Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Reaper
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Amen.
"By the way, why isn't this one picking up?"
I muttered as I turned off my smartphone screen. I'd called our No. 2 unit because coming here alone with Raphael felt way too burdensome, but no answer.
Both No. 1 and No. 2. They could use some discipline training. Servants should pick up when their master calls.
Before the phone even rings once.
"I think they've run off because you've been working them too hard, Seong-hoon. You really should know when to ease up."
No. I don't think I've worked them that hard. I only gave them exactly what needed doing. Sure, it was a lot, but still.
"I doubt it. Probably."
"'Probably' gets you out."
Raphael made an X with her fingers. Is that so? I've been holding back, though? If I wanted, I could sit around doing nothing all day.
Anyway, what can you do? No answer on the phone, and the wraith incident is still going. Honestly, I don't want to get too involved. The bigger it gets...
My life's on the line, things keep getting weirdly tangled, and stuff I did without thinking keeps coming back to bite me.
"At this rate, I'll cause an incident just by breathing."
"By not breathing?"
Yes, I'm a carbon dioxide machine. We walked on with the same deadpan expressions until the navigation voice chimed in.
"Yeah, yeah~"
I half-heartedly replied and turned right at the destination. An empty lot came into view. Far off, there was something like a silhouette—probably Isia—
"Huh? Hey, Seong-hoon. Something's flying at us? It's huge? What is it? Huh? What?!"
Raphael shook my arm wildly. I see it. Stop shaking; I'm getting dizzy. Black robe, stark white bones peeking from beneath, eerie energy leaking out.
Yep. The wraith I set up. But something's off.
It's holding a scythe in one hand. A scythe. Meaning a weapon. It's armed.
Hmm. Cool. Totally different vibe from my pathetic training scythe. Yeah, yeah. Hold on.
A weapon?
"A weapon?!!"
Wraiths don't wield weapons. More precisely, they can't. Their hands are made only for devouring souls, so by my settings, they can't use weapons.
If it's using one, that means it's a superior variant. Why the hell is that here? Before the same thought could fully form, I hurriedly pulled out my smartphone.
"It's coming! Run!!"
"Hey, you're shaking it. Hold still. Hold still!!"
Raphael's shaking made it hard to focus, but I snapped a photo just before it reached us.
Click—
A cheerful sound, and the screen changed.
「Soul Digestion (C)」
「Soul Detection (A)」
Those whose eyes meet the Reaper's cannot return.
"Haha."
A hollow laugh escaped as I read the text. Why the hell is that here? The wraith incident was supposed to spawn weak wraiths that magic circles could handle.
But now, it's a wraith too strong for magic circles—or rather, a full-on Reaper.
Why?
No idea. No time to think. I spun around and bolted at full speed before it reached us.
"Huh? Running now? Wait for me!!"
Raphael chased after from behind. But you know... airplanes versus cars.
Which is faster?
"Obviously airplanes!!"
"What are you suddenly talking about?!"
Thoughts on life's absurdities. I grimaced at the Reaper closing in. What now? One wrong move and I'm dead. For real?
Wraiths are one thing—this Reaper evolved from wraiths constantly devouring souls. Not something current Kim Tae-hyun could handle.
If it were now, he'd lose to a truckload. Yeah, that's why I'm running.
As I ran, something felt off. This is a dangerous situation—combat imminent, life on the line.
Something's wrong—I glanced back. The Reaper approached in a straight line, fixated on one spot.
I veered my path sideways. No, completely off course. But the Reaper's path didn't change.
"?"
I tilted my head and stopped. Raphael did the same.
I picked up the stationary Raphael. She's light enough for my weak strength.
"Huh? What're you doing? Put me down!"
"Just a sec."
The flying Reaper halted, staring intently at one spot. It seemed to look at me, but I shifted Raphael left.
Its gaze followed left.
Right.
Gaze to the right.
High up, up.
Up. Down. Up. Left. Right. Diagonal back—no, not that.
Spin Raphael around, and the Reaper's head spins too.
"Got it."
"Seong-hoon, you wanna mess around even now?"
"No, it's not that."
Don't freak out, Raphael.
"Looks like it's after you."
"Me?! Has my beauty started attracting monsters too? This is bad."
I don't think so, but I set Raphael down and stared at the motionless Reaper. Now what—? As I pondered, a voice echoed.
"What?"
The voice repeated in answer.
"Angel? Me? Why call me?"
