The Civil Servant Who Concealed Their True Strength Turns Out to be a Master of Possession - Chapter 118

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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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A Civil Servant Who Hides His Strength Is Exceptionally Good at Possession – Episode 118
Gulp. Gulp.
Kyaaaa—
This sound… I’m not the only one hearing it, right?
I felt goosebumps rise across my entire body as I looked at Kwon Ik-seong.
Kwon Ik-seong interlaced his fingers between mine.
As if we were chaining ourselves together.
His face, with our fingers locked, had gone rigid.
“Don’t make any loud noises.”
“….”
I didn’t answer.
Even that would be a sound.
Whatever that was—something that prevented rain from falling here and even drained the dam’s water.
If that enormous something appeared, it was uncertain whether Kwon Ik-seong’s power could even cover it.
If something like that was drawn to sound, the best method was to make as little noise as possible.
He slowly backed away while holding my hand.
I followed him, also backing away slowly.
Gulp.
In that moment, I swallowed.
Even that sound seemed unbearably loud.
I couldn’t tell if it was because we were in a cave or if my mind had snapped from the tension.
As every sound amplified, heat radiated from my body.
Kwon Ik-seong, turning back to look at me, pressed his hand to my forehead.
“…?”
“Sweat.”
He spoke briefly and wiped my forehead.
He was removing the sweat from my forehead.
Right.
‘That thing’ reacts to water.
As I recalled that fact and grasped the meaning behind Kwon Ik-seong’s action, a chill ran through me.
If I let even a single drop of sweat fall, that thing would come straight at us, wouldn’t it?
And I don’t even know what ‘that thing’ is!
He then pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away the remaining sweat on my forehead.
“Frequently.”
Then he spoke tersely and pressed the handkerchief into my hand.
He was telling me to wipe frequently.
Of course. Yes.
I swallowed my response while looking at Kwon Ik-seong’s face, which was completely free of sweat.
That was when it happened.
Something caught my foot as I backed away.
I was on the verge of falling backward when Kwon Ik-seong caught my body and rolled with me.
Thanks to his nimble movements, we made surprisingly little noise.
“Are you alright….”
That’s when Kwon Ik-seong asked.
I pointed to Kwon Ik-seong’s arm.
“Blood….”
Blood was seeping from Ik-seong’s arm.
An A-Rank body bleeds that easily?
As I pondered this, I suddenly looked at where Ik-seong had been scratched.
It was tree roots embedded in the wall.
And in that moment, I understood something.
This is… that thing.
‘A Protected Tree.’
Recalling the Zelkova Tree’s memories, I realized it.
This entire place is a Protected Tree.
And if that’s the case—
Gulp.
The sound of something continuously being consumed vanished.
In the pitch-black silence, my gaze and Kwon Ik-seong’s crossed in the darkness.
Pinned beneath me, Ik-seong furrowed his brow.
We’re done for.
‘Blood is a liquid too!’
In that instant, vibrations began echoing from far away.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
The back of my neck went cold.
Ik-seong and I quickly got to our feet.
Ik-seong pushed me behind him and spoke.
“Run. Toward that direction.”
“Run?”
“This wasn’t the exit. That way is. Unlike regular dungeons, hidden dungeons typically have their exit on the opposite side from the boss monster.”
Are you serious? Would I ask if I didn’t know that!
So you’re telling me to leave you behind and go!
How could I possibly do that!
My face twisted in anguish.
What rank was the Zelkova Tree again?
A-Rank?
Then what about this?
Isn’t this also A-Rank?
Then had there ever been a case of an A-Rank Hunter alone defeating an A-Rank Monster?
‘Not a chance in hell!’
An A-Rank Monster possessed enough power to obliterate an entire city.
And to safely subdue such an A-Rank Monster, you needed at least three A-Rank Hunters.
Two would be cutting it dangerously close.
Yet he was telling me to leave you behind?
‘Investigator Lee Yu-ji is a good person. Better than any of us.’
