Episode 3 – The Reaper
“Hmm…. It seems you’ve grown more arrogant in the time I haven’t seen you.”
“That’s none of your business, is it? And since I’ve answered you, I’d appreciate it if you’d get lost now.”
“Well, I expected as much. I had a feeling you weren’t the type to leave just because I told you to.”
“Then I hope we never see each other again.”
Watching Hajin walk away without so much as another word, contrary to expectations, Seojun fell into thought.
‘What? I didn’t think he’d back down so easily….’
The Monster Borderlands.
It was an area that inevitably formed from funneling Gates into one region through Gate Diversion Stones.
The Monster Borderlands were established far from inhabited areas.
But.
Once the Gates were actually funneled into one place, the accumulated region became too severe to manage, and eventually, even the surrounding areas began to suffer damage bit by bit.
The World Association decided to conscript a set number of people from each country to enter the Borderlands and deal with the Gates.
Since the Gates themselves were difficult to clear, the conscripts would hold out for two years suppressing only the monsters that spilled out due to the Break, rather than clearing them, before returning.
But the problem was that the Association began forcibly conscripting Awakeners aged 17 and older under the pretext of fostering the growth of young Awakeners.
Ordinary people had an unconditional duty, but the clans to which the Twelve Heroes belonged negotiated with the Association, citing their responsibility for national defense, and compromised by sending one or two members of that generation from within the clan.
And.
In exchange for such preferential treatment, the Awakeners conscripted from the clans were not assigned to suppress monsters like other Awakeners.
Instead, regardless of whether they possessed an Awakener license or not, they were conscripted to take on the role of clearing Gates—a task normally reserved for veterans.
The reason licenses were disregarded was because it was guaranteed that the Twelve Heroes’ clans would select and send their own members, ensuring their skill.
Although they entered by forming parties with high-ranking Awakeners.
‘With my current skills, the odds of dying are very high.’
Moreover.
‘The chances are high that I’ll be the one conscripted from the clan.’
No.
‘They’re definitely going to try to send me no matter what.’
However, despite the situation, Seojun’s eyes were smiling.
“But whatever, it doesn’t matter. No, rather, it’s a good thing.”
If this had been before he awakened to his past life, it would have been a situation to avoid at all costs.
But now, having bloomed his Muk-gi and remembered his past life, going there was more advantageous.
‘If I compared it to a game, it’s like getting a double EXP coupon and leveling up.’
But why did he refuse the offer?
He was going.
However.
“As an individual, not as a representative of the Cheon-geom Singa.”
***
Inside the car filled with silence.
“Uh… Young Master, will you be returning to the clan now?”
“No. Let’s go to Gangnam.”
“To the hospital where your son is?”
“Sir Choe.”
“I-I’m sorry!”
“We must arrive before nine, so hurry.”
“Yes, yes!”
Hajin glanced icily at the driver in the driver’s seat, then turned on his smartphone and opened the photo app.
On the screen was a student who looked to be in his late teens, smiling brightly while holding a sword.
‘Jinwoo…. Don’t you worry. This father will somehow send that Seojun bastard in your stead.’
“Why did they have to recruit starting from seventeen, tch.”
Hajin’s son, Jinwoo, was a non-attribute like Seojun, and unlike the clan’s other successors, he had no talent for the martial arts, so he was treated poorly by the clan.
Fortunately, because Seojun had the side effect of being unable to raise his mana stat, the label of “trash” was directed at Seojun rather than Jinwoo.
If a being like Seojun hadn’t existed.
‘The label of trash would have been directed at Jinwoo.’
The clan did not easily send talented children outside, so they were trying to send one of the less talented children to the Borderlands.
That was precisely why.
Fearing Jinwoo would be selected as the clan’s representative Borderland volunteer, he had hastily hospitalized Jinwoo. He had been striving to divert the clan’s attention to Seojun, who had been expelled as trash.
However.
