Healing After Sweeping Spirits with an Almighty Skill - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 14
Chapter 14. My Dream Is to Become a Spirit Master
The man froze mid-punch, unable to thrust forward or pull back, staring at me with bewildered eyes.
“What are you! Who the hell are you!”
“I, I… w-who…?”
“Who? You’re asking me who *I* am? You’re throwing punches in some stranger’s yard without even knowing who they are? What’s your deal? Are you a thug? Oh, you’re an Awakener? So Awakeners can just do whatever they want?! There’s no law? Nothing?!”
“N-no, I… that is…”
“I’ve been recording your rampage this whole time! I’m still recording!”
The man’s face drained of color. He hastily clasped his hands together at his waist in a gesture of apology.
Right now I’m dressed in protective gear with goggles for entering the Desolate Land. He has no idea I’m younger than he is.
I quickly scanned the Guild Logo on the man’s protective suit.
“Hanyang Guild? You lot are nothing but hooligans! Did your fancy Guild Master sitting around that big table tell you to do this?!”
“N-no, sir. I was following orders from the Vice Guild Master…”
“The Vice Guild Master? Why?!”
“We, well, a suspicious situation was reported in the Desolate Land, and I was told to investigate…”
“Does your Guild Master even know you’re doing this?!”
“Ah, I… I’m sure he does. Your name comes up a lot in conversation…”
“My name?! Does the Hanyang Guild gossip about people behind their backs?!”
“No, sir! Never! Everyone in the entire Boru is talking about you!”
As I continued my barrage, the man began spilling information in a panic, his hands still pressed together respectfully.
“This pillar has the Tower Management Bureau in an uproar. We weren’t sure if it was a new tower or some kind of skill, so… that’s why I’m here conducting a preliminary survey on the Bureau’s request.”
“The Tower Management Bureau?!”
“Yes, yes! The Bureau Director himself issued an official request!”
Hmm. Excellent.
I’d squeezed out enough useful information. Now I needed to leave before the effects of my medicine wore off.
“This is my skill! Understood?! Go back and report it correctly! Tell your Guild and all those other noisy guilds and the Management Bureau!”
“Y-yes? You want me to tell them?”
“Or should I release the footage of the Hanyang Guild’s Vice Guild Master destroying my entire yard?!”
“Ah, no! I’ll make sure to inform them myself!”
“Get out of here!”
I swept back into the Spirit Special Zone in one motion.
The man stood there dazed for a moment, scratched the back of his head with an expression that said ‘this wasn’t easy,’ and turned toward the tower.
See? First impressions are all about dominance.
I’d provided only the bare minimum of information while extracting everything I could from him, and I’d even managed to have him run an errand for me.
More than that, the information I’d given him was information I *had* to provide to prevent this kind of thing from happening again.
In other words, it was a perfectly executed one-sided exploitation of information.
‘So they’re already talking about me inside the tower.’
I’d suspected as much. If something that hadn’t existed for the past ten years suddenly appeared next to the tower, people were bound to take notice and express concern.
But having that suspicion confirmed was another matter entirely.
‘If I play this right, I could sell everything without making a single enemy.’
The spirits had worked hard enough. It was my turn to put my mind to work.
* * *
Korea’s premier alchemy guild, Yeongeumseong, held a regular competition every year.
It was called the Boru’s Premier Alchemist Competition.
The competition was held for those in South Korea who had Awakened skills related to alchemy, and the champion received prize money along with the title of Master Alchemist.
Of course, most of the time the alchemists belonging to Yeongeumseong won. After all, the competition was established in the first place to showcase the excellence of Yeongeumseong’s alchemists.
“What is this?”
But occasionally, alchemists from outside Yeongeumseong would emerge as champions. Like now.
“Why does this taste good?”
Geum Ji-seong, the master of the Yeongeumseong Guild.
He was examining five finalist entries when his eyes widened in surprise.
Five Healing Potions that the guild executives had filtered through in the initial round and selected as finalists. One of them was not merely exceptional—it was shocking.
“Is that mint? Why would a potion have a taste like this?”
“It’s not just the flavor. The potency is remarkable. Look at this.”
One of the judges poured the potion onto a sample of cultured tissue that had been prepared to test its effectiveness.
When the potion was applied to a deep wound cut into the tissue, the cultured flesh knitted together instantly, leaving no scar whatsoever.
“Complete recovery from a five-centimeter laceration takes just 1.9 seconds.”
“That’s a national record if it’s in the single-digit second range.”
“Exactly. If the time had been reduced by just 30% more, it would have received an S-grade potion rating.”
Geum Ji-seong smiled faintly.
“It seems the competition’s winner has been decided.”
A potion of such outstanding quality left no room for objection, outsider or not.
Before announcing the results, Geum Ji-seong met privately with the participant who had created the potion.
The alchemist was an elderly man.
“Congratulations. You’ve won first place in this competition.”
“I thought as much. Hardly surprising.”
The old man truly seemed to believe it, his composure unshakeable.
“You were certain before even entering? Your alchemy rank must be extraordinarily high.”
“Not necessarily. I simply used some exceptional medicinal herbs this time.”
“Exceptional herbs?”
“Pure luck. Mark my words—next year, every participant will be bringing those herbs.”
Geum Ji-seong, himself an alchemist, could not help but perk up at such a statement.
“Would it be possible to know where you obtained them?”
“For free?”
“Of course, I’ll compensate you for the information.”
