Chapter 669: Bridle (3)

Christmas Eve at the Hwangmyeong mansion.

The Tiger Clan and Rabbit Clan, who maintained a friendly relationship centered on Eunho, gathered together.

The Rabbit Clan got a reunion with their long-cherished Eunho, but no one was smiling.

“Saying ‘Merry Christmas’ after going away like that.”

Everyone was silent after the young-looking Hwangho read the last greeting left by Jo Euishin.

Eunho was the one who spoke first, to Ok Toyeon who had a hologram of Jo Euishin’s message.

“Euishin hyung fell to the underworld, the world of death. But he said he was looking at the boundary between life and death, and heading to the bridle of reincarnation.”

“Yeah, why did the benefactor go there when he’s alive?”

Ok Toyeon tried to deduce why Jo Euishin headed to the underworld as she reread his messages.

However, even the Tiger Clan couldn’t tell why Jo Euishin made such a choice.

There was no way Ok Toyeon would find out.

In a soft voice, Eunho spoke to Ok Toyeon.

“Judging from the contents of his messages, it doesn’t seem like Euishin hyung’s purpose is in the underworld. It’s in ‘the boundary between life and death,’ the bridle to reincarnation.”

Eunho highlighted the words that floated on the hologram.

Pointing to the letters in the air, Eunho spoke to Ok Toyeon.

“I don’t know much about where Euishin hyung is trying to go. But more than anyone else, you know more about death, Toyeon-nim. Please tell us what you know.”

“You don’t have to ask. I’ll tell you anything!”

Ok Toyeon was once asked by Hwangho a similar question.

She answered insincerely back then.

She spoke only after provoking Hwangho, but she deliberately omitted some parts.

Hwangho may be offended by the blatantly different attitude, but as if he was distracted by something else, Hwangho didn’t respond.

“You know that the afterlife exists in many forms, right?”

“Yes. Depending on the myth, culture, and faith, the appearance of the underworld is different.”

The Field of Seocheon.

The place that Yeomla rules.

The netherworld (hwangcheon) where five river flows.

A crossroads divided into heaven and hell depending on whether one believes or not.

An apocalypse.

A paradise.

The world of death is depicted in such a variety.

“When one dies, they usually head to the world of death that fits the culture most affected by their life. Ah, the natural soul is so strong that it can ignore many laws!”

“You’re talking in the past tense. Is it not the case now?”

“Yep, a lot has changed since the worldly collisions.”

Ok Toyeon briefly turned to Eunho and stared at the distance, recalling the death she experienced before and after the worldly collisions.

Even after living thousands of years, Ok Toyeon was immature, but at that moment, she looked fit to be the Moon Rabbit.

“After the worldly collisions, people of royal lineage and superior beings changed from being ‘what may’ to ‘what definitely exists.’ It’s affected the world of death a lot.”

“How does our existence affect the world of death?”

Jeokho, who was listening to Ok Toyeon and became serious, asked a question.

But Ok Toyeon couldn’t answer right away.

She muttered “Hmm, how can I explain this?” from under her breath when Eunho spoke instead.

“I can guess it from your words, Toyeon-nim. Before the worldly collisions, the mythological systems around the world were compatible without any problems. It’s alright even if people have different world views. It’s all about explaining if the stories are wrong or mere fiction .”

After death, no one knows whether they’d head to a flower field, be guided by Charon through Acheron, or reincarnate without crossing a river.

If someone is reincarnated right after death, the story of the underworld river being crossed can’t be dismissed as fiction.

Each mythological system could coexist.

“Everything became a reality after the worldly collisions. Things that co-existed against the fictional realm were confused because they couldn’t do that anymore. Same goes for the world of death.”

“As Eunho said! That’s why the world went crazy. That’s why the ‘bridle of reincarnation’ connected all the otherworlds.”

Unlike Eunho, Ok Toyeon explained in a rambling manner.

Eunho helped her organize her thoughts after.

In summary, it was as follows;

The afterlife, which originally existed and led one to their fit culture, was confused after the worldly collisions.

There was confusion over where to send a deceased soul.

As a result, it was decided that a soul is transferred to the bridle of reincarnation, to the boundary between life and death, and then connected to the underworld.

Thus, after the worldly collisions, all souls went through the bridle of reincarnation.

That is where it is determined whether they will reincarnate, which otherworld to go to, or whether they will disappear.

“Euishin hyung said he’d go to the underworld in exchange for liberating Gugalanna. The bridle must’ve connected him to Ereshkigal’s underworld.”

“I think so? The benefactor must be thinking of going through there and heading to the bridle of reincarnation! If Ereshkigal lets him, he can do that!”

Ok Toyeon spoke brightly, but Eunho’s smile blurred.

She then chose good words to cheer Eunho up.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine if Ereshkigal takes him. She won’t harm the polite benefactor because there are a lot of things that she can play around with. As long as he doesn’t cross the door, he won’t be tied to the underworld. I’m sure the smart benefactor knows that!”

