Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: The Hunt Remembers
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Tweet tweet tweet...
"......"
Hwan-in opened his eyes to the faint chirping of birds, let out a silent sigh, and sat up.
The queen-size bed, framed with wooden beams, let out a creaking wail at his movement.
'To dream of that time...'
He must have accumulated a lot of mental fatigue while pushing through the forest labyrinth. Or maybe it was because of last night's welcoming vision.
It had been over two months since he'd fallen into this world.
After safely rescuing Ryuhi and the children and arriving at their village, Yukam, Hwan-in was met with the villagers' exuberant cheers and warm reception.
The women, who they'd thought swept away and killed by the tsunami just a month ago, had pierced through that terrifying forest labyrinth and returned alive.
Hwan-in, who had accomplished what most would deem impossible, became the village hero in an instant.
The villagers grieved briefly over the fact that three of the seven missing women had died, but that sorrow didn't last.
They prepared a festival to celebrate the women's return and welcome Hwan-in for bringing them back safely. That night, around 150 villagers gathered to eat, drink, and revel in joyous celebration.
Of course, the star of the festival was Hwan-in.
A warrior outstanding enough to escape unharmed from that dreadful labyrinth alongside four powerless women.
Seated at the head of the village table, Hwan-in downed cup after cup of alcohol as everyone came to offer thanks.
Unfamiliar faces, an atmosphere utterly unlike what he'd expected.
Though his mind was occupied absorbing and sorting the information pouring from their excited conversations, Hwan-in maintained his composure as best he could, smiling and engaging with the villagers.
And when the festival reached its peak, Ryuhi and Efnis revealed that Hwan-in was a spirit shaman from a distant land's high clan (though he'd never said such a thing)—one who handled spirits and bestowed blessings.
An incredibly powerful warrior, to boot?
From a high clan in a far-off country?
A spirit shaman who guided the souls of the dead to peace and granted tranquility?
Whoaaaa!!
The mood ignited even further.
The villagers, who had been expressing gratitude and thanks to Hwan-in, soon began showing reverence and admiration, their manners growing ever more deferential.
They brought out precious liquors hidden at home, prepared rare ingredients into dishes offered to Hwan-in, and young unmarried men of the village began gathering around him one by one.
The amount of alcohol and food flowing into his mouth increased accordingly.
That was when his memory started blur.
'The film didn't break. I didn't make any mistakes.'
He'd drunk a substantial amount, but Hwan-in desperately clung to his senses. When he judged he could hold out no longer, he complained of fatigue to the village chief, who gladly offered him the best room in his own house.
This was that room where he'd woken.
After splashing his dry face, Hwan-in looked around the interior.
He'd been too dazed last night to notice, but the roughly 100-square-foot space had wooden floors and walls adorned with colorful carpets laid or hung about, decorated with various ornaments.
The furniture appeared to be high-end with intricate carvings, and the storage chest for his belongings was like a work of art showcasing beautiful wood grain.
The wardrobe was similarly finely crafted, the bed queen-sized. The sheets were some unknown soft leather, the blanket heavy and warm like a down comforter made of fur.
'For village standards, this is truly luxurious.'
The village buildings were mostly log cabins. Over 90% of the homes and structures were wooden.
In such a place, a room like this...
'Not the chief and his wife's private quarters, I hope.'
Hwan-in shook his head slightly, got out of bed, and walked to the window amid the floorboards' creaks.
Whoosh...
Sliding open the wooden window brought in cool dawn air and a fresh breeze.
Kuet.
Emergency Ration, curled up asleep in one corner of the bed, lifted its head as if woken by the chill wind.
Glancing at Emergency Ration, Hwan-in turned his gaze back outside.
The chief's house sat high in the village elevation. From its second floor, the entire village lay in view.
The settlement of about fifty households nestled at the foot of mountains curving like bent arms behind it.
Small by Hwan-in's standards, but it had everything it needed.
