Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Five Great
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Doeokshin.
Or Doeoksini.
Not many know the origins of that yokai.
Some say it appears anywhere, crushing people's heads until they burst.
Others claim it was born from the wrongful death of a servant girl.
"It's become like that precisely because it's incomplete, as you said."
A bitter smile touched Doeoksini's lips.
"This land lost so much in the wars. Our legends were among the casualties."
Whether yōkai, supernatural anomalies, or ghost stories.
To preserve the 'self,' the story must be clear.
Yet the yokai of the peninsula lost their foundations in past wars, their tales scattered to the winds.
"If those filthy island pirates from that wretched country hadn't invaded..."
Doeoksini's brow furrowed.
'He's talking about the Japanese colonial era.'
Sin Bihyeong had heard the stories.
How they turned Korea into a colony, twisting language, history, and even folklore to suit their tastes.
In the process, many native Korean yokai tales vanished.
"So I latched onto the remaining legend of the Yaksha."
There were once tales equating Yaksha with Doeoksini.
Doeoksini used it to etch his 'name' into the world.
"...But I'm not sure if that was the right choice. I once thought preserving a name was key to maintaining the self, but now... I don't know."
Did it mean anything to survive so pathetically, losing original form, story, and even temperament?
"I thought it was riding the tale, but it was more like parasitism."
Bihyeong had many thoughts watching that expression.
'Preserving the self requires a name... It sounds just like the yokai from the game.'
Monsters without ego, just rampaging with bloated bodies.
Beings that required at least mid-Hierarchy Rank to confront.
Doeoksini's described fate felt exactly like them.
"I hear the goblins' condition is even worse than mine."
Doeoksini's gaze shifted to his subordinates beyond the domain.
"A race born incomplete."
No one knew exactly when they lost their roots.
They fell from glory to ruin, emerging into the world as they were now.
"You mean to be the first step for those goblins. Is that what you're saying knowingly?"
Doeoksini's question settled heavily on Bihyeong's shoulders.
Yet the resolve in Bihyeong's eyes burned undimmed, his posture unbowed.
"Yeah. I'll lead them."
He would overturn the label of incompleteness and forge a legend to endure through the ages.
Perhaps that was the ending path for him, a half-demon.
"......"
Doeoksini stared at Bihyeong for a long moment, then shook his head.
"I just can't understand. Where does that certainty come from?"
"Do I need certainty?"
"...What?"
The corner of Bihyeong's mouth curved into a faint smile.
"I'm the pinnacle of potential for a goblin anyway."
A rank reaching EX.
A presence no yokai could rival.
"No matter what you all do, I'll keep walking that path. Legends will naturally pile up along the way."
Bihyeong extended his hand. Choose.
"Follow that path or not. Your call."
Doeoksini's eyes trembled slightly.
"...Then why invite me into your Night Parade? If you want to say that to him, tell my subordinates..."
"Already asked. They said they can't because their boss needs tending."
And now, seeing Doeoksini's reaction, he confirmed it.
The savage temperament he knew of Doeoksini had been distorted in many ways.
'Because it parasitized the Yaksha legend?'
Yaksha were revered yet feared until they submitted to the Buddha.
Its roots lay in the Indian yaksha.
Close to nature spirits, but eventually became negative beings devouring human flesh.
"Doeoksini. I like you."
Bihyeong's smile reflected in Doeoksini's trembling eyes.
"Stand behind me and reclaim your oral tradition. Or better yet, build new tales atop these roots."
Bihyeong extended his hand again.
"I'll advance. What about you?"
What do you say?
Did he really need to spell it out...?
'......'
To hide the bloodshot veins creeping around his trembling eyes, Doeoksini bowed his head deeply and grasped Bihyeong's hand.
Once worshipped, leader of the weak goblins, the vanguard.
This was the moment Doeoksini joined the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
＊＊＊
Doeoksini and his forces joined the Night Parade.
As if celebrating, notifications burst before Bihyeong's eyes like fireworks.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Congratulations! 'Doeoksini' and his forces have joined your Night Parade of One Hundred Demons! Once the lord of weak goblins, the vanguard who led them. Flashing east, flashing west. Impossible to track, he was one of the greatest terrors in folklore. That being has pledged his soul to serve under you. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Unique Story, 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons' progress has increased. With those words, Eoduk's voice rang out.
"L-Lord!"
Eoduk was linked to him.
Feeling the Night Parade's progress rise in real-time, his eyes were wide open.
"S-Something... something's happening!"
The kid was great in every way, but he had this habit when sharing opinions.
"What something?"
"Your Night Parade is growing stronger, Lord! Maybe because of that, I feel like I can advance too! If given the chance, I think I can evolve!"
As the Night Parade strengthened, his subordinates gained growth bonuses.
'Nice profit.'
The stronger Eoduk got, the more power he'd show when summoned.
Plus, Mina was among them, so her growth was in play too.
'Doeoksini too.'
Bihyeong glanced at the small boy standing steadfast behind him.
A seemingly unremarkable frame, but the inner giant's aura was extraordinary.
Since lifting Shuten Doji's curse, he was gradually reclaiming his true power.
'Started at low Hierarchy Rank, now rivals a decent mid-rank.'
Fully recovered, he might even match high-rank.
Ah, was this the feeling of being full without eating? Satisfying!
