Chapter 251

“…It’s best not to even think about opposing it. The deity possesses power to the point of being terrifying.”

The girl shook her head vigorously, likely thinking my idea of confronting it was childish.

“All the villagers pooled their resources to seek help from Taoist Masters, but they were all devoured.”

If that’s true, then it’s indeed no ordinary Specter.

Given this is an era teeming with Specters, if someone claims the title of Taoist Master, they must have some level of skill.

“What do you think?”

[This world is indeed saturated with Natural Qi. It’s an environment where powerful Specters can easily be born.]

In other words, Verdi also concluded there’s a considerable chance it’s a high-level Specter.

[Well, if things really go south, can’t we just run away then?]

That was certainly the correct answer, so I disregarded it and asked the girl again.

“It doesn’t matter. Tell me.”

She sighed and slowly began to speak.

“The deity is huge. Just in length, it’s about seven times my brother’s size. And its skin is extremely tough.”

From that alone, I could roughly grasp what form it took.

“A snake Specter?”

“People call it the deity of the white rocky mountain. It crawls along the ground but can also leap high and is very fast. That’s all I know…”

Even though she was in danger of being devoured, the girl remained calm, and her explanation was quite logical.

“I’ve also survived by offering the villagers as sacrifices… so I have no complaints.”

However, it seemed she couldn’t completely hide her fear of death, as I noticed her body trembling faintly.

‘From the description, it sounds similar to a Cat-Head Serpent or a Seven-Horned Serpent.’

At that moment, I began to sense something approaching from afar.

A calm yet sharp, intense Spectral Energy. It was undoubtedly the rocky mountain’s snake deity the girl mentioned.

“Step back. It’s coming.”

“…It must have sensed the sacrifice placed on the altar. If I withdraw now, it might get angry and head straight for the village.” “Then hide quickly after it arrives.”

Even to that, the girl shook her head quietly.

“No. If my brother dies, I’ll be held responsible by everyone for trying to run away.”

“……”

I had responded, but the girl didn’t seem to hold even a sliver of hope that I would win.

Well, from her perspective, having lived oppressed by it, that might be natural.

In that case, there was no choice. I had to fight while protecting her from behind as much as possible.

[It seems to have arrived.]

As soon as Verdi finished speaking, something bizarre revealed itself from the edge of the rocky mountain.

• Hiss!

From the description alone, I thought it might be snake-like, but it was stranger than that.

A form resembling a cross between an earthworm and an eel, mixed with a centipede.

Moreover, its size seemed slightly larger than the Cat-Head Serpent I had seen before.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Many-Limbed Face Specter】

▶ Level 67

Roughly speaking, its strength was similar to the Cat-Head Serpent. Its appearance was menacing enough to be tense, but it didn’t possess overwhelmingly powerful strength.

‘Of course, even this level is still a calamity…’

I felt my tension ease, replaced by certainty.

It was only natural, as I was no longer the same person I was back then.

“Keuseundae, Black Yin, Hwabaek, Old Man Tree Specter.”

Summoning Kongsami as well, a total of five Shikigami faced it and began emitting intense energy.

And I, too, holding Cheong Joohwa’s special Talisman, infused it with Spiritual Power and quietly recited the Incantation of the Cursed Technique.

• Hiss!

“Don’t fuss. I’ll finish this quickly.”

I smirked, and it charged at me.

After about 30 minutes, the outcome was decided.

Thud!

Looking at the Many-Limbed Face Specter lying mangled on the ground, I merely moved my stiff shoulders around.

“…Brother, you really are an amazing Taoist Master. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Her eyes, which had once seemed utterly hopeless and disbelieving, were now completely bright as she guided me to the village.

Well, since I had instantly defeated the Specter that had oppressed her and the villagers for so long, she might see me as some kind of divine messenger sent from heaven.

“Even the renowned Taoist Masters trembled in fear or were busy fleeing before the deity…”

Well, of course. Where would you find a common Specter like that?

Although I won without much difficulty, it was literally a winnable fight, not because the opponent was weak.

If it had been just a bit stronger, I might have struggled to face it head-on myself.

“Are there any other threatening Specters nearby besides that one?”

“Nope. Probably because they feared the deity, they didn’t even think of settling around here.”

However, interpreting that differently, it means there were others waiting for an opportunity.

As expected, in this era, it was taken for granted that Specters roamed far more freely compared to the modern world.

“We’re here. That’s our village.”

As expected, it didn’t look particularly splendid or wealthy.

