Chapter 79
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Desert Ghost (2)
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Desert Ghost (2)
Benefactor, are you saying you'll catch the desert ghost that poisoned us?
Yes. The Toraon tribe has to deal with this poisonous desert ghost one way or another, don't you?
Of course. That desert ghost is gradually expanding its territory. Once the warriors recovered, we planned to hunt it down.
It will only get more dangerous with time. I'll take care of it. Just tell me where to find it.
Ah...
The chief stared at me, his expression full of awe, as if he were looking at a mirage.
Benefactor, you are truly as mysterious as the elder said.
Pardon?
It wasn't enough that you saved our tribe, but now you're offering to take care of that dangerous creature...
I detoxified their poison because I could, but I'm hunting the Rutto Desert Ghost for my own sake. Absorbing its poison to increase my internal energy and raise the proficiency of my techniques would be a great help in future battles.
The reality is that even our warriors get nervous just approaching its nest. For you to step forward when it isn't your concern... thank you so much, Benefactor!
If I didn't have a resistance to poison, I'd be tense and scared out of my mind, too. But if its special ability is poison, it's no different from a regular desert ghost to me.
Let's go tomorrow. I will guide you.
You only just woke up today; there's no need to push yourself. You can send someone else, or we can go after you've recovered your strength.
No. As the chief of this tribe, it is my duty to go.
Very well.
Since I would be doing the hunting and they would just be watching, I figured it wouldn't matter.
Then I will come find you tomorrow morning. Please rest well.
You should also get plenty of rest, Chief. If you feel it's too much, we can postpone the schedule.
That won't be necessary.
The chief gave Mokagun and me the Toraon tribe's farewell greeting and left.
Unlike that punk of a vice-chief, the chief seems like a decent person.
He is a truly good man. He and Director Kendig got along like old friends...
Mokagun's expression darkened, like a corner untouched by light.
The chief probably didn't bring up Director Kendig out of consideration for me. He kept looking at me as if he had something to say.
I had wondered why the chief kept glancing at Mokagun. It seemed he had wanted to ask about Kendig but held himself back.
He's considerate, too. As long as that man is the chief, the Toraon tribe is worth continuing to trade with.
Yes! I intend to do just that. He is a trustworthy person, even beyond the matter of profit.
Mokagun nodded, clenching his fists.
I lay down and organized my thoughts while looking at the mocking Bbaekbbaegi, then spoke to Mokagun.
There's something I need to tell you, Mokagun.
Yes? What is it...
When I wiped the smile from my face and put on a serious expression, Mokagun swallowed hard.
First, I'll reveal who I am. It's true that my name is Yuren, but that's not the whole story. My name is Yuren Lox.
To be honest... I already knew. I was just waiting for you to tell me.
Mokagun gave a warm smile.
You knew about me?
You're the Undead Slayer of the Krasis Kingdom, the one who throws daggers with skill surpassing a knight's, and the man they call the Saint of the Holy Nation. Even as a citizen of the Empire, how could I not know of you?
Has word about me spread all the way to the Empire?
At first, not many people believed the ridiculous rumors about killing a Double-Headed Ogre and a Sea Serpent with a single dagger, but when the talk of you being a Saint from the Holy Nation came out, people slowly began to believe it. Your name is spreading across the entire continent, Sir Yuren.
It seems word about me is spreading faster than I thought. From what Mokagun said, he knew about me even before the whole "Saint" business.
I'm a bit embarrassed. I apologize for telling you so late.
Not at all. I understand, Sir Yuren. Please, you can speak comfortably with me now. I am a commoner.
We're from different countries, what does that matter?
I can see why they call you a Saint. Skill, character, looks... you're not lacking in any department.
Stop teasing me.
Hahaha!
I examined the information window of the heartily laughing Mokagun.
Name: Mokagun
Traits: Merchant Lord, Haggle Lv.3, Propagate Lv.2, Patience Lv.3, Observation Lv.4
Affinity: 77 (Trust)
Current Mood: Extremely happy that he seems to be trusted.
An affinity of 77.
Irea's affinity had risen quickly, but not this fast. Of all the people I'd met, Mokagun's affinity had risen at a record-breaking pace. It was like a high-speed elevator.
Then again, I did save his life and even avenged him. It wasn't that strange.
Do you know why I revealed my name?
Well, that's...
I intend to hire you.
Pardon?
He must not have expected it, because his eyes went wide when he heard me.
