Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Long Night
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Like the other spirits, Houlan's spirit had returned to a clear gray. It bowed deeply to Hwan-in, conveying its gratitude.
"Does resolving their grudges free them from the mingled state?"
Seeing this, he couldn't believe spirits lacked thought.
And if they could think, it was natural they could communicate.
"The reason I can't converse with them must be my own lack of ability."
Houlan's spirit gazed at her family with eyes filled with affection and compassion, then scattered like mist in a glow of light, slowly fading away.
A moment later, Hwan-in turned his gaze to Houlan's family, who were offering prayers, and spoke.
"She's gone."
=Thank you, Spirit Master. For resolving my deceased wife's grudge... thank you so much...=
=Thank you, Spirit Master!=
=Thank you!=
"It was my duty. Think nothing of it."
As Yurisa and the children hid their tears and expressed their thanks, Hwan-in offered appropriate humility. But inwardly, he sighed at the gazes of the villagers watching him from afar.
The effort to resolve even a single mingling was never small.
This case had been easy since it happened in a small village, but in a larger one or a city, tangled human relationships would make it a headache-inducing hassle.
Pouring this much time and effort into unrelated matters just didn't balance out.
=Spirit Master, we want to offer you some recompense. Please accept this.=
"I won't refuse."
Yurisa offered currency and raw gems that could be used easily enough, but for two weeks' work, it wasn't all that satisfying.
In fact, it was woefully insufficient as payment for mental labor.
"Maybe I should keep being a Spirit Master under wraps. Or pretend not to notice minglings as I pass, or find a way to force them into Buddhahood..."
If asked for the biggest gain from his two weeks in Yulcam, it was the increase in his soul orb count.
His soul orbs had jumped from 16 to 24—an increase of 8.
The sudden surge was tied to the warmth gathering in the women's lower abdomens.
This warmth not only replenished his spent Warm Ki but also related to his soul orb count.
He'd learned this two days after arriving in the village. While Lukil's punishment was in full swing, he'd embraced the Huini and Ennel sisters together—and that's when he noticed the soul orbs increasing.
"I'd wondered why the soul orbs were piling up so fast since I started holding the women. So there was a secret like this."
Using superpowers made them grow.
Absorbing the warmth in a woman's womb made them grow too.
Every night, women from the village had been approaching Hwan-in, eager to be held.
Starting the next day, he excluded any who might cause issues and spent time with two or three each night. Over 12 days, absorbing warmth from more than 30 women, he'd raised his soul orbs to 24.
Here, Hwan-in realized his superpower had grown another step.
The new ability was vague.
The power to issue more varied commands to spirits.
More precisely, slight direct communication with spirits had become possible.
He still couldn't understand their words, but at least they could now comprehend his.
In any case, from a broad view, easily embracing women could be seen as a gain from Spirit Master activities.
But Hwan-in firmly separated it from resolving or purifying minglings.
Women from the village would approach any capable outsider for a night anyway.
Even without being a Spirit Master, his combat prowess would have drawn them.
Indeed, before his abilities became known, several had come that first night of welcome greetings—so it wasn't wrong.
To get used to his new power, Hwan-in wandered the village, communicating with spirits.
Not full language conversations—he spoke, they gestured—but it was enough to fulfill most of their wishes.
Spirits achieved their desires and passed on; villagers gained peace of mind.
Hwan-in earned greater respect; he learned human souls could only be orbed with the spirit's consent.
Not much merit there, nor in the rewards.
Human soul orbs didn't boost technique power or effects much, and more villager respect was useless now.
"Hm..."
Lying in bed, Hwan-in gazed at the 24 soul orbs on his left arm, then turned to the blue sky outside the window.
"Time to leave the village."
He'd diligently embraced women and absorbed warmth for two weeks.
Memories of those days flowed through his mind.
The women who visited nightly were all beautiful.
In the forest labyrinth, holding Ryuhi, Ephnis, Huini, and Ennel, he'd wondered if all women in this world were beauties—and it turned out true.
Even elderly women had aged gracefully; middle-aged ones brimmed with charm like wealthy matrons.
Young women were idol- or actress-level stunning; children were as cute as child stars.
They had human ears plus two beast ears atop their heads, and matching tails, but that wasn't a big issue for Hwan-in's broad tastes.
That was only for women, though—men were all skinwalkers.
Beast heads on human bodies, hides instead of skin.
When he first arrived in Yulcam, Hwan-in had been shocked. Men and women looked so utterly different as a species—how did they even reproduce?
"..."
Men had warmth in their hearts and lower abdomens too, like the women, but Hwan-in ignored it.
If growing his powers required men, he'd abandon them cleanly.
"Better to die first."
Muttering flatly, he sat up at the sound of wingbeats outside.
Ku-et!
"You're back."
Ku-ek. Ku-et.
Emergency Ration, voice clearer now that puberty had passed, hopped onto the bed and nuzzled into Hwan-in's arms, acting cute.
