Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Quiet After Violence
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The porter scratched his head awkwardly at the sight of Isilite stubbornly tailing them from a distance, then glanced toward the driver's seat and spoke.
=Lady Ssa. The bandit leader's still following us.=
=Ugh... Soul Shaman, what should we do?=
"...".
Ssa shot a quick look at Hwan-in, who offered no reply, and scratched her neck.
From what she knew of soul masters—and based on her read of Hwan-in's personality—she'd assumed he'd resolve the spirit possession.
After all, liberating, guiding to the afterlife, or dissipating a possessing spirit was a soul master's noble right and duty, regardless of who the host was.
But Hwan-in had passed by without dealing with the spirit clinging to Isilite.
'There must be some ulterior motive. Maybe planning to tame the spirit under the pretext of possession and make it a subordinate? Or...'
=Uh, the bandit leader's getting closer! =
=...Good grief. Brillit, if you would.=
=Yes.=
Brillit calmly drew her spear, slowed Kue slightly, and bellowed at the rapidly approaching Isilite.
=Bandit leader! Don't come any closer! Any further approach will be seen as hostile intent! =
=Fuck! I'm not the bandit leader anymore!!=
At the voice bursting with frustration, Brillit furrowed one eyebrow.
Her pitiful state—face painted with blood from torn skin—drew sympathy, but Brillit met her with an icy expression and jabbed lightly.
Clang! Clank!
=Don't do it! I said don't! =
=Stay back! =
=I don't want anything with you merchants, so fuck off! =
Whoosh!
Scraaape!
Kaa-claaang—clang!!
Far from being leader by brute strength alone, Isilite wielded her straw-wrapped greatsword like an extension of her limbs, clashing with Brillit several times.
'Thought she was just a brute bandit, but she's got skills...!'
'This bitch... she's stronger than she looks!'
To outsiders, their skills seemed evenly matched, but Brillit was holding back.
Anyone in their right mind wouldn't want to tangle with someone possessed by a spirit.
Unable to breach Brillit's guard due to the skill and class gap, Isilite gnashed her teeth, retreated a good distance, and resumed following the wagon from afar.
As the sun set and the sky filled with sunset hues, the group began setting up camp.
They draped a tent over the wagon's frame roof, lit a campfire, roasted meat, and simmered stew—everyone bustling about when Ssa approached to speak.
=If you can endure just tonight, we can rest comfortably in the village tomorrow.=
"Camping hasn't been bad so far."
It was true.
Hwan-in received special treatment: no night watch, and every meal spiced generously with seasonings.
Any stiffness or fatigue from the bedroll vanished quickly while clutching his bloodstone, leaving him with no complaints.
=As expected. You have the makings of a great hero, Soul Shaman.=
"Is camping a hero's qualification?"
Hwan-in quipped with a smirk at Ssa's jest, and she laughed heartily.
=A true hero must make the starry sky their blanket and the night breeze their lullaby. It's common wisdom that those who can't enjoy roughing it may succeed ordinarily but never become heroes! =
"Sounds like a job that invites needless hardship."
=Oh, how did you know? Another name for hero is 'cursed with wanderlust.' Heh heh heh.=
Hwan-in chuckled, then turned to the porter diligently preparing camp and spoke.
"It'd be inhuman to complain when you're handling the hardest parts of camping. That aside..."
Hwan-in's gaze shifted to Isilite, still glaring off against Brillit, and Ssa followed, frowning.
=Hmm. Soul Shaman, may I ask one impertinent question?=
"You're wondering why I haven't liberated the spirit."
=Yes...=
Clearly not expecting Hwan-in to read her mind, Ssa looked like a startled kitten.
Hwan-in averted his eyes from her Puss in Boots-like cuteness and calmly examined the spirit dangling from Isilite's left shoulder.
"I'm probably different from the soul masters you know."
=...Pardon?=
His unexpected words drew wide-eyed stares not just from Ssa but from the porters by the fire.
"I've heard professionals envelop themselves in auras. But not me."
Hwan-in still vividly recalled that day.
Navigating a river of light in the darkness. The searing heat as souls of countless creatures he'd unknowingly slain over 26 years pierced his body.
He should have awakened too, visible auras and all—but nothing showed.
Ephnis said awakening was only for humanoid beasts and humans, but Hwan-in didn't buy it. Even ignoring himself, the blade boar proved otherwise.
Ssa let out a soft hum, scratching her fluffy cheek with soft fur.
=I've heard of some professionals who can't see auras... but I can't say for sure if that applies to you, Soul Shaman.=
"I see. Regardless, the spirit on that woman feels off. I'm hesitant even to mention purification or liberation."
=Ah. So that's why you parted ways with the bandits quickly.=
Hwan-in nodded.
"I'll try purifying the spirit. Experience is what I need most right now."
Glancing at Ssa lost in thought—her eyebrow-like black line straight as a ruler—Hwan-in beckoned Emergency Ration over.
The porters looked troubled by its greedy eyeing of the sizzling meat.
Hwan-in regretfully eyed the meat, then stroked Emergency Ration as it waddled over and nestled between his legs, pondering.
The spirit on Isilite was a girl of eight or nine.
A girl with horse-like ears and a ponytail clung to Isilite's shoulder, showing no hostility.
Just blushing red, occasionally peering around from her perch.
No clue why she was with Isilite.
'That said, it's not like I have no options.'
The issue: it'd require prying, and answers might not yield solutions.
To preserve his mystique around the bandits, he'd left coolly. He'd expected her to follow.
Hwan-in asked Ssa to fetch Isilite. She readily sent Brillit, Dinte, and Huseok to escort her.
=Soul Shaman. I won't ask you to remove the spirit for free. Purify my soul, and I'll work for you gratis for 20 years.=
Edgy Isilite cut straight to her deal.
