Healing After Sweeping Spirits with an Almighty Skill - Chapter 25

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

Chapter 25
25. This Is the Scene of a Festival
[Account Balance: 2,286,057,000 won.]
Two billion won had arrived as an advance payment. And not a single won of it was taxed—a pure, untouched two billion won, all mine.
“Phew….”
A breath escaped me unbidden, something between a sigh and a gasp at the impossible sum.
Before I became an Awakener, the largest amount of money I’d ever held was one hundred and fifty million won—my deposit on that cramped studio apartment.
And now, two billion.
At that nearly fifteen-fold leap, I couldn’t tear my eyes from the phone screen. Any moment now, I was certain, that figure would evaporate.
‘I only asked the Spirits to work for me, and I’m pulling in two billion a month.’
Salary in the hundreds of millions per month—a full order of magnitude beyond what most people consider a fortune.
Was it even allowed to earn this much? This amount alone was what an ordinary office worker would struggle to accumulate in forty or fifty years of labor. What if I triggered inflation? What if I single-handedly crashed the Korean economy?
I opened the browser and started searching. They say professional soccer players earn astronomical amounts.
– Soccer Player Annual Salary Rankings
Looking at the numbers displayed there, I was convinced my eyes had deceived me.
‘How many zeros? One, two, three….’
There were two more zeros attached to the figures than what sat in my account.
The world was wide, and money flowed freely indeed.
Right. Humility was the way to live.
* * *
After showing my identification and passing through the gate, the familiar din of Seoul welcomed me.
Whistling softly, I wove through the crowds streaming in and out and made my way toward Gwanghwamun Station.
The place where I lived was in the far reaches of Gangseo-gu, a forty-minute subway ride even from Gwanghwamun Station.
‘Take a taxi? What taxi—I’m just a working person scraping by.’
I’d decided to only take a taxi once I was earning at least a professional soccer player’s annual salary in a single month.
Surrendering to the subway, I arrived at my familiar station forty minutes later.
Officially part of Seoul, though really it occupied that ambiguous border where the capital bled into its outskirts. That made it perfect for struggling newcomers like me to start their careers.
‘This isn’t quite Seoul proper—maybe “Lucky Bucheon” would be the honest name for it.’
Of course, I’d never say it aloud, afraid of being scolded for driving down property values.
From this station, another fifteen-minute walk brought me to the apartment I’d grown to call home.
‘Home sweet home.’
A room I’d found right after Jeongjin and I orchestrated our orphanage exodus.
Back then, Jeongjin had rented a place nearby as well, but after becoming an Awakener, he’d moved into the dormitory of a Fortress provided by the Guild.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve built up quite a few memories in this place.’
I’d spent my entire university years in this cramped studio. Though technically a tenant, it had become my own personal sanctuary over time.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t cancel the lease? I don’t have to worry about money anymore anyway.’
Keeping it as a keepsake wasn’t such a bad idea. Like a yearbook you pull out every time you’re afraid of losing sight of where you started.
‘Yeah. That wouldn’t be so bad….’
Then I noticed a sticky note on the door I’d never seen before.
– To the resident of Unit 402. Every night, the sound of the door slamming, the heavy footsteps—I cannot sleep. The previous tenant did not make so much noise. I would appreciate it if you would consider your neighbors and behave as a civilized person. Thank you.
“…….”
A sticky note so crisp and fresh it couldn’t have been there long.
For reference, I hadn’t actually been home in over a month. It went without saying that I hadn’t moved in nearly four years.
‘Damn this neighborhood.’
The only place that truly belonged to me was Spirit Castle.
‘Castle sweet castle.’
The joy of finally being able to leave this grinding, tedious place behind was almost unbearable.
Click.
I punched in my code and opened the door, when a letter wedged in the doorframe tumbled out. Curious, I picked it up and recognized the handwriting immediately.
– Invitation to Jeongga Orphanage Alumni Association Gathering
“…….”
Crumple. I scrunched the letter into a ball and shoved it into my pocket along with the sticky note.
* * *
That night.
Brilliant fireworks lit up the sky above Spirit Castle.
Boom-! Crackle-boom-!
[Ooh….]
Suho-gi stood motionless, staring upward as the explosion of firelight reflected across their body.
[Shhh….]
Even Pig Mander, sulking over having been dragged away from the lighthouse, gazed up at the sky transfixed, all irritation forgotten.
The sky above Spirit Castle.
A cylindrical expanse, pristine and beautiful—a dark, fathomless night sky, separated from the barren wastes beyond.
For the first time in countless ages, brilliant light now bloomed across it.
