Chapter 273
Chapter 273
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.61 – Knights Fear Humans More Than Ghosts 2(2)
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Ghost-type magical beasts.
More simply put, ghost-type monsters that had materialized enough to be visible to the human eye were already well-known in academic circles.
That said, they weren't exactly easy to spot.
Ghosts were already hard to believe in, but materialized ghosts? That alone made them feel incredibly rare.
However, encountering ghost-type monsters wasn't exactly lucky, just because they were rare.
After all, ghosts—wronged spirits, weren't they?
The very fact that a ghost, which shouldn't be visible to human eyes, was caught in one's sight meant it harbored powerful resentment or hatred. Naturally, a monster fueled by such grudges possessed formidable power.
Additionally, true to their ghostly nature, they were immune to physical attacks, making them monsters that could only be handled with holy power or magic. Meeting a ghost—no, a Wraith—was practically proof of the unluckiest streak imaginable, like being struck by lightning.
Knights' symbols like swords, spears, bows, and shields were utterly useless against them.
...But.
[!?!?!]
"How dare you keep your eyes wide open like that, you building-squatting pests."
[!?!]
"If you have something to say, spit it out properly, you lot!"
How was that even possible?
Simon watched the knight pummeling the danger-rated wraiths with nothing but left-hand jabs, his mind filled with questions.
What the...?
'Can you really hit those things?'
Simon tentatively poked at a trembling wraith that had taken a hit from the knight.
Just in case it could be touched.
Swoosh—.
"...Doesn't work?"
His hand passed through like mist, confirming that academic common knowledge wasn't wrong.
So that meant...
'This guy's actually a monk, isn't he?'
The holy warriors known as guardians of light.
Rumors said some of them hid their identities to train incognito. Maybe this knight was one such monk?
'Sigh, that could... actually be it!'
Simon nodded vigorously, convinced by his reasonable deduction. Feeling the gaze, Lee Han spoke up.
"I can guess what you're thinking... but no, that's not it."
He decided to clear up the misunderstanding first.
Lee Han hadn't used any special means to hit the wraith.
Simply...
'Hitting them where they can be hit.'
People often called wraiths—these ghost-type monsters—invincible, but that was a misconception spread by the ignorant.
If a knight believed that nonsense, he was either a green rookie lacking real combat experience or a complete idiot.
'Sure, physical attacks don't work, so misunderstandings happen.'
But...
'Once you face one directly, you realize it's not a real ghost.'
In the end, this floating entity was just another type of monster. A wraith was one that had materialized enough to be clearly visible even to ordinary eyes.
What did "materialized" mean?
It meant it could exert physical force on the world—and conversely, humans could exert physical force on it.
It was just...
'Tricky to time the physical impact.'
Whoosh!
The wraith flew at him again, surging with momentum for a moment.
To avenge its fallen comrades. Its presence sharpened instantly.
"Desperate to get hit, huh."
Whoosh!
Lee Han threw a punch right before it attacked.
A counter. His fist landed a split-second ahead of the wraith's attack, smashing right into its forehead.
[!!!]
With a sound like a watermelon bursting, the wraith crumpled unconscious.
It must have been hit perfectly clean.
"See? Easy to handle, right? It tried to use physical force on me and got schooled instead. Suppress them like this from now on."
"......"
"What?"
"How is that easy?"
"Huh?"
"...I'm losing my mind."
Simon's blood pressure was rising.
The wraiths that burst out from inside the building were subdued anticlimactically.
There were exactly thirty-six of them, but they all collapsed equally before the physical education lesson.
"Killing them...?"
"Kill what's already dead again? That's some devilishly wicked thinking—even demons would fold."
"...That's not what I meant... "
"Joking."
"......"
Amusingly, it was possible to knock out or subdue wraiths, but erasing them was another story.
In the southern continent, some viewed wraiths as a kind of deceased ancestors.
No matter how unlikely.
But that's human nature, isn't it?
The longing for ancestors watching over even in death is universal.
So, other continents aside, in the south, wraiths weren't exterminated but exorcised—a sort of culture, or non-culture.
'If it's a harmful evil spirit, that's different.'
Even so, erasing ghost-type monsters like wraiths required a tricky process.