Stroking its vivid green back feathers, Hwan-in lifted it with both hands.
"Feels heavier again."
Nearing 10kg now. Goose-sized but three times the weight.
Wondering if it'd grow again soon, he played with Emergency Ration briefly, then rose, grabbed his stone axe, and left the room.
Anyway, thanks to two weeks of embracing women diligently, the only women left with warmth were those with owners.
Hwan-in had no intention of causing trouble with women, so no reason to stay longer.
Descending to the first floor, he lightly nodded to the chief's daughters—who sprang up from prepping a mountain of wild greens and vegetables in the living room—then stepped out.
=Ah, Benefactor!=
The person he'd planned to visit was right at the door.
Huini, the Inlang tribeswoman, grinned like a puppy and pounced into her arms. As he stroked the wolf girl’s head, he asked,,
"What brings you?"
=Dad says the spear's done—he wants me to fetch you!=
"Perfect timing. I was just heading there."
Walking the low stone-wall path with Huini arm-in-arm, the peaceful village scenery felt pleasant.
His two weeks here had been comfortable.
After the mingling incident, the chief treated him even more lavishly; his wives and kids served him without hesitation; villagers sent respectful gazes and brought the best food first.
But he had no plans to settle here.
He wanted to explore this wondrous world more, find thrilling fights, grow his powers further, see the other four great races besides Lukes.
"..."
And find the owner of that gold coin that dragged him here.
Klang—kclang! Klang—kclang!
Entering the village's sole smithy, filled with rhythmic hammering and blazing furnace heat, a stern gray wolf-headed man approached.
=You've come, Spirit Master.=
"Yes. Huini said the spear's finished."
=This way, please.=
Huini's father, Belbido, led Hwan-in to the inner workshop.
A 10-pyeong room unchanged from his visit 10 days ago. On the central table lay a single black spear, its blade gleaming obsidian—even to the tip.
Lifting his spear to inspect, Hwan-in let out a small gasp of admiration.
It was incomparable to his crude bindings or even Huini's blade attachment.
Gazing at the elongated teardrop obsidian blade perfectly joined to the black shaft, his heart stirred faintly.
Belbido felt even greater gratitude to Hwan-in—not just as a Spirit Master, but as the savior of his child's life. He wanted to repay him somehow.
But as a smith from a small village who made farm tools, Hwan-in had no particular requests.
If Huini hadn't shown the fang saying Dad would make a cool spear, he'd have politely declined as usual. But figuring no loss, he'd handed over his spear...
"Excellent. I love it."
Weight, balance, form—nothing lacking.
The rough shaft was smoothed, yet retained its velvet-like softness and subtle curves, like processing raw wood into a shaft. It suited him perfectly.
Swishing it around then thrusting like lightning, aiming felt effortless—unlike his old one.
"This is true balance."
His previous spear wasn't—just trash.
=Care to test it on metal? There's a steel dummy in the back for sharpness checks.=
"Please."
With Belbido, Hwan-in stood before the steel-rod-stuffed dummy in the yard. Gripping the shaft two-handed, he inhaled lightly, then swung with full force.
Shwick—
Black light flashed; the dummy split in half and toppled.
=Wow~.=
=Whoa.=
Father and daughter just gaped. Only a swish, yet it cleaved the inner steel rod.
Hwan-in was surprised too.
Striking steel, but only faint cutting feedback reached his hands. With this sharpness, even Bartul's regeneration would slice easily.
"Impressive. I'd have regretted not asking for the refit."
=No, your skill with weapons is superb, Spirit Master. I've seen warriors boasting spear mastery from nearby smithies, but none wield as cleanly as you.=
=Dad, come on. Benefactor killed hundreds of monsters and beasts in the forest labyrinth! Of course he's amazing!=
At his daughter's brag, Belbido chuckled with complex feelings.
Hoping she wouldn't pine for someone unattainable and get hurt...
Admiring the teardrop blade, Hwan-in spoke.
"Curious, though. The Blade Boar Saint's fang was ivory-colored, now obsidian."
=It stayed ivory until finishing. But joining the shaft, the color bled in like ink.=
"Because it's a saint's tooth?"
=Honestly, no idea. But probably the black wood's unique effect. Never dreamed of wood harder yet flexible and tough than steel.=
"You think it's because this wood's a labyrinth specialty?"
=Don't know much, but never heard rumors of such wood outside.=
"I see... Anyway, thank you. I'll use it well."
=I'm grateful you like it. Now, usage notes. First...=
The Blade Boar Saint's fang boasted strength rivaling the black wood—it endured that greatsword monster's assaults to the end.
Not unbreakable, though.
Bone-like, honing shortened the edge and lifespan; cracks in the core rendered it unusable.
=Superior to steel in properties, but poor recyclability. Check the edge after every fight; discard early if chipped. It fought the greatsword monster as raw fang, unprocessed.=
Processed this thin, it wouldn't last long.
"Got it."
=Oh, and Dorito says his gift for you is ready. Visit when you have time.=
"Yes."