BOOOOOOOOOM!

With a thunderous boom, a powerful bolt of lightning struck the earth from the ceiling.

Yahums body was scorched entirely black like a shadow.,

However, this was Seol holding himself back.

No! The Ghost King will be furious with you if you do! shouted one ghost.

S-Stop it now! You wont be safe either if Yahum dies! shouted another.

The ghosts piped up one by one.

While Seol would typically dismiss words like that as nonsense, what they were saying was actually true.

In the past, while Seol was still a player, there was an instance of the individual in charge of the western promotion spot dying during the equipment promotion. The pieces involved all died not too long after.

Thuuuud

As Yahum began to fall headfirst to the floor, the ghosts panicked and rushed to grab him.

However, upon seeing Seol stop Yahum's fall, they froze in place.

They were worried that Seol would crush Yahums head like a watermelon if they did anything.

Relax. I wont kill him, said Seol.

Human!

But I am going to make it easier for us to have a conversation.

Seol then pulled out Gemmas Pot from his inventory.

G-Gemmas Pot!

Stop him!

It was the same pot used to seal Lamu, the Thunder Ghost.

While Lamu, the Thunder Ghost, was significantly weaker than Yahum, Gemmas Pot was undoubtedly a powerful item capable of sealing him.

If Gemmas Pot with Lamu sealed within it was valued at 100, Lamu alone would only be worth 10, while the remainder of the value would be attributed to Gemmas Pot.

It was an extremely valuable and powerful item, which was obviously why the ghosts would be so scared and surprised.

Jamad.

Got it

As Jamad murmured to recite a spell, the charms on Gemmas Pot began to glow.

Gloooooow!

Light filled the room, causing the ghosts to wail and scream.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Fwooooooosh

Yahum turned to smoke before immediately being sucked into Gemmas Pot.

[You have sealed Yahum, the Ghost Doors Master.]

[You have proven your worth, allowing you to request a suitable reward from the Ghost Doors Master.]

[You have satisfied the Adventure Objective.]

[If the Remaining Time runs out or if you choose to take your reward, you may choose to finish your Adventure here.]

D-Damn it!

Yahum!

Seol then asked the ghosts a question while holding onto Gemmas Pot.

What are you doing?

...What?

Seol gestured toward the four pillars.

Get rid of it.

W-We cant

Raise

Seol lifted the jar higher, readying himself to drop it.

F-Fine, well do it!

Excluding the two ghosts who had died, the remaining ghosts swiftly moved to pull out the pillars from the ground.

Rumble

Hyung!

Snowman!

Seol stood apathetically, wiping the rest of the blood from his mouth.

For someone who just fought with Yahum on their own, he was extremely calm.

Yeo-myeong and Filia ran toward Seol, trying to figure out the situation.

A-Are you alright?!

We have to leave! Theyre

But where did that ghost from earlier

Tap tap

Seol tapped on Gemmas Pot.

All we have to do now is wait.

...What?

Yahum will wake up soon. We just need to wait for that.

The two seemed to have recovered from their mental shock during Seols battle with Yahum.

The first thing Seol caught was how quickly they relaxed.

Theres still a lot of things they need to fix.

Though they had both grown significantly since their last meeting, in Seols eyes, they were still lacking.

Still

When Seol took into consideration that this Adventure could only be selected after acquiring 5 Peerless-quality items, perhaps they were growing at a fine pace.

A few seconds later, Seol shook Gemmas Pot.

Clatter

Clatter

[Urgh]

Looks like youre finally coming back to us.

Yahums voice sounded like he was in a cave somewhere.

[What happened? Did I lose?]

"Wouldnt it be more worrisome if you ended up in there after beating me?"

[Hehehe Youre not wrong about that. Argh How hard did you hit me? I cant remember anything at all.]

Yeah, I completely crushed you, smirked Seol.

[Hehehehe! But why didnt you kill me? What are you plotting?]

Its because one of the ghosts told me that if I killed you, they would tell the Ghost King.

[Ah, right! The Ghost King Yeah, they would have hated you if you killed me. Even I can't get a grasp on him at all. But more importantly]

Clatter

[Where the hell did you come from?]

- Were asking the same thing

- He entered Pandea at the same time as everyone else

- Hes a bit weird, though.

