Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Where Monsters Gather
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Helmar Bere.
The seventeenth-generation descendant of the small city of Wayford and brother to the current lord of Wayford Castle, Aldjin Bere.
He felt both shock and awe toward the Soul Shaman who had sent twenty-seven souls to rest in such an absurdly short time that even calling it "one night" felt inadequate.
'The Soul Shaman who visited our family back then took a full week just to send a single cat spirit to rest. How can this person do it so effortlessly?'
Especially the scene where he verbally dispatched those nouveau riche scum from the high-class district—greed clinging to them like barnacles, not even bothering to set up a shrine—had sent shivers down his spine.
That was why Helmar stepped forward.
He believed this man would surely resolve his doubts.
"......"
Hwan-in looked at Helmar, inwardly wearing an expression of reluctance.
The first day, upon hearing Helmar's identity and his questions, Hwan-in had intuitively seen through it: a victim sacrificed to dirty political machinations.
And that was precisely where the problem lay.
To send Helmar to rest, he would have to dive headfirst into that political quagmire himself.
In Hwan-in's eyes, Helmar Bere was far too kind for a member of the Ho Tribe. Kind-hearted, and with exceptional eloquence to boot.
From the basic common knowledge he'd gathered about this world so far, the Ho Tribe varied case by case, but the vast majority were a breed steeped in extreme chosen-people superiority.
Yet despite that, Helmar had built quite amicable relationships with the souls wandering this second communal cemetery.
There might have been some camaraderie born of shared misery as lost spirits, but what made it possible was surely Helmar's inherently kind nature and silver tongue.
Helmar was Aldjin Bere's younger brother.
This world practiced discrimination between sons of the principal wife and concubines. Typically, the eldest legitimate son—the precious heir—inherited everything.
Yet Helmar had died.
He hadn't realized it in life, but after death, he could see it clearly, he said. That he'd been slowly poisoned to death over a long period.
That was why he wanted to ask his parents: why did he have to die?
'Not the parents—probably his siblings. Maybe with parental complicity. Or some Ho Tribe loyalist overly devoted to Aldjin slipped him the poison.'
Helmar Bere's affinity was more than enough to arouse someone's wariness, especially since he wasn't even the heir.
At any rate, possibilities abounded, but one fact stood clear.
Taking Helmar's soul into the castle would put him in danger.
They hadn't even enshrined him in the family shrine at Wayford Castle—instead chasing him off to this place—which meant they must despise him intensely. And so Hwan-in wanted no part of it. Entangling himself in such politics wasn't to his taste.
A normal, ordinary person would have deflected here, made excuses, and refused Helmar's request politely.
"Helmar. I cannot resolve your lingering regrets for you."
But Hwan-in refused him outright.
「Wh-why not? You're an incredible Soul Shaman. I as well...」
"You are the second son of the principal wife in a Ho Tribe household. Elite of elites."
「B-but?」
Hwan-in answered as he came to vaguely understand why Helmar had to die.
"I too hail from royal blood, albeit from a distant land."
Even if he had to trace back thousands of years, every Korean was a descendant of Dangun, so claiming royal blood wasn't exactly wrong.
"Precisely because I know the sordid underbelly of royalty, I have no desire to meddle in the affairs of a Ho Tribe house—which amounts to royalty in this land."
"......"
Helmar's mind reeled at Hwan-in's refusal.
The revelation that the Soul Shaman before him carried royal blood was surprising, but hardly the point.
No desire to meddle in family affairs...? Why? He couldn't quite grasp it. Wasn't it as simple as going and asking?
By now, the other three souls had dispersed, leaving only Helmar in the shrine.
Hwan-in turned to Ielcata and said,
"I'm tired and would like to rest. Could you show me to a place?"
Ielcata, who had been listening intently to their conversation, snapped out of her daze from the successive shocks at Hwan-in's request.
=Yes, Soul Shaman. This way...=
She guided Hwan-in to the hut, leaving the stunned Helmar Bere standing there.
Ielcata, who had brought Hwan-in and his emergency rations to her own dwelling, gazed at him with complicated eyes.
Kuet. Kuwoong~
"Let's rest a bit."
Kuek! Kuwoot!
"You've had it easy up till now... Never mind. Here? You like it here?"
Kuhet. Kuhihihi.
Sitting on her bed, he looked so gentle as he played with the green pet bird.
The thuggish figure extorting fees from the bereaved families of souls.
The angelic one using the extorted money to aid other bereaved families.
The devilish one turning his back on soul deliverance, a Soul Shaman's right and duty.
And his identity as royalty from a distant land.
Not to mention the beastly side he'd shown when embracing her...
As the weight of the man who had pinned her down last night unconsciously resurfaced, Ielcata hurriedly shook it off and offered a prayer to the Earth God.
=......=
Ielcata couldn't tell which face was the real Hwan-in.
The blessing bestowed upon her race—Eyes of Truth and Ears of Truth—revealed that Hwan-in had never once acted falsely up to now.
Could the faces of a sage and a villain coexist?
