Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: A World That Watches
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Just moments ago, Hwan-in could barely stand on his own two feet, but now he was walking. Ephnis panicked at the sudden change, but she quickly grasped the situation and cautiously followed behind him...
=?!=
She swiftly grabbed Ryuhi's tail and yanked her back.
It was a move born from realizing that she and Ryuhi, with their utterly ordinary physical abilities, would only get in the way. Ryuhi understood immediately and retreated without causing any hindrance.
The moment Hwan-in and Ryuhi switched places, Huini's harassment began.
She kicked up a stone with her foot, caught it, and hurled it at the black puma positioned a bit farther back.
Crack!
Kyaang!
With a clear, crisp sound, the black puma took a stone to the side of its head and lunged toward Huini.
Right after, another stone from behind smacked it in the back of the skull. Only then did the black puma realize it was surrounded front and back, and it began tense up.
'I didn't expect them to go that far... but it's not bad.'
While Huini and Ennel kept one distracted, Hwan-in approached the remaining one with a stoic expression.
Chatter, chatter chatter.
The one that had looked weakest suddenly approached with an overwhelming presence. Black Puma 2 chattered nervously, flicking its long tail irritably.
In translation, it was something like, 'How dare prey like you stand up to me without fear?'
If it had been yesterday, the black puma would have fled at the sight of Hwan-in. His body reeked with the blood and grudges of hundreds of beasts accumulated over dozens of days—a scent that made the hairs on one's neck stand on end just by looking at him.
But after battling monsters and going berserk with lightning, most of the source of that foul smell (blood) had been blasted away. One could say it had been purified.
His body odor had also been diluted from tangling with four women, which was why the black pumas had deemed them easy prey and approached.
Of course, Hwan-in was unaware of this. He probably never would be.
The ignorant Black Puma 2 leaped forward, intent on ripping out the throat of the prey before it.
For Hwan-in, whose reflexes and dynamic vision remained intact despite his poor physical condition, this was practically begging to be killed.
He tracked the black puma's trajectory, calculated its attack radius, ducked low, and slid under it.
The black puma above, Hwan-in below. At the crossing point, Hwan-in thrust his sharp black club upward with all his might, then forced strength into his convulsing arm and swung it down hard.
Slash!
Kyaang!!
The black puma's belly split open, spilling entrails as it screeched and rolled madly on the ground.
Startled by the momentum, Ryuhi and Ephnis clutched each other and scrambled back. But seeing Hwan-in, clearly exhausted, beckoning her with a weary face, Ryuhi hurriedly offered him the hand axe.
=H-Here you go!=
"Thank you."
Hwan-in took the hand axe, half-lowered his body, bared his fangs with a kyaak roar at the black puma, and hurled the axe at its head with full force.
Whirr whirr whirr. Flying with a sharper whine than the stone axe, the hand axe buried half its blade into the skull. Instant death, naturally.
"Could you fetch the hand axe for me?"
=...Y-Yes? Yes!=
Ryuhi, who had watched the scene with both hands over her mouth, rushed over at his request to pull out the hand axe, but...
=...! Ugh, Ephnis, could you help me with this?=
It was lodged so deeply that she couldn't extract it with her own strength and had to call for Ephnis's help.
Meanwhile, Huini and Ennel were barely evading the black puma on a cliff hundreds of meters up, like tightrope walkers.
Kyaang!!
=Eek!=
Kraang!!
=Eeee!=
Pelted with stones and provoked, the black puma charged. Huini yelped and rolled away to escape. As it pursued, Ennel poked it from behind with her curved spear to divert its attention.
Furious at the butt stab, the black puma glared at Ennel and swiped left and right with its front paws. Dodging clumsily, Ennel fell on her butt and crawled away (at an adult's running speed).
Then the black puma chased her again, only for Huini to stab its thigh with her rusted, chipped sword to draw its focus.
'Their physical abilities seem about on par with mine right now...'
It was a childish brawl, utterly ignorant of combat—not even worthy of being called a fight, and quite pathetic to watch. Still, their courage in not fleeing from a beast trying to kill them deserved praise.
=Here!=
Hwan-in, struggling to stand and watch their tug-of-war, received the hand axe from Ryuhi and timed his throw for when the black puma lunged at Huini.
Was it because pain made it hard to tense its body? The throw was flawless, without excess motion.
The silent hand axe sank deep into the black puma's neck. Collapsing into full paralysis, it could only whimper woong, groong. Following Hwan-in's direction, Ennel's spear crushed its brain. Instant death.
