Are MZ Shamans In Trouble In Romance Novels? - Chapter 20
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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20.
“Ugh, urk!”
The men of the subjugation force covered their mouths and noses as they stumbled through the mugwort field. With each step they took, corpses were crushed underfoot, and the terrible stench made their stomachs churn.
“Ugh, urp.”
The men forcibly swallowed down their nausea and searched through the mugwort field with wide eyes. Arms and legs with flesh torn and hanging in tatters, half-chewed ears and fingers. Brutally slaughtered body parts lay scattered in pieces everywhere. Somewhere among all this, Byeonggap’s corpse would be mixed in as well.
‘Damn it! Damn it!’
The men cursed inwardly. With the rotting, dirt-covered fragments scattered everywhere, it was impossible to tell who was who.
Time passed helplessly like this. Ian’s situation wasn’t much different either.
-Kee, hihik! Kee, hihihik!
The Changgui that had inhaled the bloody scent of Ghost Gate Observation laughed with its mouth torn wide. Each time the cackling sound was heard, rotting flesh from its mouth dripped down below its jaw.
“…”
Ian suppressed his desire to immediately leap out of the salt circle and cut down the Changgui. He knew that rash actions would put everyone in danger.
-Kki, hiiiiii! Kki, hiiiiiik!
The Changgui opened its mouth wide and licked the barrier shield with its tongue, then gnashed its teeth against it.
Crack- Crack-
Each time the Changgui’s jaw moved, sounds like breaking bones could be heard. The sounds were so vivid that they sent chills down one’s spine.
Whoosh-
The Changgui that had been gnawing for a while seemed to lose interest and turned around.
“Your opponent is me.”
At that moment, Ian tore the talisman attached to his clothes lengthwise. The protective barrier that had hidden the Changgui’s eyes disappeared and his form was revealed.
-Bodybodybodybodybodybodybodybody!
The Changgui that had been returning to the mugwort field flew over at high speed and thrust its face right in front of Ian’s nose. Ecstasy and rapture crossed in its eyes that were filled with blood.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Changgui hurled its body trying to break through the barrier made of salt. Each time its black body touched the protective shield, blue light scattered wildly around them.
“That’s right, you can play here.”
Ian glared straight into the Changgui’s eyes and growled. It was time to execute his plan.
Swoosh-!
Ian drew up all his mana and scattered the salt from his pouch into the air.
Shuuu-
The salt grains imbued with golden light instantly constricted around the Changgui’s body.
-Kieeeeeeeeeek!
The Changgui trapped within the salt circle screamed and thrashed wildly.
***
-Grroooar!
The Mountain Lord’s roar echoed from far away. It had sensed that something had happened to the Changgui, which was like its alter ego.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
At the sound of tigers approaching, Calisia picked up her drum and stood up. Then she began swaying her body back and forth and running around the weapons.
“Eoheoyi! The Tiger Hunters are coming! The greatest of all warriors! The Tiger Hunters are coming!”
Thump thump thump thump!
The weapons stuck in the ground trembled in rhythm with the spirited drumbeat. As if they knew their former masters were coming to find them.
“At the thunder-like footsteps, tigers cower and shrink! At the lightning-like shouts, tigers fall in surprise! Truly the Tiger Hunters sent by His Majesty!”
The louder Calisia’s voice became, the more violently the weapons trembled.
-Grrrrowl…
The low growling of beasts pierced through the drumbeat and echoed across the mountain. Massive paws began to appear one by one beyond the mugwort field.
“Hii, kuk!”
At the appearance of the tigers, the men searching for corpses in the mugwort field trembled. Four tigers surrounded the prey that had come to them on their own from all sides.
-Even if tigers appear while you’re searching for the corpse, don’t be too frightened. Nothing will happen to endanger your safety, brothers.
The men repeated Calisia’s words like a prayer and forced their frozen feet to move.
-Grroooar!
One of the tigers from the east leaped toward the subjugation force. Its massive maw opened wide, revealing thick, solid teeth that gleamed sharply.
Crash-!
Just then, a long spear flew at high speed from beyond the mugwort field. The tiger that had leaped across the ground was instantly slammed into the ground.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Measured footsteps grew gradually louder as the spirits of armored Tiger Hunters revealed their presence.
-We begin the tiger hunt.
The Tiger-Hunting Captain at the front raised his iron spear high.
-We begin the tiger hunt!
The rest of the Tiger Hunters each raised their weapons high.
***
‘…Found it!’
Axe dug out a blackened, rotting arm from the dirt. Small flower embroidery sewn on the faded sleeve.
