Hunting Dogs (1)
If an ordinary person were raising eight dogs in an apartment, they'd probably get flagged as an animal hoarder. But the owner of these dogs was an awakener with the ability to slip in and out of beasts' minds. Not a single one looked dirty or unhealthy.
The price for turning powerful awakeners' souls into beasts and enslaving them for life? Taking care of eight dogs. It might seem like a bad deal at first glance, but no one took it lightly.
"Eek, eight dogs...?"
"Raising dogs isn't something you do with ordinary responsibility. Eight means eight times the responsibility."
Ju Kang-rim said it with grim resolve. Ttakkachi cackled from her perch on the windowsill, and Yoo Wol-ryeong nodded.
"The biggest issue is walks. Do we take all eight at once, or split them by size and breed...?"
"We'll figure that out later. First, let's move the dogs to the hotel. Kangryeong Daegun might send people, or nosy neighbors could report a suspicious guy."
Ju Kang-rim agreed and tried to leash them up. But the dogs, hyped up at the sight of a familiar face after so long, went berserk. Some leaped excitedly at the leashes, thinking it was walk time; others barked and dodged the stranger Ju Kang-rim.
With no other choice, Ju Kang-rim drew his Saingeom. To use Ttakkachi's ability.
Caw.
But before he could activate it, Ttakkachi cried out first. The dogs plopped down on the spot. Tails still whirling like propellers, but they obeyed like they'd gotten direct orders from their master.
Ttakkachi had used her power on her own initiative.
Ju Kang-rim finally leashed the now-docile pack.
"Let's go."
"In that getup?"
Yoo Wol-ryeong eyed him skeptically, gripping all eight leashes. Controlling eight dogs on a walk would take eight hands. With only two, Ju Kang-rim soon twisted his whole body like an octopus, arms flailing every which way.
It felt tougher than fighting Kangryeong Daegun. Finally, Yoo Wol-ryeong and Han Min-ah grabbed some leashes, and they managed to wrangle them.
The trailer had plenty of space for eight dogs. For safety, Ju Kang-rim rode along too. They crawled back to the Samdo Renaissance Hotel at under 30 km/h to avoid bothering anyone. Not a single dog got hurt or upset.
After dropping Han Min-ah home, Ju Kang-rim returned to his hotel room—and saw staff hauling all his stuff out at once.
He stared in confusion, and Yoo Wol-ryeong explained.
"Upgraded your room. Can't raise eight dogs in that shoebox."
He hadn't expected dogs to score him an upgrade, but it eased one of his biggest worries: living space.
The new suite Yoo Wol-ryeong showed him was three times bigger than the old one.
"Is this the biggest?"
"No. Next is Pacific Suite, then Royal Suite, then Avici Hell Suite."
"...Avici Hell?"
"Means hell's got vast, deep seats. Yeomra named it. Reserved for immortals, he said."
A joke? Probably. Maybe grim reaper humor. But Yoo Wol-ryeong's dead-serious face made it hard to tell.
Anyway, the suite had two bedrooms, a living room, plenty of space, and a nice view. Bigger than Ttakkachi's old place, so the dogs dashed around sniffing, claiming bathroom spots the second they entered.
"Lady Yoo Wol-ryeong, luggage all moved."
"Yes. Thank you."
"We selected staff volunteers for dog walks. They're eager. Park nearby—perfect for it."
Lady? Ju Kang-rim blinked at the staffer. She bowed calmly to him and left.
"Wait—you're 'Lady Yoo Wol-ryeong' now?"
"Yes. They know about us. Not the regression, though."
"They grim reapers too?"
"No. Regular folks with... informal contracts with the Registry. Normal lives, families. They just know about us."
"That's okay?"
"Strict NDAs, yes. They won't betray us. All Samdo Hotel staff are trustworthy."
Yoo Wol-ryeong stated it without a shred of doubt. Han Min-ah and Ttakkachi had eyed her warily, but this conviction left Ju Kang-rim speechless.
Brainwashed? No, Yoo Wol-ryeong wasn't the type, and the staff seemed natural. Impeccably clean, swift, precise—better than any luxury hotel he'd glimpsed. High turnover job, yet top-tier skill.
"Even if the army storms this place, staff would fight to the death."
"What pay justifies that?"
"Slightly above average for the field. Obvious when you think about it."
