Peeking into Hell (2)
Shira Vito rolled his eyes. After a long hesitation, the answer he finally gave disappointed Ju Kang-rim.
“I, I don’t really know. Protecting Kangryeong Daegun was my entire mission.”
His young body had broken his mind too—he couldn’t even lie or act properly. From that, Ju Kang-rim could tell he truly knew nothing.
Or maybe his memory got damaged when he turned young.
Regrettable, but in a normal state, torture wouldn’t make Shira talk even if it killed him. But he didn’t need an answer anyway. Just learning that immortals had no choice but to cling to something inside the Gates was enough.
Come to think of it, maybe that’s why Gerald reached for Korea first.
In his previous life, he’d thought it was simply because the North Han Mountain Gate had rampaged first, drawing rescue forces. But the immortals hadn’t been able to use whatever was inside the Gates—instead, they’d been swallowed up, forced to share humanity’s fate.
“Tomorrow, I’ll let you go. Deliver Gerald’s message to Basha Vito.”
“……Why use me as a messenger? Just send the message yourself. No phone? Don’t know how to email?”
“Do the Vito siblings go around with their numbers and emails plastered everywhere? Complaining even after I release you. The reason I’m letting you go is……”
Because it was more efficient. Shira was already useless. He’d get better intel torturing the doctor next door than this dimwitted assassin. Plus, Ju Kang-rim had already implanted an evil spirit from the Blunderbuss’s barrel into Shira’s body. Wherever Shira went, the Blunderbuss would track him—and that could be a lead when Basha Vito came to Korea. On top of that, if Gerald learned the Vito family was in Korea, they’d track Shira’s movements. To prod Gerald into action, it was better to let Shira live and wander Korea.
But Ju Kang-rim hid all that and opened his mouth.
“Because you’re a rival I acknowledge.”
Shira Vito’s expression turned subtly complex. His lips twitched in some indescribable way before he declared proudly.
“Yeah…… You don’t want to waste my talent, so come back stronger, right?”
“I didn’t say it quite like that……”
“We’re the kind of relationship that doesn’t need explaining in words.”
Shira grinned in response.
Such a relationship? Even with a ten-year-old kid saying it, there was zero tension. Honestly, he didn’t need to get any stronger. It’d be nice if he stayed just weak enough to kill easily next time.
Anyway, I know his name now. Not a huge threat.
Ju Kang-rim nodded.
“Good. We’ll head out soon, so escape when you get the chance. I won’t chase you.”
As he said that and moved to stand, something occurred to him, and he paused.
“By the way, how did you track us? On the highway. You couldn’t have expected us to chase Kangryeong Daegun that fast.”
“Mm.”
Shira clamped his mouth shut. Ju Kang-rim figured he wouldn’t talk this time either, but unexpectedly, Shira opened up easily.
“Since you’re releasing me, I owe you this much. My teacher has precognition abilities. Not perfect, but she gleans fragments about threats—especially direct ones.”
A precog. He’d have to verify the info’s reliability, but if true, it could be a real problem.
Shira continued like a warning to Ju Kang-rim.
“This is a warning too. I will come back. No matter who you serve, our bloodline is strong. Act rashly, and you’ll suffer worse than death. You’ll see hell while alive, lungs filled with saltwater in agony. Then you’ll curse your undying life.”
For undying immortals, suffering worse than death was the best threat. Makes sense—their history must be full of it. Immortality might be torture for some.
But to Ju Kang-rim, it was laughable. No need for fancy descriptions.
“Yeah? But you’ll just die. Like bugs.”
“The doctor was hired by the Vito family. He did secret surgeries for underworld types under them. Knew quite a bit about the ‘main family’ too.”
Ju Kang-rim and Yoo Wol-ryeong had left Shira in the apartment and returned to the hotel with only the doctor. The hotel staff didn’t bat an eye at the man bound hand and foot. According to them, his destination was the Basement Level 6 Prison ‘VIP room’—beyond even the elevator. A three-pyeong cement box, but exclusive to those who paid top dollar.
“Looks like the Vito family’s got a lot of interest in Korea.”
Ju Kang-rim nodded at Yoo Wol-ryeong’s words.
“Seems Basha Vito of the siblings is the one hooked. He sponsored Kangryeong Daegun, and Shira’s direct lineage under him. But dispatched from the main family? Probably five at most.”
He had no doubts about the number. The Vito family’s operations were massive. Sending five from headquarters for management alone meant they were already paying serious attention.
“But they’re not all assassins. Main family aren’t all combat agents.”
The Vito main family wasn’t an assassin guild—it was more like the company executives or close kin. Lovers, friends, or exceptionally talented folks could join. Of course, combat advantages meant over half were fighters.
“No names?”
“No. But he knows some watchlist figures inside Vito. One might be here.”
