Chapter 249
Chapter: 249
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 249
>Chapter Title: Soul Stone (3)
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Hayes's soul stone.
Staring at the bead stained with an ominous black light, Seongjin naturally had a question come to mind.
'Demon King. Is the guy inside this thing perhaps a demon?'
Demonic energy always appeared black when viewed through the Heavenly Eye. But the Demon King's reaction wasn't very helpful.
[...Huh? Sniffle, well? I don't particularly sense any demonic energy.]
'Really?'
[Yeah. Sniffle, it must just be that Hayes's soul is this color. Maybe he's just rotten to the core.]
That wasn't all.
Along with the change in the soul stone, the message floating before his eyes had also shifted.
〚Summoned Familiar: Hayes Martin〛
〚Summon / Release〛
And the number of souls listed on the amulet had decreased by one.
〚List of summonable familiar souls: 1/3〛
〚1. □□□□ (Inactive)〛
〚2. □□□ □□ (Inactive)〛
〚3. Red (Active)〛
He had a vague idea of what was going on.
So, activated souls meant ones that could be used right now. In other words, ones where only the soul remained after death.
The Demon King had been a soul from the start, so it was activated from the beginning.
'Then the two whose names can't be read might still be alive somewhere.'
Of course, assuming they were human.
But in a world full of dead people, why did these specific souls appear as options?
'Maybe those guys were remnants of the Dark Church like Hayes? Or demon worshippers?'
The Demon King, who had completely stopped crying, replied.
[Probably not demon worshippers. Anyone who has formed a bond with a demon, like a worshipper or contractor, gets dragged straight to the demon's realm in the demon world the moment they die.]
Because their soul becomes enslaved to the contracted demon upon death.
'Well, let's summon the guy and ask him directly.'
There was a limit to what he could guess on his own. It would be faster to hear it from the source.
Having decided that, Seongjin moved the spear with his thoughts.
〚*Summon* / Release〛
And he immediately regretted the decision.
Shuwaaaaa—
Suddenly, an immense spiritual pressure erupted, and ominous black mist began billowing before Seongjin's eyes. It looked foreboding just to see it.
"……!"
Wriggle, wriggle.
The black smoke, spreading across the floor like a carpet, suddenly gathered in the center as if alive, gradually forming the shape of a slender human figure.
Seongjin freaked out and slowly backed away behind the bed.
He hadn't expected a normal ghost from the start, but that thing didn't look like a proper soul no matter who saw it!
'Demon King, take a closer look at that! You sure that's not a demon?'
It looked like a demon worshipper or a demon itself to anyone.
[I'm telling you again, no demonic energy.]
The Demon King tilted its soul, sounding puzzled itself.
[But man, the atmosphere is spot on.]
Kuhuhuhuhuhu……
Now, eerie wails began emanating from within the black mist.
As flustered Seongjin frantically searched for the release button, the black figure fully formed into a human shape and rose.
Shuuu—
What finally emerged was a middle-aged man in pitch-black priestly robes.
The gaunt body and hollow cheeks were exactly like the Hayes priest he'd seen before. Only the dark circles sunken black under his eyes and his ashen, bloodless skin made him look even more gloomy.
[Finally……!]
Flash.
The black evil spirit opened its eyes and let out a trembling thought.
[Finally, you have called me! The Lord has called me!]
The evil spirit shouted something incomprehensible and twisted its face. It looked like it was in pain, or perhaps in joy—an bizarre expression.
[Aaaaaah……!]
Perhaps because it was a spirit he had summoned himself, Seongjin could directly feel the emotions emanating from Hayes.
What it exuded was not the resentment or lingering attachment one would expect from an evil spirit.
Pure ecstasy.
Intense ecstasy that shook its soul had completely consumed the evil spirit.
'Either way, it's terrifying!'
Black tears streamed from the evil spirit's contorted eyes, and black smoke puffed out every time its pale lips parted.
As Seongjin broke out in cold sweat and took another step back, Hayes's evil spirit staggered forward. Then it prostrated itself flat on the floor like it was clinging to it, politely bowing its head toward Seongjin.
[I have been waiting solely for the day you would call me.]
Its two hands, reverently raised above its head like an act of worship, trembled.
[My soul's master, Great Archbishop of Repose!]
…What?
* * *
It was an exceptionally clear night sky, shining as if stars were pouring down.
An old shaman with thinning hair and a hunched back stood alone, facing the northern sky amid the wind.
Her eyes, covered entirely in whites, could barely perceive the world's light anymore, but even so, the shaman could faintly feel the warmth of starlight carried on the prairie winds.
"My soul's master……."
Her wrinkled lips curved, and a faint voice leaked out.
"Nazranka."
Someone called her name then. The shaman slowly turned toward the approaching presence from behind.
"You were here alone. The elders have all gathered. The chieftain is looking for you."
"Chikudanka."
The shaman placed her hands on her chest and showed proper respect to the chieftain's eldest son.
Then, sensing another presence, she turned her head toward the tall young man standing beside him.
Though her distant eyes shook unfocused in the air, the capable shaman properly recognized the one before her.
"…Owen of Delcross."
"Long time no see, Nazranka."
He was the empire's young hunter who had been making bold moves lately without restraint.
Under the prairie night sky, his sunset-like hair was adorned with newly added kingfisher feathers in brilliant display.
"Yes, just as I thought. If the elders were suddenly called, it could only be about you."
The shaman's brow furrowed in displeasure.
She was one of the few among Bolanta's elders who maintained a neutral stance.
Everyone found it strange that she, with her deep-seated resentment toward the Empire and the Holy Emperor, did not take a hardline opposing position.
—The Great Soul wishes it so.
