Chapter 178

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 178

Chapter Title: The 31st Horse Overturns the Game Board

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Kang Seol couldn't help but look forward to Ur's stats deep down.

But when he checked them directly, his face hardened coldly.

'Why are they so low? No, these are just base stats?'

Ur was spacing out.

Seeing him act so dim-witted made Kang Seol briefly wonder if those stats were accurate after all, but something still felt off.

'It's Immortal rank? Higher than Transcendent, so why?'

Clearly, something Kang Seol didn't know was at play.

'Ah... come to think of it...'

There was still one piece of info he hadn't checked.

Ur's abilities.

Thinking back to his other summons, even Hero-rank ones had two or three abilities each.

'But... Ur's Immortal rank, and only two abilities too.'

Kang Seol quickly checked Ur's abilities.

First up, the explanation for Sorcerous Path.

'That's... it for the explanation?'

From this alone, there was nothing to learn. How strong was his new summon Ur? What abilities did he have?

'All that's left is... Lone General?'

The Sorcerous Path description was lacking, so he hoped Lone General would be different.

Kang Seol read the Lone General description carefully, not missing a single word.

Only after reading Lone General did Kang Seol feel relieved.

'Phew... At least he won't be dead weight.'

With just that one ability, he'd gain overwhelming stats in an instant. For now, that eased his worries.

'Still, kinda sucks that he can't be used with the other summons.'

Night Raven didn't count as a summon, so Jamad's power could still be used, but sadly the Twin Knights' couldn't.

'Then summoning Ur has to have some major upside... And what situations can't he be summoned in?'

Unfortunately, there was no explanation for when he couldn't be summoned.

'Guess I have to figure it out myself? Hmm...'

There was no longer any reason or need to split the expedition into two groups. Now, the two groups combined had fewer people than one original group.

The return route chosen led toward the Mist Hills.

They already had friendly relations with the Dark Thunder folk, so there wasn't much to worry about.

Screeeeech...

"We're camping here tonight! Get ready!"

"Yes, sir!"

Mages who had been too lazy even to help with outdoor chores, pilgrims who looked like they'd never done such work in their lives—they were all handling the rough jobs now.

'Well, after all that hardship, it's no wonder they've changed.'

Strength gleamed in everyone's eyes.

The Alcatron adventure had been the catalyst for their transformation.

It felt a bit damp, but the campsite was decent enough.

Expedition members who'd taken the detour route even said the travel conditions now were much better, so complaints were off the table.

With food supplies nearly gone, Kang Seol once again showed off his skills using stockpiled rations and ingredients from the hunting party.

"Grr... This is killer."

"Hahaha, if we part ways like this, I'll cry. Can't eat stuff this good anymore."

"Better that way. I'm holing up in my lab and doing nothing from now on."

Mages chattering with their scruffy beards, pilgrims praying for departed comrades.

This was truly the tail end of a massive adventure.

A time of emptiness mixed with fulfillment.

'Is this why people get hooked on large-scale adventures?'

The appeal of so many people uniting for a single goal was strong.

Kang Seol, who usually acted alone, felt it especially keenly.

'Still... too risky.'

In large-scale adventures, no amount of personal preparation could cover everything.

The difficulty scaled with the numbers needed, and unpredictable variables popped up often.

Fail to handle them properly, and death came in seconds.

'If not for Frannan this time, we'd have been in danger. No, without Mael or Chamelie—even one missing—and our numbers would be way down.'

Everyone was vital, so everyone had to be protected.

The dilemma of large-scale adventures.

'That's the part that doesn't suit me.'

Kang Seol still struggled to protect even himself.

That's how perilous his adventures had been.

Swish...

"Whatcha doing?"

Chamelie sat down next to Kang Seol.

It wasn't strange.

Right now, Kang Seol was pretty popular in the expedition.

Many chanted his name, and more thought he'd contributed more than Saint Frannan himself.

Frannan had grumbled about finding those guys before the expedition ended, which toned it down a bit.

Still, many wondered about the true identity of Kang Seol, who had skyrocketed as the saint's disciple.

Of course, Chamelie already had a rough idea of who he was, so she didn't count.

"Just... having some random thoughts."

"Aha... post-expedition blues?"

"Post-expedition blues?"

"Lose three in a fever, gain ten in defeat. You know the saying."

"Aftereffects of loss?"

"That too... Everyone's been through a lot. Some lost friends they bonded with..."

Chamelie glanced at Frannan.

"Others lost eyes. So much happened in that short time."

"I see."

The mood grew somber, so she changed the subject.

"But this tiny spirit... is that the terrifying Ur?"

"...Hmph."

Ur still hadn't opened up to Kang Seol.

Arms crossed, head turned away like a sulky kid.

