3 Tipolo Town

So Eun went directly to the Yang Clan's Majesty Palace. Upon his arrival, he encountered the disciples who already understood about his visit, and they led him to the prime gate of the Palace.

Proper greetings were delivered as he bypassed the noble figures of the Emperor, while So Eun didn't acknowledge the peculiar and bewildered stares at him as he stepped towards the lady in golden ornate robes.

"Pure Deity, this lowly one informs you that His Majesty Yang Shen rushed to Haiki Region. Reminding us that it's a crucial time and needed to be handled personally. My Apologies, for the absence of ceremony for welcoming a Deity."

The lady commanded the Palace guards to maintain the prime gate accessible for the Lords while continuously recited the words.

"Oh, then it is fine. My apologies too for not being able to wait for His Majesty, but I am not staying here for too long. But please to meet you, I am So Eun from the Tipolo Palace. Please receive my acknowledgment and pass these words to His Majesty."

He showed the warmest smile to the Lady at the prime gate and bowed for respect, the Lady did the same too.

"Still we are in deepest sympathy for your Pure Guardian, please take care of your journey, So Eun from Tipolo Palace. His Majesty will be back soon. And I'll send you a statement if he arrives."

The lady smiled warmly before she escorted him back to the entrance of the prime gate.

~~~

So Eun strolled down the Majestic Palace into the noisy streets of Yang-ir. Thoughts wandering endlessly of what has to be done on the first day of descending onto the world.

It was no huge matter to be reborn, certainly, he just believed that; all that time wandering in the underworld was also akin to hiding in seclusion, and as if the human realm has only been lacking in one power to place things in order; he was woken up to finally come outside, yet unfortunately, he had slept for years. Dead, to specify.

His first ceremony was unexpectedly considered a delay.

While he thought of what kind of urgent affairs would delay a Deity's ceremony, he doesn't remember when something like this occurred, aside from he was reborn from being asleep for who knows how many years. Events of the past were just mere stories to him, recorded and written in books.

Yet only if he were inscribed in history, would that make this life worthwhile.

The impression of waking up in the Heavenly realm to pass by tons of words to convey, was the first thing he remembered that he had done, thus he became a Deity in that instant. 

He just doesn't know how this happened, what grounds should the Heavenly Realm choose someone as a Deity? The Heavenly Emperor, Yang Shen didn't give him a decent explanation for that and he also didn't see the Emperor's presence.

Therefore, to sum it up, what the heck is he doing here?

Summoning people from the dead because of their heroic backgrounds; that deserved the grace and glory. It sounds dramatic but maybe that's it?

So Eun shook his head and just put it in his mind that he, who doesn't remember his past life, somehow deserves this. Often people live without knowing what the hell is this life for.

He decided to put all his attention on the people minding their own business on the streets.

Some selling fruits and things they intend to do business. Some little kids chased one another with a human moving barrier alongside the booths of shop vendors.

Not caring about the people's subtle looks on him, children to elders eyes' picking up to take a glimpse at the handsome Deity who casually, roaming the streets of Yang-ir. 

Deities are usually living along with people in the Human Realm and it's completely normal, but from time to time they have to appoint or report to the Emperor if something arises.

The only differences are that a Deity is their guardian for everyday living, humans have to treat them with utmost respect and gratitude.

Fortunately, they don't have to rest and eat daily like a normal human being, labeling them already as immortal, the spiritual powers that have been given to them by the Heavenly Emperor.

A privilege like this can be recognized as a mighty high status who achieves the grace of the Heavenly Emperor. Forget the process of how did they obtain it. So Eun thought that he is content enough with this, but a little confused.

He looked at each person passing by him and going in the opposite direction. Contemplating on whether he'll ask who passed by him or the owners of the booths. So Eun chooses the latter.

He stopped in a turnip shop and found a classy young man with a monochrome attire. So Eun immediately guesses that this isn't the owner. Or maybe the other guy at the side-

"What do you need, sir?" The guy didn't fully notice him because the extra man at the side was talking to him with a pile of turnips in his hand.

"A Deity! Jihoon! It's a Deity!" The man in his 50s who was chatting with him suddenly pointed at So Eun, then the 'Jihoon' he called instantly turned his head at him.

There was a moment of hesitation in Jihoon's expression, and besides the booth, the people immediately looked for the Deity too.

"Y-You! Pure Guardian! I-I! What do you need?" Face slightly flushed, hands hastily picking up the good turnips in front of him and subtly taking a glance at So Eun.

"Thank you, but none of these. Can I ask something instead? Do you know of something strange happening here or near here?" So Eun, politely asked, already feeling uneasy at the eyes landing on him.

"Of course! Strange? Um... Oh! Are you here to eliminate your first ghoul? I don't currently know about a ghoul disturbing the people in Yang-ir. Um... Father! Help me!"

Jihoon poked the guy standing awkwardly beside him, who has been snatching a side glance at So Eun.

"Me? Oh! Um... I didn't want to flaunt it but if you mean the kind of strange is haunting a wild ghoul then I have some news for you, Our Pure Guardian." 

"Exactly. Please do tell me." So Eun patiently replied.

"Okay, Um... It's a disguised ghoul child."

"They said it's been disguised as a beggar child for the people to take pity on him and to avoid being chased away by the villagers. Trying to survive as a street child, however, when the dark comes the child turns into a wild ghoul and starts to devour another child's soul and flesh."

Jihoon started to rub his arms furiously, muttering a word at his Father.

"One incident occurred and a passing lady in her fifty's told us something. That child back in the day had surprisingly made a new friend and they both begged for loaves of bread, or a dime. They were always seen together, sharing one bread between one another, sometimes that ghoul child does not have any bread left for him. He's willing to give the whole bread to the girl, his new friend. But I didn't know what goes wrong that happened that day…"

The old man paused for a while, giving him an indescribable stare, the Deity lightly raised his eyebrow.

"It's alright, tell me."

"A few days later, the little girl was found lifeless at the messy corner of the streets, where their shelter laid. They said it's the ghoul child who took her life, because nobody came back to check the little girl, even her 'friend' was nowhere to be found." The man said, sighing sadly at the terrifying story. 

So Eun gave an acknowledgement, and only after a while, he asked.

"What's the cause of the child's death?" The man just shook his head and crossed his arms. Looking rather solemn.

"That's a true story from 3 weeks ago, until now, the villagers in Yang-ir and Tipolo were pretty careful not to encounter a beggar child, assuming that it's the ghoul child wandering." Jihoon this time spoke.

"This happened in Tipolo Town too?" So Eun inquired again, eyebrows coming together at Jihoon.

The name of the Town kind of feels a little familiar to him, he does not know why, but maybe this was a special place for him in his previous life. Or it was just his appointed region to devote his life to.

"It's only here in Yang-ir, but people from Tipolo were also being extra careful." 

"Thank you. Thank you for the information you gave me, it means a lot. I will get going now." So Eun smiled at the two owners and proceeded to take off to the end of the path road of Yang-ir.

"Ah! Right! The earthquake happened earlier. He was the handsome Deity who came from the Tipolo Palace!" The old man uttered joyfully at his son. Jihoon just nodded his head while still observing the slowly moving figure of So Eun.

"Father! We didn't ask his name!" Jihoon instantly turned his head at his father, who just gasped dramatically over his son.

"For what? You're planning to woo him? Knock it off, Jihoon. We got a lot of turnips to sell. Help me out here."

He dragged his son to the other side of the booth.

Jihoon couldn't help to frowned and obediently follow with a last glance at the Deity's back.

