Do You Feel the Difference in Power?
Clank.
I snapped the iron chains and padlock, then yanked open the heavy iron door.
"A bit heavy."
Even a grown man would struggle with it. Which only made it more suspicious.
Screeech!
A grating sound of rusted metal scraping echoed as the door swung open. Peering inside, I saw wooden stairs leading down.
I descended immediately, but it was deeper than expected. What the hell were they hiding down here?
I didn't remember any basement like this from the briefing in my previous life. Well, no surprise—probably no one else thought to raid the grain warehouse but me.
As far as I recalled, if you waited here a few days, the village chief would bring it up first, saying he had to offer sacrifices to the Iron Fan Immortal. That was how it went last time too, but I had no intention of waiting around, which was why I was doing this now.
Thud.
I reached the bottom anyway. The musty, stale smell of a basement assaulted my nose.
Ahead stretched a straight corridor of stone walls. Pitch black, of course—no light penetrated. Torches hung sporadically on the walls.
I had no desire to draw attention with them, so I chose another way.
Vampire Vision.
Bzzz.
The surroundings were just cold stone walls—everything grayscale. I muttered softly.
"Can't you make it a bit brighter?"
Angelica responded right away.
-Be glad you have this much.
"Our director sees through darkness like it's broad daylight."
-That's because she uses echolocation.
"Ah, I learned that too, but..."
The high-frequency sounds weren't familiar; I didn't use it much. I'd learned so many things that less important ones got sidelined.
I scratched my cheek.
"I can only hear ultrasound. Can't produce it myself."
-Turn yourself into a vampire too, master. You'll master it naturally.
"Ugh."
Vampires clearly had physical advantages over humans. But I wanted to stay human to the end—and die as one.
Vampire Vision was enough to avoid bumping into walls if I focused. For now, this would do.
Anyway, how long had I walked? The passage widened, and scattered bone fragments came into view. Yellowed, decayed old bones and fresh white ones that looked like they'd had flesh until moments ago. Various sizes, ages—but one thing was clear, and I scowled.
"Human bones."
People's bones.
"Damn it."
This was the Cannibal Village. Imagining what happened in this basement made my stomach churn.
The chief's granary was also the Rakshasas' pantry. Wary of any lurking Rakshasas, I pressed deeper inside.
Suddenly, a facility like an underground prison appeared. People inside—unconscious or dead, I couldn't tell.
The cages were wooden; I sliced through them in one go. I checked each one's pulse.
"Alive."
That's when it happened.
"Mm..."
Someone rubbed their bleary eyes and met my gaze.
"...Gasp! W-Who, who, who are y-you...?"
To calm the terrified man, I quickly pressed a finger to my lips.
"Shh. Easy now."
"P-Please, just spare my life..."
"Quiet! I'm human. Not a monster—relax."
He stifled a gasp and nodded. I spoke softly.
"I can guess what this place is for. Tell me how you ended up here, and if there are others."
He took a deep breath to steady himself.
"I was just passing by, found the village, stayed at the inn a few days... Woke up here one day."
The inn—where my team was staying now.
"I see."
Suddenly, he grabbed my pant leg, voice breaking.
"C-come to think of it, the others... J-just now, our Wol-i. Our Wol-i!"
I glanced where he pointed—another passage.
"Then stay put here... I'll be back."
As I started to say that, an idea struck. I pulled out the hand mirror opened by the Cromwell key from my pocket.
Could I store people in here too? Perfect test subject right in front of me.
"I'll save you, Song-i, and everyone. Come here a sec?"
"P-Pardon? Uh..."
"Something weird's gonna happen—don't freak out."
"What kind of...?"
Actions speak louder than words. I grabbed his nape and shoved him straight into the mirror.
Visualizing his face, I reached in and pulled him back out.
"...Gasp!"
Pale as a ghost, he looked around wildly, then stared at me in shock.
"Wh-what was that just now?!"
"Stay calm. What did it feel like?"
"F-feel like? Divine one."
His eyes filled with awe; he called me a deity. No wonder—who else cleaves thick wooden cages and wields mysterious artifacts?
I let the misunderstanding stand.
"When you were inside the mirror. Did you see anything? Could you move?"
"Too disoriented to see... But I could move. Breathe too. Probably..."
"Hm."
I thought fast, nodded, and shoved him back in.
"Guh?!"
This time, I closed the passage with the key. Counted five seconds mentally, then reopened and pulled him out.
"Huff!"
"How was that?"
"H-how? You put me in and pulled me right out, divine one."
Got it. Time flows with the outside when the passage is open; stops inside when closed.
I looked around.
"You know all these people?"
"Chatted with some at the inn, others just faces."
"Fine, you explain to them later. What's your name?"
"Jin Jang-ho, divine one. My sister's Jin Hwa-wol. Please save her!"
"Calm down. When was she taken?"
"Not sure... But they said her beauty's fit for the king—still time to save her!"
"Any distinguishing marks?"
"Beauty mark under her left eye. Please, our family will reward you greatly."
"Understood. I'll save your sister—talk later."
"Yes, divine one!"
I stored the prisoners one by one in the mirror and closed the passage. When they emerged, all dangers would be gone.
Jin Jang-ho's family, huh. His clothes were finer than the others—some rich young master, probably. Details later.
Soon, everyone secured, I moved on. They seemed to lock people up to eat later—had to hurry.
Into the passage Jin Jang-ho indicated, deeper in. Longer than before, like they hid something thoroughly. The whole basement felt ominous, worse the farther I went.
