Healing After Sweeping Spirits with an Almighty Skill - Chapter 40

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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 40
40. I’ve Made My Choice
┼ Additional Construction Options
└ Spirit Forest LV. 1
└ Spirit Hill LV. 1
└ Earth Spirit Village LV. 1
Construction of LV. 1 Spirit Forest has begun.
Of the three options, I chose the Spirit Forest.
‘Last time, the Earth Spirit Village had the lead, but building that feels off somehow.’
The kind of choice that invites accusations of favoritism.
Normally I wouldn’t care about such things, but I couldn’t shake the thought of Sylph and her kind struggling out there in the world.
‘Meeting a new attribute of Spirit in the Spirit Hill would be nice, too.’
But the Snow Mountain that erupted just yesterday kept nagging at me—choosing the Spirit Hill on top of that would mean we’d have to start calling Spirithold a Spirit Highlands instead of a Spirithold. The thought made me hesitate.
Either way, thus did we proceed: Spirit Forest construction!
Crack-crack-crack—
A strange sound came from beneath the earth.
[Huh?]
Tohogi lowered his gaze, peering at the ground with curiosity. Mandrago too poked just enough of his head above the field to look around….
‘Crazy thing. Why’s he sticking his head out like that?’
Fortunately, Mandrago quickly buried his face back in the soil.
Crack-crack-crack—
The sound from the earth was converging on a single point. Near the Water Source.
Pop, pop—
A few small saplings poked their heads up near the Water Source. They were as small as the Spirits themselves.
Construction of LV. 1 Spirit Forest has been completed.
A bunch of saplings no bigger than a dwarf’s dung pile, and they call it a forest.
The saplings, crowded together and looking up at me much like the Spirits themselves, drew an involuntary chuckle from my lips.
Flutter—birds swooped down from somewhere and perched on the small branches, chirping merrily.
[New trees!]
[Baby trees!]
The Undines were delighted, already watering the saplings. I hadn’t expected to have to nurture trees from this stage, but it wasn’t so bad.
[Hee-hee-hee!]
[Grow, grow!]
It meant new work to keep the Undines occupied.
Construction of LV. 4 Water Source has been completed.
Other buildings finished at the same time.
Rumble-rumble-rumble—
Water welled up from the Water Source and soon carved out a new channel. A small stream formed, flowing across the Spirit Forest.
Construction of LV. 4 Herb Garden has been completed.
Construction of LV. 4 Mine has been completed.
Buildings completed one after another in succession.
Today too, Spirithold developed further.
* * *
A few days later, Management Bureau staff visited Spirithold to receive the second shipment.
“Grade B Mana Stones totaling 243. Mana Liquid, 39 liters. Recovery Herbs, 29 plants. Mana Herbs, 22 plants. Artega Fruits, 131. Shall I confirm the count?”
I signed the papers Jang Dae-in offered. With this, I’d grown richer still.
Once his business was finished, Jang Dae-in toured Spirithold while the staff transferred the specialty goods onto the carts.
“A forest on the mountain now. At this rate, isn’t Spirithold less a Spirithold and more a Spirit Nation?”
“That’s a fitting name. I’ll keep it in mind for the next skill evolution.”
“Ha ha ha. I can’t tell you how fortunate our country is to have someone like you, Jeong-ryong.”
That was something I could agree with wholeheartedly.
“I hear you’ve met with the Hammer and Anvil Guild members?”
Just as I was basking in self-satisfaction, Jang Dae-in moved on to the next subject of his own volition.
“I’ve never seen those people lose their composure like that. I fear I failed to appreciate the true value of what you gave me, Director.”
“That’s not your fault. Non-Awakened Ones can’t read the Information Window, after all.”
“Still, as the Bureau Director, I’m quite embarrassed.”
“How is the collaboration with the Alchemy Guild progressing?”
“There has been some progress, but they say they lack adequate testing grounds. Unless we went to Russia or Antarctica, our country simply isn’t cold enough for their purposes.”
As we spoke, the staff finished loading the carts. Four carts in all. It was a tangible display of how much Spirithold had grown.
‘Satisfying indeed.’
After Jang Dae-in and the staff departed, Spirithold underwent a thorough cleaning for the first time in ages.
[One, two, three!]
[Let’s go, go, go!]
The maid Undines scrubbed the castle floors with wet mops. They could have simply commanded the water to do it, but they seemed to relish cleaning as a form of play.
[Ohhh!]
[Ohhh!]
The Gnomes leveled the earth of Spirithold once more, gathering the wildflowers that had bloomed across its grounds to plant them in the Spirit Forest, making it even more beautiful.
[This is the day!]
[So let’s all be in top form to welcome them!]
The Sylphs, usually in charge of cleaning, had little to do—they were Spirits who always excelled at their duties.
The Sylphs bustled here and there, helping the other Spirits and touching up any rough spots.
What was I doing while the Spirits worked? At the Lighthouse, managing the Salamanders’ exfoliation.
[Hisss, hisss!]
“Hold still, you little rascal.”
The Agamander squirmed in my palm, clearly ticklish.
