Righteous Theft (5)
"……A goblin?"
Ju Kang-rim's only knowledge of goblins came from the Goblin King Bi-hyeong, since his eyes were embedded with Bi-hyeong's Eyes. Sure, he knew about the goblins from folktales and broadcasts, but that folklore didn't always align with the harsh truths of the underworld.
Yoo Wol-ryeong nodded.
"You're probably familiar with the idea that long-used objects absorb human intent and become goblins. Things like kimchi jars, brooms, or mortars. Of course, in this era of disposable goods, it's hard for them to linger long enough anymore."
"This one was inside an electronic currency mining rig. Armed to the teeth with the latest graphics cards."
"Yes. But it seems Kangryeong Daegun used ghosts to forcibly turn electronic devices into goblins."
"Why?"
"Who knows."
Yoo Wol-ryeong toyed with her lips in thought, then spoke as if something had clicked.
"Simply put, maybe to use them as handy tools, like you did with Ju Kang-rim Chas. Goblins exist somewhere between the living world and the underworld. Rare beings born in the living world yet able to traverse both realms."
She held out her palm and blew on it. A chill wind swirled within, and a snowman popped into existence.
The snowman immediately waved its limbs energetically at Yoo Wol-ryeong in greeting.
"How have you been, Yoo Wol-ryeong Cha-sa-nim!"
"This is a goblin named Huhuba. A rare case of a snowman turning into one."
"A snowman? Didn't you say goblins form from long-term use?"
Unless it was in the Arctic or Antarctic, a snowman in Korea was lucky to last three months. Hard to imagine one gaining enough essence in that time.
Yoo Wol-ryeong nodded again.
"Yes. I made Huhuba long ago while training in the Eighth Hell of Frozen Limbs. It accumulated spiritual energy over time and became a goblin on its own."
She pulled out a single soul coin and placed it in Huhuba's mouth. The snowman bowed dramatically and vanished.
Ju Kang-rim couldn't fathom why she'd summoned this particular goblin.
'Was she just showing off her homemade snowman?'
Oblivious to his skepticism, Yoo Wol-ryeong continued.
"Kangryeong Daegun might have wanted to go beyond zombies and control abominations as his own. As you know, abominations are fusions of underworld entities and living-world matter. If he succeeded with goblins, others might follow."
The thought of him commanding abominations—not just intelligent zombies—sent a chill down Ju Kang-rim's spine. Zombies were infantry against gates; abominations were tanks or helicopters. Manageable with the right countermeasures, but a nightmare otherwise.
"But since it stalled at this level, it probably wasn't as satisfying as he'd hoped. Or we thwarted his scheme beforehand."
"Even in death, that bastard leaves a bad taste."
"He's suffering plenty in the underworld by now."
Kangryeong Daegun's black core had been too worn to reuse, so they'd turned it in. They could've smashed it to bits, but since he feared hell so much, sending him there seemed more merciful—for their own peace of mind.
"So how do we revive this thing?"
"Well…… It's a brand-new O Mang-seong Pentagon 7, so try the O Mang-seong service center."
"Think they'll fix a goblin? Hell, with the illegal mods, will they even accept it?"
"What other choice do we have?"
Ju Kang-rim sighed at the message from Yeomra.
That phone's still got ghosts in it.
They're dormant now, but use them to pull it out. Goblins might resist, but ghosts have to obey a grim reaper.
Wherever it's connected.
Only then did it hit him. Biman. Netty was linked there too.
***
Netty shifted the lens. The mechanical clack felt awkward—it was a lens he'd never moved before.
Focusing it revealed a familiar face.
"Thanks for dropping the 'legend' part."
Ju Kang-rim chuckled wryly as Netty reacted through Biman.
"Have you ever been dead?"
Memories from the data transfer must've gotten garbled.
Ju Kang-rim pondered how to explain Netty's state. A goblin possessing Biman? Hard sell for a ghost who'd mined crypto while fangirling awakeners.
But Netty accepted it readily.
"You buy that just like that?"
Fair point. Ju Kang-rim figured even alien ninjas or pirate dinosaurs wouldn't faze him now. But this was personal.
Hearing he was a revived pharaoh from the Huan Empire might still jolt him.
"Call me Ju Kang-rim Cha-sa."
Ju Kang-rim laid it all out: he and Yoo Wol-ryeong were grim reapers, immortals were rotting the world from within, and that's why he hunted them. Unlike Han Min-ah, Netty was embedded in Biman, so full disclosure was easy. And he'd learn the rest through use.
"Yeah. No clue how, but we still have gaps in immortal lore."
Netty pondered—or calculated. AI-like speed, but human intuition. Goblin vibes, maybe.
"Something click?"
"Yeah, and?"
Ju Kang-rim nodded. Plausible. Yeomra mentioned worse eras in the past, and with confirmed grim reapers and vampires, wilder things weren't off the table.
"True."
"Like who……."
Ju Kang-rim's eyes widened mid-sentence. If Netty's data held water—researched over years against history—it could be gold.
"Hold up! Examples? Current awakeners who might be immortals?"
A chill hit Ju Kang-rim. Unknowns mixed with his VIP list. But the real prize? Names.
Unknown names crippled Soul Recall summons—half the battle lost upfront. Knowing Berzunak and Muska's names from the start would've eased things. But if Netty cross-referenced history for modern immortals?
Instant intel.
Heart pounding, Ju Kang-rim pressed.
"Any on Basha Vito? His real name?"
Ju Kang-rim held his breath.
Ju Kang-rim hurled Biman away.
***
"……Can't distinguish history from fiction, huh?"
"Blame internet history lessons."
Ju Kang-rim muttered from the bed, deflated. Netty's prowess was real, but his knowledge base was warped—conspiracies and legends taken as gospel. Fixing it would take time.
"Still, his current intel is solid and easy to verify. Tutor him on history slowly, and he could be a game-changer."
"No moon Nazis?"
"Not that bad. Hollow Earth and vaccine conspiracies, though."
Ju Kang-rim answered Yoo Wol-ryeong weakly. Fixable with tweaks.
He shifted to Netty's utility.
"He had decent awakener data—mostly power levels and skills. I tasked him with sorting recent immigrants: plain foreign awakeners vs. Vito family ones."
"How distinguish Vito's?"
"Hotness?"
"Logical."
"Narrow by common traits, iterate. Patterns emerged in recent movements. Like they're here for a purpose. I can guess."
"Gangbuk reclamation op?"
Forgotten amid Vito skirmishes, but plans progressed steadily. Six months left gave breathing room. Influx meant momentum building.
"Yes. Most immigrants heading to one meeting."
"I figured as much."
Yoo Wol-ryeong nodded, showing Ju Kang-rim the invitation stamped on Biman.
World Awakener Conference
Invites had gone out to top awakeners worldwide, Vito family included. One had arrived for Yoo Wol-ryeong too.