The 31st Piece Turns the Tables
chapter-307

The 31st Piece Turns the Tables

Chapter 307

"The Celestial World?" Spectre asked in surprise at Hamun’s words.

"That's right."

"Oof… Master Cha, isn't there any other way?"

"All the other ways will take time."

"Time? How much?"

"The quickest would take about half a year."

"How did things get so bad that we have to rely on that old monster?"

Jin Ryeo asked Spectre with sparkling eyes, "Do you know Lady Shin Yo's master?"

"Huh? That old monster has a student?"

Spectre wore an amused expression upon hearing Jin Ryeo's explanation.

"What's your relationship with that being?"

"It's nothing special. Hmm… Now that I think about it, it's been a while since I last saw that old man."

Seol asked Spectre, "Is it possible to enter the Celestial World from the Ghost Realm?"

"Of course. It's probably easier to cross from here than the Human Realm. After all, it's closer."

Spectre looked somewhat dissatisfied.

"What's wrong?"

"Entering is easy… but I can't take the Ghost Souls to the Celestial World."

The Ghost Souls were an important asset for Spectre, but she said they couldn't be taken to the Celestial World.

"Why is that?"

"The inhabitants of that place don't like ghosts. If you use Ghost Energy, large creatures called Phantom Beasts will come from all directions."

"Ah…"

Seol recalled something from some time ago—a large whale had appeared and almost driven his party to death.

'It certainly seemed like it had appeared because of Ghost Energy.'

If they had been just a bit weaker, they would have most likely died by the beams shot by the White Whale.

The Celestial World had left such an impression on him.

"Why do they dislike ghosts?"

"We've hated each other since before Hwagmu appeared. After all, we only caused harm to each other."

"So it's a long-standing relationship then."

"They began hating us the moment ghosts sided with Hwagmu. Hwagmu had many enemies, after all."

"Are all the Phantom Beasts of the Celestial World special creatures like the Dragon?"

"Not necessarily. That oldy is just special."

Oof…

Spectre briefly sighed and continued explaining.

"Dragons didn't originally live in the Celestial World. That's why that old man, or Hwagmu, who lusted over the Human Realm, are considered peculiar beings."

He had an idea, but hearing it directly from the Ghost King's mouth felt strange.

"Why did that Dragon remain in the Celestial World…?"

"Haha… You're curious about that, aren't you? Well… Some say it's because of a lingering attachment. Others say it's out of mercy… But honestly, nobody knows. Maybe it's to witness Hwagmu's end…"

"…"

"That was a sentimental guess. Anyway, I guess it could be considered a good thing that Tohyang or whatever it's called ended up in that old man's hands."

Her statement seemed out of place for someone who had been sighing and lamenting until just a few moments ago. Seol was naturally curious about the reason.

"If you must cross over to the Celestial World, that old dragon is at least someone you can reason with. At the very least, he will listen to you. He won't threaten or try to take your life for no reason. The problems are…"

Spectre's eyes foretold a sense of dread.

"The other guys."

Nod…

Seol agreed.

The situation would become difficult if there were many beings like the White Whale from before.

"The Ghost Souls won't be going. Once again, this contact will be dangerous. If anything goes wrong, everyone must find their way to survive, so…"

Spectre glanced over the party's expressions.

Besides Jin Ryeo, no one seemed particularly frightened.

Translator - SCM

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

Seol's group returned to the Castle of Joy with Spectre—this time, with Hamun.

"Master Cha, was there a need for you to also come along?"

"I must stay close."

"Hmm… In situations like this, it would be nice if we could move the Ghost Souls. Anyway, let's go."

Seol and his group were headed to the Castle of Joy's underground.

"Where are we going?"

Spectre casually answered.

"You said Yaksha swallowed a Barrier Stone, right?"

"Yes."

"The Castle of Joy manages another Barrier Stone. We're going to use that to cross over to the Celestial World."

"Isn't Yaksha targeting this Barrier Stone?"

"Everyone will die if you recklessly open a gate to the Celestial World. Even Yaksha won't be able to withstand the onslaught of those creatures. And even if a hole is created, those monsters will quickly seal it with their strength."

Creak…

BOOM…

The door deep within the underground of the Castle of Joy opened.

"So that's the Barrier Stone…"

There was a large stone fragment emitting numerous lights and exuding a strong presence.

"Master Cha, is this really the only way?"

Hamun faintly smiled.

That was his answer.

"Tsk…"

Bzzz…

Spectre activated the Barrier Stone with the 12 Ghost Souls that had followed them, lending their strength.

Bzzz…

Ping—!

A strange energy enveloped the group.

Whoosh…

BOOM—!

Seol's group was enveloped by a pillar of light and disappeared somewhere.

"Ugh…"

"Ow…"

"D-did we arrive? Is this place…"

[Sudden Adventure 'Celestial World' is now active.]

[This Adventure is very dangerous.]

[Adventure 33. (Special) 'Celestial World'

You're searching for a way to defeat Yaksha, the being disturbing both the Ghost and Human Realms.