After saying that?
Damn it. You’re my favorite, but seriously—
I won’t let this slide.
“I can’t go.”
“Investigator Lee Yu-ji.”
I could only hear something walking through the darkness ahead.
That made the cave feel even more terrifying.
“That’s an order.”
I tried to sound authoritative—
“I’m sorry, but as you know, I’m Lee Yu-ji, right?”
My words wouldn’t work on her.
I’m reckless like that!
“I’ll cause trouble!”
I said that and thought internally.
‘Activate Skill Upgrade Token.’
I’d never used it because I didn’t know what it was.
And I had no intention of using it.
Honestly, aside from money, this damn status window had never given me anything worthwhile as a reward!
But if I didn’t use this now, we’d all die.
It wasn’t even clear if possessing an A-Rank Monster for 10 minutes would solve this problem.
I had no confidence that holding back an A-Rank Monster for 10 minutes would let us find the exit.
Kwon Ik-seong must have told me to run to the exit because he was confident he could hold out for over 10 minutes and because he believed I had an S-Rank skill.
‘Ik-seong! Your brilliant mind reached the wrong conclusion!’
Then a window appeared before my eyes.
Skill Upgrade Token Activation Method
-Upgrade ‘Your Body Is My Body, My Body Is My Body’
-Acquire Skill ‘Memories of Possession’
‘This was a choice?!’
Something long stretched out from the darkness beyond the cave.
That wasn’t all.
The roots enveloping the entire cave were slowly disappearing.
As if being sucked away somewhere.
Wait.
A Memory of Possession.
I don’t know what it is, but I have a rough idea.
And if my suspicion is correct—
‘A Memory of Possession’ acquired
I made my choice.
And at that very moment, a window appeared before my eyes.
You have acquired the new skill ‘A Memory of Possession’!
A Memory of Possession (S)
-You can summon one of the special skills you have obtained so far.
-Skill usage duration: 1 hour
One hour is pathetically short.
But it didn’t matter.
I immediately activated the Memory of Possession skill.
And I summoned that skill.
A skill I had never used since obtaining it.
A skill I couldn’t use because I wondered where on earth I’d ever need it.
‘Whisper of Trees’ (S)
-You can have mental conversations with all things in the world.
From the darkness, countless branches extended outward, attempting to seize both me and Kwon Ik-seong.
Kwon Ik-seong drew a massive sickle from his embrace.
An item.
A sickle against a tree-type monster.
How fitting.
But I suspect even this was part of Ik-seong’s calculations.
Ik-seong slashed through the countless approaching branches as he spoke.
“It’s not too late. Please reconsider.”
“I’m a master of rebellion, after all.”
I answered as befitted a genius of treachery, gritting my teeth.
What in the world is this skill, and why won’t it activate?!
It was at that moment.
[Foolish humans! How dare you disturb my sanctuary! Cutting down trees, again and again! Is that all you ever do?!]
An enraged voice filled my mind.
…?
What kind of skill is this….
The instant I thought that, one of the branches Ik-seong had missed wrapped around his leg.
Ik-seong hung upside down.
[No, this won’t do!]
I cried out without thinking.
That moment.
From the darkness, a pair of golden eyes revealed themselves.
The massive tree creature with those pale yellow eyes embedded in it bore all manner of scars across its surface.
Staring at that face—which resembled some terrifying gangster—I remained tense as I observed the monster… no, the Protected Tree.
[What did you say? You’re human, so why are you speaking the language of trees?]
Despite having no mouth, I could hear it speak.
It felt exactly the same as before.
A voice heard not through my ears, but directly in my mind.
I watched Kwon Ik-seong, still dangling and struggling to cut through the wood.
Tree roots wrapped around me as well.
Like enormous hands preparing to strangle my neck at any moment.
I had no choice!
With that thought, I spoke.
[I know the Zelkova Tree mister in Incheon! We’re acquainted!]
…This world truly is built on connections, after all.
[He asked me to send you his regards!]

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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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