Chapter 285
Chapter: 285
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 285
>Chapter Title: Impulse Soft (5)
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Kieeeh—
The wailing cries of the prowling banshees echoed from all directions.
The ghosts that had gathered here showed no sign of leaving even after losing their target, instead circling restlessly beneath the party.
[If only I could bring my cherished weapon from my world to this place...]
Hatasu Titi, wrapped around Gurup's leg alongside the shield, let out a lament.
He seemed like a relatively calm and pragmatic sort, but in this bleak situation, he couldn't shake the "what ifs."
[If only I had a staff blessed by the "Book of the Lion," I could've sent those ghosts straight back to chaos in one shot.]
He wasn't the only one regretting it.
Owen twitched uncomfortably and added,
[I wouldn't even ask for weapons. If I could just properly use my main body's aura, maybe we'd have found a breakthrough.]
Gurup felt the same regret keenly. Weak to the cold, he was already shivering with his three legs wrapped around the ceiling.
[I wish my real body was here properly too. My current body is too small! I only have five legs at most!]
...Hold on, just how many legs does your real body have?
Amid this, Owen turned to Sungjin with a heavy expression.
[You okay, newbie? I tried to help properly, but this happening right from the start... I feel ashamed.]
Sungjin met his gaze with a sullen look.
Who are you calling someone you help when you can't even look after yourself?
Dude. Just wait till I get home.
[But newbie, why've you been so quiet? What are you doing?]
[Oh. Maybe it's an attribute or attack position issue, so I'm looking for any basic spells that might be useful.]
Sungjin gave a half-hearted reply as he skimmed through the scattered menus.
[Basic spells?]
Yeah, like in most games.
Even before job changes and advanced skills, basic classes are divided from the start. So there should be at least one normal attack per class.
But Owen shook his head darkly.
[That'll be a waste of time. Like I said earlier, you have to go to the Magic Tower to learn magic. Pre-job change users all carry swords or bows.]
[...Really?]
Well, even aspiring mages aren't forbidden from using weapons. Anyway, it's realistic in the weirdest places.
[Plus, you're still a newbie, right? The only weapon you've seen so far is the beginner reinforced sword, so your skills are probably just "Basic Swordsmanship" or something.]
Fair point.
〚Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 2〛
If you learn the skill the moment you grip a weapon, then it'd leveled up a bit from slicing those ambushers at the Green Zone entrance.
That aside.
〚Summoning Lv. 0〛
What's with this skill?
[No magic, but summoning?]
At those words, the three silent villains turned to Sungjin in unison.
[What? No way.]
[You must be seeing things. Skills that use MP, like magic or summoning, can only be acquired at advanced facilities.]
[Probably a failed translation. Yi Sungjin's terminal is broken.]
No, but it's really there.
Moreover, when he lightly activated the summoning tab, submenus popped up one after another as if waiting.
〚Garbled Text : Rank A-〛
〚Garbled Text : Rank B+〛
〚Garbled Text : Rank A〛
〚Garbled Text : Rank E〛
〚Summon?〛
〚Summon / Cancel〛
'This...'
The text was hopelessly broken, but it gave a strange sense of familiarity.
Two blurry ones and two clear. It somehow reminded him of the Nebraska amulet's setup.
〚List of summonable spirits: 2/4〛
〚1. □□□□ (Inactive)〛
〚2. □□□ □□ (Inactive)〛
〚3. Hayes Martin (Active)〛
〚4. Red (Active)〛
Sungjin organized his thoughts briefly before asking Hatasu Titi,
[What's the exact way to learn summoning?]
[Same as no-skills—they say you automatically get it the moment you acquire a soul. But soul extraction requires a certain skill level. So newbie users have to buy a low-grade soul from the Magic Tower first.]
I see? Then it makes sense.
After all, the four souls, including Hayes Martin, were bound to Sungjin. Owning souls should be no different.
'Should I test it out?'
The first thing that came to mind was the demon king.
-I want to go too...
But he quickly changed his mind.
He still didn't fully understand the mechanism of accessing this place via the Oracle terminal. What if something happened to that soul during the transition from real to virtual? He couldn't summon recklessly.
