“Then what happens to the soul of someone whose flesh you’ve stolen?”
And...
The answer to that question was:
“Normally we annihilate it. There’s nothing good about leaving the original owner’s soul in the body.”
“...”
It was...
A world away from what I’d wanted to hear.
“Yeah... I see.”
My whole body was shaking.
I could feel cold sweat running down.
[Currently Applied Dish Effects]
[of Calm Mind-]
By taking the dish I’d put everything into myself,
I was barely managing to keep my mind in one piece.
‘Ah.’
I realized it in an instant.
If it weren’t for the effects of the dishes I’d taken in advance...
Right now,
‘My mind would probably...’
Have just collapsed on the spot,
With a very high probability.
Eighty percent of the assault team had their bodies stolen by these things.
If the souls of those whose bodies were stolen just vanished, that would mean:
‘Mom, Dad...’
When it came to whether my parents were alive or dead,
It would be no different from hammering in the final nail.
GRIND...
“So that’s how it is...”
Breaking through the suppression of the [Special Sauce],
Shattering Calm Mind and letting rage explode—
“I was just thinking you weren’t going to die cleanly...”
“However.”
The thing continued.
“These natives’ bodies are a little different.”
“...What?”
“Normally the original owners’ bodies are useless to us... but this flesh was different. When its soul was annihilated, the infinite potential we coveted vanished along with it...”
“...!”
What these things wanted were human bodies under the protection of the [System].
But the moment the soul was annihilated, that protection disappeared.
“It was the first time we’d run into such a case, so frankly, we were flustered.”
The thing sounded puzzled,
But I thought I understood why.
‘It’s the same as the abnormal appetite users.’
People who were human and then became monsters.
The moment they became complete abnormal appetite users,
They stopped being human and their stats and Jobs disappeared with it.
‘It’s the same for these things.’
It’s fine if something else is just controlling the body.
But.
‘The moment the last trace that lets the System call it human—the soul itself—disappears,’
That existence is no longer treated as human.
And for some reason, it can no longer receive the System’s protection that appears only for humans.
In other words:
“We sealed the natives’ souls and cast them into the deepest depths of their consciousness. It was the only way to use the potential of these bodies.”
Which meant:
That assault team,
And my parents as well,
“At least the souls of those natives... remain deep within their flesh.”
“...Ha, haha.”
At those words,
A laugh slipped out of me without my realizing it.
‘Yeah... as long as they’re alive.’
It felt like a mind that had plunged into negativity all at once was suddenly getting better.
‘And if they said they’d taken over eighty percent, that also means the other twenty percent are resisting.’
Twenty percent of the first assault team
Hadn’t had their bodies stolen by these things,
And even among those whose bodies were taken, their souls at least remained.
“Ha, hah...!”
Mom and Dad
“Are alive...!”
At the sudden wave of relief,
I felt the strength go out of my whole body.
*****
The thing I’d wanted most to learn on this expedition was whether my parents were still alive.
Once I learned that they were,
I felt like a mind that had been pushed to the limit had recovered quite a bit.
“...Thanks. That helped a lot.”
“It helped a lot, huh...”
The thing glanced at me as it spoke.
“Then what happens to me now?”
“Hm?”
“Did you not say you’d spare me if I answered sincerely? ...Can you spare me?”
At those words,
I kept the relieved smile on my face—
SHING—
And drew my knife.
As I poured magic power into the blade, I spoke.
“That’s a little hard, you bastard.”
“...Damn it.”
“Instead, I’ll end it without pain.”
I swung that blade
Toward its neck.
“Wh-what!?”
“W-wait! Youngjun!?”
I could hear the people behind me panicking.
The reason they were panicking was simple.
‘The flesh this monster was occupying belonged to a man named Jang Ji Han.’
Even if I cut this thing’s neck,
The one who died would be that man, Jang Ji Han.
‘If I wanted to cut this monster, I had to cut only that soul.’
But.
The knife I was holding had been made solely to cross that Wall of Fire.
The problem was that it had no effect for cutting spiritual bodies.
However...
‘Saying I’d give up because of that wasn’t really my style either.’
Giving up because something was impossible
Didn’t suit my tastes.
[The ‘15’ Divine Power is being infused into the [Flame-Resistant Kitchen Knife].]
Into a blade already filled with my magic power,
A power that made the impossible possible mixed and melted in.
[Advanced Cooking Secret – ‘Enlightenment of Frozen Soul, Belsnickel Processing Method’ acquired.]
SLICE.
Following the processing method that surfaced in my mind,
I ‘processed’ only the neck portion of the faintly pale soul half-overlapping Jang Ji Han’s body.
