“How can I grow closer to you, Kubera?” said Dae. “What do I need to do to prove myself worthy of your blessing?”
“You cannot prove yourself to me like that,” replied the god of wealth.
Dae walked slowly down from Kubera’s mountain home, deep in thought. By the time he reached the bottom of the mountain, he struck upon an idea. Soon after, Dae began to invest his money, and he worked day and night to increase his fortune. He earned millions upon millions of coins and clothed himself in the finest silks and armors money could buy. He built a mansion and filled it with many servants to fill his every need. “Surely you are the richest man in the world!” people said to him on the streets. “Kubera’s blessings must be upon you, Master Dae.”
Encouraged by their words, Dae traveled to Kubera’s palace, though this time he did not walk; he rode in a litter carried by his four strongest servants in order to demonstrate his wealth. Just as the servants set him down in Kubera’s chambers, Kubera said, “No.”
“But I am clothed in the finest imported silks, scented with the finest imported oils, and decorated with the finest imported jewels! I have studied the treasures of the whole world, and I have collected the finest display of riches outside of your treasure house! Surely I am worthy of your favor, god of riches.”
“No.” Kubera waved Dae out. “You cannot prove yourself to me like that.”
Discouraged, Dae made his journey home. As his litter swayed back and forth upon his servants’ backs, he came upon a new idea. “Surely the gods love a hero! A man who can do what no other mortal man can do.”
And so, when Dae returned to his palacial home, he clothed himself in his finest armor and packed his finest blades. He left in search of adventure that same day, and it wasn’t long before he found it. Dae performed many heroic acts; he slew monsters that had been plaguing villages for decades, saved at least eight damsels in distress, and he lead an army to victory against an invading force three times its size. Soon his name came to be known across the lands, and now everybody was singing his praises. “Surely you are the greatest hero in the world!” the people cried. “Kubera’s blessings must be upon you, Master Dae.”
Once again encouraged by the words of the people, Dae returned to Kubera’s mountaintop home, this time atop his war steed to show his valor. “Great Kubera!” he cried as he dismounted. “I have slain-”
Kubera cut him off. “No.”
“But the people regard me as a hero amongst them! Not only am I the richest man in the world (except for you of course), but I am now the most renowned, the most respected!” Dae had begun to lose his temper. “I have done everything you ever asked of me!”
The god replied calmly, his face impassive. “I did not ask those things of you, Dae. You did. You cannot prove yourself to me like that.”
Dae let out a scream that echoed down past the foot of the mountains. He was so angry that he did not hear Kubera’s quiet chuckle as he stormed out of Kubera’s palace.
Dae never returned to his own palacial home that night. He cast away his fine silks and clothed himself in a garb made of coarse wool, and he threw all the coins he carried down a well. He even changed his name, introducing himself as Pawny to avoid being recognized for his heroic deeds. “I did all this for you!” he screamed, even though he thought Kubera could not hear. “But it wasn’t enough!”
Kubera was watching from atop his mountain. Watching, and chuckling quietly.
After a few days, Pawny grew restless. Now that he no longer desired to receive Kubera’s blessing, he was without a purpose. To support himself he secured a job working for the Merchant Guild of Koguryo, storing the riches of others and selling small goods. While the job did not pay well, Pawny began to enjoy the simple pleasure of helping others, and he left his post within the Merchant Circle less and less often. In time, Pawny did not leave the Merchant Circle at all, he was so absorbed in his work.
One day the Merchant Circle was entirely empty, save for Pawny sitting at his desk, calculating the interest on his holdings. He heard quiet chuckle behind him and whipped around, only to find the god Kubera! “Dae!” Kubera said, smiling. “You have found true wealth, I see.”
“I have no wealth anymore,” Pawny spat. “I gave it all away when it wasn’t enough for you. I even gave away my name! I’ve finally found something I enjoy, now leave me be!”
Kubera grinned, biting back another chuckle. “And that is why I am here. You have found happiness. Wealth did not grant you that. Heroism did not grant you that. Service to others did. You have proven yourself to me. You are my favored, Dae.”
“I do not want your wealth! Go away!” Pawny turned away from the god and stubbornly went back to his figures.
“As you wish, Dae. But first-” Kubera placed his hand upon Pawny’s wrist, and with a flash of blinding light, a solid gold bangle appeared around it. “A token of my favor.” Kubera disappeared, his chuckle ringing through the circle.
Pawny spent the rest of the day trying to pry the bangle off his wrist. Finally, at sunset, he pulled it off his arm. He flung the bangle away, thrilled with his victory. A quiet chuckle rang through the circle once more, and a brilliant flash erupted on Pawny’s wrist. When the light subsided, a new golden bangle was there, identical to the original. He screamed. The chuckling, if anything, grew louder.
****
A young Merchant picked the bangle up off the floor and slipped it over his own wrist. “It fits me perfectly! May I..?”
“Keep it,” Pawny groaned, and he slumped over his desk.
The next morning, Pawny began removing the bangle again, slowly prying it off his wrist. When he finally triumphed, another one appeared, just as before – and another Merchant snatched it up off the floor.
And so Kubera’s token of a Gold Bangle became a symbol of the Merchant Guild. But most of all, it symbolizes one man’s acceptance of true wealth (and how much he wishes to be rid of monetary wealth altogether).
Amaranth MinCho
Kinnara & Daredevil