'I'd rather not see him again, but testing with Hayes Martin first is safer.'
However—
'Which one's Hayes?'
With all the text garbled, there was no way to tell.
But he didn't agonize long.
'Rank E must be the demon king.'
He's pathetic, after all.
With a thought that would enrage the demon king if he knew, Sungjin swiftly selected the Rank A summon.
There was no time for second-guessing anyway.
[Ugh, mustering strength!]
The trembling octopus was turning paler by the second.
At this rate, Gurup would run out of strength soon, and they'd all plummet into the swarm of banshees.
'Please show power worthy of Rank A!'
〚Summon?〛
〚*Summon* / Cancel〛
Then, with a flash.
〚Garbled Text : Rank A〛
The broken text glowed, and suddenly, thick fog blanketed the dungeon floor.
Shhh...
The black fog writhing and expanding right below the party began coalescing into a long, human shape, just as expected.
Fortunately or not, the garbled graphics hid the details.
Kuhuhuhuhu...
The eerie wail was exactly like the one from the Sigismund territory. No doubt now—this summon was Hayes Martin.
Sungjin, anticipating what came next, felt a bit deflated, while the silent villains peered down in confusion.
[What's that? Something's down there.]
[Is there an elite mob besides the banshees? Can't see it clearly.]
[Guh!]
Then.
Whoosh!
Immense spiritual pressure erupted from below. At the same time, a thunderous scream rang in Sungjin's mind.
[Ooooooh! At last, You have summoned this lowly slave! My soul's master!]
The pressure was so overwhelming that the swarming banshees scattered like they'd been hit by a bomb, shrieking as they were blown back.
Kyaaah!
Some of the closest ones even had their HP fully drained, dissolving into smoke on the spot!
Ding!
A level-up notification chimed in his ear.
Right. No wonder it's ranked A—definitely not ordinary.
[The black fog—banshees vanish when they touch it?]
[What's happening right now?]
[Guhhhh!]
At that moment, Gurup, shivering and slipping from the icicle's tip, twitched his blue lips and shouted.
[Gurup! This is the limit! Sorry, everyone!]
With that cry, the party plummeted as one into the depths.
Right into the heart of the banshee swarm.
Boom!
But the banshees were no longer a threat.
The black fog—no, Hayes—had darted to the party's side and begun rampaging wildly.
[Begone! You mongrels!]
Writhing tendrils.
The living black fog lashed out in all directions, ensnaring and crushing the charging banshees.
Kiaaaak—
The banshees dissolved into puffs of smoke, vanishing pathetically. Considering the trouble they'd caused so far, it was absurdly easy.
Kyaaaaah—
Fresh banshees rushed in to fill the gaps, only to meet the same fate.
Ding!
Ding!
Dozens of banshees melted away in an instant, filling Sungjin's ears with endless notifications.
[Hahaha! Such joy! My master has finally needed me! You have granted this lowly one the value of existence!]
The black fog surged and danced ecstatically.
"...What the hell is going on?"
Owen, still clutching the little goat, muttered blankly at the scene.
"Hey, put me down already."
"Oh, sorry. You okay, newbie?"
Owen had instinctively protected the newbie, who likely had the weakest defense, even as they fell.
Anyway, finally free from his arms, Sungjin drew his beginner sword and advanced on the banshees.
Pew pew pew.
"Wait! Where you going, newbie!"
[Yi Sungjin! Dangerous! Those don't take damage!]
[Careful!]
But was it his imagination? He felt an odd certainty that attacks would work this time.
The moment Hayes's spiritual pressure swept the banshees, a strong sense of relief had washed over him—like everything was resolved. His hunches like this were rarely wrong.
And the result proved him right.
Slash!
Kyaaak!
One proper diagonal slash, and the charging banshee melted away.
"How..."
The party stared in disbelief as the little goat stepped forward confidently and turned to them.
Pew.
With unprecedented dignity in his voice, he issued a curt command.
[Everyone, get up.]
"......!"
[......!]
The silent villains, entranced, gripped their weapons.
Thud thud thud!
Slash!
Confirming attacks now worked, they fell silent and unleashed their full prowess.
In sync with the wildly shrieking black fog.