By modern standards, maybe slightly more developed than an Amazonian indigenous settlement?

Still, it was clear this was a long-established home with what they had.

“Wait, Soyool, how did you…?”

It was only then I realized I hadn’t heard her name until now.

The girl’s name was Soyool.

She had no particular surname, and even its meaning was exceedingly simple.

Soyool informed the villagers about the snake deity’s defeat and began mentioning my exploits.

By the time the story was finished, the villagers’ gazes toward me had completely changed to ones of reverence.

“Ohh, truly a noble Taoist Master… To have repelled the deity of that rocky mountain, we are truly indebted!”

Stopping the elderly man leading the bowing, I asked the question I wanted to ask the villagers.

“What region is this? And do you happen to have a map of the vicinity?”

At that, the villagers vied to answer, bringing several maps from somewhere to show me.

“This village has no particular name, but people generally call this area Baekseoksan (White Stone Mountain). Traveling north for two days leads to a larger village, and from there, heading west for four days brings you to a city named Cheongra.”

Only after hearing the villagers’ additional explanations could I roughly guess where I was.

‘I should head to Cheongra first.’

Since it’s a city Yoo Haon’s party visited in the original work, getting there would make tracking my companions’ whereabouts much easier.

After bidding farewell to the people and leaving the village, Soyool, who had somehow hastily packed her belongings, approached and spoke to me.

“…Let me follow you for just a little while.”

“What are you talking about? Your parents?”

“I never had parents to begin with. And now, I want to settle in the city. I’ll handle all the chores, so can’t I accompany you just to Cheongra?”

Soyool made her request with her usual impassive but somewhat earnest expression.

I pondered intently for a brief moment and then nodded.

“Alright. Do you know the way?”

“Yeah. I’ve been with the villagers to buy necessary things.”

I did need at least one person to serve as a guide anyway.

The maps of this era were still unfamiliar, and even interpreting them properly with my own strength wasn’t easy.

Thus, I set off with Soyool, heading first for the village said to be to the north.

Although it was a two-day journey, riding Sorisoe would get us there in half a day, so I planned to spend a day there before heading to Cheongra.

Meanwhile, Soyool, finding something fascinating, kept poking Sorisoe’s back in amazement, to which Sorisoe grumbled and twisted its body.

After traveling for several hours, just as the northern village was nearing, I sensed the presence of many people from the northwest direction.

At first, I wondered what it was, but judging by the situation, it seemed two groups were in conflict.

“…Probably horse bandits. I heard they often target merchant caravans heading to Cheongra passing through villages.”

Listening, it seemed correct. Getting a bit closer, I could clearly see a group attacking carriages and people.

“Are you going to help?”

“I suppose I should.”

I didn’t particularly want to meddle, but if they were a caravan heading to Cheongra, I could gain various help from them.

Since it wasn’t a difficult task, ignoring them would be a loss.

Ding!*

Using the Appraisal function, their information began to organize and appear before my eyes.

‘Twenty-seven, thirty-three…’

After checking it briefly, I erased all the information that came up and sighed.

Having faced only overwhelmingly powerful enemies lately, their existence felt too trivial and insignificant.

“Giant Strength Specter, Ox-Hand Specter. Come forth.”

There was no need to bring out other Shikigami.

Summoning a few Crafted-Type Shikigami, I sent them forth, demanding the suppression of the horse bandits.

As several of them were instantly killed, the remaining bandits realized things were turning unusual and fled for their lives, disappearing from sight.

Only then did the leader of the group, who had barely managed to regain control, approach me to express gratitude.

“Truly, thank you… We almost all met a gruesome end.”

“You are a merchant caravan heading to Cheongra, correct?”

“Yes, yes. We originally planned to stay for a day in the village called Hapgwan ahead, but we encountered them right before…”

As Soyool said, they were a caravan heading to Cheongra, and when I requested to join them, they gladly accepted, overjoyed.

“Benefactor, are you a Taoist Master from Daehwarim?”

“No, I am not. My origins are quite distant from here.”

“Oh my, we were truly fortunate.”

Daehwarim was indeed mentioned in the original work. It didn’t have a major role, but it was probably one of the organizations composed of Taoist Masters.

‘Did they earn income under the pretext of protecting cities or villages?’

If that were the case, it wouldn’t be strange for them to think I was one of their members.

Regardless, meeting these people familiar with commerce was fortunate for me.

The party members were all skilled and experienced, and eventually, the next day, I arrived at the target city, Cheongra, more easily and quickly than expected.