Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Hierarchy Rank 2
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Goblin Cap.
Though Eoduk had explained it as simply turning invisible, Sin Bihyeong couldn't agree after actually using it.
"This isn't just the power to turn invisible. It's something far more advanced... a ability that lets you step into the Spirit Realm."
The Spirit Realm was a concept that wouldn't even appear until the late game in Solo Biography.
Beyond the Material Realm where humans lived lay the Spirit Realm, a place inhabited by souls and spiritual energy.
And now, Bihyeong had set foot in that Spirit Realm through the power of the cap.
'The place that was so hard to reach even in the game...'
Bihyeong took a entranced step forward.
That instant,
"Guhk!"
A heavy pressure crushed down on him, accompanied by pain that felt like his very existence was being pulverized.
Shruk.
The cap automatically slipped off, returning his body to the Material Realm.
"Bihyeong!?"
Mina rushed over anxiously upon seeing him.
"Are you okay? What happened all of a sudden..."
"...I'm fine. I just used the Bloodline Ability immaturely."
Hoo.
As he regulated his breathing and calmed himself, the intense pain subsided.
"Thanks for watching over me. It doesn't hurt anymore, so don't worry."
Even so, to reassure the still-worried Mina, Bihyeong pondered his Goblin Cap.
'...The cap itself probably doesn't have this effect. Is it because it ranked up to EX?'
While he was deep in thought, the yokai space rippled as the assigned professors finally entered.
They looked puzzled at Mina and Bihyeong near the entrance,
but their eyes widened upon seeing Mina's fan and Bihyeong's spear.
"Wha... you already cleared it?"
"And the aura they're giving off isn't just a little stronger. To acquire weapons like those in such a short time..."
Mina scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
In truth, it was all thanks to following Bihyeong's advice.
But she couldn't say that.
She couldn't carelessly reveal details about someone else's Bloodline Ability.
At that moment, Class A's assigned professor strode forward confidently.
"Heh heh heh. See? This is Class A's future."
A bright smile gleamed on the professor's lips.
We got the weapons, so why does that guy look so happy?
There was no time to ponder the reason.
Class A's professor made a sleazy face and waved at the other professors.
"I won the wager, right? I said my class's students would arrive first. What are you waiting for? Pay up."
Now it was clear—they'd been betting on our performance.
What the...?
'Those guys are professors?'
As if reading the thought from Bihyeong's expression, the professor scratched his head awkwardly.
"Ahaha! If we didn't do something like this, it'd be too boring to be professors. Our chief student understands, right?"
"...Forget understanding—can you just let us out first?"
"Of course, of course. Gotta let you out."
Class A's professor pulled out two talismans with exaggerated gestures.
"Emergency exit talismans. Use them to get out."
As he handed them over, he added,
"Freshmen take about two weeks on average to finish this exam. Regular classes start after that, so if you have questions, grab any professor. Got it?"
One might ask why the academy wasn't holding classes,
but this was the academy's way of accommodating those who finished weapon selection early.
'We can't wait here until everyone else finishes, and we can't start classes early since the first-year professors are still stuck.'
So, use the free time to preview lessons or bond with your new weapon.
That was the idea.
"Professor."
Before using the talisman, Bihyeong called out to his assigned professor.
"Hm? What?"
"When does the Library Chairman finish her duties?"
"Why?"
"I want to go to the library, but they said I can't because the yokai inspection isn't done yet."
"Oh, really? The library's closed right now?"
I live buried in books and didn't even know. Ahaha.
A sigh escaped at his words.
But the professor seemed to know about her duties.
"Probably at least this week? It's her Barrier Art leading the mission."
Bihyeong made a firm resolve at those words.
'During these two weeks, I'll raise the Goblin Cap's proficiency.'
And infiltrate the library.
...Or die trying.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ He tore the talisman and emerged outside.
Mina was waiting for him instead of leaving.
