Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Soul Treatment
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My eyelids grow heavy as I lie in bed.
I still haven't found a way to cure the Secriphais.
That Michael Beach bastard cast a holy spell on me, claiming it would lift the curse, and ended up draining my life force instead.
"Hoo."
"Kim Cheonjae, you okay?"
"Does it look like I'm okay? I think I need to rest like this until we head out tomorrow."
Ma Jeongwoo chuckled and lit a cigarette.
Sizzle. Ssssizzle.
Sssip. Puff—
"No, why the hell did Michael use 'Saint's Blessing' on you?"
"The skill description said it removes evil energy. Seriously— I nearly died."
Jeongwoo grinned, grinding his teeth.
"Kekekeke."
"Don't laugh, you bastard. I really almost died. My vision went yellow."
"Got it. Got it. How long does Secriphais last?"
I sighed, staring at the swollen veins. The purple discoloration, like a jellyfish sting at the beach, was spreading wider.
"Shortest is thirty minutes. Usually two hours. If the caster's level is high, up to two days."
"It's been over four hours since you got hit, so the guy who cursed you isn't your average player."
". . . He reacted in that split second to my ambush. He's stronger than me."
Jeongwoo exhaled a long stream of smoke, smirking.
"Oh ho. Stronger than Kim Cheonjae, the legend of Necromancers?"
"No choice. Seems like he started the game ahead of us."
I propped myself up and leaned against the bed.
"Gimme one too."
Jeongwoo pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in my mouth.
"Here."
"Thanks."
"So, how was Gyeongseong?"
I lit up and took a deep drag.
Sizzle. Ssssizzle.
Sssip.
I slowly exhaled, flashing a sly grin.
Puff—
"Tons of guys stronger than us crawling around."
"How strong did they seem?"
"Level-wise, fifties to sixties? Average around forty."
"Not impossible to catch up. . . ."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on our door.
Jeongwoo grabbed his axe and peered through the peephole.
". . . Yoo Sora?"
"Sora? What's up."
"No idea. Should I open it?"
"Yeah."
Creeeak.
Yoo Sora stood there, looking worried.
"Oh, hi. Jeongwoo."
"Sora, what's going on?"
". . . Michael stopped by my room. Said Cheonjae was badly hurt."
"Ah. . . Haha."
Jeongwoo glanced between me and Sora with a sly look.
If my hand worked, I'd smack him upside the head.
I closed my eyes to hold back my irritation.
Yoo Sora peeked in at me and spoke up.
"Cheonjae, you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"Heard you were hurt bad. Thought maybe my skills could help."
". . . ."
Yoo Sora's skills?
Come to think of it, I'd never asked what skills she got besides the injections.
I got up and approached her.
"Sora, besides the triple injections when you job-changed, what other skills did you get?"
"Oh. There's a skill called 'Healing'."
Healing.
Just your standard life force recovery skill.
Not expecting much, I nodded.
"I see."
"Can't this heal you, Cheonjae?"
"Yeah. Healing just restores life force."
"Oh. . . I thought my trait would let me heal."
Trait?
Right, after finishing the third round main event, everyone got a trait.
"What trait did you get?"
"'Soul Treatment.' Description says it creates fish that heal damaged souls."
No clue what that means.
Truth is, first time grouping with a nurse, so I don't know all their abilities.
Just the basic essentials.
"Wanna try it?"
"Uh. . . Can I come in?"
"Sure."
[Permitting entry for player 'Yoo Sora.']
Yoo Sora entered our room. She stared into space and quietly chanted.
"Soul Treatment."
[Soul Treatment]
-Calls forth souls suited to the target patient for treatment.
Clear water droplets gathered in her hand. Then dozens of tiny fish formed.
"Doctor fish?"
"Oh?! Yeah, the ones that eat dead skin, right?"
"Probably."
I'd seen them on TV plenty.
Places in Southeast Asia where tourists get "healing" foot massages with doctor fish therapy.
Yoo Sora moved her fingers like playing piano, and the fish flew to my arm, latching on.
They stuck to the purple veins. Like sponges soaking up water, they sucked in my curse.
As the purple faded from my veins, the doctor fish turned purple.
". . . Oh!"
I couldn't help but exclaim.
Yoo Sora saw my face and smiled brightly, waving her hand wider.
Like a puppeteer juggling marionettes.
Once the curse was gone from my body, the doctor fish returned to her.
[Curse on 'Lee Ryanghun' lifted as of now.]
Ma Jeongwoo, watching the treatment, gaped and asked Yoo Sora.
"Wait, Sora, you had an ability this amazing?"
"Oh. . . I didn't know either. First time using it. . . ."
"It's incredible."
Freed from the curse, I tested my body. Rotated my arm—no pain.
A healing skill strong enough to swallow curses whole.
Yoo Sora had insane support potential.
"Thanks, Sora."
"No biggie. Glad I could help somehow."
She bashfully lowered her head. Ma Jeongwoo made a cheesy finger heart with a smug face.
I shook my head and told her.
"Get some good rest till tomorrow then. We'll head out early morning for the next round."
Yoo Sora clenched her fist in a fighting pose.
"Yessir!"
