The Swordmaster Wants To Live Peacefully [EN]: Chapter 263

Swordmaster Wants to Live Peacefully – 262

Nox (5)

The sound of Inari grinding her teeth echoed through the inner chamber.

Inari faced a dilemma.

Whether to protect her pawn or eliminate Yoosungwoo at any cost.

Yoosungwoo’s threat struck directly at her vulnerability.

Abandoning Koyuki would mean the god forsaking her believer, risking a significant decline in faith.

However, paying the price demanded too great a sacrifice.

Inari ground her teeth again.

The situation forced a choice where only one option seemed viable.

“Decide,” Yoosungwoo repeated, prompting Inari to glance behind her and sigh deeply.

She had believed she had attained the level of a human god [a deity who was once human] through sheer force, but that wasn’t entirely true.

Was it merely her unmatched martial prowess and brilliant mind that allowed her to approach the seat of the Martial God [a god of war or combat]?

“Young one, let’s propose a deal. Information isn’t freely given.”

“And in return?”

“Solve a few problems for me, and I’ll gladly provide the information.”

Inari, adopting a cooperative stance, saw Yoosungwoo release his grip.

He nodded. “I understand. A deal must benefit both sides. I accept. What do you require?”

“It’s not a difficult task. Simply capture a few yokai [supernatural monsters or spirits in Japanese folklore] in Osaka.”

“Why not handle it yourselves?”

“These are powerful yokai that my followers can’t manage. Dealing with them personally would be beneath me!”

“So, you’re asking me to do your dirty work.”

“Dirty… work? What does that mean?”

It seemed even artifacts couldn’t translate such slang.

Yoosungwoo released her and slumped back into his seat. “Tell me, who must I deal with? I’m short on time, so I’ll handle it swiftly.”

“Koyuki, take notes.”

“Yes, yes!” Koyuki pulled a notebook and pen from her pocket.

“Of the Three Great Evils, you’ve already slain Tamamo-no-Mae, the Nine-Tailed Fox with Golden Face and White Fur, leaving only Ōtakemaru and Shuten-dōji. Ōtakemaru resides in Kanto, so you needn’t concern yourself with him. Focus on Shuten-dōji and his yokai.”

“Hmm.”

“Currently, many people are gathered in Kansai. The disaster caused by the Black Gate [likely a portal or gateway to another dimension or realm] has brought people together, creating an even deeper divide.”

Inari explained briefly.

The greater the population, the deeper the darkness.

Japan suffered considerable damage from the Great Disaster.

As an island nation, it faced supply issues, and most rural areas were devastated.

The desolate cities bred negativity, giving rise to a new Abyss [a term for a source of dark energy or evil creatures].

From there emerged Shuten-dōji, the yokai who once dominated the Japanese archipelago.

An estimated Class 1 or higher Abyss, too dangerous even for S-Class Divers [elite monster hunters] to approach easily.

Inari listed the names and locations of several yokai he needed to deal with, including Shuten-dōji’s location.

“Here it is.”

She handed the paper with the information to Yoosungwoo.

The handwriting was crooked and in Korean, likely out of consideration for Yoosungwoo.

She liked Korean idols; she seemed serious.

“Shuten-dōji, Satori, Gyūki…”

“In the name of Inari no Kami [the Shinto god of foxes, fertility, rice, tea and sake, of agriculture and industry, of general prosperity and worldly success], I command you. Young one, if you deal with them, I swear on the name of Inari no Kami engraved in Takamagahara [the heavenly realm in Japanese mythology] that I will keep my promise.”

“Of course, you should. It won’t take long.”

“Hehe, even for you, catching those three quickly will be difficult. I’ll be waiting leisurely at the shrine.”

With those words, Inari snapped her fingers, and a small golden-furred fox entered the inner chamber, jumped onto Yoosungwoo’s arm, and was engraved on his wrist like a bracelet tattoo.

“It is Inari’s shikigami [a type of familiar or spirit servant]. It will inform you about the yokai you encounter, so take it with you.”

“Okay.”

He didn’t sense any special power from the shikigami.

He could shake it off whenever he wanted, and facing the monsters of Japan for the first time didn’t seem so bad.

“Then I’ll be going. Next time we meet, try to change that baseless way of speaking.”

Having finished his business, Yoosungwoo waved his hand and left the inner chamber.

Inari, left alone, sighed deeply and muttered.

“I didn’t know he would be such a crazy bastard…”

“God, are you okay?”

“…I’m fine. Koyuki, Kudan’s prophecy seems to be coming true. That guy is either a disaster or a hero. He was born with such a fate.”

“A disaster or a hero…”

“Besides, he has his companions positioned around him so they can move at any time. He truly… tried to fight and win against me.”

If the battle had started, the entire Mount Inari would have been dyed red.

With blood and spreading wildfires.

Kudan’s prophecy did not miss.

***

The first yokai Yoosungwoo headed to deal with was Gyūki [a yokai with the head of a cow and the body of a spider].

As a subordinate of Shuten-dōji, he emerged from the Abyss near Kyoto and settled in Lake Biwa [the largest freshwater lake in Japan].

This occurred because the Divers failed to attack the Abyss in time, and Lake Biwa is now a restricted area.

