Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 204
>Chapter Title: Guest of the Ghost Gate
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Rumble—!
A powerful bolt of lightning struck from above, crashing down like thunder.
Yahum’s form was charred pitch-black, resembling a shadow itself.
However, this strike had been controlled even by Kang Seol’s standards.
“No! The Ghost King will be enraged!”
“S-Stop! If Yahum dies, you won’t get away unscathed either!”
The ghosts rampaged wildly.
Normally, such threats would be dismissed as nonsense, but their words rang true.
In the Eternal World, there had been a case where someone killed a western administrator during equipment upgrading, and all the horses involved were soon slaughtered.
Groooan…
As Yahum slammed his head into the ground and collapsed, the ghosts flinched and moved to intervene.
But when Kang Seol placed his hand on Yahum’s collapsed nape, even they froze.
Out of fear that any rash move might crush that head like a watermelon.
“Relax, I won’t kill him.”
“Human!”
“Instead, I need to arrange a more convenient place to talk.”
Kang Seol pulled out the Jar of Demon Subjugation he had obtained earlier from his inventory.
“Th-The Jar of Demon Subjugation!”
“Stop!”
It was the very jar that had sealed the Thunder Ghost Ramu.
Ramu was a ghost so feeble compared to Yahum that it was embarrassing, but the jar itself was the real deal.
If the jar’s total value was 100, Ramu accounted for only 10, with the rest being the jar’s worth.
It was that rare and powerful an item, so it was only natural for the other ghosts to cower in shock.
“Jamad.”
“Yeah…”
As Jamad chanted an incomprehensible incantation, the talismans on the Jar of Demon Subjugation glowed.
Fwaaaah—!
In an instant, light burst from inside the jar, accompanied by wails of lamentation.
Kiiiiieeeeek—!
Swooooosh…
Yahum turned into smoke and was sucked into the Jar of Demon Subjugation in a flash.
[You have sealed the Lord of the Ghost Gate, Yahum.]
[You have proven your worth, so you may demand appropriate compensation from the Lord of the Ghost Gate.]
[Adventure goal fulfilled.]
[The adventure can be concluded once the time limit expires or compensation is selected.]
“Th-That rascal!”
“Yahum!”
Kang Seol tucked the Jar of Demon Subjugation into his bosom and spoke.
“What are you waiting for?”
“…What?”
He nodded toward the four pillars upholding the curtain.
“Remove them.”
“W-We can’t possibly…”
Swoosh…
As Kang Seol raised the jar as if to smash it, the ghosts panicked.
“A-Alright!”
The remaining ghosts, excluding the two dead ones, moved in unison to dismantle the pillars.
Ruuuumble…
“Bro!”
“Snowman!”
Kang Seol stood there indifferently, blood smeared on his lips.
Considering he had been sucked into the curtain alongside Yahum, his composure was almost unnatural.
Hanyeo-myeong and Philia rushed over to check on Kang Seol’s condition.
“A-Are you okay?”
“We need to get out of here! Those things…”
“But that ghost from earlier…”
Tap, tap.
Kang Seol tapped the Jar of Demon Subjugation.
“Just stay quiet from now on.”
“Huh?”
“Yahum will wake up soon, so let’s wait a bit.”
Hanyeo-myeong and Philia seemed to have recovered from their mental shock while Kang Seol was fighting.
Their calm demeanor was the first thing that caught his eye.
‘There’s still a lot they lack.’
Their combat performance might have improved slightly, but in Kang Seol’s eyes, it was still insufficient.
‘Well…’
Considering this was a place accessible only by gathering five Peerless items, they might be growing at their own appropriate pace.
Moments later, the Jar of Demon Subjugation trembled slightly.
Clink…
Clink…
“Ugh…”
“Looks like he’s coming to.”
Yahum’s voice echoed as if from deep within a cave.
【What’s this mess? No way… Did I lose?】
“Winning and leaving you stuck in there—isn’t that even more dangerous in a way?”
【Heh heh… Fair point. Ow ow… How hard did you hit me? I don’t remember a thing.】
Kang Seol grinned and said.
“Yeah, you got utterly smashed.”
【Heh heh heh! And yet you spared my life. What’s your game?】
“One of those ghosts said killing you would reach the Ghost King’s ears.”