I steadied its plump body with one hand while spreading exfoliation cream across its back with the other.
‘The little ones had developed scales on their skin.’
Perhaps it was because they were closer to beasts than the other Spirits.
“There, all done. Next.”
I gave the Agamander’s hindquarters a light pat, and off it scurried to the Pig Salamander’s side. The Pig Salamander, though acting annoyed, lifted one arm to let the smaller one nestle into its embrace.
[Shhhat.]
The new Salamander, who had arrived a few days ago, was next in line.
Its size was exactly between the Agamander and Pig Salamander—the Salamanders had the greatest variation in body size among all the Spirits.
‘Once the deep cleaning is done, next comes the festival preparations.’
What kind of festival, you ask?
A celebration of the Exploration Team’s return. The Exploration Team Sylphs are coming back this evening.
* * *
That evening.
The Exploration Team Sylphs returned from their long journey.
Pa-ra-ba-ra-bam~!
A celebratory fanfare blared through the Bluetooth speaker.
[Waaah!]
[Welcome back! You worked so hard!]
The Undines standing atop the castle walls scattered flower petals below.
Through the wide-open gates, a procession of Spirits stepped into Spirithold.
All wore Spirit Fiber Windbreakers, and those at the front were the first to pull down their hoods.
[Hello, Spirithold!]
[We’re back!]
[Home sweet home!]
Five Exploration Team Sylphs.
[Waaaah!]
[Ooooh!]
[You did great work!]
Applause erupted from all sides.
The Exploration Team Sylphs reveled in the applause, waving their hands to draw even greater cheers.
Next, the Spirits behind the Exploration Team Sylphs removed their hoods—new recruits composed of Undines, Gnomes, and Sylphs. They were the precious children the Exploration Team had rescued.
[Welcome!]
[Come in!]
[Hisss!]
The rescued Spirits looked around with wide, bewildered eyes.
Some were overcome with emotion and wept, while Suhogi and the Undines rushed to embrace and comfort them.
I waited for the excitement and fervor to settle somewhat before speaking.
“You did wonderful work, Exploration Team Sylphs. And welcome, new Spirits. From now on, this place is your new home.”
Another cheer erupted.
[It feels like a dream…!]
[I never knew such a place could exist!]
The new Spirits now rejoiced openly, sharing their joy with the others. The Exploration Leader watched the scene with quiet satisfaction.
“Suhogi. Step forward.”
At my call, Suhogi came forward with clumsy, heavy steps.
“Exploration Leader. You come forward as well.”
When I called out, the Exploration Leader came forward with a puzzled expression.
“In recognition of the Exploration Team’s hard work, I present this to you.”
Suhogi carefully removed the badge that had been fastened to her chest and handed it to Exploration Leader Sylph.
It was a badge that read “This Week’s Employee of the Week.”
The Exploration Leader’s eyes widened as she received it, and soon she broke into a radiant smile, holding the badge high above her head.
[This Week’s Employee of the Week belongs to us Sylphs!]
[Hurray for Sylphs!]
[Hurray for the Exploration Team!]
Behind the rejoicing Sylphs, Suhogi wore an expression of determination.
[I’m definitely going to win it again next week…!]
Spirithold was a place where friendship and rivalry united as one, driving all toward growth.
* * *
The festival had begun.
Truth be told, there wasn’t much to distinguish the festival as anything special.
Five kilograms’ worth of snacks, brilliant fireworks, and a miniature Viking ride—that was all.
Whooooosh!
[Waaaah!]
[Ooooooh!]
Spirits gleefully riding the Viking for the first time in ages.
With the arrival of the spirits the Exploration Team had rescued, Spirithold’s population now exceeded fifty—just enough to fill the miniature Viking to capacity.
The newly arrived spirits had initially been feverishly devouring snacks, but now they were far more earnest about enjoying the ride.
These newcomer spirits were only now learning that they didn’t need to rush through eating here.
[This is so much fun!]
[Spirithold is the best!]
Confirming that the spirits were having a good time, I decided to finish the task I hadn’t completed earlier—the two notification windows that had appeared before my eyes when the Exploration Team returned moments ago.
You have been awarded one Coin as a reward for nurturing a Lower Tier Spirit into a Mid-Tier Spirit.
One notification window had appeared above the head of Exploration Leader Sylph.
You have been awarded one Coin as a reward for guiding a Wild Mid-Tier Spirit to the Spirit Special Zone.
The other notification window had appeared above the head of one of the rescued Undines.
A sense of satisfaction and pride.
And a thought that came to mind.
‘I’ve accumulated six Coins now.’
I opened the tower’s treasure vault. The list of items purchasable with six Coins was roughly as follows:
Recovery Herb Bundle : 1 Coin
Grade B Mana Stone : 2 Coins
Planta Tree : 2 Coins
Dragon Bone : 3 Coins
Spirit Stone : 5 Coins
Thousand-Year Tree Seed : 5 Coins
Mage Primer : 6 Coins
Aura Internal Energy Manual : 6 Coins
As I paused to read through the vault’s inventory, I tapped on one name.
The item has been purchased.

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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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