The Association had ruled that Seojun could not be recognized as a clan member because he was an expelled existence.
‘Damned nephew bastard, nothing but a stubborn streak despite being a nobody, tch.’
‘Why did the clan chase out such a half-cripple who can’t even raise a single mana stat, making things troublesome?’
‘If he hadn’t been expelled from the clan, I could have easily sent him as the clan’s representative.’
In truth, the reason Seojun was expelled from the clan was not due to a lack of ability, but due to the clan’s intense pressure.
But such facts were unimportant in Hajin’s eyes.
“This hardship is finally coming to an end. Whew.”
For the past three years until now, Hajin had perfectly hidden his intentions, sending money to Ayeong’s house under the guise of support funds, while preparing documents proving Seojun was a member of the clan.
And now, three years later.
“They have finally been recognized by the Association as well. Kuhahaha.”
‘Seojun. If only you had gone obediently, I would have supported you with equipment.’
“But you kicked up too much of a fuss for that.”
After turning off the smartphone, in the reflection on the black screen.
“There’s not much time left.”
Only the image of Hajin smiling sinisterly could be seen.
***
“Huh? Is someone talking about me?”
Scratching his suddenly itchy ear, he reviewed his plans for the future.
“First. It’s a given that I’ll run dungeons to level up.”
‘I’ll need a weapon too.’
The real problem was that there was little time left to prepare all of this.
“With graduation not far away, growing my Muk-gi to 2-star slowly isn’t feasible.”
While lost in thought for a while, he couldn’t help but be startled by a voice from beside him.
“—I think I can solve that for you.”
“Wh-what!?”
“—Huh? You can hear my voice? Right? That’s it, right? You can hear me, right? Please say yes!”
Seojun, flustered by the sudden voice.
“Huh?”
He could see the figure of a woman leaning against one wall of the room without any presence, arms crossed, looking at him.
No, it was a sword.
‘That was the sword Mom said she brought when she was expelled from the clan.’
It had a snow-white blade, but its edge was too dull to be used in real combat.
Quickly understanding the situation, Seojun grabbed the hilt of the sword leaning against the wall.
“—Are you finally paying attention to me?”
“….”
“—What. Why are you so, so quiet?”
“Who are you?”
“—Ahem. Don’t pretend you don’t know. You saw what I looked like earlier, didn’t you?”
‘When I looked at the sword earlier, I briefly saw the figure of a woman—is that what she means?’
“That’s not what I asked.”
“—So prickly. Hmm…. What would be the best way to say it?”
After a brief silence.
The mysterious woman suddenly lowered her voice and began to speak.
“—I am one who executes death, and the former ruler of the netherworld.”
“…..”
“—I am Yanluo.”
“……”
“—….”
“Suddenly? A god?????”
Returning to her original voice, she spoke coaxingly.
“—I understand how you feel. For a mere human to face a god and converse, it might be fascinating—”
“Whoa~ You’re a god? You? Yo~~~u? And the Great King Yanluo, widely known even on Earth?”
“—Th-that is.”
“You don’t feel any divinity, let alone presence? Whoa~ these days, any dog or cow claims to be a god.”
Seojun, who had approached the conversation seriously, suddenly changed his attitude as if it was absurd and mocked her, causing her to panic.
“—Th-that’s because of circumstances…. Wait! How does a human know about divinity?”
Spitting out words like a machine gun, she even pointed her finger as she continued.
“—A-and! I’m not some dog or cow!!!”
“Enough. Let’s hear why someone calling herself a god approached me.”
“—Ahem. As a woman who was once a highest-rank god, proper courtesy is to be expected.”
“Your preamble is too long. Let’s get to the main point.”
“—Ahem. I’ll lend you my Authority, so could you please do me a favor? That’s it.”
“Authority? Hmm….”
After a moment, Seojun, who had become interested in her proposal, was able to give a positive answer.
“How about we see the Authority first, then talk?”
