[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
Chapter 30
3.
Sekan Village.
It wasn't a village with a pleasant atmosphere.
Ever since the village head, the elder of this village, passed away a year ago, the atmosphere had been like this.
It wasn't that people weren't living their lives diligently, but the air was heavy with a somber mood.
It felt as if the entire village was in a state of mourning.
Some NPCs were hostile towards users.
They blamed the users for the village head's death, believing that if a certain user had arrived on time, the village head would still be alive.
Because of this resentment, the atmosphere was even worse.
Perhaps because of this, fewer users visited the village afterward.
No one played games to be ostracized, even if they didn't expect special treatment.
The few users who did come to Sekan Village did so with the hope of finding hidden pieces rumored to be hidden within the gloomy atmosphere.
But they all left empty-handed.
On the other hand, there was one user who arrived in the village with a rather cheerful gait.
'It's quite different from Perthville.'
It was Seonghyun, who had just arrived in Sekan Village.
The atmosphere was depressing, and some NPCs looked at him with wary eyes, but he didn't mind.
This village held a dungeon left by the hero Hindel.
That was what mattered.
As he strolled down the road with a positive mindset, Seonghyun noticed several things.
'The atmosphere is definitely different from the second village.'
He wasn't just referring to the NPCs' attitudes.
The atmosphere among the users was quite different.
In the first village, there were many inexperienced players.
But in the second village, there was a more organized feel.
Perhaps it was because they had adapted to the game and become more proficient?
It didn't really matter to Seonghyun, who hadn't engaged in party play.
'Now, I need to find the ghost of the village head...'
If he died of illness, he would usually be near his house.
If not, he would be near a place that held significance to him in life.
Of course, there were ghosts like the former village head of Hindel Village who wandered around restlessly...
That would be a bit difficult, but Seonghyun had a method that was practically a cheat.
‘And there he was!’
"Excuse me."
-Oh my? It's rare for someone to see me! We have a very special guest in our village.
He spoke to a ghost of a middle-aged woman nearby.
And immediately,
"Do you happen to know where the ghost of the former village head is?"
-Ah! You must be talking about the village head~ Of course I know~ He's sitting on a bench in the plaza in front of the village head's house.
"Thank you very much."
It was quick to ask other ghosts.
He hadn't thought of this method when searching for Hindel, but when he thought about it, who would know ghosts better than other ghosts?
Having identified the location of the former village head's ghost in Sekan Village, Seonghyun immediately headed there.
And just as the ghost woman had described, in front of the village square, in front of a large mansion that appeared to be the village head's house, he saw an elderly ghost sitting on a bench in the village square.
It was the ghost of the village head, who looked like a kind grandmother.
Her attire was somewhat old-fashioned and elegant, clearly showing that she was the village head.
A benevolent and warm appearance.
He could understand why she was called the great elder of this village.
As Seonghyun approached the grandmotherly ghost of the village head...
She looked at Seonghyun first and greeted him with a kind smile.
-Greetings, hohoho. I never imagined I would be exchanging greetings with the living after death.
"Nice to meet you."
-What brings you to me?
"Ah, it's nothing special, but I wanted to know about the cave where the hero Hindel sealed a monster during his lifetime."
-Hohoho, of course, I can tell you. Here, let me tell you.
As the village head's ghost was about to tell him...
Seonghyun naturally accepted her memories and experiences.
As soon as he saw her memory of discovering the cave while playing with her friends as a child, and the memory of discovering the sealed monster there, he realized the location.
Far from being surprised that Seonghyun had received her memories, the grandmotherly ghost of the village head smiled, as if she had expected it.
-As expected of a special person.
['Unknown Power' has allowed you to exhibit abilities beyond your current stats.]
[Wisdom permanently increased by +5.]
Having gained memories and experiences...
Seonghyun expressed his gratitude to the grandmotherly ghost of the village head, Gwen.
"Thank you. Then I'll be on my way."
-I wish you good luck.
After being seen off by Granny Gwen...
Seonghyun immediately set off.
'It wasn't simply because Granny Gwen died.'
He thought as he looked at the gloomy atmosphere of the village.
The atmosphere in Sekan Village was strangely depressing.
It was odd to attribute it solely to the death of Gwen, the great elder.
Those who were alive had to live on.
He felt this even more strongly after obtaining Gwen's memories.
Even though the villagers respected and followed Gwen...
There was no reason for them to ostracize users to this extent.
After all, she didn't die because of users.
There was no reason to resent users.
Then why had this happened?
