The Soul-Harvesting Puppeteer - Chapter 45

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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 45
Chapter 2
The abbot of Wat Umong summoned Han-eol.
Han-eol made his way to the abbot’s quarters, which felt somewhat cramped, and shared a cup of tea.
Beyond the round window, colorful chickens pecked at grain. The fragrance of tea filled the room with subtle depth.
“I hear that something a patron brought back from the Highlands has been stirring up quite a commotion here in Chiang Mai.”
The abbot of Wat Umong broached the subject in a measured tone.
Han-eol turned his gaze from the window back to the abbot.
The abbot of Wat Umong was a nun named Nati-ko, whose eyes gleamed with keen insight.
Unlike before the Cataclysm, the religious institutions of Chiang Mai had since reformed to allow women to become ordained and even to hold the position of abbot.
‘If Chiang Mai’s temples hadn’t adapted, they would have lost capable female Ability Users to other cities.’
Han-eol acknowledged that the abbot before him was a person of considerable skill.
Yet she was not an offensive-type Ability User. The White Flame that shimmered within Nati-ko’s spiritual landscape radiated not a destructive force, but one that embraced and healed.
‘Which makes her all the harder to contend with.’
Han-eol straightened his robe respectfully and offered an apology.
“I apologize. It was thoughtless of me to bring such a thing and disturb the tranquility of this temple.”
“Not at all. How could it be your fault, patron Han-eol? It is our burden—we who waver between the Buddha’s teachings and worldly interests. Hehe.”
Nati-ko spoke with a gentle smile, then studied Han-eol intently.
Han-eol rubbed his cheek.
“Reverend, why do you look at me so? Have I soiled my face somehow?”
Nati-ko slowly shook her head.
“No, it’s just that I have something I’d like to ask you personally.”
“What might that be?”
“Have you ever heard the word ‘Forerunner’?”
“Forerunner? I know the word’s meaning, of course, but…”
Han-eol’s voice trailed off.
Nati-ko smiled enigmatically before unveiling a surprising revelation.
“Since the Cataclysm, every city in the world has established its own Base Camp within the Highlands. They’ve developed surrounding mines and gathering sites, bringing new energy sources, new materials, and innovative medicinal substances back to the Midland.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“The Seongseng Group, which you belong to, is also at the forefront of such efforts.”
“Indeed.”
“To bring in large quantities of materials, energy, and medicinal herbs from the Highlands, infrastructure development is paramount, wouldn’t you say? Otherwise, you couldn’t consistently repel Demon Beast attacks, conduct mining, or cultivate medicinal crops.”
“Exactly as you say.”
Han-eol offered measured affirmations, chiming in at appropriate moments.
In truth, what Nati-ko was saying was already familiar to him.
‘Why is she laying so much groundwork? Is she trying to extract information about the Seongseng Group? But she doesn’t seem the type.’
Han-eol listened attentively to Nati-ko, keeping his guard up.
Then, abruptly, Nati-ko posed a riddle-like question.
“But do all Ability Users focus solely on infrastructure development?”
“Pardon?”
“To procure large quantities of energy, materials, and medicinal herbs from the Highlands, you’d need something like the Seongseng Group’s massive Base Camp and the eradication of all surrounding Demon Beasts. But if you approach it that way—slowly expanding territory, methodically clearing each area—Highland exploration itself becomes delayed. The Highlands are so vast as to seem nearly infinite. To explore them rapidly, wouldn’t you need something other than going around exterminating Demon Beasts and expanding territory piece by piece?”
“Hmm, well, you may be right, Reverend. That’s why the Seongseng Group sends development teams to the Base Camp, but also encourages some Ability Users to conduct independent exploration.”
At Han-eol’s words, Nati-ko let out a knowing laugh.
“Hehe. Do you truly believe that?”
“Pardon?”
“Must they report every detail of their explorations like an elementary school student showing a diary to a teacher? Must they return to the Midland immediately upon discovering an artifact to turn it over? Is it truly free exploration if the group buries markers in the areas explorers discover, granting themselves the right to conduct further excavation?”
“Oh!”
Han-eol’s eyes widened.
Nati-ko’s words, depending on how they were interpreted, were extraordinarily dangerous.
She spoke without restraint of things that neither the Seongseng Group nor temples like Wat Phra That or Wat Umong in Chiang Mai would tolerate.
‘Is it truly possible to grant Ability Users the kind of freedom she’s describing?’
It wasn’t that Han-eol had never entertained such thoughts.
In fact, he had secretly hidden some of the most important artifacts and Demon Spirit Stones he’d obtained, keeping them from the Seongseng Group.
But concealing things privately, as he did, was entirely different from openly defying the current order.
If all profits from the Highlands were given to individual explorers, what company would ever invest in cultivating Ability Users?
Highland exploration cannot be pursued by individual strength alone.
‘It’s only possible because the Seongseng Group supplies everything—Potions, Exploration Tools, Weapons, Armor.’
Yet Nati-ko’s next words shattered Han-eol’s fixed thinking.
“The Seongseng Group probably wouldn’t discuss such delicate matters with a junior employee like you. It’s a very sensitive subject, after all. And they need to prevent those with inadequate ability from acting recklessly. But there are Ability Users in this world who have no interest in Base Camp construction—those devoted solely to exploring higher realms, uncharted worlds. We call such people Forerunners.”
“Ah!”
“In Asia, we call them Forerunners. In Western cities, there are those known as Front-Edge Rangers, or FER for short.”
Nati-ko paused and fixed Han-eol with a steady gaze.
“Which continent in the Highlands did you visit this time?”
“Pardon?”
Han-eol faltered.
Han-eol had written “presumed to have visited the 8th Continent” in his return report.
