Chapter 83
Chapter 83
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Sorcery Unseen
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hwan-in even after the wagon set off, he spent a long time agonizing over Urger's soul.
At any rate, since it obeyed commands, it couldn't be preserved in a soul orb, but that also meant the skill could still be used.
In the midst of his deliberations, Hwan-in spotted something off in the direction of the left horizon, not too far away, calmly grazing on grass...
'...A dinosaur?'
It looked like a triceratops, but about the size of a donkey.
"Isilite, think you can catch that animal over there?"
=Hmm... I'll give it a shot! Nothing I can't kill barehanded, right?=
At her words, Hwan-in's gaze drifted to the greatsword Urger had dented with its punches.
It sure couldn't be called a proper weapon anymore.
"Don't kill it—bring it back alive... Actually, no. I'll come with you."
Thinking about it, he had no idea what might happen if he used Soul Possession on Urger's soul.
Instead of bringing it here, it would be safer to go check it out himself.
Unaware that Isilite inwardly regretted not confidently claiming she could just grab it herself, Hwan-in grabbed her Black Spear and Deer Antler Staff before moving to the back seat behind Isilite on her Kue.
"Ssa. We'll be right back."
=Yes, sir. Shall I send Brillit along as escort?=
"No need. It's not dangerous."
As he replied and patted Isilite's waist to signal her, she immediately spurred forward and shot ahead.
'The ride's better than I expected.'
He had braced for major up-and-down bouncing since it was a bipedal beast, but the Kue's ride was surprisingly smooth—better than imagined.
Even four-legged horses bounced more than expected once you rode them.
Riding without skill for long stretches brought back-breaking pain and numb thighs as a bonus.
Yet this bipedal Kue had almost no impact jolting up to the hips, even from the rear seat. It felt like riding a slightly rough car.
Plus, whatever its spine was made of, there was no discomfort from its curves even without a saddle. Like sitting on a firm cushion?
"This makes horses look bad by comparison."
=Is this your first time on a Kue, Master?=
"Yeah."
=That's why they're ten times pricier than horses. They're not too skittish, not easily spooked, and they recognize their owners well.=
Kues had no shortcomings compared to horses.
Stronger, omnivorous with no picky eating, better night vision, greater stamina, and thanks to their wings, they could glide—even recorded safely jumping from 50m heights.
Above all, incredibly tough.
Hwan-in glanced at the Kue carrying both him and Isilite as it ran.
This one had tumbled after taking a punch from Urger alongside Isilite. Afterward, it had whimpered a bit like it hurt, but not a single bone was broken.
Partly thanks to boosted physical abilities from Soul Possession, but its toughness was insane.
If it had been a horse? Ribs shattered for sure, and if unlucky, legs too.
Horses were specialized—warhorses, riding horses, packhorses—but one Kue could do it all.
"Worth every bit of five gold coins."
14th-century medieval warhorses cost about 300 million won, so depending on the era, it could be seen as cheap or pricey.
=That's for straw-colored Kues. I hear Ho tribe elite guard grays go over 40 gold. Greens? No market at all. Probably only at capital or major city auctions.=
"Hm."
=So be careful when we hit towns or cities, Master. Even if it's emergency rations and a Soul Shaman's pet, word of a green Kue chick will turn heads and draw greedy eyes.=
"Humans have no limits, for better or worse."
=Sometimes we plunge into hell out of sheer desperation... That's humanity.=
In the midst of their brief exchange, they drew near the herd of triceratops-like beasts. The creatures called Guratts noticeably tensed at the intruders' approach, hiding their young behind them.
"The males are the ones with the long horns, right?"
As he dismounted the Kue and asked, Isilite hopped down too and answered.
=Yes. Females have blunt horns, males have long ones.=
'Only one adult male. Three male younglings.'
Thinking the herd wouldn't go extinct anytime soon, Hwan-in handed Isilite just the Deer Antler Staff and approached the Guratts gripping only her Black Spear.
Sensing a threat in his advance, the bull-sized male stepped forward, aimed its horns, and began stomping with its forelegs—thud, boom.
Ignoring the visible intimidation, Hwan-in kept closing in until the Guratt charged with a snort. Not particularly fast.
Best case, bull-level speed?