[You have gained experience.]
And then—
“...!”
“Did he... cut that ghost?”
The spiritual body that had the shape of a translucent monster
Turned into something like mist, and then quickly formed into a small sphere.
“H-how?”
Even Han Iseo, a shaman, looked flustered.
How, huh...
“Just think of it as me having my own way of doing things.”
It was hard to explain it in detail
[Divine Power]
Since it was a power that was hard to explain to others one by one.
It was thanks to this power.
To begin with,
The very reason I’d been able to perceive that existence at all was because Divine Power was exerting its influence.
And if I could feel that spiritual body’s existence,
I’d wondered if I might be able to cut it like this as well.
‘I didn’t think it would actually work.’
This confirmed my guess.
As long as I could see the enemy,
[Processed Soul of Belsnickel Lower Knight]
By using [Divine Power],
I could process them like this.
‘Well, the problem was that this too was only possible if the enemy could be seen.’
No matter how much I could feel their presence,
It was hard to cut something invisible using only Divine Power.
But it wasn’t like I could drag in enemies like this every time and cut them through Han Iseo.
‘Hmm... it’s a bit of a headache, but... huh?’
Just as my head was starting to hurt over how to handle this,
DING.
‘...?’
Suddenly,
A clear sound echoed.
[For the first time in human history, you have succeeded in ‘processing’ a spiritual entity.]
[This is a first in the culinary history of humanity!]
[Countless chefs limit the ingredients they allow themselves to handle, and in doing so, often lose the chance to become great chefs.]
[Among those, there is one ingredient that is handled especially rarely: souls!]
[Spiritual entities that exist beyond the material realm are an ingredient that few use as food, and just as few treat as a subject for cooking.]
[You have succeeded, for the first time in human history, in expanding the horizon of ingredients by one step.]
[A reward is granted to the one who is ahead of the times.]
[Trait – ‘Soul Cuisine Initiate’]
“...?”
I turned my head and looked at Han Iseo.
And then—
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Something I hadn’t been able to see before
Came into my eyes.
*****
‘So that’s what it looked like.’
Standing behind Han Iseo,
Was a huge being covered all over with grotesque tentacles.
[Kalrajind Soul Guardian]
[The warrior class of a spirit-world race now gone, the Kalrajind. They are Soul Guardians.]
Its appearance was grotesque enough to call up the image of an alien.
It was not at all the sort of being you’d think a shaman would be keeping at her side.
The first moment I saw it, I almost thought I had to attack it on the spot.
[The Kalrajind are one of the powerful races of the spirit realm who value loyalty above all else, and because of that loyalty, they were renowned in the mercenary trade.]
[If you pay them appropriate compensation, they lend you power in proportion, and within the bounds of that compensation, they will not betray you under any circumstances.]
[They do not break contracts even with spiritual bodies inferior to themselves, so to weak souls they were regarded as the best means of protecting their bodies, and thus the warrior class of the Kalrajind came to be called Soul Guardians.]
[However! This is only if payment is faithfully rendered!]
[If you fail to pay and break their trust, you will have to endure their wrath, so be warned!]
[They lend power in proportion to the compensation you pay.]
[Power currently usable with the compensation paid – 10%]
‘...So they’re more trustworthy than they look?’
It looked like a tentacle monster out of a space horror movie,
But according to the information coming from Ingredient Identification,
It seemed to be a diligent spiritual entity that faithfully carried out the deal at least to the extent it was paid.
[Skill – Chef’s Eye activates.]
[Advanced Cooking Secret – ‘Enlightenment of Kalrajind Processing Method’ acquired.]
But then,
When I looked at it,
FLINCH...
“Uh...?”
The thing seemed to shrink back a little,
And Han Iseo muttered in confusion.
“T-that’s strange.”
“What is?”
“The great Spirit seems to be... frightened...”
“...?”
Frightened?
There was nothing particularly dangerous going on, so what was that about.
“Well, anyway.”
That wasn’t what mattered right now.
I picked up the [Processed Soul] that had been rolling on the floor
And held it up toward the gathered people as I spoke.
“These things are the [Cause of the Cold].”
“...”
“As for the basis...”
“No. I don’t think I even need to explain the basis.”
Everyone gathered here was a fairly high-level Awakener.
They had the stats to match, and their senses for the surroundings were that sharp.
In other words,
“The moment I cut that soul...”
“The temperature around us rose a little.”
They were not the sort of people
Who would fail to notice such a change.
“That’s right.”
They were monsters that lowered the surrounding temperature just by existing.
