Immortals vs. Grim Reapers - chapter 17
Chapter 17: The Hunters (Part 1)
‘Today’s Fortune…’
He had been deliberately avoiding it to save money, but now that he received it as a reward, there was no reason not to use it.
Moreover, it guaranteed a rare grade or higher.
Gangrim opened Bimang and checked Today’s Fortune. Unlike before, Today’s Fortune was marked with a brightly colored, glittering indicator.
Yu Wolryeong’s eyes sparkled in tandem.
“A guaranteed minimum rare grade ‘Today’s Fortune’… You’ve received a precious gift.”
“…Would you like to press it instead?”
Seeing Yu Wolryeong’s fingers fidgeting, Gangrim offered her the Bimang.
Yu Wolryeong’s fingers twitched, but she soon carefully folded them and shook her head.
“I’m not statistically lucky, so it’s better if I don’t. It would be best for Reaper Ju Gangrim to do it.”
“Hmm… if you say so.”
Certainly, it’s better to do these things yourself. It would be a shame to let someone else do it and end up with regrets.
Gangrim touched Today’s Fortune to open it. Soon, something appeared from within a box made of dark blue mist, accompanied by a glowing effect.
It was a short silver dagger.
“Spirit Binding Dagger (Rare)”
“A knife for binding spirits. It has an earth-bound spirit attached, so it will find its owner wherever it’s placed. To ordinary people, it’s a normal knife, but once it pierces a spirit, they cannot pull it out themselves.”
“Hmm, a Spirit Binding Dagger.”
Gangrim was disappointed when only a rare grade item emerged from the guaranteed rare grade special privilege, but Yu Wolryeong showed interest.
Gangrim held the Spirit Binding Dagger and examined it from all angles. Judging by its sharp blade and good balance, it seemed usable as a dagger in itself.
“Are you familiar with this item?”
“It’s something shamans and Taoist priests always carry. It’s convenient for binding evil spirits. Since Immortals have their spirit and flesh as one, it should certainly work on them. However…”
Yu Wolryeong extended her hand, as if asking if she could take a look.
Gangrim handed the Spirit Binding Dagger to her.
Yu Wolryeong checked the shape of the blade and the pattern on the handle. Then she tapped the handle to remove the blade.
A name was engraved on the lower part of the blade, separated from the handle.
“No wonder the quality is good. It’s equipment made in Hwajeokjingun’s workshop.”
“You mean it’s handmade?”
“Do you think there are factories in the afterlife? Hwajeokjingun is the most famous blacksmith in the afterlife. But Hwajeokjingun’s workshop has been closed for over a hundred years in living world time. Though it’s rare grade, someone who knows its value would pay a price comparable to a luxury item to buy it.”
Click. Yu Wolryeong reassembled the Spirit Binding Dagger and handed it back to Gangrim.
“So even among Spirit Binding Daggers, the value differs depending on who made it?”
At that, Yu Wolryeong pulled something out from her bosom. The moment Gangrim saw it, he realized it was a Death Sword.
But its shape was bizarre.
It looked more like a handle than a sword, and he couldn’t even guess what its complete form might be.
“Reaper Ju Gangrim and I both have Death Swords. Though every grim reaper has one, the power they exert and their forms vary.”
“Hmm… I see. Then what grade is the Death Sword?”
“The Death Sword is outside of specifications.”
Yu Wolryeong spoke as if it were absurd.
“The Death Sword is itself the foundation of the afterlife and part of its cycle. Can Reaper Ju Gangrim assign a grade to childbirth, sunlight, or death? Even if you brought a mythical grade divine object, it couldn’t be exchanged for a Death Sword.”
Is it to that extent? Gangrim had casually brought it up, but was taken aback by Yu Wolryeong’s serious response.
Because Yeomna had handed it over so lightly, Gangrim had thought of it as merely equivalent to a gun given to a soldier, not realizing its true weight.
‘Even Yu Wolryeong was surprised when Yeomna said he had a spare Death Sword.’
Considering how Yu Wolryeong hardly ever shows emotion, one could imagine how shocking it must have been.
Gangrim attached the Spirit Binding Dagger to his belt. He had been feeling the need for a secondary weapon anyway, so it wasn’t bad.
“It should work well as a secondary weapon.”