* * * * *
We woke early and stopped by the convenience store to prep for the next round.
[Added 1 bottle of Z Virus antidote to cart.]
[Added 1 pack of cigarettes to cart.]
[Added 3 emergency rations 'Chocolate Bars' to cart.]
Plenty of time—two, three hours tops to the next round.
This should be fine.
After the store, I grabbed a few angel coins from the fountain and checked my fortune one last time.
I tossed coins ten times in a row, landing them dead center.
Won't be back here for a while—better get the longest fortune possible.
Pinggrrrring!
Splash!
The statue glowed.
[This month's fortune: The sun rising in the west and winds blowing from the east will make you soar.]
Sun rising in the west.
Winds from the east lift me into flight.
". . . West and east, huh."
All errands done, I headed to the south gate of the 'Ruined City' and said goodbye to Li Keruna.
"Li Keruna. Finish up what I asked before the next round."
Li Keruna saluted like a soldier.
"Got it!"
His bald-headed crew echoed behind him.
-Got it!
". . . You know the spot? Goblin House."
"Yes. I'll gather as many as possible."
"Good. We'll head to the fourth round first then."
"Travel safe. We'll catch up soon."
We hopped into the off-road jeep, and Li Keruna's group waved.
[Third Round Cleared]
[Daily missions in 'Ruined City' now unavailable.]
[Please proceed to the next city.]
I took the driver's seat, turned the key, and started the engine.
Rumble! Boom!
High displacement—sounded like thunder.
"Here we go!"
Vroom!
The jeep roared to life with a mighty exhaust note.
Thanks to Jeongwoo's good pick, we crossed the desert to the next round without issue.
[Welcome to the 'Perah Desert.']
Park Gyuhwan chased behind on Daeho.
Guarding us like a knight escort.
Sand dust swirled around us under the sun.
Full throttle for ten minutes, then endless grassland appeared, teeming with animals.
Pwoooo—!
An elephant trumpeted.
"Cheonjae Kim! Animals chasing us!"
"Animals?"
Kyaaack!
A pack of Z Virus-infected hyenas pursued us.
'. . . Figures.'
"Hang on tight!"
I slammed the brakes and yanked the wheel.
Screeech.
Ma Jeongwoo yelled.
"What, what?!"
"Got some business before the next round."
"Huh? What?"
". . . Prep. Battle stations."
I got out and ordered Park Gyuhwan and Daeho.
Hunt every infected thing around here.
* * * * *
Hunt over.
"Revive."
At my word, nineteen animals around us rose.
[Summon List]
-ⓁPark Gyuhwan (Soldier) 1/1: Idle
-Daeho (Animal) 1/1: Idle
-Hyena (Animal) 9/9: Idle
-Elephant (Animal) 2/2: Idle
-Giraffe (Animal) 4/4: Idle
-Rhinoceros (Animal) 4/4: Idle
'Skeletons later. . . .'
Checked all animals, hopped back in the jeep.
Clunk.
Jeongwoo up front asked.
"You're thorough with precautions."
"That's my strength. Alright, let's roll?"
I turned to check Michael and Sora in back, then fired up the engine.
Rumble.
Eased the accelerator, and the animals followed in line.
Like the animal kingdom itself.
Central plains beasts all gathered—no other critters dared approach.
Midway, Michael shouted loud, pointing at Gyeongseong where he'd gone yesterday.
"Gyeongseong!"
Ma Jeongwoo grabbed his finger and pulled it down.
"Not going there."
Michael looked disappointed.
"I want coffee."
"Coffee after next round, unlimited. Hang in there."
"Okay."
Yoo Sora whispered, gazing at Gyeongseong's skyline.
"That place. . . ."
Couldn't catch the rest.
Engine noise drowned it out.
What'd she say?
Probably nothing important—I focused on driving.
Past Gyeongseong, ages later, rain started at the yellowish earth line.
Plip. Plip-plip-plip.
Looked up—black clouds blanketed the sky from the ochre soil onward.
[Entered 'Shelter of the Dead' area.]
I slowed the jeep and warned everyone.
"Stay sharp, everyone. Monsters can attack outta nowhere from here."
Squeak. Squeak.
Wipers pushed rain steadily.
Jeongwoo cracked his neck, scanning outside.
"Creepier than I thought."
"Yeah. Rain's messing with visibility."
"I'll watch right side, don't worry. Michael! Eyes on left. Any monster attacks."
Michael gripped his pistol and nodded.
Deeper in, damper and gloomier.
Trees thickened into giant-haunted woods.
Sky vanished under leaves.
Rain eased under canopy—visibility returned.
Well, just where headlights pierced, like a dark country road at night.
Jeongwoo, Michael, Sora shone flashlights out windows.
Monsters lurked in bushes, watching us pass.
-Kyaaak!
Crawling ghouls on all fours. Ghasts with ripped abs spewing fluorescent smoke.
No fight—they hung back.
Pushed on; light pierced from woods' far side.
Gate to next round.
Wooden door swirling with souls.
Target close—I floored it.
"Going in."
Vroom!
Through deep tunnel, bursting from dark into the gate.
Flash.
[System Message]
[Fourth Round begins.]
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