I’m the Only Totem in Another World

Chapter 181: Escape from the Spirit World No. 1 （11）

“Uwaaagh!”

The followers of Tuga, struck by lightning（It hurts）, turned to dust. They won’t be able to maintain their forms until at least tomorrow morning.

“Th-this rookie representative is wielding Loa-nim’s power!”

“Then he’s not a rookie!”

“Damn it!”

The frightened fools are panicking. They knew I was the representative, but it seems they didn’t know I could handle the power this skillfully.

Tuga, you underestimated me too much. You know I caught the Dark Cloud Demon, the Seven-Headed Dragon, and everything else, right?

“Hmph!”

The unfortunate thing is that Asha, quick-witted as ever, dodged the lightning with a leap.

She moved acrobatically, doing somersaults in the air, and for that moment, she was 0.5 Rake.

“Tuga-nim told me everything! You’re neither a warrior nor a priest, just an ordinary human! Do you think you can defeat me just because you gained Loa-nim’s power?!”

Wow, you’re acting all high and mighty after dodging just once. You’re just clumsily running towards me anyway.

“Yep. That’s right.”

“You bastard!”

Asha shoots black energy from her fingertips. This is the ability I saw when I fought her on the ground.

So it wasn’t an ability she received after becoming Tuga’s avatar, but her ability as a priest. It’s smaller than before. It must be weaker because she’s not an avatar anymore.

I can easily dodge an attack like this… Oh. Right, I’m clumsy.

Why did I think I could dodge that? I’ve been stuck to Rake’s side in totem form for so long that I’ve overestimated my own abilities.

Just because I can see the attack coming doesn’t mean my body can keep up.

I’m screwed.

“Haa!”

Fortunately, Gukbap intervened at the right moment and blocked the black energy with his hammer.

This is the Spirit World. As long as your soul can handle it, you can block attacks using spiritual power.

Perhaps thanks to his strong sense of self-sacrifice, Gukbap had a soul that felt more solid and clear than others.

“That’s the Sea Monster bitch, right? The one who sent the Dark Cloud Demon to our Special Forces! I suffered so much because of her!”

Gukbap, after shaking off his hammer, glared at Asha.

“Right.”

You remember that surprisingly well.

“I’ll take care of her!”

An Asian man in a Korean military uniform runs forward, wielding a giant warhammer.

“You! You’re possessed! Were you part of that Paladin group back then?”

“Yeah. I was disappointed I couldn’t kill you myself then, so this is perfect!”

Asha and Gukbap clashed. Asha swung her fists, clad in black energy, but Gukbap blocked each blow with his hammer, waiting for an opportunity.

He’s not just any possessed person, he’s a possessed former soldier. He’s also one of the elite Paladins who participated in the all-out battle against the Seven-Headed Dragon Demon. Even if she’s a priest who led a tribe, she can’t take him lightly.

Still, he looks a bit strained.

At this rate, he’ll just be blocking and it’ll end there. Is it because of the presence or absence of spiritual power? He needs backup.

“Nix! Help Gukbap!”

“Yes!”

If Nix, the chieftain and priestess, joins in, they should be able to defeat Asha without any problems.

Leaving Asha to them, I looked back at the overall situation. My followers and Tuga’s followers were entangled in a fight.

We had more numbers. Quite a few of them turned to dust after being hit by my lightning earlier. They were putting up a fight, but there’s no defense against a swarm.

“Y-you bastards! I’m the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and the 21st Pirate King Lupa… Ugh!”

“I’m the navigator Nama… Eek!”

Denzo struck their heads with an iron club.

“How dare mere sea bandits like you!”

In fact, their individual specs were different from the start.

Tuga’s followers are pirates who lived by plundering the wealth and lives of good-natured fishermen and poor sailors.

On the other hand, most of Malak’s followers are hunters or warriors. There’s no way they could stand a chance in a head-on fight.

“You stupid bastard, Tuga.”

Did you think I’d only have farmers as followers because I’m a god of agriculture? You must have sent your followers without thinking.

This is the average Loa. They call themselves gods, but they’re just beasts with power.

“Nix!”

“Yes!”

“Ugh!”

Asha was overpowered by the combined efforts of Gukbap and Nix. A landslide victory.

“You fools, even dumber than demons.”

The Tunnel Demon, who targeted the headquarters when the main force was away, or the Shadow Demon, who fled immediately upon seeing Malak manifest, were smarter.

“Don’t think you’ve won! My role was only to buy time! Tuga-nim has left his domain! You will disappear…”

“Shut up!”

Thud!

Asha, struck by Gukbap’s hammer, turned to dust. It’s a bit frustrating to think that this bitch will be back to normal by tomorrow morning.

“It’ll be tough, but I think we need to pick up the pace. If Tuga is coming… we need to prepare for any eventuality.”

Nike wiped away her sweat with a serious expression.

“Let’s do that.”