"Boss."
At that moment, Doeoksini looked at Bihyeong and spoke.
Incidentally, since joining the Night Parade, he'd used honorifics.
"I have one thing I'd like to ask."
"Speak."
"...I sense something familiar from you. Could it be...?"
Bihyeong let out a dry chuckle.
"Feeling it because it was originally yours?"
"As expected. You've acquired the main attribute related to 'Emptiness'."
Indeed.
What Bihyeong chose as his wager reward.
A main attribute.
'Technically called affinity, but...'
It showed affinity to that attribute, so main attribute fit.
'The system notified me the moment I saw it.'
This reward is closely related to Doeoksini's foundation. Proceed with caution. So Bihyeong chose it without hesitation, understanding a bit what "Doeoksini's foundation" meant.
'No trace of Doeoksini anywhere—that's part of his incomplete legend.'
The key was probably the magic of Emptiness.
Specialized in it, even skilled exorcists couldn't track him.
"Want it back?"
"No. I don't really need it anymore."
Doeoksini clenched and unclenched his fist as he spoke.
"You said earlier, Boss: grow new tales atop the current lore. Starting fresh without attachments feels right."
Wise words, hard to live by.
Bihyeong was relieved he didn't have to return it.
'The main Emptiness attribute advanced Colorless Painting too. Giving it back would've been disaster.'
Colorless Painting.
The supreme cultivation technique from Solo Biography, acquired via the library’s anomalous phenomenon.
After gaining Doeoksini's affinity, Bihyeong grasped its essence.
'Because it's nothing, it can depict anything.'
That meaning tied closely to Emptiness, not the five elements.
Bihyeong planned to train with it until regular classes resumed.
'After claiming all pending rewards.'
He told Mina to explore the treasure vault with goblin guides.
Then Bihyeong gazed into the void, checking his changes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Unique Story, 'The Beginner' has sprouted! ⚙ THE BEGINNER ⚙ Classification: Unique Story. To begin is to open the door. The first step of every journey, the start of every legend. Each of your stories will become legend. Stack tales that endure forever. His first thought upon seeing it: utter confusion.
'Each of my stories becomes legend...? What does that even mean?'
But the pondering was brief.
Bihyeong finally grasped its meaning.
'Wait. Stories? Main or derived, doesn't matter?'
Story meant tale.
So pushing main stories would net non-performance rewards too.
'Legends stack, unique story progresses, unlocking abilities like Night Parade.'
Perfect!
'Others get one reward per story; I get two?'
How to resist?
'And... achievements?'
Building the Goblin Club earned an impossible achievement.
'Wonder what it gives.'
He'd ignored the piling notifications during the Doeoksini chat.
Time to check.
'Open.'
The moment his will activated,
Ding!
A cheerful chime filled his vision like fanfare.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You have achieved the impossible! Achievement, 'Bloodline Creator' acquired. 'Bloodline Creator?'
A new achievement added to the system.
Like Perfect Neutrality, it hid abilities.
'What is it?'
As he pondered, his lower dantian surged with yang energy, glowing brighter.
Like 1.5 times fiercer than usual?
'No way?'
Right after getting Bloodline Creator.
Meaning the achievement boosted bloodline power itself?
'Did it have this ability?'
No.
Even as a Solo Biography veteran, Bihyeong hadn't seen such a cheat.
Bloodlines were unpredictable; the game wasn't this broken.
But for goblin Bihyeong?
'I can wield bloodlines via wagers or whatever.'
Of course, stealing meant villainy.
Theft, not copy—if caught, danger.
'Synergizes great with the new Goblin Club.'
Growth cap EX, but ability rank still E-rank feel.
Amplifying it was ideal.
'Usable in real combat right away.'
Bihyeong smirked, stretching languidly.
Now, snag fitting rewards and head to the dorm...
That was the moment.
"Boss."
Ever since hearing about the Emptiness attribute, Doeoksini—who'd been deep in thought—called out.
"Care for a spar with me?"
And suddenly proposed a duel.
...Was this why they said not to adopt black-haired beasts?
"N-No! Not that!"
As Bihyeong teased, Doeoksini waved his hands frantically, shaking his head.
"I just want to pass on the techniques I know!"
"Oh?"
That piqued interest.
'Saw in his wager menu: nearly a hundred techniques mastered.'
Living ages, honing many skills.
A private lesson from him, attribute-aligned.
Bihyeong's interest showed; Doeoksini perked up.
"Which technique would you like?"
Which one...
"That one. You had a sensory technique, right?"
"You mean Ghost Sense Step."
"Yeah."
Glanced earlier: SS+ rank.
'Sealed, unusable. But if used, 8th Hierarchy power. Plus-grade.'
Would've begged regardless.
Doeoksini nodded, satisfied.
"Understood. Perfect timing—Ghost Sense Step requires main attribute Emptiness."
An unexpected boon.
Without the affinity... ugh, missed it.
'Or even if stolen separately, couldn't handle it yet.'
Like Colorless Painting.
Gaining main Emptiness was spot-on.
As Bihyeong grinned inwardly, Doeoksini spoke.
"Then, I'll teach you about Emptiness—no, the Five Great used by yokai."
Thus,
Before learning exorcist spells, he began yokai spells.
Sigh... is this right?