NOVEL WEB chapter 586 - Relic (4)
A little later, we descended back into the subway and gnawed on mole cricket meat.
It was to obtain the “Contamination Resistance Effect” granted by the meat.
I had already dried it into jerky back at Geumho Station, so it came in very handy at times like this.
“What, eating all by yourselves?”
Returning with her face freshly washed, Jung Heewon took a huge bite of the jerky I was holding and mumbled.
“But did something fun happen?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Everyone looks like they’re in a good mood.”
“Heehee.”
Gyeong Sein laughed oddly, and even Dansoo ahjussi wore a faint smile.
I answered—
“We did some volunteer work.”
“Volunteer work?”
[The constellation, ‘Bald Volunteer General’, praises the actions of the incarnations.]
Well, since we were rewarded, maybe it wasn’t exactly volunteer work.
[The constellation, ‘Bald Volunteer General’, says the spirit of the Korean Peninsula has not yet died.]
Startled by the sudden message, Jung Heewon tilted her head at the empty air.
“Bald?”
[The constellation, ‘Bald Volunteer General’, warns you to call his epithet properly until the end.]
Come to think of it, Jung Heewon still didn’t really know about constellations or incarnations.
So I explained the situation to her in brief.
“I think I get it. Constellations are basically gods, right?”
“That’s right.”
“And you and the others went to fix a bald… god’s statue?”
Unsettling sparks flickered above her head, so I hurriedly added—
“Not a bald god. Bald Volunteer General. His true name is Great Master Saimyung, a historical figure of our country. He was an honorable man.”
[The constellation, ‘Bald Volunteer General’, calms his wrath.]
“Saimyung Daesa? Then he was a monk?”
That’s right—Jung Heewon’s setting was that she wasn’t familiar with Korean history.
While I hesitated how to explain, Gyeong Sein answered—
“Great Master Saimyung was a monk of the mid-Joseon period. During the Imjin War, he fought against the Japanese invaders to defend the peninsula.”
Jung Heewon’s eyes widened.
“Sein is smart.”
“Hehe.”
Grinning proudly, Gyeong Sein winked at me.
In truth, his explanation was just parroting Yoo Sangah’s line. A worthy move from a full reader.
Jung Heewon asked—
“So these are all items given by Great Master Saimyung?”
I nodded.
“That’s right.”
The “sponsored items” from Great Master Saimyung. Inside the glittering bundle were three items.
[Rosary of Great Master Saimyung]
[Straw Mat of Great Master Saimyung]
[Damaged Staff of Great Master Saimyung]
The “Rosary” and “Straw Mat” were items that appeared even in the third regression.
The important one was the last: the “Damaged Staff of Great Master Saimyung.”
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Name: Damaged Staff of Great Master Saimyung
Grade: Relic (Seong-yumul)
Description: A relic of the great figure-level constellation of the Korean Peninsula, the ‘Bald Volunteer General.’ Unfortunately, its condition has deteriorated and it is damaged.
Additional Options: Increases Strength by 1 and Magic Power by 1, and greatly increases Anti-Magic Resistance.
Deals additional damage against spectral-type and aberrant monsters.
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This time, even I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.
I never imagined I’d obtain another relic.
And this staff was one that even Kim Dokja had only thought about, but never actually acquired.
[The constellation, ‘Bald Volunteer General’, shrugs his shoulders.]
That must mean our actions had truly touched Great Master Saimyung.
Whoever had smashed the statue before us, I couldn’t help but be thankful.
“Let’s distribute the items.”
The first thing I picked up was the “Straw Mat.” In truth, its owner had already been decided.
“Me? Why?”
Jung Heewon tilted her head as she accepted the mat.
“I think it’ll suit you.”
At my words, Gyeong Sein nodded vigorously.
Looking doubtful, Jung Heewon draped the mat over her top like a cloak.
And with that—together with her “Mole Cricket Knife,” Jung Heewon’s early-game set-up from the third regression was complete.
With an emotional look, Gyeong Sein whispered to me.
“To think I’d actually witness Heewon-nim’s ‘early-game standard build’ with my own eyes…”
Noticing something was off, Jung Heewon shot us a suspicious glare. We quickly clapped and cheered.
“It suits you perfectly.”
“Unnie! You look awesome!”
Even Dansoo ahjussi chimed in.
“You look like a gunslinger of the wasteland.”
“Really?”
Half-believing, half-doubting, Jung Heewon admired her reflection in the screen door.
For reference, in the original, Kim Dokja commented:
「No matter how you looked at it, she was just a ragged beggar.」
Of course, even though he said that, he must have been secretly pleased.
We watched the slightly buoyant Jung Heewon for a while, then assigned the remaining items.
The “Rosary of Great Master Saimyung,” which granted anti-magic ability, went to Gyeong Sein.
The “Staff of Great Master Saimyung,” which raised magic stats, went to Dansoo ahjussi.
With a sheepish tone, Gyeong Sein asked—
“But if we take everything, what about you, Inho-ssi?”
“I’m fine. I already have one relic.”
Dansoo ahjussi seemed overjoyed at obtaining his first relic. He swung the staff around in the air, even giving it a name.
“Wilson.”
Strange. I think he named his bracelet Wilson too.
***
After finishing our preparations, we entered the tunnel toward Chungmuro.
While Dansoo ahjussi used [Inter-Species Communion] to sense danger ahead, Jung Heewon and Gyeong Sein whispered to each other.
“This place feels spooky. Like a ghost might appear. I think I hear strange cries…”
“Don’t say that. You can’t kill ghosts with a sword.”