A river flowing from the rocky hill behind crossed the village, lined with windmills and waterwheels, a forge, a carpenter's shop, a building that seemed a mix of general store and inn, livestock pens, and a large structure that looked like a village assembly hall.
All built of wood, and the house styles unfamiliar Western log cabins, doubling the novelty Hwan-in felt.
Gazing at villagers cleaning up after yesterday's festival, he looked beyond the village.
Raising his eyes a bit revealed Lake Oljote and its small dock below.
Between the lake and village, and to either side, stretched vast rice paddies and fields.
He saw children herding livestock, residents heading to fields, mountains, or lake for work.
Knock knock knock.
As he opened the door to the knock, a 2.2-meter-tall clothed wolfman holding a water basin and soap smiled brightly and asked,
"Spirit shaman, sir, did you sleep well last night?"
"Yes. Thanks to the chief's hospitality, I rested deeply."
"We're deeply sorry to house a noble spirit shaman like you in such humble quarters. Normally, there would be a separate residence for esteemed guests like yourself..."
"This room is splendid enough. I'm fine, so please don't worry."
The village chief, his age showing in the mottled gray-and-white fur, bowed his head as if ashamed at Hwan-in's modesty and replied.
"We've prepared breakfast. It's not much, but if it's alright with you, would you join us downstairs? Of course, we can bring it to your room if you prefer."
"Meals are best shared together to make them special. I'll prepare and come right down."
"Thank you. We'll await you on the floor below."
Taking the basin from the delighted chief, Hwan-in washed his face and hands, then dried them with a rough but cloth-like towel, his eyes lingering on the slightly greenish milky soap.
'Fascinating. All intelligent civilizations produce similar cultures, I suppose.'
Even so, compared to Earth's medieval or ancient eras, it felt heterogeneous.
This was more soap-like than soap made from fat, ash, and water.
The liquor at yesterday's feast had been clear and distilled, the food properly seasoned with salt, pepper, and various spices.
The villagers' clothing was simple like medieval European commoner garb but properly woven.
Considering it all, it felt like a jumble of medieval and modern elements.
On the way here with the women, he'd heard they lacked barbaric customs, but he hadn't expected this level of sophistication.
After thoroughly washing the oil from his face and hands for the first time in a while, Hwan-in neatly trimmed his beard with his dagger, slicked his hair back cleanly, and looked out the window again.
"......"
People with unmistakably dog or wolf heads shouldered farming tools, laughing and playfully slapping each other's shoulders as they walked.
When he'd first seen the villagers yesterday, Hwan-in understood why the women called these wolfmen a branch of the Lukrang.
The village was made up of Lukrang wolfkin and dogkin. The men all bore strongly beastly forms.
The difference from the wolfmen he'd encountered in the forest: straighter backs like humans, more human-like builds, and clothed like people. Otherwise, they were nearly identical.
'But neither the villagers nor the women were surprised to see me.'
So there were ordinary humans in this world too.
Apart from fighting monsters, Hwan-in was starting to grow a bit curious about this world.
Descending the creaking hallway to the first floor with Emergency Ration, Hwan-in entered a spacious living room like a wooden pub, where thirteen large figures including the chief sat around a long table.
Three men including a child. Ten women.
'Chief, his four wives, eight kids, right.'
The village's male-female ratio was about that: one man to three or four women.
As Hwan-in came down the stairs, all thirteen stood to greet him.
They all looked welcoming, but especially the children—from nineteen down to six—gazed at him like an idol.
"Come this way, Spirit Shaman, sir."
The chief led him to the head seat, undoubtedly his own. Hwan-in sat without protest, and the chief's family followed suit.
The third wife placed a bowl overflowing with nuts and fresh vegetables before Emergency Ration.
After a moment of prayer to their god-like figure, the chief smilingly served Hwan-in lavish dishes as his eldest daughter, a maiden, assisted at his side.
"Spirit Shaman, sir. Try this too."
"Thank you."
As he ate the neatly arranged meal, the chief and his wives ate quietly, but the eight children whispered among themselves while sneaking glances at Hwan-in.