When these bastards were released from that [Gate] into the world,
The temperature of Gyeonggi Province had plummeted.
“Our objective was to identify the cause of this abnormal climate and resolve it.”
“...”
“The cause is right here, and the way to resolve it is simple.”
Not only the true nature of the enemy,
But even the location of their main base had been revealed.
Now, to resolve this abnormal climate, the process left was...
Only one thing.
“We round up every last one of these stray specters and beat them down!”
“...”
Strike the enemy’s main base
And annihilate them.
*****
“...Easier said than done.”
We had learned the enemy’s identity,
But the leaders couldn’t accept that talk so easily.
“If what that ghost said is true, the enemy’s strength is far greater than we initially estimated.”
Jo Beomseok looked at me with an uneasy expression as he spoke.
“We already assumed they were a powerful force from the moment the Chair’s assault team was defeated. But if things are as it said...”
People frowned.
At the time this Expedition Force set out,
It had been evaluated as being at a similar level to the previous assault team that was wiped out.
The individual Awakeners were much weaker than them, sure.
But we had more numbers...
And especially when it came to equipment, we were on a completely different level from back then.
In other words, our strength was on par with a group whose operation had already failed.
Even so, there was a simple reason the Expedition’s morale could be maintained.
‘The previous assault team had just rammed their entire strength in without any real plan.’
That was why they failed,
But since they had been quite a powerful force, they must have dealt some amount of damage to the enemy.
‘If we came up with a proper plan and then attempted the assault, our chances would be much higher.’
Roughly speaking, for that reason,
The Expedition’s morale had been able to hold.
“The enemy was already strong enough to rout the Chair’s assault team. And now,”
“It means they now have that assault team included on top of that.”
A strength similar to that of this Expedition had suddenly been added to the enemy’s power.
It was understandable that people were sighing.
“And on top of that, ghosts that steal other people’s bodies.”
“You may have somehow managed to cut that ghost... but that’s only because you’re far beyond the standard. For the others, cutting a ghost is impossible.”
It was good that we’d discovered the enemy’s nature,
But that part didn’t seem positive to the others either.
“Frankly, we’re at the point where you have to question whether an assault is even possible.”
“Mm, I don’t think it’ll be easy either... but isn’t it at least worth trying?”
“...Hm?”
However,
While Jo Beomseok was frowning as he spoke,
I crossed my arms and tried to sound as relaxed as possible.
“Don’t get spooked just because the enemy’s a ghost. Isn’t it originally the soldiers’ job to catch ghosts?”
“That’s the Marines, man.”
“Come on, it’s not like the Army has to lose out to the Marines.”
“...Well, no, I guess not!”
SNUFF.
“I’m not joking. I’m saying this because it really isn’t that we have zero chance.”
“What do you mean?”
“As for the fact that we ‘have no way to cut ghosts’... I’ll figure something out somehow, so don’t worry.”
“Really? No matter what you say, there’s no way something like that...”
At those words,
I gave a short laugh and said,
“Are you still going to talk about what’s impossible and what isn’t?”
“...”
Jo Beomseok closed his mouth in an instant.
If it doesn’t work, make it work.
He’d seen me make those words reality more than a few times.
“Besides, you’re talking as if the entire assault team has gone over to the enemy... but that’s not exactly accurate either.”
“Hm?”
“Those things said it themselves. They still haven’t been able to take the bodies of those with strong mental strength.”
“...Ah!”
At my words,
Park Junggu slapped the table as if he’d had an epiphany and shouted.
“R-right!”
“Junggu?”
“If what that thing said is true, the ‘assault team’ strength added to the enemy is at best only about half!”
“Half... Junggu, are you... bad at math or something?”
At those words,
Heo Yunchang muttered in disbelief.
“It said it took over eighty percent of the bodies. How is that half.”
“That’s true, but an Awakener’s strength isn’t determined by numbers!”
Junggu shouted, unable to hide his excitement.
“Think about it. There may be exceptions, but generally, the stronger an Awakener is, the stronger their mental strength, right?”
“That’s true, but...”
“Then! The most important person!”
With eyes full of hope,
Park Junggu shouted toward the leaders.
“Doesn’t that mean there’s a high chance the Chair is still resisting their control!”
“...Ah?”
When Junggu shouted that,
The look in the people’s eyes as they listened changed a little.
“C-certainly.”
“For someone at [N O V E L I G H T] the Chair’s level... hm.”
When you weigh the strength of an Awakener force, there’s something more important than numbers.
Whether or not there are strong Awakeners.
“Even if only the Chair is resisting, you could say thirty percent of that assault team’s strength is missing.”