=......=
=......=
The women were once again stunned by Hwan-in's prowess.
They hadn't doubted his strength after he single-handedly wrecked Hob's village, but they never imagined he'd dispatch Kuarrs—beasts said to require three grown men—even in his current state.
Ryuhi snapped out of it first and prodded the dazed Huini and Ennel.
=What are you doing? Hurry and butcher the meat!=
=...Ah!=
=Benefactor, rest a moment. Ephnis.=
=Yeah. Benefactor, this way...=
Ryuhi led the two girls to drag the Kuarr to the riverbank, swiftly gutting it and draining the blood. She then brought over chunks of fresh red meat in her hands and offered them politely to Hwan-in.
=Kuarr liver is infused with power. Eating it should give you some energy.=
"......"
Hwan-in stared at the neatly prepared raw liver for a moment before quietly shaking his head.
"I appreciate the thought. But I don't eat raw animal meat. Please understand."
=Oh...=
Ryuhi's face clearly showed disappointment—such good meat, so nutritious. Hwan-in shook his head again, and she reluctantly returned to share it with her sisters.
This wasn't Earth, so her claim that eating raw animal liver restores energy might hold true here.
But whether it would work on him, a human from another world, was doubtful, and Hwan-in had no intention of risking parasite infection.
Just then, the duration of Spirit Possession ended. Exactly 12 minutes had passed.
Pain subsided again, replaced by chills. Hwan-in pondered as he felt it.
'Soul orb count increased to 12. Did my superpower evolve one step, allowing commands to souls and skill use without a staff? Or...'
Maybe it had always been possible. He hadn't tested without holding the staff since acquiring it.
One thing was certain: his ability had grown with the increased soul orb capacity.
Tiny lowest-grade souls, invisible until yesterday, now dotted his vision sporadically.
'Definitely a new power awakened by the growth.'
Nothing but good thoughts. It meant freedom from soul orb limits and staff dependency.
He'd need to verify a few things, but being able to use skills while armed made him several times stronger.
Gazing at the Kuarr's low-grade soul orbs on his hands and forearms, he heard Huini and Ennel chatting while processing the carcass.
=Hey, En. Think that was what awakening feels like? What do you think?=
=What Benefactor did earlier?=
=Yeah!=
=Doesn't seem like it... Awakening supposedly lets you lift boulders, move super fast, and toughen up. What Benefactor did wasn't that intense.=
Power awakening? What was that?
Wondering if it referred to something like his experiences, Hwan-in stood as Huini and Ennel approached, each carrying 40-50kg of drained Kuarr carcass.
=Ah! Benefactor, are you okay...?=
A sudden chill made him stagger briefly, and Ephnis steadied him with concern.
Spirit Possession itself was fine, but his condition worsened afterward.
Normally, four hours in warm sunlight eased the chills, but now they persisted, flaring periodically like seizures devouring his body heat.
He'd planned to use Spirit Possession for travel if needed...
"......We need to hurry back. We're halfway, so let's push on."
As he tried to move with Ephnis's support, Ryuhi tugged his clothes, her face etched with deep worry.
=Um... Benefactor. I know this request might offend, but please hear me out?=
"What is it?"
=If you could bless me with that power you gave the girls, I could carry you... Your face is so pale, and you're sweating coldly. Pushing further could be dangerous.=
'Even in this world, being carried on a woman's back is embarrassing, huh.'
Dismissing it as pointless pride, Hwan-in nodded.
"I'd appreciate it. Honestly, I'm struggling to even walk now."
Low-grade greenish souls were plentiful nearby. With two Kuarr orbs plus ten lowest-grade ones clustered on his left arm.
Applying Spirit Possession to Ryuhi, her eyes widened, and she effortlessly hoisted his 70+kg frame.
"You okay?"
=It's an amazing blessing. To use such power and fight so well... You're an incredible ability user, Benefactor.=
Lowest-grade greenish souls boosted physicals by about 10%. Meaning Ryuhi's strength surpassed an average human woman's.
Silently, Hwan-in applied Spirit Possession to Huini, Ennel, and Ephnis in turn.
=Wow.=
=Ah.=
=Huini and Ennel, keep carrying that. Ephnis, grab the rest of the luggage and follow. Benefactor? Lead the way.=
"Just... follow the river. You'll reach the valley between the Twin Mountains. That's... the destination."
Was it the rising body heat from Spirit Possession? Or being carried on Ryuhi's nearly 170cm frame transmitting warmth, far comfier than walking supported—his tension eased.
