Chapter 15

Episode 15: The Ghost Maiden and the Growing Sword

I’ve heard that if there’s a ghost nearby, you can feel a chill.

Or rather, the fact that there’s a ghost in this house may not be true—it could just be a little mouse.

“…It makes no sense for a little mouse to use the bathroom.”

An unseen enemy in this small one-room apartment.

“Two possibilities…”

It’s either a “real ghost,” or someone like me with invisibility or stealth abilities.

But actually, I’ve felt like this house was strange since the moment I moved in.

“…I think I heard some rustling noises just before I fell asleep.”

I briefly thought that maybe Eunbyul gave me this place because it had issues, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

The most urgent problem, whether the enemy is a ghost or a person, is my weapon.

My current weapon is in terrible shape.

A blade with all its teeth worn away.

It feels like it hasn’t been used in a long time; there’s a layer of dust on it.

And it’s terribly old.

What’s more, the sword has two edges.

A double-edged sword.

If I dominate my opponent, it becomes an exceptionally powerful weapon.

But if I’m outclassed by the opponent’s strength or skill, my sword’s blade could very well threaten my own life.

Even though the blade is worn, strangely, its sharpness hasn’t dulled.

The sword feels weightless even when I grip it with one hand.

The depth of the mana it contains is immeasurable.

The mana I sense is infinitely weak, yet there seems to be no limit to its potential.

Even though I’ve never held this weapon before, it feels familiar—as if my fingers instinctively know how to grip the hilt correctly.

Most sword blades are white, but this one is made of my favorite color—black.

Though I do like other colors to some extent, I can confidently say my favorite color is black.

This worn blade might be of some use in my current situation, so I gripped the hilt more firmly.

– Gulp.

Tension is building, and without realizing it, I swallowed.

But the opponent hasn’t attacked. Perhaps they’ve fled.

I decided to use King’s Insight on the weapon I’m holding.

“Activate King’s Insight.”

– Ting!

[Identifying object information.]

[Information]

Name: The Sword of the Lost King

Type: Weapon

Features: The depth of its mana is infinite, but an absurdly weak amount of mana leaks out. / It can hold a soul.

[Current Status]

Currently has no owner. / Can hold a soul.

======

It feels like I’ve been saying “this is strange” ever since the System arrived.

One of the abilities I gained also involves the word “king.”

And now this weapon also relates to a “king.”

Is it really just coincidence that I keep encountering things tied to “king”?

Or is it the System’s intention?

But for now, it’s benefiting me, so I need to focus on solving the problem in front of me.

– Ting!

[Successfully comprehended a special weapon.]

[The System’s Quest and Shop functions have been unlocked.]

[You have acquired the ‘Soul Absorption (A)’ skill.]

[Quest]

[The Path to Grow the Sword]

[This sword is currently empty. Please fill its void.]

[Sword Soul Infusion (Queen): 0/1]

[Reward: G-Coin]

[G-Coin can be used at the System’s Shop. This information will only be displayed once.]

It seems like if I collect G-Coins, I can buy various items from the newly opened Shop.

“But is G-Coin short for Gold Coin?”

Still, the quest content is a bit strange.

Infuse the sword with a soul… a queen’s soul?

Looking at this sword’s name—”The Sword of the Lost King”—it seems like the previous owner might’ve been a king.

Apparently, the owner of this sword must’ve sealed their spouse’s soul into the blade.

Or maybe they killed the living queen and imprisoned her soul in it?

“Ugh, surely not…”

Having a sword with such a disturbing history is a bit off-putting.

It’s not because it’s a double-edged sword either.

“In any case, for the quest, I need to absorb a soul, right?”

“System.”

– Ting!

I summoned the System to check the skill I gained from comprehending this weapon just now.

“My info.”

[Checking your information.]

[Information]

Name: Han Shiwoo (21)

Level: 20

Position: Damage Dealer (Dealer)

Stat Points: 3

[Current Stats]

Strength: 6

Agility: 3

Intelligence: 2

Luck: 6

[Skills]

Diminishing-Nerf (EX) Lv.1 (Max)

[Upon making physical contact with another capable member of the same species and activating an order, the target’s abilities will decrease by two levels.]

P.System’s Blessing (EX) Lv.1 (Max)

[Assists Han Shiwoo’s growth. Allows the user to obtain various rewards upon growth.]

Ability Succession (S) Lv.1 (Max)

[Can inherit abilities from the corpse of personally defeated creatures. (Can choose one ability.)]

King’s Insight (S) Lv.2

[Can gain more information. Information increases with higher levels.]

Soul Protection (S) Lv.1

[Nullifies effects from abilities that cause mental harm. (Cool-down: 24 hours. Only blocks harmful effects.)]

Soul Absorption (A) Lv.1 (Max)

[Can store a soul in a sword. (However, this effect can only be used while holding a sword capable of containing a soul, and the subject must not be alive but in a soul state. / Can only store one soul. Liberation is possible if both parties consent.)]

Invisibility (A) Lv.1

[Turns the body transparent during non-combat situations. Duration is proportional to Intelligence stat (Intelligence stat x 5 minutes).]

P.Basic Swordsmanship (D) Lv.4

[Improves the user’s ability to wield a sword proficiently.]

Triple Strike (D) Lv.4

[Quickly strikes three times.]

P.Drug Fiend’s Grace (D) Lv.2

[Increases beneficial effects of drugs tenfold.]

======

The effect is rather simple.

Absorb a soul and store it in the sword.

However, there are quite a few restrictions.

You can only use it while holding a soul-capable sword, and the target must not be alive but in a soul state.

The reason this skill is A-rank rather than S-rank must be due to these several restrictions.

“Can only store one soul… Liberation is possible if both parties consent?…”

Both parties must consent?