Thanks to the excellent assistance of Hamun, Orgo's successor, the situation has improved significantly.

With his help, you've successfully discovered a method to confront Yaksha and what's needed to achieve that goal in the Library of All Knowledge.

However, a few more steps remain. You must meet the legendary Dragon in the Celestial World and retrieve Orgo's Sword.

Objective: Obtain the Tohyang.

Caution. This Adventure is very dangerous.

Caution. This Adventure can change at a moment’s notice.

Remaining Time 「Unknown」]

"Everyone, conceal your Ghost Energy."

Swoosh…

This wasn't the Ghost Realm, so Seol Hong, Chi Woo, and Jin Ryeo all returned to their original forms.

"I won't be able to help you here, so you'll have to survive on your own if anything happens."

Spectre put on a cloak and concealed her Ghost Energy.

Now, she just looked like a cute young child.

Seol also suppressed his Ghost Energy as much as he could. Since he didn’t have much Ghost Energy to begin with, it wasn't too uncomfortable for him.

"Luckily, we've landed close by. We just need to climb this mountain."

At Spectre's words, everyone looked at the mountain before them. It was unlike any mountain they had seen.

Although it didn't feel particularly rugged, it was very tall.

It seemed the Dragon they were searching for simply lived in a very tall place.

With no other choice, they started to climb the mountain.

They began climbing the mountains until a stuffy smell came out of their mouths from exhaustion. They finally broke the silence and began talking.

Rustle…

Rustle…

"Are you sure it lives here…?"

"Yes. He lived here the last time I saw him."

"When was that last time?"

At Chi Woo's question, Spectre tilted her head.

"Was it before Hwagmu came looking for me…?"

"That's over 300 years ago!"

"There's probably no one here who would consider 300 years ago a long time."

"Ugh…"

For now, they had no choice but to trust Spectre and keep moving.

Whoosh…

They began struggling the further they climbed up. However, the scenery around them turned awe-inspiring.

"Anyway, the landscape here is truly overwhelming…"

"The Celestial World is probably the paradise you humans dream of."

Spectre began enumerating the reasons.

"Trees bear fruit after a single day, the streams never run dry, and the weather stays warm enough to keep you comfortable even at night. While the seasons do change, it's never too extreme. The inhabitants of this place also have no interest in conflict, so there are no fights."

"It sounds like paradise indeed…"

"Of course, humans wouldn't be able to live here."

"Why not?"

"Because of the native inhabitants of this place."

Spectre said while gazing off into the distance.

"Everyone, bow your heads."

Swoosh…

Everyone bowed their heads without a word.

"Shhh…"

A few moments later.

Whoosh—!

With a thunderous sound of flapping wings, a giant beastly bird appeared.

Screech!

Screech—!

The bird let out a bizarre cry, circling the area for a while before flying away.

'It seems dozens of times bigger than Koopa.'

Although Koopa was large, its size was no match for that giant bird. It was so huge that it felt unreal, as if they had stepped into a place where the very concentration of oxygen was different.

"It didn't see us?"

"If it did, it must not be hungry."

"…"

"Let's keep moving."

At Spectre's words, they resumed climbing up the mountain.

The group had been climbing for two whole days. Although they took breaks regularly, the mountain's height was considerable enough to exhaust them despite the extraordinary stamina they had.

"Oof… Oof…"

"Whew… Isn't this place way too high to live in?"

"How should I know? The old man has strange tastes. And…"

Spectre warned them.

"Lie flat on the ground."

Swish—!

Everyone quickly flattened themselves against the ground.

They weren't wearing conspicuous clothing, so they immediately blended into the surrounding bushes.

Whoosh…

Whoosh…

Seol Hong, Chi Woo, and Seol covered their mouths as they saw a giant creature floating in the air.

'It's the White Whale.'

Uung…

'It's the same one.'

The White Whale, which was making sounds reminiscent of the deep sea, gradually disappeared into the distance. It leaped over the clouds and vanished.

"The White Whale… What a monstrous thing…"

"Have you seen it before? Is it dangerous?"

"Yes. It's a stubborn creature. Be careful not to draw its attention. It arrogantly claims to be the one who maintains the order of the Celestial World—but unfortunately, it's also very powerful."

Although he was sorry to Spectre, Seol had already been spotted by the White Whale once before.

'Could it possibly still remember…?'

They resumed climbing up the mountain.

"Oof… Oof…"

"Oof… Oof…"

As they neared the summit, their fatigue worsened.

Especially Spectre. Unlike her earlier carefree demeanor, she was now visibly struggling.

It was hard to understand why someone as powerful as the Ghost King would be having such a difficult time.

"Why are you struggling so much?"

"I don't know, why does it feel like my body has gotten heavier…?"

"But you were fine just a few moments ago while we were climbing."

"That's what's strange… Ah, so that's it."

"…"

Spectre suddenly stopped.

When she stopped, everyone naturally looked at her. And then, they realized why she had been struggling so much—someone was standing on her head.