'Well, I find Ur a bit off-putting too.'

He pondered the inscrutable Ur, but there was no choice but to learn gradually.

As Kang Seol stared, the annoyed Ur snapped.

"I got nothing right now!"

"...What?"

"All my built-up power, my absolute magic power—it's all gone. Happened when I became your summon. So I can't help you. I'm useless!"

Shimmer...

Ur's body blurred oddly.

Chamelie yelped in surprise.

"His body! It's fading!"

"What?"

"He's gonna vanish!"

Ur quickly corrected himself.

"A-actually, with a bit of focus, I can do stuff like this. It's a matter of will?"

Shimmer...

"Phew... back to normal. That was close."

Frannan plopped down nearby.

"The real danger's us. Depends on how this guy acts later."

Another voice answered from Ur's body.

"Ohohoho... No need to worry, Frannan. Ur can't shake me off now. He'll be under my watch till his dying breath."

"Heh... Never thought I'd feel this much respect for Bornuil."

"Not seeking respect. Just thrilled to have something to do in my twilight years."

As they chatted, Kang Seol pulled something from his pocket.

"Frannan, can you take a look at this?"

"Let me see... Hmm. This that...?"

"Yes, Coco left it."

"Hm... Spirit beasts aren't my specialty like magic beasts are... Sadly..."

Then someone barged into the conversation.

"Ohoho... This is... a remnant?"

"Remnant?"

It was Bornuil who'd jumped in.

"Beings of great power always leave traces where they've been. A typhoon uproots giant trees, leaving roots as traces; massive beasts leave footprints proportional to their size. Coco probably..."

"Is babbling without knowing the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠full story a trait of old folks from this era and the last? Fascinating."

"......Ur?"

Kang Seol had experienced two voices from one body himself, so it wasn't that shocking, but Ur joining voluntarily was a bit surprising.

"Ohoho... Are you saying I'm wrong?"

"Obviously? Can't you hear this wolf pup's plea?"

"Plea?"

"This isn't a remnant—it's the shadow wolf's self-defense instinct."

"Self-defense?"

"Yeah, I felt all its power condense the moment I attacked. Wasn't important, so I didn't smash it... Hey, summoner. This thing... really your summon?"

He'd played the summon role, but strictly speaking, not a summon.

"Not a summon."

"Really? Odd."

"What's odd about it?"

"Shadow wolves, when death nears, gather all power to revert to their primal form. Sounds like the phoenix revered as divine, but flawed compared to a phoenix reviving perfectly. Power drains on revival. And crucially, can't revive alone."

"...Can't revive alone? Wait, revival means... it can be revived?"

"Listen to the end. Shadow wolves won't revert to origin without a trustworthy ally nearby at death's door. They just die."

"Which means..."

"It thought you'd awaken its origin. Acted obedient on the surface, right? Weird though... Hard to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bond with their kind."

Bornuil's voice came after Ur had been silent awhile.

"Then... the famed Ur surely knows how to awaken this shadow wolf's origin, yes?"

"Of course I..."

Ur started to reply casually to Bornuil, then snapped to.

"Wait, why am I kindly explaining this?"

"Ohohoho..."

"This old coot provoking me on purpose?"

"Ohohoho... Sorry, Snowman. Busted."

"Not saying another word!"

Ur looked sulky.

Bornuil spoke for him.

"Don't worry, Snowman. Tease him gently, and he'll spill his knowledge. Can't resist showing off—classic know-it-all old-timer. Tsk tsk at such a young age. Anyway, act clueless, and he'll pop up to lecture."

Kang Seol pondered a moment, then called Ur.

"Ur."

"...What?"

"You don't actually know the method, do you?"

"What?"

"Yeah, that explains it. Should've said so upfront. Wasted time otherwise."

"Wasted... time?"

Ur snorted, eyes bloodshot.

"Take that back. How dare you spout nonsense at Ur, fountain of knowledge..."

"Who acknowledges a self-proclaimed fountain of knowledge...?"

Kang Seol eyed Ur carefully as he said it.

"Fine! You dare test this body's knowledge? Bold! I'll give you a glimpse of its essence!"

Reverse scale.

The part someone cherishes, mustn't touch.

For Ur, perhaps his vast accumulated knowledge.

Kang Seol considered discovering Ur's reverse scale this time a stroke of luck.

"Here... gimme!"

Pop-!

Ur snatched Coco's origin and pondered deeply.

"Hmm... But this guy's not reviving as a summon, that's for sure."

"Just bluffing after..."

"It's true. I don't lie. Said it's hard as a summon, not impossible."

"So that means..."

Ur's face reverted to its smug expression.

"Revival is my specialty."

Revival master Ur flashed a sly grin.