chapter 21
021. How to defeat Erina Esnatia
How to complete the skill book.
‘It’s not particularly difficult.’
I walked towards the corner of the study.
Pass past the 5th bookshelf… The bookshelf at the end of the wall.
“Is this it?”
As I approached the bookshelf, the girl blocked it as if she was surprised.
Let’s ignore her and walk, passing by her without her presence but without her substance.
It is an ordinary bookshelf filled with books.
That’s exactly what it looks like.
I reached out and took out books one by one and looked at them.
“No, not this either.”
I looked at the exterior for a while.
“Is this the last volume?”
6 Books that have been selected in this way are particularly worn.
These are items belonging to students who lived in the dormitory with this girl.
“This is the key that will open the door.”
Isn’t this a common story? A device that reveals a secret space when you push a bookshelf.
This is also like that.
‘I don’t know what on earth they were thinking of illegally remodeling the academy dormitory.’
Isn’t that what the original club room was like?
It is decorated according to your taste.
I think the dexterity and challenging spirit of one of the dormitory students was just a little too good.
That is a bit excessive, though.
I put down the books I had taken out, grabbed the right side of the bookshelf, and pulled hard.
“Open! Sesame.”
Drurruk-
A space revealed with a dull sound.
There were stairs that one person could barely pass through.
…The inside looks poor.
I guess it’s a secret place secretly created by students.
“It hasn’t been found so far, so they hid it well.”
Even if you look at the walls or stairs, there is no device that looks dangerous.
I know, but I need to check.
I never know when a setting I don’t know about will pop up again.
Because the stairs were short, I was able to go down them in about 30 seconds.
What you see at the end of the stairs is a small rectangular space.
And there were five corpses there, whose bones had already turned white.
The skeletons appeared to be stuck together.
It must have been rotting here for decades.
Now that it has completely turned white, there is no bad smell.
“Let’s get started.”
From now on, we will take care of the white bones.
With this, we can put an end to her narrative, where the deep resentment remained and the dungeon progressed without putting an end to it.
As the story ends with the girl’s obsession being resolved, you will be able to obtain the original skill book.
‘The skills gained in that way will show abilities beyond those obtained by Lee Seong-hyun.’
Thinking like that, I approached the body and saw something that caught my eye.
A ribbon-shaped brooch held in the hand of a pale boner.
“Excuse me.”
I carefully unfolded the white bone’s hand and took it out.
Although the color has faded, it is a red ribbon.
Slightly unusual appearance.
This won’t be a regular ribbon.
Looking at its appearance, it is probably some kind of magic engineering device.
I remember it was probably sold using the superstition that it would prevent attacks or something like that.
‘Now that I think about it, gifts like this were popular in Gakheonheon.’
A type of gift with a buff given to a loved one among hunters.
It’s something like that.
“Let’s take care of it for now.”
The problem is what to do with these bones.
What should I do so that the pale girl over there doesn’t feel uncomfortable?
***
Whoa!
Announcement of the existence of the corpse to the outside world will be complicated in its own way.
It is in the mountains that no one visits anyway.
As the mobile dormitory must be maintained nominally, there is no need to worry about it being developed in the future.
So I buried it.
“This is a humane measure.”
No, it’s great.
It was buried deep so that wild animals could not dig it up.
If it’s like this, it won’t be that bad.
‘I never thought I’d end up using the things I picked up while working as a gravekeeper like this.’
After burying everything neatly, the girl bowed her head to me and expressed her gratitude.
“I hope you solved it.”
I don’t know that the girl’s actions are not really her will, but are just mechanical reactions created by the illusion of the skill book.
‘I can at least feel good.’
Now all that’s left is to retrieve the completed skill book and put an end to this illegal occupation of my dormitory.
***
“…Now all I have to do is get my hands on this.”
Why is it like this?
The skill book in front of me still looks like a rag.
I definitely thought that I added a great narrative to this skill book and put a period to it.
Is it really like this?
Is the contents of the settings book incorrect?
Or….
“What is lacking?”
I asked the girl who was still chasing me.
“….”
Of course, but there are no words.
…Wait a minute.
Wasn’t he just looking at my pockets earlier?
No way….
“Is this perhaps because of this?”
She took out the red ribbon she had picked up earlier from her pocket.
Then she seemed to have a bright color on her face, like a living girl.
‘It’s a good thing I took care of it.’
The girl walked around me and kept turning her hands over.
‘Are you asking me to turn over her ribbon?’
When I flipped her ribbon over to reveal the metal brooch, she smiled.
A girl with a bright smile circling around my hand again and again.
“It’s a little less scary now.”
To be honest, the pale appearance was a little creepy.
Now that he’s smiling, it’s finally worth being around him.
