Monsters of the Wreck and the Ship's Ghost
I was the culprit behind the ghost rumors plaguing this shipwreck, but right now, the only thing I could rely on was this rusted sword that felt more like a blunt club, so I hurriedly scooped it back up.
Even though there was some distance, the alien noise had echoed through the eerily quiet place, so I figured the monster had definitely heard it.
Still, just maybe, with the distance, it might not come charging over right away. I poked my head out over the railing to check its movements.
"Kieeeek!" "Uwaaak!"
The hideous monster scaled the ship's hull like a wall, scuttling toward me at terrifying speed. It had taken me ages to climb up to the deck, but this thing closed the gap in seconds, making my efforts look pathetic.
I tried to bolt from my spot, but it was already too late. If I had to fight, better do it now while I had any advantage. As it accelerated toward the deck, I gripped the rough handle of the cutlass tight.
Its intelligence seemed as low as its physical prowess was high—I could predict its path easily enough.
Yujin's body couldn't use internal energy, so no fancy techniques, but my external martial arts were top-notch. Pure physical power alone would pack a punch they couldn't ignore.
Just as it leaped from the railing to land on the deck, I predicted its trajectory and swung the cutlass like a baseball bat with all my might.
Stat correction applied.
Power reduced by 60%.
Some deflating message flashed before my eyes, but I had no time to dwell—I focused on the enemy.
Thwack! A sharp pain shot through my hand, accompanied by the heavy splat of something bursting.
Did I get it? Checking the monster, its shoulder was smashed beyond use.
My side wasn't great either—the unmaintained, pitted cutlass had torn up my hand on the swing, stinging like hell, but I could endure.
Strike while it was still dazed. I gripped the cutlass tight again—
"Grrruk, kyaeeak!"
It let out an even more grotesque wail than before, echoing everywhere. Like nails on a chalkboard, the creepy sound assaulted my ears. But my gamer instincts kicked in—it wasn't just unpleasant; something felt wrong on a primal level.
I swung at its head. Thwack! Black, viscous fluid—not quite blood—sprayed everywhere as its skull exploded.
"Haa, haa."
Taking the gunk full in the face left me sticky and gross, but I'd survived somehow. Thank god it was just one—if it'd brought friends, or even one more, I'd be toast… probably?
"Huh?"
Crack, crack, crack!
Dread hit me as the noise grew. I peered over the railing where the first one had come from.
"Krrk." "Guerrk."
A dozen or more of the same monsters swarmed below. How had they gathered so fast? Their beeline for the ship left no doubt about their target.
I'm fucked.
The first one must've called reinforcements.
No escaping. The lead monster closed in in seconds, the pack right behind.
"Fuck off! Get lost!" I swung wildly, refusing to go down without a fight.
But my hands were shredded, blood pouring—not just scratches anymore. Landing a solid hit was impossible.
How the hell am I supposed to deal with this?
They knew their overwhelming advantage, smirking mockingly.
"Kekekeke."
Less vengeful, more like bored kids finding a fun toy.
One or two, maybe I could've handled. That many? No chance in hell.
"Ngh."
Slash!
Outnumbered and outmatched, I started taking hits. At first, just grazed by dull claws.
"Argh!"
Now, shoved back, I tumbled ass-over-end. Strength ebbed from my body as they closed in.
Nothing left to do, just end like this? Give up and let it be easy? Dark thoughts flooded my mind when—
[Come this way!]
A faint human voice echoed from somewhere. A survivor? No time to investigate—the desperation made me hurl myself that way on reflex.
[Hurry! There's a gap between the barrels!]
A depression between empty barrels. Why hadn't I seen it before? No time—crash!
"Kieeek, kek."
I slid in, and weirdly, the pursuing monsters stopped short.
"I-I lived."
Panting, I calmed my shaking body.
Adrenaline surged, heart pounding wildly. I wanted to collapse forever. Without the savior nearby, I might've.
But priorities. Once breathing steadied, I rose to thank my rescuer.
"Thank you so much for the help. I was this close to disaster."
Sincere gratitude poured out.
Huh?
But unease crept in—no presence in this cramped space, despite the chaos.
Scanning around, nothing.
[Over here.]
The voice came again to my puzzled face. Looking up—
"…G-Ghost?"
[Can you see me, lad?]
A translucent figure, straight out of an Age of Sail game—sailor garb, floating midair.
'Do ghosts exist?' Answers varied.
Skeptics cited gravity and orbits—impossible physically. Believers pointed to universal soul lore across cultures.
[You don't seem fazed, lad. No ordinary fellow, eh?]
Me? 'I dunno.' Never cared.
In 'reality,' maybe not. But in a game world? Fiction—anything goes. So I accepted it casually. Though right now, scarier than the ghost was—
"Um, hello? Nice to meet you, and you?"
Language. Possession's irony. Crammed knowledge should've swapped with the brain, but old habits died hard.
Only realized after speaking. Modern Koreans struggled in Joseon era; English should've been impossible too.
[¿Qué dijiste? English? Don't even mention it! How dare you speak that arrogant English scum's tongue before me—you look fine on the outside but rude as hell within.]
"Uh, do you speak Korean? No, Middle Kingdom tongue?"
His reply surprised me. I'd understood his first words too.
Appearance threw me off—unfamiliar experience.
[Middle Kingdom? You're from China (Qi Na)?]
China, Korea—which? Content or packaging? Goryeo, Joseon, Korean? Philosophical mess. But pointless overthinking—quick decision.
Hongsim Yeonhwa.
That dog-eat-dog world bred instinctive disgust. No relaxed life here.
"No. I'm from Joseon."
[Joseon? Never heard. Where's that?]
"How to explain… Ah! Goryeo, Goryeo."
[Goryeo? Goryeo… Ah! Corea!]
Compromise: Just an actor on the 'Hongsim Yeonhwa' stage. Finish the play quick.
"Anyway, you're versatile—communication's seamless. Amazing."
Foreigner from early modern era, yet no barrier. Baffling. He looked puzzled too, translucent face scrunched.
One thought: Impossible realistically. Ghost chat already unreal, but language detail screamed game world.
[Dunno. My spirit nature? …Enough heavy talk. You drifted here too, looks like. Fate to meet. Nice to meet ya—I'm Hendrick.]
Hendrick extended a translucent hand for a shake.
"Ah, nice. I'm… Yujin."
I reached out—hands passed through air. …Huh?
Expected, but awkward. How to react?
[Ah, haha! Good thing—didn't fancy gripping hands with another man anyway. You neither, right?]
He felt it too, covering gracefully. Grateful.
"Y-Yeah. My hands are all cut up anyway. Still, glad to meet you."
Sincere thanks. He boomed a hearty laugh.
That was my—our—Yujin's first and last fateful encounter in this world: the Shipwreck's Ghost.