Chapter 337
Chapter 337
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 338
Chapter Title: The Sealed Soul
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Magic phenomena, or mystical phenomena, carry mana that attracts monsters.
The passageway here, flowing with a magic phenomenon to seal Jin Cheonwoo's soul, is no exception.
“Be careful. Monsters might pop out.”
At my words, Lee Seojun drew the sword from his waist at Sobaekcheon and manifested a blade of light.
“Then I'll take the lead.”
A reinforcement wizard strong in close combat would lead the way.
It was a standard position in a wizard party, but I shook my head.
“No need. You don't know the way either.”
The monsters appearing here were at most B-Grade.
The likes of 'carnivorous bats' or 'cave bloodsucking rats' could be handled easily.
Right then.
Thanks to the [Evolution and Adaptation] effect, I spotted five 'carnivorous bats' hidden in the darkness ahead.
Just as I expected.
Whoooong...!
I immediately gathered mana in my palm.
Soon, wind blew in, taking the form of a sphere containing a vortex.
I didn't have to use the wind attribute, but to raise proficiency, I deliberately manifested it with wind properties.
—Kieeeek!
Right then, the bats sensed the mana and charged toward us.
I stayed calm and released the sphere.
Paaang!
A gale swept through the surroundings, surging forward rapidly.
The wind sphere lost its form and scattered, soon turning into multiple blades that sliced the bats' bodies into pieces.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
—Kieeeeek!
[You simultaneously sliced five monsters using the wind attribute.]
[Wind Attribute Control proficiency increases by 3%.]
The bats' severed bodies thudded to the ground. Lee Seojun looked down at them and let out a small sound of admiration.
“Clean work.”
Instead of replying, I shrugged. Then I checked the wind attribute proficiency on the sly.
［Wind Attribute Control］［Grade 0 (97%)］
97%.
Just 3% left?
“Kim Sunwoo?”
I spaced out, and Lee Seojun called me. I shook my head.
“Nothing. Let's go.”
How long did we walk?
We arrived at the end of the passageway.
I slowly looked around.
A space filled with all sorts of complex rituals.
Jin Cheonwoo's sealing ritual was contained within them.
His soul was probably sealed above this ceiling.
I activated my Third Eye to check the space above the ceiling.
Jin Cheonwoo's sealed soul was visible in the enclosed space, guarded by countless security magic tools.
If I went up just like this, the Association would notice immediately.
But I had a way. A method to contact Jin Cheonwoo's soul without the Association detecting it.
Right then.
[Huhuhuhu....]
A voice echoed through the space. A chilling energy brushed past my body.
[......No way, Lee Seojun?]
Hearing his name called, Lee Seojun put on a vigilant expression and shouted.
“Who's there?!”
“Don't worry. It's a ghost.”
“A ghost? ......Ah.”
Realizing ghosts appeared during Aporia's night, he opened his mouth slightly.
Smoke rose then, revealing a translucent ghost.
If my guess was right, that ghost was Aeden, former action captain of Jaun.
“Ignore it.”
There was no info to gain from Aeden. It would just be a hindrance.
[......Never thought I'd run into Lee Seojun here. Heh heh. But who's that next to you?]
Ignoring Aeden, I injected mana into the ritual drawn on the ceiling.
To undo the ritual blocking all external mana and mysteries.
Normally, tampering with the ritual would alert Aporia's control room instantly, but thanks to the outsider's blessing, I could modify it without errors.
[......Hm?]
And.
Whoooong....
A strong light flashed from the ritual, and the modification succeeded.
At the same time, a mystical energy like entering Jin Cheonwoo's space began emanating around us.
[You modified a complex ritual without error.]
[‘Ritual Comprehension (B)’ proficiency rises slightly.]
[Wh-what......? How is this possible?]
Aeden's shocked voice came faintly. Ignoring him, I let out a small sigh of relief.
“Phew. Success.”
“What did you do?”
Lee Seojun asked.
“Work to summon the soul without the Association noticing.”
I pretended to rummage in my bag and
opened the subspace.
Then I took out the necromancy materials: [Mantra Staff], [Soul Dust], [Ritual Incense], [Illusion Mirror], [Soul Container Box].
“......When did you pack all this?”
Lee Seojun muttered in disbelief.
I flashed a grin like it was no big deal.
“But using necromancy won't break the seal, right?”
“No chance. This is just a means of ‘conversation.’”
That was when.