"Wow, that's manners? He eats so cleanly, like yesterday."
"Right? Unlike you, stuffing it down like a pig."
"Why pick on me? You do it too!"
"Who's denying it?"
"Efnis sis said he's strong enough to take on hundreds of hobbs alone."
"Ryuhi sis said he killed a Barthum too."
"He sent the holy beast back to fate. Did you see those fangs?"
"Yeah, huge..."
"A spirit shaman who's warrior-tough... Haaah."
An atmosphere that would choke ordinary folk, but Hwan-in ate unfazed.
Despite claims of "not much," from whole roasted chicken-like birds to abundant vegetable and meat dishes, it felt like a proper reception.
Suspecting the reason, Hwan-in ate casually while chatting intermittently with the chief.
"That rank-6 forest labyrinth is infamous even nationally—no one dares enter. To spend two months inside... Just hearing it makes my breath catch."
"Luck was on my side. I survived witnessing sacred beasts beyond my capabilities."
Luck indeed.
From what he'd heard, the area where he'd appeared was the forest labyrinth's outskirts (labyrinths came in various types).
Had he stubbornly pushed in the initial direction he'd taken, he'd have died soon enough.
"Ah, the Lion of Soul Flame and the Mountain Ghost, you mean. Sacred beasts so rare even lifelong warriors seldom glimpse them. We ignorant villagers only hear tales. Heh heh heh."
Breakfast concluded in a warm atmosphere, and the chief, his wives, and children left for their daily tasks.
No compulsory education meant even six-year-olds worked as a matter of course.
Told to rest easy by the chief, Hwan-in grabbed his spear and stone axe, went to the front yard, and swung the spear to loosen his stiff body.
Not actually stiff— just felt that way.
Thanks to the bloodstone's effect, his physical condition was always peak.
No hangover despite downing nearly 5,000cc of fruit wine and beer last night proved it.
Calmly repeating thrust, slash, overhead strike, and upward strike endlessly, passing villagers stared blankly before realizing time had flown and hurried on.
After two hours—1,000 reps each—Hwan-in felt refreshed, drenched in sweat, and washed at the well.
The icy water fit his heated body perfectly.
After rinsing sweat, Hwan-in called Emergency Ration, busy pecking bugs in the yard.
"Emergency Ration. No flying in the village."
Kuet?
"Dangerous."
Last night's welcome (more reception than celebration) revealed it as his pet, but accidents could happen.
Men like patrols carried arrows on their backs—stray shots were possible.
Ku!
With Emergency Ration spreading wings in understanding perched on his shoulder, Hwan-in slowly descended to the village along the path.
Every resident he passed greeted him with utmost respect.
More reverence for being a spirit shaman than saving the women.
The simple reason he'd come straight to the village instead of resting: since arriving yesterday, he'd seen human souls everywhere, and wanted to investigate.
He suspected it explained the chief's lavish treatment and villagers' deference.
Strolling leisurely, confirming soul numbers and forms, Hwan-in spotted one tinged red.
All animal and beast souls he'd seen were near-white transparent grays. The over forty human souls in the village were the same.
Some followed specific girls, others stayed fixed in place, some wandered aimlessly.
Mostly light gray, unremarkable, but the wolf-headed male soul standing rigidly at the village entrance was different.
Its color aside, an eerie chill set it apart.
'Bad feeling...'
Different color alone wouldn't be an issue, but the eeriness made it ominous and unsettling.
Unfelt elsewhere, up close—even without looking—his heart raced, skin prickling toward it.
As he stared at the red soul leaning against the village palisade, a man atop the watchtower glanced down, quickly descended, and approached.
"Greetings, Spirit Shaman, sir!"
"Greetings. Hard work on watch."
"Oh, no need for such words. It's my duty as a villager. Haha."
Hwan-in's polite response made the cautious black-and-white-headed border collie-like man grin, tongue lolling like a happy dog seeing its master.