Your Name Is (1)
A few days later, Ju Kang-rim was climbing the foothills of Cheonggye Mountain. Yoo Wol-ryeong hadn't come along. Instead, Ttakkachi was with him. She had pulled her hood deep over her cap and hadn't brought her trademark crossbow, but she kept nervously glancing around.
"That nervous, huh?"
"You don't know how quick that old man's intel is, sir. Especially with execs—you gotta be extra careful. Why do you think I even left Mangu behind?"
"That's supposed to impress me? You always drag that dog everywhere?"
Ttakkachi glanced around at Ju Kang-rim's words, as if checking for eavesdroppers. She knew no one else was there, but thinking about who they might be dealing with made caution inevitable.
"Rumor is, sir... when he picks someone to grant immortality to, he rips their soul out first."
"Rips their soul out."
"Yeah. Then he stuffs that soul full of all kinds of ghosts. Ghosts have lifespans, life force. And those ghosts..."
Ttakkachi swallowed hard, like she was telling a ghost story, before continuing.
"If an exec who's gotten immortality tries to spill secrets or gets any funny ideas, they scatter instantly. And that exec... right there on the spot..."
Kkkk.
Ttakkachi mimed slitting her own throat.
Ju Kang-rim now understood why James Lopez had died like that. In Jang Han-taek's case, his intent to deceive had been clear, so it wouldn't have mattered. But Ttakkachi?
"What about you? You definitely betrayed them—how's Mangu fine?"
"He couldn't rip my soul out, so no issue. Mangu? What thoughts could that mutt have, or even voice? Unless he rips the soul out again, no way to know."
It didn't seem like as tight a surveillance system as one might think. From an immortal exec's perspective, having to watch every word and thought probably wasn't much fun.
Still, I got a clue about how they make immortals.
He'd heard there were all sorts of immortals and ways to become one. This was just one method, but if the core principle was similar, it could be a key lead moving forward.
"So, where the hell are we headed anyway?"
"You'll see."
There was good reason Ju Kang-rim had brought Ttakkachi along on this mountain hike. She seemed used to rough terrain, climbing effortlessly even as he started feeling winded. Her hunter background wasn't a lie.
After veering far off the trail and traversing the ridge, Ju Kang-rim spotted a red string tied to a tree. He wiped sweat from his brow and spoke.
"Looks like we're almost there."
"What's that string?"
"Osaekcheon. Means 'keep stray ghosts out' since there's a sacred tree here."
"It says 'Nowon Hiking Club'?"
"...Could be recycled."
This wasn't a joke. A bit further on, colorful banners and ribbons hung everywhere. It screamed shaman's den. Not just the Nowon Hiking Club—various groups, business cards from mid-level managers at big-name companies, even tags from well-known organizations.
Ju Kang-rim knew he'd come to the right place.
"Pretty famous shaman spot, huh."
Ttakkachi looked queasy, scanning the area.
These were name cards and tags left by visitors praying for blessings, strung up like a Christmas tree amid the Osaekcheon. A small stone-walled house stood there—an old shack that might not even have proper electricity.
Ju Kang-rim pushed through the brush toward it. Inside the wall, more Osaekcheon dangled from a massive sacred tree. That's when he spotted the ghosts standing behind it.
"Whoa! Thought this dump might not have power, but Wi-Fi's good."
"Quiet."
Ju Kang-rim hushed Ttakkachi, who was yapping into her phone. The ghosts stood rigidly around the tree like dead stumps.
Ju Kang-rim didn't know much about shamans—just skimmed the Korean Folk Encyclopedia before coming. But he knew what stray ghosts lurking in a shaman's house meant.
He crouched low and approached the entrance. The golden thread barrier was shredded fine—not torn or cut, but gnawed ragged. He drew his Saingeom.
The moment he did, the ghosts twitched and reacted.
Shh shh shhhk.
They vanished like roaches scattering. Ttakkachi, startled by Ju Kang-rim suddenly pulling a hand axe, drew her ankle-hidden dagger.
"Wh-what is it?"
"Looks like we have company."
Stepping into the yard, a churning stench of blood hit them. Without hesitation, Ju Kang-rim kicked the door open.
Bang.
Inside lay only the half-rotted corpse of the shaman. Dead at least a month.
"Goddamn it."
"Wh-why? Who's this?"
"Kangryeong Daegun's master."
Ttakkachi's eyes went wide. Ju Kang-rim sighed long over the body.
"I came here to uncover Kangryeong Daegun's real name."
