Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Strength Without Apology
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So this was what Avet had given him!
Hwan-in had planned to wander the village starting tomorrow, chatting with spirits to raise his Soul Communication proficiency.
But he hadn't expected conversations with spirits to happen like this...
Just then, his forehead tingled again, and another thought struck Hwan-in.
'What if it's a buff with an expiration date? That wouldn't be good.'
"Soul Shaman... are you?"
For now, he set aside the hypothesis—time would tell—and replied to the elderly dogkin man's spirit.
"Yes. Can you hear my voice clearly?"
"Yes... clearly. To meet a Soul Shaman before leaving this land—it's truly the Beast God's blessing..."
'He hears me crystal clear. So before, the spirits couldn't hear my voice properly, which is why they didn't respond well.'
Isilite, who had been pelting stones nearby, came rushing over with wide eyes. Hwan-in blocked her with a palm while speaking to the spirit.
"For you to approach me directly like this... you must have some deep, unresolved regret."
"Yes. I stayed behind, even postponing nirvana, because I had words I desperately wanted to pass to my wife and children at home... I never dreamed a Soul Shaman would visit..."
"Understood. Let's head to your home right away. I'll relay your message for you."
"Thank you... thank you..."
Hwan-in turned from the old dogkin bowing slowly and pointed at the village chief's house, telling Isilite,
"Go fetch Chief Mera."
=Yes!=
It was something he planned to do anyway, but Hwan-in had no intention of passing up the side benefits.
Still, he couldn't wake the whole village this late at night, so he called only the chief, who wielded the most influence. If she saw it clearly, the village's reputation would spread on its own.
Soon after, Hwan-in arrived at a log cabin near the village outskirts fence with the spirit and knocked, rousing the household.
The old man, middle-aged couple didn't know who the late-night visitor was at first, but they gasped in shock at Hwan-in's introduction.
They'd heard a soul master arrived with the merchant caravan during the day, but to think it was this man before them.
=Gasp, huff. Soul Shaman, what brings you here so late? Whew, anything we can do?=
Chief Mera arrived right on cue with Isilite, panting in ripe nightclothes that hugged her mature figure. The homeowners stared, wondering what business brought visitors at this hour.
"......"
Without a word, Hwan-in gripped the dogkin spirit's shoulder and channeled Warm Ki. Actions spoke louder than words.
=Gasp?!=
=Oh my goodness.=
Sure enough, as soon as he pushed in the Warm Ki, not only the dogkin old man's family but Chief Mera too widened their eyes in astonishment.
A faint figure materialized in empty space—the village elder who had passed years ago.
=Father?!=
=Darling...!=
—...... ......
=S-Soul Shaman. What is Father saying?=
The father was speaking, but only a windy shiiiik—shiiiit sound emerged, no words. His son asked desperately.
'With this much Warm Ki, I can only make him visible, not audible.'
Indeed, the Warm Ki he'd given Avet was nearly 67% of his total. What he'd given this dogkin elder was about 10%.
More Warm Ki might allow conversation, but dipping below 30% would chill his body and worsen his condition.
Having expended so much during the day, this was all he'd recovered so far.
Hwan-in relayed the words verbatim instead.
"'Katers, don't trust Airu. Trust your wife and mother...' That's what he's saying."
=What does that...=
"He stayed as a spirit to deliver this message. And... he's relieved to see you all healthy. Now he'll depart."
Only then did the son and daughter-in-law, wife notice the spirit fading into sparkling dust. They tearfully bid farewell.
Moments later, under their send-off, the satisfied dogkin spirit dissolved into tiny orbs of light.
Hwan-in lowered his hand thoughtlessly, but narrowed his eyes as a floating light orb clung to it and absorbed.
Receiving thanks from the spirit's family, Hwan-in pondered the phenomenon as he left with the chief.
'Sparkling dust and orbs always appeared when spirits achieved nirvana.'
And Avet had vanished as dust alone, without orbs.
It had to be connected to the message delivered. Did absorbing a spirit's power like this mean growth?
Blue for strong spirits?
He summoned faint green and gray spirits nearby, but his soul orb count stayed at 24.
'I'll have to send all the village spirits to nirvana to confirm.'
=Um... Soul Shaman?=
Chief Mera's call made Isilite frown.
'What's with that coquettish, thin voice!'
And her outfit was indecent. The loose linen nightgown was sheer enough to reveal skin, nipples, and pale pubic hair!
Of course, that was Isilite's delusion.
Linen was slightly translucent, showing only a hazy silhouette—no nipples or hair visible. Just ordinary sleepwear.
But aged fabric had lost its stiffness, clinging to her curves with every breeze or movement.
"Yes."
=I can't quite grasp what just happened with my thick head. If it's not rude, would you grace my home with some guidance? I have fine wine and quality cheese perfect for a Soul Shaman.=
Isilite glared sharply from behind at the chief's obvious ploy, seething.
Hwan-in sensed it but ignored, eyeing the chief briefly.
A village chief in a backwater, yet she exuded a 30s-to-early-40s Earth actress vibe with her bobbed hair beauty.
Calluses and dirt from fieldwork were expected for rural folk. No cleanliness obsession here.