Many people have gone missing after entering out of curiosity.

Divers attempted to subjugate it, but they were either defeated or hid themselves, leading to the area being largely abandoned.

Yoosungwoo, arriving there, narrowed his eyes at the vast lake.

“That means there are monster bastards hiding somewhere here.”

He knew the level of Japanese Divers.

To be defeated by mere small fry, not even named monsters, and then abandon them.

But that was just Yoosungwoo’s opinion. Lake Biwa was too unfavorable an environment for Divers to fight in.

A lake so wide it could be mistaken for the sea.

Even if they froze the surface, tracking them would be difficult if they went deep into the lake.

The monster was cunning, breaking the frozen surface to its advantage.

“So, what do we need to catch?”

Hong Seo-hwa looked at the lake confidently and swung her sword.

The red sword, with a higher saturation than Yoosungwoo’s life, left afterimages as it moved.

“This guy will explain it.”

He tapped the fox pattern on his wrist, and a thin voice flowed out with light.

-Gyūki is a yokai with the head of a cow and the body of a spider. It lives underwater and has a body several times the size of a bull.

Inari’s shikigami continued to explain.

-Gyūki eats people’s shadows. People whose shadows are eaten fall into a catatonic state and do not wake up until they regain their shadows.

“Hoo, it eats shadows.”

It was similar to monsters he had encountered in another world.

The shadow is part of a person’s soul.

Just as vampires, undead who have lost part of their soul, do not cast shadows, losing a shadow is like losing part of the soul.

Gyūki was a yokai that used such parts of the soul as its staple food to increase its power.

“Then… we need to find a way to lure him out.”

Yoosungwoo muttered, looking at Hong Seo-hwa.

Shua-nel’s gaze also turned to her.

As if she were the best choice to lure out Gyūki.

Hong Seo-hwa, noticing their gazes, tilted her head, then realized their intent, jumping up and down, protesting.

But she couldn’t refuse.

And a little later.

“…Why me.”

Hong Seo-hwa stood alone by the lake. Yoosungwoo and Shua-nel hid nearby, waiting.

Operation Bait.

Wasn’t bait the most important thing to lure out a monster living in the water?

Lake Biwa was a restricted area, so Gyūki must be very hungry.

If a delicious Diver rolled in, it would bite.

Hong Seo-hwa took a deep breath and shouted towards Lake Biwa.

“Gyūki─!! Cow-head bastard! Come out! Let’s fight─!!”

Hong Seo-hwa’s loud shout echoed across Lake Biwa.

The sound startled birds from the trees in the nearby forest.

But the lake remained calm.

Just as Hong Seo-hwa shrugged, ready to give up, the surface rippled.

“This damn……!”

Hong Seo-hwa, sensing the presence, hurriedly turned around.

She saw a huge pillar of water rising from the lake.

A pair of huge eyes flashed within.

“Ehehehehe…….”

And the eerie laughter that followed. Hong Seo-hwa trembled as she watched the monster slowly reveal itself.

A huge, grotesque cow head.

“It’s been a while since a worthwhile year has walked in…….”

The body resembled a spider, but the skin and fur of mammals covered the angular skeleton, making it even more alien.

It was as if a spider had covered itself with the hide of a cow.

With its mouth wide open, tongue lolling, and drool dripping, Hong Seo-hwa said, disgusted:

“The cow head is talking?”

“Did you come alone? Did you come alone?”

“What if I came alone? A bastard who should be in gukbap [a Korean soup made with beef and rice]…….”

If you boiled seolleongtang [a milky-white Korean ox bone soup] with that head, you could easily make thousands of servings.

Hong Seo-hwa gritted her teeth and raised a red flame on her sword.

“I’ll make you into cow-head suyuk [boiled and thinly sliced meat]!”

“You crossed the water to talk… it will be a delicacy!”

Gyūki rushed towards Hong Seo-hwa, creating a large splash.

Hong Seo-hwa glanced towards Yoosungwoo’s hiding place, but there was no sign of him.

‘Master?’

“Where are you looking!”

Gyūki’s huge, sharp legs plunged down towards Hong Seo-hwa.

Hong Seo-hwa quickly twisted to avoid the legs and struck upwards with her sword.

Gyūki’s claws and Hong Seo-hwa’s sword collided, sparks flying.

The claws were like metal and couldn’t be cut.

“You crazy!”

Hong Seo-hwa stepped back, widening the distance, but Gyūki persistently pursued its prey.

“Delicious! Food! My food─!!”

“You gukbap bastard!”

Hong Seo-hwa swung her sword, spraying fire, waiting for Yoosungwoo to appear.

He still didn’t show.

At the same time, Yoosungwoo was still hiding, watching Hong Seo-hwa fight Gyūki.

“Good, she’s doing well.”

“…Shouldn’t we go?”

“Sometimes, whipping is necessary for growth.”

Shua-nel looked at him with a ‘What the hell are you talking about?’ expression.

Yoosungwoo put his hand on her head and continued.

“And you shouldn’t set the hook until the fish has completely taken the bait. The monster hasn’t completely taken the bait yet.”

If he came out now, the monster would spit out the bait and run.

So, just a little more.

Yoosungwoo’s eyes glowed red.