I was planning to leave today or tomorrow anyway. It’s actually better if we leave sooner.

I’m not sure if my terrible stamina will hold up, but couldn’t my followers take turns giving me piggyback rides whenever I get exhausted?

Just a thought.

▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄

We met the second group of uninvited guests when the sun was high in the sky.

“We’ve been waiting. We knew you would come this way.”

Humans wearing monkey masks blocked our path.

“What is this?”

“Representative of Malak, there’s no need for hostility. We are faithful followers of Sonak-nim. We have no intention of fighting.”

Sonak. The Monkey Loa.

“If you have no intention of fighting, get out of the way. I’m busy.”

He’s not a particularly remarkable Loa. He has few followers, and his influence on the ground was minimal.

If Rakan is a large corporation served by many tribes, and Tuga is a mid-sized company served by a few tribes（Tribes that live in the sea）, then this guy is a small business like Udan, served by one or two tribes.

Actually, Malak is also a small business. He’s called the Wind and Rain God, but he’s essentially a god of agriculture, so the demand for his power was low compared to what he possesses.

“We just have one small favor to ask. A very minor one.”

“What is it.”

“Karon destroyed all of Sonak-nim’s totems on the ground and absorbed their energy. Because of this, Sonak-nim has lost his means of replenishing his divine power. We would like you to have some of the priests on the ground build Sonak-nim’s totems and gather followers for him.”

“I refuse. Get lost.”

Are these bastards kidding me? They want to stick their spoons into the ground that my followers, possessed, and I worked our asses off to save? And they’re not even offering anything substantial in return?

I can escape the Spirit Gate without their help.

“Of-of course, we will pay you. Once Sonak-nim has gained enough divine power, he will…”

“Stop.”

Who knows when “enough” will be? It’s better for me to monopolize all the divine power myself.

“This is your last warning.”

I used the ‘Malak’s Domain’ blessing to summon blue clouds.

“If you don’t get out of the way, I’ll turn you all to dust.”

Do I have to show you the way of the （Dominance） again?

This isn’t Sonak’s domain, so there’s no reason for a Loa to interfere. I can just beat these guys up like Tuga’s gang.

Gukbap, Nix, and Denzo approached them menacingly, weapons in hand.

“…You will regret this.”

Sonak’s followers, wearing monkey masks, retreated by climbing trees.

“What the.”

So they climb trees because they’re monkey followers? This is why they’re a small business.

“They could be pretending to retreat and attack us from behind. Keep a close eye on them.”

“Yes!”

I left five followers to keep watch and continued moving.

How much time had passed? It was around sunset.

“We’ve arrived. This is Sesu-nim’s land and the place where the Spirit Gate is open.”

I looked up at the sky at Nike’s words.

A giant tree grew, piercing the clouds. It was so big that I couldn’t see the top.

Sesu. The ancient sacred tree said to have created the Spirit World.

“Magnificent.”

I learned from Nike on the way here that you need Sesu’s permission to enter the Spirit World.

Spiritual beings who gain divine power through human worship are called Loa, but it’s Sesu who decides whether or not they can reside in the Spirit World.

He’s the true landlord, no, the true divine being.

‘Rakan-nim, known as the first Loa, also became a Loa in this way. But Malak-nim is different. He gained a sufficient amount of divine power through his followers and entered the Spirit World of his own will. A very unusual case.’

I recalled Nike’s words.

Now I understand why Jin Malak was so much stronger than the other Loa and why he didn’t get along with them.

It’s because Jin Malak was an illegal immigrant.

“Is that the Spirit Gate?”

A hole that looked like a white hole caught my eye. It was a short distance away from Sesu.

“That’s right.”

Asha said that Tuga, who had left his domain, would chase us. Originally, Loa aren’t supposed to leave their domains, but it seems he wants to crush me even if it means breaking that unwritten rule.

I don’t know how close he is, so I can’t let my guard down until the very end.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

“Take care. And say hello to your Special Forces friends.”

“I will. You take care too.”

“And when you get back down there, get some exercise. It’s embarrassing for a man to be like this.”

“…I’ll think about it.”

After a brief farewell, I got off Gukbap’s back. Thank you, Gukbap. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you.

I also thanked Denzo, Nix, and the other followers for coming with me and told them to stay safe.

“We will wait here. Oh, messenger of the great Malak-nim.”

Nix said. That’s a bit ominous.

I was gathering my last bit of strength to run to the Spirit Gate when…

Boom━!

The ground split open, and a giant crab appeared, along with seawater.

“Ah.”

I’m screwed. It’s Tuga. This crazy crab dug a tunnel from his domain, the sea, all the way here.

He came to take revenge, remembering the humiliation I inflicted upon him. Without even caring about the situation on the ground.

“You’re willing to let everyone die? You stupid crab…!”

Crrr… Crrrr…!

Just as he muttered something and raised his giant pincer…

Woof━!

A giant beast pounced on him from behind.