Chapter 304

Talismans are used by everyone from shamans to spellcasters, but the types—and what they’re meant for—are completely different.

What my grandmother—my first teacher—used were tools for sealing and defense.

What Chief Baek used were tools meant purely for exorcism.

A talisman is born when you draw it using blood from a specific animal as ink, and let it take shape alongside the maker’s spirit-qi—binding that energy into the lines.

The user’s intent matters, sure. But in the end, because the maker’s beliefs become the foundation—

What mattered most was who made it, and how.

And that was exactly why the talismans those heretic bastards used felt so alien.

They weren’t meant to seal spirits or drive them out.

If anything...

‘They’re meant to call things in.’

They made talismans to lure in

more

ghost-souls.

The purpose was summoning—nothing else—and what they summoned wasn’t some ordinary wandering spirit.

‘Malicious ghosts.’

They used them to draw in malicious ghosts—things packed to the brim with pure, rotten malice.

Which meant—

‘The material for this talisman is...’

The writing on it. The blood used to draw those strokes wasn’t animal blood.

Like I said before, malicious ghosts despise humans. They want to corrupt them.

And if you’re talking about the kind of ingredient that gathers those things...

‘Human blood.’

Using human blood to make a talisman—that was the heretics’ method.

‘This is definitely their way.’

The form of the talisman stuck to the stake, the energy I could feel coming off it—everything matched the way those bastards did it back then.

‘How the hell...?’

Confusion surged up. Why would this be here?

I couldn’t make sense of it.

‘Am I mistaken?’

If it was

only

the “draw it with blood” part, then maybe. There could be some other lunatic here doing the same thing.

But—

‘Goddamn it.’

I knew better than anyone that wasn’t it.

Starting with the paper itself—the kind used to make the talisman—down to the way the characters were written, down to the

feel

of how energy had been embedded into it—

It was identical to the method I’d seen.

I said it already: talismans differ completely depending on the maker.

Different energy. Different techniques. Different philosophy.

Even a small deviation changes the result dramatically.

So for it to be this similar—no, to be

exactly the same

—wasn’t possible.

Not unless the maker was the same.

“......”

I stared at the stake, my face twisting.

‘...Tch.’

My insides shook.

Why are the bastards who tortured me that badly in my past life showing up

here

of all places?

I’d rather this be a misunderstanding. A mistake.

‘...What the hell is going on?’

How could this possibly be connected? No matter how I turned it over, it wouldn’t click.

‘Those bastards were supposed to be...’

In my past life, I—no,

we

—dealt with them. We blocked them with every method we had, so they couldn’t pull any more stupid tricks.

So why the hell would something like this show up after I reincarnated and ended up in the Central Plains?

It shouldn’t.

“......”

I examined the stake closely.

It felt ominous. Disgusting. That foul sensation was coming from the talisman’s energy.

‘At least it doesn’t look like it’s pulling malicious ghosts in yet—like that abandoned house did.’

That abandoned house had already been swarmed, packed so full of malice it made your teeth ache.

This space, on the other hand, was saturated with spirit-qi because of the stake—but malicious ghosts hadn’t invaded.

There was only one reason.

‘Because the trap hasn’t opened yet.’

The stake hadn’t fully absorbed life force.

The trap wasn’t operating at full efficiency yet.

Judging by the speed it was absorbing life force...

‘Probably about three days.’

In about three days, the stake would finish sucking it in and the setup would be complete.

And in that moment, the trap would manifest.

Meaning—

‘Every malicious ghost in the area will come running.’

They’d swarm toward the stake, and this entire space would become stuffed with malice.

Just imagining it pissed me off.

‘And.’

As far as I could tell, that wasn’t the only problem.

‘This isn’t the only one, is it?’

Like the abandoned house—there was no way this stake was the only one.

‘You soak the ground by scattering human blood, then you use stakes to absorb the life force in that area.’

You take your time and complete the formation.

‘...Ah.’

A chilling thought slipped through me.

I matched it with the heretics’ “pillars” I’d seen in my past life.

What did they do that for?

There was only one answer.

‘...A disaster deity.’

They were planning to call in a disaster deity.

Whatever the reason was.

*****

Before the night could get any deeper, I returned to the quarters with the Small Moon Unit Leader.

I erased every trace of what we’d done in the cave, and I left the stake where it was.

I’d considered bringing it, but if I took it, there was a chance they’d notice.

‘If they catch on about the stake... it’ll be a nightmare to respond.’

Not the “double agent” angle—if they started focusing on the stake itself, I could see how everything would turn to hell fast.

So for now, I left it.

Of course, I didn’t

just

leave it and walk away.

I did what I could before I came back.

“Tch....”

Arms folded, I sank into thought.

‘What do I do with this?’

What the hell was I supposed to do? Why are the heretics suddenly popping up?

“Christ, I’m gonna lose it.”

Wasn’t one lifetime of those bastards enough? Why are they crawling out in the Central Plains too?

‘Are they even really heretics?’

If they weren’t, it was weird.

If they

were

, it was even weirder.

What connection does the HEAVEN-BREAKING PALACE have to the heretics from my world? And even if it

did

—how?

There was no point of contact. None I could see.

“Agh....”

I was letting out a frustrated groan when—

[Why do you look like you’re about to cry again?]

