Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Moths to the Flame (2)
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The road to the shrine was quite a distance. Especially since we had to stop every so often to deal with beasts that broke through the barriers set up by the Yin-Yang Master and charged at us.
Most beasts and yokai couldn't cross the Yin-Yang Master's barriers, fleeing in fear at the sight of the shrine maiden's purifying light. But the ones that pushed through were seriously tough customers.
Of course, no matter how strong they were, they were just experience points to me. Plus, the spirit-type yokai couldn't even get close thanks to my Corrupted Ghost Ward. They were easy prey, plain and simple.
"Hey, Joo-ha. Take this one out too."
"Y-Yes, sir..!"
I mainly funneled the kills to Joo-ha, the lowest level in our group. Thanks to that, she'd jumped from level 9 to 12 already. The rest of us were mostly level 15 or 16, so unless it was a field boss-tier monster, our levels barely budged.
'But for some reason, it feels like more and more types of yokai are coming at us as time goes on...'
The enemies were getting stronger over time. That meant the barriers and purifying light weren't working as well, and our fatigue was piling up fast.
In the end, we had to halt our march now and then for breaks. The path wasn't flat either—full of rocks that made our feet and legs ache quick. We couldn't afford to let our condition slip, or we'd crumble, so we advanced cautiously. It cost us even more time, and now it was around Wednesday evening.
Once seven days passed and the new week started, we'd be stuck in the forest. Better to snag the divine idol and find the exit by Thursday or Friday at latest. If we got it after Saturday... the odds of escaping dropped hard. The exit only spawned on the forest's edge after taking the idol, and if we grabbed it from the shrine at the center around then, even rushing full speed, the gate might close before we reached it.
'Ha-rin can summon two big wolves, but... still not enough for all of us.'
So we'd pushed a forced march to wrap this up quick, but everyone was hitting their limits. Maybe it was better to just crash hard tonight and go tomorrow.
Of course, Hee-sun Noona and Ha-rin weren't human anymore, so they looked fine. But me, Eun-ji, and the rest of the regular humans were beat, worn down by the forest's malice.
I had the jade orb, so I was a bit better off, but Joo-ha's face was paling by the minute.
This girl was half-invalid. Malnourished growing up, her body's scrawny overall. Status-wise, total sick character, but her personality's tough as nails. Mind and body don't match, and when she opens her mouth, North Korean dialect pops out. No clue how many quirks she's packing.
Anyway, Joo-ha tired out faster than most.
"O-Oppa... c-can't we rest... a bit..?"
"You beat? Hey, I'm carrying your sister on my back."
"S-Sorry... I spoke out of turn. Don't mind me.. I can keep going..."
"Forget it. That was a joke. If you're tired, say so. Hiding it and collapsing is way more trouble."
I ruffled Joo-ha's hair and called for a break. Hotaru, whose steps were dragging, agreed it was smart, and the half-dead Japanese crew got the message through her, nodding eagerly before collapsing on the spot.
They didn't even care about dirt, grass, or bugs anymore. In just two or three days, they'd adapted to the forest.
"Haa... my legs hurt..."
"Want me to massage them?"
"For real? Sweet."
"Oppa, stretch your legs out this way."
Eun-ji kneaded my calves and thighs. With her boosted stats and grip strength, her massage felt amazing—cool relief with just the right bite. I whined a bit, and she scolded me. Normally she'd scream bloody murder at less, but now it was "quit faking."
The shrine maiden Nanase Sora watched intently, fidgeting before turning away sharply. Seemed like she had something to say, but with me so close to my girls, she couldn't find the moment.
I'll talk to her later.
"Oppa, we're getting closer to the shrine—running into more people."
"Yeah. All Chinese, though. Not thrilled."
We weren't just fighting beasts and yokai—we crossed paths with people too. Most were missing folks turned into grudge spirits, but the rest were ethnic Koreans from China or straight-up Chinese.
They'd said the most entrants on day one were Chinese, but this was ridiculous. No sense of how many poured in.
We kept bumping into human packs—mostly Chinese in groups of twenty-plus. Had to kill them before they could slave-brand us. Trying to wipe them quick led to overkill; they just died.
Tried making a few slaves to pad numbers, but nah. With packs that big, slaughtering them made me wonder if they were event monsters disguised as Chinese.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Satisfactory. Anyway, Kashnax seemed pretty pleased. Must be happy after a feast.
Come to think of it, it was dinnertime for us too.
"Jun, ready to eat?"
"Yeah. Perfect timing for dinner."
"What for, oppa? Cup ramen, keep it simple?"
"Sounds good. Got instant rice, noona?"
"Yep, plenty left. I'll heat it all up."
"Cool. Everyone up! Hotaru and Sora, barriers up. Hiro, Rei—gather wood and rocks. Gonna make a fire."
"Hai!"
"Understood."
Nanase Sora was getting the hang of my tone, and Yin-Yang Master Hotaru was trying her best with Korean. Her girlfriend Nanasa and Rei were learning basics from their boyfriend.
Everyone was picking up Korean to survive—except samurai Hiro, still stuck on Japanese. I let it slide.
He'd serve as tribute at the exit anyway. Sure, I'd let him watch his sister lose her virginity to me first, but if he kept being a dick, straight to Indicron fodder.
Worse, he'd been cozying up to Sora, but she looked repulsed. No clue their history, but not close like Han Tae-yang and the Han sisters.
Hell, killing Hiro might make Sora happier. She hated her stepbrother that much.
"Jun, we're camping tonight—wanna shower? You're sweaty."
"Oh, hell yeah."
"Hold on.."
Hee-sun Noona pulled a huge rubber tub from inventory, filled it via Undine, and warmed it with Salamander. Perfect bath temp. Wanted to soak and unwind, but not safe enough. Stripped and just rinsed instead.
