I looked at the sky, sweeping the sweat on my forehead.

The sun didn’t rise, but I could feel the sunlight. The wind was blowing, the soil smelled good, and the river of unknown origin flowed and gathered into the lake.

No magic could maintain an environment isolated from the outside in such a good condition. As I had confirmed, that space wasn’t an illusion, it exists, and it wasn’t connected somewhere outside the river through space distortion. That was an isolated space located on the bottom of the Han River.

All that being said was one thing after all.

That village must’ve borrowed the power of God.

I thought it had to be the power of the God Yusu served. Perhaps the role of the priest of White Deer wasn’t limited to simply exchanging questions and answers with God, but the maintenance of this village was in contact with the priest’s ability.

Yusu was a priest who served the God whose real name was ‘the Land of Blood and Oil.’ He was also the only active priest among the village’s priests.

“Today, you will not meet all the elderly people in the village as you did before.”

“Is that so?”

“Today, only Elder Mago will meet you, Master Yoon.”

“Aaaah.”

Mago. It was a name that remained in my memory. No, I couldn’t forget it even if I wanted to.

After a while, we stopped at the foot of the mountain.

“Are you sleeping?”

The Maek, who was humming, cleared its throat.

“Elder Mago!”

The cry rang out.

“Cough! Elder Mago! We are here!”

Yusu shouted towards the top of the mountain. Then it responded to the call…

-Flash!

The mountain opened its eyes.

-Khhhrrrrrr!

It wasn’t a figurative expression. The mountain was located at the end of the plain behind the village. At some point on the mountain’s foot, which was falling apart in a smooth curve, the ground cracked and narrowed, and two eyes appeared looking at us.

The enormous eyes contained pure and clear light.

-Flap! Flap! Flap!

-Chirp! Chirp!

-Clomp…

Mountain birds flew from all over the ridges made by trees. Wild animals roared and threw through the forest.

The long-stretched foot of the mountain wriggled little by little.

-Khhhhrrrrr!

Now the shape was clearly recognized. A part of the mountain in front of us was lying on its side and looked like an old woman with her chin in one hand. An old woman, whose body itself had become part of the mountain, looked down at us.

The irregular wave of the tree that seemed to be planted was a wrinkled forehead. It was only after the contours of the rocks and dirt moved that I knew it was her lips.

She opened her eyes and mouth while lying down and made facial expressions. She made the movements that were noticeable only on her face.

The old woman with the face of the mountain finally told me with a blazing voice.

“Child. Have you thought about it? What do you think? Are you ready to serve the God we serve?

“…”

It was a question that came in without even saying hello.

“… Good to see you, but I have no intention of becoming the priest of any God.”

“Why?”

I repeated the previous answer.

gods and have taken spells. If I become a priest of a god, my relationship with all other gods is cut off. All of the spells will disappear.”

Mago slightly frowned. At the same time, dirt rose above in the distance.

“How long are you going to stick to those imperfect relationships? The way you borrow God’s power now is a temporary means in exchange for a sacrifice. Would it be much more efficient to borrow lasting power through the divine heart and actions of faith and obedience, prayer and praise?”

Then Mago continued. A huge echo was stirring around us.

“Just because you’re a priest doesn’t mean you can’t use magic. So, do I, and Yusu here. You can freely use any method except the one that borrows strength from other gods.”

“I’m aware, of course.”

“It’s a waste, so I keep asking. You said you now know the meaning of ‘to cross the wall’? I really can’t guess why you haven’t crossed the wall yet with that kind of soul. What if you become a priest now and induce rapid growth of your soul? You may qualify to be a resident of our village.”

Magic was the most effective way to elevate your soul, but it wasn’t the only way. Being a priest could also help increase the level of the soul.

If magic grew the soul in stages according to the speed of acquisition, in a priest’s case, the level rose rapidly at the moment when the divine seal was imprinted on the soul. Of course, it was a problem because it had side effects.

“I think it would be better to learn magic slowly. It is unclear whether I can cross the wall right away by becoming a priest. Thanks for the offer, though.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I wondered if there would be ‘first generation’ of human origins, except for me in our village.”

Elder Mago crossed the wall before the Dragon appeared in the world and was now the only human-born resident in the village. She sighed with a regretful voice.