Chapter 288
Chapter 288
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 288
>Chapter Title: Reunion with Ha Mun
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kang Seol encountered a completely unexpected figure in the Ghost Realm. He tried to calm his flustered heart as he brought the teacup to his lips.
The value in the teacup was its warmth and gentleness. Just the act of savoring the aroma brought a sense of happiness.
"Ha Mun, why are you here...?"
"Let's save my story for later. Don't we have more pressing matters right now?"
He wasn't wrong.
The Yaksha still posed a threat to both the mortal realm with its heavenly palace and the Ghost Realm with Duoeksini. Stopping it was the top priority.
Duoeksini had brought Kang Seol's group here to resolve that very issue. Kang Seol turned to the Ghost King, who was gauging the situation between him and Ha Mun.
"Sorry for the commotion after reuniting with an old acquaintance."
"Keuk... No need. You know Ha Mun?"
"A long time ago... Actually, thinking about it, not that long."
"Good. Connections like that mean fate itself is watching this moment. But the Yaksha comes first, so ask whatever you want right here."
The sight of everyone huddled around a small tea table, sipping tea and chatting amiably, didn't look at all like a group about to face off against the monstrous Yaksha.
- Duoeksini first lololol
- The tea's already sus!
- Don't make that happy face!
- He just muttered "Feels like I could live"!
Kang Seol figured since Ghost King Duoeksini was offering a Q&A session for once, he'd clear up every lingering question.
"Where has the Yaksha been all this time, only to suddenly cause this massive incident?"
Slurp...
"The Yaksha didn't just appear out of nowhere one day. That cursed mask and cursed sword have always been headaches—cursed artifacts sparking trouble. The mask and sword are linked, passing from owner to owner, sowing chaos in the Ghost Realm each time."
"Do you know how they came to be?"
"Not the full origin, but I can guess. Probably some malice-born abomination that refined itself into pure evil after cycling through owners steeped in even darker malice."
If such power existed, why hadn't the Ghost Realm subdued the Yaksha before? Chiwoo voiced the question brewing in his mind.
"Why not stop it? You could've handled it easily, Duoeksini..."
"It wasn't this strong back then. And there was no need to subdue it."
"Why?"
"It was already subdued."
"...What?"
Chiwoo's face lit up in shock.
Not very intimidating in his puppy form, though.
"The Yaksha drew so much attention long ago that some even suggested breaking it and using it for the Ghost Realm. But it never submits. It fights until its owner dies. Struggle—that's its sole purpose in life. You always have to watch for that when facing it."
"What do you mean 'already subdued'?"
"It was imprisoned in Sachunok, the Ghost Realm's most secure prison. Tricky bastard, so it probably stayed locked up until its owner died... If no problems arose."
Kang Seol furrowed his brow.
"Why not?"
"...Never mind."
Until its owner died.
Those words lodged in Kang Seol's chest like a thorn.
Had this incident not happened, the Yaksha—freed from Kang Seol's control and wandering alone—would have spent decades chained in that prison, dying a lonely death.
It was the Yaksha's own doing, but that didn't make pity impossible.
Seolhong asked Duoeksini.
"What kind of problem?"
"Good question. Someone breached Sachunok's barriers. All the prisoners inside broke out into the Ghost Realm at once."
"Who the hell...?"
"Hwagmu-da."
"......"
"Well, not exactly Hwagmu-da himself. More like remnants of his ghost legion, loyal to his ideals, missing him so much they pulled it off. One of his old lieutenants approached Sachunok and caused the breach."
Lately, clashes with the ghost legion had ramped up. From the unsealed Adumsi-ni to that other evil spirit, Geosun-dae.
"What's their goal?"
"Obvious—they want chaos in the mortal realm. One of the ghost legion's old mandates."
"Why voluntarily bow to that evil dragon...?"
"Hwagmu-da understood ghosts better than anyone—maybe even better than they understood themselves. He stoked desires we all had. Once those desires swell, they're damn hard to shrink. That's why followers linger even now."
More crucial questions remained. Kang Seol sensed a clash with the Yaksha was inevitable, so he probed its forces.
"Actually... before coming here, we clashed with the Yaksha once."
"Hoo! First I've heard of it! Spill the details."
Kang Seol recounted the encounter in full.
No vital secrets there, and if this clue helped gauge its strength, all the better.
"Hmm... Cold dwarf and fox spirit... and tough ones too. I know who."
"Were they prisoners too?"
"Yeah. They've sided with the Yaksha. Won't be easy..."
"If they were in Sachunok... big-time criminals?"
"Enemies of Adumsi-ni and Geosun-dae. No personal ties with me. Just know they were born with immense power. But... you blocked Maegu's attack, even once?"
Wag wag.
Chiwoo's tail thrashed wildly.
"Me! I did it!"
"Hmm... Explain in detail."
Chiwoo described the moment.
Duoeksini, listening quietly, burst into booming laughter.
"Kahahahat! That damn monk's trick caused this! Things might resolve easier than thought."
"What?"
"You've tangled with that rascal Hye-myeong, right?"
No point hiding it now.
Nod...
The two nodded.