[Worship for repose! Praise the Archbishop of Repose! Offer prayers for all that he descends upon!]
Fortunately, the silent villains couldn't see Hayes's form or hear his thoughts—likely because they were bound solely to Sungjin.
Along with it, Hayes's emotions flooded ceaselessly into Sungjin.
Ecstasy.
Pure ecstasy.
That was the only feeling pouring from him nonstop.
'...Ugh, I really hate this.'
He didn't need to see to know. Hayes was probably shedding black tears of joy right now, grinning maniacally with a terrifying expression.
I really didn't want to see this guy again.
* * *
Pew pew pew.
[Report all your skills and gear to me. Grasping our exact forces comes first.]
Sungjin ordered as he led the way out of the dungeon entrance.
[Uh, sure.]
[Understood, Yi Sungjin.]
[Got it.]
He nodded at their immediate responses and added,
Pew pew pew.
[Also, document all the dungeons you've cleared so far, the combat patterns there, and the ones you plan to hit next, plus all required items. Got it?]
[Yeah, okay.]
[Understood, Yi Sungjin.]
[Got it.]
Ah.
Sungjin halted and turned, emphasizing,
Pew.
[Above all, absolutely no entering dungeons on your own from now on. Wait for me to log in. Got it?]
[Won't.]
[Of course, Yi Sungjin.]
[Got it.]
The silent villains, mumbling their wrinkled, cowed replies, suddenly huddled and whispered among themselves.
[Hey? Why are we just accepting orders from a newbie like it's natural?]
[Because he's effectively our leader now. Yi Sungjin's orders all make sense. And no matter how he did it, we survived thanks to him this time.]
[Yi Sungjin: scary but kind!]
But just as they exited the dungeon toward the Green Zone, dozens of users appeared from all sides.
They blocked the path to town completely, surrounding the party and shouting with grim resolve.
"We've been waiting! Hand over the job change items nicely!"
The familiar voice made Sungjin blink.
He'd already reactivated external environment and object skins on the way out. So the users looked like cute animal friends.
And the squirrel at the front looked oddly familiar.
"You guys again? I told you I don't have any—why keep this up?"
Owen stepped forward, asking incredulously.
Ah, right. These must be the ones who ambushed Sungjin and Owen before.
But their numbers seemed more than double now?
"Wait, the three silent villains are with them?"
"That killer goat from before too. This okay?"
"Don't worry—we're with PEP this time! It's not just our guild."
Sure enough, some familiar-looking animals muttered anxiously among themselves.
[Do you guys have those job change items?]
At Sungjin's question, the silent villains shook their heads.
[Nope. We're desperate to get them ourselves.]
[They say the whole server's sold out. No way we have any if even the auction house is empty.]
[Would be nice if we did!]
Sungjin nodded and addressed the squirrel.
"We don't have any. No idea where you heard that, but look elsewhere."
The squirrel puffed up instead.
"Don't lie! If even you—who spend the most time in dungeons—don't have them, who in this server does? Open your inventories completely and show us! Then we'll believe you!"
What? They're pulling this stunt on mere suspicion?
"...I was gonna let it slide nicely since my log-out time's short."
Sungjin grinned ferociously, and the animals flinched.
No wonder—the little goat's lip curled, and the air temperature plummeted noticeably.
Plus, ominous black fog seemed to billow faintly around the goat...
"Y-You, what are..."
But the squirrel couldn't finish.
Crack!
The goat shot forward like lightning, stomping his forehead viciously.
A small flower-petal-shaped footprint imprinted on the squirrel's brow.
"Guh!?"
Thud!
Followed by the beginner sword plunging into his throat!
Fully depleted of HP, the squirrel dissolved into smoke midair.
"Wh-what the hell is that guy?"
As the animals recoiled in shock from the sudden attack, the black-fog-shrouded goat scanned left and right with a smile.
"Shall we wrap this up quick?"
What followed was a hellish feast.
"Uwaaaak!"
"Crazy! A possessed goat attacking people!"
"Log out! Log out!"
Flash! Flash!
In the dark path shrouded in thick black fog.
Like stars lighting the night sky, colorful sparkles winked brilliantly here and there.