Hunting Dogs (2)

Strong against the weak, weak against the strong. It wasn't exactly an upright way of living, but didn't most people get by like that anyway?

"The real problem is settling for clinging to the strong and staying weak forever. Some even content themselves with being the strong's lapdogs. But I have no intention of remaining weak."

Ju Kang-rim grinned and continued. "When you're weak, you secretly siphon off the strong's power, and when they've weakened, you swallow them whole. That's the right way to survive. That's ambition, growth. The moment you get complacent and stop, you're dead."

"...I wouldn't call that 'right' myself."

"Everyone has their own way of getting by, don't they?"

But now Yoo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Wol-ryeong could understand Ju Kang-rim's aggressive stance toward the immortals. To him, they must have been an insurmountable wall looming over his head his entire life—a barrier he couldn't scale or even comprehend. Ju Kang-rim, who devoured everything in his path and sucked the marrow from bones to climb higher, must have harbored a deep grudge against that impenetrable obstacle.

Then one day, he became a Grim Reaper who could hunt immortals? That alone flipped his attitude on its head. Now they were prey, and he was the hunter. The predator-prey dynamic reversed. Finally, Ju Kang-rim could overcome a lifetime's resentment and eradicate the beings above him.

But what comes after?

What if he killed all the immortals and still wasn't satisfied? What if he kept striving upward? What if he believed stopping meant death?

Yoo Wol-ryeong felt a chill at the thought. Who could possibly stand above a Grim Reaper?

Yeomra chose and watched over Ju Kang-rim as an emissary for a long time. But is this really okay?

But Yoo Wol-ryeong shook her head instead of dwelling deeper. It was pointless to worry about the aftermath when even wiping out all the immortals right now was uncertain. Ju Kang-rim's growth rate was astonishing among the emissaries, but it stemmed from the era's trials and Yeomra's active support. There were many immortals, and Kangryeong Daegun was just one. No one knew when Ju Kang-rim might hit his true limit. Until then, all she could do was assist and foster his growth.

"Very well. He's not reckless, so I'll trust Emissary Ju Kang-rim."

"Well, if he couldn't even handle me, you'd have wrapped it up in a minute, right, Emissary Yoo Wol-ryeong?"

Ju Kang-rim said, recalling the grotesque state of the black bear. If Kangryeong Daegun kept it as a bodyguard, it must have been no pushover. Yet Yoo Wol-ryeong dispatched it flawlessly, without a hint of disorder.

"As I said, Kangryeong Daegun is your prey, Emissary Ju Kang-rim. I have no desire to steal it."

"Partners cooperate, don't they?"

"No. You must do it yourself. Ideally, end as many immortals as possible with your own hands."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Ju Kang-rim tilted his head at Yoo Wol-ryeong's curt declaration.

Is she trying to help the rookie grow?

Ju Kang-rim had done the same—assigning tough jobs to newbies and observing. You had to gauge their limits to know how much to push. And easy tasks just dulled the edge. Kangryeong Daegun was perfect stimulus for him.

"Fine. Then let's discuss how to take down Kangryeong Daegun this time."

Before facing Kangryeong Daegun in round two, Ju Kang-rim conducted a mid-mission check. He'd gained and grown so many abilities in such a short time that he still couldn't wield them all proficiently. He'd pushed Kangryeong Daegun back before, but he couldn't pull another reckless stunt like the 100-year lifespan blood rain. Not because he was stingy with lifespan—it had felt like it gnawed his entire body raw. His fingertips still tingled from the aftereffects. A normal person would've dropped dead on the spot, so this was mild by comparison.

Still, he needed to corner Kangryeong Daegun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thoroughly but without overexertion.

"His allies might step in this time," Yoo Wol-ryeong warned sternly. "Per my promise to Yeomra, I'll leave Kangryeong Daegun to you, Emissary Ju Kang-rim. The others are mine."

"Got it. Oh, if you've got spare capacity, leave one for me. Got a bet with Yeomra."

Ju Kang-rim reviewed his arsenal. "First, the passives I can't let go of—my unique powers."

"Talk about your Saingeom."

Ju Kang-rim had now earned full acknowledgment from his Saingeom as an emissary, achieving complete uniform integration. Areas covered by the uniform gained speed, stealth, and strength. It was the reapers' battle garb, after all. Among its enhancements, Ju Kang-rim had boosted stealth, attack, speed, and defense evenly.

"You mentioned boosting defense too. Checked the perks?"

"No, uh... things were hectic then..."

Ju Kang-rim belatedly reviewed the defense boost perks.

Yoo Wol-ryeong nodded after checking Ju Kang-rim's traits. "Hm, the 'Unbreakable Tower' trait. Solid one. The stamina limit ignore shines in prolonged fights especially."

"Huh? There are others?"

"Yes. Mine's 'Thorny Ghost'—reflects proportional damage when hit. But I prefer winning without getting hit."

"..."

Come to think of it, Ju Kang-rim had never properly seen Yoo Wol-ryeong's Saingeom. He'd glimpsed the basic sword form, but not in combat like his own. Ordinary zombies didn't even warrant drawing it; she crushed them barehanded.