Come to think of it, it was about the right timing for that monster to appear.
I considered warning the group when a familiar voice rang in my ears.
—This brat always has his eyes closed.
It was Bihyung’s “Dokkaebi Communication.”
Smiling faintly, I looked up at the empty air.
‘You’ve been scarce lately. Guess it’s because I kept my eyes closed.’
—Being cheeky? I just got a break. A lot of the troublemakers have dropped out.
Fewer troublemakers. Normally, that would be good news. But this time, it felt ominous. I could guess who those “troublemakers” were.
—And the constellations are acting weird too… By the way, what did you do to make them all curse at you? Lately a few are gunning for your head.
Constellations… targeting me?
—Damn it, another incident. I’m off.
Leaving only that, Bihyung cut the line.
Still, it seemed he had dropped by to check on me, since we had a contract.
Constellations cursing at me, huh. I had a good idea who they were.
Most likely that “Rat that Calls the Plague.” Maybe even more readers possessed as constellations in the Fable Association.
“Stop it already. I really hate ghosts.”
“Do I still look like Sein to you?”
The two were still going on about ghosts.
By now, we had passed more than half the tunnel. It was time to prepare.
I unclasped the “Thoughts on Almost Everything” from my wrist.
Currently in the form of a bracelet, the “Thoughts” could imitate any item it had made contact with.
I opened the shapeshift list.
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Mana Recovery Bracelet
Damaged Staff of Great Master Saimyung
….
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In preparation for this, I had recorded a few items earlier.
The “Damaged Staff” was a high-grade item, so it had special conditions. Fortunately, its condition was “maintain contact for 10 minutes,” which I had already fulfilled.
[You have selected ‘Damaged Staff of Great Master Saimyung’.]
[The item’s grade is high.]
[This item can be imitated for 1 hour.]
One hour. More than enough.
The only problem was—
[The ‘Thoughts on Almost Everything’ refuses the imitation.]
It could reject transformation at will.
On the ring of the bracelet, two narrow slits appeared like eyes, and a tiny babbling voice spoke—
“Shi-jo.”
That was the only flaw of the ego item “Thoughts on Almost Everything.”
I couldn’t transform it into the form I wanted whenever I wished.
But I had a solution.
[Exclusive Skill, ‘Incite Lv.4’, is activated!]
“You are now the ‘Damaged Staff of Great Master Saimyung.’”
[Incite effect is applied!]
“Jo—jo!”
With a flash of mysterious light, the bracelet transformed.
[The ‘Thoughts on Almost Everything’ has imitated the ‘Damaged Staff of Great Master Saimyung’.]
[Imitation duration: 1 hour.]
Perfect. Identical in form and function.
[The constellation, ‘Bald Volunteer General’, is astonished!]
[The constellation, ‘Sneaking Schemer’, asks if that isn’t cheating.]
Startled, Jung Heewon peeked over my shoulder.
“Huh? That looks exactly like Dansoo ahjussi’s staff?”
“I made it for you, Heewon-ssi.”
“For me?”
“Not to keep. Just borrowing.”
She swung ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the staff a few times, then tilted her head.
“Feels sturdy, but I already have a sword.”
“Hold onto it tight. You’ll need it. Remember what you said—that ghosts can’t be killed with a sword? That staff can kill them.”
“Why are you saying creepy stuff too, Inho-ssi?”
“I’m not joking. Something really will appear soon. If you see it, smash it with that.”
In the original, just before entering Chungmuro Station, Jung Heewon had rampaged inside the “Illusion Prison.”
Back then, Kim Dokja and Lee Hyunsung had been there to stop her. But here, if she lost control, none of us could.
So this anti-magic staff was essential for her.
Both Gyeong Sein and Dansoo ahjussi seemed to already suspect what lay ahead.
“Everyone ready?”
Gyeong Sein raised the “Rosary of Saimyung” on his wrist.
“It’s the ‘Illusion Prison’ now, right? But Inho-ssi, what about you? You don’t have any anti-magic item.”
“I don’t need one.”
“Huh?”
As soon as I said it, a misty fog began rising around us.
“Stay alert. It’s begun.”
The final gate to Chungmuro had opened.
[A new Sub Scenario has arrived!]
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Category: Sub
Difficulty: D ~ F
Clear Condition: Escape from the Illusion Prison within the time limit.
Time Limit: 1 hour
Reward: 300 coins
Failure: ???
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[The Sub Scenario – ‘Illusion Prison’ has begun!]
The fog surged up and quickly blanketed everything.
Spatial sense broke down. The figures of Gyeong Sein and Dansoo ahjussi vanished.
From far away, their voices echoed like hallucinations.
“Jiyoon-ah?”
“U-uaaah!”
The Illusion Prison was a space that stirred incarnations’ traumas, driving them to madness.
Here, incarnations would face their most horrifying memories.
“Sein-ssi! Dansoo ahjussi! Heewon-ssi! Stay focused! It’s all illusions!”
I shouted, but my voice echoed uselessly in the empty fog.
At least I had one reassurance—everyone had an anti-magic item.
They’d be shaken, but they should escape safely.
The problem was me.
I had neither the “Rosary” nor the “Staff.”
I didn’t have [Fourth Wall] or [Exorcism] skills like Kim Dokja either.
But I wasn’t worried.
In truth, I was even a little curious what I would see.
[Temporary error has occurred in the ‘Illusion Prison’.]
Because I had no memories that could even be called “trauma.”