=Girls, think you can run?=
=Yeah! We can keep running like this!=
=Yes. We can do it.=
Ryuhi nodded and took off first. The three laden girls followed.
It took Hwan-in and the women three hours to reach the Twin Mountains valley.
Without 10-minute breaks midway, they might've arrived an hour sooner. Maintaining Spirit Possession on four was burdensome for Hwan-in, and some greenish souls detached occasionally.
Still, learning Spirit Possession barely consumed Warm Ki was a gain.
=Oh? This must be it! Gray deer's hanging from that tree! Ah, frog-jumps in the water too!=
=Must be Benefactor's hunted meat. Let's hang ours there.=
=Okay!=
After running three hours with dozens of kilos of carcass, Huini and Ennel were soaked in sweat. Ryuhi, carrying Hwan-in, had sweat trickling into her cleavage.
Ryuhi carefully seated Hwan-in on the cliff and told Ephnis,
=Fill an empty wooden flask with water.=
=River water's too cold, so I fetched some earlier.=
=Good girl. Benefactor, have some water.=
With Ryuhi's help, Hwan-in barely swallowed lukewarm water and weakly raised a hand.
"......This cliff... cave... above... hidden by vines......"
The women's eyes followed his pointing finger.
"At night... beasts might come down... Rest... there......"
In hours, Hwan-in's condition neared rock bottom. Unceasing shivers, sweat like rain. Limbs numbing.
He sensed it instinctively: losing consciousness now meant true life-or-death peril.
He needed the cave for safety, but couldn't climb 5m in this state.
Entrust everything to the women and leave it to luck? Then Huini squeezed between Ryuhi and Ephnis.
=Benefactor! Ennel's amazing at cliffs! She's climbed mountain-sized ones alone!=
"......"
=Benefactor. Bless me with the power. I'll get you to the cave. I can do it.=
Not dying yet, huh. Hwan-in used a remaining Kuarr low-grade soul orb on Ennel.
A few percent more physical boost for safety.
=Huh? The cliff looks like a normal slope now...=
=Huh? What do you mean?=
=Exactly that.=
Black puma skill was cliff-climbing? Exhausted, Hwan-in closed his eyes.
Ryuhi hurried.
=Ennel, come here.=
Helping Ennel piggyback him, she bound them tightly with animal hide from the hill cave. Ennel's 140cm height dragged his legs, but wall-climbing made it fine.
=I'll go up first!=
Someone to pull from above, per Ryuhi. Huini monkeyed up, cleared vines, and entered first.
=Ephnis, stand on sister's shoulders. Support Ennel from below for balance when she climbs.=
=Yes.=
Tallest Ryuhi shouldered Ephnis, gripped the cliff, and stood. Legs shook, but held.
With Ephnis's aid, Ennel began climbing.
=Be careful! Don't drop Benefactor!=
=Yes!=
Ryuhi and Ephnis's combined 3.3m height, plus pushing/pulling, got Ennel to 4m quickly. Huini pulled from above, hauling Hwan-in into the cave smoothly.
=Whoa, cave's super cool inside. Ah! Dried meat further in! Straw bed too!=
=Ah! Benefactor passed out! Huini, stop sightseeing and help lower her!=
=Wha?!=
Ryuhi, climbing arduously next, pulled up Ephnis and marveled at the interior.
How had he found such a safe, comfy hideout?
Without his guidance, they'd never have spotted it. High enough to deter beasts or monsters.
'Reason he pushed himself.'
Meat dried on wooden racks in the passage, wild fruits and veggies piled high.
This was...
=Sis! Ryuhi sis! Benefactor passed out! Hurry!=
=C-Coming!=
As Ryuhi dashed in shocked, Emergency Ration scouting outside flew in.
Seeing fainted Hwan-in, it flapped and squawked.
Squawk? Squawk!! Squawk squawk!!
Why's my friend like this? Warm him up quick!
No time for the urging bird, Ryuhi recalled nursing supplies.
=Ennel. Fill empty flasks with as much water as possible. Huini, gather and chop firewood with her.=
=Yes.=
=Okay!=
With Ephnis, Ryuhi smoothed bedding and laid Hwan-in. Checked his forehead, cheeks, nape.
=Sis, got water.=
=Pour into bowls and keep fetching more. Ephnis, wipe Benefactor with me.=
=Yes.=
=Yeah.=
Ryuhi felt bone-deep that escaping this labyrinth without the benefactor was impossible.
Whatever it took—even foraging forest herbs—she soaked bandages from his pouch and gently wiped his cold sweat.