Chapter 59
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 059
Chapter Title: Exorcism
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Just because you have a large number of people doesn't mean everything goes smoothly. The expedition was no exception. With thousands of soldiers marching along, their progress was frustratingly slow.
This was unavoidable.
The Demonic Realm's environment was so hazardous and barren that obstacles kept popping up whenever the troops tried to advance.
Poisonous thorny thickets, swamps of unknown depth, massive carnivorous plants that could devour a man...
Whenever these appeared, the vanguard had to clear them out, or the entire expedition would detour around them. Each time, their marching speed naturally slowed to a crawl.
Roland wasn't thrilled about the situation.
"All we're doing is staring at the back of the guy in front. At this rate, I'm liable to die of boredom."
Roland grumbled as usual. Just a few days ago, he'd been something of a stern fellow... but ever since joining the second expedition, his demeanor had changed dramatically.
The Holy Knights didn't think much of the shift. This was Roland's true nature.
He'd only put on a grave front to maintain his dignity while in command. The moment he shed that role, Roland let his long-suppressed personality shine through.
"Hey, Jin. When do you think we'll get our chance to shine? I'd love to hear your esteemed opinion."
"Well..."
It was a tough question to answer offhand.
Woojin had never traveled with a group this massive before. The Demonic Realm's creatures were seeing humans like this for the first time too... Who knew how they'd react?
After a moment's thought, he replied.
"...Probably nothing for a while. The weak ones would've fled by now, and the strong ones are just watching and waiting."
"So, no different from the first expedition, huh. This mission might end up being a total snooze-fest."
Roland clicked his tongue. With the beasts staying so timid, it looked like they'd reach their destination without much trouble.
But Woojin shook his head.
"That won't happen. They'll show up when the time is right."
"The right time? Be specific."
"When it's to their advantage. When the expedition's focus slips, or they've found a better spot and better timing. That's when the beasts will hunt."
He wasn't a prophet, so he couldn't say exactly when... but the beasts would strike. They wouldn't pass up prey this plentiful.
Roland tilted his head at the explanation, as if he had a hard time buying Woojin's words.
"So you're saying... the beasts can use tactics like people? That they're smart enough for that?"
"Roland. Beasts are craftier than humans."
Woojin added with a smile.
"You'll understand one day."
Ten days later.
The expedition ground to a halt. They'd run into a fairly substantial river during the march.
Roland glanced at the map.
"No river on the map... Guess enough time has passed for the whole area's terrain to change."
"Seems that way."
The Demonic Realm's environment shifted rapidly.
There was a gap of centuries between the last recorded map of the area and reality. So the expedition was sending out scouts to relearn the lay of the land.
'The first expedition had pre-cleared paths to make it easy, but from here on, it'll be rough.'
It was like groping through the dark. To succeed in the second expedition, they'd need to handle variables like this adeptly.
Soon, orders came to detour. The troops followed the riverbank. After half a day, they spotted a shallower stretch.
'Can we cross there?'
Woojin worried inwardly. Deceptively easy paths often spelled trouble.
But his thoughts couldn't sway the expedition's decisions. To test the new route, a brave knight stepped into the water.
The knight pushed forward without hesitation. The water was shallow enough to only wet his lower body, and the current was mild, making it easy to walk.
He reached the other side without issue. Orders followed shortly.
"Ford the river!"
The vanguard waded in. Crossing itself was no big deal, but the time it took was the problem.
You couldn't move fast in water.
With the river wide and nearly thousands of soldiers to cross, it would take a while for everyone.
Over an hour had passed already. Only about thirty percent had made it across.
"Everyone across before sundown! Pick up the pace without rushing blindly!"
The supervising knight barked the order. The soldiers sped up in response. But haste didn't always help in situations like this.
Splash!!
A soldier slipped on slimy moss while hurrying and tumbled into the water. Another nearby snickered.
'Clumsy idiot.'
He'd soaked his pack, ruining spare clothes and gear. The guy was in for some misery. He planned to mock the fool when he got up.
