Chapter 174
Chapter 174: Spirit Root Stone (3)
Rumble-rumble-rumble—
Na Hang's mental space began to collapse.
Mountain ranges crumbled like sandcastles. Earth and rock became dust and scattered. Rivers flowed backward, surging toward the sky before vanishing like steam. Trees withered instantly and turned to ash.
Everything was being dismantled in reverse order.
Cracks appeared in the bedrock beneath his feet. It shattered piece by piece. Yet it didn't fall. The physical laws of this place had already lost all meaning.
The sky collapsed toward the earth. The distinction between sky and earth disappeared. All colors mixed to become gray, then changed to white again.
Complete white.
It returned to the original space.
A single crimson mass the size of a fingernail floated there. Na Hang's final trace.
That light was sucked into his chest.
Searing heat penetrated his entire body. The Fire Spirit Root was completely absorbed.
Soon even the white space and bright light gradually faded.
It wasn't growing dark, but transforming into something else.
His senses were returning.
First, touch. The sensation of hard wooden floor. The coolness of the floor against his back.
Next, smell. The inn's characteristic mustiness and wood scent. And the burnt smell coming from his own body.
Hearing returned too. The murmuring of inn guests in the distance. Footsteps passing through the corridor. Dawn sparrows chirping outside the window.
Taste. The bitter taste remained in his mouth. Traces of having swallowed the Spirit Root Stone.
Finally, sight.
His eyelids felt heavy. He slowly lifted them.
He saw the ceiling. An old wooden ceiling. Light faintly leaked through holes in it.
Having recovered all his senses, Dong Bong-soo slowly sat up.
His whole body was stiff. As if he'd been lying motionless for days. Of course, in reality, less than a moment had passed. Just like it had been for Kaiji.
He examined his Dantian.
A red energy swirled within. The Fire Spirit Root had completely settled. Though Na Hang's mental intent had vanished, its essence had been absorbed.
[Mod map has been deleted by firewall.]
Only a brief system message informed him that the entire process had ended. Of course, the content itself was an error.
'The mod map you speak of wasn't deleted—it's mine now.'
He raised his hand and tried creating a flame.
Fwoosh—
A small flame danced above his palm. It wasn't a massive fire like Na Hang's, but that was enough.
Isn't that how beginnings are supposed to be?
He looked at the remaining Spirit Root Stones.
Five.
Each a different color, different attribute, different mental intent.
He would absorb them one by one in turn. It would take time.
He stored all the items he'd scattered about the room in his Inventory, then lightly crossed his legs.
He began Circulating Energy to recover his vitality.
After remaining in that state for about half an hour.
Footsteps were heard outside the door.
Knock knock.
Dong Bong-soo calmly released his Circulating Energy.
Knock knock again.
A voice came with it.
"Are you there?"
It was Jeon Ra-hwa's voice.
"Come in."
The door opened and Jeon Ra-hwa entered, holding a tray. It contained morning porridge and side dishes.
"It's breakfast. You still haven't eaten."
She stopped speaking.
"What happened? Your whole body is scorched."
"Training."
"Your clothes are fine though? And training in this cramped room?"
"Yeah."
Jeon Ra-hwa looked around the room with suspicious eyes. There were no scorched corners, yet the burnt smell vibrated through the air.
"What kind of training on earth were you..."
"That kind exists."
"Tsk, you always pretend to have no memory at times like this. Do you really have no memory?"
"Yeah. I don't."
"Only at times like this?"
"Memory is originally like that. This is selfish. It remembers only exactly what's needed."
"What a convenient thing. That memory of yours."
"Whatever. Let's just eat."
Dong Bong-soo received the tray and began eating the porridge.
He was empty inside. Almost all his energy had been consumed digesting a single Spirit Root Stone.
Jeon Ra-hwa watched him carefully, then asked.
"What are you going to do now?"
Clack.
Having put down his spoon, Dong Bong-soo looked at her quietly.
"Didn't I tell you yesterday?"
"...You're really going to do it?"
"Trash deserves to be separated for recycling, doesn't it?"
"No, but why? Why because of someone like me?"
"What's wrong with someone like you?"
"...No, you haven't even taken me, and we only just met.... I'm just a slave."
"Was."
"What?"
"Not 'am just'—'was just.' Am I a slave now?"
"...What?"
"From the moment you travel with me, you're already me. If you're a slave, am I a slave too?"
"...Yes."
Suddenly sensing something strange, Jeon Ra-hwa quickly raised her bowed head to look directly at Dong Bong-soo.
"Yes!?"
"Just as you're not a slave, neither am I."
"..."
"Free people do what they want to do freely."
Especially in this lawless world, even more so.
"Whether it's revenge or whatever."
"I, I don't want revenge or anything like that..."
"You have no grudge?"
"...No, it's not that, but."
"Then that's settled. Your grudge is my grudge. From the moment you first spoke to me."
"..."
Thud.
A book fell in front of Jeon Ra-hwa, who still didn't understand what was what.
Snow Snow Yin Cold Art
"You can read, right?"
"Snow Snow Yin Cold Art...?"
"You can read. Then that's settled."
"What is?"
"Learn it starting today."
"What?"
"Is 'what' all you know how to say?"
"What?"
"...Whatever. Learn it."
"..."
"Enough that you'll never become anyone's slave again."
"What is this?"
"Martial arts."
It was one of the secret manuals obtained from the Floating Island.
He'd judged it seemed to match her tendencies best, and she was a woman besides.
"At first, you won't understand what you're looking at. So just memorize it for now. I'll check when I get back later."
Then he stood up.