"The power he planted in you isn't ordinary. It carries anti-demon essence from its core. Even if you're no match for Maegu, you blocked her thanks to that monk."
"Thanks to Hye-myeong's power? ...No wonder!"
Recalling the golden surge that repelled Maegu's strike, Chiwoo deemed it true.
"That slacker does something useful for once. With proper prep, we can handle those two ghosts—not the Yaksha. Leaves just dealing with it..."
Chiwoo asked.
"But is facing the Yaksha that tough?"
"Kekek... Isn't the mortal realm tearing its hair out over it?"
"Yeah. Looks like it summoned ghosts from the Ghost Realm. Where'd that power come from?"
"Sachunok was special. Boundary Stones separating mortal and Ghost Realms suppressed even the strongest ghosts' powers."
Kang Seol recalled an early quest repairing those Boundary Stones between spirit and mortal realms.
They held immense power, and apparently Sachunok had them too.
Duoeksini's face hardened.
"The Yaksha devoured the Boundary Stone's power. That's how it crosses realms."
"Possible? Devouring power...?"
"With the Yaksha, yes."
"Why...?"
"The Yaksha's sword steals its opponent's power."
Duoeksini's bombshell left the group stunned.
Jinryeo fussed.
"I-If that's true, the Yaksha's right now..."
"Still growing stronger nonstop. But no need to worry too much. It only hunts the strong."
"Plenty to worry about..."
"It rips various powers from those it kills or erases. Records say it started as one of many simple abominations. Now? Hundreds of sword styles and vast sorcery as a demon soldier. Lucky its current owner isn't a sorcerer—or the next one gets the sword, and we'd face its vicious sorcery too."
"Then we're good! No sorcery means we can..."
No one echoed Chiwoo's optimism.
Kiiing...
"Gotta think this over..."
Kang Seol fell silent, as did the quiet Ha Mun.
Duoeksini addressed Ha Mun.
"Ha Mun, your thoughts."
"Who faces the Yaksha...?"
"Well..."
Duoeksini pointed at someone.
Kang Seol.
Chiwoo asked Duoeksini.
"Not stepping up?"
"I've got other prep to do. No guarantee I'd win anyway."
Curious about that "other prep," but no one expected details, so they dropped it.
Ha Mun asked Kang Seol.
"Planning a head-on clash?"
"...Naturally."
Even in their brief time together before, wild events had unfolded.
Now, both far stronger than then, tougher challenges were feasible.
Kang Seol presented the ailing Bitan.
"This is..."
"A spirit blade."
"I see... Curious about the Yaksha's sword, but this intrigues too. Hmm... Why the agony, though?"
"It's been unresponsive since clashing with the Yaksha's sword."
"Ah... Crashing into a nexus of malice—hard to shake off. Spirit blade... spirit blade... Heh, got an idea."
- Do it now.
- #1 Male Death Flag: Fun idea...
- Get serious!
"What...?"
"If the foe preps a freakish demon soldier..."
Ha Mun's eyes sparkled.
A rare glint of pure intrigue.
"We prep something freakier. First..."
He curled his lips into a grin.
"To the Myriad Library."
Everyone but Duoeksini widened their eyes.
"The Myriad Library!"
* * *
The Myriad Library.
A being shrouded in mystery rivaling labyrinths. Like them, it appears across the continent—and rarely, other worlds.
When it manifests, it devours the region's knowledge first. The enigmatic dwellers weave it into books, filling the shelves.
Oddly, it includes known lore and vast unknowns.
How they know, the principle—still mysteries.
But all know: Climb it for desires granted, amid countless deaths.
'A Myriad Library in the Ghost Realm...'
After a week in Guru's carriage, they reached a wasteland dominated by a colossal tower.
Boundary troops dotted the area.
"Restricted zone—only patrols nearby, no others."
Reason obvious.
"The Myriad Library's in the Ghost Realm but bars ghosts. We can't enter. Only other beings can."
It resembled an elongated pavilion stretching skyward.
True to its name, the Myriad Library took myriad forms.
Elsewhere, it'd look different.
Ha Mun gazed up.
"They say it pops up, slurping knowledge wildly. Living repository of knowledge. But... just as dangerous."
"Hmm..."
"Got translations of rules up to floor 8. Let's aim there. Luck holds, we get what we want."
Each floor had rules. Break them, face dire straits.
Most adventurers eyeing its lore died for that reason.
Duoeksini waved cheerily at the entrance.
"Best of luck then. Don't die stupidly."
Arrr...
"Who's dying!"
"Yeah, don't die, pup. Return alive, I'll pet you."
Rumble...
The doors opened.
Then shut.
White light flashed, spilling them into a space thick with old paper scent.
'The Myriad Library...'
A sign greeted them.
**Notice to All Visitors of the Myriad Library.**
**The Myriad Library is a repository of knowledge and pinnacle of etiquette.**
**Please refrain from uncouth, ill-mannered behavior.**
**The library assumes no responsibility for incidents.**
Boom...
Silence fell.
'Been a while.'
Kang Seol had visited before.
[Sudden Adventure 'The Strict Library' has triggered.]
[This adventure is extremely dangerous.]
……