Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: It Was Something We Could Do Anytime
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"Back when we were making Jiangshi Spirits on Earth."
"Yes, my lord."
"Like when we captured demons on Onbiroad and linked their consciousness, or did the same thing on Earth."
"You're talking about how we could learn the abilities the demons had mastered, right?"
Ilryeong glanced at the black skull in Geon-woo's hand and guessed his intent.
"Yeah. At some point, there was nothing new left to learn, and even if there was, it was just miscellaneous skills—more than enough with what we already had."
"Or maybe differences in race or physiology made some things unusable."
"Exactly. And after coming to this higher dimension..."
"The souls here couldn't be peeked into that way. But now you're saying it might be possible? Even with a soul at the duke level."
Ilryeong looked at Vladikrau's soul with evident anticipation.
Vladikrau's soul, shaped like a black skull, lay perfectly subdued and dormant.
"The spirit subjugation technique that was stuck at Earth level has finally reached this dimension's standard. Or maybe even higher."
"Higher?"
"The kind of level where even this dimension might hesitate to allow it?"
"So it could face dimensional restrictions, like back on Earth?"
Ilryeong's eyes widened in surprise at Geon-woo's words.
But Geon-woo shook his head casually, not looking too serious.
"Nah, no restrictions yet. It's just a vague feeling that our current spirit subjugation is right at the line for this dimension."
"You're saying if it grows more, the system might interfere?"
"Yep. Though that kind of growth won't be easy."
"Wow, so you're saying you've finally reached the top in this dimension too, my lord. Congratulations, congratulations."
Ilryeong clasped her hands in a formal salute, beaming with joy as she offered her congratulations for the first time in ages.
"Hahaha. We've made some solid progress, but it's not like I'm at the top of this world. It's just that now I can hold my own against death spirits or similar soul types."
"Being the best even in one area is huge."
Geon-woo downplayed it, but Ilryeong was thrilled as if it were her own achievement, full of pride.
"Still, it didn't seem easy, so I called you. Back then, when reading a Jiangshi Spirit's memories, your help barely got us out of a crisis."
"Thank you, my lord. I'm honored you need me."
"I'm the one owing you—why are you thanking me?"
"Being useful to you is the joy of a servant or subordinate."
"Enough of that. Get ready. We're starting."
Geon-woo shook his head at Ilryeong's unusually excited demeanor and closed his eyes, focusing on Vladikrau's soul.
= Hweeeee. Hweeeee!
'This one's pretty badly damaged, huh?'
But peering into Vladikrau's soul revealed a grim situation.
- I've never seen a soul this ragged before.
Ilryeong, linked to Geon-woo's consciousness and viewing the soul alongside him, couldn't hide her astonishment.
'Those who handle souls often end up scarred themselves. You have to expose your own soul to manipulate others.'
- So that's why this guy's soul is such a mess?
'Yeah. But that's not all. Look here—part of the soul was cleanly torn out.'
- Someone took a piece of his soul?
'Right. Probably a deal or a contract.'
- But this soul doesn't show any bindings or restrictions. It's in bad shape, but definitely independent.
Contracts or bindings always leave traces on a soul.
And with Geon-woo's spirit subjugation at this world's max allowed level, hiding them would be impossible from the start.
'You're right—no bindings on the soul. But there's a problem.'
- Huh? What problem?
'Worse than bindings.'
- I don't follow, my lord.
'I definitely subdued this soul, but in the process, whatever was plugging its holes evaporated. Without that, the soul's gone haywire like this.'
- Ah! I get it now. So this soul's useless?
'Most of the important parts are gone, yeah. The memory sections are full of holes.'
Geon-woo clicked his tongue inwardly.
Even rags could be patched if the missing pieces were reattached.
But.
'This was held together by shoving something else into the soul's holes to make it functional. When that fell out, it became worthless.'
- Raphin, probably?
'Likely. High chance it's the Tebrus school's master. They built their power on master-disciple bonds, and this was a direct disciple.'
- Toss it, then?
Ilryeong asked if they should cut losses quick.
'Yeah. Thought I'd check for salvageable bits, but the opponent's no pushover.'
With that, Geon-woo withdrew his consciousness from Vladikrau's soul.
- Huh? You're really giving up? There might still be something.
Ilryeong made a fuss, genuinely surprised.
"Remember that soul we just saw?"
Geon-woo asked her.
"Yes. But...?"
Ilryeong had returned to her metal-forged body and answered.
"Look closer—it's got a trap. I almost fell for it myself."
"A trap?"
