Boy Monster Chapter 2

The abyss embracing darkness was silent. The unknown image filling the projector screen was a magnified fragment of some photograph. The vivid bloodstains against the dim background sparked curiosity.

“Welcome to accessing South Korea’s highest state secrets.”

The Special Crimes Team Leader, tasked with lecturing on the S.E.T.U Special Task Force, stepped onto the podium in front of the projector screen. This was the most captivating session of the National Intelligence Service’s new recruit training program. Especially from this lecture onward, senior team leaders from within the NIS delivered the talks directly, causing the trainees to stiffen with tension.

“Why do you think I displayed this photo? You’ve all read the materials, I presume?”

When the heavens opened, there were those who received a share of primordial divine power.

In modern times, those called superhumans were, in ancient times, referred to as ‘Hwelju.’

Throughout their long history, these guardians of the nation were venerated under the symbol of the Four Heavenly Kings.

They were inherently capable of shape-shifting and were divided into four categories—earth, water, fire, and wind—based on the type of innate power they possessed.

Since ancient times, the ‘Sashimcheon’ family existed in this land to train Hwelju to wield their divine powers skillfully and to nurture and manage Yeonri, who mentally controlled the Hwelju.

This family gathered the divinely gifted or so-called cursed individuals from across the eight provinces, training them as Hwelju and Yeonri.

The Yeonri, the counterparts to Hwelju, developed a specific mark on their hips at the age of five.

Children bearing this mysterious mark soon suffered from high fevers and became critically ill, requiring them to be registered with the Sashimcheon family and receive the family head’s sorcery to survive.

Moreover, since Yeonri often emerged within the same family, the Sashimcheon family managed entire families.

When a Hwelju and Yeonri were closely bonded, patterns symbolizing the Hwelju appeared on the Yeonri’s skin, revealing which Hwelju, their rank, and even their astrological fate. Likewise, the mark of the Yeonri was deeply etched above the Hwelju’s heart.

The Sashimcheon family was a sacred lineage with the critical mission of protecting the nation, maintaining close ties with the monarchy.

Since ancient times, the Sashimcheon family’s residence stood beside the Hwangudan Altar, where kings offered prayers to the heavens.

Immediately after the opening of ports, they disguised themselves as a Buddhist institution and secured a spot next to the Chosun Hotel.

The overview and long history of the Special Task Force stirred the imagination. However, to the trainees encountering this classified information for the first time, the existence of Hwelju and Yeonri was still merely words in historical records.

“There are numerous historical records about Hwelju and Yeonri, symbolized as the Four Heavenly Kings.”

The team leader switched on the data screen.

It will protect the kings and people of all nations that hear the teachings of this scripture, ensuring their peace. If neighboring countries attempt to invade or cross the border, the Four Heavenly Kings, along with countless spirits, will ensure the enemy soldiers retreat on their own, preventing all calamities from arising.

—『Sutra of Golden Light Supreme King (金光明最勝王經)』

It is recorded that King Munmu, after unifying the Three Kingdoms and facing invasions from Tang China, established Sacheonwangsa Temple to repel the Tang forces. Confronted with the imminent threat of the invading Tang army, the monk Myeongrang advised King Munmu to build Sacheonwangsa Temple in Shinyurim, south of Nangsan (Wolf Mountain). However, with the Tang forces already at their doorstep and insufficient time to construct a temple, Myeongrang hastily erected a temporary temple using fine colored silk and performed the Munduru Secret Ritual (文豆婁秘法). A fierce storm arose, sinking all the ships carrying the Tang army. Afterward, a proper temple was built, named Sacheonwangsa, and Buddhist ceremonies (法席) were continuously held.

—『Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms (三國遺事)』

At the heart of the grand Sacheonwang Buddhist rituals was Monk Byeokam Gakseong, the overseer of the eight provinces, who led the monk-soldier organizations during wartime. There are considered to be 17 surviving Joseon-era Four Heavenly Kings statues, most of which are located in guardian temples where monk-soldiers were active during the Imjin War and the Manchu Invasion.

“Even in modern times, S.E.T.U’s activities span various defense sectors, including special military operations requiring precise supernatural abilities, terrorism prevention, intelligence missions, national security, special crimes, violent crimes, citizen safety, and natural disaster response. ‘Hwelju’ and ‘Yeonri’ live among society disguised as ordinary citizens but serve the nation as NIS Special Task Force agents, under 24-hour oversight by the NIS.”

The materials showcasing S.E.T.U’s exploits included photos of missions like cleaning up the Taean oil spill and rescuing people from collapsed buildings, but the overwhelming majority depicted murder scenes or battlefields with significant casualties. When a blood-soaked crime scene photo appeared, the trainees’ faces grimaced.

“You can think of them as handling the dirtiest and darkest threats to our citizens. They’re deployed in nearly all high-stakes intelligence or crime operations where lives are on the line.”

