Chapter 40
Episode 40
Namgung looked at the soul beads floating around him and made an expression of not understanding.
‘The only thing that can be made to work through necromancy is the soul of a human…’ It
was something he never imagined that among monsters, the soul of the Minotaur, the boss of the dungeon, would appear before him.
Ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssingssssssssssuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu but… but
when he spread his palm upwards, the demon ball landed on him.
“what is this?”
Park Hyo-joo looked at the brightly shining bead and asked curiously.
“You’d better not touch it. Because the soul of a monster contains a powerful poison. “If you get addicted, you won’t be able to detox even if you use up all the heads you’ve collected.”
“Ugh…”
At Namgung’s words, Park Hyo-joo hurriedly hid her outstretched hand behind her.
▶ Do you want to serve?
He nodded slowly.
Hua Ah … !!
At that moment, a thick hand came out, breaking the bead as if the Minotaur soul contained within the red bead was hatching.
“…!!!”
“…!!!”
At that sight, Jang Gil-soo and Park Hyo-joo were startled and took a step back.
▶ Soul Ministry Lv2 is available.
▶ The number of souls available for ministry has exceeded the maximum.
▶ Number of available commands: 3/3
“Hmm…”
Namgung couldn’t help but think for a moment.
‘Minotaur is the boss of the dungeon. There is a high possibility that he has more power than the heroic spirits of the National Cemetery.’
Since the number of souls available for service was already at its maximum, one had to give up one of the heroic spirits in order to tame it.
However, unlike the patriotic spirits that accompanied him, he was not a human but a monster.
He wasn’t sure if the guy was really friendly towards him.
‘What’s important in dealing with necromancy is how well the spirits you handle follow your orders.’
On the contrary, it would be even more troublesome if a powerful spirit even caused a backlash.
“I will ask you. Why do you want to follow me? “I am the one who killed you.”
Namgung looked at the soul of the Minotaur standing in front of him and asked in a low voice.
[Crrrrr…]
The guy who was trying to say something started grabbing his head as if he was in pain.
Clap… Clap…
At that moment, the Minotaur’s skin began to split vertically, as if it was shedding its skin.
Another hand protruding from inside the bastard’s body began to slowly push the crack to either side.
“What is that?”
“Who is inside the monster?”
Namgung frowned slightly at the shocking sight.
Damn…!!
And the moment the cow’s skin was torn off, a completely different being stood there.
It was a human being.
[Please let me get out of here…]
He knelt in front of Namgung and spoke in a weak voice.
Only then did Namgung understand why he, the revealer of the seven serpents who manipulated human souls, could minister to the souls of monsters.
“Who wants to buy it?”
Jang Gil-su looked at the soul that appeared in front of Namgung and said with a puzzled expression.
“The Minotaur is a half-human, half-bull monster. A being that is half monster but half human… Does this mean that it is not just a monster, but that it has both the soul of a human and the soul of a monster?”
However, Park Hyo-joo looked at Namgung with surprised eyes as she saw his soul.
“Do you know the myth well?”
“Just… to a certain extent. There was a time in high school when I was really into it. “It doesn’t really suit you, does it?”
“I don’t think so.”
While she was answering while scratching her head, she slightly shrugged her shoulders at Namgung’s words.
“Do you know anything else about this guy?”
“Umm… As a side note, the Minotaur we called him is not his real name. “It just means the cow of King Minos.”
“then?”
“Asterion.”
Namgung nodded slowly.
“Thunderlight… it has a very fitting name.”
He slowly walked towards Asterion’s soul and held out his hand to him
.
“What can you do for me if you let me get out of here?”
[… Anything.]
He looked at Namgung.
“But in order to make a contract with you, I must destroy the soul soldiers I have. They are the ones who want to fight for me. “Are you worthy enough that I have to kill them again for my own greed?”
[There is no need to kill anyone. Because I have no desire to kill anyone anymore.]
That was then.
The soul shell of the Minotaur he tore off instantly turned to ash and attacked Namgung.
“…!!!”
At the same time as the intense whirlpool, ash spread all over his body.
▶ Soul Absorption Lv2 is available.
▶ The Minotaur’s spiritual body permeates you.
‘This…’
At that moment, Namgung could feel the blood vessels all over his body fluttering wildly.
▶ The hero’s spiritual body has been absorbed.
▶ The number of souls available for ministry increases through contact with higher spiritual bodies.
▶ Number of available spirits: 3 → 4. The spirit
grabbed
Namgung’s hand.
“Are you saying you want to throw away leather and save your soul? “It’s terrible, but he looks like the owner of a dungeon.”
Looking at the hand that was desperately grasping, Namgung spoke in a quiet voice.
“I will accept it.”
Woouuuuu–!!
It was then.
A mournful sound of the wind, like the lowing of a cow, began to fill the hall of the altar where they were standing.
▶ Requiem work has been completed.
▶ The soul knight follows you.
A notice announcing the ministry appeared before his eyes.
A requiem, not a soul.
As expected from the boss of the dungeon and a Demigod, it was a dark and condensed soul that was different from the soul in the National Cemetery.
Kwaak-
Namgung looked at the soul that appeared in front of him and instinctively clenched his fists.
Wow…!!
Black smoke enveloped Asterion’s soul, and a huge ax along with thick armor was placed in his hands.
At that moment, the three remaining soul soldiers all kneeled down and placed one hand on the floor.
Churrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…!!
Black thorns emerged from beneath their feet and began to cover them.
▶ The energy of the requiem deepens the souls of the soldiers.
▶ Soul soldiers are strengthened.
‘Soul soldiers are being strengthened?’
Namgung’s eyes widened at the notification he heard.
“Hmm…”
He let out a faint groan as he looked at the changing soul soldiers.