“......!”

A dry voice came from beside me.

Yoo Cheongil.

“...Where the hell have you been? You’re only showing up now?”

I clicked my tongue at the old man.

[I had something to check, so I went and looked.]

“Yeah. Sure you did.”

Off wandering around alone again, I guess. That’s why he’s never around when it actually matters.

“So what did you go look at this time?”

I asked without expecting anything. Because I figured he wouldn’t tell me anyway.

But—

[Strange Demon. I went to see where that bastard is.]

“...Huh?”

Shockingly, Yoo Cheongil actually answered.

[What’s with that face?]

“I just... didn’t think you’d tell me.” I frowned. “Why are you telling me?”

[Because it’s important information, obviously.]

“You don’t usually tell me.”

[That’s because whenever you hear things, you’re guaranteed to go do something stupid.]

“...And you think I won’t if I hear this?”

[Who knows?]

Yoo Cheongil gave a slight smile.

It was a truly punchable smile.

But—

‘Where Strange Demon is...’

The fact that he’d seen where Strange Demon was.

That made me ask ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) immediately.

“...Where?”

[Why? You want me to tell you?]

“Yes.”

I needed to confirm something—right now.

*****

The moment I got back to my quarters, I went right back out.

This time, the Small Moon Unit Leader wasn’t with me.

I knew it was dangerous, but I had to confirm it for myself—and with Yoo Cheongil here, I judged it would be fine.

I’d go quick. Quiet. Get back before anyone noticed.

“Nobody’s following, right?”

[No.]

I used Yoo Cheongil to confirm in case anyone latched onto me.

Thankfully, it didn’t look like there was a tail.

Maybe because I came out along the path Yoo Cheongil told me.

After that, I kept moving under his guidance.

The direction was the exact opposite of the cave I’d gone to before.

I passed through the forest and walked for a long time. Followed a mountain stream carved into the trail.

And after carefully making my way farther and farther—

“...Is this it?”

SAAAAA—!

The sound of water.

At the end of the stream, I found a waterfall.

It wasn’t huge. But the path to get here was nasty, and the area was so deserted it was hard to even locate.

“You’re saying there’s something behind it.”

[Yes.]

“...You’re sure there’s no one inside?”

[There used to be. But something happened, and then it disappeared.]

“.......”

Something happened, and then it disappeared.

The second I heard that, I moved straight toward the waterfall.

HUDUDUDUK—!!!

The flow wasn’t strong, so it was easy to push into.

I leaned into the curtain of water and peered inside.

It was night. Pitch-black.

So I tightened my gaze and opened my Moon Eyes.

HOOOOOO—!!!

A blue light swirled through my vision, and the inside came into view.

A space that brightened as if lamps were lit, even though there weren’t any.

The moment I stepped in—

“......!”

I clapped a hand over my nose.

The stench of blood hit me thick.

I dropped my gaze and grabbed a fistful of dirt.

Wet. Slick.

I brushed it lightly—

Red moisture smeared across my hand.

Blood.

‘It wasn’t long ago.’

Meaning the blood hadn’t been poured onto the ground that long ago.

After confirming that, I pressed my palm to the earth.

UUUUUUNG—!!

Life force.

Because it hadn’t been long, the sensation was vivid.

And I could feel it—life force flowing quickly

somewhere

.

‘...Of course.’

Same thing again.

A stake.

There was a stake driven into this space too.

I tracked the flow, moved toward its end, then drew my sword again.

SSRRRNG—!

The Divine Sword slid free.

And just like before, I started digging.

PAK—! PAK—!

[......Kid. What are you doing right now?]

Yoo Cheongil stared at me like I’d lost my mind.

“Can’t you tell? I’m digging.”

[That’s exactly my question. Why are you suddenly digging—and why, of all things, are you doing it with that precious sword?]

“I don’t have a shovel. And maybe because it’s a good blade, it digs really well.”

[Unbelievable. What kind of lunatic digs with a legendary sword?]

“And in an emergency, you think I have time to be picky?”

As long as it digs, it digs.

If it’s a great sword, it won’t chip easily, and it won’t snap. Perfect.

PAK—! BAP—!!

I kept digging.

If it was like earlier, I might need to spend half a shichen—

I was focused, still digging—

“Keep watch.” I didn’t look up. “Make sure nobody comes.”

I said it, and kept digging.

There was no response.

But he heard me. He had to have.

That’s what I assumed as I continued.

PAK—! PAK—!

‘...About here.’

The stake should be showing soon.

Right as that thought rose—

[Ki—]

Yoo Cheongil’s voice.

“Huh?”

But it sounded... faint.

[Ki...!]

“What did you say?”

What the hell?

I frowned and turned my head—

[Someone’s here—!]

Yoo Cheongil shouted.

My eyes widened.

Yoo Cheongil looked blurred—washed out.

My body moved before my mind caught up. Digging didn’t matter anymore.

I spun—

“Goodness.”

A voice—beautifully enunciated, but nauseating.

“There really

is

someone here...?”

“......!”

Someone was standing right behind me.

“GHK... KH—!”

In that gaze, light crept outward—slow, crawling, like something alive.

‘...Strange Demon...!’

It was him.

And for some reason, the eyes staring at me now were even more chilling than before.

Right behind my back.