Minding its neck joint mobility along with the straightforward charge, he dodged and slashed off its right foreleg.
Grooooar!
As the male rose on hind legs bellowing from the bone-deep wound, Hwan-in deeply gashed its left foreleg too.
Groooar~!
Thud?
The male crashed sideways with a mighty cry, and the females immediately scooped up the young and fled. Isilite smacked her lips watching them go.
=Female meat tastes better, though.=
"Isilite, stay alert."
=Got it.=
What he aimed to test via the Guratt was what happened with mid-to-high-grade souls in Soul Possession.
Soul orbs merely extended preservation time; Soul Possession worked without them. It obeyed commands, so naturally usable.
The issue: if the symptoms from possessing the blade boar soul hit the Guratt too.
Herbivore or not, its look and build meant it'd get strong under mid-to-high-grade possession.
After applying lowest-grade Soul Possession to himself and Isilite, handing over the Black Spear and taking the staff, Hwan-in approached the whimpering, terrified Guratt.
Grooo~.
Discarding stray thoughts about its thick eyelashes and big, scared eyes making it seem bull-like despite the pathetic bleating and flailing hind legs, Hwan-in focused his mind.
And as he prepared to command Urger's soul—
————….
"Hm."
A sharp twinge washed over his brain alongside a bizarre sensation, like grasping Urger's soul in his hand rather than just linking to it.
'No, not a link—it's like holding Urger's soul directly...'
=Master?=
"...Nothing. I'm concentrating, so don't talk."
=Yes, sir.=
He had used Soul Possession hundreds of times, but this sensation was new.
'Not new.'
He realized belatedly. This was the feeling from when the earthworm soul descended—gaining Soul Arrow and Soul Shield.
"... "
Staring blankly at the dazed, floating Urger soul, Hwan-in slowly raised his hand, extended it toward the Guratt... and uttered the word his heart prompted.
"Possess."
In that instant, Hwan-in felt something connect between himself, Urger's soul, and the possessed Guratt.
Gu, grooo~.
=Huh? What's wrong with it suddenly?=
A yellowish light flashed in the Guratt's eyes. It thrashed wildly, not screaming or roaring but wailing repeatedly.
Foam bubbled at its mouth; it pounded and scraped the ground with its good hind leg, shuddering like it was seizing. Amid the labored panting, Hwan-in realized why.
'It's weakened.'
The flashing eyes and seizure-like behavior must be from a soul far stronger than his own possessing it.
Soul Possession boosted physical abilities. And if there were beneficial effects, harmful ones were the natural flip side.
Sensing intuitively that he'd just used a weakening on the enemy, Hwan-in clenched his fist.
The opposite of enhancement: he'd gained weakening.
After testing it repeatedly on the way to Wayford, Hwan-in concluded via Urger's soul that this was a curse.
At first with the Guratt, he thought it just debuffed physical abilities.
But using crystallized spirits yielded varying effects each time.
Physical weakening was constant, but it might freeze trembling, weep uncontrollably, or rampage madly—different every go.
Above all...
"Fun!"
"Me too! Me too!"
"Play with me toooo~."
...the spirits around always chattered like this after a curse, impossible to miss.
Fortunately, cursing spirits differed from beasts or animals.
Spirit curses were unpredictable. But fresh souls just weakened into panting frailty.
Unpredictability was a bad debuff. Reliable effects allowed planning combat advantages.
For fighting foes, soul curses would help far more than unpredictable spirit ones.
On the third day...
=M-Master, what did you do...?=
With attacking wild animals or beasts repeatedly acting bizarre, Isilite asked in wide-eyed fright.
Ssa and Brillit showed fear too, to varying degrees, so Hwan-in hit on a good idea and replied in a chilling tone.
"Cursed them with soul power."
=Eek!=
=...!=
At "curse," Isilite let out a girlish shriek and scurried back; Brillit visibly recoiled from the nocturnal beast thrashing like an itch fit.
'As expected.'
People were more swayed by the unseen than the seen.
Beyond revealing souls, this curse skill would cement his scam-like Soul Shaman vibe.
Of course, Hwan-in had no intent to monetize it. He wanted solid fear and dread from enemies.
"No punishment fits soul-mockers and death-defilers better."
As he muttered sinisterly, fur bristling Ssa shuddered and spoke.
