Chapter 416

Chapter 416

Jo Chan-young looked different from how I imagined. His full sleeve of irezumi tattoos 1, large build, and prominent features that made him look mixed-race were the same as I remembered from the previous [Vengeful Ghost Memory], but now he was bound by heavy chains.

"I'll F-Free you..." I could see, just by looking, that releasing Jo Chan-young from those chains was the key to completing the [Vengeful Ghost Memory]. Therefore, though I faltered, I approached and reached out to him.

However, with a sour look on his face, Jo Chan-young replied–

[It'll probably be hard to do that with your current ability.]

Clink–!

As he stated, I could touch the chain but, even if I shook the metal, I could tell I wouldn't be able to break them on my own.

"I.. can see that." I awkwardly stood around, unsure of what I should do.

"......"

Jo Chan-young, while casually observing my hand slip off the heavy chains, finally spoke.

[The key is inside one of the Shikigami wandering around this mansion. You’ll probably find the key if you cut one open.]

"Huh?"

[You must have learned what Shikigamis are on your way here.]

Jo Chan-young seemed like the type of person who dislikes repeating himself. I fumbled, intimidated by his expression and face. Then, I opened my mouth to speak, "That's... well. I can sorta understand, but... Actually, no, I think I'm still confused. I can't quite grasp what these Shikigami are."

[To put it simply, they're dolls that move through magic power.]

As he spoke, Jo Chan-young glanced behind me. I hesitated, then picked up the [Introduction to Crafting Shikigami] book from the desk and stood before him. Jo Chan-young closed his eyes as if he were asking me to read for him. I opened the book to the first page.

"To my beloved... Hm? I can't read what's after this..."

However, the first section of the book was marred deliberately, and certain words were damaged. It was impossible to read.

[......]

Seeing Jo Chan-young remain silent, I skipped that part and continued to read.

"...On behalf of ____, I'll give you eternal joy.... Even time won't be able to separate us...?"

The introduction seemed to outline a theory created for this ‘xx' person, whose identity remained unknown. It described how the author, driven by their deep love for ‘××’, made dolls resembling everything they loved.

Jo Chan-young patiently waited for me to stutter through the introduction before adding further explanation.Yôur favorite stories at wuxiahere.com

[In other words, most of these ‘moving things' inside this mansion are dolls. They won't bleed or become gruesomely gross. At most, they'll lose a bit of their stuffing.]

"......"

In short, I would have to capture and cut open all the shikigami in this mansion. Hearing this, I couldn't help but think of the young Dawon, who had called me ‘big brother' and followed me around.

"I have a question... By any chance... Is Dawon really a Shikigami as well?"

[Seo Dawon?]

"...Yeah."

"Less than 10 years?"

[Even a year will be difficult.]

My throat squeezed shut at those words. "Is there... no other price I can pay?"

[I'm not the one who decides the price–you'll need to pay an equivalent value to what you'd need... My estimate still stands.]

Then, has Dawon been supplying his own mana in order to prevent this situation from occurring?

‘What should I do?'

[If you don't want to make this contract, you can break it off here.]

However, when I heard Jo Chan-young's voice, my fear abated a little. I overcame my panic and asked for his opinion. "Jo Chan-young-ssi, do you... not want to sign a contract with me?"

[That's not it. I'll sign a contract if possible, but the terms should be made transparent. I know you won't say no to this as well.]

It's like Jo Chan-young read my mind. Even if I were to die next month, I couldn't refuse this contract. I now realized why someone who only cares about animals was bothering to patiently explain and talk to me.

‘He must be feeling sympathetic.'

Jo Chan-young was a much more honest man than I had expected.

He shook his head as he said–

[Don't think this contract's terms are unfair.]

"......"

[I'm the one who will disappear if you were to refuse. So, in a way, you and I are holding hands as we try to walk this tightrope.]

He was right. We had to rely on each other–for we only had each other–to clamber out of this pit.

I nodded, convinced. "Maybe when all the Red Lotus members are revived, a new... scenario will open up."

[It's likely. And as for your life span... There's likely a way to increase it. It'd be best to think about that more after signing the contract.]

I didn't nod at that part, but I resolved to find the key to free Jo Chan-young.

I pulled my hands away from the chains binding him and rose to my feet. "...The key is most probably with kid Dawon."

[If there's a Shikigami that's bothering you, it's better to check it first to save time.]

The main key wouldn't be swallowed by just any Shikigami. Though Dawon was merely a doll, I still felt a strong aversion to harming it. But, I had no choice. What was truly important to me... Even if it meant sacrificing my entire lifespan... There was only one person I wanted to save.

As soon as I made up my mind, I opened the map that helped me arrive at this room. However, there were more points marked as [monster] than before.

[It won't be easy, but I wish you luck.]

Jo Chan-young said. I frowned at that cheeky yet slightly annoying tone.

Become a member!

TL: I love me a tattoo'd animal lover tbh.

Traditional Japanese Tattoos