"Ah, Bihyeong! You made it out?"
"Yeah."
"What were you talking to the professor about?"
"Oh. I have business at the library, but the chairman's on duty, so the inspection's stalled. I asked about her mission."
"I see."
Mina nodded, then tilted her head in confusion.
"But aren't there professors? Why does the Library Chairman's absence stall the inspection?"
"The library has tons of forbidden books, some sealed by the chairman's barriers."
"Ah... so they can't touch those barriers recklessly, slowing things down?"
"Exactly."
Barrier Arts lose potency if disturbed once.
Mess up, and the barriers could collapse entirely.
"Then why not have the professors handle it fully?"
"They asked her because no one matches her Barrier Art skill."
"Hee... the chairman's that amazing?"
She was.
In Barrier Arts, she surpassed even the professors.
'That's why the academy leaves the forbidden books entirely to her.'
Though to Bihyeong, it seemed like the academy was dumping work on her.
If the professors did it themselves, we wouldn't need to wait.
'Forbidden books. Big deal.'
Just books with yokai sealed inside that eat you if you read them.
Whatever. Reality is what it is.
Bihyeong bid Mina farewell and returned to the dorms.
He immediately opened one door and stepped inside.
The training hall.
A place equipped with weight machines and wooden dummies for mock battles.
There, Bihyeong tried the cap again.
Fwoosh!
Blue flames gathered into horns.
Through them, his vision shifted into the Spirit Realm, beholding soul-like forms.
All things in the world possess spiritual energy.
Yokai, nature without intelligence, and humans too.
Thus, the scenery Bihyeong saw was translucent.
He pierced through matter to view the souls within.
'Spirit Realm. Moving here isn't physical movement.'
It felt like moving energy or a soul.
'Energy and souls are building blocks of this world. So no one can detect movement in the Spirit Realm.'
Unless they have special eyes or senses.
'Still.'
Master this to a degree, and it'd be incredible.
Attack from unseen spaces,
sever or strike foes' energy and souls.
'Not aiming that high yet. Just enough to infiltrate the library.'
Previously, begging the librarian revealed security sensors guarding it.
'About eight steps before the alarm triggers.'
Two weeks left.
He had to walk eight steps in the Spirit Realm within that time.
"Eoduk."
He removed the cap and called Eoduk.
His shadow stretched long, and Eoduk emerged from it.
But his appearance was slightly different from before.
"What? You were huge earlier."
At least twice Bihyeong's size, with a massive build—that was Eoduk's shadow form.
But now...?
"Furball?"
A hand-sized, cute black fluff ball.
Big round eyes stared back.
"You too? Like that cliché where teammates weaken after joining?"
"What's that?"
The furball rolled sideways.
Probably trying to tilt its head.
"My earlier form was an illusion. Now my rank has risen, and I finally have a proper shape!"
"Rank risen?"
"You gave me a name, elder. That's why my rank rose!"
Eoduk bounced joyfully.
Stop shedding fur already.
But seeing him so happy, Bihyeong congratulated his growth instead.
"Anyway, I want to raise the cap's proficiency. Know any methods?"
"The cap?"
"Yeah. You only heard rumors, but you've lived longer as a goblin than me."
"Hmm... Mastering the cap, not sure, but I know how yokai grow their techniques!"
"Really? How?"
"By understanding their essence."
"Essence?"
"Their history, blood flowing in their veins, ancestors' footsteps. All woven into stories passed down. That's the power for descendants—grasping your essence grows you."
Wait, isn't that basically Bloodline Abilities?
'...Yokai have Bloodline Abilities too. I have Wager and Goblin Cap.'
And this wasn't all.
The selection had three more besides the cap.
'So... I can manifest them through this?'
Astonishing.
Even hardcore player Bihyeong didn't know this training method.
'In the game, repeated training sometimes awakened latent Bloodline Abilities.'
Though the odds were abysmal.
