Chapter 41
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Necromancer's Memorial Rite (1)
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A few days later.
Excluding time for meals and sleep, Kang Sa-hu had spent every moment roaming the country, hunting Gates. Now, with the memorial rite approaching, he finally allowed himself a long, indulgent rest.
After fine-tuning his condition, Kang Sa-hu was able to begin the rite on the day itself in an exceptionally fine state.
To compensate for the gap in Gate hunting while he paused his activities, Bae Deok-ho, Kim Ho-myeong, and Lee Yu-rim opted not to attend the rite and instead ramped up their Gate hunts even more aggressively.
Up to that point, it looked like the memorial rite would be a very quiet affair.
But...
"...You said it would just be NewTube footage, right?"
News outlets of every stripe, personal NewTubers, even helicopters.
Kang Sa-hu stared at Kang Ji-ye in bewilderment at the sight of all these people pitching camp around the rite as the clock ticked past 9 p.m.
Kang Ji-ye seemed just as caught off guard, cold sweat beading on her brow as she clutched her phone, the video recording app open for her NewTube upload.
"Uh, no. When we were setting up the altar, it really seemed like no one cared..."
The altar for the memorial rite had been prepared at Baekryeon Temple, nestled within Namhansanseong Fortress.
Even if it was just a one-use altar for consoling spirits, anything that smacked of religion couldn't be held in a public spot where crowds wandered.
Private property was a must, but no cathedral or church would ever host a Necromancer's memorial rite.
After pleading for a venue far and wide, the place that finally said yes was right here—Baekryeon Temple.
Thankfully, the head monk viewed Kang Sa-hu's memorial act in a positive light. Plus, having encountered him through mass media coverage, the monk had become a fan, making it possible.
And sure enough, while prepping the rite, not a soul had shown up—not even to ask, "What're you doing?" So she'd figured she could just film it herself and upload...
"A-a spy among the monks?!"
"As if."
Kang Sa-hu flicked Kang Ji-ye on the forehead for her needless suspicion of the monk, then turned to gaze at the altar.
"Well, it might actually work in our favor."
Kang Sa-hu could see that those major media outlets would spread the footage far better than Ji-ye, who was just starting out on NewTube.
With that thought settled, Kang Sa-hu shrugged off the robe he'd received from Park Joo-hee of Meister High.
The black-dyed hemp ritual robe beneath drew every camera's focus.
Not to be outdone, Kang Ji-ye mounted her phone on a tripod and began filming him.
Having changed into ritual shoes as well, Kang Sa-hu approached the chairs set aside, where the bereaved families of the hunters sat sniffling.
He held seventeen spirits in storage.
But with their souls gone, he couldn't be sure whose they were.
So he'd briefly informed all the families of this fact and asked only those who wished to participate to gather.
Yet not only did every recipient show up, but relatives of the bereaved piled in too, making the rite far busier than expected.
Of course, not everyone was there out of grief from losing family in a hunt.
Many had come just to see the hunter Kang Sa-hu up close.
Others tagged along via family connections, chasing personal gain.
As a result, even before declaring the rite open, while offering simple greetings to the bereaved...
Some wept genuine tears of sorrow for lost kin and gratitude toward Kang Sa-hu for holding the rite himself.
Others shouted his name, shoving prepared paper at him for autographs, or clamored for a private chat after it ended.
Kang Ji-ye scowled in disgust at those chasing personal greed amid a rite meant to console the dead.
But Kang Sa-hu, the very host of the rite, brushed them off indifferently and wrapped up his greetings curtly.
"Wow, what an arrogant prick. He's just another hunter at the end of the day, isn't he?"
"Y-you! Can't you shut it?! Why crash a place we told you not to come and make a scene like this? Aren't you ashamed in front of your nephew?!"
"Fine, fine. But why snap at me? You don't seriously buy into ghosts existing and this rite comforting them, do you? If that guy's right, my nephew got smashed by a monster, croaked, and is wandering the afterlife?"
"You filthy bastard!"
Irked that he ignored their demands with a solemn face, only greeting the truly grieving, insults flew from here and there. Even families traded curses.
One man hurled the loudest barbs, but many silently nodded along, harboring the same thoughts.
"Wh-what?! Is that any way to talk about your own nephew?!"
Kang Ji-ye, a total outsider to that family, was about to charge in furious.
But Kang Sa-hu reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Ji-ye."
"Oppa! Did you hear that?! There's a limit to shamelessness! How can he say that to someone trying to ease their grief with this memorial—"
"Ji-ye."
At his calm second call, she huffed and met his eyes.
Seeing the steady light emanating from his gaze, she clamped her mouth shut.
"Focus. They're not who we need to focus on."
"......"
His unwavering yet deeply sunken voice made her bite her lower lip and return to her spot.
Kang Sa-hu, standing at the rite's center, swept his eyes around and spoke.
"We will now commence the memorial rite."
Even after his declaration, those shouting and arguing kept at it at full volume.
The onlookers were split half staring at the quarreler, half at Kang Sa-hu.
"Oppa..."
If this kept up, the rite—meant to be solemn and silent—could collapse entirely. Kang Ji-ye fidgeted, watching him anxiously.
But as if he'd already planned for this, Kang Sa-hu drew something from his waistband.
