Chapter 87

Chapter 87
Chapter: 87

Chapter Title: Jaun Valley Incursion

—

The following day, continuing our advancement, we paused at the very edge of the Jaun Valley.

“This isn’t some normal mist.”

It felt more like a solid barrier. Fitting its title, Jaun, the vapor was a heavy, saturated violet.

People often use the trope of being unable to see a finger in front of your face in the fog, but the view before us made that seem like an understatement.

“I’ve been told it doesn’t dissipate, even during downpours.”

Typical fog usually washes away with rain. However, this haze was supernatural, so the standard laws of nature were irrelevant.

“For the time being, we stick to the primary reconnaissance.”

We were still in the dark regarding the specific location of the Erosion Core within this particular Erosion Zone. Naturally, the focus of this probe was strictly on finding its coordinates.

“At the very least, the data Mr. Jeong collected is proving beneficial.”

The paths utilized by smugglers were naturally restricted, but they provided a rough blueprint of the land surrounding Jaun Valley.

Hearing my remark, Jeong Oh-hoon smirked and gave an OK sign by connecting his thumb and forefinger.

“So, does this earn me a performance perk?”

“If the mission concludes without a hitch, certainly.”

I wasn’t about to make firm promises yet. Bonuses and loot were always sorted once the objective was secured. There was no sense in carving up the prize before we had even won it.

While we were talking, a cluster of hunters walked toward me.

“Hunter Yoo Chan-seok?”

Their demeanor was genuinely respectful. Between the various rumors circulating and what they had personally observed, the other combatants had developed a natural sense of deference.

When it came to leading a pack of people, nothing surpassed sheer competence—it cut through all the nonsense.

“Correct. How can I help you?”

The man paused briefly at my inquiry before finding his voice.

“We’re going to topple Jaun Valley without problems, right?”

We’ll find out when we actually try, you moron. Did he mistake me for a clairvoyant? Did he expect me to inhale some fumes, let my eyes roll back, and croak out, “Hehehehek! Three shall arrive~!”?

Instead, I replied with a calm, confident grin.

“We’ve managed every obstacle so far. Everything is under our thumb. No anomalies. We’ll return to Korea with achievements that match our level of prep.”

Responses to those kinds of questions didn’t need to be factual. Just as Han Sang-ah parted her lips to interject, Jeong Oh-hoon deftly intercepted her. Smart move.

She undoubtedly wanted to pick apart the logic of my statement.

“We are placing our confidence in you and the Headhunter collective.”

“Indeed, we’ll do everything necessary to justify that trust.”

Whether you’d actually be drawing breath by the end of it? The blunt truth: there were no certainties. Jeong Oh-hoon, who had been eavesdropping, laughed heartily and threw an arm around the man’s shoulders.

“It’s a walk in the park. Nothing to sweat over, pals. Just stick to the operator’s instructions and clear out whatever monsters cross your path. It’s the same routine we’ve always followed—and will keep following.”

Jeong Oh-hoon tapped their shoulders, his grin never faltering.

“So yeah, business as usual this time.”

Once the group of hunters had retreated, Han Sang-ah spoke.

“The two of you are nothing but frauds.”

“Fair point.”

I conceded without hesitation. She breathed out a tired sigh.

“That is a commitment we aren’t capable of fulfilling.”

“True. And those men approached us with inquiries we aren’t capable of answering.”

Who was really at fault there? I figured the ones asking the questions carried more of the blame. They didn’t know better? That was garbage.

They were fully aware we couldn’t guarantee safety, but they asked regardless, choosing to look the other way.

Hunters entered Erosion Zones to slay beasts. There was no way these seasoned professionals didn’t understand the inherent lethality.

I tapped the toggle on my communication piece.

“Prepare for infiltration in 15 minutes. I’m expecting seamless operational backup.”

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Understood, broadcasting to all units. Happy hunting.
The Seagull operators gave their confirmation. My instructions were transmitted to the entire team within heartbeats.

Following that, the operators rapidly distributed personnel according to the established strategy and communicated specific tasks and targets to every hunter.

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
If the Erosion Core is identified, do not engage. Transmit coordinates at once. Advance beginning now.
The hunters began their trek. Myself, Han Sang-ah, and Jeong Oh-hoon trailed the wave of directions buzzing through our headsets.

“Rear guard has reached the position.”

⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Received. 1544 Headhunter and the 75-man trailing unit have arrived. From this point forward, you are inside the Erosion Zone.
I didn’t require Seagull’s notification to realize it—the violet haze had already consumed us.

“If anyone starts feeling off, speak up immediately.”

Some members had brought their own tools to counter the fog. Others were equipped with masks crafted from sulfur willow. For me, Han Sang-ah, and Jeong Oh-hoon, a layer of Paradox Flame shielded our faces.

Everyone appeared stable for the moment. We continued our progress aboard the transport trucks.

“Right there. Just a second ago.”

One of the hunters alerted us.

“Yeah. There’s a few of them.”

A small pack of spirits was circling our position. They were undead, certainly—but not the type made of decaying meat.

“Eight of them.”

A precise tally. These soul-tethered undead were experts at masking their aura. Hiding that effectively meant they were far from weak.

They were likely stalling their approach due to the Talisman Drawing Method carved into the frames of our trucks.

But eventually, they would make their move.

“Keep your wits about you.”

