Chapter 319
Chapter 319
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 319
Chapter Title: Wind Spirit King, Sylphid (2)
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Murung Do-won, Vice Guild Master's office.
Having just finished her morning training and taken a shower, Gi So-yul entered with her hair still damp.
"Vice Guild Master, you're coming in early these days."
At Gi So-yul's words, Kim Jin-ah smiled brightly.
"I can't sleep well. Better to get some extra work done than just lie in bed."
In Byeolcheonji, Gi So-yul's role was none other than escorting the Vice Guild Master.
No matter how secure Murung Do-won was, Kim Jin-ah was a non-Ranker.
That meant she was exposed to countless dangers.
Some might say it was overkill for a Ranker like her to guard just one ordinary person...
In truth, Gi So-yul's position in Byeolcheonji was the most important, and her salary was generous.
No one among the members disputed that.
They all acknowledged it.
That Kim Jin-ah's value was worth more than a fortune in gold.
"Can't sleep... Is it because of the Guild Master, by any chance?"
In any case.
Whenever Kim Jin-ah started coming in early for such reasons, Gi So-yul's arrival followed suit.
Especially on days like today, when there was fieldwork.
"Yes."
Kim Jin-ah, dressed and ready to head out, let out a quiet sigh.
"This time, all of the Guild Master's subordinates stayed behind. It just bothers me. If at least Arin had come along, I'd feel much more at ease."
Feel at ease? She'd have stretched out and slept like a baby.
Complete with a pre-bed beer, no doubt.
"Arin is reliable, isn't she?"
"Heh, right?"
As bitter as Kim Jin-ah felt, Gi So-yul wasn't exactly cheerful either.
She worried about Joo Dong-hoon just as much.
However.
"We have to trust him."
Gi So-yul smiled softly.
"You know it too, Vice Guild Master. Dong-hoon can crawl out alive even if you drop him into hell."
"That's true, but..."
"I think so. If you worry like this every time Dong-hoon heads out somewhere, how can he ever leave with peace of mind?"
"Hmm, he's not the type to care about that..."
He's probably doing the same right now.
Focused solely on getting stronger.
"Is that so?"
Gi So-yul chuckled lightly.
She couldn't think of anything to counter it.
"Still, I'm always amazed. Every time he returns, he's grown not just a level stronger—no, dozens of levels. Seeing that makes me realize how far I still have to go, even after my own efforts."
"Honestly, it's cheat-level. I mean, he's already world ranking fourth."
"We'll be shocked again when he comes back this time, right?"
"Definitely. Maybe he'll snag second place this time?"
"So, how about we turn the tables this time?"
"Turn the tables?"
Kim Jin-ah tilted her head.
"We show him a Byeolcheonji that's grown tremendously, and make Dong-hoon the one gaping in surprise when he returns."
"Ah?"
It was then.
From outside the Vice Guild Master's office.
"Haaah!"
"Hyaah!"
"Aaajajaajaat!"
The shouts of Byeolcheonji members training echoed from early morning.
The sight of awakened skeletons and Rankers sharing skills and knowledge, pushing each other to improve.
Having heard that the Guild Master had set off on another journey, the members had set everything else aside to focus solely on training.
'Right.'
Kim Jin-ah nodded.
'This isn't the time to worry about the Guild Master.'
He's surely still advancing somewhere far away.
Pushing forward at a pace we can barely keep up with.
'No more letting the gap widen.'
Just like those members training hard right now.
To support the Guild Master, we have to grow too.
"That was a good point, So-yul."
Kim Jin-ah's voice brimmed with resolve and determination.
* * *
"......"
Sua's mouth fell open.
"......"
Jea let out a sigh.
Spirit King, Sylphid.
Truth be told, it was their first time seeing Sylphid directly.
They had heard plenty through Sylestin.
- Contractor, never mention 'Yuisah' in the Spirit Realm. It's... how should I put it? Like a trigger button? The usually gentle Spirit King goes berserk the moment that name is uttered. Even the top-grade earth spirits 'Noe Anen,' who were always picking fights, back off. High-grade 'Noes' and mid-grade 'Noim' just bury their heads deep in the ground and don't come up. As for the low-grade 'Noom'...
Currently, earth and wind spirits were at war.
But that didn't mean it was a fight between Spirit Kings.
For one thing.
In this Spirit Realm, Spirit Kings clashing was an unspoken taboo.
Those colossal beings fighting would benefit no one.
Far from it— the Spirit Realm itself might collapse.
- Last time it happened, not only the Earth Spirit King 'Noas,' but the Fire Spirit King 'Salion' and Water Spirit King 'Elraim' came to hold him back... That says it all.
'To such a Spirit King.'
What?
Mentioning Yuisah's name again?
There were other ways to say it!
'Her' or 'that person'!
But no.
'Yuisah Stormtree?'
Full name with surname?
'You bastard. Rotten scum!'
In the end, curses bubbled up inside Jea too.
'If you're going to die, die alone! Why drag us into it!'
Jea held her breath, gazing at Spirit King Sylphid with anxious eyes.
Sua's face was tense and rigid.
Did walking a tightrope over a cliff feel like this?
