Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Where Fear Hardens
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The day before departure passed much like any other, filled with training, a stroll through the village, and light chit-chat with Ssa.
The village chief seemed eager to gather everyone for a farewell party, but Hwan-in politely declined, suggesting they hold the welcome feast next time he visited instead of turning it into another all-out drinking binge like the previous welcoming event.
That evening, he invited Ryuhi, Ephnis, and the Huini and Ennel sisters to the inn for one last meal together.
After all, they were the first connections he'd made in this world. He might never return to Yukam after leaving tomorrow, but life had a way of twisting unexpectedly, so he wanted to part on good terms.
The meal wrapped up in a warm atmosphere with the women, and as they sipped tea brewed from unnamed leaves, Hwan-in listened to their updates.
"I'm planning to take a job as a seamstress at the general store. Mr. Dorito acknowledged my skills when I made that leather armor for you, sir."
"So you won't have to go out on the boats anymore?"
"Yes. Truth be told, I'm scared to get back on one..."
According to Ssa, women in this world—especially in rural areas like this—handled most of the rough work.
Men took care of farming, watchtower duty, and fending off occasional beast or monster attacks, while women managed pretty much everything else.
"Fishing in Lake Oljort, the sacred beast's domain, is traditionally done only by unmarried women over fourteen without any special skills."
The reason was that they couldn't risk sending their scarce men or skilled workers into danger. But while fishing was off-limits, hunting beasts and monsters was fine... Hwan-in couldn't quite wrap his head around the logic.
'Fighting must be seen as a manly pursuit.'
While staying in Yukam, he'd sparred with the village vigilantes— all men—as a demonstration, but to him, they weren't any better than Huini or Ennel.
Their attacks left huge openings, and he could sense that a single stab there would drop them like beasts in the forest or labyrinth.
"Do Oljort's tidal waves happen often?"
"I've heard this is the third one since I was born."
"Not exactly rare, then."
Facing one of those waves almost guaranteed casualties.
This time, eighteen had set out on boats, but only Ryuhi, Ephnis, Huini, and Ennel made it back.
Ten bodies washed up on the beach days after the wave, and the other four died in the labyrinth forest.
With that many deaths, you'd think the local authorities would step in, but they didn't—probably because they called that horned scale whale a sacred beast.
"I'm starting training from Mother to take over the inn and general store. I don't want to go out on boats anymore, like my sister."
Ephnis was better off than Ryuhi, at least. She stood to inherit both the general store and the inn, plus she had a skill in pattern-making for clothes.
She could marry if she wanted, but neither Ephnis nor Ryuhi seemed interested.
Huini had taken Hwan-in's offhand comment more seriously than expected and started working odd jobs at the blacksmith.
Ennel, meanwhile...
"You're joining the village vigilantes?"
"Yes. Watching over you gave me a bit of confidence. Since marriage is off the table anyway, I figured I'd pursue what interests me."
To Hwan-in's eyes, Ennel could handle vigilante work just fine.
As a beastkin, her strength matched the human men's, and she surprisingly had the courage to wield weapons.
As they exchanged stories, Hwan-in realized the women were mentally prepared to say goodbye.
He'd been ready to talk them out of it if any tried to follow, so this was a relief.
"So you'll be heading out tomorrow with Ssa?"
"Yes. No more wandering spirits haunting the village, and the possession incidents are resolved."
"That's great. I was worried you'd go alone. It's dangerous beyond the stockade..."
Ryuhi smiled and added, "Of course, you're strong, so I wasn't too worried."
Ephnis set down her teacup and glanced up at the inn's second floor.
"Ssa's trustworthy. He'll guide you well."
"Is that so?"
When Hwan-in wondered if there was tangible proof, Ephnis nodded.
"Plenty of people have moved to nearby villages or cities. The only ones who've settled in properly and keep in regular contact are those who went through Ssa."
Those who revered Oljort as a sacred beast stayed, but the skeptics had fled in fear.