“—Hehng! You absolutely won’t be disappointed!”
Watching her shout confidently, Seojun thought.
‘For a god widely known on Earth, she seems somewhat lacking.’
In fact, while conversing with her, Seojun could tell that she really was a god.
‘I’ve spent several years living as the pinnacle of gods, after all.’
But even if she was a god with the highest divine rank.
To test whether she had approached with ill intent, he had no choice but to play dumb.
And through the instinct engraved on Seojun’s soul, he inferred.
‘For someone who came with ill intent, she’s somewhat clumsy….’
Rather.
‘She looked desperate.’
What roused Seojun from his thoughts was a screen appearing before his eyes.
「 Twelve Zodiac Martial Arts (SS)
: A martial art created by one who holds the divine position of death at the highest rank, who received instruction in an Authority from ‘someone’ and reinterpreted it in their own way. 」
“—This is my Authority, and the core that helped me accumulate divinity of the highest rank.”
“You’re asking me for a favor in exchange for lending me an SS-rank Authority?”
“—Correct!!”
She clapped her hands and shouted expectantly, but she couldn’t help but deflate at Seojun’s next words.
“But can I believe just looking at a mere description? I think I’d need to experience it first.”
“—That is…. a bit difficult. I said I’d lend you my Authority, but as you know, once an Authority is lent, it’s hard to take back.”
As Seojun made a look of refusal, she continued in a rushed tone.
“—B-but!! Looking at your situation, weren’t you worrying because you didn’t have a proper attack-related trait?”
“Hmm….”
There was nothing wrong with her words, but.
‘There’s no need to let her know I’m in a desperate position.’
“I do need an attack-related trait, but it’s not something I’m that desperate for.”
‘After all, I was planning to absorb the demonic energy from Magic Stones to raise my Muk-gi to 2-star and operate like that.’
Raising Muk-gi to 2-star would require a lot of Magic Stones, so he had been planning to obtain them gradually.
“—Th-that is….”
Watching her trail off as if troubled, Seojun smiled and thought.
‘Judging by her reaction, it should be fine to modify my original plan.’
‘If I can obtain an attack trait this way, I can take my time gathering Magic Stones.’
In truth, obtaining the Authority of a highest-rank god was not an opportunity just anyone could easily encounter.
‘But I’m not just anyone, am I?’
When considering the rank of his past life, even the highest rank felt as insignificant as an ant’s toenail to Seojun.
‘Since I’m currently in a state without even divinity, I should be satisfied with this much.’
“Instead, how about we change the terms of the deal slightly?”
“—Huh?”
“Instead of doing you a favor in exchange for giving me the Authority, I’ll pull you out of that sword.”
“—…..”
“And once freed from the sword, you can directly do whatever you were going to ask me to do. How about it?”
“—Th-then how will you pull me out? I’ve tried many times, but nothing worked.”
Seojun could respond leisurely to her retort, which had furrowed her brows at his proposal.
“That’s for me to worry about. So, will you do it or not? That’s all you need to decide.”
“—If you really can.”
Though doubtful, confirming that she had given a positive answer, seemingly choosing to trust him, Seojun began to shake the sword about, urging her on.
“Then hurry up and hand over the Authority.”
“—Argh… stop shaking!! I was going to give it to you anyway.”
She grabbed her head, closed her eyes, and concentrated; a brief moment passed.
Ding!
A cheerful system sound rang out as a message appeared before Seojun.
〚 You have been granted an Authority by the God of Death! 〛
〚 You have acquired the Authority—Twelve Zodiac Martial Arts (SS)! 〛
〚 Your rank is too low; it is downgraded from an Authority to a trait. 〛
“As expected, I can’t fully accept it.”
It seemed that because Seojun’s current rank was too low, he couldn’t share her proficiency.
‘If I had received her proficiency too, I would have fully obtained it as an Authority.’
Traits and Authorities.