So it seems both I and the absorbed soul must agree to release for liberation to occur.

“This doesn’t seem very important, so let’s skip it.”

First, I needed to deal with the uninvited guest in my room.

I began by swinging the sword in the air to check.

This was to verify whether the intruder wasn’t a ghost but someone with invisibility or stealth abilities.

I checked every corner like I was brushing my teeth, swinging and stabbing the air, but I only dealt “void damage”—nothing appeared.

It seems like it’s time to use Soul Absorption.

“But, can I just use this in the air?”

The skill description clearly mentions a “subject.”

Since it’s not specifically targeting an “object,” it probably doesn’t matter.

I raised the sword skyward.

And…

“Hey, activate Soul Absorption.”

It was peculiar saying the skill name out loud for the first time.

A red energy began gathering on the sword.

Once the red energy fully concentrated at the sword’s tip, it spread out in all directions.

Wherever the red energy passed, it left a moist, unsettling feeling, like after it snowed and melted, leaving dampness on the ground.

Suddenly, the scattered red energy quickly gathered in one place.

It was right above the mattress where I slept last night.

To be more precise, above the mattress.

The red energy coalesced into the form of a woman.

The figure looked like a girl around my age floating in midair.

“Is she floating because she’s a real ghost?”

The red energy-formed female figure was slowly getting sucked into my sword.

Despite her best efforts, the woman squirmed around, clearly unwilling to be absorbed.

“Until the very end, she keeps resisting…”

Not long after, she seemed to lose strength and was finally sucked into my sword.

– Swoosh!

– Ting!

[The absorption is complete.]

[Skill, ‘Soul Absorption (A)’ has evolved into ‘Soul Summoning (A)’.]

[Quest]

[The Path to Grow the Sword]

[This sword is currently empty. Please fill its void.]

[Sword Soul Infusion (Queen): 1/1]

[Reward: G-Coin]

[The quest is completed. You have obtained 1 G-Coin.]

I immediately checked my information after clearing the quest.

Isn’t just one G-Coin a bit too little?

“My info.”

[Checking your information.]

[Information]

Name: Han Shiwoo (21)

Level: 20

Position: Damage Dealer (Dealer)

Stat Points: 3

[Current Stats]

Strength: 6

Agility: 3

Intelligence: 2

Luck: 6

[Skills]

Diminishing-Nerf (EX) Lv.1 (Max)

[Upon making physical contact with another capable member of the same species and activating an order, the target’s abilities will decrease by two levels.]

P.System’s Blessing (EX) Lv.1 (Max)

[Assists Han Shiwoo’s growth. Allows the user to obtain various rewards upon growth.]

Ability Succession (S) Lv.1 (Max)

[Can inherit abilities from the corpse of personally defeated creatures. (Can choose one ability.)]

King’s Insight (S) Lv.2

[Can gain more information. Information increases with higher levels.]

Soul Protection (S) Lv.1

[Nullifies effects from abilities that cause mental harm. (Cool-down: 24 hours. Only blocks harmful effects.)]

Soul Summoning (A) Lv.1 (Max)

[Can summon a soul stored in the sword. (Liberation is possible if both parties consent.)]

Invisibility (A) Lv.1

[Turns the body transparent during non-combat situations. Duration is proportional to Intelligence stat (Intelligence stat x 5 minutes).]

P.Basic Swordsmanship (D) Lv.4

[Improves the user’s ability to wield a sword proficiently.]

Triple Strike (D) Lv.4

[Quickly strikes three times.]

P.Drug Fiend’s Grace (D) Lv.2

[Increases beneficial effects of drugs tenfold.]

======

“Let’s see… Summon Soul…”

“Summon the soul stored in the sword?”

“Ho ho…”

I chuckled, amused by the overly simple description.

“Soul Summoning… I’ve only seen such things in movies or games.”

And so, in this hunter world, such a skill is exceptionally rare.

Since it didn’t seem to be a purely offensive skill, I thought I should try it.

“Activate Soul Summoning.”

Once again, red light spilled out from the sword.

– Pfft!

But midway through, the red light transformed into purple and then with a “pfft,” the female figure started materializing.

Before long, her facial features became visible… In fact, I could now see her clearly with my naked eyes—the ghost I had absorbed earlier.

[Hey, you bad guy! What did you just do to me?]

The voice wasn’t something I heard through my ears.

It was the trembling voice of the woman echoing in my head.

“Ah… Suddenly screaming like that…”

Her sobbing voice resonated in my head, making me dizzy.

Involuntarily, I swore.

Since my words weren’t verbalized, I figured it was fine.

[What?! Swearing?! Why are you cursing?!!]

Her reaction, however, was unexpected.

She could read my thoughts.

“This is complete invasion of privacy!”

[What’s an invasion of privacy? Get out of my house… and remove this weird binding already!]

“Hey, first off, stop reading my thoughts, okay?”

[W, well, I can’t help it. I just hear it, what can I do?]

True.

I decided to first gather information about her.

“Activate King’s Insight.”

– Ting!

[Identifying soul information.]

[Information]

Name: Unknown.

Type: Maiden Ghost

Features: A soul deeply clouded by resentment.

[Current Status]

If you resolve her resentment, you can help her reach Nirvana. / However, since she is currently absorbed into the “Sword of the Lost King,” resolving her resentment will not allow her to achieve Nirvana.

======

It seems acquiring full information about a soul using King’s Insight is still challenging.

However, revealing everything except her name is quite unexpected.

I can just ask her name later.

But if she’s a maiden ghost…

Could it be?

Still, she can’t achieve Nirvana while absorbed into my sword.

…

“Huh.”

[What?!]

“Are you… by any chance a maiden ghost?”

[What… what about it…]