Could one perform soul deliverance while ignoring it in others?
Did becoming a Soul Shaman require accepting such duality?
"Ielcata. Are you all right?"
=Y-yes?=
"The stench of the slums must have been hard on you. Sit and rest."
Before she knew it, he was right beside her, placing a hand on her forehead with a gentle, caring voice sweet as honey.
Her ears prickled with a chilling thrill; she instinctively clutched them before slyly lowering her hands.
=F-fine... Don't worry.=
Even as she refused, she couldn't resist the pull when he took her hand. Though only her hand was held, her whole body went limp, strength fleeing.
Led by his hand to the edge of the bed, the cute, pretty green bird rested its head on her knee and gazed up with sparkling eyes.
Ielcata gave a small smile at the adorable sight and stroked its head.
The soft feathers and the warm vitality of a living being melted away the mental strain of the day.
=...Soul Shaman. May I ask one thing?=
"Of course."
Lacking the courage to meet Hwan-in's eyes, Ielcata gazed at the green bird—which seemed to smile with its eyes half-closed—and spoke.
=Why didn't you free Mr. Helmar's soul from its wandering? The others too... I thought you could easily lead them all to rest.=
Was that why her expression had soured? At the earnest, straitlaced question, Hwan-in let a small smile play on his lips.
Ielcata tilted her head, unable to understand why he was smiling.
"In my homeland, there's an idiom: 'stir up a hornet's nest.'"
=Hornet's...?=
"Bees whose hive is attacked will naturally fly into a rage. Lacking the intellect for deep thought, they'll lash out at any living thing in sight."
Ielcata's face fell as she grasped what Hwan-in meant.
Kuet?
"Emergency Rations. Come here."
Hwan-in scooped up the crying bird and continued toward Ielcata, who blinked with her head bowed.
"Hearing out Mr. Helmar's regrets would be simple. Reveal the identity I've been hiding, visit Aldjin Bere—the grade-four Ho Tribe lord of the castle—and recharge his soul energy. That would resolve his posthumous doubts."
=......=
"Do you remember what I said yesterday?"
=That Mr. Helmar's deliverance involves deep political issues...=
"Exactly. Mr. Helmar was poisoned. In life, he must have been kind, sociable, affable. But he seems to have lacked shrewd intellect. Aldjin Bere, wary of his affinity—or perhaps Helmar's parents, or someone overzealously loyal to them..."
=...killed Mr. Helmar.=
"...In such a situation, what do you think would happen if I took him to the castle?"
Ielcata couldn't answer.
Not because she couldn't imagine it. Because terrifying visions spread endlessly.
"To put it harshly, he's foolish; kindly, pure. People like that turn the most frightening when angered. The seeds of hatred and resentment in his heart, fertilized by rage, would sprout. He'd become a vengeful spirit—a hunja. Even I couldn't purify one. In that state, Mr. Helmar would crave the deaths of his kin. Can you imagine what comes after?"
At Hwan-in's calm recounting, Ielcata covered her face with both hands.
Seeing her small face fit entirely within them, Hwan-in drove the point home.
"Calamity would befall Wayford. Chaos from the hunja, suppression born of Aldjin Bere's fury, indiscriminate retaliation to silence exposure of his shame."
=...Does that mean Mr. Helmar can't be saved...?=
"I don't believe every soul's regrets and grudges must be resolved. Like the saying 'ignorance is bliss.'"
=Then who resolves the injustice for the murdered?=
"They see themselves as above mere people. If punishment must come... that falls to the gods."
=...!=
Hwan-in approached Ielcata, whose expression had gone vacant as if her soul had fled, and cupped her cheeks. Her delicate eyes quivered with sorrow.
=That's... too sad a story. The blessing of deliverance and purification, meant to embrace every soul equally... fractured because of a few people...=
"......"
=Hearing that and being powerless to act... I feel the most pathetic...=
Hwan-in said nothing, simply embracing her. Ielcata clung to his chest in silence, shedding small tears.
Gently, tenderly cradling the grief-stricken Ielcata with his whole body, Hwan-in gazed down at her exhausted, sleeping face and pondered.
'I wonder if this disposition is unique to Ielcata... or common among Soul Masters.'
Hwan-in viewed soul deliverance and purification purely as business. But Ielcata treated it like a sacred mission, or something akin to profound humanity.
If other Soul Masters shared her temperament...
'Maybe I should act a bit kinder.'
Tracing the kiss marks he'd left on her pale neck, collarbone, and chest, Hwan-in pulled the blanket up to cover her naked form and left the hut.
'Can't fake more kindness than this. Not physiologically... nor physically.'
There was no reason to push further, nor any desire. If he absolutely had to...
'Better to quit Soul Shaman activities and pose as an adventurer. I could pass my abilities off as a rare tribal talent—a gift between races.'
The people of this world possessed special tribal talents.
For instance, Ielcata of the Floe Tribe had eyes and ears that pierced through truth in others' words and actions.
An innate ability called Watcher of Truth.