=I-I swear never to mock souls. A-And I'll keep my mouth shut about you, Hwan-in, sir!=
At Ssa's cry, Brillit and the rest of the escorts and porters nodded vigorously.
No need for such solemn oaths...
"...Isilite, deal with it."
=M-Me?=
Seeing her extreme reluctance revealed another flaw: stronger faith in gods' gardens and souls meant greater curse fear.
He easily fixed it with Soul Possession.
"Blessed you now—no curse effects on you."
=Ah, yes, sir!=
Not a lie. Weakening was a curse type, and curses weren't contagious anyway.
A play on "ah" vs. "uh," but harmless, so Hwan-in acted natural.
This sparked a minor issue he'd overlooked.
Soul Masters were untouchable even by commoners, middle class, or high Ho tribe elites.
Showing undeniable Soul Shaman prowess made even Isilite and Brillit grow reverent, cautious around her—only Ssa spoke freely.
Brillit was milder, but Dinte, Huseok, and the porters avoided her gaze, heads bowed near her.
'Gotta be careful.'
Taking such deference for granted led to exhaustion.
Fine if aiming for higher ranks like elite Ho tribe, where arrogance was baseline.
But his goal was the tribal alliance capital city. No settling down meant smooth social skills, feigned courtesy...
'If I start expecting fawning service as normal, trouble brews everywhere.'
Vowing caution, Hwan-in continued the journey with Ssa's group.
=See it? That's Wayford, the key city around here.=
Day seven after leaving Etbrook.
A massive stone-walled city, 10m high, loomed before Hwan-in.
Buzz buzz—
Ssa's group, waiting in the long line at small city Wayford's north gate for inspection, drew tons of stares.
From outright gawkers to side-glancers to up-close questioners.
=Impressive. You caught that Urger?=
=Heh, just luck.=
=Heard no Urger sightings nearby—where'd you get it?=
=Ran into it by chance. Haha.=
The 5m Urger corpse in the wagon caused it.
Two professionals, but they looked non-combatants—people couldn't help wondering at a rank-5 Urger carcass loaded up.
=If not rude, how'd you take down the Urger?=
=It is rude.=
As Ssa smoothly deflected and dodged questioners, Hwan-in pulled his hood low, scrutinizing the crowd.
Inevitable—Luke-lang tribe men truly eye-catching to him.
'Seeing centaurs from stories in the flesh.'
Especially the centaur-type directly pulling the cart held his gaze longest.
Luke-lang men came in two forms.
One: mythical novel half-man-half-horse centaurs. The other: horse-head human-body.
Already wondrous, but there was a sheep-headed scholar in round glasses, koala-like near-animal build, bipedal pig-like humanoid swinefolk.
And more. Hwan-in had thought all Luke-lang were beast-shaped.
'Eagle-man?'
Astonishingly, avian-formed men too.
Admiring the majestic white-headed eagle with tawny back wings—humanoid bird?—then eyes lit at arm-wings, theropod-legged heron-like man.
'Some Luke-lang beast-close, others human-close.'
Spotting the tribe Isilite had fretted over, Hwan-in inwardly exclaimed.
'That's the Adsect tribe. Actual... insect human.'
Unwittingly stroking his chin at the longhorn beetle standing bipedally, he stared at the glossy black Adsect.
Nude save a waist belt pouch, or it'd pass for monster.
=Lucky. Guard on duty today has flexibility—line's shrinking fast, no camping in dew under the walls.=
"Separate lines for wagons and people would speed inspections up."
The gate had a dumb single line of hundreds and dozens of wagons stretching over 100m. Only eight city guards inspecting.
Even then, four just chatted idly on sides; four did checks.
=Depends on the guard captain on shift... Haha.=
From Ssa's awkward laugh, Hwan-in gauged the city's lax ops.
'No modern efficiency here.'
Mention of flexibility implied bribes worked. But bribery meant...
Sensing annoying trouble ahead, arms crossed Hwan-in awaited the line's progress.
Two hours later, fiddling his pearl pebble in meditation, a light voice perked his narrowed eyes.
=Rank-5 Urger needs a full regular warrior squad—yet two low-rankers nabbed it? Makes sense howww~?=
A hyena-headed guard with a thick aura sneered.
=Stolen, right~? Huh~?=