Apparently, I'm an Agent (2)
Clack. Clack. The train barreled along at high speed.
They said the trail went cold.
Edwin flipped open his notebook and scribbled notes with his pen. He should have kept pursuing Judka as planned, but the trail had vanished midway, forcing them to start over from scratch. At least recruiting a promising new agent gave him a solid reason to head back—a small consolation.
"Mom, look over there!"
"Yeah, yeah, it's so pretty."
The scenery whipping past the windows captivated first-timers or infrequent travelers. In that sense, I'd hoped our newbie would react entertainingly too.
"Hmm…… what's the most efficient choice?"
She'd shown mild interest in the view at first, but now she was mumbling to herself into thin air.
Definitely not normal.
Of course, "not normal" by civilian standards made for excellent agent material. Edwin nodded in satisfaction at Yufir's abnormality—it was a good thing.
Death harvested.
Death-Seeing Eye can be strengthened.
When building a character, the key is direction. Raise it as a jack-of-all-trades, and it'll end up mediocre, crushed by late-game specialists in a trash ending.
Strengthening Points Available: 2
I had to choose wisely. That mine demon or whatever had given a ton of EXP—2 points felt like a huge win.
▷ Duration +3 sec (NORMAL)
▷ Viewable Deaths +2 (RARE)[Recommended ★]
▷ Mana Cost -2% (NORMAL)
"Hmm, as expected……."
My biggest weakness right now? I could only reliably kill once per encounter. More chances to see death lines would be incredibly useful.
Current Viewable Deaths: 3
One point left, so the upgrade screen popped up again.
▷ Duration +5 sec (RARE)[Recommended ★]
▷ Weapon Size +1cm (NORMAL)
▷ Mana Cost -2% (NORMAL)
The recommendation matched my thinking. Quantity mattered, but exploiting them fully required longer time in the grayscale world. Duration was essential.
Duration: 15 sec
Short, but considering my performance in those moments, even 5 seconds wasn't negligible.
If I've decided, let's commit.
Agent life it was. Without fully leveraging my abilities, I'd get killed in no time.
Death's nutrients are abundant.
Heavenly Killing Star seed takes root.
Huh?
Level-up done, but the system kept popping more.
Some Heavenly Killing Star skills unlocked.
Death's Scent unlocked.
Oh? Beyond stats, something extra unlocked. I tapped the new skill.
Death's Scent
Grown attuned to death, you can now smell and see the pervasive scent of death.
A smell? No clue how it'd trigger.
Sniff sniff.
No way I'd smell something like……
Tsss.
"Huh?"
A thick, fishy stench brushed my nose—like blood. Chills ran down my spine. I hugged myself, jumped up, and scanned around.
"Miss Yufir?"
Edwin asked, puzzled, but I barely heard. My eyes locked on the dense death scent wafting from the next car.
"T-Team leader…… that bathroom over there."
Pfft. "Not a kid—asking permission for that?"
"Ahaha…… y-yeah?"
I mumbled awkwardly and slipped out. Couldn't ignore it unchecked.
Thus, I stepped into the car reeking of death.
"Eek? Who the hell's this snot-nosed brat?!"
A dispute was underway. A flushed drunk gripped a young man's collar.
"Haha, you just tried pickpocketing that girl's wallet."
"Fuck off! Accusing an innocent guy? Got proof?!"
"This~ is problematic~"
The young man grinned sheepishly despite the grab—eerily relaxed, like nothing mattered.
And.
This thick scent……
The death smell poured from the young man himself. Up close, fear gripped me instinctively. Don't get nearer. But ignoring it felt like disaster.
"Keep grinning, punk. Wanna die today? You die, I die!"
"You'll…… regret it?"
As his hand dipped into his pocket—
"W-Wait, waitwaitwait a sec!"
I couldn't hold back and intervened.
"Who're you?"
"P-Please…… stop?"
"Butting into adults' business?"
"I-I'm twenty-two, an adult too."
"Argh, that's not the point!"
"Eek!"
His bellow made me crouch, clutching my head. Booze stench mixed in up close.
"Scram…… huh?"
"J-Just release the collar first……."
"You two think I'm easy?!"