【Right, the Ghost King… If you’d killed me, he might’ve hated you for it. That guy’s so unpredictable. But…】
Clink…
【Who the hell are you, anyway?】
- We’re curious about that too.
- I saw him. He’s the same size as everyone else.
- But he’s a bit of a big baby.
- I think he’s definitely a regressor lololol.
- Teacher, maybe tone down the novel a bit?
Kang Seol replied tepidly.
“Nothing special, just like everyone else.”
【No… You’re different. I can feel it. Something’s off.】
At Yahum’s probing, Kang Seol rolled his eyes and said.
“So? Comfy in there? Killing time with this pointless chit-chat?”
【Ah! It’s cramped! So cramped! The thought of staying in this suffocating hole makes me want to bust my head open right now.】
Clink…
【You sealed me for a reason, didn’t you?】
“Of course.”
【Speak. What do you want in exchange for releasing me?】
A selection prompt appeared before Kang Seol.
[The Lord of the Ghost Gate, Yahum, shows signs of granting your request. What will you demand?]
1. Take the soul of an item left by another.
2. Enhance the soul of one of your possessed items.
3. Interested in naturalization.
4. Where can you go through the Ghost Gate?
……
“Infuse your power into my equipment.”
【Same demand as the others. Fine! Which item do you want enhanced?】
What slipped from Kang Seol’s lips next was utterly shocking.
“All the items I brought here.”
【Y-You’re insane!】
“Why else would I have spared you?”
【……】
Kang Seol had brought five Peerless items here.
‘If I’d done the adventure normally, only one would’ve been enhanced.’
A situation where he had to fight and defeat Yahum without killing him—Kang Seol satisfied that unreasonable condition.
【…I’ll have to ask the Ghost King directly.】
“What?”
【Eventually, if the Ghost King takes issue, all power gained here will vanish. So I’m checking his will beforehand.】
Clink…
Swooooosh…
Pitch-black smoke billowed from the Jar of Demon Subjugation. After a moment.
【Good, the Ghost King permits it.】
“He permitted it?”
【Yes, so release the seal now.】
Kang Seol looked at Jamad.
“Jamad.”
“Got it.”
Jamad muttered the incantation.
Whoooosh…
Yahum emerged from the Jar of Demon Subjugation.
Crunch…
“Even that short time made my body all stiff. Heh heh… Let’s see…”
Crack!
Yahum stomped the jar to pieces. He then looked down at the three humans and turned to walk away.
“Follow me, humans.”
* * *
Thud…
Thud…
The path Yahum walked was a night road scattered with cherry blossom petals.
All around was a vast plain, shrouded in darkness and appearing pitch-black.
“Stick close, humans. Lose your way here, and you’ll never leave alive.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly that. This place is filled with grudges. Where ghosts are born. Heh heh heh…”
Hanyeo-myeong and Philia tensed at his words and huddled in the center, but Kang Seol edged toward the periphery.
Swoosh…
Kang Seol reached out into empty air for no reason.
At that moment.
“Come here!”
“Together!”
Hands suddenly protruded from the darkness, trying to drag Kang Seol in.
Flash—!
Kang Seol swiftly pulled his hand back.
“Heh heh… Impressive?”
“Fascinating place.”
“You, unafraid of ghosts, are the fascinating one.”
Kang Seol nodded.
Indeed, this was a place surging with hatred and rage. His mind boiled like lava.
Even without action, emotions churned like a storm-tossed sea.
Then, that mind grew endlessly cold. Freezing solid, to the point of never wanting to set foot in the human world again.
Swooooosh…
Cherry blossom petals scattered.
Beautiful and mysterious, yet futile.
“They’re dead.”
Everyone’s gaze focused on Yahum’s casual remark over his shoulder.
“You two.”
He meant Hanyeo-myeong and Philia.
Hanyeo-myeong and Philia exchanged glances before looking at Yahum.
“You two couldn’t even beat the Twelve Ghosts. Without that human, you’d be dead. Your souls would’ve been pulverized and refined into new ones.”
“……”
“…Yes.”
“It’s a difference in stride, like adult and child. You fools might not realize it, but you were under that man’s protection in the end. Whatever, heh heh… Not my concern.”