The crime and battle scenes, never revealed to the public, were utterly horrific. The trainees’ eyes filled with admiration for those who dealt with such incidents. One trainee raised a question.

“It’s said there’s a Death Hwelju (사(死)훨주) who rules over the four categories of Hwelju. Are there no records of the Death Hwelju’s activities?”

“Of course there were. We just can’t show you because no footage remains. The Death Hwelju perished shortly after the outbreak of the Pacific War.”

“Perished…?”

“They died.”

In the shock that followed, the screen reverted to the initial dark photo. The team leader reduced the magnification of the image. It was unmistakably a gruesome slaughter scene, with sticky flesh and clear bloodstains.

“The Death Hwelju was a singular power above all Hwelju, unique since the dawn of time. Capable of taking and giving life, with near-invincible immortality, who do you think would have possessed such a game-breaking ability if only one person could?”

“The king…?”

“Exactly. It was held exclusively by kings throughout history. But this was a dark power that ordinary human bodies couldn’t contain. Only with the aid of sealing talismans and a Death Yeonri (사(死)연리) could a human wield it.”

The screen switched to a CG-reconstructed image of a sealing talisman, described as crafted by the revered patriot monk Samedeasa and a master shaman. Next was a photo of the Hwangudan Altar before its demolition by the Japanese.

“Crown princes, at age ten, performed rituals at the Hwangudan to verify their eligibility. They offered blood to confirm whether their body could bear the Death Hwelju’s power. On the night of a full moon, when yin energy is strongest, their blood had to remain unchanged under moonlight. Only those who passed could inherit the throne and the Death Hwelju’s power. However, even with talismans and the Death Yeonri’s aid, many kings died or lived short lives. In rare cases, losing the Yeonri’s control, some transformed into monsters and roamed the palace, causing incidents.”

At night, a beast resembling a dog emerged from behind Munsojeon Hall (文昭殿) and headed toward the ancestral shrine ahead.

The palace servant, finding it strange, chased it, but it fled over the western wall. Orders were given to hunt it down, but it was not found.

The royal chambers are not a place for wild beasts to enter. The previous night, a pine tree in the ancestral garden burned, and this night, a beastly anomaly occurred.

Frequent omens over several days must have a cause.

—『May 9, 1511, 6th Year of King Jungjong』

“In any case, only kings whose bodies endured to become masters of the Death Hwelju ascended the throne. But, unbelievably, the last person in our history to become the master of the Death Hwelju after Emperor Sunjong was… a seventeen-year-old boy.”

Finally, the full photo filled the screen. Involuntary gasps escaped the audience. Some trainees covered their eyes or mouths. The blood-drenched scene could only be described as a sea of blood. Where a massive body had burst, only a pit of blood and flesh remained. Scattered, red clumps of gore covered the vast ground. The stench of blood seemed to transcend time and space, reaching the room.

Above the horrific slaughter scene was a note written by the Japanese military.

Those who covet forbidden power shall perish by that power.

“This was the result of a rebellion to seize the Death Hwelju’s power. This boy, without talismans or a Yeonri, tried to claim a power no human body could contain and met this gruesome death—in the form of a nauseating, colossal monster.”

A montage of the monster, based on eyewitness accounts, filled the screen. Its majestic form, with golden tentacle-like tails and wings reaching the classroom ceiling, was on a different level from demons in games.

“Did his body burst because it couldn’t withstand the Death Hwelju’s power?”

“No.”

“Then, the Japanese or Chinese military…?”

“No. He was killed by the Death Yeonri.”

The unexpected cause of death sent a ripple through the room. The supreme divine power, passed down since primordial times, killed by its own Yeonri? Was that even possible?

“That’s when a saying emerged in the Sashimcheon family: ‘The Death Hwelju holds the power of immortality, but there is one way it can perish—when its heart is devoured by its Yeonri.’”

Devoured heart… An overly romantic metaphor.

“Why did the Yeonri kill the Hwelju?”

“Well… Perhaps there was no other way to control a rampaging Hwelju, or they didn’t want to engage in intimacy with a horrific monster, or both.”

Questions about the extinction of the Death Hwelju’s power poured in. “What happened to that Death Yeonri? Were they executed?” “Doesn’t the Yeonri die with the Hwelju?” The questions came one after another. The team leader answered.

“This is a unique case, but the Yeonri, for destroying the Death Hwelju’s power, was cursed with eternal reincarnation.”

Groans of frustration erupted. They had barely accepted the explanation of beings with divine powers, and now eternal reincarnation? It was hard to tell if this was the NIS or a cult recruitment seminar. The team leader, without further ado, presented the data screen.

“Jae Eunho. Currently 115 years old. Every 12 years, he dies during a lunar eclipse and is reborn during the nearest solar eclipse, carrying out major national security missions.”

In the ID photo, the bespectacled man had an unusually pale face. His black hair and pupils contrasted with his complexion, making it appear even more refined. The mystique in his forward-gazing eyes was as deep as his long history—a depth capable of quelling all complaints.