It was simple.
One hit would be an instant game over.
Seeing this, Seonghyun tried to summon the Death Legion by opening the Netherworld.
But then, suddenly...
'Huh?'
-Shaaaaaaaaa!
He made eye contact with the screaming Wraith of Barpur.
At first, he thought he was mistaken, but...
The Wraith of Barpur, emitting a teal light and scattering an eerie aura with game effects.
And next to it, another wraith that looked exactly the same, but with its legs scattered as if its pixels were broken, was restlessly fidgeting and trembling.
'Why are there two of them?'
Seonghyun stared in confusion.
Clearly, one had a monster name and level displayed above its head, while the other had no such indication.
Just like any other ghost.
And the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur slapped its wraith repeatedly and shouted.
-Oh my! How dare you hit a-a noble person!! S-stop it right now!!
-Shaaaaaaaaaaa!
-Oh, this is driving me crazy!! I-I'm so sorry!! To think I've caused such trouble for a noble person!
-Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
The ghost of the demonic beast Barpur kept bowing to Seonghyun and apologizing, while the Wraith of Barpur roared, ready to attack at any moment.
What was this?
And at that moment, the Wraith of Barpur charged.
Swooooooooosh!!
The swift, ghost-like movement characteristic of wraiths!
Even Seonghyun would have found it difficult to dodge if he hadn't been prepared.
Combining the experiences of the hunter Apik and the former instructor Eddie, he predicted the wraith's path and quickly moved out of the way.
The Wraith of Barpur struck the ground in vain, and using the rebound, it leaped again and charged towards Seonghyun, who had retreated.
The Wraith of Barpur had excellent combat sense.
However, when it came to sense, Seonghyun, with the experiences of two ghosts, was several steps ahead.
He kicked a stalactite and spun in the air, narrowly escaping the attack of the Wraith of Barpur.
Crash!
The Wraith of Barpur slammed into the wall, and at that moment, Seonghyun's eyes lit up.
An instinctive attraction.
Recalling Helena's memories, he glared at the Wraith of Barpur with his teal eyes.
He naturally understood.
His own ability.
And the fact that wraiths were also a type of undead.
In other words...
'Death Aura.'
It was a very good material.
The teal energy that bloomed behind Seonghyun as the Death Aura unfolded transformed into a heart, and as the teal heart began to beat...
A teal fog instantly filled the surroundings.
Even the Wraith of Barpur couldn't escape its influence.
-Cough!
The Wraith of Barpur opened its mole-like mouth as if to vomit something out, suffering and groaning.
From there, a teal aura rose.
And the message that Seonghyun had been waiting for appeared.
[You can use 『Death Legion』.]
[Would you like to raise the 『Death Legion』?]
At the same time, Seonghyun shouted towards the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur, who was watching with glowing teal eyes.
"Come."
-Aaaaaah! Of course!!
Like a servant faithfully carrying out his master's orders, the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur lunged towards the Wraith of Barpur, and at that moment, a teal aura erupted from Seonghyun's entire body.
The light gathered in Seonghyun's hand, forming another heart, and as that heart throbbed...
The Wraith of Barpur and the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur merged into one, becoming enveloped in black darkness.
Simultaneously, as the other heart in Seonghyun's grasp pulsed...
The Wraith of Barpur and the ghost of the demonic beast Barpur, now unified, bowed their head.
-I behold my new master, my god.
['Unknown Power' has allowed you to convert a target that is normally difficult to convert into the 『Death Legion』.]
[The Wraith of the demonic beast Barpur joins the 『Death Legion』.]
[You have brought an undead of a higher level than yourself under your command!]
[You have acquired the title, 『Elevated Leadership』.]
[You have gained experience points.]
[Level Up] × 5
[Additional Stat Points have reached 100.]
[You have acquired the title, 『The Enduring One』.]
[!!Caution!!]
[This Death Soldier has a higher level than its master!]
[It may disobey orders!]
It may disobey orders?
Seonghyun looked at the Wraith of Barpur again, seeing that message.
This guy, with his mole-like face, was bowing his head and looked like he was about to lick Seonghyun's shoes.
This guy?
No way.
He had obtained a wraith unified with its soul.
This was an unexpected gain.
He leveled up and even gained a title.
But then...
-Ehehehe, Master. If you go that way, you'll find my physical body! It might be difficult for you now, but if you keep that body, wouldn't it be useful someday?!
It was even spilling valuable information.
To think he could gain even more benefits here...
'This is good.'
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]