Chapter 191: Chapter 60. A Contract with the Spirits (1)
The growth of the spirits went smoothly. Now, there were more than 10 intermediate spirits besides Rei and Sera, and most spirits had obtained egos.
There were no high-grade spirits yet as a big gap existed between intermediate and high. It was bigger than lowest to low or low to intermediate.
Even in the World of Spirits, most of the spirits could not evolve up to a high level. To evolve to a high-level one, they had to have not only many experiences but also some special involvements. Becoming a high-ranking spirit was not an easy thing.
The compensation that I could earn from the skill called ‘Commune with Spirits’ backed up this fact. When the lowest turned low grade, I could get 500 points. Moreover, I could get 5,000 points from low to intermediate. However, when intermediate spirits became high-level ones, I would get 500,000 points. It was 100 times higher.
Last time, when Lyhee had been in danger, I could learn how to communicate with the spirits. I had contemplated having spirits contract with humans later, but it seemed like it would be okay to proceed now.
Due to the Trees of Life and Death, more awakened heroes were appearing these days. Thus, it would be a good time for the spirits to contract with humans.
‘The double contract will help me to easily control humans,’ I thought.
There were approximately 100,000 spirits, and all of them were already contracted with me. It was normally impossible, but I guessed it could have happened because of the Great Fire I had.
Thanks to this, I could effectively destroy the second contract with humans if I wanted to. I would be able to use spirits to secretly mobilize humans.
“Father, please find contractors for Sera and me.”
“Please.”
Rei and Sera, who were as tall as the size of a torso of an adult human, came to visit me. The two of them were now shape-shifters. They could transform into humans. Just like their names, they looked like ordinary girls, but their hair was made of fire.
I was sitting on a chair made of stone near the Tree of Origin, doing nothing. I was free from worries, and it was the first time I had ever felt this relaxed, not even in my previous life. Usually, I would use this time for training, but I wasn’t feeling motivated at all. I assumed it was a side effect consuming my clone.
It wasn’t a bad feeling. However, Rei and Sera had interrupted my moment of peace, which led me to answer them in a not-so-nice tone.
“I told you to find them yourselves.”
“B-but…no spirit had made a contract yet. We thought we should demonstrate first…”
“I’m sorry…”
Rei and Sera sensed my anger and were apologetic. I got up from my seat, rubbing between my brows with frustration.
“The spirits didn’t make any contract?”
“Yes. But as their eldest sisters, if we can demonstrate for them, I think they will be able to do well because we are all somewhat connected to each other.”
“Yes, she is right,” Rei agreed sincerely.
“Hmm… I honestly haven’t thought about this…,” I admitted.
Even if they knew how to communicate with me, none of them had left the dungeon yet. Looking for a contractor themselves would be something they could not even imagine. That was why Rei and Sera had come to me for advice. If they did not come to me and I let them do things on their own, a lot of stuff would be much delayed.
“Hmm… Contractors for Rei and Sera…”
Those two were special. They were the first ones who had become intermediate-grade sprits and followed me without question. They manifested advanced growth among the intermediate spirits, too. Thus, I expected one of them would become a high-level spirit soon.
The first contract was very important. It wouldn’t hurt finding someone special for them. They would show a good example for the rest of the spirits. However, I could not think of any suitable human.
“Yoo Eunhye and Edward?” I considered.
No, the intermediate spirits would not be helpful to them. To grow a spirit, the contractor should fight alongside the spirit, helping each other. But the two were already strong, so it was likely that they would not enlist the help of the spirits. Summoning spirits was hard work, consuming a lot of mana. It would be inefficient for them.
“Wait. I can use Kim Youra and Kim Minji.” I nodded.
Strictly speaking, they were under my control, but they were humans and currently staying outside the dungeon.
“This might be able to solve Kim Minji’s problem, too.”
The spirits had been of great help in restoring Lyhee’s soul. I assumed they might be able to help Kim Minji as well.
Kim Youra and Kim Minji had awakened as very strong Holy Women. When they were together, their powers were greatly amplified. I knew this fact, so there was no reason not to use it. However, Kim Minji’s ego needed to be restored first.
“They are outside the dungeon right now, so contracting with them will work.”
Kim Youra had suggested going outside the dungeon for her sister’s recovery. She hoped that seeing familiar places would help her heal. I had allowed it, so now they were living among humans. All the conditions were met.
“Follow me. I will introduce you to the contractors.”
“Yes, Father.”
“I’m excited!”
I grinned and started to move. Rei and Sera followed me, chattering.
***
Kim Youra had been wandering around South Korea with her sister. She had been taking her to places they had been, hoping this would awaken her mind. Fortunately, when Kim Youra awakened, all wounds had healed, and her stamina had increased significantly. She did not become easily tired even though she had been walking for hours.