No, more like.
Holding a bomb that could go off any second.
Gulp.
She swallowed dryly.
The two Constellation-grade Sylestins had shrunk back, curled up like pill bugs.
Their reaction alone showed how mighty Spirit King Sylphid was.
But.
Even in that moment, that enigmatic man stared calmly at Sylphid.
- Yes, precisely the once-great spiritist Yuisah Stormtree. I want to know what her lingering resentment is.
The question he had asked.
Since then, Sylphid had said nothing, just staring intently at the man.
"......"
A suffocating silence dragged on.
If only he'd rage or unleash his aura, they could resign themselves to it.
This eerie quiet was far more terrifying and unnerving.
And then.
"Resentment?"
Finally, Sylphid's lips parted.
"Did you say 'resentment' just now?"
The Spirit King's presence shifted.
Even in that gentle question, it carried a weight that overwhelmed all existence.
Jea finally couldn't hold back and squeezed her eyes shut.
She couldn't bear to watch this with open eyes.
'Should I have just listened to my little sister?'
Like the Sylestins said.
If they'd torn apart the target of his wrath before the Spirit King arrived.
Even he might not have been able to do anything.
"Yes, resentment. Don't you know something about it, Spirit King?"
"......"
It was then.
Sylphid strode toward the one who asked, Joo Dong-hoon.
Tilting his head as if sensing something odd, the Spirit King scrutinized every inch of his body.
Sniff sniff!
He even smelled his body.
"What's with that? It's embarrassing... I'm not a dog."
At those words, Jea snapped her eyes open.
What, a dog?
He just called that great Spirit King a 'dog'?
"......That crazy bastard."
Even Sua, who had been silently watching, couldn't help whispering.
There were limits to provocation.
This guy had to be suicidal.
But Sylphid showed no reaction.
Sniff sniff!
He kept smelling... then suddenly scowled fiercely.
"This scent. Definitely...?"
In that instant.
Whiiiiiing!
The wind began to blow.
Air stirred stealthily in a world devoid of even a breeze.
However.
The aura carried in that wind was no joke.
Compared to the winds from the Sylestins before, it was overwhelmingly vast—like child's play.
Kuguguguguga...!
The ground began to tremble.
A power that seemed ready to crush this world poured from Spirit King Sylphid's body.
The two Sylestins panicked.
- Damn it, Contractor, we need to get out of here! Go back to your world for now!
- I'll try contacting the other Spirit Kings! It seems... the Spirit King is about to explode with emotion again!
A crisis.
Jea and Sua flailed, losing their balance.
The Sylestins moved to act, but it was already too late.
"Five Sylestins."
Spirit King Sylphid's mouth opened.
"Listen to my words."
From the position of top-grade spirits, ignoring a Spirit King's call? Unthinkable.
- Yes...!
- P-Please speak!
Jea and Sua's Sylestins had no choice but to respond.
Ssh, sssh!
Three more Sylestins appeared from all directions.
- Yes!
- You called for us!
- We answer the Spirit King's summons!
With a single gesture from the Spirit King, Sylestins from afar were summoned.
They all looked at Sylphid with uneasy expressions.
'......No!'
Jea despaired.
Just looking at the situation, something was about to happen.
If the Spirit King rampaged here, she and her sister were done for.
But.
"It seems... someone has granted my small wish."
The words from the Spirit King's mouth completely missed Jea's expectations.
"All Sylestins, cease your wars and assemble at the Wind Palace to welcome the guest!"
"......Guest?"
Jea's eyes widened.
That man with zero spirit affinity was the Spirit King's guest?
Moreover.
Wind Palace?
The Wind Palace was Spirit King Sylphid's domain.
The holy site of the Spirit Realm that every spiritist yearned to visit, the most sacred place.
Inviting someone there meant the Spirit King acknowledged them.
'To such a place.'
Assembling all Sylestins?
Jea glanced aside, and Sua wore the same wide-eyed, incredulous expression.
This was an unprecedented event!
'And.'
If Sylestins could go, that meant the contractors could too.
In the Spirit Realm, contractors and spirits were treated as equals.
And.
Without a doubt, the 'Wind Palace' would allow building spirit affinity on a whole other level compared to this 'Wind Falls.'
The excited Sylphid murmured again.
"Yuisah. Ah, one who bears her scent for certain."
What?
Yuisah's scent?
"Aaah... So sweet, cozy, and warm. No wonder... I knew it from the moment you used 'resentment.' You know of Yuisah's death, don't you?"
Eh?
......Yuisah's death?
Jea's eyes widened.
Spiritist, Yuisah Stormtree.
She had contracted with the Wind Spirit King and simultaneously with top-grade fire, water, and earth spirits.
The one and only in the entire universe.
She was dead?
It was news to her.
She hadn't appeared in the Spirit Realm, so they thought she was missing or active in another world... Dead?
"I command once more! From this moment, this one is my honored guest. Harming him anywhere in the wind domain is the same as harming me, Sylphid!"
With Sylphid's final command.
Jea and Sua could only stare at each other.
'What?'
'What just happened, sis?'
Wearing dazed expressions.