Healing After Sweeping Spirits with an Almighty Skill - Chapter 47

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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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Chapter 47
47. Rani dies!
The Mandrake undergoes Evolution.
A Hidden Condition has been satisfied.
A new Terrain Zone forms within the Spirit Territory grounds.
An unexpected new Terrain Zone was being born anew within the Spirit Castle, something no one could have predicted.
Rumble-rumble-rumble!
The Mandrake shot upward in an instant, trembling with the force of its growth.
Beneath the Mandrake’s leaves, the stem surged skyward and became a trunk, from which new branches extended outward.
Crack-crack-crack!
At this point, it could hardly be called a Mandrake anymore. It had taken on the full form of a proper tree, no longer merely an herb.
In moments, the Mandrake had grown to my height, and beneath its exposed root system, a brick-lined entrance came into view.
An Underground Zone forms within the Spirit Territory grounds.
As a reward for establishing a new Terrain Zone in the Spirit Territory, 3 Coins are awarded.
The trembling ceased, and I let out a small laugh as the notification window appeared.
‘An Underground Zone, just like that.’
What kind of sudden terrain zone was this, anyway?
The Mandrake having relocated was absurd enough, but it swallowed a Thousand-Year Tree Seed and turned into a tree itself? And beneath those roots there’s an entrance to an Underground Zone?
‘What in the world is…’
The Spirit Territory. A skill that was truly impossible to predict or understand from beginning to end.
‘Still, it’s good that a new Terrain Zone has opened up.’
The emergence of new structures or new zones meant the Spirit Territory was developing and advancing.
If that was the case, just as with the Snowy Mountain, I needed to conduct an exploration and get a clear understanding of what kind of zone this was. The problem, however, was…
‘It’s small.’
The entrance was tiny.
About three hand-spans wide—my head could fit through, but my shoulders would get stuck. Of course, it was the perfect size for the spirits.
[Ooooh!]
[Whoa! A cave appeared!]
[Could this perhaps be a Dungeon?]
[Wow! A Dungeon! You’re quite knowledgeable!]
The spirits were utterly thrilled.
Always on the hunt for something to play with or do, the spirits were understandably excited at the prospect of an unexplored zone right before their eyes.
[Can we go in? Can we go in?!]
[Just give the word, captain…!]
The spirits were trembling with anticipation, ready to charge in at any moment. But right now, that simply wasn’t possible.
“We’ll go down this afternoon.”
[Huh? Why!]
“It’s almost time to open Undie’s Coin Laundry.”
It had only been one day since the laundry opened. If I was tardy starting from the second day, I’d have no credibility with the customers.
“Besides, since this Underground Zone was just created, it might collapse.”
This was different from the mine.
The mine had long served as a abandoned quarry before being utilized, but the Underground Zone was entirely different.
“Toho-gi. Keep watch over this underground area with the Gnomes for a while.”
[Roger!]
At my command, Toho-gi and several Gnomes settled down and placed their hands on the ground.
The Gnomes possessed the ability to discern the structural integrity of buildings and objects made of stone or ore through the use of Spirit Power.
In a sense, the Gnomes were conducting a safety inspection.
‘Reliable safety inspectors, truly.’
With them on the job, I could make my way to Boru and back with peace of mind.
* * *
Undie’s Coin Laundry’s business hours were restricted to 1 p.m. through 6 p.m.
You might ask why an unmanned laundry wouldn’t operate 24 hours? Well, though unmanned, it’s staffed by a Living Spirit, so unfortunately that’s not possible.
“So, which spirits are going to the laundry today?”
After lunch, I asked, and several spirits thrust their hands up eagerly.
[Me, me!]
[I wanna go!]
[Ooh!]
Three types of spirits were needed for the laundry. Undie herself to handle the washing, Gnomes for security and miscellaneous chores, and finally a Sylph to attend to customers.
‘Still, I’m grateful there are spirits willing to volunteer so eagerly.’
Before opening the laundry, the greatest challenge I foresaw in operations was the spirits’ level of engagement and participation.
I’d assumed that being away from Spirit Castle for hours would count against us in the spirits’ eyes.
But fortunately, that worry proved baseless. There were far more spirits volunteering than I’d expected.
‘I should implement a formal reward system for spirits doing outside work.’
I wondered if I could build a small rest area for the spirits inside the laundry and keep it stocked with snacks at all times.
While mulling over where in the laundry to set it up, I loaded the spirits onto the cart and headed back.
Whiiiish—!
As we pushed through the fierce winds of the Wasteland, the spirits in the cart chattered away merrily.
[Today I get the chest!]
[Then I’m taking the belly!]
[Ooooh!]
[Hmm…! Then let’s settle it with rock-paper-scissors!]
Chest and belly, they say.
Were they playing some kind of insect dissection game?