These weren’t physical brawlers. They aimed to shatter your psyche, inflict agony, pull you into hopelessness, and then tear your spirit to shreds.

Jeong Oh-hoon spoke up.

“I’ve squared off with wraiths before. The pull of possession is annoying, but it’s not a sensation I’m looking for.”

He was a veteran hunter with a vast array of combat scenarios under his belt. He had clearly dealt with ghosts. I shifted my gaze toward Han Sang-ah.

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

It was a grim curiosity, perhaps, but I wondered if she would break under a spiritual raid. Her internal landscape wasn’t exactly standard.

In that instant, a distant banshee’s cry signaled a translucent figure darting straight for my chest.

A trail of pale smoke rushed into my nostrils, ears, eyes, and mouth. Seconds later…

💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥
— Kkyaaaah!

A shriek far more violent than its initial entry—the white smoke erupted frantically from every opening in my face. The translucent stalker that had dived in and out spun chaotically in the air, wailing for an eternity before it shriveled away.

It looked exactly like a pest hitting an electric bug zapper.

The spirit that targeted me disintegrated into nothingness.

“Good grief, you should have picked a better target, you idiot.”

Diving into my physical form? That was like plunging 25 kilometers into the ocean wearing nothing but a swim shirt. It must have been pulverized by the sheer mass of my soul the moment it attempted to take hold.

“That’s convenient.”

I didn’t have to move a muscle—they charged in and perished on their own. No effort required. Total serenity. Of course, the spirits weren’t only targeting me.

“…”

I did a quick check on the rest of the unit.

“I expected it would turn out like this.”

A handful of men couldn’t endure the psychological pressure and snapped. They began clawing at their protective gear or swinging at their comrades.

“Goodbye.”

I drove my weapon through their chests with precision. The spirits nested within fled in a panic from the fresh holes in the cadavers.

Then, just like the one that had fled from me, they shrieked, collapsed, and vanished.

“Why…?”

That was a difficult question to address. The best response I had at the ready was:

“I am not an exorcist.”

If the physical vessel was at the brink of death, the ghost would bail. Otherwise? Once a possession took root, it never left of its own accord.

Forcing it out required sanctified rituals…

Which I was unable to perform. And naturally, I couldn’t just allow a possessed hunter to remain active. A ghost-controlled body became a traitor, butchering everyone else.

So I eliminated the threat. The hunters looking at me were initially wide-eyed with terror.

“There was no alternative.”

“But still…!”

One hunter shouted.

“Maybe there was! We could just hold them down until it passes.”

“And how do you plan to hold down hunters who can wield high-level magic?”

That would require magical shackles or specialized restraints.

That would drain our manpower—and invite further death.

“Even if you managed that, the result is identical.”

If you tie up the body, the ghost just jumps out and finds a fresh victim.

I couldn’t permit the casualties to cascade.

“Pay attention: if you fail to hold your ground, you die. I will not let this spiral out of control.”

My frigid, uncompromising tone made their expressions turn stony.

Snap under the ghosts? Face death by my hand. That single ultimatum sharpened their focus to a razor’s edge.

“Do you want me to end them?”

Han Sang-ah’s question drifted from behind me.

“That came out of nowhere.”

“If you’re the one who fails the resistance.”

I looked over at her. There was no sentiment in her eyes—just a straightforward inquiry.

“Absolutely. If I’m possessed, you won’t be able to access my full strength immediately anyway.”

“Then I have to be fast. I understand.”

In the middle of her sentence, a spirit blurred into Han Sang-ah—then shot right back out.

💥 CRITICAL HIT! 💥
— Uh-ehhh? Eh-ehhh?!

The ones that struck me were crushed by spiritual weight and vanished on the way out. Her attacker bounced out in a daze, howling in sheer bewilderment.

Both of us were immune to possession, but for entirely different reasons.

The spirits aiming for me fled thinking “Aaah, a monster!” before evaporating.

The ones aiming for Han Sang-ah retreated thinking “What kind of lunatic is this?”—and then gave her a wide berth for good.

Her mind was definitely fractured. Fractured enough to terrify a ghost halfway through an attempt. Either way, I wouldn’t have to put a blade through her heart.

“That’s the correct way to handle it.”

Meanwhile, Jeong Oh-hoon was defending himself in the textbook manner. He would shudder slightly, gather his internal energy, and the spirit would be repelled right off him.

The ghosts were proving he was actually the most mentally stable of our group.

“You know, hitting back with raw magic should leave a mark, even if they’re spirits.”

I answered him.

“Sure. If you boost the power to the level of a heavy rifle, it might feel like a tiny handgun shot to them.”

That was the classic reason why fighting ghosts was such a nightmare. Magic functioned, but the efficiency plummeted.

“Mental trauma is the only weapon they really have.”

If you can weather the mental storm, the actual damage remains minimal. Han Sang-ah spoke up again.

“Are we filtering out the weak links?”

“We might be traversing this terrain for days.”

Hiking through dense violet mist for several days to find an Erosion Core? Any hunters who fell to ghosts this early were simply baggage.

“A mercenary company isn’t a classroom, right? This is no different. This is the real world—not an academy simulation.”

If you push beyond your capabilities, you perish. I couldn’t emphasize that enough.

“Headhunter unit here, advancing. Awaiting navigation.”

We ventured further into the Erosion Zone, following the path laid out by Seagull.