703 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

The second phase, he says. The Siwang Elder, having mentioned that, seemed to be deep in thought, unable to easily continue speaking. "Surely not? Could it be that I have to convey my intention in a way other than through blood?" That seemed certain. No wonder he was being so awkward about it. Why hadn't I considered it before? Surely, blood isn't the only liquid in the human body. There's usually more than one way to awaken a sleeping princess. “Do not worry.” “Hmm?” “I am ready.” So the second phase was a kiss. It's alright, Elder. Acts of rescue are not considered as acts of intimacy. However, Siwang Elder, today’s act is artificial respiration, not a kiss. Make sure to let your other fiancées know. Let's prepare at once. Considering this might be her first deep kiss, maybe I should brush my teeth again. No, perhaps I should practice mixing my intention into saliva first. “Right. Indeed. Offering a hand to someone in desperate need is not about personal safety.” Seeing the determination mixed in my gaze, the Siwang Elder nodded in understanding. Wait? Elder, your words sound a bit off. “Is this perhaps a dangerous task?” It wasn't a kiss? The Siwang Elder’s reply was something unexpected. “From now on, do not answer.” “Pardon?” “Even if a voice speaks within your mind, do not respond.” “What on earth does that mean?” “From now on, the malevolent spirits will target you.” —— “How captivating the child’s body is to these evil spirits, you must already know.” Seeing my puzzled expression, the Siwang Elder continued his explanation. “A child wearing the armor of an adult—that’s the disparity between the soul and the body, providing gaps for the spirits to exploit. You remember the tales I’ve told you before.” “Though you’re growing its soul with your intention, the problem is not gone. In fact, a new problem has emerged.” It’s a situation different from the initial. Recently, a warning given by a woman came to mind. “Is it about me?” When I gestured toward myself, the Siwang Elder nodded slightly. “The bond between you and the child is growing stronger. With the pathways of consciousness connected, danger can be signaled to you regardless of the distance.” “Indeed. When I first heard the woman’s voice, it was only when I slept.” The first time I heard the woman's voice was when I changed my residence. Whether out for work or moving about busily, I couldn’t hear her voice. It only happened when I slept, so I thought maybe the site was bad—turns out that’s why. “The home named Kang Yunho and the child’s home are connected via a pathway. Imagine what thoughts the bandits targeting the child’s home might have.” Emergency notification. The raid event has been updated. Not only the Hovering City’s home, but also the home of the black-haired barbarian can be targeted. “It’s like a cash duplication event. Or more like a body duplication event.” I understood immediately. “They’ll mostly rush to the room guarded by a little puppy alone, but occasionally, there might be spirits interested in the room where a man sleeps.” “Indeed, I'm not a man that maiden spirits would easily let slip.” “……” It was a joke to lighten the heavy mood, but it seems it didn’t land. I get the situation. The pathway connecting me and the Hovering City can apparently be used by spirits too. Is there no way to resolve this? “What should be done?” “Do nothing.” The Siwang Elder’s answer was surprisingly simple. “What?” “Though they’re called evil spirits, they are merely wraiths. The dead cannot affect the living. As long as you are a lively human, they can covet your body, but they’ll never possess it.” The Siwang Elder’s voice conveyed more than confidence—it was like he stated an unyielding truth. If the Siwang Elder reassures it, maybe there’s no great cause for concern. “Seems like it’s not as serious as I thought.” “……You might experience sleep paralysis, discomfort, and nightmares.” “Isn’t that dangerous enough?” That’s not a minor issue! “That’s the extent of it. No matter how hard the spirits struggle, you’ll wake up in a cold sweat with a heavy body, feeling unrested.” “It does seem like a serious situation, though.” “A cold morning bath would solve it effortlessly. You’re young, overflowing with male energy, and a Joseon man at that—there’s no need to worry.” Elder, aren’t you taking