“Secondary weapon? Hmm. Well, since Reaper Ju Gangrim’s Death Sword is still modest, I thought it would be better to prepare something with more firepower as a secondary weapon.”
“Something with more firepower?”
“For example, the secondary weapon I use is…”
Saying this, Yu Wolryeong lifted her suit jacket to show what was inside.
“S&W Magnum. A revolver of trust and faith.”
A sleek silver revolver was attached to the holster on her chest.
“My Death Sword is on the heavy side, so I need a weapon that can keep enemies in check from a suitable distance.”
“……”
It was quite different from what he had imagined, but what could Gangrim say when a senior grim reaper spoke like that?
He could only nod with difficulty.
“Then what do you plan to do with that friend over there?”
Yu Wolryeong said this while turning her head. Her gaze was directed at a man lying down, covered in burns.
It was Han Min-sung, the hunter who had been caught by the fake Lopez and caught in the explosion at the end.
Though his burns were quite severe, he had survived thanks to Gangrim’s first aid.
Gangrim answered with a crooked smile.
“I have something in mind.”
“Han Min-sung.”
Han Min-sung opened his eyes to the sound of someone calling his name. His vision was blurry, and he couldn’t see clearly.
Han Min-sung recalled his last memory of the person he thought was Lopez self-detonating right in front of him. But strangely, he felt almost no pain.
Just then, someone leaned over him. Only then could Han Min-sung gradually focus on the figure approaching him.
“Who…”
Backlit by moonlight, he couldn’t see clearly, but it was a strange man in pitch-black clothes wearing a traditional hat.
Even Han Min-sung, who hadn’t read many old tales, was reminded of something the moment he saw this figure.
“A grim reaper…?”
For a very brief moment, the man’s teeth seemed to show. Han Min-sung’s heart sank instantly.
There had been a tremendous explosion right in front of him. And now a grim reaper stood before him.
If so, then surely he…
“Am I… dead?”
Instead of answering, the man nodded. Strangely, Han Min-sung didn’t feel despair or sadness. He just felt relief that he could finally rest.
How many terrible things had he done under the pretext of survival after awakening his ability?
The loan sharks he had borrowed from, using his A-class awakened ability as collateral, became his shackles, and the illegal requests he carried out to repay those debts became even greater shackles.
That yoke climbed higher and higher, forcing him to take on increasingly dangerous jobs.
He had thought it wouldn’t be strange if he was killed one day to silence him.
‘At least if I died during a mission, it’s not a miserable death.’
Han Min-sung remained silent for a moment before speaking with difficulty.
“I’m going to… hell, aren’t I?”
“Of course.”
There was no need to ask.
Han Min-sung thought about how many people he had killed.
He had even sacrificed all his companions as offerings to enhance his weapon in order to survive alone when surrounded by zombies.
But when he actually heard the expected answer, he began to feel afraid.
“No way.”
Han Min-sung suddenly felt a surge of indignation. The grim reaper seemed to show a moment of curiosity at these words.
“Are you afraid of hell?”
“What, what did I do so wrong?”
“…I understand you killed quite a few people?”
“I did it all to survive!”
Han Min-sung cried out desperately.
“Even if it hadn’t been me, they would have died to zombies anyway! At most, it was just some dying old folks or kids, or a few hunters living like human trash. Isn’t it more beneficial for humanity if an A-class awakened one like me survives?”
Han Min-sung believed his words were justified.
Is it even possible to live righteously in times like these?
Anyone with his ability would have lived like him. It’s nonsense to say he should go to hell just for living in such a messed-up world.
The grim reaper was silent for a moment after hearing Han Min-sung’s words. Han Min-sung wasn’t sure, but he had a strange certainty that he was being persuaded.
After a brief silence, the grim reaper smiled whitely in the darkness.
“In short, you’re saying you don’t want to go to hell.”
“……”
Though he didn’t answer, the response was obvious. Han Min-sung hesitated before nodding. Then the grim reaper pulled out something red from his bosom.
Han Min-sung thought it looked like a cell phone screen.
“You’re right, Han Min-sung. I also think it doesn’t make sense for you to go to hell.”
For a moment, hope welled up in Han Min-sung’s chest. The grim reaper continued, smiling.
“There’s a more suitable place for you. Right here in the world of the living.”
