Chapter 16: DMZ (3)

People looked up at the sky.  In that sky stood a woman. She was known as Celestial Immortals, and also as Gamlo, a name that echoed with mystique.

She descended with the clouds. Or more precisely, she was the cloud itself. 

Her hair resembled wisps of fluffy cumulus, and her eyebrows, delicate feather clouds. Her silhouette was blurry, and her skin, as pale as fresh snow.

A visage akin to a cloud shaped like a woman, a symbol of a high-ranking spirit psychic whose soul is fused with her body.

Gamlo floated like a cloud, then descended like mist, fixing her gaze on a man.

This man, standing beside a girl with chick-like fluffy hair, was tall and handsome. 

Amidst everyone’s bowing, he merely nodded, his expression devoid of any admiration. It even seemed, in a way, like he was critiquing.

‘Why?’

Yes, perhaps he’s blaming her for administering a test that led to the demise of many souls.

“So many have perished today.” 

Gamlo remarked casually, pretending not to care about the man’s gaze. However, her heart was in turmoil.

“Let’s begin the test energetically, regardless.”

How kind this man was. How honorable.

An adept spirit psychic, desensitized to death yet mourning and raging for the demise of other souls – how benevolent. Unafraid to be despised by someone of high rank like the Heavenly Celestial Immortals, standing firm in his convictions – how honorable.

‘Kind-hearted people have always been trampled upon. Those who strive to uphold honor ultimately betray it.’

Gamlo looked down at the man once more. 

His expression was still stern.

‘To think such a man still exists.’

In that moment, Yoo Hajin, observing Gamlo, thought to himself. He hadn’t forgotten the grudge of a billion.

‘Ah, Miss Gamlo. It’s you again?’

Yoo Hajin was merely infuriated about not receiving his billion.

* * *

Gamlo appeared.

“Ah, Miss Gamlo, you again?”

The nemesis who delayed the test rewards announcement and robbed me of my billion. Just thinking about it makes me want to kick my blankets in frustration.

Gamlo was suddenly silent, brooding.

'Why the gloomy face? Shouldn’t I be the one more upset about losing a billion?'

“Why is Miss Gamlo behaving like that?” 

“I don’t know. Gamlo-nim is like a cloud, and we can’t read a cloud’s expressions.”

A cloud? As much as I observed, she hardly looked like one. 

She resembled more a pale, drunkard woman. Sure, her clothing was bulky, but her prominent contours were evident. Maybe that fluffiness could be likened to a cloud.

No, calling her a cloud would be a stretch; Gamlo was relatively slim. It was just that certain parts were... prominently present.

Damn, why am I thinking about this?

Am I craving female company these days?

It’s all Miss Gamlo's fault.

'Ah, Miss Gamlo, just start the test already.'

I glared at Gamlo again.

Then, as if by coincidence, Gamlo cautiously avoided my gaze and began to speak.

“Welcome to the land of life and death confusion, the border. This very boundary will be the final gate before entry into Cheonji.”

Gamlo continued.

“In Pyeon Station, we tested battling domains of evil spirits, and from Paju to here, we tested dealing with spirits that don’t create ghastly phenomena. So, what should the final test be?”

The candidates murmured at Gamlo’s question.

“Evil spirits that create phenomena, and those that don’t... What comes next?”

“A spirit beyond the ghastly phenomena. Are you referring to a Gwizon?”

“Gwi-Gwizon? A Gwizon can open the Ghost gate. We can’t handle that!”

Suddenly, a clapping sound echoed from behind.

It was the applause of Cheonji’s Gooju.

“Quiet, everyone. Please listen to what Celestial Immortal has to say.”

“Thank you, Gooju-nim. And yes, you are correct. This test will involve evil spirits that have perfected ghastly phenomena, the Gwizon-level spirits.”

Gamlo took a sip of her drink and said,

“No, to be precise, this test is about defeating a newly created Gwizon.”

Then, after dropping her cup, she formed a seal.

“The gate of hell revealed.”

Could I finally witness something? A technique unfolded by Celestial Immortal Gamlo herself – even someone like me, who can’t see ghosts, might feel something, right?

“Nectar Rain.”

And then, nothing happened.

The sky was a brilliant blue. A beautiful day. Birds chirping, flowers blooming – on such a day, someone like her, who stole my billion, should be burning in hell...

“Ugh.”

What was I even expecting?

Expecting leads to betrayal.

Gamlo, you’ve betrayed me!!!

But it seems like others could see something.

In moments like this, I feel an indescribable loneliness.

“To change the weather in an instant. This is Gamlo-nim’s power.”