Raphael and I locked eyes. She pointed at herself with her index finger, and I widened my eyes, pointing at myself once.
Then.
Shake, shake.
The Reaper shook its head. When she pointed at Raphael.
Nod, nod.
Got it. I slowly walked behind the still-befuddled Raphael.
Wraith-type monsters crave the living. All undead are the same—they devour the living to elevate their existence.
Zombies eat flesh, vampires blood, wraiths souls.
The stronger the soul, the more it draws wraiths. So, question.
"Raphael, how exalted is a seraphim's soul?"
"Huh? Out of nowhere? Probably the highest in the universe after God—huh?"
Yeah, that's what they say. So, you're done for.
"Huh? Seong-hoon, wait! What are you doing? Holding a grudge from losing earlier? Big mistake—"
"Save the yelling for after you check behind you."
Eek—!!! Raphael's scream rang out, and hellish tag began.
In the end, Raphael's exalted soul drew something stronger than the wraiths it should've attracted—the Reaper itself.
Thanks to that, Yang Min-ji's soul got snatched, the incident twisted, and now a monster way beyond current Kim Tae-hyun popped up.
Wow~ applause~ clap clap. I clapped, then offered a prayer.
"Enjoy your meal."
"Gahhhh!! Seong-hoon?! Seong-hoon!! Save me now!! I'll forgive everything if you do!! Right now!! Only now!! After this, statute of limitations or not, I'll throw you in jail!!"
Amen.
"Lee Seong-hoon, you're dead meat!! When I get back alive, you're done!! Don't you know I'm tight with King Yama?! One word from me, and you're hell-bound for sure!! I'll make you shake hands with Asmodeus!!"
That damn Asmodeus. Got some beef with him? Why keep bringing up handshakes?
I watched the tireless, speedy Raphael and plotted how to kill it.
Calling the faculty's easiest, but...
It kept repeating, so I hung up. Fight it myself then?
Could I behead it with a sneak attack? No. Even if it lands, its neck won't come off easy.
Steel beam? Nope. Won't deal damage, and it'll probably snap or shatter. Park Shin-woo already broke a few last time.
Fine. Time for this at last.
I eyed the [Inventory] list. Glimmering text: [Demon Sword X12].
Demon Sword. As long as it doesn't touch my hand, no mental corruption, right? If a demon sword can't pierce monster hide, is it even a sword? No.
Good. This it is. Been avoiding it 'cause it's sketchy, but beggars can't be choosers. I thought to take out the Demon Sword. But...
"..."
What? I didn't get it at first. Then it clicked. Benia's doing, obviously.
Asking would just get [Not for humans] or whatever, so I gave up quick.
Racking my brain for alternatives, I spotted people approaching from afar.
Black-haired guy and girl—one with long hair, the other with faintly glowing blue. Kim Tae-hyun must've rescued them.
Isia waved at me as she came, while Kim Tae-hyun glanced between chased Raphael and me before charging at her.
His glare was scary. Don't look at me like that. She's getting punished. Karma, you know?
Guess not.
"Why's Raphael like that?"
"Karma. Reaping what she sowed. Something like that."
"??"
Isia tilted her head, but I ignored her and watched Kim Tae-hyun dash off. Honestly, my responsibility ends at Isia. I sent her, after all.
But thinking Raphael caused this whole mess made standing idle prick my conscience.
"No choice."
As I spoke, Kim Tae-hyun jumped between Raphael and the Reaper. Knife blocks scythe, stylishly rescues—
Failed.
The moment scythe met knife,
Boom—!!!!
Explosion, and Kim Tae-hyun flew far off. Reaper's strong, as expected.
"Huh?! Is that guy okay?!"
Of course. Protagonist won't die to this. Even if he does, he'll fistfight Hades in hell and come back.
"If he dies, revive with a Dragon Ball."
"What?"
I ignored the question and racked my brain again.
How to kill it.
This monster's the pinnacle of wraith-types, drawn by Raphael's powerful soul. Mid-to-late game boss current Kim Tae-hyun couldn't beat even in death.
Takes a truck of active heroes to barely take it down.
Firepower lacking, skill gap too wide—only one thing to exploit.
Elemental weakness.
Wraith-types, aka spectral monsters. Weak to the usual: light, holy power, holy water, prayers.
You know, crosses and such. And who pops to mind for that?
Who? Why ask when you know?
"Seong-hoon!! Just now!! That guy exploded!! My fault!! Save me, please!!"
Yeah. That one.