And of the six or so merchants who visited Yukam, including Ssa...
People who'd relocated through other merchants lost contact or died in transit accidents, but everyone Ssa helped was thriving.
"Those who left with Ssa are all doing well. Letters from their families arrive twice a year even now."
"I see."
At least it meant Ssa was reliable, so Hwan-in felt confident in his choice.
After a final passionate night with the four women, Hwan-in finished his preparations at dawn.
He slipped into a t-shirt woven from mysterious slender beast fur, black leather pants of matching texture and color, and a jacket and coat to match. Pulling up the hood, he gave his outfit a final check...
"Emergency Ration. Wake up."
...
Though he shook her awake, Emergency Ration lay sprawled on the bed, wings splayed, deep in blissful sleep as she toured the dreamlands.
Hwan-in watched her silently for a moment, sighed softly, stroked her neck, and tried again.
"Emergency Ration."
Ku... kue...?
"Time to go."
...Kuu!
At the word "go," she jolted awake, preening her feathers with her beak in her own hurried way.
Hwan-in grabbed his leather bag and weapons, scanned the room for anything forgotten, then headed out. Emergency Ration scampered after him.
The creaking wooden stairs led down to the first floor, where the chief and his wife waited.
"Setting off already?"
"Yes. Thank you for your hospitality."
"No, no—we owe you a great debt, Soul Shaman. You've lifted the threat that nearly destroyed our village. It's meager, but please accept this as thanks..."
The chief offered a fist-sized purple pouch that gleamed like fine silk. When Hwan-in hesitated, the chief pressed it into his hand.
"We saved this village communal fund for a day like this. Please take it without burden."
"...In that case, I'll gratefully accept."
As he took it, coins jingled inside. It felt heavy.
The chief had put 90% of the village funds inside, leaving just a bit for emergencies.
Had it not been for Hwan-in, it would've vanished with Yukam anyway. Offering it as a bribe-like token of gratitude didn't sting at all.
This was their way of leaving a good impression.
He'd only heard rumors, but soul masters who could purify possessions with a few words and gestures were highly respected even in the holy city.
Realistically, one like this had no reason to return to a rural village. He could live luxuriously in the capital or holy city, networking endlessly.
Yet the chief saw a youthful naivety in Hwan-in.
Wiser than the village idiots, but with just enough innocence that planting a good impression now might yield a small favor for the village later.
With nearly a century of experience, the chief hid his intentions perfectly and bowed deeply to the departing Hwan-in.
"May the Beast God bless your path, Soul Shaman..."
"Safe travels, Soul Shaman."
"We pray luck graces your journey."
As he left the chief's house behind the inn, out of sight, Hwan-in opened the pouch.
It was full of silver coins.
Six stacks of ten-silver pieces (each worth ten coppers) and four single silvers—sixty-four million won in modern terms. A fortune.
For a mere village's communal fund, it was practically everything they had.
'Soul masters get this kind of treatment?'
The chief had hidden his motives flawlessly, but Hwan-in saw right through the timing of the gift on his last day.
"Smart move."
An ordinary person might've been touched without suspecting a thing.
Hwan-in decided to remember Yukam fondly. For someone like him, with no knowledge or base, this sum would fund his activities for a good while.
The inn's forecourt bustled in the dawn twilight with people and exotic beasts he'd never seen.
"Soul Shaman, over here!"
Ssa was decked out head to toe in leather armor: hat, jacket, pants, boots, and gloves.
The vibe was so different that without the cheetah face, Hwan-in might've done a double-take.
"Dressed like that, you look more like an adventurer than a merchant."
"That's the point!"
Ssa winked, saying adventurers deterred bandits from underestimating them.
A male saying that might've been off-putting, but the cute cheetah face made it oddly charming.
"More importantly, are these the kue?"
Hwan-in turned from Ssa to eye the four large straw-colored birds.
"Yes. Our indispensable companions."
The docile-looking kue were about one-and-a-half times the size of ostriches.
