Chapter 54
Chapter 54
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Became the Gallery's Only Reptile
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘Hmm. Everyone's asleep.’
At the sound of steady breathing, I quietly lifted my head.
The dark night sky, where everyone had fallen into deep slumber, was faintly illuminated by moonlight shining down on the distant ground.
‘Then let's get moving.’
Having confirmed that Silpi and Cheong were asleep, it was time to move.
To find the wraith that the wolf spirit had told me about, I carefully slipped out of the cave without making a sound.
Whoosh.
[The night breeze is cold.]
Perhaps because I'd been inside the cave, I raised my head against the chill wind blowing as soon as I stepped out.
The beautiful night sky remained unchanged. The starry canopy was nothing short of spectacular.
Rustle.
[It's here.]
[Yes. Even Black Despair has arrived right on time.]
The wolf spirit who had come as my guide for the day's wraith hunt emerged from the bushes with an uncomfortable expression.
Was it because it was late? I asked about the guy's poor complexion.
[What's with the face? You tired?]
[Ah, no. It's just that enduring the mana here... I guess my expression showed it without me realizing.]
Well, the mana here is especially dense.
But as a spirit, it should be easier for it to handle, right?
[Plus, my instincts are warning me about those two immense presences coming from inside, so that's probably why.]
[...I see.]
So it was because of Silpi and Cheong's power combined with the dense mana.
Only then did I understand the wolf spirit's behavior and nodded discreetly.
Yeah, with the already thick mana plus Cheong and Silpi's power on top, it wouldn't be easy to endure.
[Then let's move right away.]
[Yes. Hop on my back.]
Ssssh.
Since I couldn't travel by riding the wind, the wolf spirit would handle the movement itself.
I climbed onto its body, keeping my balance so I wouldn't fall off, and in an instant, it tore through the wind and dashed into the forest.
Tat-tat-tat-tat.
[Fast.]
[Speed is my specialty.]
As the scenery whipped by in an instant, I kept my eyes constantly scanning the surroundings for any sign of a wraith, never lowering my guard.
But wraiths weren't easy to spot, and even after combing the forest like rats, I couldn't find so much as a glimpse of one.
[This place?]
[Yes. This is where it was last sighted.]
That's why we headed to the location where the wraith had last been seen.
I examined the claw marks and fallen trees scattered around.
‘Did they not know anything about the wraith?’
The obvious signs of attempted physical attacks around us made it clear.
Physical attacks don't work on wraiths, so if there were this many traces despite that, they must not have known about them.
There probably aren't many beings here who know about wraiths to begin with.
[No separate wraith traces here.]
[As expected.]
This place only had remnants of claw attacks.
No wraith traces, unfortunately.
[Black Despair. What now?]
[...Let's look around a bit more first.]
The night had only just begun.
— Yonggarisnaek
Something like a wraith was spotted around here. Does anyone know how to find it? Tell me about its habits or characteristics if you know.
What good is a long night if I can't find the wraith during it?
In the end, I decided to borrow the gallery's power and quickly wrote and posted.
└Couldn't find humans, so how do I find graves? └Doesn't have to be human graves, right? Just places with lots of dead creatures. Like a mass grave.
‘Doesn't have to be humans...’
I carefully read the comments and spoke to the wolf spirit, who was resting nearby.
[Is there a mass grave nearby?]
[A mass grave? There is a place where we bury fallen comrades... but it's pretty remote, so it'll take time to get there.]
[Then let's head there now.]
Just in case.
If there's a lead, we have to follow it.
Whoosh.
[This?]
[A little help. Night's almost over.]
We'd spent too much time here, and the night sky was already absorbing brighter light than when I'd looked up earlier.
Before the darkness fully receded and light filled the world, we needed to reach the mass grave quickly.
Even with a short rest, the wolf spirit that had been running nonstop would be more fatigued than before, affecting its speed, so I manipulated the wind to assist.
Whoosh.
Thanks to that, we made it to our destination before night ended.
To a vast area filled with irregularly sized stones.
[Found it.]
And floating above it, a white entity.
That lifeform, looking like it was draped in cloth, was the wraith we'd been searching for.
[But what's it doing?]
For some reason, the wraith was circling the same spot over and over.
Sensing something off about its behavior, I dismounted the wolf spirit and slowly approached the mass grave.
Ssssh.
…
‘Even this close, it's not paying attention to me?’
Yet for some reason.
The wraith showed no interest in me even as I approached within arm's reach, just blankly spinning in circles.
Feeling something strange about it, I reached the spot it was circling and frowned at the sight of a single sword embedded there.
[What is this unpleasant mana?]
No, is this even mana?
A sword that felt alien and repulsive just by looking at it, as if invading my mind.
It appeared to be an ordinary blade rusted by time, but any spirit like me or those sensitive to mana would detect its abnormality.
[Did the wraith come here because of this sword?]
What the hell is that ominous thing?
The energy it gave off was extraordinary, and my instincts screamed not to touch it, so I didn't, but considering the wraith's behavior, it seemed like I had to deal with that sword somehow.
[...We'll retreat for today.]
[Here?]
The wolf spirit looked at me with confusion, but there was no helping it.
Night was ending, and morning was coming.
You could tell from the wraith.
Its body was gradually fading due to the morning light.
To meet it again, I'd have to come back at night.
‘And my hunch is, that wraith probably won't leave this place.’
I had a feeling it wouldn't wander off confusing others like before.
Probably because of that rusted sword.
[I'll come back tonight.]
[Understood for now.]
At my words that I was heading back, the wolf spirit finally nodded.
Just a feeling, but it seemed like this guy would be suffering as my ride for a while.
…
[Wait. I'll be back tonight.]
With those final words to the now nearly faded wraith, I safely returned home before Cheong and Silpi woke up.
“Mm... hehe.”
—Heavy...
Back home, I saw Silpi still deep in sleep, with Cheong's leg draped over her.
How soundly she was sleeping, even drooling.
[It'll be a while before they wake.]
I could go back to my spot and sleep, but I didn't bother.
I wasn't that tired or sleepy. This was a chance to check the gallery.
Alright. My post is good enough. Now, let's check the new ones?
Lots of newbies lately, so I can expect a bit.
— TwinkleTwinkle
I got rejected from the academy. What do I do? I barely have any money, but I need to get in somehow ㅠㅠ. Please help.
[Hmm. Quite the pitiful situation.]
But contrary to my words, if I checked a mirror, my lips would probably be curled up.
[Maybe I should share a method I know.]