5. The Ancient Artifact Found in Dad’s Cartoon Laboratory
Starting November 2023, The Korea Daily is excited to publish the fantasy novel series “Sword of Malta – Lightning in 72 Years” on our website. This new captivating series follows a trio of young adventurers on their quest to uncover the mysteries of ancient civilizations, including the Maya and Inca. In an exciting development, Netflix is currently adapting the novel’s storyline into a film.
The ‘Sword of Malta – Lightning in 72 Years’ is the latest novel authored by Jeeyoon Ha, who created the “Pangaea series.” Ha’s debut novel, “The Pangaea: Finding Xibalba,” was selected by the Korea Creative Content Agency in 2022 as part of their initiative to support the global export of fantasy literature.
Readers can eagerly anticipate the online publication of two installments each month, with new chapters appearing bi-weekly, offering a regular escape into this magical realm.
“Phew… It was a moment more explosive than the Marblem War, which was a war of ancient wizards.”
Suri, along with Sabi and Maru, had escaped to the Orion hideout. Maru immediately started searching through the warehouse.
“You’re such a Marblem sucker. Can’t believe you believe in legends… Oh! The warehouse has been looted?”
Maru’s expression seemed as if he had been punched.
“A thief?… That’s impossible… No one knows about this place… *Dumb Dumb!”
“Does a thief only steal from places they know? What nonsense are you talking about?”
As Suri teased him using his nickname, Maru became furious.
“What kind of thief eats only food and runs away? Isn’t that right, Maru, the Gluton?”
Sabi squinted suspiciously at Maru.
“Are you teasing me too? …I’m really not doing that. Why would I secretly eat? Have you ever seen a pig secretly eat? If I ate secretly, then I wouldn’t be a pig anymore.”
Foam formed around Maru’s mouth.
“Sorry… I meant to say that only the food disappeared. But if we look around, there might be valuable items too.”
“I find your attitude towards food repulsive. Valuable items? Honestly speaking, what is considered valuable to humans… isn’t it something edible? What exactly is considered valuable?”
Maru was on the verge of tears due to frustration.
“I’m going to explode soon. Here, eat this. It’s something you like.”
Suri tore up some rolling paper and forcefully shoved it into Maru’s mouth.
“…I want meat.”
Finally calming down, Maru chewed obediently with excessive jaw movements like a goat.
“Me too… The more I chew meat, the more flavorful it becomes—like Iberico pork or something.”
“No no… Pigs have own kinship issues for me… Anyway, we must find out who stole my food…”
While Suri regained his appetite again amidst their conversation, Maru pretended to strangle himself with both hands while bulging his eyes out.
“You can’t eat pork because you’re a pig? Really… I’m speechless.”
“Look at this! Look at this!”
Maru shouted at Suri in frustration. Sheets of crumpled paper flew out from his mouth uncontrollably.
Three computers placed on the desk simultaneously turned on as baby lightning crackled and scattered in all directions on their monitors—red lightning, blue lightning, yellow lightning—it appeared and disappeared within an instant like torches flickering repeatedly dozens of times over and over again.
“That’s Sirius Lightning… It’s a signal.”
Suri quickly rushed over and started pounding on the computer keyboard. Not knowing which keys to press exactly, he pressed whatever came naturally. He fought fiercely against the keyboard trying to capture the moment when torch-like light appeared but all he got were wild flashes of light and sound without any sense or pattern.
“Why is this happening?! It feels like there’s something I can’t understand… Please appear again… Please…”
Suri rambled as if he had lost his mind. Suddenly there was another bright flash from one of the monitors followed by smoke and an explosion as one of the computers malfunctioned. Suri fell backward.
“Suri! Let’s get out of here! Let’s go to dad’s research lab!”
Sabi helped Suri up while quickly walking towards where they thought there would be an exit door but it didn’t budge.
“Let’s break down the door!”
Maru’s combat power was rising steadily.
“The emergency exit… Dad mentioned it before but we never had any reason to use it until now.”
Suri headed towards the warehouse without hesitation. He brushed off dust from random spots on the floor with his hand until he felt a slight difference in texture.
There were panels added that extended about 60cm all around; they blended so well with the original floor material that it wasn’t easy to tell them apart.
On one of these added panels, he discovered several small screws. He used his pocket knife to turn them easily. He lifted up one panel.
“It’s stairs.”
Suri became excited as if he had discovered a secret world.
“These narrow stairs? Do you know where they lead?”
When Sabi pushed Suri aside, he looked down at where they led.
“For now let’s go down… Come on! It should be better than being here just before an explosion.”
With Suri leading, followed by Sabi, and then followed by Maru who struggled like a caterpillar wriggling around, they descended swiftly. Immediately after reaching downstairs, a loud bang could be heard coming from where their hideout used to be—the Azit.
[To be continued…]