"Yeah. Those holes and patched-up rags? That's the trap itself. Dive in too deep, and you could get snared bad."
"W-Wait. You're saying it's like that?"
Ilryeong fell silent, her face lighting up as something clicked.
"Huh? Now that you mention it, yeah, something's off."
"Worth dissecting slowly, right?"
"Yeah."
"Probably Raphin's handiwork, but not certain. Whoever it is, they're a soul-handling expert, no doubt."
"Pretty vicious too?"
"Well, anyone handling others' souls is in the same boat. It's souls we're talking about."
"But..."
"It's fine. We're past getting hung up on that."
Handling souls racks up heavy karma.
Ilryeong hesitated for that reason, but they'd already resolved to it.
Geon-woo waved it off with an easy expression.
"Anyway, makes you realize this world's no joke. Right?"
"Yeah. I was just crowning you at the top, but pulling tricks like that on a soul? They're no slouch either."
Ilryeong bowed her head, a bit deflated.
"Yeah. Time to know our limits and stay humble. But undervaluing ourselves is a problem too. So, with that in mind..."
"Hm? With that in mind?"
Ilryeong's head snapped up.
"Check if Jumper's ready. If so, execute the plan."
"Ah! Yes, hehe. Got it. I'll confirm right away, my lord."
Ilryeong smiled brightly, bowed, and withdrew.
A few days later, the elites of Geon-woo Clinic gathered at a secret spot in Theopoli.
* * *
"Fight with resolve to die!"
Kwagwagwang! Kwarrurung!
The ground shook with Shepalt's roar.
"Kill them!!"
"Uwaaaah! Charge!"
Kwarung! Kwagwang!
"Kugh!"
"Hold the line!"
The battlefield was a mess of crumbled castle ruins mixed with upturned earth.
Shepalt's vassals and knights led the soldiers in a final stand.
"Your Excellency!"
A count acting as Shepalt's adjutant rushed over and bowed.
"No more reinforcements, I take it."
Shepalt asked for confirmation, reading the situation from the man's face.
"Everyone from the clan who could come already has, Your Excellency."
"Figured. They wouldn't cripple the clan just to save a mere marquis like me. Not for the whole demonkind, anyway."
Shepalt showed no strong emotion, as if he'd expected it.
His gaze lingered on the battlefield, wrecked by earth-based abilities and spells.
His castle had fallen in the first assault.
A fortress reinforced over ages, crumbling pathetically under a few attackers.
The moment it fell, Shepalt knew victory was impossible.
But surrender wasn't an option either.
It'd just end with him turned into one of those "Jiangshi" servitors.
Fleeing and hiding? Out of the question.
If they weren't satisfied, the wrath would hit the entire Helparis clan.
"It's nearly over."
Shepalt muttered.
The battlefield noise was fading.
"They're coming."
The count at his side spoke, but Shepalt had already spotted the movement.
"Meet again? Not the shell this time, looks like."
Geon-woo descended a few steps ahead, stepping on air via mana propulsion.
"Do as you will. Winners can do anything."
Shepalt stood calmly, unfazed, facing Geon-woo.
"No grievances?"
Geon-woo asked.
"About what?"
Shepalt countered, as if not grasping the question.
"You weren't the only one who joined the Earth dimensional expedition, yet here you are taking the fall."
"Ah, yeah, that's unfair. But I went where I didn't belong, so can't blame anyone."
"Good if you accept that. So, if you surrender without resistance, we'll end it here."
"Merciful. So be it."
"Your Excellency!"
"Tch, what good's your interference? Just accept it!"
The vassal count startled at Shepalt's acceptance, trying to intervene, but Shepalt shook his head instead.
"Quick on the uptake. Realized resistance just ends in capture anyway?"
"Suicide would've been ideal, but impossible. Thought I'd save a few underlings at least."
Shepalt closed his eyes after that.
Geon-woo subdued his mind and shoved him into a stone coffin filled with potion.
"Haa... So it ends like this."
The remaining Helparis count sighed hollowly, watching the coffin vanish with Shepalt inside.
"Your leader's already on board. So don't get any funny ideas."
Geon-woo warned the count before leading the Clinic elites toward the long-range gate Jumper maintained.
"Isn't this too anticlimactic? What kind of fight ends without a spark?"
"Can't help the skill gap. Honestly, we could've done this anytime if we'd wanted."
Paeng and Ilryeong's exchange, following Geon-woo, unsettled the dazed count.
"Scary. Reaching that level in just decades. Whew."
The count sighed, praying never to tangle with Geon-woo again.