Grim Reaper Tutorial (3)

‘……Enhancement permitted?’

Ju Kang-rim felt a twinge of annoyance at being interrupted during that fleeting moment of insight, but he checked Biman right away.

Before he could even message Yoo Wol-ryeong or Yeomra, a text popped up first.

Ju Kang-rim ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had no idea how Yeomra knew about the Saingeom before he even mentioned it. But it wasn't the first time something like this happened, so he figured there was some kind of linkage at play.

Just then, the Saingeom trembled faintly, flickering with light. Strangely, Ju Kang-rim sensed its will.

He'd seen it before. There was a list in the Biman 'Enhancement' tab. Following Yeomra's instructions, Ju Kang-rim opened it.

The five options, previously grayed out and inert, now glowed softly.

‘Attack, Defense, Speed, Stealth, Spiritual Power…… that about it?’

Ju Kang-rim fell into thought. Having played plenty of games, every option seemed viable.

‘Attack’ went without saying—crucial. The Saingeom stayed razor-sharp, but only against flesh. It could snag on thick clothes or tough bones. And against enhanced zombies, abominations, or even immortals, offensive power was essential.

‘Defense’ seemed less vital. As a Grim Reaper, he could defy death now. But his body was still mortal. A surprise blow crippling him could leave him helpless. And future foes weren't your average zombies.

‘Speed’ would shine in short, decisive zombie fights.

‘Stealth’ suited his style of one-sided slaughter in the dark.

‘And Spiritual Power……’

Normally, it'd feel the most vague. With his ‘Canine Eyes’, spiritual power had seemed useless. But now he knew better—it fueled stamina recovery, immortality, even skill use.

Yet Ju Kang-rim realized he didn't need to agonize long. He'd seen the world's end ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and knew how to fight immortals there. The answer was clear.

He selected ‘Stealth’.

Choosing Stealth didn't just hide him—it boosted attack power too, per the Biman message. Testing with a few steps, he felt his footfalls quieter.

Ju Kang-rim almost added something about nosy uncles backseat-gaming kids' matches but deleted it. He's my boss. He's my boss. He's my boss.

Despite Yeomra's surprise, Ju Kang-rim was confident. Zombies were weak but endless; immortals hid at humanity's peak. Even with near-immortal power, he was the underdog.

‘But you don't know me, and I know you inside out.’

Serving General Gerald for years, he'd memorized VIP intel—including immortals, once sorted. Striking from shadows? He could manage.

Stealth amplified his edge.

Absurd, yet Ju Kang-rim got it. Who wouldn't like their recruit thriving? It reminded him of serving General Gerald—endless walls despite progress, that suffocating "this is as far as you go" pressure.

‘Compared to then……’

Having a boss who praised growth felt good. His gaze drifted to the family corpses in the closet. Gripping his enhanced Saingeom tight, he prayed for their peace and stepped outside.

‘Zombie hunts’ continued daily. Ju Kang-rim had no intention of clearing just one villa building for training. Framing it as a Grim Reaper's duty to grant zombies true death made it even more pressing. The mission clears and stacking soul tolls diluted the purpose a bit, but work was work.

“Hoo.”

Third day, midday. Ju Kang-rim exhaled shortly and eased the door open. A zombie peeked through the gap. He flung it wide, smashed its head, and scanned around.

Two more charged from the kitchen. Two steps back—lining them up—then hurled his hand axe into one's skull. Kicking the corpse staggered the other; a strike to the brow finished it.

Crack.

The house cleared in one breath. No fatigue now.

Minimize stamina drain, eliminate visible zombies fast, stay vigilant. Zombie combat basics.

He glanced outside. Daylight lingered.

‘Hunting in daylight's no issue now.’

Hand axe mastery and zombie techniques body-deep, he'd decided on daytime hunts. As expected, he felt almost back to his zombie hunter prime.

‘Stamina recovery's faster? Muscles building quicker.’

Spirits intact, flesh reverts to original form, they'd said. He'd thought just fast healing, but more. The enhanced zombie bite scar was gone; muscles bulkier than three days ago.

‘No, still weird.’

He fought efficiently, minimizing exertion—no muscle gains expected without specific training.

Examining the traces, déjà vu hit.

‘Recovering to pre-death state?’

Colonel-era Ju Kang-rim had a survivor’s iron physique—not top awakener, but peak human. If reverting, the growth made sense.

Worried about age, he checked for wrinkles. Then Biman pinged.

‘Last house.’

He'd survived on Yoo Wol-ryeong's food deliveries, crashing in empty villas amid the ruined complex. The hotel? Only night one.

‘Could use a wash, though.’

Thriving in zombie-overrun cities was routine. Water and power still on in spots, gas too. Scavenging supplies, securing hides? Easy. Biman's endless battery let him kill daytime hours safely.

‘Early zombie plague was livable despite numbers.’

Compared to gates exploding everywhere, spawning stronger zombies, abominations, enhanced ones—solo survivors died fast. Only elite awakeners and armed groups endured. Recalling that nightmare made now feel dreamlike.

He could spin daily fortunes but hated gambling. One ‘legendary’ hit felt like a month's luck used up.

Finally. Ju Kang-rim stood. Villa complex done. Yesterday's special ‘Full Area Clear +100 nyang’ had hinted at this.

He'd delayed one spot for missions. Cleaning the complex, he'd mapped the area. South Itaewon-ish. If memory served, something memorable happened nearby.

Basic zombies left him thirsty for real challenge. Enhanced Saingeom, ‘Bi-hyeong's Eyes’—no worthy foes dulled the thrill.

Yoo Wol-ryeong paused. Ju Kang-rim wondered if he'd overstepped, but a reply came.

How to explain? Even post-capture, debates raged if it was truly enhanced—none like it since.

Before he could type, Yoo Wol-ryeong replied.

It? Ju Kang-rim noted her odd phrasing for the zombie. But there was reason.