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Chapter 137: Star, The Stigma (2)

“When did it reach intermediate class ?”Chang-Sun asked in surprise.

Among the subordinates Jin had made through [Changgwi Resuscitation], Jabek was the most recent one, so it had the least actual combat experience. Despite so, its class and level were the highest.

[Jabaek]

A tiger’s natural enemy. It is so fierce that it is known to eat tigers while it flies around.

Following traditional military tactics, Jin had been using the ‘Bak’ as a spearman, the ‘Bamboo Cow’ as a shieldbearer and flailman, and the ‘Hwal’ as an archer. However, Jin let the ‘Jabaek’ move separately as a detachment since it had splendid ability and potential compared to his other subordinates. In fact, it had already reached the intermediate class, which meant it would be just as skilled as Players around levels twenty to thirty.

「It’s still getting stronger, enough to surprise me from time to time, so I’m planning on raising it to ‘general class’ if necessary.」

The ‘general class’ referred to Changgwis trained to be executive Changgwis back when Jin was still the Hongsal King. That was how highly Jin thought of Jabaek.

‘Considering the Elfin Root is originally a skilled martial artist… it’ll be a good match.’?Chang-Sun’s eyes shone.

Noticing Chang-Sun’s thought, Jin chuckled.

「Have you made a decision?」

Chang-Sun nodded, and Jin replied as if Chang-Sun had made a good choice.

「If you asked for my recommendation, I would have recommended the Jabaek too, Master. It’s not only talented but also understands my order the best.」

That showed the Jabaek was also smart. With his finger, Jin gestured at it to approach. In response, it slowly came up to Jin and Chang-Sun and bowed without any resistance. It had fought hand in hand with Jin and heard the conversation between Chang-Sun and Jin, so it likely already had a rough idea of what was about to happen.

Although it could lose itself and turn into an entirely different being, it didn’t seem to care at all, evidencing its absolute loyalty to Jin and Chang-Sun. Following Jin’s order, his other subordinate handed the [Mana Core] to the Jabaek.

「Swallow it.」Jin ordered.

Jabaek brought the [Mana Core] to its mouth without hesitation. As soon as the core touched Jabaek’s tongue, it melted and went down its throat.

[Jin’s Subordinate ‘Intermediate-Class Jabaek’ is trying to absorb a ‘Mana Core’!]

The moment it had completely swallowed the [Mana Core], the Jabaek shook profusely and collapsed on the ground as if it was having a seizure. At the same time, new energy that smelled like a refreshing forest seeped out through its pores and enveloped it.

Pzzz―!

「All I ever find in this place are battles between corpses and lunatics, so it’s pretty nice to smell a forest for a change.」

Jin joked as the Jabaek became greatly distorted.

Crack, crack!

Branches ripped through its muscles and burst out, taking the form of a skeleton. The vines that had sprouted from its feet wrapped around the Jabaek’s body as if they were muscles before being covered by thick layers of leaves that served as its skin. The body slowly began to resemble a human body, and its pale white skin turned rosy. Someone that looked similar to the Elfin Root, whom Chang-Sun had met in ‘Blue Jewel Island’, was born, yet its aura was not really different from Jabaek’s.

[Jin’s Subordinate ‘Jabaek’ has successfully merged with the ‘Mana Core’!]

[The Divinity of the ‘Mana Core’ has been rebuilt.]

[All the stat points of Jin’s Subordinate ‘Jabaek’ has changed.]

[Jin’s Subordinate ‘Jabaek’ has been bestowed with an attribute.]

[Jin’s Subordinate ‘Jabaek’ has been bestowed with a skill.]

…

[The Boss Monster ‘Elfin Root’ is slowly waking up inside Jin’s Subordinate ‘Jabaek.’]

…

Numerous messages continuously popped up.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ cannot sit still because she is really curious about what kind of subordinate will be born.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ observes your subordinate with interest.]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ congratulates you for the birth of your new claw.]

The expectant Celestials also sent a myriad of messages.

[A new type of subordinate has been born!]

The last message popped up.

Paah―!

The Jabaek—no, the subordinate that had merged with the Elfin Root sprung out at Chang-Sun.

Claang!

However, Chang-Sun lightly snorted and parried the Elfin Root’s open-hand strike upward with [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth].

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ looks around in confusion, wondering what happened.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ clicks his tongue, assuming the Jabaek and the Elfin Root have synchronized so much that it now not only remembers its past life but became the Elfin Root itself.]

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ is looking forward to seeing how you deal with this.]

Just as J?rmungandr assumed, Chang-Sun certainly didn’t forget how the Jabaek was also an empty vessel, which meant its characteristic could change depending on its content. In contrast, the content named the Elfin Root was too unique. It had been Kali’s high-ranking priest in its past life, and it was so full of desires to get revenge for Kali that it even tried to reach Heaven despite knowing its efforts were futile.

Hence, how the subordinate who strongly identified with the Elfin Root would react once it opened its eyes again was obvious. In fact, Jin was just Chang-Sun’s subordinate nominally. He always tried to stab his back since the system couldn’t just make one loyal to another. Aware of that, Chang-Sun already knew how to deal with the current situation.

“Jin, are you going to keep watching?” Chang-Sun asked.

The Jabaek turned in the opposite direction and tried to stab Chang-Sun with the wooden spear it had created.

Bang!