At minimum, a temple—or a shaman. Worst case, an alchemist's help.
...However.
'Maybe with intent?'
Lee Han had a gut feeling—more like certainty—that infusing his fist with intent would pop them like balloons.
Not just a hunch.
They'd be more trouble awake, so maybe try while they're down...
"Santa, whatcha doing?"
"Miss?"
The kid once wrapped in ragged burlap now wore a frilly dress fitting her age and status, beaming brightly.
Louise looked sweaty from playing tag with the maids chasing her. Spotting Lee Han, the maids paled.
"S-Santa, sir..."
"S-Sorry! We were playing hide-and-seek with the miss and..."
"W-We committed a grave sin!"
"......"
The maids trembled like they'd met the grim reaper. Lee Han felt awkward.
That day, tightening discipline with "mud play" on people had apparently left them with serious PTSD.
'Was I too harsh?'
He didn't regret it, but felt a twinge of guilt for overdoing the discipline.
Then.
"Whoa, this feels weird. Like an ice blanket. Hmm? But why's it soft?"
"Miss?"
"Yeah?"
"How are you touching that?"
"...D-Did I do something wrong?"
"No, not that, but..."
"Hehe, good."
"...Still, stop touching it. Dangerous. Danger."
"Okay!"
Indeed, our youngest baroness of the frontier.
More precious than gold, obedient beyond her years—like a good kid who just looked grown-up.
Lee Han patted her back approvingly. Louise grinned innocently.
"......"
"Santa?"
"...Hm."
"?"
But Lee Han's expression was complicated.
Not without reason.
"I-I can't touch it?"
Simon was fumbling again. Lee Han let out a hollow chuckle at the beaming child before him.
...A kid with no powers touching a ghost?
"Even a stray dog wouldn't buy it."
Today was unusually hectic.
Several incidents had piled up already. No wonder.
"What day is it today?"
"No idea. Already swamped, and now this commotion..."
The wraiths spotted in broad daylight hadn't appeared only at the lord's castle.
They popped up everywhere in the territory, regardless of time or place.
A bewildering situation, forcing everyone to sweat bullets to resolve it.
The silver lining: the wraiths hadn't touched civilians.
Only...
"Targeting outsiders."
A few guild members had minor fractures or sprains—no serious injuries, but work delays were the issue.
Simon pondered calmly amid the chaos.
"...Just a guess, but maybe these wraiths were tamed by Mordred's mystery. Programmed to attack outsiders..."
"Then why not attack me the moment I showed up?"
"Well..."
The hypothesis lacked credibility and was dismissed. Simon frowned, face complex.
He was frustrated too.
The guild, eager for quick progress, was understandably irritated and stifled by the sudden wraiths and disruptions.
"Haste makes waste, as they say. You're a guild leader—stay calm. Can't show that face to your followers."
"......"
"You already know, but still."
"...Thanks. Wakes me right up."
Lee Han's polite yet weighty advice snapped Simon to his position. He bowed respectfully, heart stirred.
If it were just cold exploitation, no such advice would come.
Offering it proved trust in Simon's abilities.
Simon rallied himself.
"First, investigate locals. They might know something."
"What do you need from me?"
"...Arrange meetings with castle servants, especially the head maid. Long-timers know more."
"Hmm."
"Don't worry. Not up to Santa Ri Han's level, but we have 'experts' in the guild."
"Fine. If I'm helping, I'll help properly."
"Won't disappoint."
"Hey, no need for that between partners."
"...If I were a woman, that'd charm me."
"Damn..."
Lee Han shuddered in genuine chills. Simon bowed again and hurried off to work.
To some, he might seem frail, but his confident stride was trustworthy.
"...Yeah, that's what it takes for a guild master."
Lee Han felt inner pride—finally looking the part—but wiped his smile, face turning serious.
For good reason.
"Found it?"
"Yeah, found it."
"...Tough."
They'd finally nabbed a crucial 'clue.'
"Sorry. Worked you hard. Reward coming later—anything."
"Then wine!"
"Looked tasty!"
"Sigh! Brats not even dry behind the ears..."
"......Old fogey."
"Mean..."
The twins pouted. Lee Han clicked his tongue.
Kids these days....