"Where are you going again?"
"Out for a stroll."
"You just went out earlier."
"I'm going to check something uncertain again to see if it helps with memory recovery."
Originally, killing things makes even non-existent memories surface.
"I'll be back."
"I'm coming with you."
"What did I just say?"
"No, I understand that. But you said I'm a signpost, didn't you?"
"..."
"Are you going to just wander around like this without a signpost?"
"I'm going to the outhouse."
"You said you were going for a stroll."
"I'm strolling to the outhouse. To think a bit too."
"Haa— You'll be back soon, right?"
"Yeah. It's a small matter."
[Sub] Wronged Merchant
[Chain]
: As you help the wronged, you may sometimes encounter unexpected difficulties.
I pray you overcome those difficulties well. Please.
․ A grudge relationship with the Iron God Society has been formed.
․ Disband the Iron God Society.
├─ Progress: 1.7%
└─ Reward: Hero History +5
98.3%.
This much is a small matter.
"..."
Dong Bong-soo suddenly stopped.
He felt his way of thinking had changed slightly.
Was it from absorbing Kim Rae-won's Karma Root? From absorbing Na Hang's Spirit Root?
Or perhaps...
Well, it doesn't matter.
I'm me anyway.
So what if I change? If I change by absorbing someone, isn't that also a welcome evolution?
Tap.
Dong Bong-soo left the inn.
Then he immediately set his direction toward the Western Road.
It was the small step of a 'hero' that none of Gangdo's outlaws had noticed.
***
The underground livestock pen of Various Items Antique Shop.
A woman stood atop a sea of blood.
The remains of man-eating pigs were scattered everywhere. Someone had butchered them in reverse. Intestines had burst out, heads were crushed, and naturally the stench of blood vibrated through the air.
The woman wore night clothes made of black silk. Tailored to fit her body perfectly, revealing flexible curves with every movement. At her waist hung a uniquely shaped iron gauntlet. Iron Hand Gauntlet. A hideous weapon with sharp protrusions on each finger joint.
She kicked the belly of one pig with her toes.
Squelch—
The belly skin tore and partially digested human flesh pieces spilled out. Among them, part of a head caught the eye. It was Ak Bul-jin's. Though the face was half-melted, those characteristic narrow eyes were recognizable.
Whoosh—
After briefly lifting the head piece to check once more and throwing it on the floor, she asked.
"The ones who went to collect in District 7 last night haven't returned either?"
"Yes. That is so."
An elderly white-haired man standing beside her answered. He was Elder Do of the Iron God Society. Though past seventy, the killing intent emanating from his body was extraordinary.
"Young Mistress."
Young Mistress.
It meant small master. It was the title for calling Cheol So-a, the only daughter of the Iron God Society Leader.
Known to have already reached the Peak of Transcendence at the age of twenty, and as her epithet Cold-Faced Iron Hand suggested, she was making a name with her cold face and cruel methods.
She was effectively the Iron God Society's second-in-command, and perhaps even the supreme master in martial arts—such was this heroine.
"Not just Various Items Antique Shop here, but District 7 was hit too."
Though they were trashy bastards, they were thoroughly punctual. They knew all too well that if they didn't collect on time, their necks would fall by her hand.
Cheol So-a fiddled with her right earlobe. It was a habit that appeared when she was deep in thought.
"Why is that bastard Bukgung Ri suddenly doing this?"
Coarse profanity casually flew out past her fair lips.
"It's still uncertain whether Assembly Leader Bukgung did it or not, Young Mistress."
"What assembly leader. He's just a bastard, a bastard."
Cheol So-a looked up at the elder with a scowl. Only then did her face properly reveal itself. Cold, sharp eyes, red lips, and a faint scar remaining on her left cheek. She was beautiful but simultaneously looked too dangerous.
"If not Bukgung Ri, who in Gangdo—and on our Western Road at that—would do such a thing?"
"Though Assembly Leader Bukgung is one who violates propriety, he currently has neither justification nor reason to strike us so suddenly."
"That's exactly why it's Bukgung Ri. That bastard never needed justification, propriety, or reasons in the first place. Isn't he the bastard who always tries to get at me?"
Elder Do fell silent. It was an undeniable fact.
"Should I give it to him once so that bastard will quiet down?"
"Th-that's a bit..."
"Why? Afraid I can't do it?"
"...N-no."
"Then you're saying I'd do well at it?"
"..."
"Well, whatever. First send some people to District 7."
"Yes, I'll send the White Iron Squad to investigate immediately."
The White Iron Squad was the Iron God Society's elite investigation unit, third squad. Though composed of only ten people, each one was a first-rate master capable of standing against ten thousand.
However, Cheol So-a shook her head.
"No. Send the Black Iron Squad and Yellow Iron Squad too."
"What? Then the entire investigation unit within the Society will be deployed."
The White, Black, and Yellow Investigation Units. The special martial warrior group handling assassination and intelligence within the Iron God Society.
The White Iron Squad handled reconnaissance and tracking. They specialized in moving quiet as ghosts and finding traces.
The Black Iron Squad specialized in assassination. Eliminating targets in darkness was their mission.
The Yellow Iron Squad was a combat-specialized unit. They boasted overwhelming firepower in frontal confrontations.
Mobilizing all three was tantamount to declaring all-out war.
After scanning the underground pig pen once more, Cheol So-a corrected her order.
"Yeah, yeah."
"Yes, then I'll just send the White Iron Squad..."
"No, no. I'm going myself."
"...What? You're going personally, Young Mistress?"
"Assemble the entire investigation unit immediately too. And keep it a secret from Father."