Nati-ko had certainly read that report.
Yet the fact that she was asking him this question suggested she didn’t believe what he’d written.
Han-eol sealed his lips and wrestled with the question in his mind: how should he answer?
Nati-ko didn’t press him further.
“You needn’t tell me which continent it was. If you visited the 8th Continent, then so be it.”
“Sister……”
“But the truth is, Forerunners exist in this world, and they’re currently exploring not the 8th Continent that the Seongseng Group is investing in, but places far higher—the 7th Continent, the 6th Continent, or even beyond.”
“Gasp!”
Han-eol was genuinely startled.
Nati-ko’s voice continued.
“The Seongseng Group demands loyalty from each member, but they know full well that coercion doesn’t work on Ability Users who transcend their framework. So they try to cultivate friendly relations with such Forerunners. It’s the same for Wat Phra That, for us here at Wat Umong, and for the Seongseng Group as well.”
“Thank you for sharing such valuable information. But I have one more question.”
Han-eol straightened and asked earnestly.
Nati-ko accepted the question with a knowing look.
“What troubles you?”
“Why are you telling me these things?”
“Heh. That’s obvious. I believe you are a Forerunner.”
“Me?”
Han-eol stiffened slightly.
Chapter 3
Nati-ko wore a mischievous smile.
“Hehehehe. Am I the only one who thinks so? Wat Phra That has likely classified you as a Forerunner too. The reason is simple: those four types of weapons and medicinal herbs you brought back from the Highlands. Those cannot possibly come from the 8th Continent.”
“Ungh.”
Han-eol bit his lip.
Only now did he realize what mistake he’d made.
Humanity has not yet fully explored the 8th or 9th Continent. Humans have settled only the smallest fraction of the Highlands.
So Han-eol had been confident: ‘Even if I bring new materials back to the Midland, no one will question their origin.’
But he had been wrong.
Nati-ko laughed with evident delight.
“Hehehehe. Everything you’re thinking shows on your face right now.”
“Ungh.”
“It’s true—I’ve never seen weapons like the ones you brought this time. I can’t judge which continent of the Highlands they came from. But the herbs are different. A Forerunner with deep ties to Wat Umong occasionally sends me medicinal herbs from the 7th and 6th Continents, and the ones from the 6th Continent contain Purified Demon Spirits.”
“Is that truly the case?”
Han-eol started in surprise.
That medicinal plants and herbs—not Demon Beasts or Demon Races—could harbor Demon Spirits was beyond his understanding.
‘I have the ability to absorb Demon Spirits through Hun-hae, so if the herbs I brought contained Demon Spirits, there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed.’
Han-eol felt a flicker of doubt toward Nati-ko.
But her expression remained unmoved.
“The Demon Spirits in medicinal herbs are completely different from those in Demon Spirit Stones. That’s why I called them Purified Demon Spirits. From my experience, among the medicinal plants of the 8th and 9th Continents, none contain Purified Demon Spirits. Such rare herbs are scarce even on the 7th Continent. In other words, those two medicinal roots you brought back must come from at least the 7th Continent or higher—I would guess the 6th or 5th Continent.”
Nati-ko had struck the mark.
Han-eol had nothing to say.
Nati-ko’s counsel flowed into his ears.
“I know only herbs; weapons are not my expertise. But there are surely other Forerunners in the world who understand Highland metals and weapon-forging techniques.”
“Ah.”
“What might they think when they see your trophies? Wouldn’t they think you walk the same path as they do—a Forerunner like themselves?”
“…… I understand what you’re saying.”
Han-eol fell silent for a moment, then bowed respectfully to Nati-ko.
It was a gesture of gratitude.
“You are sharp-witted indeed.”
With those words, Nati-ko said no more.
In truth, she had offered Han-eol invaluable counsel this day.
‘Even a great power like the Seongseng Group maintains friendly relations with Forerunners. But they can’t truly favor them. Powers that hold control rarely tolerate individuals who cannot be controlled.’
So in the future, the Seongseng Group would try to shackle Han-eol before he could become a true Forerunner.
‘But once I rise to equal standing with the existing Forerunners, then they’ll flip their hand and seek my friendship.’
The conclusion was clear.
First, Han-eol would have to be more careful going forward.
He needed to keep a low profile to avoid being marked as a Forerunner candidate and suffering disadvantages from major powers.
Second, Han-eol was a star that shone by its own light.
But for now, he had to hide that light and cultivate his strength in darkness. Then, when the time came, he would reveal it.
This did not mean merely growing in martial prowess.
Han-eol had to be able to procure weapons and armor necessary for Highlands exploration, as well as various potions, all on his own without anyone else’s help.
It meant he had to be able to stand alone even without the shelter of the Seongseng Group.
There was one more thing.
In an extreme case, the Seongseng Group could block Han-eol’s access to the Highlands altogether.
It was the Seongseng Group that currently controlled the Blue Mist at the bottom of the Han River.
‘But what if I fall out with the Seongseng Group?’
Han-eol’s expression hardened with gravity.
‘I need to find a way to enter and exit the Highlands without going through the Seongseng Group. Only then, when I can stand alone, will the Seongseng Group truly recognize me as a Forerunner and actually want to negotiate from an equal position.’
This seemed like it would not be easy.
But if Wat Phra That and Wat Umong had already judged Han-eol to be a Forerunner, there was no telling when this information would reach the ears of the Seongseng Group.
Han-eol felt the need to devise a countermeasure as quickly as possible.
‘Ugh. This isn’t simple.’
Han-eol’s lips pressed together with tension.
The Puppeteer Who Harvests Souls
Author |
Junon
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
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Editorial Department
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The contents of this book may not be used in any form or by any means without the written permission of Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – DreamBooks.

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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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