“Then…”
“Put your seal here. Then I’ll allow you to stay in the world of the living.”
Allow him to stay in the world of the living? Let him live?
Han Min-sung reached out his hand, cheering inwardly. Then suddenly, a doubt arose as to whether he was doing something wise.
Signing without reading the contract terms?
Wasn’t borrowing loan shark money when he was young enough of a foolish decision? No, was he even really dead to begin with?
Just then, as if reading Han Min-sung’s mind, the grim reaper pulled his hand back.
“No, on second thought, making such a decision on my own…”
“…I’ll do it!”
Han Min-sung hurriedly reached out and pressed his finger to the screen.
It’s all or nothing anyway.
If he wasn’t actually dead, this whole charade would be just a joke, and if he was dead, there was nothing to lose if he was being offered a chance to live.
Blood seeped from Han Min-sung’s thumb and into the screen. At that moment, Han Min-sung felt his head go faint.
In an instant, everything around him turned hazy like fog, becoming a colorless space.
Only then did Han Min-sung realize his body had become lighter.
He turned around in a daze.
He saw his own physical body, burned and wounded.
“Congratulations.”
He saw the grim reaper, no, Gangrim whom he had thought was a grim reaper, smiling at him, showing his teeth.
“You will now serve as my Changgwi (ghost servant) until the contract ends.”
Gangrim had spent all 2,000 nyang of soul pay he had collected from catching zombies and the Immortal Lopez to purchase one item.
“Soul Contract (Common)”
“An afterlife-guaranteed contract that can bind a soul. The contract proposer is referred to as party A, and the one who puts their seal as party B. Party A can borrow and use the power and abilities of party B’s soul. Contract terms are adjusted between the parties, and if an inappropriate grade of contract is used, the usage limit is restricted.”
And before Gangrim’s eyes, Han Min-sung floated in a semi-transparent form with a dazed expression.
Yu Wolryeong looked at this sight and spoke doubtfully.
“Isn’t this fraud?”
“I merely concealed some facts.”
“Isn’t that fraud?”
“Well, there can be various interpretations. I didn’t know Han Min-sung was such a bad person either. If he had shown even a hint of guilty conscience…”
“You mean you wouldn’t have done it?”
“No. I mean I would have felt guilty too. But fortunately, since he’s such an evil bastard, I don’t feel much guilt.”
Gangrim held out his Death Sword.
The moment he contracted with Han Min-sung, his ability and usage methods were automatically input into his mind. Han Min-sung’s soul seemed to seep into the Death Sword.
‘Since Han Min-sung is an A-class awakened one but the contract is common grade, his ability seems somewhat limited.’
In Bimang’s store, there were rare and special grade contracts besides the common grade. But this was all the soul contract Gangrim could buy with his soul pay.
With this common grade contract, he could only draw out Han Min-sung’s ability.
Han Min-sung’s experiences, strategies, personality, and so on were all excluded, leaving only the pure essence.
But Gangrim was quite satisfied with that. He was more interested in the ability itself than Han Min-sung’s combat skills.
Han Min-sung’s ability, Blood Taker, is an ability that enhances weapons by extorting lifespan, not life force.
However, to absorb lifespan, the target had to be completely subdued or in a state without will to resist.
‘It means I can’t use the lifespan extortion ability of Blood Taker as a weapon itself.’
How much stronger the weapon becomes would have to be tested.
Yu Wolryeong watched Gangrim swinging his Death Sword before speaking.
“What do you plan to do with that person’s extorted ability?”
“Well. For now, my primary goal was to prevent him from going elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere?”
“Gerald, I mean.”
Yu Wolryeong nodded. Han Min-sung hadn’t used his ability just for himself.
He was also another adjutant for enhancing the weapons Gerald used.
Just by eliminating Han Min-sung, one could say Gerald had lost a weapon.
“And there is one thing I’m thinking about.”
“What is it?”
Gangrim was about to explain. But at that moment, they turned their heads at the sound of a loud roar approaching.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat.
It was a vibration strong enough to make the hotel building, which had already been through several explosions, tremble.
Outside the window, countless helicopters were approaching, sweeping the building with searchlights.
Gangrim quickly scanned the outside and identified who was coming.
“It’s the U.S. military. Looks like they’ve come to retrieve their property.”