The Lukrang Tribe wielded animalization, temporarily transforming into beasts to unleash vastly enhanced physical prowess.
So if he introduced himself as a member of some obscure distant tribe and explained his powers as a tribal talent, everyone would buy it.
His appearance differed from the four major races and seven subraces anyway.
As Hwan-in walked out of the second communal cemetery, he noticed the souls who met his gaze slinking away.
'Leave the rest aside from Helmar, and they'll naturally let go of their regrets and find rest. With thousands buried in this vast cemetery and only thirty-one souls lingering, it's obvious. Helmar's the biggest issue...'
After a moment's thought, Hwan-in decided to let it be.
If he just vanished, there'd be no stimulus for Helmar. Someday, he might tire on his own and pass on.
Worst case, if he lingered too long and turned hunja like Yukam's or Isilite's Abet, some other Soul Shaman would exorcise her.
'Starting tomorrow, time to properly investigate the labyrinth and visit the other three cemeteries.'
With that in mind, Hwan-in set off for Olts Hotel with Emergency Rations in tow.
But he couldn't reach it.
=Did you hear? A Soul Shaman visited our city!=
=Really? When? Where is he?=
=No idea. Apparently showed up in the slums last night!=
=Huh? I heard downtown!=
=Probably both! Anyway, with a Soul Shaman here, the streets'll feel even fresher~.
For some reason, word of the Soul Shaman's visit to Wayford had spread far and wide.
On the way to Ssa's mansion, the murmurs from gathered crowds were mostly about the Soul Shaman in his white hooded robe.
'I personally urged the bereaved to secrecy, and they promised. Ielcata's not one to break her word. Ssa goes without saying. The rumor must've started in the slums.'
Slum shacks offered about as much soundproofing as open air.
He'd rushed the bereaved out quickly, but voices must have leaked while building their trust.
Upon arriving at the mansion, Ssa—who had been waiting—emerged and voiced his concern.
=Lord Hwan-in. The city's abuzz—is everything all right?=
"Yes. Should be fine for a while."
Few had seen him enter the second cemetery. And those who had were just the cemetery caretakers.
=That's a relief, then. Anyway, Brillit reported to me. You want to relocate them to a village?=
In the mansion's reception room, as Ssa's wife Anplind served tea, Hwan-in nodded.
"There's no reason for them to stay in Wayford anymore. To mend their broken bodies and weary minds, relocating to a village is best. Would this cover the costs for moving and settling three families?"
He pulled three gold coins from his pouch. Ssa's eyes widened, and he vigorously shook his head.
=Lord Hwan-in. Do you not recall how much reward you got from Yukam and Etbrook? One gold coin could let an eight-person family idle in luxury for life. In my view, this much is plenty.=
"......Only sixteen silver and six coins?"
=Yes. Donate one silver coin to the village, build a fine house with another, stock food and furniture—and you could live five years without income, no problem.=
"Hm."
=Too much money is poison for relocatees. Rest and recover for a year, start farming in year two, income by year three—leaving two years' worth for emergencies as savings. So two silver coins suffice.=
"Your calculation doesn't include relocation costs."
=Hahaha. How could I charge you for doing good? Besides, referring relocatees to villages earns a referral fee from the chief— that'll cover it.=
"I feel like I'm imposing on you repeatedly, Ssa."
=Just helping someone like you satisfies me and my family.=
Helping a Soul Shaman was, in Earth terms, like securing priority boarding to heaven.
Not full absolution, but a massive plus to one's good deeds ledger. This was knowledge gleaned from studying Wayford society.
Hwan-in smiled wryly and called out to the boy and girl peeking through the open door—Ssa's children.
They dashed over at his beckoning, faces alight with the vibrant energy unique to kids, eyes sparkling.
'If this eases their hearts, I'll do it gladly.'
He placed his hands on Jileu the son's head and Eara the daughter's, then unfurled Soul Possession.
=Whoaaa~?=
=Wheee!=
To the children delighting and marveling at the lowest-grade Soul Possession, Hwan-in spoke in a gentle tone.
"Jileu, Eara. Your father is a truly outstanding man. Grow into fine adults who, following his example, see the world with open eyes and open hearts."
=Yes!=
=Yess~!=
The two youngsters scampered back to their mother, bouncing and proclaiming they'd received the Soul Shaman's blessing.
Anplind gathered her children in a hug, offered a smile and thanks brimming with gratitude, then herded them out of the reception room.
=Got it? The Soul Shaman visiting our home is a top secret you must keep...=
=Won't tell a soul...!=
=Me neither...!=
Hwan-in listened as their voices faded beyond the closing door. Ssa bowed deeply, face full of profound gratitude.
=Bestowing blessings even on the children... I don't know how to thank you...=
"It's a temporary blessing with no lasting effect—just a short boost to health."
=Even so, the fact that you blessed them personally doesn't change.=
Ssa chuckled, then added an oh right before pulling out a tidbit.
=Do you know? Haien Jod, the advanced instructor at the Haiyern Advanced Dojo, is looking for you.=