I want you to become my man and help me with my work, Mokagun.
Of course! For you, Sir Yuren, I would work my entire life without pay!
There's no need for that. I don't know much about merchant guilds or being a merchant. I'll entrust my money to you, and I'd like you to use your talents to make it grow.
D-Don't tell me...
Yes. I want you to become the head of my merchant guild and run it in my stead.
The smile on Mokagun's face hardened like plaster.
I've been a merchant for quite some time, but I've never managed to distinguish myself. I've never even been a team leader. If I suddenly take on such a huge task, I might fail! No, I'll definitely fail!
I knew he would say that. In the original story, Mokagun only began to distinguish himself after being given a great responsibility.
Mokagun was timid, but he possessed excellent traits for a merchant. My job was to give him a push.
It's alright. We've been through an adventure together. I'll trust what I've seen with my own eyes. Just do your best.
Ah...
The wavering in Mokagun's eyes stilled like the surface of a lake, and his affinity for me rose even higher.
I will follow your command with all my might.
Thank you. Publicly, you will be the owner of the merchant guild.
Understood.
Mokagun no longer questioned me. It was a sign of his complete trust.
I'll give you the funds.
With a grin, I handed him Pindolph's magic pouch.
Gasp!
After checking inside the pouch, Mokagun's eyes and mouth flew open as he looked up at me. His expression was one of pure shock.
I-I don't know if I can handle this amount. This is too much...
There was a reason Mokagun was reacting this way. I had poured in the enormous fortune Pindolph had amassed from his bandit gang, the jewels Ovis had left behind in the Planco Cave, and my own gold coins on top of that.
It might not compare to the fortunes of the truly wealthy, but as starting capital for a merchant guild, it was more than enough.
Sir Yuren. To be honest, I'm terrified right now. My hands are trembling...
That's only natural. It's not a small sum of money.
What if I just run away with this...
I told you just a moment ago, didn't I? I trust you.
Slap!
After hearing my last word, Mokagun slapped both of his cheeks hard, as if to snap himself to attention, then met my gaze.
His eyes were calm, but I could see the spark of a flame ready to ignite within them.
I will do my absolute best!
I'll be looking forward to it.
If you asked someone if they'd ever seen an ant, they'd probably look at you like you were crazy.
But if you asked if they'd ever seen an antlion, most would shake their heads. In my modern life, I had only ever seen them in documentaries, never in person.
An antlion is the larva of a lacewing, and it's typically smaller than an adult's pinky nail.
But the Desert Ghost, which was based on the antlion, was massive enough to swallow a human whole, and its nest looked to be about the size of a basketball court.
Get the bait.
Yes.
Before we went to hunt the Rutto Desert Ghost, at my request, the tribesmen were demonstrating how they hunted a normal desert ghost.
The baiter waves a bundle of animal hide soaked in blood within the creature's territory. The desert ghost smells the blood and moves the sand, pulling the baiter and the bait in forcefully.
Swoosh.
Just as the chief said, the baiter went down into the desert ghost's nest and stirred the blood-soaked bait in the sand, causing the sand to move faster.
When the bait gets close to the center of the nest, it jumps out.
Kieeeek!
Simultaneously with the chief's words, a desert ghost burst out, its appearance utterly grotesque.
Two pincers like a crab's claws were attached to the sides of its maw, and its carapace was covered in bumpy, rose-thorn-like shells.
Throw the spears!
Uraagh!
Hah!
Fwoosh!
The warriors waiting above hurled massive javelins, each taller than a man, at the sand ghost.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Kieeegh!
Rumble.
The spears all struck the desert ghost's head. It let out a pained shriek and thrashed its body wildly.
Now for the finish.
Thwack!
Hiss.
Just as the creature tried to retreat back into the sand, the chief threw the blue spear he was holding, piercing its mouth.
Kiiik...
Thump.
Despite its massive body, the desert ghost couldn't do anything and simply collapsed onto the sand.
It wasn't that the desert ghost was weak, but that their hunting method, skill, and teamwork were exceptional.
We can get fire stones from desert ghosts, so we have hunted them through much experience. Those spears are enchanted with water magic. But the poison desert ghost is different. Just stepping on the sand near its nest is enough to get you poisoned.
It's not just the poison, is it?
That's right. A desert ghost's nest normally pulls prey in, but the sand in that one's nest sucks people down like a swamp, making it difficult to move. Of course, that makes it impossible to throw a spear properly.
