TRGS 52

Chapter 52
The Field of Vengeful Spirits

A field cultivated by vengeful spirits.

Specifically, ghosts clinging to a dead tiger.

In reality, they weren’t really “cultivating” anything. What they did was only superficial, mere wandering.

Even though their grudge was strong enough to kill the tiger they clung to, they couldn’t leave the void, and all they could do was drift above the ground.

“…Wh-what is that?”

A terrified Baek Ah-rin asked again. She wasn’t just shocked—her eyes were trembling.

Yeah, it was a grim sight.

The vengeful spirits didn’t have distinct human forms, so the limp tiger floated in midair. Its original head was replaced by a grotesque head, presumably that of a spirit.

Yujin shrugged.

“As you can see… they’re ghosts.”

“Isn’t that… a face of crushed mud?”

“I think you’re the first person to describe it that way…”

That wasn’t the important part.

“W-we’re not supposed to take that, right?”

“Of course not.”

Who would want to take something that horrifying? It wasn’t stronger for being ugly, and the items they came to retrieve weren’t meant for sale to hunters anyway.

“Do you see the ones buried down there?”

“…The sprouts next to the corpses?”

“Not sprouts—they’re ginseng. We’re going to dig those up.”

“What?!”

Baek Ah-rin freaked out.

“Why would anyone trust something growing next to a corpse?!”

“The recipients won’t know anyway.”

“But I know!”

“You’re not going to eat it anyway, right?”

“Well… yeah, but…”

Her protest didn’t last long.

She actually had an emotional side, despite being bound by the contract and known as a Snow Spirit. In reality, she was just starting out in society, at an age where most people are still in college or just entering the workforce. It was natural for her to behave like this.

In a way, it was charming. A Snow Spirit with this side to her? Even Yujin, a veteran player from the original game and a returnee, didn’t know this.

Looking intrigued, Yujin turned toward the field. At first, he hadn’t noticed, but golden ropes circled the field, accompanied by various talismans.

‘It’s an event dungeon, but it’s fascinating every time I see it.’

Crossing the rope would trigger the spirits’ reaction. If not crossed, nothing happens.

Yujin tore off a few talismans nearby. Some spirits glanced at him, but he ignored them.

After facing the Demon Lord, a few vengeful spirits weren’t scary at all. He was confident he wouldn’t scream if they suddenly popped up.

“Yujin?”

“I need this if I’m going to take something.”

“The ginseng… we just dig them up and leave, right? And they’re safe to eat, right?”

“Yes. They’re a bit special, but….”

Was she afraid of ghosts? Baek Ah-rin’s eyes were trembling more than necessary.

Perhaps an explanation would help.

“These are influenced by the vengeful spirits. More precisely, they are what the vengeful spirits themselves possessed.”

“What the spirits possessed…?”

“Do you know the characteristic of a vengeful spirit?”

“No.”

“They attract other souls. Like water spirits.”

“…Then…”

“Yes.”

Yujin snapped the rope. At the same time,

Whoosh! Whoosh!

“Who? Who? Who? Who? Who?”

“Humans! Humans!”

[Please!! Noble one!! Free me!!!!]

“Even the ginseng are a type of soul.”

“Hik…!”

Baek Ah-rin clenched her fists. Her pale face and the chill spreading from her fists froze the nearby air. Yujin hurried to stop her.

“Calm down, Baek Ah-rin.”

“There… there are too many ghosts!”

“Don’t freeze them.”

“Huh?!”

She looked at him with a mix of confusion and betrayal.

Was it really that serious? For a moment, Yujin hesitated, then spoke to reassure her.

“Freezing them would be a disadvantage. They don’t die from being frozen anyway.”

“Then… what should we do?”

Baek Ah-rin hung her head.

“I… I’m just scared of ghosts.”

Ah. So it was real. But only this scared?

Well… monsters like ghosts rarely appear. Most enemies are undead, and as their rank rises, their bodies are covered in armor, hiding their true form.

“Wait here.”

Yujin flung his coat and stepped into the field. The ground was covered with ginseng. He picked one up.