Ju Kang-rim finally got it. Knowing grim reapers existed changed lives. An afterlife? Judgment beyond? Terror for some, salvation for others.
His revenge on immortals had blinded him to the deeper meaning. Yeomra and Yoo Wol-ryeong acted like coworkers, sure. But to normals—especially those certain of the underworld...
"They've died once before?"
Yoo Wol-ryeong nodded.
"Unjustly killed by immortals. We saved who we could before their threads snapped, offered contracts."
Like him, in a way.
"Spared from instant death, live by our rules, work in Samdo Group. No real choice."
"...The whole group's like that?"
"Not all. Core staff, though—this hotel's entire crew. Treat guests normally, so mind yourself."
Samdo Renaissance Hotel: Yeomra's key foothold in the living world. Samdo Group wasn't top-10 chaebol, but solid mid-tier. Hotels nationwide, overseas too—Yeomra's reach was vast.
After unpacking, Ju Kang-rim sought Yoo Wol-ryeong.
"Lady Yoo Wol-ryeong?"
In the other bedroom, she was buried in dogs, petting them furiously. She beamed dopily—until spotting him. Face blanked, she stood.
"You're here."
Acting like nothing happened, but her black suit was fur-coated gray, face saliva-smeared. And still getting licked.
"Dogs love Lady Yoo Wol-ryeong."
"I don't like dogs."
Dishonest.
"Speaking of, where's Ttakkachi?"
Ju Kang-rim noted her poor deflection while brushing fur from his lapels.
"Here."
Ttakkachi had merged into his uniform—no, his Saingeom. She'd emerge anytime, or when needed, to use her power.
"You're getting good with the uniform."
"Thanks to Kangryeong Daegun."
Post-battle, mastering Saingeom forms was effortless. Even suit-shifting like Yoo Wol-ryeong. Thank god not hanbok—familiar suit style.
"Life-or-death fights really spur growth."
"Yeah. Guess Kangryeong Daegun grew too."
"He's elite among humans. Heavy on sorcery, but... 100 to 110 is less dramatic than 10 to 20."
"...I'm a 20?"
"You couldn't beat him with pure skill."
Yoo Wol-ryeong said flatly.
"You should've retreated, called me, or bided time. Lifespan trades cost dearly. You're cheating it—not true skill. Mistake that, and Saingeom might look down on you."
Not nagging—advice. Ju Kang-rim listened closely. He'd slacked relying on grim reaper powers before. Abusing lucky gifts as "skill" was dangerous.
"Don't over-rely on blood rain. Build your core."
"Fair. Can't promise, but I calculated it in. Figured out his name myself too."
Her eyes sparkled.
"How'd you get that?"
"After the name, I dug around. Intel's easy once you know where to look."
"Your Cheonggyesan trip?"
"Mudang Baeknyeonoryeong channeled for him. Met her General Spirit too. He's a retro revivalist nut."
"Royal restoration's beyond retro. So?"
"Jeonju Lee male, vague records, age-guess with immortality—narrows it."
"That's how?"
"Yep. But the clincher? He spilled it."
"Clencher."
Ju Kang-rim showed the genealogy page ripped from Kangryeong Daegun's book. Midway down, fluorescent highlighter prettily marked a name—perfect match for his clues.
"...Kangryeong Daegun?"
"Saja Chohun worked, right? Obsessed pervert like that? Knew he'd have a genealogy. Didn't expect this."
Immortals were human. Ju Kang-rim bet on Kangryeong Daegun clinging to origins via ancestry records. In endless life, only that preserved identity. Delusion of grand bloodline.
Chasing dead ghosts.
Yoo Wol-ryeong marveled.
"Impressive."
"He was dumb. Whatever."
"No. That deduction? Time till name was inevitable."
Ju Kang-rim grinned sheepishly.
"Still let him slip."
"More time, you'd have killed him. Honestly shocked. Even considered retreat."
"Thought I'd lose?"
"Failed ambush? Power gap's real. I tagged along to bail you."
"Not to nab him?"
"Can't steal your prey. You'll solo him next too, right?"
Right. Ju Kang-rim already itched to hunt Kangryeong Daegun again.
"Scared of round two?"
"First-timer? Maybe."
He smirked.
"No fear once I've crushed 'em. Weak to elite authority types, but love stomping anyone who's underestimated me—even once."
"Proud of that, huh."
"Call it life hack."