- Definitely a returner LMFAO

- Maybe you should read less webnovels?

Seol answered with a lukewarm response.

Its not like that at all. Im the same as the others.

[No Youre different. I can sense it, something about you is definitely different.]

Seol turned his gaze away, trying to ignore Yahums persistent questioning.

So How is it in there? Cozier than you thought? I bet it is, if youre asking about things like that.

[Ah! Its cramped! Really cramped! Id rather kill myself than spend the rest of my life in a small place like this!]

Clatter

[Im sure you also have a reason for sealing me, though.]

Of course.

[What is it? What are you trying to get from freeing me?]

Seol then saw multiple options.

[[Yahum, the Ghost Doors Master, seems willing to listen to your request. What would you like to request from him?]

1. I want to take the soul of an item that someone else left behind.

2. I want to enhance the soul of one of my items.

3. Im interested in the ghostly fire.

4. Where does the Ghost Door lead?

]

I want you to enhance my equipment.

[The same request as the others who came with you, okay! Which one would you like strengthened?]

The words that came out of Seols mouth next shocked Yahum.

All of them. Everything I brought here.

[Y-You must have lost your mind!]

Why else would I have let you live?

[......]

Seol had brought a total of 5 Peerless items here.

If I cleared the Adventure normally, I would have only been allowed to upgrade one Peerless item.

However, Seol had fulfilled the absurd condition of not only creating a situation where he would fight Yahum but also defeating Yahum without killing him.

[...I would need to ask the Ghost King myself.]

What?

[The Ghost King could claim all the upgrades later if he finds it problematic. Im just asking him now in case it becomes an issue.]

Clatter

Fwoooooosh

Black fog poured out from Gemmas Pot before eventually

[Okay. The Ghost King has permitted it as well.]

They did?

[Yeah. So unseal me already.]

Seol glanced at Jamad.

Jamad.

Got it.

And as Jamad began to chant once more

Fwooooosh

Yahum was freed from Gemmas Pot.

Crack

I was only in there for a bit, and my body already feels so heavy. Hehehe Why dont I

CRAAAAAASH!

Yahum stomped on the pot, crushing it completely. He then looked at Seol and the others before turning around.

Follow me, humans.

* * *

Translator - goguma

Proofreader - Karane

* * *

Thud

Thud

With each step Yahum took, cherry blossom petals fell from the sky onto the night path.

However, there was nothing around them. It was pitch black.

Stick close, humans. Youll die if you get lost here, warned Yahum.

What do you mean?

Its exactly as I said. This place is filled with grudges, a place where ghosts are born. Hehehehe

Yeo-myeong and Filia flinched upon hearing Yahums warning and immediately took another step toward the center of the path. In contrast, Seol took another step toward the outside.

Raise

He then lifted a hand into the darkness.

In an instant

Come here!

Lets stay together!

Countless hands appeared from the darkness and tried to pull Seol in.

Fwip!

He then quickly pulled his arm back out.

Hehehe What do you think? said Yahum.

Its fairly interesting.

Im more interested in you and how youre not afraid of ghosts.

Seol nodded in response.

As Yahum stated earlier, this place was swirling with rage and hatred; their emotions ran hot like lava.

Even though Seol and the others had done nothing, the ghosts were ferocious, as if they had done something to provoke them.

However, the ghosts quickly cooled down once more, quieting down as if they wanted nothing to do with the humans.

Fwooooosh

Cherry blossom petals breezed past them.

It was beautiful and mystical, yet it also felt pointless.

You would have died, said Yahum, over his shoulder. His words caused everyone to look at him.

Im talking about you two, he continued.

Yahum was clearly referring to Yeo-myeong and Filia.

The two then looked at each other before looking at Yahum.

You two wouldnt even have been able to defeat one of my 12 ghosts. If it werent for that human over there, you two would have died. You would have been cut to pieces and become ghosts yourselves.

......

...Yeah.

Its a difference in ability, like the difference between an adult and a child. You idiots might not have realized it, but that human over there has been protecting you this entire time. Well, hehe I guess that isnt my business, though.

Yeo-myeong and Filia knew that truth as well. Everything here had been unfolding according to Seols plans.

Yahum was a massive ghost, whose mere presence made it difficult for them to breathe.