The drunk shoved the young man aside and turned to me.
"Why're you meddling?!"
"W-Well……"
Don't stop it, and you die! I wanted to yell. But the booze and thick death scent stifled me.
"You little shrimp!"
He lunged. Instantly, grayscale world.
What.
Red lines riddled the man's body—everywhere. One slash anywhere, instant death.
No, can't!
Seeing them yanked my body forward uncontrollably.
Whoosh.
I dodged, slipped inside, eyes locked on his throat. Knife from back pocket in hand.
Swish!
I mounted him, spun, and choked—snake-like, swift, precise.
"G-Guhk?!"
Squeezing hard, I flicked open the folding knife with my free hand. As I raised it to his neck, I fought for control with all I had.
Nooo!
Train car full of people—he wasn't some irredeemable monster.
"Guhk…… kkh! Kh!"
Poke.
Knife tip nicked skin. Blood beaded. I wrested control back, released him.
"Hngh! Haa…… haa……."
Heart pounded wildly.
Close call in every sense.
I folded the knife away, breathed steady to calm down.
Rattle.
Car door slid; Team Leader Edwin approached.
"Jeez, what a mess."
"T-Team leader……."
He eyed the gasping drunk on the floor, then me, nodding in understanding.
"You his boss? Know what this punk—"
The drunk rose, glaring at Edwin.
"Yeah, yeah."
Edwin ignored him, tripped him effortlessly. Pinned him, twisted wrist.
"A-Argh! Wait…… wait!"
"Whew, how much'd you drink? Stinks."
Click. Handcuffs on. Smooth as silk—veteran pro.
"Hey, Edwin?"
The young man—previously collared—approached chummily.
"Flang……?"
They know each other?
Edwin and Flang eyed one another. Not friendly, though. Flang smirked; Edwin glared with raw hostility.
"Why're you here?"
"Obvious. Us crossing paths means one thing—returning from mission, like you."
"You just got assigned."
"Solved it quick. I'm capable."
Edwin scowled.
"Tch, makes me crave a smoke."
He turned to leave for our car. I followed naturally.
"Hey."
Flang tapped my shoulder.
"Hic!"
Hiccup escaped.
"W-What's up?"
Flang—black hair like he was Korean—smiled.
"Thanks for the help. Was tricky."
"Ah, uh! N-No…… p-problem. Hic!"
"Haha, why so scared?"
He tilted his head, peering into my eyes.
"Someone'd think I'm gonna eat you."
What kind of person reeks this much of death? I didn't realize one hand clamped my mouth and nose, body trembling. Legs wouldn't move.
"By the way……."
As Flang added—
"Miss Yufir."
Edwin yanked my shoulder.
"Let's go."
My frozen feet finally lifted.
"Y-Yes! C-Coming……!"
I bowed frantically, scurried back.
Edwin stared silently out the window. Quietly.
Toot, toooot—— We arrived in Hameln.
Central Intelligence Agency.
Branches everywhere in the Empire, but the capital's HQ called the shots.
Click-clack. Click-clack.
Edwin strode corridors like heading home. I scurried behind. Agents we passed bowed or saluted him.
"Back?"
"Yeah, reporting in."
"Loyalty."
"Still alive today?"
"Yes, sir."
"Quick return?"
"Why that face."
"No…… worried it'll get noisy again."
Team leader wasn't just any title here either. Would I really work with him? Excitement surged.
He's so cool!
But it fizzled fast.
Piiik! Piiik!
Whistles blared nonstop. Under blazing sun, trainees in tracksuits ran in formation.
"One! Two!"
"That's all you got?!"
"No, ma'am!"
Bellowing instructor, sweating rookies. Edwin patted my back.
"Once you're official, then."
"But…… the badge and code name……."
"Yeah, survive here, you get 'em."
"You said I'd be family soon!"
"I believe in you, Miss Yufir."
"What do you—"
A muscular woman approached from behind—tanned skin, yellow eyes. She gripped my shoulder.
Squeeze.
"Edwin, this the one?"
"Yeah, she's yours."
"Got it."
Edwin grinned, waved. I was dragged off by the scary instructor.
"T-Teaaam leeeaaader?!"
No. Hate it…….