“It’s a great place, isn’t it?”
There were only broken buildings and lush weeds, but Kim Youra was delighted. Although her sister wasn’t in good condition, she was still alive. Kim Minji’s artificial lower body looked no different from other people. The only problem was her mind.
‘Thanks to the savior…,’ Kim Youra thought.
She still couldn’t believe that he was the owner of the dungeon, but he was her greatest benefactor. He had saved her and her sister.
Most of all, he was the savior. Kim Youra supposed that there was a reason for him to work as a dungeon master. She viewed him differently compared with other demons.
“If not, what should I do?”
Kim Youra didn’t know what to do if he turned out to be an enemy of the humans. But for now, Kim Minji was her priority. She did not doubt that her sister would recover if she tried harder. In that sense, Kim Youra deserved to be called the Holy Woman. The most important thing to her was not herself.
“I guess we should leave soon. We’ve been here too long.”
Kim Youra looked around. People were wandering around vigorously. They bowed as soon as they found Kim Youra.
“Hello. Are you taking a walk?”
“Saint Youra! My shoulder is totally fine now. Thank you again!”
Kim Youra smiled at them. She was the Holy Woman who could heal people faster and more effectively than clerics. She could even delay or cure terminal illnesses. What she did was enough to be considered a miracle.
At first, she only healed injured people, but rumors had been going around about her and many people came looking for her since then. People even started calling her ‘Saint Youra’.
“I don’t have much time to spend here…”
A sullen look veiled her face. From the moment she was reborn, the dungeon became her home. Something was pressing on her chest since she had left the dungeon. She did not know what or why, but she just assumed that it might be related to the savior.
She asked permission for him to let them leave the dungeon for Kim Minji’s rehabilitation, but she wanted to solve the problem as quickly as possible and to return to the dungeon. Spending more time outside would be ingratitude. She had not thanked him yet.
“I will leave quietly in the evening,” Kim Youra decided.
She had stayed and tarried in this village too long. The people had been kind to her, which made it hard for her to leave. But she thought if she stayed longer, she might not be able to leave ever.
“Minji, look. The sky is so clear. I think I can hear the birds singing.”
Kim Youra talked gently to her sister. Kim Minji did not respond, but she continued talking anyway.
The sun had set, and the moon was rising. It was a clear evening, time for everyone to go to bed. Kim Youra quietly left the village.
“I feel a little sorry for them.”
The people in this village were all good-natured. It might be for the reason that they thought she was a saint, but they had given her a place to stay and food to eat as soon as she had arrived. She only had to cure patients sometimes, but she was able to leisurely spend time with her sister.
“Hey, Minji. We have to cross a mountain. Please put up with a little inconvenience.”
The only way out of the village was through the mountain. It was a tough climb with a wheelchair in tow, but Kim Youra was the Holy Woman. She was stronger than typical humans. She pushed the wheelchair effortlessly.
Crunch. Crunch.
The sound of rocks where the wheelchair passed by was loud. They had been climbing for a while. Suddenly, Kim Youra frowned at the smell of blood.
“It definitely smells of human blood.”
She could recognize the smell without even trying. She turned her body. She wanted to check if someone was wounded. She walked around for about five minutes and arrived where the smell was coming from. She was surprised at what she found.
“They are just bums. How they have nothing with them?”
“Damn it. What a waste of time! This bastard was not awakened but was good at the sword. Goddamn, my leg!”
“The injured ones! Go to see Saint Youra tomorrow. She can cure you well.”
Bodies were on the ground, while people, who Youra knew, were sitting on top of them. They were folks from the village. It seemed like they hunted other humans.
Snapped.
The wheelchair moved across a twig and made a sound. The villagers turned their gaze at where Kim Youra was.
“Huh? Saint Youra?”
“It’s already late. Where are you going?”
Their eyes looked weird. It was as if they were on something.
Kim Youra frowned and said, “What is going on? Why did you attack these people?”
Even though they were caught, they shrugged it off, as if it wasn’t a big deal. They laughed at Kim Youra.
“Well… We can’t help it. We have to do something to survive.”
“What should we do to her? We need you, Saint Youra. Thanks to you, our death rate has been significantly reduced.”
“Hey, Saint Youra. This part of me swelled up! You will fix this, right?”
They didn’t hesitate to spit out obscene jokes.
‘They are insane,’ Kim Youra thought.
She was sure. They were all intoxicated. It was a dangerous situation. She didn’t know what they would do to her and her sister.
‘Eight people… Will I able to handle them alone?’ she contemplated. ‘Well, I have to.’
Running away was not an option. She was worried about Kim Minji. She could not leave her unattended.
“I guess that is why people said ‘Don’t trust others’.”
People who seemed good on the outside were actually vicious inside. Kim Youra carefully tied the wheelchair to a tree and bit her lip.
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