Her answer was always the same whenever asked why.
In any case, she had never liked Owen, the imperial prince, from the start. She firmly believed he was hiding some scheme.
"Owen, why do you disturb our peaceful Bolanta? Why have you crossed into Bolanta's lands?"
The young hunter answered refreshingly. It was the same response he always gave, nodding firmly before the Bolanta elders.
"As a friend of Bolanta, I came to expand Bolanta's horizons myself."
"Spare me the flowery excuses. Speak only the truth before the Great Soul!"
At the shaman's sharp reaction toward her friend, Chikudanka, who had been listening, quietly interjected.
"Nazranka. Owen has proven his goodwill by slaying all the prairie nurumachi. And not just that—he's recently wiped out the Koratla spawn too."
"……."
"Now our rivers will have crocodiles and fish returning."
"Futile, all futile. How can you not see that this is all just malicious mischief……."
The shaman muttered in lament. Her faded white eyes lingered briefly on Owen's crimson pendant, which she couldn't see.
"Yes. Now that you mention it, it's strange. Truly strange. You, who are not of imperial blood, why have you suddenly entered this game?"
At that, the two young warriors' gazes met.
'Have I ever told anyone else that you're Father's proxy?'
'No, I swear on our ancestors' lands and skies that I haven't. But it's not surprising she'd know. Nazranka is Bolanta's greatest shaman, who has long listened to the voice of the winds.'
'…Alright, I trust you.'
Chikudanka, who had been gauging his friend's mood, realized Owen wanted to speak privately with Nazranka to learn the source of her information.
Stepping aside was easy. Turning toward the tribal camp, he quietly urged the shaman.
"Don't be late for the meeting, Nazranka. All of Bolanta needs your wisdom."
Left behind, Owen and the shaman faced each other in awkward silence for a moment.
"…You have something to ask me, Owen of Delcross."
"First, I pay my respects to the great shaman's wisdom, Nazranka. How much do you know about my father?"
"Which father? The one swept by flames, or the one entrenched in the Empire?"
"……."
"Curious how I know? You imperials may find it hard to believe, but Bolanta shamans draw wisdom from the winds."
And the shaman lifted her white eyes to gaze at the distant northern sky.
"You're an eyesore, but oh well. I need someone to share this joy welling up in my heart right now. One of my brothers has just found repose."
One of her brothers had found repose?
Puzzled, Owen quickly recalled if there had been any funerals in the Bolanta tribe recently. Regardless, Nazranka's serene voice continued.
"What a ridiculous thing. Though he is the First Servant chosen by the Master of All Souls, I had already given up. Yet this dreamlike event has truly come to pass."
The First Servant chosen by the Master of All Souls.
Unable to hold back at the unfamiliar phrasing, Owen finally asked.
"Bolanta worships the great souls of its ancestors, does it not? Who is this Master of All Souls? If my understanding of Bolanta customs is lacking, please enlighten me, Nazranka."
The shaman burst into hearty laughter.
"Haha, fool. The red martens hunt pocket mice, but above them all soars the black eagle. Above the great ancestral souls stands an even higher being. That one is the Master of All Souls."
A relieved smile faintly crossed Nazranka's wrinkled face.
"We all quietly await that one's coming."
* * *
[Have you finally come for me, my soul's master……!]
The pitch-black Hayes evil spirit was strangely very friendly toward Seongjin.
But regardless of its attitude, he couldn't help the goosebumps rising all over his body at the sight of the thing dripping black liquid.
'Whoa, it's like a horror movie!'
[You've always been like this. Scared of that after dying once yourself? It's just a simple evil spirit.]
Uh, it's not scary. For real.
He just didn't know how to deal with things like that. As he said before, you couldn't punch evil spirits.
[Try it. Hit it once and see.]
Tempted by the Demon King's wicked urging, Seongjin hesitated. Should he really smack it?
But ignoring the soul staring at him with pleading eyes felt awkward.
'Since I summoned it anyway, let's ask what I can.'
Having resolved himself, Seongjin cautiously posed a question to it.
"So, who is this master of your soul?"
"Why, it is you, soul's master."
"Why did you open a gate to the imperial palace on your own before?"
"Why, it was your command, soul's master."
"…So who am I, then?"
"You are the great Archbishop of Repose, soul's master!"
Ah, the Dark Church.
Seongjin sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"…I'll ask around first and then decide your fate. You're not making any sense."
Hayes asked in puzzlement.
[Soul's master. Who in this world could dictate your steps?]
"Yeah, I'm going to ask my dad."
[Pardon? Father… no way?]
Kieeeek—!
Suddenly, it let out a spine-chilling wail. The spiritual pressure surging from it was enough to make Seongjin's hair whip around.
More than that.
'Scary!'
Not even a horror movie scene would be this intense!
As Seongjin, goosebumps crawling up his spine, retreated,
[Soul's master! Noble Archbishop! Apostle of Repose!]
"……."
[You must flee from him now! He blinds the master's eyes and deafens the master's ears!]
"No……."
[Decide before it's too late! Soul's masteeeer!]
It was impossible to ask anything more from the frenzied evil spirit.
Above all, it was just way too creepy.
〚Summon / *Release*〛
Seongjin squeezed his eyes shut and selected release.
[Maaasteeeeer……!]
Hayes flailed as it was sucked back into the soul stone. Its twitching joints spasmed like a demon being dragged to hell.
Shuuu—
Once the black mist fully vanished, heavy silence filled the room.
Seongjin wiped the cold sweat from his brow and thought.
'I'll ask Dad first. About what to do with that weirdo.'
Well, since Dad killed Hayes, he probably had firm ideas on handling the remaining soul.