this too lightly? I check every morning, and functionality isn’t an issue, but not being able to sleep peacefully feels significant. “Is there a solution?” “Time will solve it. The child’s soul needs to mature. When both homes are alight, the bandits won't dare think of trespassing.” “So it’s not merely that I might end up in danger, as you said.” Like facing a relentless storm, it’s a matter of endurance. You mentioned at first that our lives might be at risk. Thinking it was just feeding her intention-infused blood, I considered it too simple. “Of course, there’s another way, but it’s almost useless.” “What kind of way is it, then?” To protect my restful sleep, if it’s something worth trying, I’d like to attempt it. “There is a method to spark the child’s growth by speaking to its soul. Though I’ve tried my whole life, only to fail time and again.” “You mentioned a connection between me and the Hovering City, haven’t you?” While it might be hard for me to initiate a conversation, I could respond when the Enhanced Human Lady speaks to me. “It’s like you’re singing alone in a bandit-infested mountain.” Right, you mentioned I’m not alone in the connected pathways. “Not responding, even when you hear voices, was to mean that as well.” “From today, keep your distance from women to preserve your vitality. Anything else you’d like to ask?” The Hovering City’s growth simulation, phase two. Sometimes I can hear the voices of spirits. It's making sleep uncomfortable. I understood the situation. Any questions? As I pondered, a curiosity suddenly popped into my mind. “I do have one.” “Feel free to ask.” The Siwang Elder nodded eagerly, willing to answer any question I had. Right. If there's anything I'm curious about, it's best to resolve it now. In this entire world, he's probably the only one who'll field this kind of question. “If these malevolent spirits are targeting my body, do succubi or incubi actually exist?” “…..?” “Not that I'm interested in seeking them out, but is there any truth to the legend that you can subdue a succubus by satisfying it?” Not that I'd really want to try, but if one suddenly appeared before my eyes, it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot, would it? I asked earnestly. “…Let me know if anything suspicious happens again, and be cautious for a while.” With a deep sigh, the Siwang Elder rose from his seat but offered no further insight. "Elder! Elder!" He's just leaving like that. So did he confirm that succubi exist or not? ——— “Spirits?” “Not yet, but I hear it might happen soon.” In horror movies, protagonists always make things worse by not telling others about strange occurrences. I have no intention of becoming a horror movie protagonist. I promptly informed Gilsan Yi and Un Yeop about the situation. “Dealing with demons, visiting fairyland, having three fiancées, you sure have a lot going on. This has something to do with the Siwang Elder's ice chamber, right?” I vaguely explained that the Hovering City's situation was connected to the matter of Sanhasajikdo and the woman’s treatment. By the way, what's the matter with having three fiancées? “They say time will solve the problem.” “Then don’t worry too much. It’ll sort itself out soon enough.” “Correct. Worrying excessively over something that might not even happen isn’t a good habit.” “I just feel like our family might face downfall… it feels like some sort of prophecy.” My heart felt heavy. Perhaps the Siwang Elder hesitated to tell me because he was concerned I'd fret unnecessarily. “Can't have that!” Did I look distressed? Gilsan Yi smiled and suddenly stood up. “Huh?” “As your advisor brother-in-law, Gilsan Yi will offer you a special strategy.” Gilsan, you look less like a strategist and more like a treacherous advisor who dies in the movie's second act. TGloWlBtWUkwZWhUWHNtSC9RL1BObXo5MnNnZUhjcVlMM21FMHNDTGlwUGYwLzYyL1hpZFlOVldxU0p6Q28zSg “Enough with the weird riddles. What is it?” “Let’s play at the giru today.” “Haa.” As typical of you. “Don’t sigh at me like that, just listen. They said you need to recharge your vitality. Where better than a giru?” “Didn't you hear they said to stay away from women?” “You don’t get it, do you? Listen well. At a giru, women who make your heart flutter just by meeting your gaze will dance for you, sing for you, pour you drinks, and you’ll be so light-headed from their mysterious