***
"Records first mention 'Kangryeong Daegun' in September two years ago, right here. Before that, the guy had his own name—got his divine title here and became Kangryeong Daegun."
"S-so this shaman..."
"Gave Kangryeong Daegun his divine descent and name. Pro enough for CEOs and congressmen to consult her—must've had real talent."
But judging by the corpse, she hadn't been much match for him. Ju Kang-rim had rushed here the moment he traced Kangryeong Daegun.
"Nah, Kangryeong Daegun was probably already a solid shaman before. But here, he got something insane—beyond ridiculous."
"A god...? Like, for real?"
"Your mutt's got a ghost attached—can't believe shamans?"
"Well, no... Never seen one myself."
"Anyway, this shaman... word was she regretted it big time—told other clients she'd unleashed a 'two billion-year demon' or some shit. But since Kangryeong Daegun was so damn potent, folks spread the word and kept coming."
"Uh, so..."
"Yeah. He's probably got ties to big shots in politics and business. Explains why no one's properly reined in his bullshit north of the river."
"How'd you dig all that up?"
"Social name leads to social connections—easy. What I wanted was his birth name before the divine descent."
To fight Kangryeong Daegun, he needed that real name. Couldn't brute-force it like with lesser immortals. Without it, he might let the bastard slip away at the last second.
"S-so what now? All for nothing?"
"Nah."
Ju Kang-rim turned to Ttakkachi.
"Think I'd drag you here for nothing?"
***
Ju Kang-rim started rifling through the shaman's papers. Talismans covered in hard-to-read hanja and bizarre drawings. But anything useful? Probably already looted by Kangryeong Daegun—no real leads.
"Any familiar names?"
"Dunno... I don't really..."
Ttakkachi was checking ledgers—receipt-like records. If Kangryeong Daegun was a client, traces should remain. Not a high-volume joint; client lists weren't endless.
"Checked September two years back—nope, nothing rings a bell."
"Hm."
Witnesses? Ju Kang-rim wondered, then glanced at the ghosts peeking around.
Honestly? Yeah, a bit. Not the ghosts—talking to them. He'd only done it once as a kid, a memory he didn't care to revisit. After that, ghosts were just walking lightning rods to him. But as a grim reaper now? Fearing them was ridiculous.
Ju Kang-rim sighed and approached for interrogation. They scattered; he clicked his tongue.
"Stop. Sending you all upriver ain't my goal right now..."
Suddenly, their reactions felt off. If they feared a grim reaper, they'd just bolt. But they lingered, watching.
Can't run?
If Kangryeong Daegun had warded the shrine? Possible. But seeing the snapped golden thread at his feet sparked another thought.
Golden threads block ghosts. Even broken, they stuck around? They weren't trapped—they were the trap. Like how Kangryeong Daegun monitored his immortals.
Some ghosts edged closer at his "no ascension" line, shrinking like troops before a division commander. Please just go already.
Ju Kang-rim flashed a cruel grin and slashed the nearest with his Saingeom. Ghosts screamed, scattering—sucked in on contact. Lowliest of strays; barely felt the cut.
Creeeeak.
Air cleared instantly as they fled the house. Even Ttakkachi inside gasped at the fresh mountain breeze rushing in.
"What the—?"
"When shit gets complicated, hack first, ask later."
Grggggrrrk.
A grotesque scraping from the floor. The rotting shaman's corpse twitched.
Ju Kang-rim gripped his Saingeom, zombie flashbacks hitting. But the corpse unexpectedly opened its mouth and spoke.
Whoosh.
Birds exploded skyward at the booming voice from the decaying flesh—unbelievable.
Ju Kang-rim's eyes gleamed. A spirit this loud and clear? One still whispered about among the living—powerful stuff.
Yeomra hyping it this much? Something big. Joseon-era general's garb flickered around the corpse. Kangryeong Daegun hadn't erased it—just sealed.
The general spirit tsked at the shaman's state.
"Kangryeong Daegun?"
The general whipped around.
Ju Kang-rim glanced at Ttakkachi. Tough talk with her here. She caught on and slipped outside.
Instead of explaining, he flashed the Saingeom. The general flinched, eyes darting.
"Greetings, General."
Didn't know reaper-general protocol, but he wasn't fleeing tail-between-legs, so not hunted. Ju Kang-rim bowed politely.
The image was hazy, misty—hard to make out the face.
Pleased at the respect, the general stroked his beard.
"If I may, what is your esteemed name, General?"
Ju Kang-rim's eyes widened.
No way? The infamous...?
"This fucking dog."