Hwan-in stared silently for a moment, then spoke lowly.
"You're rude."
=Sorry about that. My life's been shit, so no one's taught me manners.=
No mockery or jest in her tone—Hwan-in glanced down at Emergency Ration savoring his touch with eyes closed and replied.
"I have no reason to exert myself for you. Why should I bother with your headache?"
=Isn't liberating possessing spirits and saving wandering souls a soul master's duty?! =
"Who said it's a duty? Who imposed it? I've never shouldered such a duty, nor had a compelling reason, nor met whoever demands it."
=...! =
"To me, you're a criminal who popped up to steal our goods. Give me one reason beyond 'soul master, so obviously purify it' why I should help you."
=Then why'd you call me here? =
"Figure that out later. Brillit."
=Yes.=
Brillit shoved the fiercely resisting Isilite away like discarding trash and withdrew.
Ssa, watching, clicked her tongue.
=Not a former bandit boss for nothing—fiery temper. You sure about this?=
"If I help, it should be on our terms."
=Heh heh heh. Fair enough.=
After dinner and Emergency Ration's rationed feeding, Hwan-in climbed atop the wagon frame, now a thick tent, and lay down.
The taut fabric between frames made a comfy hammock.
Dawns were chilly, but
Kuet.
Emergency Ration huddled against his side provided ample warmth.
It nipped his finger insistently, demanding back scratches—almost neurotically.
Maybe from the limited food.
Chuckling, he resumed stroking, then spotted Isilite by her separate fire in her periphery.
Her lips puffed out like a sulking child.
'Soul Burst could rip even Grenir hide, yet her wounds are healing already.'
Even on her tough-skinned muzzle, normal blades barely scratched. Surviving five bursts with mere injuries...
'Come to think of it, Vardul was similar.'
The wolfman who'd ambushed with mottled wolves—an awakened monster of immense strength and regen.
But defensively, two tiers below Isilite.
Roughly: if Vardul was 1 strength, 1 regen; swordswoman 1 strength, 0.8 defense, 0.2 regen.
His thoughts drifted to class growth.
Brillit the spear warrior, Isilite swinging a 10kg iron greatsword like a twig—both freakishly strong.
If other classes grew like his powers...
'The stronger they get, the worse melee becomes for me.'
With 24 soul orbs now, new ability (weak soul communication) and skill potency up, usage limits expanded.
Meaning other classes grow with training too.
Already huge gaps in strength/defense; it'd make melee impossible.
Hwan-in laughed in absurdity.
'Shame.'
No complaints about soul powers.
Sniping arrows or blasts from afar was fun, but lacked melee thrill.
Still, no need to abandon entirely. Higher-grade souls and steady training could bridge the gap.
Kuuu!
Idling hand prompted Emergency Ration to beak-peck his knuckles in protest.
Feeling like he was raising an emperor, not a pet, Hwan-in resumed petting.
The next morning, as porters prepped departure and breakfast, Hwan-in politely requested a spar with Brillit.
Multiple motives, but no downside for her.
"Good for loosening up."
=Understood. Please teach me a move or two.=
In the ensuing 20-minute bout, Hwan-in landed zero hits allowed, while Brillit got a full-body massage via staff taps.
No real strikes—just light prods—but the mental blow rivaled spear gashes.
Brillit had planned a courtesy match at first.
Melee class spars were melee-only; slight overforce shattered bones.
Against a soul master?
Qualified spear instructor, she could control strength—but prepped to baby him anyway...
=Guh?! =
That lasted under a minute.
Three weapon swaps in, she pegged him as spear novice: no basics, stance, steps, or form trained.
Yet thrusts, sweeps, overheads were textbook perfect.
Spears were easy—master thrust, 80% down. This raw beginner...
'Insane!'
Reflexes, dynamic vision, combat sense: beast-surpassing monster level.
She moved first; somehow her spear deflected, his grazed her.
Dodged presciently, prodded unknown weak spots, withdrew.
Unavoidables? Tapped knee/elbow to disrupt, exploited gaps with pokes.
Four minutes in, Brillit grimaced demonically, flailing desperately for one touch—but...
"Good work."
=...Good... work... =
Hwan-in stayed leisurely as a stroll throughout.
Untaxed breath vs. her chin-deep panting: despair.
'...!'
Last, his footprints: hers churned meters of earth; his sparse in ~1m radius. She collapsed in utter powerlessness.
Not just Brillit, guards 2/3, and Ssa were stunned.
=Soul Shaman, what are you? Not human? Some humanoid beast in disguise? =
Isilite, who'd snuck close to watch, lost her mind.
"Just an ordinary person."
=Ordinary does that? If soul masters are ordinary, I'm sub-monkey trash. Ahahaha...=
With formal training herself, she quickly saw no spear lessons.
From afar, she analyzed faster/accurately than Brillit: pure instinctual movement.
Utterly ridiculous. Near infuriating.
Dodge: read attack, evade.
Parry: read motion, block assault.
Riposte: tap-deflect weapon path, counter.
Top-three defense arts, breathed effortlessly. Life wasted.
One alone warrants master status; this maniac juggles all flawlessly?
Yet grips weapon sloppily? Childish footwork?
'This is existential denial.'
Slumped powerless, she met Brillit's half-dead eyes; mutual gaze conveyed shared defeat.
Empathy, commiseration.
Satisfied with insights from 20 minutes, Hwan-in eyed wide-mouthed Isilite, then looked away.
Her wilted slump: intent landed.
'This'll ease next steps.'
Having etched unforgettable defeat into both women till their dying day, Hwan-in arrived at Lehil Village six hours later.
=We're here. That's Lehil Village.=