[Aspirant Exorcist has safely come back.]
The announcement echoed in my head like a bell, sharp and inevitable. My body felt heavy, though I wasn't injured. I blinked a few times, looking around.
Fog. Endless fog. The air was so thick it was suffocating. Beneath me, sharp stones waited like knives eager to stab me if I dared to move carelessly. I stayed still, squinting upwards. Black clouds swirled ominously, as though mocking me from above.
[Preparing for Lu Shian's Second Nomination.]
I rolled my eyes. "So what's next? Can't I get a break? A nap would be nice…"
My voice was quiet, swallowed by the fog. I rubbed the back of my neck, tension building in my shoulders.
'So this is how it's going to be, huh? One soul test after another. No room to breathe, no time to think. Just trial after trial.'
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "I get it. I'm strong. You want me to keep proving it? Fine."
I didn't move from my spot, though. I'd learned my lesson. The ground beneath me was treacherous. If I didn't have to walk, I wouldn't. My feet already ached just thinking about it.
"Life was hard, sure. But I don't have a choice—I just have to keep breathing." The words escaped me as a murmur.
My past loomed over me like the black clouds above. Memories clawed at the edges of my mind, threatening to break through. I shoved them back down. Now wasn't the time. I had to survive this first.
[Second Nomination: Screw It or Save It.]
The screen materialized in front of me. I read through the options, my eyes narrowing at the text.
> Screw It – A Rank High Spirit is staying at the famous restaurant. Despite not hurting anyone, some can still sense him. Destroy his soul and send it to another world.
Save It – A Rank High Spirit is staying at the famous restaurant. Tame him and make him work for you. A loyal spirit is a loyal family.
Screw It Rewards: Higher Identity, 3 High magic attributes, 1 trillion gold, and rank up 3x.
Save It Rewards: Forever Hide Identity, 3 High magic attributes, 25,000 gold, and rank up 3x.
"Seriously?" I muttered, feeling my patience wear thin. "Destroy or tame. That's it?"
The rewards flashed in front of me. It was tempting—who wouldn't want a trillion gold and a higher rank? But the words 'a loyal spirit is a loyal family' lingered in my head.
I scoffed. "Family? I don't need one."
The silence around me pressed closer, like the fog itself wanted me to decide. I sighed heavily, rubbing my temples.
"Fine. I'll save the damn spirit."
[Sending Aspirant Exorcist: Lu Shian to an unknown place… Processing…]
The screen vanished as the ground beneath me trembled. I felt the familiar pull of teleportation, my body dissolving into nothing before snapping back into existence.
The first thing I noticed was the smell.
"Food?" I sniffed the air, confused. "Is that… roasted duck?"
I looked around and realized I was standing in the middle of a bustling kitchen. Pots clanged, knives chopped, and steam curled around me like playful spirits. Chefs shouted orders back and forth, their voices a chaotic chorus.
"Hey! Who are you? What are you doing in my kitchen!?"
A tall, muscular chef stormed toward me, waving a cleaver in my direction. I raised my hands in surrender.
"Whoa, calm down, big guy! I'm just…" I paused. What was I supposed to say? Hi, I'm here to tame a spirit haunting your restaurant? Yeah, that would go well.
"I'm the new… inspector?" I tried, plastering on a fake smile.
The chef narrowed his eyes, his grip on the cleaver tightening. "Inspector? We weren't told about any inspector!"
Before I could come up with a better excuse, a chill ran down my spine. The temperature in the kitchen dropped. I watched as frost spread across the floor, creeping up the walls. The chefs froze—figuratively and literally—as their breaths came out in white puffs.
There he was.
In the far corner of the room, near a stack of barrels, a figure hovered in the shadows. His form was faint, almost translucent, but the cold radiating from him was unmistakable. His eyes glowed an eerie blue, locked onto me.
'There's my spirit.'
I took a cautious step forward, ignoring the chefs' shocked gasps and mutters. "Hey, buddy. Mind telling me what you're doing here?"
The spirit didn't respond. Instead, the air grew colder. I could see the frost spreading faster now, freezing utensils and making the floor dangerously slick.
I sighed. "Alright. I tried being nice."
I extended my hand, summoning a faint glow of magic. "Listen up, Spirit. I'm not here to destroy you. I've got a proposition for you."
The spirit's eyes narrowed, his form flickering. "Why should I trust you?"
His voice echoed through the kitchen, deep and filled with centuries of bitterness.
"Because I'm the only one who sees potential in you," I shot back. "You're strong—strong enough to make this place freeze over. But instead of scaring chefs, you could work for me. You'd have a purpose."
The spirit scoffed. "Purpose? I have no need for a purpose. I am dead."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, well, so's half the Underworld, and they're still getting shit done. Look, it's simple: you join me, you get protection. You get freedom. Or you can keep sulking in this kitchen until some exorcist stronger than me shows up and tears your soul apart."
The spirit's form wavered. For a moment, I thought he would attack me. Then, slowly, he floated closer.
"You promise me freedom?"
I nodded firmly. "Freedom. And food, if you want it. I own a few places. You can haunt them as much as you like."
The spirit stared at me for a long time before finally nodding. "Very well. I accept."
[Congratulations! You are now the master of a High-Ranking Spirit.]
[You will receive: Forever Hide Identity, 3 High magic attributes, 25,000 gold, and rank up 3x.]
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. The frost in the kitchen began to fade, the temperature slowly returning to normal. The chefs stared at me in awe as if I'd just performed a miracle.
I turned to the head chef, who still held his cleaver. "So… about that roasted duck?"
He blinked at me, stunned. "You… You really are an inspector, aren't you?"
I smirked. "Something like that."
[Second Nomination: Successfully Completed.]
[Preparing for the Third Nomination...]
I groaned as the system's voice rang in my ears again. "Already? Can't I eat first?"
The spirit beside me chuckled softly. "Welcome to your new life, Master."
I shot him a look. "Don't call me that. It's weird."
The screen in front of me began to glow. Here we go again.