Whoooong—
A strong mana pulse came from somewhere. Lee Seojun and I turned back simultaneously.
“......What was that?”
Lee Seojun muttered in surprise.
“Jaun.”
“......Jaun?”
I bit my lip and checked the time.
9:36 PM.
It deviated slightly from the original flow.
I gripped the [Mantra Staff] tightly.
“Hurry.”
Thanks to the ‘key’ in Bert's hand, Aporia's barrier began crumbling.
They slipped through the gap onto the island swiftly.
At the same time, dozens of Association wizards from the mainland rushed out to block Jaun.
Each one was an A-Rank wizard or higher.
Bert shouted loudly without panic.
“Natasha!”
At Bert's call, Natasha activated the ancient magic weapon, [Great Magic Purifier].
The [Mana Core] flowing from the ship and Poseidon's mana gathered at the cannon's tip, charging overwhelming power.
Whoooong!
“Fire!”
Fwooooosh—!
Blue energy shot out like a laser in a straight line through the Association wizards.
Its power surpassed even a disaster-grade beast's breath.
And.
Kwaaaaaang!
“Kuaaaack!”
With a massive explosion, the Association wizards were swept by the laser and collapsed.
The wizards waiting on the ramparts fell into great shock at the sight.
“Reload!”
Mana gathered in the Great Magic Purifier once more.
Natasha aimed at Aporia's ramparts this time.
Moments later, the blue afterimage laser fired again.
Kwaaaaaang—
“Kuaaaack!”
Aporia's ramparts, protected by all sorts of magic resistance rituals, crumbled in an instant under the Great Magic Purifier's attack.
Bert looked at crumbling Aporia and smiled faintly.
‘We can do this.’
Someone had said.
Rescuing ‘that one’ from Aporia was as reckless as storming the Association to assassinate Chairman Kim Jincheol.
But that one had said.
‘Nothing is impossible in this world.’
Even if destined, human potential and possibilities could overcome anything.
Bert had engraved those words deep in his heart over 14 years, allowing him to reach this point.
“Again!”
Mana filled the Great Magic Purifier once more.
The mana energy fired at the ramparts again.
Kwaaaaaang!
“Kuaaaack!”
Screams continued.
Mana condensed again, firing at the ramparts once more.
Right then.
Whoooong!
A massive blue magic circle appeared before the ramparts, absorbing the Great Magic Purifier's magic energy.
Then, the attack reflected back.
Natasha immediately fired the Great Magic Purifier again to counter the returning strike.
The two powerful mana blasts collided in midair.
Like an arm-wrestling match, they pushed against each other.
Moments later, the two massive mana forces swallowed sound in a huge shockwave.
Paaaaaaaang—
“Keuk!”
The enormous shockwave swept everything nearby.
The ramparts crumbled, massive waves rose, and Jaun's ship rocked violently as if flipping.
As time passed, Bert glared at where the magic circle had formed.
There stood Choi Ilhyeon, cigarette in mouth, one hand raised.
“......Countersphere.”
The absolute defense magic created by Chairman Kim Jincheol.
To think it blocked even an ancient weapon charged with the Mana Core and Poseidon's power.
“Natasha, well done. We almost all died there.”
“......Whew. Yeah.”
Natasha nodded with a tense face.
If she hadn't blocked the reflected attack, they would've been wiped out instead—a close call.
Bert calmed his pounding heart and turned back.
[Invisibility Cloak], [Deployment Portal], [Ancient Barrier], [Echo of Illusion], [Origin Generator]...... His subordinates stood armed with various mysteries.
“Alright, let's go see that one.”
With all preparations complete, the energy of ‘Jin Cheonwoo’s soul’ from the ceiling began entering the [Soul Container Box].
Exchanging glances with Lee Seojun, I swung the Mantra Staff through the air.
Mystical energy spread, turning the surroundings into pitch-black darkness.
[Hello! Nice to see you again!]
Turning, a goat-faced being looked at us, waving cheerfully.
The goat-faced mystery from the previous necromancy.
[You achieved the ‘Bond with Mysteries’ accomplishment.]
[Reward: 3,000 points acquired.]
[Wow. You got here already. Bringing a friend too. Unexpected.]
The mystery chuckled, saying something meaningful.
Lee Seojun asked.
“What's that supposed to mean?”
[Hmm? Who knows~ What could it be~?]
The mystery laughed playfully. I stared at it and said.
“No time for games. Summon Jin Cheonwoo's soul quick.”