‘But what’s behind it that makes me like it so much?’
When I looked closely at the back of the brooch, there was an engraving.
“K..K..L…E..O”
…What is this?
Just five alphabets listed without meaning.
“Perhaps.”
This is a castle.
Maybe not, but considering the five meaningless combinations,
I think it was a gift given to the girl by the five dead students.
It doesn’t matter to me.
What’s important to me is over there.
Charararak-
With the sound of paper turning, the tattered pages of the skill book came back neatly.
After….
I took a deep breath and placed my hand on the book.
As soon as the book lost its shape, I felt pain as if my flesh was being burned.
[The narrative of the skill book ‘Forgotten Sacrifice’ is imprinted on the soul.]
[Interference from the empty skill book: All skills acquired are transferred to the subordinates of the empty skill book.]
[Unlocking the forgotten narrative.]
Pain experienced once before.
The feeling of something being imprinted on the soul.
[Linked with empty skill book]
[Extracting skills from forgotten narratives.]
Charing-
[Pages of ‘Forgotten Narrative’ are included in the empty skill book.]
[Acquire a skill Abnormality.]
[Skill details]
□Skill Name: Abnormality LV.1
Grade: C
□Skill effect
: You can imitate a specific skill.
: The name of the last saved skill is recorded in the skill book.
: Effects other than the appearance of the skill cannot be obtained.
: Your words are (very slightly) more persuasive.
“Ha… Ha… It hurts a lot.”
I’ve experienced it twice, but it still hurts.
Still, I definitely gained the skills.
This is definitely a different skill from the ‘Subtle Illusion’ that Seonghyun Lee obtained in the 3rd round.
“This must be the original ability that girl had.”
In reality, the duration and range are short, so large-scale skills cannot be properly imitated.
Also, although I can imitate it, I have no ability because it is literally an illusion.
“But I still need this.”
You can use it for bluffing in battle, and above all….
This will be useful before your upcoming encounter with a C-rank monster.
It was the girl over there’s ability, but now I can take over and use it….
?
Wait a minute.
That girl?
Even though the skill book disappeared, the girl was still there.
“What is it?”
Why is it there?
The dungeon has been cleared.
The dungeon of the mobile dormitory has disappeared.
This means that the power that maintained the illusion has disappeared.
‘It’s difficult.’
Maybe it’s because the skill book just disappeared so there’s still some strength left.
…
In fact, there was a case where the gate dungeon was attacked about a minute after it was conquered.
‘…Is this a case like that?’
It’s not a real ghost, right?
Why is it really like a ghost?
This is my dormitory.
You made me Buddha.
You also buried your beloved younger siblings.
What’s the problem?
Why do I keep going into fear?
Is a hunter story.
Please protect my world view.
“If you wait, you will attain Buddhahood, right?”
“….”
…Why are you casting Shut Your Mouth?
If you feel unfair, you should pay and come in.
“Let’s say it’s a ghost, and if the ashes are buried properly, shouldn’t it be obligatory to attain Buddhahood?”
I feel unfair.
Get out of the room, b*tch.
…
I knew it would be like this.
There are times when mild methods do not work.
‘I never thought I’d end up using this.’
When I told her I was moving into this dormitory, Yoon So-ah said she was worried and gave me the amulet.
I don’t know where you got this.
I am a ghost hunter!
He held the amulet towards the girl’s head.
Chak-
I felt the sensation of being attached to the girl’s head, which I had not been able to touch.
Oh what?
This is what happens, right?
At the same time as my actions, she smiled kindly and looked at me as if she was embarrassed.
“What are you looking at? Go to heaven.”
“Uh…? Uh…? Thank you?”
The pleasant sunlight falls on her,
Maybe she is? She disappeared with a satisfied expression on her face.
“You have finally achieved Buddhahood.”
I gently wiped away the tears forming in my eyes.
Yes, dead people have to go somewhere.
I feel uneasy stuck in my house,
…
No, the longer she stays here, the more unhappy she will be.
Probably.
‘Well, it can’t be a ghost. It probably just disappeared with the passage of time.’
I looked at the ribbon in her hand.
‘An object containing memories of her and her precious people….’
I will take good care of it.
“If I sell it to an antique store, it might be a good deal.”
…
You will not be punished.
You have achieved Buddhahood.
I made you Buddha, right?
Bury the body too.
Cancer, that’s right.
Rather than being stuck in a place like that, she would like to become a part of the world behind her and see a world she has never experienced.
***
I no longer feel a dark and damp atmosphere in the dormitory.
Just a plain and clean look.
I smile without even realizing it.
‘I guess it’s because everyone is satisfied and (forced) to attain Buddhahood.’
There may be some parts that need repair.
It doesn’t matter.