"Could someone please get this bastard off my head?"

"Pff… You've only just noticed? I've been standing here for quite some time."

"You damn old man! This is one of your pranks, isn't it?!"

It wasn't a common sight to see an old man with long eyebrows and a beard standing on the head of a child. Moreover, the size difference between them was nearly double, so it seemed like her neck should have broken long ago.

'I didn't sense him at all…'

Even though Seol wasn't using Asura due to Karuna not being there, it was still surprising that he hadn't noticed the old man's presence at all.

The old man had a dazed expression, making it hard to tell if his eyes were open. Spectre acted as if it wasn't an old man standing on her head but rather just a feather.

"Eek! Eek!"

"Haha… Don't mind me and keep climbing. We're almost there."

"We came all the way to see you, old man. So why should we keep climbing?"

"Huh? You came to see me? Well, it doesn't matter. I'm hungry, so let's get up there and talk."

"Damn it…"

"Haha! We're almost there. Haven't you been here before?"

It was just as the old man said.

Soon, a shabby house that had a wide-open view came into sight.

The scenery looked like something that came out of a painting, and the house was just as humble like it belonged in that same painting.

"Are you still living in this kind of house?"

"Is the first thing you're going to say after all this time criticism?"

"…"

"I already knew you'd be coming."

Flinch!

Everyone except for Spectre flinched.

It seemed the old man noticed them from the very moment they began climbing the mountain.

Spectre further elaborated on this.

"Although the old man doesn't intervene in the present, he sees the future more clearly."

"You know that, yet you're trying to meddle in the Human Realm…"

"It's Yaksha we're talking about, so I have no choice. He's running wild in my domain.'

"Haha… That mask obsessed with power, huh?"

The mask…

The old man referred to it as a mask and not a sword.

It was often said that the sword and the mask were one. But the old man seemed to have a different interpretation.

'Could the mask be the main body…?'

While Seol continued to piece together his thoughts from their conversation, Spectre and the old man kept talking.

"That bastard… Can't you do something about it?"

"Why should I sweep the snow off someone else's yard?"

"Oof… Right. After all, you're someone who wouldn't care even if there's snow piling up in his own yard."

"Hahaha…"

Nothing about the old man suggested he was a Dragon. He gave off no aura—colorless and odorless.

They seemed to be words that had been coined to describe him.

"I see… You probably didn't come all the way here just to ask me to intervene… You probably have two purposes."

"…"

"To give you the sword to strike him down, and…"

Swoosh…

He pointed at Seol.

"To wake up the wandering demonic spirit."

The old man had accurately guessed why Seol's party had come to the Celestial World.

"Is it possible?"

"Of course it is. Who do you think I am?"

This person, who looked like an ordinary old man, was actually a Dragon—a being comparable to Hwagmu, who had once drenched the East in blood.

However, unlike Hwagmu, he didn't seem to have the sadistic hobby of killing humans. For a Dragon, it was hard to tell who among them was the 'normal' one.

'At least, he's someone with whom one can talk.'

But just as that thought had crossed his mind.

"But that sword isn't with me right now."

"What…? Are you joking?! Don't tell me you threw it away!"

"Listen until the end. Even though I'm not one to care about material things, there's no way I would discard something I've grown fond of. I've left it somewhere within reach."

"That means…"

"I've lent it to someone."

For some reason, the word lent sounded ominous.

The rest of the group most likely thought the same way.

"Don't tell me…"

"Hmm… Spectre."

"Why?"

"Hide."

"You damn old man!"

Paf—!

Spectre quickly dashed inside the house.

"Haha… She's still as reckless as ever."

Even the Ghost King, someone who ruled over the Ghost Realm, seemed like a granddaughter to the Dragon.

Whoosh…

The group was frozen as a shadow was cast over the mountain's top.

At that moment, when everyone looked up at the sky.

"Oh my god…"

The massive creature casting the shadow over them was none other than the White Whale.

Swoosh…

The White Whale began shrinking.

Tap—!

Having transformed into a woman, it landed on the ground with a soft step.

Although the woman had sharp eyes, her body was adorned with lavish decorations and was incredibly beautiful.

"Old one."

"Little Kyung, so you've come."

"I told you not to call me that… Who are they?"

"They're acquaintances of Yo-ah."

"Oh, so they're humans. No wonder…"

The White Whale covered her nose.

"There was such a foul smell…"

"Hahaha… Was there really a need to say that so loudly?"

"I apologize, but I simply couldn't bear the smell and…"

The woman's gaze sharpened.

"Yes… I can smell the scent of a ghost…"

As the group tensed at her words, the White Whale seemed to grow even more suspicious of them.

She began circling the group.

This was bad.

It seems like things have taken a turn for the worse.

"Things have gotten intertwined…"

The words Hamun had muttered were truth. Things had gone awry.

What Hamun had seen was most likely the same thing Seol was seeing.

The sword hanging from the White Whale's waist was undoubtedly the Tohyang.

The Tohyang wasn't in the hands of the Dragon but hers.