Grim Reaper Tutorial (1)
Ju Kang-rim and Yoo Wol-ryeong arrived at a rundown hotel in Seoul's Gangnam district. Though old, it lacked tacky signs or a shabby vibe, exuding the dignified air of an aged gentleman.
Yoo Wol-ryeong led him straight to a room on the tenth floor.
"You'll stay here for a while."
The suite was about 300 square feet, split into a living room and bedroom. Worn but spotless, the linens carried the fresh scent of sun-dried sheets. Compared to the dingy one-room he remembered crashing in back then, this was luxury.
"Anything from your old place you want to retrieve?"
"Not like I can just stroll back in now."
From memory, his place near the Bukhansan Gate had been heavily eroded. The structure might still stand, but civilians couldn't just waltz in.
"Exactly. That's why I was about to tell you to let it go."
"......"
Yeomra, Moon-duty Reaper—did they all get off on screwing with people?
Suddenly, Ju Kang-rim's left arm itched where the enhanced zombie had bitten him. As he scratched, Yoo Wol-ryeong stopped him.
"Don't touch it. It's healing."
"So any wound heals if left alone?"
"Ordinary ones, yes. If your soul is intact, the body strives to match its form."
"Even severed limbs?"
"If you have the severed part, it takes time but works. If not, it can graft a suitable replacement."
That explained his wound's recovery.
"Sounds weird, I know. But you're a grim reaper now."
Yoo Wol-ryeong patted his chest.
"You're a public servant guiding the dead. You came to hunt those who defy death, but no death happens without your say-so. Not even yours."
That was what Yeomra meant. Ju Kang-rim was no longer a zombie hunter or colonel. He was an executor of death—a grim reaper.
"Invincible, then?"
"No."
She cut him off sharply.
"If the body suffers irreparable damage, you're done. You'd be animating a corpse, not living."
"A corpse......"
Ju Kang-rim tilted his head. Metaphor? Or zombie-like?
"Avoid that at all costs. And there are divine artifacts that can slash, corrupt, or erase souls. Even grim reapers aren't immune. They're from the underworld, after all."
"So normal weapons can't kill me, but watch out for divine artifacts?"
"Yes. Restoring a soul is twice as hard as flesh. Zombie bites taint the soul too, however slightly—delaying recovery. Best not to get bitten."
Regeneration had limits. Tougher hide and healing were nice, but a random psycho's kitchen knife turning out to be a divine artifact? Nightmare. Ju Kang-rim hated tanking hits anyway. He preferred dodging and pounding foes.
"Got it, more or less."
"Rest, then. Wound's not fully healed... We'll start moving tomorrow night. Hotel front desk handles needs—they're ours. Questions?"
Her words sparked curiosity about his soul coin haul. He fired up Biman and checked the balance.
He blinked in surprise. Even with the 70 nyang mission pay, 158 total meant the enhanced zombie netted nearly 50 more. Nice cushion—greed stirred.
"Hey, I've got 158 nyang of soul coins. Big money?"
"158 nyang... Not huge for a first day, but decent. Too skimpy for a divine artifact, though."
"Any recs for newbie reapers?"
"Hm."
Yoo Wol-ryeong pondered, then spoke.
"Checked 'Today's Fortune' in Biman?"
"......Today's Fortune? That horoscope crap in newspapers?"
"In Biman."
Did it have that? The eye-straining red interface—he'd skimmed. Maybe 'Word of the Day' or whatever. Following her lead, he scrolled. There: 'Today's Fortune' button.
"What's this?"
"Heaven and earth's principles are profound. Fate can baffle even grim reapers."
Yoo Wol-ryeong spoke softly.
"At fate's crossroads, lost in darkness with no path ahead... It's a little guide for those moments."
Ju Kang-rim startled. A gimmicky option hiding real utility?
"Reapers divine their fortune, find their path. That's Today's Fortune."
"So... ask what to buy?"
"No. Pay the fee, and it's decided."
"Decided?"
"Yes. Click, get a box. Open for random goods—from shop commons to rare divine artifacts. One per day: predict your luck."
"......"
Ju Kang-rim paused. Gacha. Mystic packaging, but pure gacha.
"Just... a gacha pull?"
"Some call it that."
"......You ever tried it, Reaper Yoo?"
"Joking?"
"Ah. Figured a straight-arrow senior like you wouldn't gamble..."
"Most of my soul coins go to it. Obviously."
"Knew it was gambling!"
"Pennies make pennies. Life's one big hit."
What the hell was the underworld? Civil servants blowing paychecks on slots? Why gacha in a reaper app? Shops too—gear for duty costs extra?
"Yeomra added it."
"Figures. Who else?"
"Lost my fortune, but it's not bad."
"Maybe think a bit worse of it..."
Undeterred, she pressed on earnestly.
"Underworld contract: yaksas, mountain tigers, heavenly spirits—all participate. Untouchable for most reapers. Rare bonds. Good luck? Miracle artifacts."
Ju Kang-rim wavered, tempted again. But suspicion lingered.
"Hard sell. Commission per sale?"
"Broke gamblers recruit, duh."
"......"
He mulled, nodded. Current funds bought squat anyway. Limited daily shot? Why not.
"Fine. Let's roll."
"Good. First, check odds per underworld regs. Common: ~70%, Rare: 25%, Masterpiece: 3%, then Legend and Myth..."
Ju Kang-rim reconsidered.
Clicking 'Today's Fortune' prompted a fee menu.
"How much?"
"Usually, show sincerity."
He set 100 nyang. Soul coins vanished—felt like blood loss.
Biman glitched, dark blue mist seeping out, forming a box. Ethereal, like his first goblin lantern.
Cautiously, he parted the mist. Yoo Wol-ryeong warned:
"Don't overhype first pull. My first Legend cost nearly 20,000 nyang..."
The mist split—blue goblin fire flickered inside. No lantern body, just flame.
"......"
Not a 20-nyang dud? Then it hit: pure goblin fire.
Yoo Wol-ryeong gasped beside him.
"......No way?"
The fire lunged at his eyes.
"Kuh!"
He blocked instinctively—fire ignored, searing coolly through lids. Gone in a blink.
Vision swam; he checked the mirror. Panic: faint green glow in his black irises.
"What the hell?"
"Biman's easier than me explaining."
He checked. Inventory unchanged. Ability tab:
Bi-hyeong's Eyes (Legend)
Goblin King Bi-hyeong's eyes. Ignite goblin fire anywhere in sight. No heat, but light; toggle for soul-less visibility.
Yoo Wol-ryeong broke the silence.
"Legend on first pull? Fate's chosen are different. Goblin King Bi-hyeong too... He's watching you."
"Famous?"
"Goblin, not person. Founder of illusion arts, king of pranks. Granting eyes means more bonds ahead. You've got 'fate ties'."
Description seemed meh, but her endorsement sold it.
"You said first Legend took 20k nyang..."
"Misheard."
Senior says so, fine. Mercy kept him quiet.
Rereading the skill, Ju Kang-rim smirked faintly.
"Thanks."
His fighting style crystallized.
"Today's Fortune really points the way."
Seeing his resolve, Yoo Wol-ryeong glanced at her watch, stared.
"Planned a day off, but you look itchy. Rest up, lessons tonight?"
"Lessons?"
She nodded.
"You're no zombie-slayer. You're a hunter for this world's immortal apex predators."
Her eyes gleamed coldly.
"Time for new hunting tricks."