...But the fallen soldier didn't surface. He just sank beneath the waves.
'What the...?'
As the soldier puzzled over it, his ankle burned. Something had grabbed his leg. Another victim dragged under.
Soldiers vanishing one by one. The expedition finally caught on.
"Something in the water!!"
"Aaaagh—!"
Troops mid-crossing bolted in panic. From the rear, screams sank into the depths one after another.
Over a dozen gone in seconds. The armed expedition stared warily at the surface, expecting the monster to emerge...
...But the river just flowed with gentle ripples. No monster, not even a drop of blood surfaced.
As if nothing had happened.
That made the soldiers even more terrified.
No one wanted to enter the water now, but thirty percent of the force was already across. The rest had to follow.
But ordering a crossing in this mood would tank morale. They needed a safer approach.
"Fell trees nearby!"
Duke Edwin's knights shouted the command. Soldiers received saws and axes, then chopped down Demonic Realm trees.
Woojin scratched his chin watching them.
'Making rafts or something?'
Seemed purposeful, but he didn't dwell on it. He'd figure out the point once he saw the results.
Woojin's focus was elsewhere.
'Water ghosts.'
The things terrorizing the expedition. He wandered the riverbank, eager to uncover their true nature.
He'd missed the soldiers vanishing. Nothing happened while he watched, so he'd gone to eat with the wolves... and that's when it struck.
'They got a taste, so they'll show again. How to lure 'em out.'
As Woojin pondered, scratching his chin, he felt eyes on him. The lumberjacks stared intently.
Rumors of water ghosts had everyone avoiding the river. Him strolling the edge alone drew attention.
'Better come after dark.'
Didn't have to wait long. The crossing had dragged on, so sunset was half an hour away.
He killed time chatting with Roland.
...And night fell.
Woojin slipped away from camp unnoticed. At the river, he stripped off his shoes and shirt, folding them neatly on a rock.
Prep done. He'd use his own body as bait to summon the water ghosts.
'Nighttime dip.'
Kinda poetic.
He filled his lungs and dove in. Swimming around, he scanned for traces of beasts.
...Something glinted.
He swam closer. It was a soldier's helmet.
'Not rusted, so probably from one who died today.'
If the helmet was here, more traces nearby. But scanning around, nothing caught his eye.
Odd, indeed.
Beasts ate messily, shattering armor. Fragments should litter the area, yet none.
'Come to think of it... soldiers sank, but no blood surfaced.'
He had a rough idea now.
All that remained was summoning the water ghosts. Woojin thrashed to draw attention. No dice, even after repeats.
'Cautious ones.'
Made sense—they'd waited through the entire crossing before striking.
'Time for some bait.'
Resolved, Woojin swam to a deeper spot. He reached his waist, drawing a dagger.
Scrape—
Laid the blade on his palm, sawing back and forth. Thick skin parted, blood flowed.
'Come on.'
He squeezed his hand, releasing blood into the current. The sweet scent roused the sleeping water ghosts.
They swarmed in.
Long, eel-like bodies. Woojin's guess confirmed.
'Water snake beasts, as expected.'
Why soldiers vanished like magic: bitten dead by venomous fangs, then swallowed whole underwater. Tricks lose their shine once you know them.
But these weren't small fry. Anaconda-sized, at least twenty of them.
Crunch, chomp!
Snakes vied to sink fangs into him. Simultaneously, they coiled tight around his body. A strangle-and-crush on prey.
Woojin sank deep. Into pitch-black depths without a hint of light...
Flash—
...A red bolt exploded.
A silent blast underwater. The riverbed lit up briefly, then darkness returned. As if nothing occurred.
Splash.
Woojin's head broke the surface. He gulped air. Lungs full, it felt like waking from a long dream.
'Whew... nearly suffocated.'
Regulating his breath...
The snake beasts floated up belatedly. Scorched unconscious by the bolt—he'd controlled the power to spare their cores and hides.
Woojin smiled in satisfaction.
'Water ghosts, exorcism complete.'
Nice bit of action after a while.