[Kyahhhhh! Save me!]

The ginseng screamed like a human.

[Please! These ghosts torment me! If I grow a little more, they’ll eat me…! I’ll do anything, just let me live!]

“Yes, I see.”

Instead of replying, Yujin burned the ginseng’s tail. The ginseng stiffened as if paralyzed.

[…!! This crazy person!]

“I’ve handled you a few times, and you still don’t recognize a kindred spirit?”

A victim? Perhaps.

But souls killed by vengeful spirits become vengeful spirits themselves. Though not as strong as those dragging the tiger, they were still useful monsters.

To exorcise them, burn the tail-like part above the head.

[This… this crazy… I’ll curse you…]

“I’ve dealt with them before, so…”

If it were effective, the Demon Lord would have died already.

“Use it on someone else if it works. Too many to kill otherwise.”

The ginseng went completely unconscious.

‘Good. One acquired.’

Only three ginseng could be carried out. By analyzing and reproducing their components, even if not entirely, a diluted version could be made.

Yujin knew all the related information, so no problem.

Now the problem was…

Kick, kickkick!

Vengeful spirits approached. Some tried to walk like humans, others floated in the air as tiger corpses.

Ugh. Each one was grotesque.

They didn’t give experience points. Unlike undead, they had no physical effect, so special methods were needed to exorcise them.

Yujin pulled out a lighter. Rain immediately soaked it.

“…Oh.”

“Doesn’t work!”

“Really doesn’t work.”

Vengeful spirits, also called water spirits, are drawn by water. There’s a river nearby.

The lighter went out immediately, but what mattered was that he had a flame.

Click!

A flame flickered, silencing the spirits’ laughter. Yujin smiled.

“It works.”

“…!”

[Skill ‘Blazing Domination’ activated.]

Flames roared, illuminating the field that had only been lit by moonlight.

Kyaaaah!

Yujin threw a previously taken talisman into the flames. The character 滅 (Destroy) blazed. Not to seal, but to annihilate.

Then,

[Skill ‘Soul Enhancement’ activated.]

Two enhancements applied instantly. The Destroy character burned red.

Extreme Destruction.

The talisman, attached by an unknown shaman holding a grudge, glowed, painting the world red.

Pop! Pop!

Meanwhile, Yujin pulled two more ginseng from the ground. He quickly turned to Baek Ah-rin.

“Ah-rin!”

He shouted from beyond the rope.

“Quickly! Freeze everything!”

“…Yes! Yes!”

As Baek Ah-rin raised her hands, the flaming field froze. Tigers remained frozen. Yujin shook the ginseng.

Clang!

They were expelled outside, mission complete.

[Hidden dungeon cleared.]
[You may take 3 items as rewards.]
[Skill Book acquired.]

[Skill Book]
Grade: A
Randomly acquires one A-rank skill, limited to magic or destruction-related abilities.

[Level Up.]
[Level Up.]
[2 Skill Points acquired.]

Thud!
Crash!

Yujin landed on the ground. Baek Ah-rin slipped on the ice.

Covered in dust, she wiped her red cheeks and said,

“…It’s a mistake. I haven’t fully controlled my strength yet. Used a lot of mana too.”

“I know.”

Even for an S-rank hunter, freezing everything nearby consumes a huge amount of mana.

“Before we go, I’ll take the rewards. Fighting for dominance again would be exhausting…”

The reward: a skill book.

Yujin opened it.

Flare!

[Skill ‘Talisman of Destructive Fire’ acquired.]

[Talisman of Destructive Fire]
Grade: A
Effect: Creates talismans imbued with flames, fire magic, or fire blessing, controllable by the user. When attached to an enemy, unconditional destructive flames ignite.

“Not bad.”

A talisman appeared on his palm. Only a small amount of mana was consumed. He infused it with mana and flame, inscribing it.

[‘Fire Seed’ imbued into the Talisman of Destructive Fire.]

He checked the talisman and pocketed it.

This allowed him to execute a planned task.

Now, he looked at the three remaining ginseng.

A miraculous elixir capable of reviving a dying 70-year-old. Time to sell it.