However, Eunho’s expression didn’t get brighter.

“The underworld ruled by Ereshkigal is described as a cold, dark place. I’m worried because Euishin hyung is easily cold.”

When Eunho finished speaking, the young Hwangho put down his glass and pressed his temple.

Eunho prepared him warm cocoa with marshmallows to match his taste and the Christmas atmosphere, but he didn’t take a single sip because of his dissatisfaction with their benefactor.

Likewise, Eunho’s teacup was left untouched.

He asked Ok Toyeon again.

“What kind of place is the bridle of reincarnation?”

“Hm, it’s a place where many souls come and go, so its appearance changes every time.”

Every day, this world comes and goes beyond reckoning with death and life.

It is said that the bridle of reincarnation is always expanding to cover the huge number of life and death.

Eunho’s worries deepened because the size of the bridle described by Ok Toyeon exceeded his expectations.

“I’m worried if Euishin hyung will be okay. He won’t lose his way, will he?”

“After the worldly collisions, there’s a watchman that connects to the underworld. That watchman won’t pretend not to know the benefactor. He’ll be okay.”

“Watchmen?”

“Yes! When the rulers of the underworld gathered to connect the bridle of reincarnation and their underworld, they elected a watchman. The one who has a clear, clean, and strong soul that had just reached the confines of reincarnation is asked.”

Ok Toyeon briefly explained the moment when the watchman of reincarnation is elected.

The rulers of each underworld felt that they needed someone to manage the bridle of reincarnation that would become increasingly huge.

It was difficult for superior beings who could not vacate their world to protect it, so they thought they should select their watchman.

While struggling to select a watchman, the spirit of the dead appeared on the bridle of reincarnation by chance.

The rulers of the underworld saw through the essence of the soul and had the ability to read their lives.

They were impressed by the good and clear soul.

Thus, the rulers of the underworld bowed their heads and asked him to act as a watchman.

When he accepted, power was given to the soul.

“I see. Have you ever met the watchman in person, Toyeon-nim?”

“Y-yep! We met a few times.”

Ok Toyeon stuttered.

Eunho acutely sensed the change in her attitude.

Not only Ok Toyeon, but even Ok Toyoon looked a little troubled.

‘There must be something about the watchman. Is there a chance Euishin hyung will be harmed by him?’

With a smile to hide his vigilance, Eunho asked again.

“When was the last time you saw the watchman?”

“Oh, uhm… about ten years ago?”

“What kind of person is the watchman that protects the bridle of the underworld, Toyeon-nim?”

“Oh, he’s nice and good! He was good to me too!”

Ok Toyeon seemed to have a favor to the watchman.

Her reaction didn’t seem to indicate that he was a bad being, but Eunho thought carefully.

The position of a watchman seems to be heavy, and he even shares the power of superior beings in the underworld.

The powerful are bound to change easily.

“That was the case ten years ago. Is there a chance that his soul has gone bad over time?”

“Huh? No! The watchman will continue to be nice! He’s trustworthy!”

Ok Toyeon suddenly clattered as she sided with the watchman.

Eunho patiently tried to obtain information, but Ok Toyeon only blindly repeated that the watchman was good.

Unable to keep his patience, Jeokho spoke up.

“What Ok Toyeon is saying is completely groundless. I’ve never heard of that watchman before. I’m worried about Jo Euishin.”

“Ah, I’m serious! He’s like family!”

“Family? Is the watchman related to the Rabbit Clan?”

“No, if you think about it, the watchman is more close with you guys than with — Oops!”

Ok Toyeon quickly stopped herself, but all the tigers in the room heard her.

Ok Toyeon shook her head, and the tigers’ eyes became sharp.

“He must be related to the Tiger Clan.”

“The spirit seems to have headed to the bridle of reincarnation after the worldly collisions. No tiger or descendant has died in the meantime.”

Now that it has come this far, Ok Toyeon could no longer hide the truth about the watchman.

She grumbled as she continued to speak.

“Oh, I was going to make a good impression and then reveal it!”

“Was that dismal nonsense meant to make a good impression?”

“Gosh, I dunno! I’ll just say it!”

In response to Jeokho’s provocation, Ok Toyeon revealed the watchman’s connection to the Tiger Clan.

“That watchman is Seoho, Iho, and Jaeho’s father. After becoming a watchman, I formed a connection with him and looked after the descendants!”

“…!”

Hearing that, the tigers realized a diagram in their heads.

Eunho, Eunho’s daughter, and Eunho’s grandchildren.

The one missing in the diagram was the father of the grandchildren.

They really thought he was dead.

Eunho’s daughter died when Eun Seoho came to visit the Tiger Clan, and the children thought of the Rabbit Clan as parents, so they thought their father was already dead.

The Tiger Clan didn’t ask anything about the father because they didn’t want to touch the children’s wounds.

“Oh, come to think of it, the watchman is Eunho’s son-in-law!”Ok Toyeon said the words that everyone was thinking but couldn’t bear to say.