[Tch. No fun. You mean that soul you were looking for last time?]
“Yeah.”
The mystery stroked its goat beard and spoke.
[Hmm. Tricky. Doesn't seem like a good idea to let you meet that one.]
“Doesn't seem like a good idea?”
Lee Seojun asked.
[That's...... something you don't need to know!]
The goat's eyes narrowed mockingly at me. Then it stroked its beard as if thinking.
[......What to do~ Hmm. Well, that one will handle itself, so maybe no issue? Worst case, I intervene and add restrictions.]
The mystery muttered to itself, then clasped its hands.
Mystical energy burst from behind it, forming smoke.
The smoke soon shifted into a faint human shape.
Similar to the sealed Jin Cheonwoo soul I'd seen today.
“......Jin Cheonwoo.”
Jin Cheonwoo's gaze turned to Lee Seojun.
But his mouth stayed shut, saying nothing.
[.......]
Then his gaze shifted to the mystery.
[......Mystery, why did you summon me?]
Jin Cheonwoo's voice was low, soft, and emotionless—the first time I'd heard it.
The mystery shrugged at his question.
[Why? These guys wanted to meet you, so I obliged. No reason to refuse.]
[There was reason to refuse. Considering the fallout from this meeting.]
The mystery chuckled softly at Jin Cheonwoo's words.
[Sorry, but while mysteries have a duty to protect world stability, not all follow it. I have no intention of meddling deeply in your affairs. Heh heh.......]
[...]
Jin Cheonwoo stared silently at the mystery, then turned to Lee Seojun.
Lee Seojun met his gaze straight on.
[Lee Seojun, you look just like your mother.]
Lee Seojun clamped his mouth shut.
[I know you have many questions for me. But I have nothing to say to you.]
“......What?”
Lee Seojun scowled and raised his voice.
Ignoring Lee Seojun's reaction, Jin Cheonwoo turned to me.
Watching Lee Seojun's expression, I spoke.
“Jin Cheonwoo. You know me, right?”
Jin Cheonwoo didn't answer my question. He pondered silently, then countered.
[......I'm curious about your name. What is it?]
“Answer my question first.”
At my shout, Jin Cheonwoo glanced at Lee Seojun and opened his mouth.
[......Fine, I'll answer. I know you. Very well.]
As expected. Jin Cheonwoo knew me.
Time for the next key question.
I asked boldly.
“Then was it you who pulled me from the external world?”
At my words, Lee Seojun beside me furrowed his brow.
Probably surprised by 'external world.'
My words were for Jin Cheonwoo, but also to reveal my identity to Lee Seojun.
But Lee Seojun's response was unexpected.
“Kim Sunwoo, what did you just say?”
“Hm? Me from the external world......”
Lee Seojun cut me off and spoke again.
“......Are you speaking properly? Your voice keeps cutting out in the middle.”
My voice was cutting out?
“You can't hear me?”
“......No, it's normal now. What's going on?”
Then the mystery's laughter echoed.
[Heh heh...... heh heh heh heh.......]
I turned to the mystery.
“Did you do this?”
[Not me. The ‘world’ intervened on its own with Lee Seojun to maintain stability. Can't block chaos like you, after all.]
Looks like Lee Seojun couldn't hear key info related to my secret.
I'd boasted about telling and showing him, but...
......Sigh.
Couldn't tell him now, unfortunately, but that was that.
No time, so next question.
“Jin Cheonwoo. Asking again. Did you pull me into this world?”
Jin Cheonwoo stared at me, then spoke.
[......You know quite a lot.]
An affirmation in his mutter.
“......So it was you who brought me.”
[That you know that much means...... things have progressed quite a bit, huh. Different from my expectations.]
“What do you mean, different from expectations?”
Jin Cheonwoo shook his head at my question.
[......My turn to ask. What's your name?]
He asked firmly.
No point pressing; he'd clam up. I answered reluctantly.
“......Kim Sunwoo.”
[Kim Sunwoo.......]
Jin Cheonwoo muttered thoughtfully.
“More importantly, answer. What does ‘different from expectations’ mean?”
[Just what it says—it's deviated from my plan. I anticipated it when the apostle slipped my control, but how many times is this world now......?]
Jin Cheonwoo kept spouting incomprehensible words.
I narrowed my eyes.
“No, wait. Apostle—do you mean Kim Changhyeon? What do you mean he slipped your control?”
Jin Cheonwoo said.
[......By my plan, you shouldn't be here right now.]