Even the chick beside me could say something like that.

To my eyes, nothing seemed to have changed.

“Hmm, is that all?”

“Why such a dull expression? The rain falling now is Gamlo-nim’s rain. They say if you get soaked in Gamlo-nim’s rain, your spiritual power, skills, and even lifespan increase. Haven’t you heard the rumors?”

“What is this, a miraculous spring water?”

But I couldn’t feel the rain. So, to me, those people enjoying the rain just seemed insane.

So, I decided to change the topic.

I didn’t want to talk about the rain anymore.

“But why did Miss Gamlo create rain?”

“Obviously, to suppress the Ghost Gate of the newly born Gwizon. The longer a Ghost Gate is open, the stronger its grip on reality becomes. That’s why when Celestial Immortal-level psychic fight, the one who attacks is at a great disadvantage.”

The chick continued, chirping away.

This little one sure is talkative.

“Because a Celestial Immortal-level psychic would have already dominated that area with their... chirp.”

"?"

“Chirp?”

“Chirp?! Did you say chirp? Not chirp, Ghost Gate!”

The more she chirped, the more excited the chick seemed. Trying to hide its flushed face, the chick muttered,

“Anyway, since Gamlo-nim opened the Ghost Gate first, even if the Gwizon opens its Ghost Gate, it’ll be overshadowed by Gamlo-nim’s. Otherwise, it would have to reveal itself by opening its Ghost Gate right now, which would mean...”

“It would get instantly mobbed.”

“Mobbed? What a vulgar word.”

I got the gist of it.

Using the test as an excuse, Gamlo gathered a lot of people, then opened her Ghost Gate first to ensure Gwizon's defeat. If the Gwizon tries to resist by opening its Ghost Gate, it would face an immediate mass attack.

So, what exactly is our test then?

“Let’s begin the test,” Gamlo announced, maintaining her hand seal.

“There are three escape routes for the Gwizon: a GP, a patrol path, and an underground tunnel. Candidates, guard these routes. Those who survive until the Gwizon is defeated will pass this test.”

As Gamlo finished, Gooju came forward to explain.

“That way leads to the GP, a fortress made of iron built at a specific time and date. It’s a route even evil spirits dread.”

Then, he pointed in another direction. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NʘvᴇlFirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

“And that opposite way is the patrol path. It only has a barrier of gold threads, but simply patrolling this long path will count as guarding the route.”

And then he pointed downward.

“Lastly, the underground tunnel. It’s a straight path, so setting up defenses without entering can create a bottleneck, making it easier to defend.”

Gooju continued.

“Now, which route will you choose? Of course, we’ll distribute the candidates evenly, so it’s first-come, first-served.”

And then Gooju clapped his hands.

As soon as the applause rang out, the kids dashed off.

Of course, I just stood there.

“Hajin! Why aren’t you running?”

The chick was flustered, but it was none of my concern.

The most crowded place was the GP.

Apparently, the fact that it was a fortress made it appealing.

The second most crowded spot was the underground tunnel. People who liked darkness or playing in dirt headed there. Or those who missed their chance at the GP route.

Last was the patrol path.

It was the least popular.

So, naturally, the chick and I ended up on the patrol path.

Good. I wanted to go that way anyway.

Why the patrol path?

Because it’s easier to escape.

GP? Can’t run if surrounded.

Tunnel? Bottle-necked when escaping.

Patrol path? Multiple escape routes.

My life is precious.

That’s why I chose the patrol path.

And it was the only option for my secret plan.

“Chirp chirp? Chirp chirp chirp! Ahhh. Seriously, I must find a way to break this imprinting. Why do I have this instinct with a chick...”

The chick struck a pose of an infuriated sparrow.

No, did she think another route was safer?

But there’s no escape there.

“Hey, trust me.”

“Don’t, don’t talk so kindly.”

The chick, muttering something about stronger imprinting, reluctantly followed me, and I, with the chick in tow, reached the entrance to the patrol path.

There, about half of the gathered people looked at me strangely.

They were looking at me like some kind of hero.

“He didn’t run from the start. If he had, he would’ve been the first to reach the GP team.”

“To think that a monster who could make Park Jongcheol kneel chose the weakest patrol team deliberately.”

“He must have come to protect us. Ha, I never thought I, an elder candidate of Airbending Council, would need someone’s pity.”

“Playing the fool all the way from Pyeon Station. Hmph. Does he expect us to be grateful?”

Men and women alike were giving me odd looks.

What’s with this uncomfortable attention...?

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

[TL: You can support the translation and read 3 chapters ahead of the release here on Patreon: /Bill94 ]