'But if the training's flawed?'
What if you grasped it through ancestors' tales and strived accordingly?
'Wouldn't the odds skyrocket?'
Chill!
Goosebumps rose.
'...Better not reveal this to exorcists casually.'
Yeah.
No need to boost enemies who could kill me.
Anyway.
Bihyeong shared what he knew about goblins with Eoduk.
Beings who brought disasters or blessings on whims.
Living alongside humans, obsessed with wagers and wrestling.
Eoduk nodded to most.
Except one.
"Wrestling's a bit off."
"Off? How?"
"Goblins' wrestling isn't 'real' wrestling. Just a way to play with humans."
Even then, they handicapped themselves by amputating a leg for humans' frail bodies.
"What goblins go mad for is 'combat'. To us, fighting is play."
Hearing that, Bihyeong's heart pounded.
An uncontrollable grin.
Eoduk smiled warmly at his expression.
"Looks like you're a goblin through and through, elder. You seem thrilled!"
Thrilled? Me?
Touching his lips unconsciously, he felt them curved higher than usual.
Yokai nature?
Or his true self?
Either way, he couldn't deny it.
"...Anyway. You know that combat?"
"I know some basic grappling arts."
"Teach me."
"An honor!"
The bouncing furball backed up and instructed Bihyeong.
"Elder. Try stepping on me."
"Huh?"
The tiny furball—kitten-sized—told him to step on it.
'Might burst if I do.'
Sensing his worry, Eoduk said confidently,
"Without yokai power, it's fine."
That confident, huh.
Bihyeong shook off hesitation and extended his foot toward Eoduk.
Squelch.
That sensation hit his sole for an instant,
and...
"...Huh?"
The next moment, Bihyeong's back met the floor.
He sprang up.
"How'd you do that?"
"Grappling redirect."
"With that tiny body?"
"Size doesn't matter in goblin play."
The furball proudly puffed its belly-area.
"Goblins call this 'Root'. Play's most basic technique—no, concept."
Root.
Grasping it, Bihyeong pondered deeply.
'I need to make this mine.'
Basic for goblins, after all.
He replayed the instant he stepped on Eoduk endlessly.
Stepping, falling, analyzing the gap.
Focus ignited.
No fight, yet time slowed, flows visible.
His mind razor-sharp amid it.
'Stepped, but no impact on Eoduk. No, not even body shake after I fell.'
Why?
He found the answer in a tree.
'Root, right.'
Like an ancient tree's deep roots, yokai power extended from Eoduk's base.
Dispersing all shock, flowing away his force.
'That's it.'
So I can do it too?
The thought struck; yokai power from his lower body rooted down.
"Ooh!"
Eoduk bounced excitedly.
"Amazing! Truly amazing! Grasping Root after one try!?"
Bihyeong didn't hear.
Deep in no-mind, contemplating Root and its applications.
'Root from soles. Could empower stances?'
Test it.
He stepped forward. Boom!
Root amplified his stance, drawing earth power.
Bam!
Punching out, air exploded with noise.
Bihyeong stared blankly at his fist.
"...This possible?"
It was.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [You steal the opponent's technique by observing it.] [Bloodline Ability, 'Mimicry' sprouts.] . . [You have grasped the feel for goblin play.] [You have demonstrated expansion beyond mere learning.] [Technique, 'Root【Hierarchy Rank 1】' is adjusted to Technique, 'Demon Combat Technique【Hierarchy Rank 3】' and acquired.] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [You have encountered goblin lore.] [Bloodline Ability, 'Goblin Cap (EX)' proficiency has increased.] The sense was coming together.
'Good. At this rate, I can meet the deadline...'
Then, a message obscured Bihyeong's view.
✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ Hierarchy Rank 1 → Hierarchy Rank 2 ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Congratulations. You have filled all Hierarchy Rank 1 proficiency!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Your innate rank rises to 'Hierarchy Rank 2'!]