That's when it came.
"Uuugh..."
"Hic."
"Kuhh..."
Sobbing women. Further in, more cages like before—but all women.
As I approached to rescue them—
"Krrrk... krk..."
A sickening scrape, like a skewer on metal. I turned toward the source.
Vampire Vision blurred facial details, but no doubt—a Rakshasa.
Bzzz.
I infused qi into my sword.
"Krrk."
As it neared the cage door, I slipped behind it.
Slash.
"Krk?"
Something sliced—but the Rakshasa had no time to wonder. No blood or oxygen to the brain meant no more thinking.
"What the...?"
The prisoners should've been shocked, but they just sobbed like dolls. Clearly out of their minds.
Thud.
No other Rakshasas around. I ignored it and cleaved the cages.
Deactivated Vampire Vision and said to Zhuque,
"Zhuque. Give me some power. Just a little."
-Got it, master.
Bzzz.
The blade glowed crimson. Perfect torch substitute.
"...Hm."
Now I saw: all women naked, barely covered by ragged cloth. Cages divided intentionally.
They weren't in any state for talk. I quickly stored them in the mirror.
One beauty stood out—beauty mark under left eye. Jin Hwa-wol.
Beyond, a dead-end room sticky with fluids and flesh scraps. Obvious purpose.
"Disgusting."
I didn't want to stay another second—turned back.
Clunk.
Back up the stairs, the iron door was shut.
"Oh, Jeongha hyung. Finally back in the world."
"Who came by?"
"Heh. Played lookout switch, but they didn't buy it."
"..."
"Tried to eat me, so I ate them instead."
Glancing outside, signs of battle—huge tooth marks in the dirt. I swept them away with my foot.
"Clean this up quick."
"Was just doing that when you popped out. Anyway, anything fun inside?"
"People."
"Huh?"
"And opportunities."
"Keh. Man of great fortune."
Opportunity or not, who knew. Jin Jang-ho and Jin Hwa-wol looked well-bred, but if just rich kids, all they'd offer was money.
Still, I helped because I'm no gentleman. This was a 'stage'—I trusted the 'shareholders' setups.
"Anyway, let's head back."
No commotion, good. Kim Hansu knew his role, whatever he thought.
Back at the inn, I put him to bed, chatted with Stella outside, then climbed the eaves to recite Thunder Cloud Heart Knot.
Lost track of time concentrating—dawn already. That's when I sensed progress.
Crackle.
"Grown."
Now I could maintain fist-sized sparks steadily. One step up—two more to go.
I woke the soundly sleeping Kim Hansu.
"Ah, what."
"Me."
"Ugh."
Interrupted mid-deep sleep, he scratched his head and sat up.
"Fairy time."
"Sounds good."
Eyes gleaming, he jumped up. I took him, Section Chief Lee Jun-yeol, and Kasumi up the mountain again.
"Sunbae-nim. Something ahead. Bad feeling."
"Formation."
"Watch this."
I stepped forward. Bagua positions known. No more agonizing dismantling.
"Zhuque. Go."
-Mm!
Like enjoying a sauna—wait, and the formation crumbles itself.
Crunch!
"As expected of sunbae-nim."
"What kinda freak skill is that?"
Team stared in wonder, but I brushed it off as my Gift. True enough—past life mastery via Gift.
Now the fairy would know I came, but couldn't tail me easily. Hence Kim Hansu.
Last time, Kasumi and Lee covered the rear—not fun getting flanked.
Reached Parachao Pavilion. Placed offerings, spread senses wide. Instinctive, wouldn't pinpoint her, but—
Unexpected: a presence in the right woods.
"Fairy lady. Here to offer tribute."
Shouted that way, shook a [Qi Recovery Capsule].
Response: she closed in instantly, eyeing me suspiciously.
"What are you?"
"From the chief. But look at this. Called Awakening Orb."
"Awakening Orb?"
I briefly explained its effects.
"Trade these and the offerings for the Feather Fan?"
"..."
As expected, she took one, chanted, nodded.
"Fine."
Pulled the Feather Fan from her mouth, breathed on it, handed it over.
I took it, grinned.
"Sleep well then."
"What?!"
Shing!
Drew my sword. Zhuque synced, infusing four-star power.
Her face twisted in rage.
"Backstabbing wretch! First time I've seen someone more shameless than that monkey!"
I sneered back.
"Then tear me apart."
"Insolent fool! As you wish!"
After the basement horrors, I had zero respect left for this Rakshasa bitch.
She swung the Iron Fan.
Whoosh!
Fierce wind blasted—but I didn't dodge. Kim Hansu beside, Kasumi and Lee covering.
Curious to counter her fan wind directly. With my current power? Zhuque's words hinted divine artifacts might react to divine power.
"Feather Fan!"
Qi prepped at fingertips—unneeded. Wind didn't drain qi like before. Instead, faint divine power around me seeped into the fan.
Divine power.
Iron Fan wind clashed with Feather Fan wind.
Obvious winner.
"Fool! You think you can wield the Feather Fan...? No?!"
Her eyes bulged.
Feather Fan wind shredded Iron Fan wind, hurled her airborne.
"Aaaah! H-how...?"
I approached; she scrambled back, dirt-covered, hands clawing ground.
"Uuuu... M-monster..."
End of resistance.
Click.
Lee Jun-yeol and Kasumi weapons at her throat from behind.
I loomed over her.
"Do you feel the difference in power?"