Hanyeo-myeong and Philia had suspected as much deep down—that everything had gone according to Kang Seol’s plan.
Just facing Yahum had made breathing difficult for them.
Yet Kang Seol, who clashed with the massive Yahum, returned having crammed him into a tiny jar.
What more needed saying? It was simply a gap between people.
‘He’s… too strong.’
They thought they’d caught up a bit, but the distance only widened.
In this era rife with violence, Kang Seol continued to reign with order.
Yahum addressed Hanyeo-myeong.
“You! Can’t control your rage!”
“……”
“Clumsy and inept. One who swings a blade ineptly cuts their own fingers… Heh heh!”
He had a word for Philia too.
“To come here with such a frail heart… You deserve punishment, not reward… Lucky you met that man.”
“……”
“Well, luck is one of the most important things in life, so no flaw there.”
Yahum stopped abruptly.
“We’re here.”
The destination held only a lone altar, nothing else.
“Hand over the items.”
Work began with Philia’s item. Phthia’s bow was placed on the altar, and Yahum muttered.
Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!
Kee hee ha ha ha ha!
Wails echoed from all directions as sticky, thread-like somethings continuously approached the bow.
Fwoosh!
Ghostfire briefly clung to the bow before vanishing.
Kang Seol watched, lost in thought.
‘That’s ghostfire…’
Ghostfire wasn’t exclusive to this Ghost Gate.
‘It belongs to ghosts, though.’
Among eastern ghosts, many wielded the mystical flame called ghostfire. It was just rare for non-ghosts to use it. The Ghost Gate granting it was special.
Regardless, whether this flame held spirit or natural power was unknown, but its bizarre effects were well-noted.
‘Effects vary by attached ghost.’
Much like possession. When a specific ghost possesses a person, they take on its traits exactly; similarly, a ghost attaches to gear, drawing out its power.
The process of applying ghostfire attaches a ghost to the equipment.
The “鬼” prefix on gear indicates a ghost-possessed item.
Unlike possession’s negative connotations, a ghost-possessed item first boosts base performance to match the user’s level dramatically.
Followed by a new unique ability.
Peerless items were heavy in value, making enhancement and reconfiguration extremely difficult.
Enhancing them without risk and granting new abilities was an opportunity rare even in Pandea.
“Take it, next.”
Hanyeo-myeong’s sword underwent the same process, followed by Kang Seol’s items.
“…I’ve never seen such tough items in my life.”
- So what! Wanna go back in the jar?
- Hey, don’t mess around, just pour money into that thing.
- Bank robber shows up to the bank riding a tank…
Keeeaak—!
“Well, better than dissolving and returning to the Ghost King…”
Fwoosh!
Ghostfire enveloped the five items.
As Yahum watched the burning items, he said.
“Foolish human, coveting so many treasures… Your body might suffer abnormalities.”
“Abnormalities?”
“Seeing what shouldn’t be seen… Stepping into forbidden realms… Or…”
He whipped around to face Kang Seol.
“Being eroded by ghost energy, exhaling it yourself.”
“Turning into a ghost?”
“Half human, half ghost… Heh heh… If the worst happens, that’s it, so don’t fear too much. No need to cower already…”
Yahum hoped Kang Seol would flinch, but disappointingly, his expression didn’t change.
Instead, with brazen impudence, he said.
“Not at all.”
“Ugh… That shameless mug, why does it irk me so? Done!”
[Peerless (不世出): Breath is Ghost - Peerless (不世出): Breath enhanced.]
[Peerless (不世出): Ember is Ghost - Peerless (不世出): Ember enhanced.]
[Peerless (不世出): Atonement is Ghost - Peerless (不世出): Atonement enhanced.]
[Peerless (不世出): Fire Monkey is Ghost - Peerless (不世出): Fire Monkey enhanced.]
[Peerless (不世出): Crown of Order is Ghost - Peerless (不世出): Crown of Order enhanced.]
[First Achievement: ‘Ghost’s Guest’ achieved.]
[First Title acquired: 「Ghost Gate Visitor」.]
[Special Achievement: ‘I Don’t Believe in Ghosts’ achieved.]
[Special Title acquired: 「Sleep Paralysis Victim」.]
Unlike before, the items now emitted distinct colors.
Kang Seol confirmed the transformed items, now exuding a heavy aura.