‘They’re bored for lack of things to do. I should buy more board games.’
With that thought, I arrived at Boru. To avoid being recognized and having the opening hours thrown into chaos, I headed straight to the laundry still wearing my protective gear.
Boru always had crowds, but today felt even busier—there was a long line stretched out as if some kind of event were happening.
‘Did the Round Table Hunters hold a signing event or something?’
Thinking that, I walked toward the laundry and realized the line stretched in the same direction I was heading. What a curious coincidence, I thought—until I arrived at the laundry and the shocking sight unfolded before me.
The line had started at Undine’s Laundry.
‘What on earth is this?’
As I removed my protective gear, a man who’d been sitting blankly in a tent at the very front of the line sprang to his feet and pointed straight at me.
“He’s here! It’s Jung-ryong!”
The line erupted at his shout, as if he’d just spotted some legendary creature.
“Jung-ryong’s here!”
“The laundry owner!”
“You’ve finally come!”
“Please open the laundry! I’m getting dizzy!”
“I’ll pay a 30% surcharge! Please, just do mine first!”
“Hey! No cutting in line! What guild are you from! I said, what guild!”
I’d expected to be popular, but I hadn’t imagined it would be like this. The front of the line had even set up a tent, apparently having camped out since yesterday.
[Ohhh….]
[Wow….]
The spirits peeked their heads out from the cart, wore expressions of surprise, then gradually became serious.
[Right! Let’s go!]
[Ooooh!]
The spirits rushed into the laundry with a sense of responsibility. While they prepared to open, I approached two people standing in front of the door.
Not customers, but two people guarding the shop front—both wore the Mataop Guild insignia on their chests.
“Did you organize the line while I was away?”
“Since congestion was expected from this morning, our Master sent us here.”
“Thank you. From now on, the spirits and I will handle it.”
“On that matter, our Master said, ‘We are partners, so don’t feel burdened—please accept our help.'”
At those words, I paused to consider.
Given the nature of Spirit Territory, building favor with a specific guild isn’t wise. Making a friend often means making an enemy in equal measure.
That is, unless that friend proves genuinely valuable.
‘Is the Mataop Guild worth making my ally?’
Of course they were.
Mataop was currently our largest client, and more importantly, they had a Guild Master who was the only person capable of nurturing Salamanders into intermediate-level spirits.
I put on a bright smile and shook hands with the guards.
“Ah, then I’ll gratefully accept that kindness.”
“We’re always the ones more grateful!”
The friendship between Spirit Territory and the Mataop Guild was just beginning.
* * *
When I returned to the laundry, Toho-gi filed the first report.
[Ooh. Ooooh.]
Hearing no particular urgency or gravity in his tone, it seemed the Underground Zone wouldn’t collapse.
“Okay. You did good work.”
Eleven personnel had been selected for the final Dungeon Exploration team: five Sylphs and five Gnomes, along with Agamander.
[Sigh.]
The Undines had volunteered too, but I’d declined them. In the Underground Zone where not a drop of water existed, the Undines simply wouldn’t have much to contribute.
I stroked the head of the dejected Toho-gi and spoke to the Dungeon Exploration team.
“I’ll keep in touch with you through Telepathic Communication, but if anything unexpected happens, retreat first—that’s the priority.”
To that end, I’d organized the search party around Sylphs and Gnomes primarily.
If they happened to get buried, they’d need to find the flow of air and dig their way out.
“Remember this. Nothing matters more than your safety.”
[Oooh~.]
[Oi oi, you really do love us, don’t you~.]
The Sylphs grinned at me with expressions I didn’t appreciate, as if they’d misunderstood my meaning entirely. I could only shake my head.
“Dungeon search party, move out.”
[Moving out!]
[Let’s gooooo!]
[Charge!]
[Shhh-shhh-shhh!]
The spirits rushed into the dungeon entrance in a flood. I wanted to hold them in my sight as long as possible, but darkness swallowed the search party almost at once.
‘The Underground Zone is still part of Spirit Castle’s terrain. Surely nothing dangerous will happen, but…’
Yet I couldn’t help but worry. I placed my hand against the trunk of the tree that cradled the dungeon’s entrance.
A tree that Mandragora had nourished by devouring countless trees of the spirit forest and a Thousand-Year Tree Seed. All I could do was hope this one would protect the spirits.
“Are you there, Rani?”
I called out to my old companion with a feeling I couldn’t quite name.
“Please watch over the children.”
Rustle.
The branches swayed gently in response. I smiled and ran my fingers along the grain of the bark.
“When you were here, I couldn’t forget you—and now that you’re gone, I miss you.”
…Rustle?
A leaf fell, tracing a question mark as it drifted down.
“So you really did disappear like that. You must miss him too, Mandragora.”
Smack.
A branch struck my cheek.
It seemed Rani was still very much alive.

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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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