Despite that, not only did Seol defeat him, but he also managed to return after stuffing that colossal ghost into a tiny jar.

What more needs to be said? They practically existed on separate planes.

Hes just too strong.

Just when they thought they had caught up to him, Seol felt even further than ever.

In a time of perpetual violence and turmoil, Seol felt like the sole guardian of order.

Yahum then spoke to Yeo-myeong.

You! You cant control your anger, huh?!

......

Youre unskilled and clumsy. But a clumsy swordsman will only ever cut their own fingers. Hehehe!

Yahum then said a word to Filia.

To think youd come here with such a weak heart What you deserve is punishment, not a reward, but You were lucky! You met him.

......

However, luck is also one of the most important things in life, after all. That is not a fault.

Yahum then stopped.

Weve arrived.

The only thing present was a single altar.

Hand over your equipment.

The first to hand over their items was Filia. After placing her bow on the altar, Yahum began to chant.

Hehehehehehehehehehe!

Kyahahahahahaaha!

As the ghosts began to scream and wail, a viscous, string-like thing began to enter Filias bow.

Fwooooosh!

The bow erupted into a ghostly flame before quickly dissipating.

Seol was lost in thought after seeing that.

So thats the ghostly fire

The ghostly fire wasnt exclusive to the Ghost Door.

But it is exclusive to ghosts.

Many ghosts of the East were capable of controlling ghostly fires as such. However, it was rare to find someone who wasnt a ghost using it. Regardless, the Ghost Door was a special case that utilized the ghostly fires for others.

It wasnt clear whether this flame was spiritual or natural, but its eerie power was undoubtedly effective.

Its effects also depend on the ghost that was imbued into the item.

It was extremely similar to possession. Just as people took on the traits of ghosts when they were possessed, equipment possessed with ghosts also acquired a portion of the ghosts powers.

Through the ghostly fire, a ghost would end up possessing your equipment.

Items that underwent this process were marked with Haunted at the front of their name to signify it.

However, despite the initial negative connotations associated with the word Haunted, having a ghost possess your items was actually beneficial.

Firstly, the item would improve over time, adjusting to the wearers level.

Additionally, it also provided more bonus effects.

Peerless items, while powerful, were extremely difficult to enhance and improve.

As such, this was one of the few instances in Pandea where you could enhance and add additional effects without any risk.

Take it. Next.

After Yeo-myeongs sword was improved as well, Seol handed Yahum all of his Peerless items.

...I dont think Ive ever been robbed like this before.

- What are you saying, huh?! Wanna go back in the jar?!

- Put the money in the bag, dont do anything stupid.

- He practically brought a tank to rob a bank

Kyaaaaaaa!

Well, its much better than dying and returning to the Ghost King

Fwooooosh!

Seols items became covered in flames.

Yahum then continued to talk while observing the flaming weapons.

Foolish human, wanting this many haunted items... will surely cause an abnormality in you as well.

Abnormality?

Like seeing things that shouldnt be seen... Youve essentially taken a step into territory that mustnt be entered. In fact

Yahum then turned around.

The ghostly energies might become imbued into you, allowing you to control them.

Are you saying Id turn into a ghost?

Youd be half-human, half-ghost, hehe Well, thats only in the worst case, so you dont need to worry so much. Dont be scared already

Yahum hoped that Seol would be at least a little frightened, but unfortunately, his expression didnt change at all.

In fact, he looked as confident as ever.

Im not.

Hahaha Why does that confident face irritate me so much? Alright, its done!

[Peerless: Breath is improved to Haunted-Peerless: Breath.]

[Peerless: Flare is improved to Haunted-Peerless: Flare.]

[Peerless: Atonement is improved to Haunted-Peerless: Atonement.]

[Peerless: Fire Monkey is improved to Haunted-Peerless: Fire Monkey.]

[Peerless: Crown of Order is improved to Haunted-Peerless: Crown of Order.]

[You have earned the Inaugural Achievement 'Ghost's Guest'.]

[You have earned the Inaugural Title 'Ghost Door's Guest'.]

[You have earned the special achievement 'I Don't Believe in Ghosts'.]

[You have earned the special title 'Sleep Paralysis'.]

Seols items were radiating a different color than before.

Seeing this, along with the intense energy emanating from them, he began inspecting each item one by one.