-Flower embroidery? How unmanly for a man… Others will mock you. Mock you!
-Brother, this is what our Jeongin embroidered stitch by stitch with her own hands. She said I’m her spring.
Axe recalled Byeonggap boasting about the flower embroidery, saying Jeongin had sewn it for him. With reddened eyes, Axe swallowed his tears and ran toward Calisia.
The other men of the subjugation force also stopped their search and left the mugwort field.
“Here!”
Axe tossed the single arm to Calisia.
“Brothers, fire!”
Calisia caught the arm and pointed to a pile of wood she had gathered separately. Then she wrapped the sacred rope she had prepared around Byeonggap’s arm.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The men struck flint with urgent hands to light a fire. Calisia threw the arm into the woodpile that had begun to catch flame.
-Kiaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!
As flames burst forth and the corpse caught fire, the Changgui let out a piercing scream. At that Ghostly Wail, all the tigers that had been fighting the armored soldiers roared savagely.
-Grroooooooar!
The tigers, emanating a terrifying aura, bit and tore at the armored soldiers before heading toward the Changgui.
Seeing the armored soldiers beginning to be overwhelmed by the tigers’ momentum, Calisia shouted. Then she quickly piled stones on top of the wood pile.
The tigers that had somehow approached right up to the barrier were threatening Ian with their claws and fangs bared.
“Steamer!”
Calisia placed a steamer bowl on top of the highly stacked stones.
-Grroooooooar!
At the same time, tigers that had leaped into the sky pounced on Ian from all directions.
“Iaaaan! Jump!”
Calisia drove her blade into the steamer’s hole and shouted loudly. At her voice, Ian leaped high from his position.
Kwaaaaaa-!
The Changgui’s soul shattered into thousands upon thousands of pieces with a thunderous roar. The tigers also writhed in agony, feeling the pain of being torn into millions of fragments.
Ian, who had stepped on the tigers’ backs and heads before landing below, reached out and snatched the mugwort.
Dong-
Tak!
With the familiar sound of drums, the entire world was plunged into darkness.
-The tiger and Changgui lose their power and disappear! It is Tiger Disaster Village’s fortune! Joy!
A clear, ringing voice echoed, and a book unfolded before Calisia and Ian.
[Tiger Calamity Chronicle]
! Completion Reward: Bone-Transforming Medicinal Mugwort
※ Please be careful when consuming, as considerable pain may follow!
Whiriririririk-
Soon after, the book’s pages turned rapidly, creating a massive whirlwind.
“If you’re going to send us home anyway, please use a normal method for once… Ahhh!”
“Why do you keep grabbing me…!”
The two people caught in the wind were sucked into the book.
***
-So… you’re saying you were sucked into a world in another dimension created by a ghost, and there you happened to obtain a miraculous medicine to heal your heart?
In Calisia’s room, four heads were visible around the brilliantly colored mugwort. It was the boy and girl who had safely returned to reality, and the two ghosts who had heard the whole story.
-It’s hard to believe.
The Previous Head of House spoke in a dubious voice. Isaac seemed to share similar sentiments, pursing his lips.
“Now, now, you can think about whether it’s true or not on your own. But what exactly does ‘considerable pain’ mean here?”
Calisia examined the mugwort in her hand from various angles. Not only did it look fresh, but it even had a pleasant fragrance—it was unmistakably a spiritual herb.
“You’ll know once you try eating it.”
Ian said nonchalantly. For a swordsman, pain was an indispensable existence. After all, wasn’t even the daily training he did a continuous series of pain and hardship?
“Thanks for stating the obvious, you blockhead. But don’t I need some mental preparation?”
Calisia forced a smile and narrowed her eyes into triangles.
-Um… Miss, whether you take it or not, you’ll suffer either way, won’t you? Returning to fire would also be ‘considerably’ painful— let’s see. Right now it’s 30, 29, 28… Eek! You do know there’s less than four weeks left until the Fire Ritual, right?
Isaac, joining forces with Ian, urged Calisia while preparing to flee.
“This guy! Hey Isaac! And didn’t I tell you not to talk about that returning to fire nonsense?”
-But… I’m only saying this because there isn’t much time left.
Isaac made excuses while slowly backing away.
-Isaac is right. What good would come from delaying?
“…”
Calisia glared at the mugwort and rolled her tongue in her mouth. Well, thinking about that damned Fire Ritual, she had no choice.
“Fine! They say even ghosts who die from eating look better.”
Having made up her mind, she swallowed the mugwort without a moment’s hesitation.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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