~~~

'This Way to Tipolo Town'

So Eun clutched his robe right to his chest. While he forcefully tried to remember what the town means to him.

There was an impulse that drives him walking forward, as if for everyone, there is a will. And his will to find a person that's been lurking inside of him, to find answers he seeks to reveal.

He strolled at the end of the path and was welcomed by the route leading to the entrance of his Town.

Unexpectedly, Tipolo Town is Yang-ir's neighbor.

Maybe that someone whom he's been finding will be able to tell him the whole pieces of his previous life.

Ruminating back to a Deity's purpose--he's been reincarnated into a new life now, what was the purpose of digging back into the past events that happened with him?

Living but as a Deity, who has to obey the missions engraved within his heart, he had no choice but to follow it.

Yet only he was ten years too late, not even familiar with the phrase of 'curiosity killing the cat'

He walked silently for a while now, So Eun looked up and there welcomed him a grand monument of the said Ancestors of Tipolo, besides it, the entrance of the Town.

So Eun sighed in relief and stepped with his right foot forward, his figure stopping when a raven firefly flew in front of him and immediately caught his attention.

He followed the tiny firefly around with his eyes, turning his back to the monument, and slowly strides towards it.

Not long after, the firefly landed at a stone sign that has been engulfed with the dead leaves.

At that moment, he realized that there is a stone path that leads to tall bushes, yet he couldn't see where it's headed due to the disorderly thick scrubs.It looked like an abandoned place now. 

He felt the need to put away the leaves that have been blocking the sign, but when he does, there appeared words that picked an aching needle in So Eun's whole being. 

"The Mountain of Tipolo."