As he spoke, Geum Ji-seong drew a number on the table with his finger. The old man saw it, let out a small laugh, and replied.
“Four times that.”
“…What? Four times the information fee?”
“Four times that.”
“Are you insane?”
“Four times. That’s what I want.”
“This is maddening, truly.”
The old man learned Korean quickly for his age.
* * *
Spirit Village in the quiet hours after midday.
I gathered the spirits in the plaza before the main hall, pulled my hat low over my eyes, and asked.
“Does anyone know why I’ve assembled you all here?”
[Yes.]
[Huff.]
Tho-ho-ki responding flatly, Gul-gul-mander with obvious annoyance.
[No idea!]
Pung-ho-ki sprawled through the air before answering.
[I don’t know, sir!]
Only Su-ho-ki, beside him, answered with rigid posture and genuine fervor. I was quite pleased to see it had fashioned a water droplet atop its head, mimicking my hat.
I turned off the military march I’d put on for atmosphere and continued.
“Today we gather to train ourselves to stand on our own. And beyond that, to protect this place.”
[Pssh.]
Gul-gul-mander snorted, as though it had been dragged into some tiresome affair.
Lighthouse duties were demanding, certainly, but this training was no less vital, and I could hardly avoid it.
‘What if that thug from before had been S-rank instead of B-rank? What if they couldn’t be reasoned with, or harbored a grudge against me?’
I couldn’t be certain the Spirit Special Zone would have survived that.
No matter how many government administrators the authorities stationed here, their oversight barely extended beyond the tower itself—the Desolate Land was practically lawless territory.
And that was precisely why I remained cautious about entanglement with the guild.
[Yes, sir! We must protect this place!]
Su-ho-ki’s eyes gleamed as it cried out with a voice full of military discipline.
I nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Gul-gul-mander. If only it possessed even half of Su-ho-ki’s drive.
[Huff.]
Gul-gul-mander’s sullen face, as if asking why I was staring.
An idea suddenly came to me, and I spoke.
“I’m willing to grant early dismissal based on your performance.”
[Huh?]
“Finish training early and return. Any spirit that demonstrates satisfactory offensive or defensive power will be released immediately.”
Roooaaaaaar—!
Gul-gul-mander unleashed a Breath Attack.
A massive, violent inferno like a flamethrower—I couldn’t fathom where such a tremendous amount of fire came from within that small frame.
‘That should be enough to withstand a C-rank Awakener.’
I nodded with satisfaction.
“Excellent. Mander, dismissed.”
[Huff.]
Gul-gul-mander let out a yawn and began crawling slowly back toward the lighthouse.
[Oh….]
Behind him, Toho-gi gazed at the grass blackened to ash by the flames, his shoulders slumped in dejection.
“Don’t grieve, Toho-gi. If we cannot hold this place when stronger enemies come, it won’t be just a handful of grass that vanishes.”
[Oh.]
Heartened by my excellent counsel, Toho-gi rallied himself and stood tall.
[Oh…!]
Then he seemed to focus intently, and the ground beneath his feet began to tremble faintly.
A moment passed.
Boom!
A boulder erupted from beneath the earth. Though it took considerable time, the stone that rose was as large as a house.
Should combat break out, we could erect a defensive wall with this rock.
‘If the Salamanders and Gnomes work together with this much power, we could withstand even a Monster Wave.’
I imagined stone barriers sprouting up in an instant, Breath Attacks pouring down from above. I found myself nodding—it was a splendid sight.
“Excellent. Well done.”
By way of praise, I tossed him a cracker. Toho-gi ate it happily, munching away with delight.
“Puho-gi. Your turn now. Show me what you can do.”
[Good! Watch closely! And spread the word far and wide!]
Puho-gi soared upward into the sky, then dove sharply moments later, streaking across the boulder Toho-gi had exposed like a diving bomber.
Crack!
With a sharp sound, the boulder split clean in two.
The Salamanders and Gnomes might excel at holding ground, but the Sylph’s destructive power was overwhelming.
“Splendid. Next, Suho-gi. It’s your turn.”
[Yes! Captain!]
Suho-gi looked eager and spirited. It was only natural—his friends had shown such impressive displays.
[Hmmmmm!]
Suho-gi gathered his strength. I could feel it too—that distinctive power the spirits wielded.
The force the spirits commanded differed from Mana.
If Mana was a cold force, Spirit Power was something far warmer.
‘If I had to describe it by emotion, it’s like the difference between a command and a plea.’
Where Mana was a force that shaped reality to the user’s will, Spirit Power was a force where the user and nature moved together.
[Ungh!]
With sufficient power gathered, Suho-gi thrust both hands forward, his expression fierce and determined.
[Water, heed me!]
And in the next instant.
Trickle.
A faint stream of water flowed from Suho-gi’s hands.
The meager trickle that poured onto the scorched grass was like someone’s tears.
“…….”
[…….]
[Oh.]
Well, there was nothing to be done about it.
Unlike Toho-gi, the only water source in this area strong enough for Suho-gi to draw from was a small pond.
[Sniff.]
Suho-gi curled into himself, wrapping his arms around his knees. Toho-gi patted his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him, but it seemed to have little effect.
‘All right. I’ve confirmed the spirits’ full combat capabilities.’
Now the most crucial assessment remained—my own fighting strength.
Come to think of it, was this the first time I’d ever tested how much stronger I’d become since awakening?
My heart had begun to race, just a little.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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