Ju Kang-rim knew a few main family members who’d stuck with the siblings to the end. If they cared that much about Kangryeong Daegun, they’d likely send a core one.
“But they won’t move right away. Kangryeong Daegun vanished at sea, biker ninjas wiped— they’re panicking. If we’re lucky, they’ll go dark and observe.”
“And if unlucky?”
“They tuck tail and flee. ‘Bad juju in this land, never set foot again.’ Then we have to chase them down.”
Ju Kang-rim didn’t seriously think he’d die.
Yoo Wol-ryeong nodded.
“Understood. Vito family’s on you then, Ju Kang-rim.”
She glanced at him as if something just occurred to her.
“That wraps Kangryeong Daegun and the biker ninjas for now. Speaking of, what about that Murjick vampire?”
“Dead.”
“Pardon?”
“No need for Reaper’s Head. Shira already ate him—down to the core. Minimal life left? Sunlight turned him to ash.”
If Kangryeong Daegun’s immortal secret was the ghosts he force-fed them, the Vito family’s might be in the blood. Unintentional on Shira’s part, but drinking most of Murjick’s blood had stripped him of immortality.
“Of course, hard to hunt bloodsuckers on that. Can’t make ’em bleed that much even smashing their bodies.”
“Poor thing. Said he’d come retrieve it.”
Chivalry lit was irrelevant to Ju Kang-rim anyway. Shira was just bait to draw Gerald and the Vitos—nothing more, nothing less.
“Hm. Indeed. Bet with Yeomra should be fine then.”
Yoo Wol-ryeong nodded, satisfied.
Ju Kang-rim started to nod but recalled the reward for hunting Kangryeong Daegun.
Saingeom one-time reinforcement ticket. He’d gotten a chance to strengthen his Saingeom again.
“By the way, Yoo Wol-ryeong. Got a chance to reinforce Saingeom again……”
“Hm? Already? You’ve done every stat once except spiritual power, right?”
“Yes. Was gonna ask about that.”
“One’s good. Even one bump puts you top 10% human—strength or stamina.”
“Blunter answer than expected……”
“Want specifics? Boost spiritual power, less soul wear on basic spells or abilities. It’s soul density—frequent use thins it.”
She crossed her arms, scanning him up and down.
“High spiritual speeds body regen, amps power and endurance when using abilities. Face another Kangryeong type? Boost it.”
Ju Kang-rim nodded. Less intuitive than others, but worth one slot.
Spiritual Power reinforced.
(Tab deactivated - one-time use consumed)
“What trait activated?”
Yoo Wol-ryeong asked. Ju Kang-rim waited a moment, then looked at her in confusion.
“……No message at all?”
“Huh?”
Until now, reinforcing Saingeom always popped traits like Darkness Hunter or Swift Tracker. But nothing this time.
Thinking he’d messed up, he checked Biman again, but the reinforcement tab stayed gray and dead.
“What? A bug?”
“No bugs in Biman. Hm……”
Yoo Wol-ryeong pondered, then stared at him intently.
“Ju Kang-rim, you said you can see ghosts?”
“Yes. With Canine Eyes skill.”
“No, if pre-Gate, less awakening—more innate talent. Happens sometimes.”
People who see ghosts or get future glimpses via spirits. Kangryeong Daegun was that type of shaman. Meaning Ju Kang-rim had some spiritual gift too.
“So you had innate boosted spiritual power. One level-up wouldn’t show.”
“Ugh, wasted a reinforcement?”
“No, not quite. Your prior spiritual output was barely above average…… This might make it more efficient now.”
“Efficient?”
“Say your spiritual power’s a water tank.”
She grabbed a water bottle, filled a glass.
“Big tank, but you spilled it randomly before. Now Saingeom lets you wield it properly—should change things.”
She sloshed the glass, then jabbed a hole with her pinky in one go. The precise puncture on glass was shocking, but did she need that threatening trick? Floor soaked now.
Yoo Wol-ryeong grabbed a towel, mopping as she continued.
“Reinforcing spiritual power? Like adding a faucet to the tank.”
“How big’s my tank?”
“Hard to gauge, but no noticeable change post-reinforce……”
She thought deeply, then spoke.
“Top 1% of humans, at least.”
Top 1%. Sweet words he’d longed for—but pondering it, not so sweet. Earth’s 7 billion meant 70 million like him.
“1% is still a crowd. Not all awakeners, sure.”
“Exactly. Most die oblivious. That’s why Saingeom spiritual pick helps. You saw ghosts pre-this—now wield it for real.”
A novel title popped up: Thought I Was Warrior, Turns Out Mage?! Sure, but he still knew zilch about spells or spiritual stuff.
“So, no way to check my spiritual strength?”
Yoo Wol-ryeong paused, then nodded.
“Drawing out your soul once could work.”
“……You mean die once?”