‘The soul soldiers I dealt with in my past life were all different in appearance, and except for the last one, they were all ordinary human souls.’
In fact, to him, soldiers were just a kind of expendable goods.
Of course, that doesn’t mean they thought nothing of their disappearance.
Every time a soldier disappears, the pain seeps into the contractor himself.
That is why Namgung was more careful than anything else when contracting soul soldiers.
‘But now we may have found a way to protect them as well.’
Kuung-!
Asterion raised his huge ax and bowed his head towards Namgung.
He was wearing much thicker armor than the other soldiers.
In addition, the red light seen in Hongu was leaking from the joints of the armor.
▶ The reinforcement of the soul soldiers has been completed.
With the announcement, the three soldiers behind Asterion slowly stood up.
Excited… Excited…
Even Namgung, who had maintained his composure no matter what happened until now, couldn’t help but tremble at this moment.
Clap- Kwaung-!!
Behind the gray mask, blue eyes were shining. Namgung knew instinctively.
That I can feel a power in them that is incomparable to anything I have experienced before.
“This is getting fun.”
Namgung looked at them and smiled strangely.
* * *
“What happened today….”
“I don’t plan on talking to anyone. After all, I am still the president of the association. “I know how important the words people say are.”
Jang Gil-su, who came out of the dungeon, raised his finger and drew a horizontal line across his lips as if he was closing a zipper, as if he wanted to keep quiet about what he saw at the altar.
“Even more so if it goes against your wishes. “I have no intention of turning you into an enemy.”
“It’s a good thing to hear. “I also want to join forces with engineers in Majang-dong.”
“If we have to keep fighting these monsters in the future, it will be fine. “Because being with a strong person like you increases your chances of survival.”
“mister!!!”
“Are you coming now?”
“What was down there? “Please talk to me!”
As soon as Jang Gil-su finished speaking, the children in the market started rushing in.
‘Those who have people to protect have no choice but to be strong.’
Looking at the children around him, Namgoong gave Jang Gil-su one last request before leaving.
“It’s a shame that the jam jar was broken, but… it would be better to buy a weapon first.”
“I understand.”
Because he had been treated harshly in the dungeon, Jang Gil-su nodded at his words.
“They come out through the water. Rather than blocking them inside the market, it would be better to defend them using the buildings in the food alley on the Cheonggyecheon side.”
“Hmm. “Keep that in mind.”
“And there is something I would like to ask of you. “If possible, could you please find one person?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“This is a man named Man Deok-su. “I remember running a hardware store in Nowon-gu.”
“Mandeoksu… I understand. Nowon-gu is not that far away. I have some younger brothers who live there, so I will look for them. “I’ll contact you.”
“thank you.”
Namgung nodded at his words.
Mandeoksu, who was called the King of Workshops, had the ability to manufacture numerous tools and daily necessities.
‘If Jang Gil-su and Man Deok-su join forces… the safety of Gangbuk can be further strengthened.’
“Survive and join us next time for some strong takju. “I don’t know if I’ll eat the meat for both of you… no, I’ll just prepare it in an amazing way.”
Jang Gil-soo waved his hands and said, as if he didn’t want to even talk about dying in this situation.
“Don’t stop at just surviving. Stay here. Save more people. “You can do it.”
“It puts a weight on my shoulders.”
Namgung smiled slightly as he looked at the children around Jang Gil-su who were looking at him with wonder.
“then.”
* * *
“wait a minute!”
Park Hyo-joo ran after Namgung.
“why?”
“What should I do now?”
She asked him, somewhat hesitantly. Namgoong tilted his head as if he was puzzled by her appearance.
“I would have clearly told you the way. “Let Jang Gil-su learn how to use a sword.”
“That’s not it.”
“then?”
“…It’s my father’s work.”
It was not a story that could be brought up easily.
However, after seeing Namgung’s power in the labyrinth, she was convinced that only Namgung could provide the answer.
“doesn’t exist.”
“…yes?”
But contrary to expectations, nothing he said was enough to make me relax.
“You just have to do your best at your position. Because rebellion happens in chaos. “Isn’t it your job to prevent confusion?”
Namgung looked at her.
“As I said to the prime minister, if you don’t have power, you can’t do anything. “You set up the monster task force that the prime minister wants to create.”
The true evil unit is hers anyway.
And since I had already confirmed in my previous life that my teammates would become stronger under her, I could trust her and leave it to her.
“…All right.”
Park Hyo-joo nodded as if she had made up her mind.
“And it would be good to have a little faith in my father. At least he is an ambitious person, but he was a soldier before that. “He is not a great man who will take power even while destroying the country.”
She smiled bitterly, as if she felt a little relieved at his words.
“And there will be things that need to be resolved first. “Maybe this will soon happen all over the country.”
“What is that?”
“Apocalypse, where the portal opens and monsters pour out. Things you only see in movies are happening in real life right now. There are groups that inevitably appear in these situations. “Those who cry that the world is ruined.”
What was feared in the apocalypse was not just disaster. What is more scary than that is the damage caused by people.
“Hunting monsters is enough. But the hole in a crumbling heart cannot be filled by hunting.”
Namgung spoke to her.
“At first, it might just be a few people holding picket signs and shouting through loudspeakers. But that small spark will spread quickly. There will be large gatherings and eventually they will show up.”
“They?”
Park Hyo-joo looked at him with trembling eyes.
“A fanatic.”
He let out a low breath.
“Because humans are actually more fearful than monsters. Before the third gate of hell opens…”
San Francisco, Liverpool, Naples, Sydney….
Many cities suffered damage due to the doomsdayists. And South Korea also could not avoid their fire.
“Incheon may disappear from Korea.”
“…!!!”
Namgung’s voice struck her ears.