Ha-rin scooped water with a basin, pouring over my back and head. I shampooed.
"Warm enough?"
"Yeah, perfect. Join me, Ha-rin?"
"Hee. After you, oppa."
First shower in nearly three days in the forest. No time or setup before.
After me, the rest rinsed quick. Told Hotaru and Hiro to stand watch, then enjoyed the girls' show. Separated Nanasa and Rei to wash with boyfriends—didn't wanna see ugly gal skin.
Eun-ji, Ha-rin, and Hee-sun Noona didn't mind me watching. But Joo-ha and Sora blushed hard.
"H-Hey... quit staring like that... so pervy."
"？It’s embarrassing….... (Embarrassing....)"
I kept staring silent. Joo-ha gave in first, stripping with a resigned look. As expected, small but cute—pity. Protective vibe. Sora, though: soft, plush curves stirring manly urges. Pale skin, nipples soft pink.
Wanted to taste both right then, but couldn't.
"Uwaa!! J-Jun-seong!!!"
Hotaru screamed my name mid-peek. Something broke the barrier again. While girls washed, I regrettably guarded with the guys, killing intruders. Then simple dinner and rest.
That's when it hit.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The shrine's sacred relic has been seized by an unidentified player. The shrine's barrier weakens significantly. The evil spirit begins pounding the barrier. The final relic has been seized. Take the divine idol by opening the shrine's entrance with the three relics. "Last one's taken."
"Think everyone else can make it...?"
"If not, we'll hunt 'em down."
"Right. We're almost there anyway. Wait a day at the shrine, then search."
"Sounds good."
We rotated seven-hour sleeps, then headed out. Finally reached the shrine area.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ughh...! W-We made it. Just a bit further... Uwaaa..!! Yang Ji-sang, our shrine guide, cracked under the evil spirit's pressure, screaming and muttering nonsense. Same as with Kotoribako—freaks at anything stronger.
"Sniff sniff... hold up."
"What? Sense something?"
"People. Tons of 'em..."
Trusting Ha-rin's nose, we snuck up stealthily. A group had already claimed the shrine area.
No trees around the shrine—open clearing. Hundreds of Chinese had set up camp, fires blazing, roasting forest beasts. No idea how they got here first, but they were dug in. Too many for a frontal assault.
'Looks like they're clustered, waiting for relic-holders...'
Couldn't ignore the numbers. That many humans kept beasts and yokai at bay—seemed safe for them.
I summoned Ebony Cockroach and Shadow Moth right away. Best for culling cannon fodder.
"Sniff... meat roasting... smells good."
"Full-on party."
"Oppa, charge in?"
"Thin 'em with Roach and Moth first."
Sent Ebony Cockroach in stealth mode. It slunk into the clearing shadows, ambushing edge-campers gnawing meat.
"Kiyaaa!!!!"
"#!$^%$%!!!!"
They screamed in weird tones, then roach swarms shredded guts, spewing larvae from mouths. Roach rush—been a while.
One flank shattered, roaches multiplying. Shadow Moth dusted decay powder from above; panicked Chinese couldn't react, collapsing poisoned.
Powder cleared with the wind, revealing coughing, blood-mixed wrecks littering the ground.
"？! ？!!!(Stop! Stop!!!）"
"Uwaaa!!!"
"？？？!!(Mercy!!）"
They writhed, screaming, crawling. Perfect to finish.
"Pathetic."
Roaches herded the downed bugs to a corner. I picked them off one by one. Some fit for slaves, but with potential shrine fights incoming, no wasting mana on trash.
That's when—
"Oppa!!!! Behind!!! Light!!!"
"Huh? What the fuck is that shit!!!!"
A blinding light beam slammed toward me. Felt... like the pious, disgusting aura from those good god minions at the mart raid.
Creepy as hell. Warped Scales activated just in time—any later, direct hit down.
💥 IMPACT! 💥 BOOM!!!!
"Gaaahhh!!!"
Blocked it, but backlash hurled me back. Not one skill—multiple. Felt tons closing on the shrine while Scales held.
"My lord!!! Good god!! Good god minions!!!"
Nearly thirty burst from woods into the clearing. Pretty boy leader yelled Japanese gibberish—pure hostility. Yelled at Eun-ji to translate.
"What the fuck they saying!!"
"Hand over the cultist, they'll spare the rest!"
"Jun!! Tell 'em fuck off!!"
Hee-sun Noona swearing up a storm. I cheered, unleashing skills on them.
High chance they had a relic. Then—primordial woods exploded, bull-horned yokai appeared.
"Ki hahaha!!!"
"Demon?"
"I am Gore!!!"
Good god minions weren't enough—now a demon. It blasted demonic energy at me on spawn.
'What the—!!!'
Scales blocked, but force flung me again. Damn Chinese demon punk.
"Kiaa!!!!"
Hypocrite Japanese minions and raging Chinese demon.
"Fuck..."
We were getting pushed hard. They ignored each other, targeting me and mine.
"Ki shashot!!!"
Roach dragged by cultists, exploded. Demon shredded Shadow Moth mid-air. Party cornered, barely blocking light blasts.
Japanese leader floated meters up, swinging massive cross at me.
💥 IMPACT! 💥 BOOM!!!
"Kisama!!!"
"Ha.. fuck..."
No choice. Too many. Can't hold aces. Joo-ha and Sora might die. Hee-sun Noona and Eun-ji at risk. Ha-rin fine in melee, but...
Tried summoning Kyseria.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Call me. Chilling voice. First Tentacle demanding summon.
Tried refusing—but my mouth betrayed me, chanting her name.
Sky split.
Malice rained.
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