Chapter 92: Heo Sang-hyeon

Chapter 92: Heo Sang-hyeon

Hey, whats this? Youre back again, masked person?

To be honest, I was a little sentimental.

But that emotion shattered instantly upon seeing the chaotic scene at Geumchon Pawnshop and Jeong Eun-taek.

Yes, old man. Im here. That part-timer isnt here today?

Today, Jeong Ye-eun who usually helps at the pawnshop was nowhere to be seen.

That kid ran off to the night market.

Ah, I see. Could I ask for some items?

So, what do you need today?

Um Id like to buy about 10 meters of silver thread, if you have any? And some branches for materials. Any type of wood will do, as long as theyre blessed or consecrated.Updated from n0velb(i)n.c(o)/m

I dont know what youre planning to do with all this stuff.

My requests continued at length.

Each time, Jeong Eun-taek grumbled with a look of disgust on his face, but strangely enough, I managed to gather everything I needed.

This place is truly out of the ordinary.

Just a short walk beyond the door, the citizens of Paju were happily munching on street food and taking selfies at the night market, yet here I was, buying ghoul finger bones and dried hydra skins.

As I was finishing up the payment, Jung Eun-taek hesitated for a moment before speaking.

Hey, you mentioned wanting to go to the Thousand Gold Temple before, right?

I had been meaning to ask about it myself, but he brought it up first.

Yes, I had now surpassed level 30, which meant I was eligible to enter the Thousand Gold Temple.

Can I get an entry ticket?

Hmph, its not that easy to get one.

But you must have brought it up for a reason?

At my comment, Jung Eun-taek frowned again.

A contact of mine asked for a fixer. Turns out, theres no one quite like you around?

Um that must be an exaggeration.

Exaggeration, my foot. I may have washed my hands of that business a long time ago, but Im not deaf yet.

Jung Eun-taek paused before continuing.

Tch, anyway, Ill send a message through the alley witch in about a fortnight, so take the job.

Looks like someone is planning to visit the Thousand Gold Temple, huh?

Yes, a teacher who I owe a great deal to from about 20 years ago wants to visit the Thousand Gold Temple. Can I ask for your help?

It was a bit roundabout, but this was essentially a prerequisite quest to enter the Thousand Gold Temple.

I would be visiting the Thousand Gold Temple with someone who possessed an entry ticket.

I answered with a smile.

Of course.

Since my face was always hidden by a mask, there was no need to manage my expression.

***

After a short journey, we were in front of the hungry mansion again.

Do you want to come in and rest for a bit?

No, no, no, no! I have a schedule lined up after this, so I need to get going to work!

Jang Hyeon-deok seemed to still have some trauma related to ghosts as he fumbled around.

That kind of issue isnt easily fixed.

Please call me again next time. If its Mage-nim asking, I can go anywhere!

Jang Hyeon-deok left with those shameless words.

His tone was such that it seemed unlikely that I would need to call him anytime soon, but we would meet again sooner than he expected.

After all, the mansion was deep in the mountains, far from the city, and there were no buses that came this way.

Even for something as simple as buying food and drink, I would likely need to call Jang Hyeon-deok.

After watching Jang Hyeon-deok leave, I went back into the house with Doldol.

The cleaning was almost finished by now.

The dust that gathered along with the heavy presence of negative energy was now largely cleared away, along with the old air and the ghosts that had clung to the mansion.

Of course, this didnt mean that the mansion had lost its identity as a haunted house.

Even after all the fuss that had been going on all day, the mansion was still dark and gloomy. Evil ghosts not yet completely expelled still lingered in every corner.

Those malicious bastards

It was awkward to say they were merely tenants inconvenienced by the change in homeownership, but it seemed they too were taken aback by their suddenly overturned nest.

As my gaze reached them, they slipped into the cracks in the walls and disappeared somewhere.

Hunting them down to drive them out would prove to be an exhausting task.

Heo Sang-hyeon, whose gaunt face made his large eyes stand out, blinked excessively and rolled his eyes before hesitating slightly and then speaking.

Ma-Master?

Ugh, I guessed it would turn out like this, but its still troublesome.

Only recently had I become a mage solving various incidents in the supernatural Paju, but before that, I, Kim Shin-hwa, was just an ordinary office worker in South Korea for decades.

It was unnatural for me to hear someone eight years older calling me Master.

Drop the Master talk. How are you feeling?

I am alright. Much better than before I am.

Thats good to hear.

But

He unconsciously fumbled with the mirror around his neck. It was a different technique from the necromancy magic that had previously bound him to this world.

It was much kinder than necromancy. However, Heo Sang-hyeon seemed awkward with the sensation.

How did you do it? How did you handle the Master? And what exactly happened to me?

Um

I had left him alone for this conversation, but what should I talk about next?

It seemed that Heo Sang-hyeon was referring to someone else as his Master, not me.

Firstly, your former master, Hollow Lord, is dead.

Dead? That cant be!

Why cant it be? You can sense it yourself, right?

And just as youve sensed, I have come to own everything in this mansion.

Yes I am aware.

Everything mentioned here included even Heo Sang-hyeon, who was a slave to the Hollow Lord.

Most of his past actionstalking with me, mocking me, attacking mehad nothing to do with his will.

Perhaps the only true expression of his will was his attempt to drive me away immediately when we just met.

Now, despite that, I have no intention of forcibly keeping you as a slave. Nor do I wish to waste magical power and a precious artifact without purpose.

Heo Sang-hyeon briefly flashed a vague smile.

It was the kind of smile that could be worn by a fanatic devoid of self.

What Heo Sang-hyeon thought before doesnt matter.

Loyalty to me is already being instilled in his mind.

His loyalty to me takes precedence over any personal needs for protection or desires for hope and dreams.

If I were to command him to die, he would embrace death with joy and ecstasy.

I probably wont understand your desires or your psychology. Ive never died and come back to life. Of course, the concept of personal desire may be weak for you given the artificially induced loyalty

I reached out my hand towards him.

A few magic circles blossomed around my extended hand in the middle of the air between Heo Sang-hyeon and me.

Some of the magic circles were connected to the mirror hanging around Heo Sang-hyeons neck, and others were linked to his head and heart.

I moved the circle connected to his head.

Buzzzzzz.

The magic circles shifted according to my will, and soon a part of the shackles entwined with Heo Sang-hyeons mind transformed.

Specifically, I had removed the coercive loyalty that constrained his thoughts and actions.

At the same time, an immediate response occurred in his body.

His lifeless lips twisted and his bony hands trembled violently.

This was the original emotion that Heo Sang-hyeon should feelfear.

Now, can you think a bit more for yourself?

Heo Sang-hyeon seemed unable to open his mouth.

With a troubled expression, he just rolled his large eyes and hunched his body.

If you wish for salvation, I will liberate you now. There will be no pain or discomfort.

I, I, I I

But I raised my hand to stop his words.

Listen until the end.

Yes.

If you wish to live longer in this state, I can help you with that.

His eyes widened again.

They were so large that even I could feel the anxiety.

Of course, it wont be for free. I need a butler to manage the mansion.

Although he couldnt see it behind the mask, I was smiling.