“That is, certainly, true.”
“And if you add the remaining twenty percent to that, it’s effectively fifty percent of their strength missing. Considering that the Expedition Force and the assault team were essentially comparable in strength, that’s something we can sufficiently endure, isn’t it?”
Even with Junggu’s impassioned argument,
People still looked skeptical.
“But even so, if you include the power they originally had, we’re still at a disadvantage in the end.”
“Actually, I wanted to say something about that part too.”
Junggu crossed his arms as if he couldn’t believe them
And spoke as he looked at the leaders.
“Why are you even rating our strength as similar to that previous Expedition in the first place?”
“Hm...? Well, that’s because—”
“Of course we don’t have as many strong Awakeners as back then... but we’ve got far more people and even those tanks. Doesn’t that put us at roughly the same level?”
“That’s my point. Why are you acting like we’re weaker than that assault team, or only about the same?”
He flattened his hand like a knife,
And pointed at me.
“When we’ve got that guy!”
“...!”
The evaluation that the Expedition’s strength was ‘similar to the assault team’
Had in truth only taken into account the Association’s existing Awakeners and the tanks.
Even so, it had been rated as roughly equal to the assault team that had included the Chair.
“That evaluation has to change now. In simple one-on-one fights, maybe it’s different... but when it comes to group battles, Youngjun’s ability absolutely doesn’t lose out to the Chair’s.”
But from now on, things were different.
They’d seen my power.
‘...Though as the person actually using it, it had been hell.’
Anyway!
Since Junggu’s words were quite convincing,
“...It’s absurd, but he’s right.”
Jo Beomseok nodded as he spoke.
“We’ll have to devise a plan that takes the assault team’s members into account.”
“If a high-ranking figure comes out on their side, Yunchang or I will take them on...”
The enemy’s strength
Was their monsters plus roughly half the strength of the assault team.
On the other hand, our side’s strength
Was a force similar to the assault team,
With me as an extra.
‘I didn’t know how large the enemy monsters’ force would be... but it was worth attempting!’
Once the leaders judged that there was sufficient possibility,
They began in earnest to prepare the assault.
“...”
The leaders were starting to get fired up.
Among them was one man who hadn’t said a word.
He was of a lower rank than the other leaders to begin with, so he had little right to speak anyway.
Even so,
From the moment the Chair was mentioned, he’d been oddly hesitant.
“...Excuse me!”
“Hm? Yunseong?”
Yunseong
Opened his mouth as if he’d made up his mind about something.
“There’s something I have to say to everyone.”
“What is it?”
He seemed about to say something very important.
With a tense expression, he began to speak—
“The truth is...”
Right before the next words came out,
PAK!
“Ah, Yunseong, you and I should have a little talk.”
“Mmph...!?”
I quickly reached out and clamped a hand over Yunseong’s mouth,
Then looked at the others and said,
“We’re going to step out and talk for a bit, so please continue the operations meeting as is.”
“Hm? All right. By the way, wasn’t there something Yunseong was trying to say?”
“Huh? Was he? I’m sure it wasn’t anything big!”
“...Yunseong’s expression doesn’t give that impression.”
“Come on. I’m sure Yunseong thinks talking with me is more important. Probably.”
“...”
It was blatantly suspicious behavior,
But they had just heard an overwhelming amount of shocking information,
And they were extremely busy devising plans with the thought of facing an enemy that now included the assault team.
“Mm. Well, do as you like. We may need your advice when we’re drafting the operation, so come back as quickly as you can.”
“Yes, we’ll be back in a bit!”
They
Let Yunseong and me go without much suspicion.
*****
And so,
I dragged Yunseong out of the conference room by force.
“PWAHA...! W-what do you think you’re doing!”
Only once we were in a corner where the other Awakeners couldn’t hear us did I release his mouth.
“COUGH, w-what kind of strength is that. I th-thought I was going to... COUGH.”
“Ah, sorry. I forgot to let you breathe.”
“You almost killed me and you ‘forgot’...!”
Yunseong panted in disbelief,
Then soon let out a sigh and got to the point.
“Back then... didn’t you say you knew everything?”
“Yeah.”
Right before I went to capture that Jang Ji Han,
I’d said that to him.
“Just from what you said that time, I really ended up thinking you knew everything. But now, I think I may have been mistaken.”
“No, I really do know it all.”
“In this case, there are more traitors you don’t kn— huh? What?”
“What you’re about to say. I know what it is and who it’s about. So please,”
To Yunseong, whose face was full of confusion,
I let out a sigh and said,
“Let’s keep that just between us.”