[Oh….]
[Ah….]
The Spirits all sat perfectly still, their eyes fixed upward until the fireworks faded completely.
Even after the display ended, they lingered in its afterglow. I unveiled my second gift for them.
“Let There Be Light.”
I spoke the words and flipped the switch. Across Spirit Castle, light bloomed—Solar-Charged Mana Stone Street Lights that required no separate electrical installation.
[Wow!]
[Ooh!]
At the sight, the Spirits surged forward in wonder once more.
Until now, nights in the Spirit Special Zone had been dark. There were light sources, but they weren’t enough for any serious nighttime activity.
But street lights changed everything.
[It’s bright as day!]
[What is this thing? Did you trap a light Spirit in there or something?]
Watching the Spirits squeal with delight like Joseon people seeing street lamps for the first time, I felt my own heart warm.
Fireworks and street lights all of a sudden?
We were throwing a modest festival to celebrate the Spirit Special Zone’s evolution.
‘What else would I do with money? This is it.’
Today, Spirit Castle was a celebration.
Well, more of a small-scale night market, really. And any night market needs two things: food first, and second….
‘The Mini Viking.’
Whoooooosh!
The Mini Viking roared to life during its test run. I watched with profound satisfaction.
[What is that?]
[A decoration?]
[If someone attacks, we ram them with it?]
[Oh, I know that! I saw it on TV! It’s called a car!]
I bought the Mini Viking today.
This is what adult flexing looks like.
* * *
Do you know what a Mini Viking costs?
It’s in that ambiguous price range—expensive and cheap all at once. Which explains why some people buy them for business.
Anyway, what matters is this.
I bought the Mini Viking as a gift for myself, and it feels fantastic.
Whoooooosh!
The Mini Viking roars across the ground.
[Woooow!]
[Ohhh!]
[Hahaha! It’s slower than flying but so much fun!]
[Being strapped in makes it way more thrilling!]
The Spirits in the specially modified small seats took turns throwing their hands in the air, savoring the thrill.
For the record, my Mini Viking has no braking. Whether it swings ten times or twenty, the pendulum maintains maximum amplitude.
‘This is employee welfare.’
Watching the Spirits enjoy the ride, I found myself wondering if the day might come when we’d install a real Viking here.
Especially since some of the famous domestic amusement parks have castle themes, which only feeds these random thoughts.
“Yong. You remember back then?”
Jeongjin called out to me suddenly, his voice wistful. He stared at the Mini Viking with a look that threatened tears.
“Fourth grade when we saved up because they said we were going to the amusement park.”
“Right. Fourth grade, was it?”
“We didn’t spend our allowance for weeks, even passed out flyers to collect admission money.”
“But in the end, we never went, did we?”
“We didn’t. Those bastards found out about the money and stole it all.”
I remembered. Back then, Jeongjin’s body wasn’t strong enough to resist. He couldn’t fight back as the older kids took everything we’d saved.
For orphans, the amusement park means something different. It’s a place we rarely got to visit.
So we’d hoped for it desperately, and cried just as desperately when they took our money.
“That night, you took me to the night market in the neighborhood.”
“I did.”
“You pulled out a crumpled five-thousand-won note from your shoe in front of the Mini Viking, and you looked so cool I couldn’t believe it.”
“Ahahaha. Right, my shoes were my emergency fund wallet.”
“That Mini Viking I rode back then was the greatest amusement ride to me.”
Funny how that works.
Memories that were so painfully difficult, so devastating that the world came crashing down—yet somehow, when enough time passes, they become something to laugh about.
I spoke through my smile.
“Honestly, nothing but pathetic memories.”
“Tell me about it. Really pathetic ones.”
As he said this, Jeongjin extended his hand to me, his face now bright with a warm smile.
“So then, shall we go beautify those pathetic memories?”
“This time you’re paying, right?”
“Of course. I’ll keep it running all night for you.”
I took Jeongjin’s calloused hand and climbed onto the Mini Viking.
The children who once wiped each other’s tears with soft hands had become adults, now navigating the world’s storms with their own strength.
[Welcome aboard!]
[Captain! Where shall we sail next?]
The Spirits greeted us with delighted squeals.
Looking at them, I suddenly understood something.
The reason I treasured the Spirit Special Zone so much—perhaps it wasn’t simply because it was ‘my own space.’
‘Perhaps….’
Click.
I cut off the thought as I fastened my seatbelt.
This sentimentality doesn’t suit me. This is a time to move forward, not to look back.
Vrroom.
Still, as the Mini Viking began to move, my heart stirred in spite of myself.
Holding tight to that bittersweet flutter, I shouted with all my strength.
“Spirit Special Zone forever!”
[Forever!]
[Forever~!]
Our adventure was only just beginning.

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