Their build was similar, but covered in long, soft feathers—if you draped an ostrich in them, it'd look like this.
Shorter necks than ostriches, but the abundant feathers, including multiple long tail plumes like a magpie's, balanced the proportions for maximum cuteness.
Despite horse-like size, they weren't intimidating at all.
Rounded heads like sparrows, big clear eyes, neat long lashes matching the straw feathers, and gently curved thick beaks for an overall gentle vibe.
One lounging on its belly tilted its head as Hwan-in approached, stood, and sniffed him.
"...Those legs are incredibly sturdy."
Hard to tell sitting, but the thighs were as thick as a man's waist, ankles scaled like a man's thigh.
The claws looked sharp enough to shred flesh if they scratched.
"Hahaha. Legs and beak are their big weapons. A solid kick snaps a wolf's back."
"..."
That's a predator, then?
"Loti, come."
Kue~
A porter led the straw kue to a cart with an exposed frame and harnessed it.
The kue watched leisurely, offering no resistance as they fitted the bit and traces—even opening its beak for the bit.
'Incredibly docile.'
Seeing another kue sidle up expectantly, Hwan-in asked Ssa.
"Can I pet it?"
"Of course. Their biggest flaw is how gentle they are."
With permission, Hwan-in touched the fluffy neck, back, and wing feathers. He was surprised inside.
Feared they'd be stiff from the volume, but they were duck-down soft.
He eyed Emergency Ration suspiciously—the chicken-sized one peeking at her harnessed kin.
'She grows into one of these? Hard to picture.'
Straw kue looked like flightless poultry: chicken, duck, goose.
But Emergency Ration had a migratory bird vibe.
Kue? Kuet.
Ku! Kue~
Kuet?
Kuaek!
Suddenly, Emergency Ration started conversing with the harnessed straw kue.
As they kue-kue'd back and forth, Ssa sidled up and whispered.
"Soul Shaman... just to check, is your pet a rare kue breed?"
"Yes. One of the village girls said so."
"Hmm..."
Ssa eyed the fluttering-winged Emergency Ration seriously, vanished briefly, and returned with a collar-like band.
"This is made from specially woven fibers. See? Stretches long enough for an adult kue's neck. Put it on your pet."
"To mark ownership?"
"Exactly. A rare kue wandering unmarked gets scooped up as stray. Watch for thieves too, of course."
'Never thought about ownership marks.'
Thanking Ssa, Hwan-in called Emergency Ration and fitted the collar.
Kue?
She pecked curiously, then irritably clawed at it. Hwan-in grabbed her foot and scolded.
"Keep it on. If anyone tries taking you, run back to me."
Kuet.
Preparations wrapped quickly under Ssa's watch.
One guard and three porters rode in the bus-sized cart's cargo hold; the other two guards mounted the straw kue.
'Riding kue by skill level, huh.'
Ssa finished checking the securely packed goods and grinned at Hwan-in.
"Soul Shaman, take the cart's passenger seat."
"Appreciate it."
There were comfy seats, but Ssa taking the reins meant the spot had significance.
"I'll take your bag."
Hwan-in handed his bag and spear to the rear porter, keeping only the deer-antler staff as he climbed in.
Emergency Ration hopped up to perch on the frame, crowing energetically.
Kuet!
Kue?
Kuwooet.
Kuuku~
Sitting in the passenger seat amid the dawn chill, watching the non-human chatter behind him stirred an indescribable feeling in his chest.
The surreal thrill of truly venturing into another world.
"Alright, let's roll! Hyah!"
Slap.
Kue~
Kuet!
The leather reins flicked lightly against their backs, and the kue stepped off briskly.
Six people alone exceeded 500kg; with cart and cargo, over two tons. Yet the two straw kue pulled smoothly, unfazed.
Glancing back at stares from the inn, he spotted Ryuhi and Ephnis at a second-floor window.
"..."
A slight bow to them, and Hwan-in left Yukam—his home for over two weeks—behind, embarking on his journey.