Can You Feel the Difference in Power?
The wind I'd launched with the Feather Fan was nothing more than plain old wind, after all. I couldn't wield magic like Robert to compress it into razor-sharp blades, so it was inevitable.
Vmmm.
To finish her off, I pointed my sword—its ominous crimson blade humming fiercely.
"Ugh……."
The Iron Wire Princess's pupils trembled violently. She eyed me cautiously, as if gauging my mood, then hesitantly parted her lips.
"P-perhaps you've been chosen by those exalted ones?"
"You mean the shareholders?"
"Shareholders……? Th-that's……."
Her eyes flashed as something dawned on her, but then she clutched her head.
"Ugh. My head hurts."
As I'd suspected. A vassal's memories were severely restricted.
No choice, then—I'd have to summon the shareholder.
Who had invested in this 15th-floor stage was obvious as day.
The 'real' Iron Wire Princess watching from this very spot.
I thrust my sword skyward like a lightning rod and bellowed,
"Great investor of Hunter Stock Company, Iron Wire Princess! I beseech your presence!"
Whish.
A gentle breeze stirred. Forest leaves rustled, roadside pebbles tumbled.
"……."
"……?"
"Hm……."
We waited like that for a good while.
Did she really have no sponsor? Then I'd just have to kill this hidden stage boss right here.
Shing.
I swung the sword back to strike—
Shareholder, Iron Wire Princess responds to Employee Kim Jeongha's summons.
Hold for a moment. I'm descending now.
"Huh?"
"What the—? What's this?"
A voice reverberating through space drew everyone's gaze skyward.
It matched the Iron Wire Princess before us, but felt more ethereal, more dreamlike.
"Hup!"
Suddenly, light burst from the Iron Wire Princess's eyes. White mist-like smoke billowed around her, enveloping her body.
She rose gracefully, fluttering her fan with elegant poise, then spoke.
"To wield the Feather Fan with such mastery. Truly no ordinary soul."
"You really came."
"Indeed. I've answered your call, so spare this child's life, I beg you."
Her words caught me off guard. I'd expected some lofty posturing—like 'Why summon me?'—but this noble shareholder was outright pleading for her vassal's life.
"She eats people. I can't just let that slide as a fellow human."
"Not so. This child eats no humans."
"But she's a Rakshasa girl?"
The Iron Wire Princess folded her fan and replied,
"Dost thou know that I myself am no mere Rakshasa yokai?"
True enough. 'Rakshasa girl' was just another title for the Iron Wire Princess.
She had no ties to the actual yokai skulking in the fairy village.
Still, her death throes in my previous life—twisted like a wrathful demon—had left me skeptical.
I countered,
"So you're saying your vassal isn't a Rakshasa either?"
"Nay. This child is truly a Rakshasa."
"……?"
As confusion crossed my face, she explained matter-of-factly. Her tale went like this:
One day, a Rakshasa child was born who eerily resembled her.
The Iron Wire Princess appeared to the child, promising that if she abstained from human flesh for five hundred years and followed her teachings in asceticism, she could shed her yokai nature and ascend as a sage.
"She accepted the offer, becoming my vassal and cultivating here ever since."
"Only a century remains of her trial. Wouldst thou not pity her so?"
I crossed my arms and shot back,
"Then what's with exploiting the village? Where does all that grain go?"
"Where else but to eat?"
"All that, by yourself?"
She nodded lightly.
"To suppress her appetites, I let it be."
"She could've dealt with the village Rakshasas in exchange for the grain."
"'Twould have been ideal."
Some backstory there. I waited silently for her to continue.
"The Rakshasa King near the village pursued this child here."
"Why?"
"Smitten by her beauty, he sought her as his bride. I cannot interfere directly in mortal affairs, so slaying the Rakshasa King falls to thee."
Everything clicked. Protecting the hidden boss—not killing her—was the true objective!
"Would've been nice to know upfront."
I meant it. I had no clue what became of the Rakshasa girl in my first life.
High chance the Ministry of Health and Welfare grunts took her out.
Without anyone using the Feather Fan, its acquisition condition probably unlocked only after her death.
"Unavoidable. The other shareholders' meddling is fierce. Tsk. Answering thy summons cost me dearly."
"You treasure your disciple."
"Reconsider slaying her once more. And dispatch the Rakshasa King."
"And my reward?"
"This child shall tell thee. Also, the Feather Fan is thine to borrow until death claims thee."
I narrowed my eyes.
"The Feather Fan is already mine."
"Forty-nine flicks exhaust its power. Thy last was the fortieth."
"Sneaky."
"One cannot leave such treasures scattered in the mortal world."
Flutter.
As she unfurled the fan, the enveloping mist began to fade.
"Already the shareholders gnaw at my shares. Farewell. If chance allows, quench the flames of Fire Mountain."
As she began to vanish, I quickly asked,
"Something behind Fire Mountain too?"
"Do so, and I'll upgrade the Feather Fan to the Parachao Flying Fan."