"And 'Hunter in the Darkness', 'Swift Tracker', 'Stalwart Warrior'... All good fits. Suits you, Emissary Ju Kang-rim."

"Luck?"

"No. The Saingeom learns your style and assigns traits. Means it understands you that way."

Ju Kang-rim tilted his head. "Didn't you say you like winning without hits?"

"Yes."

"So why 'Thorny Ghost'? You wouldn't get hit."

"..."

Yoo Wol-ryeong fell silent, averting her gaze. Ju Kang-rim figured her path to becoming an emissary and growing must've looked very different from now.

"Next, your active abilities, activatable at will."

"Bongshin-do, blood rain, goblin eyes, and Ttakkachi."

The bongshin-do embedded in Ttakkachi's heart was back in Ju Kang-rim's hands. Her death was a shame, but she'd revealed its new value.

"In emergencies, it could serve as an emergency restraint."

"Restraint?"

Die normally, and you turned zombie or wandered as a ghost. But bind with bongshin-do, and options opened.

"Especially useful against ghost-wielders like Kangryeong Daegun. Keeps someone you can't kill yet alive briefly."

"Hm, true. Never thought of using bongshin-do that way..."

Yoo Wol-ryeong nodded, looking bemused. Natural—she'd always dealt with the underworld folk, never delved this deep into the living's affairs. Teaming with folks like Ttakkachi or Han Min-ah? Unthinkable. One-way hotel staff relations were different.

Yoo Wol-ryeong pointed to goblin eyes next. "We covered blood rain... On to goblin fire. Still useful on normals, but it shows equally to those with 'qi' or 'spiritual power'—that's the hitch."

"Yeah. But it works as a tracker."

Thanks to tagging Kangryeong Daegun with goblin fire, Ju Kang-rim had tracked him constantly. As an ex-soldier, he knew its tactical value in darkness intimately.

But Yoo Wol-ryeong shook her head cautiously. "Anyone who knows goblin fire could pluck and relocate it. Don't over-rely."

"Ah, roger."

Kangryeong Daegun had spotted his approach via the fire. Who knew when another with similar powers might appear?

"And... Ttakkachi."

Caw.

No crows nearby, but the sound echoed. Ju Kang-rim patted his suit, mimicking a crow's caw.

"You saw her utility on the way here."

"I get she's useful situationally, but..."

Yoo Wol-ryeong started to warn, then stopped. After a pause, she shook her head. "No. She'll prove her worth herself. Not ordinary grit."

Yoo Wol-ryeong had witnessed Ttakkachi's end, not Ju Kang-rim. Whatever she saw, she now rated Ttakkachi highly.

Ju Kang-rim moved to his final list. "And the assorted firearms from my informant—gotta return 'em."

Pity to give back most unused, but familiarity trumped quantity. Better trusted weapons like Yoo Wol-ryeong's than risky strangers.

"Speaking of, how'd that go?"

"That? Oh, the Blunderbuss. Meh."

Ju Kang-rim grumbled, pointing to a case in the corner. "Fired it at Kangryeong Daegun's back as he fled—he just staggered and bolted. Shotgun-level at best, but worse accuracy and range than standard. Thinking of trading for a modern recoilless rifle."

"Pardon? You fired it? How?"

"No ammo, so stuffed whatever and pulled. Old guns like that work fine."

"Musket ammo was in a trailer sidecar. You didn't grab it, so no test fire, I figured. Battlefield guns won't fire without powder."

"Huh? Thought it was pre-loaded."

Ju Kang-rim and Yoo Wol-ryeong stared, ghost-struck. He dashed to the case, yanked the musket, peered down the barrel hesitantly. Worn inside, but no powder. Hesitating, he aimed skyward and pulled the trigger.

Bang.

Kyaaaaack!

A cannon roar and agonized shriek erupted. Ghosts burst from the barrel, writhing and scattering like flies before swarming back in.

Ju Kang-rim gaped at the intact musket.

Ju Kang-rim stared blankly at the shotgun. "Powder-free... shoots ghosts?"

"More like ghosts fire the shot. Probably high accuracy—they guide with malice."

Ju Kang-rim imagined shards homing on a target. Impressive.

"But guided by rampaging spirits, ghost-wielders like Kangryeong Daegun might counter. Worked this time, though."

"Mm, use selectively."

It hit Kangryeong Daegun via surprise and luck. If he'd recognized it, he might've hijacked the Blunderbuss.

"Empty, it just puffs air. What'd you load for Kangryeong Daegun?"

"Uh, pocket junk..."

Ju Kang-rim recalled coins or keys—then froze. He frantically checked pockets: empty. Realizing his blunder's scale left him flustered.

Yoo Wol-ryeong nodded understandingly. "What was it?"

"Jang Han-taek's... black core."

The black core extracted via reaper's soul-summoning from Jang Han-taek. He'd blasted the terror-shredded man's final moments into Kangryeong Daegun's torso.

Ju Kang-rim asked cautiously, fearing it benefited the enemy. "What happens if a black core embeds in you?"

Yoo Wol-ryeong murmured pityingly. "A black core is the remnant of an unrested soul—like a deep grudge or earthbound spirit. The dead's final trauma loops eternally. Kangryeong Daegun might fear ghosts for the first time in his life."