Ka-ka-ka-kang-!
"Gasp! Wh-what?!"
The clash of metal sent everyone—even the loud arguers—jerking around in shock.
The [Blood-Drinking Scythe of Hell Duke Demadr], shrunk via its special effect [Size Adjustment], reverted to its original form. Mouths snapped shut at the sight of Kang Sa-hu wielding the massive scythe.
Not needed for the rite, but its visual intimidation silenced the crowd. Kang Sa-hu continued.
"We will now observe a moment of silence."
Not that it was a formal step, but the stunned crowd either clamped their lips tight or gaped wordlessly. The silence was profound.
With the rite truly underway, Kang Sa-hu carefully drew forth the cloth pouch he'd bought specifically to hold the seventeen spirits and opened it.
Tok, tok.
The soul cores containing the hunters' spirits were gently placed atop the altar.
Kang Sa-hu closed his eyes.
Rumble.
"H-huh?!"
As he shut his eyes, strange phenomena began. People gasped and looked skyward.
The sun had long set into night, dark hours. Temple lights for filming, monastery illumination, and distant city glow from light pollution made the sky dim rather than pitch-black.
But when Kang Sa-hu cast the Necromancer spell prepped for the rite, the heavens turned utterly inky black.
Woooooo—
The seventeen soul cores on the altar floated up gently.
Then, with a thought, Kang Sa-hu released the spirits from the cores. They manifested, instantly reverting to the size they'd been when first encountered.
Woooong—
Melon-sized spirits hovered before him, and screams and sobs erupted from the crowd.
"Soo-ye! Soo-yeeee—!"
"Chul-soo! It's Daddy! Daddy's here—!"
No souls meant no response to calls.
No animus meant no recognizable form or face.
Yet those who believed these were their children wailed.
Chaos swirled around, but only two remained calm.
Kang Sa-hu and Kang Ji-ye pressed on with the next preparations.
"We will now read the memorial incantation."
His steady voice pierced the clamor, lodging in every ear.
"They were someone's children, or perhaps someone's parents..."
Unclear identities led to starting as child and parent. The reading compressed their final moments up to death in the Gate.
Gates spawned, Gate Breaks threatened countless lives, so hunters risked all to enter and hunt.
They faced the enigmatic troll monster, steeped in terror.
Then fought with all they had and perished valiantly—just as media reports from hunters described.
But as the incantation flowed, the spirits trembled and roiled as if weeping, hushing the crowd in awe.
No more screams, shouts, or sobs. Only Kang Sa-hu's recitation echoed.
When it ended, he turned to survey the people once more.
"Next, the eulogy for the spirits."
At "eulogy," Kang Ji-ye stepped forward, tense.
They shared a glance; he nodded faintly.
As she began in her clear, plaintively sorrowful voice, Kang Sa-hu prepared the next step without pause.
The nearly ten-minute eulogy saw his lips moving rapidly, weaving the spell.
A spell normally requiring many, now built by him alone.
One that couldn't be prepped—must be cast live from the altar. Demanding terrifying focus, even his Awakened, hunt-hardened body beaded his forehead with sweat.
Just before her eulogy closed, he completed the spell. Demonic light horned upward from his eyes.
"Advance the spirits, cleanse the spirits, console the spirits."
"Jinryeong, Seryeong, Wiryung."
⟨ Supreme Spirit Magic Triad ⟩
Chase and eulogy soothed the roiling spirits, sans soul or animus.
Washed away grudges, fears, and pollutants etched deep in death.
Finally, consoled the soulless spirits capable of grief—the pinnacle trio of spells.
Paaat!
The once-pale spirits now shimmered with iridescent hues, pure and radiant.
Awe beyond shock dawned on faces—reverence.
"Ah... aah..."
Families on the verge of collapse from grief gazed on devoutly, tears streaming.
"Hoo..."
As the rite neared its end, Kang Sa-hu covertly wiped sweat, eyes glowing as he watched the spirits.
Consolation and cleansing done. All that remained: farewells between spirits and families, then release them to a better place.
Recalling that step, he regarded them with heavy eyes.
"Ah... aaah..."
"Hic... sob..."
"......"
Farewells were ideally soul-to-soul.
But these hunters' spirits lacked souls.
Skipping it was fine.
Kang Ji-ye, prepped and agreeing, saw no need for the ordeal.
Yet seeing bereaved weeping floods, praying for uncertain kin to find peace...
Kang Sa-hu recalled his mother's voice.
[I trust your choice and sense of responsibility.]
"...Hm."
Days ago, her words resurfaced. He raised his free hand—not gripping Demadr's scythe.
Kang Ji-ye, as if expecting it, halted preparations for the final ascension rite, smirked, and watched.
His sister intuiting and supporting his intent brought a small smile. He extended his hand to the spirits.
"Finally, pre-ascension farewells for the spirits."
A unique step in Necromancer rites, absent elsewhere—spirit summoning.
But soul-less, it risked meaninglessness.
Even so.
To leave no regrets, Kang Sa-hu closed his eyes, focusing his mind to rouse them.
Then.
[Mom... Dad...]
Souls have emerged from within the spirits.
'Authority' detected from the user.
An anomaly has occurred.