The whole thing is going to be overhauled anyway.
I plan to change everything to my taste.
In principle, you shouldn’t do something like that because it’s an academy building.
‘What does it matter? ‘No one will live there but me anyway.’
I command even the ghosts…. No, you made me Buddha, right?
This house is now mine.
I can do whatever I want.
‘Okay, this is a repair, not a repair.’
Shouldn’t we rather be grateful?
The corners of my mouth go up without me realizing it.
A cheap giant wooden house that can be customized to your liking (including training facilities), and a magical engineering device that looks quite expensive (not mine).
Above all, even new skills!
This place is a bonanza.
It’s a gold mine!
Sweet, sweet.
Teeth rot!
‘…I guess I should first bring my sweet home bed.’
Even if it is clean, I have no intention of using bedding that has been neglected for a while.
Tomorrow is the weekend with no classes.
You can buy it at the Academy shopping mall at that time.
‘There is a reason why I must stop by tomorrow.’
***
“Oh Siu, Siwoo. Here!”
Yoon So-ah gives a small wave after spotting me.
“I was surprised when you suddenly called me… Lee, how is the dormitory you went to this time? Are you okay? Siwoo, I was surprised when you said you were moving in there. How was the amulet? Was it effective…? It was used by a shaman my mother knows…”
Yoon So-ah pours out words without stopping.
After exchanging messenger messages and chatting for a bit, I seemed to feel more at ease.
‘I didn’t know this character was this talkative.’
He is a shaman who knows more than that.
I heard it was somehow effective.
Even if it is magic engineering or monsters, it seems that superstitions develop the same everywhere.
‘No, it actually worked, so it’s not a superstition.’
Yoon So-ah seems nervous and stutters, but continues to say something.
She said, gently interrupting her sentence.
“Calm down. I’m calling you to buy you a meal today. I also have a favor to ask you. You didn’t forget what you promised last time, right?”
“Promise…? Ah, at the entrance ceremony? Even if you don’t have to say that, I would have accepted your request.”
Yoon So-ah puffing out her cheeks.
I’m sorry, but I have no intention of letting someone with no debt do my favor.
A favor is ultimately a debt.
It will come back to me someday.
So, I will only use as much as I owe.
‘It may be different in cases like Baek A-rin where the interests are aligned.’
If you think about it, is an amulet also a debt?
I was trying to refuse because it felt burdensome to receive something like this for free.
It was only later that she discovered that Yoon So-ah had secretly put it in her pocket.
‘Because this is a hard sell. ‘Let’s buy him food and hit him.’
Just buy something expensive.
Cancer.
After I was lost in thought for a moment, Yoon So-ah poked me in the back and said.
“So, what do you want me to ask you for today?”
“Nothing much. Just eat with me today.”
“Huh…? Really?”
“Why, did you think I would at least eat the liver?”
She frowned cutely at my words.
“Oh, would you mind calling me something different today instead?”
“You want me to call you something different? How.?”
“Lee Seong-hyeon.”
I smiled at her and answered.
“Lee Seong-hyun… If so.”
Yoon So-ah is not particularly interested in news such as gossip.
You probably don’t even know who Seonghyun Lee is.
“Isn’t Siwoo the person who fought against you?”
…I guess you remember.
“Why on earth did you name that person…? I don’t like that person because it makes me feel a little offended…”
Yoon So-ah asks curiously.
Lee Seong-hyun even filters out Yoon So-ah.
Just amazing!
Just JOAT!
“When I lose in a sparring match, I always act like the person who defeated me. Even the name goes down to that.”
“Why on earth…?”
“In order not to forget defeat, to remember the strength of the opponent who defeated me. In order for me, who is weak, to become strong, I have to be strong-hearted.”
She said, looking sideways at her floor as if she were a little bitter.
Of course, that can’t be possible.
All by Erina Esnatia.
She is trying to get closer to her by deceiving her that I am Lee Seong-hyun.
[Tutorial: Encountering boss monsters of grade C or higher.]
This is the key that will allow her to clear my tutorial.
Because of that, I even acquired the skill [Abnormality].
I couldn’t say this to Yoon So-ah, so I made this excuse.
“….”
Yoon So-ah says nothing.
I don’t seem to understand.
Yeah, I don’t understand either.
Why did I say such a stupid thing?
At that moment, Yoon So-ah looked at me with faint eyes.
It’s as if I’m carrying all the burdens of the world.
The kind of eyes that are both sad and heartbreaking.
“I understand. If that’s how you feel. I can’t even fathom it, but I’ll help you…!”
She clenched her fists and looked at me.
?
Why is this happening?
Well, that’s good.
With this, Erina Esnatia.
Now that she can start working on the bottom of her head.