No time to answer, apparently. With that, the Iron Wire Princess vanished.
I turned to the remaining Rakshasa girl.
"What's your real name?"
"……Nam Bi."
"Good. Nam Bi. You heard all that, right?"
She nodded, gazing down at her body, then spoke.
"Give me time to wash up."
"Your speech changed suddenly."
"No need for pretense anymore. My demonic yokai ass got called out for faking a lofty fairy act. If you like the Iron Wire Princess's style, I can mimic it."
"Be yourself."
"Got it. You'll wait here?"
I shook my head.
"Nah. I'll come back at the right time."
"Okay."
Too long away from the fairy village, and Stella might send staff.
Plus, those we'd rescued from the basement needed Ministry of Health and Welfare care.
"Let's go."
The employees nodded.
Back at the village hall, I requested a one-on-one with Head Stella.
She had plenty to say to me too, so she agreed readily.
With all that smoke from the mountainside today, she was probably gearing up for a lecture.
Might even suspect I'd torched Gong So-hoon's body and the grain to destroy evidence.
Anyway, we entered the hall together.
From the mirror, I pulled out the prisoners one by one from the grain warehouse basement.
And sure enough—
"K-Kim Jeongha Section Chief? Wh-what in the world……?"
Stella's eyes widened as she demanded an explanation.
"There's more, but pulling them all out here's impractical, so just these for now."
I tossed her the opening line, letting her fill in the blanks as I recounted the tale.
Followed a suspicious figure last night to the village chief's granary.
"What was there?"
"Found the basement."
She hung on every word, barely breathing.
Gasp.
Her eyes and ears twitched with each revelation.
"Th-such horrors……."
Suddenly, she clasped my hands in both of hers.
"You did amazingly. They'll be eternally grateful, I'm sure. Oh—enough dawdling. We must tend to these patients."
"The chief's all yours."
"Got it. Thank you, Section Chief Kim Jeongha. For saving them."
I nodded in acknowledgment.
Deeply moved, she skipped the messenger request this time.
Just smiled enigmatically and murmured,
"You…… never strayed from the path, did you?"
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. My mistake."
"Alright then."
As I left the hall, Stella called in her female subordinates.
Daylight lingered, so I planned to head back to Parachao Pavilion.
Curious what Nam Bi would offer for her life, my feet itched to move.
"Kim Hansu. Let's go."
"Huh? Already? We just got back."
"Just scoping things out."
"Hmmm."
I chose Kim Hansu as my guard. In case Nam Bi harbored second thoughts.
Climbing the mountain, we met her sooner than expected.
Far from Parachao Pavilion, she muttered to herself while flailing at thin air.
"Lost her marbles, huh. Kekeke."
"We'll find out when we ask."
I approached Nam Bi.
"What're you doing?"
"Resetting the Dark Crushing Formation you broke."
Curious, I asked,
"What's the Dark Crushing Formation do?"
I'd bulldozed through without falling victim, so its effects were a mystery.
"Eight gates: Open, Rest, Life, Injury, Obstruction, Illusion, Fright, Death. Enter three, and you loop back whence you came. The other five petrify you like stone or kill outright."
"Got it."
"Wanna learn?"
"Nah."
Formations that trapped the free-spirited me held zero appeal.
Better spend that time memorizing another Blood Cycle cycle or Thunder Cloud Heart Knot mantra.
While at it, I probed,
"If I wanted to learn, would you teach?"
"Hmm. I could let you use the inner chamber of Parachao Pavilion."
"Inner chamber's just the master bedroom, right?"
"Ooh, sweet digs for crashing?"
Kim Hansu chimed in.
Nam Bi shook her head.
"Nope. Blessed by the Iron Wire Princess for rapid sorcery progress."
"What?!"
"Wh-what? Why so shocked?"
"You should've mentioned a spot like that sooner!"
"You never asked. We're not that close."
"I wanna get close, Nam Bi. For real."
I'd shamelessly grovel to access that chamber.
Pride? Sold it to Director Madric Blood ages ago.
But Nam Bi's reaction exceeded expectations.
"……For real?"
"Yeah. Totally."
"Then we're friends?"
"Obviously."
She beamed.
"I've hidden here since running away as a kid—no friends ever. You're my first."
Made sense she'd open up so easily.
"Honor."
"Always wanted to invite a friend to Parachao Pavilion."
"Dying to see it."
"Then let's go!"
I followed her in.
Once inside, I asked,
"The inner chamber's your 'life price' the Iron Wire Princess mentioned?"
"Nah. That's just friend perks."
Inner chamber: friendship fee paid.
Nam Bi grinned nonstop, thrilled at her first friend.
She continued,
"Mountain-top lake houses a mountain spirit. If I ask, he'll give Wind-Stilling Pills."
I tilted my head.
"Wind-Stilling Pills?"
"Yeah. Need 'em to ride the Parachao Flying Fan."
"Wait—it's a flying treasure fan?!"
"Yup."
Parachao Flying Fan!
Skeptical from the name, but a legit flying vessel.