fragrance, you can't tell if it’s the scent of flowers or them.” “You’re unusually descriptive for you.” Gilsan smiled confidently, raising a finger in triumph despite my sarcasm. “That’s how you recharge your vitality! As long as you don't sleep with them in the heat of the moment, you revitalize and sleep it off.” “Well…” Listening to him, it made a surprising amount of sense. “How about it? Your reputation has spread all over Anyang. There are courtesans in line longing to meet you. Just nod, and you can meet the finest courtesans of Anyang, even those hard to book ordinarily.” Gilsan's face was filled with unabashed anticipation. Gilsan, you clever rascal. You had a separate agenda, after all. “That was your goal all along, wasn’t it? Never mind…” “Aren’t you supposed to have drinks with the lower officials of Anyang today, regarding the licensing issue?” “Un Yeop?” Before I could decline, Un Yeop, the Deputy Director, chimed in with a faint smile. “Meeting the renowned entertainers might certainly aid your cause.” “Right, but…” These entertainers are the idols of this era. Seating the lower officials in VVIP spots at an idol concert will surely make a good impression. “Let’s go. We have nothing to lose.” Gilsan smiled broadly, thumbing towards the exit. Surely, treating them well while also conducting an experiment can't hurt. “Alright, let’s prepare.” I ended up agreeing with a smile, resigned to the idea. The city on the eastern lake, Anyang. Whether these beautiful courtesans truly revitalized one’s vitality was uncertain, but the hosting effect on the officials was unmistakably positive. —— “Ugh, argh!” My entire body feels heavy. I feel something weighing down on me. My heavy breathing escapes in agony. “Ughhhh!” Could it be sleep paralysis? It feels like my insides are twisting. Gilsan, didn’t you say visiting a brothel would recharge my energy? My future in-laws have prettier fiancées, so maybe keeping them at bay was wrong. “Ughhhhhh.” I’m going to die. How many days do I have to endure this? ‘Get a grip.’ Don’t panic. Draw upon the courage, purity, love, and hope—those things spirits don’t possess. Let’s leave friendship out of it since it can be controversial. My chaotic mind settles peacefully. Right. If it’s truly a malevolent spirit, I’ll drive it away. Should I chant a spell? No, that’s a temporary fix. What else could work? Focus your mind. The sensation pressing on my body loosened. The heaviness didn’t vanish, but it felt as if my spirit was surpassing my physical form. Then, it happened. There’s a way to speak to that child. The advice from the Siwang Elder echoed in my mind. “Need help?” In the darkness. Amidst my tossing and turning, I asked without realizing. [Help… me.] Consciousness flickered for a moment. —— “Unbelievable.” Waking up, I found myself in a familiar darkness. A single pathway laid out. Surrounding me was a bottomless pit, infinite darkness. “Sanhasajikdo? No, has something connected?” Similar, but not the same. It looked like the singular path of Sanhasajikdo, but it was clear this wasn't the Fairy Realm. A suspicious, otherworldly laughter echoed through the air. "So there's a way back… indeed." Looking back, I saw a door. It was a door I had never laid eyes on yet felt so familiar. Instinctively, I knew that opening it and stepping through would awaken me from this dream. Should I return? I sensed an unclear presence stealthily approaching from behind. The darkness quivered. A damp aura crept slowly across the ground. Much like a viper eyeing its prey's neck, it approached, ready to swallow me whole in one bite. Should I open the door? Just when I hesitated, something strange happened. 一 Ooooooh. A voice of distress echoed. The darkness halted. It could not progress. The cry of a starving serpent, unable to consume its prey right before it, reverberated. “Can't get closer, can you…?" Could it be? I snapped my fingers. A golden aura began to emanate from my fingertips, illuminating the world with heavenly energy. 一 Squeaaaak! The sound of a snake's neck being torn echoed. With a single step forward, the darkness retreated. The wild beasts, ready to pounce at what they thought was prey from within the shadows, backed away. That's right. Wraiths are beings that defy the will of heaven and linger in this world. If that's the case... "Aha. So, you're scared of me, aren't you?"