Even if a trait and an Authority were of the same rank, there was a vast difference between them in terms of power, efficiency, and every other aspect.
‘Because even an SS-rank trait can be inferior to an A-rank Authority.’
But. This was only natural.
‘Because when a trait reaches 7-star, it becomes an Authority.’
For traits that had not yet become Authorities, proficiency was at most 6 stars at best.
‘What’s the point of a high rank if proficiency is low?’
For example, A-rank at 7-star was better than SS-rank at 6-star.
‘Still, since it’s SS-rank, there won’t be that huge a gap compared to an A-rank Authority at 7-star. But if you had to compare, that’s how it is.’
In the long term, SS-rank was obviously better, but for the immediate future, A-rank was preferable.
That was how extreme the difference between traits and Authorities was.
Of course, if the trait’s rank itself was too low, no amount of proficiency would help.
‘Could Authority transformation even be possible if the base rank was too low to begin with?’
He had neither encountered nor heard of such low-rank traits in his past life, so he didn’t know.
Suppressing his regret, Seojun finished reading the trait’s description.
「 Twelve Zodiac Martial Arts (SS)
Type: Trait—1-Star
: A martial art created by one who holds the divine position of death at the highest rank, who received instruction in an Authority from ‘someone’ and reinterpreted it in their own way.
*Due to low proficiency, only some stances are available.
First Stance: Wuying
Second Stance: Zhongjin Yilu
Third Stance: Yinba Zhuji 」
Having read the entire description, Seojun smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
“So there was a reason you were so confident.”
“—Right? I wasn’t putting on airs for nothing.”
Having read the descriptions from the First Stance to the Third Stance, Seojun’s conclusion was that trading with her was worth a shot.
“This much makes it worth listening to.”
‘As expected of an SS-rank? It’s not just usable—it’s good enough to be a mainstay.’
“No, rather, it’s so good that the SS-rank doesn’t even make sense.”
‘If things went well, could it have even aimed for SSS?’
As if answering that, Yanluo replied.
“—Actually, if you succeed in Authority transformation, you can learn one additional Authority.”
“I can learn one? Don’t trail off and continue.”
“—Th-that function disappeared when my divinity was sealed.”
“Then what was the original rank of Twelve Zodiac Martial Arts?”
“—EX-rank.”
“EX?”
‘Whoa. Isn’t that too big of a difference?’
She seemed to guess Seojun’s inner thoughts and continued with a bitter smile.
“—Actually, the rank drop doesn’t mean much because the existing stances of the Twelve Zodiac Martial Arts retain their abilities. You simply can’t use the additional Authority gained during Authority transformation, so it shouldn’t matter.”
“What kind of additional Authority is it that losing just one drops the rank from EX to SS?”
“—That’s…. I’ll tell you when you succeed in Authority transformation. Why don’t you focus on what you’ve learned for now?”
“Well, if you say so.”
Easily agreeing with her words, Seojun thought about the Third Stance he had just learned.
To summarize the stances.
The First Stance hid traces or presence when attacking or moving.
The Second Stance ensured one’s posture would not be disturbed by any interference at the moment of attack.
Lastly.
“The Third Stance is about incapacitating the opponent with a certain probability when attacking the same place two or more times….”
Both the First and Second Stances were excellent, but especially the Third Stance.
‘It’s too good.’
Incapacitation just for striking twice.
Of course, since proficiency was low, the probability of incapacitation would be extremely slim.
‘What if this becomes an Authority? And if it reaches maximum proficiency, 12-star?’
The probability of incapacitation would increase.
If he could somehow land two hits, there might be no match for Seojun.
If just the Third Stance alone was this overpowered, what if he learned the remaining stances? And if he was lucky enough to learn the additional Authority upon successful Authority transformation?
‘I absolutely have to grow this beyond Authority transformation.’
It was the moment when the fangs of Seojun’s revenge grew even sharper through his meeting with Yanluo.