After suddenly dropping from the sky, Jin grabbed the Jabaek’s head and slammed it against the ground, almost burying its head in the crushed earth. Chang-Sun returned [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth] on the back of his waist. He then took a couple of steps backward as he crossed his arms.

Kiyaaah!

Trying to break loose, the Jabaek squirmed and even barred its canine and molar teeth to show its hostility to Jin, but he just coldly smiled.

「You have the nerve to growl at me, huh?」

Jin occasionally acted friendly toward Chang-Sun and no one else. Just as he did with Baek Gyeo-Ul, he drew a line with people whom he didn’t accept. Moreover, unlike Gyeo-Ul, the Jabaek wasn’t Chang-Sun’s. No matter what it had been in its past life or what it was right now, it was Jin’s subordinate whom he had resuscitated first and foremost. The Hongsal King always gave suiting punishments to subordinates who defied their superior.

「That’s the last time you’ll ever be able to do that.」

Jin held up the [Frost King’s Greatsword] with one hand and stabbed the Jabaek with it, its blade piercing through the Jabaek’s torso and deep into the ground.

Stab!

[The Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ has activated the Skill ‘Frozen Realm’!]

Crack!

The wind that began to blow from the [Frost King’s Greatsword] immediately swallowed and froze the nearby land.

Kyah, kyaaah…!

Pinned down to the ground, the Jabaek shrieked and tried to resist somehow as its breathing became visible amid the cold wind, but Jin had already subdued it. It could have managed to escape if it had the Elfin Root’s body, but it reincarnated as the Jaebaek, causing its stat points to change. In its current state, it lacked the capability to defy Jin. Crossing his arms, Chang-Sun approached the Jabaek, who still glared at him with animosity and murderous intent at full display.

[Will you give your new subordinate a ‘Name’?]

The message popped up on top of the Jabaek’s face, asking if Chang-Sun would turn it into a named subordinate. Having a <Name> mattered because it affected one’s talent, potential, and identity. If Chang-Sun gave it the wrong <Name>, he could make the already-angry Jabaek even more furious, but he didn’t mind at all.

“I will.” Chang-Sun nodded.

[You have chosen to name your subordinate. What would its name be?]

Just as he had with Jin, Chang-Sun already had a name in mind.

“Elfin Root,” he unhesitantly answered.

[The subordinate selection has been completed!]

[The Jabaek has been named ‘Elfin Root.’ It will become your ‘spear’ and stay by your side from now on.]

Paah!

If Jin was a sword, then the Elfin Root was a spear. Chang-Sun thought the metaphors the system used made it easy to compare the two. The eyes of the Jabaek, who had gained the new <Name> ‘Elfin Root’, became darker.

「You still can’t control it, so why would you go through the trouble?」Jin wondered, tilting his

“I like the Elfin Root, also known as the Parasitic Divine Tree, because it has the guts to provoke a fight with a star,” Chang-Sun nonchalantly answered and turned to the Elfin Root, who was still hostile to him. “The system tells me you hold a deceased deity’s divinity, is that right?”

While Chang-Sun was resting in the hospital, he kept wondering how he could avert the suspicions of Heoju and the ‘Geminus’ and ask about Kali. Eventually, he decided to just ask about the Elfin Root’s past, which he had the right to as its master.

Grr…!

Of course, the Elfin Root just growled and showed no intention to answer properly.

“I know you can talk now, so talk properly,” Chang-Sun coldly said.

「I-I…!」The Elfin Root started.

“You, what?”

「I have to find my deity’s divinity and faith…!」

Chang-Sun’s eyes slightly shone as it finally started to talk.

[The Celestial ‘Calamity Tiger’ wonders what your subordinate will tell you.]

“If you were the deity’s priest, then she was quite powerful, wasn’t she? How did she die? Is it related to the Zodiacs?” Chang-Sun asked.

The Elfin Root stayed quiet, seemingly never intending to answer. It looked as if it would rather die than serve Chang-Sun, making Chang-Sun silently click his tongue. Turning someone this stubborn and loyal as his subordinate certainly had its advantages, but the Elfin Root would only continue to trouble him if he failed to coax it.

“All of your plans had gone awry anyway, so it looks like it’s better to speak about it and ask for help or find a new way to solve your problem.” Chang-Sun shrugged.

The Elfin Root closed its mouth again, but Chang-Sun didn’t miss the mix of emotions in its eyes.

「…Why…」

After quite some time, the Elfin Root finally broke the silence.

「Why… do you want to know about this?」

Its voice contained multiple emotions. After all, it knew Chang-Sun was right. For as long as the Elfin Root was still alive, it would sooner or later find a new way to get its revenge, but it wanted to figure out Chang-Sun’s intention before anything else. Chang-Sun had come up with an answer to this question too.

“I could become more powerful since I don’t have a Guardian,” Chang-Sun casually answered.

「… What? You don’t have a Guardian?」

For the first time, the Elfin Root seemed noticeably shocked. Chang-Sun was the Player who had killed its evolved form and the chief priest of the ‘Gemini,’ so it was very hard to believe Chang-Sun didn’t belong to any faction. However, the Elfin Root soon gained a new hope upon learning through their connection that he spoke of nothing but the truth.

‘Maybe…!’?The Elfin Root clenched its fists.

If Chang-Sun wasn’t related to the <Horoscope> or <Purple Star Astrology>, then it had nothing to lose—no, it could even find a new ‘light’ in its dark path. Hence, the Elfin Root slowly revealed its entire story.

「There… There is a star called ‘Divine Twilight.’」