"Very well."
He accepted.
'Master?!'
Wh-what? I thought Master would refuse? Even my body refused, so why accept that old hag?'
"Isilite. You're dismissed for tonight. Head back to the inn."
=Y-yes...=
To add insult, he was sending her away. Woman's intuition told Isilite: Master read the vixen's intent—and accepted!
'What's going on? Master isn't gay? Then why refuse me but accept that hag?'
Confused, she resentfully watched Hwan-in and the chief head to the largest house, dawdling.
By dawn, the small village buzzed over last night's events.
=Katers swears it was really his father.=
=Heavens, if dead, why linger with regrets instead of nirvana?=
=Who knows. Katers is clammed up.=
=That Soul Shaman... doesn't seem Luke or our tribe. Can he guide our spirits too?=
=Innkeeper's girl said he looked Floe. If Floe, maybe.=
=Ah, if Floe, definitely...=
Hwan-in knew the villagers gossiped about him.
Emerging from the chief's house after tormenting Mera all night left her exhausted, he immediately caught the village wives' stares.
Back at the inn, Ssa rose in surprise from breakfast with the group.
=Oh! Soul Shaman, welcome. Eaten yet?=
"Not yet."
=Come, sit. Husha? One more breakfast, please. Generous portions.=
=Pardon? Yes. Right away!=
Ssa yielded a seat, apologetic for not knowing.
=Heard you went to the chief's. Thought you'd eat there. Would've waited.=
"Circumstances. From lunch on, eat without me."
=Understood. So... night errand?=
"Yes. Stepped out for air, a spirit approached first. Couldn't ignore, so guided it to nirvana."
Answering Ssa's curious query, Hwan-in whistled for Emergency Ration, noting its absence downstairs.
Kuet~......
A faint cry echoed from upstairs.
Like a pup to a dog whistle, Emergency Ration kuet-ing bounded down the stairs, fluttering into Hwan-in's arms.
Ssa gasped in wonder, then nodded.
=A Soul Shaman's visit is big news anywhere. Folks have been abuzz about you since yesterday.=
Hwan-in smiled faintly, starting his breakfast.
Splitting steaming bread for Emergency Ration, he ate salad and scrambled eggs, ordering six meat dishes if available.
=Six servings...?=
After over seven hours of exertion, he was ravenous. With Emergency Ration, even seven might fall short.
Soon, mystery meat dishes piled up—boiled, steak, roast, stir-fry. Hwan-in and Emergency Ration cleaned them, then he told the stunned server,
"My guard will come later. Tell her to eat her fill."
=Yes, sure thing.=
Leaving, a stuffed, happy Emergency Ration trailed, kuet, kuu~ singing.
Hwan-in knew how unusual it was by now.
From Yulcam to Etbrook, over 20 kue spotted—straw to gray hues. None as eccentric as Emergency Ration.
Angry when hungry, singing when full, whining when bored, yet obeyed all commands.
Ssa and Isilite, who'd seen many juvenile kue, said none matched its friendliness or smarts.
'Green kue trait? Or just Emergency Ration?'
It nuzzled his hand for pets. Tapping its beak playfully, it clamped his finger like 'Pet my head, no funny business!' tugging.
=Ah! Master, wait! Coming!=
Hand-playing mid-walk, Hwan-in halted at Isilite's sharp cry, turning.
Shadow fidgeted by the window.
Woken by the song? Proved as she burst out, brown hair flying wildly.
=Sorry! Overslept!=
"Fix your hair."
Seeing the messy spikes, she flinched, then belatedly noticed, tying it roughly with a handkerchief.
The result: natural wavy ponytail like from a salon, suiting her brown locks. Hwan-in murmured unwittingly,
"Suits you well..."
=...Pardon?=
She asked, thinking she misheard, but he turned and walked on silently.
Chasing, Isilite fiddled her hair ends, fluffy warmth rising. Unaware of her own smile.
Etbrook was unremarkable save one quirk: raising kue.
Rare breeders, but hardy once hatched, maintaining two to three pairs.
This time, two pairs laid 2 and 3 eggs; Ssa haggled one, spending two days on local specialties and goods.
Meanwhile, Hwan-in roamed, sending visible spirits to nirvana.
Method: 10% Warm Ki for visibility, relay regrets. Huge acclaim.
'Visual impact is key.'
Without visuals—his aura invisible—he'd need to convince bereaved first, complicating steps.
Too bothersome; he'd quit. Good Avet's method proved useful.
Resolving regrets, Hwan-in found few types: untimely deaths leaving unsaid words to family, lovers.
Tearful reunions, emotions transmuted to reverence for him.
Etbrook folk fawned far more than Yulcam's. Hwan-in first thought: profitable.
Twelve spirits sent off netted nearly 20 silver from families.
'Voicing the untimely dead's wills, collect 'gratitude'...'
Higher status, richer = bigger 'thanks'.
Etbrook yields weren't just that.
Village youths mobbed, sensing his prowess. Three days: seven women.
Absorbed warmth bumped soul orbs to 26. Confirmed permanent communication, absorbable nirvana orbs.
'Assumed it boosts communication... not sure.'
More spirits, more orbs would tell.