The chief, remembering his encounter with the beast, bit his lip until it nearly bled and scowled.
I think I know how to catch that desert ghost.
You do?
Yes. It doesn't seem like it will be too difficult. Please lead the way.
Ah, very well.
Looking bewildered, the chief guided me to the Rutto Desert Ghost's nest. As we neared it, the expressions of the chief and the warriors became incredibly grim.
This is the place. The moment you step past this sand, you'll be poisoned.
Following the chief's words, I looked down and saw that the sand's color was slightly different. It was a golden sand mixed with a hint of brown.
Could I borrow that?
Ah, here you are.
I'll handle this alone, so all of you stay back.
I took the bundle of blood-soaked hide that the baiter had been carrying and stepped onto the poisoned sand.
B-Benefactor!
The chief, who must not have expected me to walk in without any precautions, cried out in surprise and tried to approach me.
Stay there.
But I should help you...
I'm better off alone. I'll be back in a flash.
Then if anything happens, please call out immediately. We will come to your rescue.
Yes. Thank you.
That wouldn't be necessary, so I gave a light reply and moved forward.
You have been poisoned by the Rutto Desert Ghost.
The trait Poison Immunity () removes the pain and symptoms of the Rutto Desert Ghost's poison.
Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi () is absorbing the Rutto Desert Ghost's poison.
The proficiency of Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi has increased.
The proficiency of Chungwieunso () has increased.
It's pulling me in.
I had only stepped on the sand near its nest, not the nest itself, but I was already being slowly pulled toward it. I let the force carry me, moving effortlessly to the creature's lair.
Hm.
The Rutto Desert Ghost's nest had the same funnel shape as other desert ghosts' nests. But there was another difference besides the poison.
It's like quicksand.
The sand in its nest was pulling me down as if to devour me. I buried the bait in the sand to provoke it further.
Kieek!
A Rutto Desert Ghost, half again as large as the one I saw earlier, burst from the sand. As soon as it emerged, the force pulling me down intensified.
Whoosh.
I was sinking fast, almost like being sucked in by a vacuum cleaner. There was a good reason the tribe's warriors couldn't throw their spears properly.
Vwoom.
In this state, I wouldn't be able to throw my daggers properly either.
Then I just have to get out!
Crackle.
A flash of light erupted from my legs, and I instantly broke free from the sand that felt like sticky mud. This was Lightning Charge, a skill from the Lightning Blade Body Techniquean enhanced version of the levitation technique that used internal energy to rise into the air.
Eat this!
While airborne, I threw the bait toward the creature's split maw.
Smack!
Kiaak!
The beast greedily tore into the bundle of hide that landed in its mouth. That bundle was drenched in more than ten different deadly poisons.
A monster's weak point is its head. But...
The creature's true weak point wasn't its head. It was the two black plates of chitin at the base of its neck, the very spot that looked the most fortified, which only became visible when it burst from the sand.
Shhhk!
I threw two daggers like a flurry of blades, tearing into its weak point.
Kieeeek!
As the beast began to thrash, the sand around me swirled into a vortex, trying to swallow me whole.
Crackle.
Using the Lightning Blade Body Technique, I skimmed the edge of the sand and launched another volley of daggers at its weak point.
Papapak!
Kiaaaaak!
A roar much louder than before. Following the daggers, the poisons I had fed it were beginning to take effect.
Kiaak!
The desert ghost thrashed about like a deflating balloon and charged at me, but that only served to agitate the poison in its body.
Kwoooang!
Fwoosh!
As I used the Lightning Blade Body Technique to evade its direct attacks and sand skills, its movements began to slow to a crawl in less than a minute.
Kiii...
Kuuuung!
Consumed by poison and daggers, the Rutto Sand Ghost collapsed without so much as touching a hair on my head, its massive skull crashing into the ground, never to rise again.
Feeding it the poison directly makes things simple.
As I approached the creature to absorb its poison, I noticed a sparkling orb at its weak point.
So this was part of the distorted story, too...
Woooong.
The moment I grabbed the orb, I was transported to the same torn, white room as before.
Crrrack.
The orb shot toward the central wall, smoothing over a torn section like it was fresh wallpaper.
You have contributed to the restoration of the world.
A reward will be provided based on your aptitude.
Reward selection complete.
Unlocking the Tang Clan's External Formation, the Phantasmal Thousand Ri Formation.