Chapter 103

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 102

Chapter Title: Thousand Buddhas Vajra Beads

-----------------------------------------------------------------

I drove Bungbung-i through the night streets.

I usually left the driving entirely to Bungbung-i, so it had been quite a while since I gripped the wheel myself. And sure enough, a problem arose.

Since I'd always just gone wherever Bungbung-i took me, I had no idea where I was going.

"Huh? What? You want to drive, Bungbung-i?"

Frustrated by my constant wrong turns, Bungbung-i slipped out of my control and started moving on its own.

I'd offered to drive so it could rest, but Bungbung-i couldn't hold back and snatched the wheel anyway.

"Heh heh... Sorry. I don't know the layout of this neighborhood."

Bungbung-i wiggled the wipers in response, saying it was fine.

As expected, Bungbung-i knew the way perfectly.

Ding-a-ling.

As I marveled anew at Bungbung-i's driving skills, the phone call I'd been waiting for came in.

It was from the Priestess.

"Priestess. How did it go? Are you safe?"

-I'm fine, no worries here. And just as you predicted, a whopping hundred pureblood supremacists attacked the place.

"What? A hundred is way more than I expected."

-Fortunately, Moss House held them off well.

"Any... casualties?"

-The two anomalies you stationed on the sixth floor were destroyed, and...

The Priestess told me about Ha-il.

Apparently, Ha-il had used a hybrid spirit core to buy time. She also mentioned that Ha-ri was in a mentally precarious state.

The outer guards had done their best. Thanks to them, Moss House was safe.

-During the fight, Ha-il fully transformed into an anomaly. He's sleeping now in that state.

"Ah... It's irreversible, isn't it..."

-Seems like disaster-class at least. He's pretty ferocious, so we've put him to sleep with mist for now, but you'll need to tame him later.

"Got it. I'll do that."

Ha-il couldn't communicate anymore and was basically a beast. His sense of self was probably gone.

He'd been such a dignified old gentleman. It was heartbreaking. He was a good man. Bitter feelings welled up. Because of the Repentance Evangelism Society, a good man met a bad end. I felt a bit down.

"Anyway, thank you so much. We could protect Moss House thanks to you."

-No need. It was well-defended, so that helped. Oh, and Moss House has decided to join us from now on.

"Really? Is that true?"

-Yes. Lunar Blossom Sect will take them in. The elders of Seontae House agreed. Moss House stays in Suncheon for now, but we're evacuating the people to Mujin City first.

Things had unfolded differently than I'd expected.

I thought it'd just be some help, not a full merger of the groups.

It was an event that never happened in the game. Posting this on the gallery would shock everyone.

'Save the Priestess, keep Bya, help Moss House, and they merge.'

I'd unlocked a new route. What a discovery.

"But Moss House has quite a few anomalies. You're taking them all in?"

-Yes. Not all anomalies are bad. You told me about them, so you know best. Anomalies can change and become good. Everything changes eventually. Besides, Mujin City has plenty of anomalies now too.

As the Priestess said, the Jang Mountain tigers guarding Mujin Mountain were anomalies, Bya who became her body spirit was an anomaly, and even the bus to Mujin City was one.

Accepting anomalies wasn't so strange.

-And it's time for Lunar Blossom Sect to change too. We'll prioritize harmony over half-hearted traditions. Moss House will blend in well. Some might not like it, but what can they do?

"True enough."

Who could stop the Priestess if she decided that?

No one until her lifespan ended in 60 years.

Many things were changing. Nothing stayed the same forever. People and anomalies could change. That's what made them possible.

-That's the situation at Moss House. We're heading to Mujin City now, and I'll help them settle. What are your plans?

"Me?"

-Yes. Since we've taken in Moss House, we're involved in this fight. But the enemies are deeply tied to religion, so if we smash them directly, it's a provocation to all religious people. Your intentions matter.

Lunar Blossom Sect couldn't wage war on a religious group in their name.

Well water doesn't invade river water. Touching a religious group would cross the line.

Her logic: religions should be handled by religions.

So, she'd dispatch spirit mediums as my support. That minimized friction.

"Sounds good. How much support can you provide?"

-First, me! The Priestess is available!

"..."

That basically meant the whole Lunar Blossom Sect backing me.

"No, if you step in..."

-Kidding. I have to look after Moss House, so I can't go. Instead, I'll send four spirit mediums.

"The Four Guardians?"

-Probably. Oh, right. Se-yeon wants to thank you.

Cheong of the Four Guardians, Kang Se-yeon.

She wanted to thank me for saving her sister at Garam University last time.

"If all four Guardians come, Mujin City's defenses will be too thin. Se-yeon, Master Jo Un-gyeol the defensive expert, Sun-woo, and Do-gyeom would be perfect."

-Just those four? Isn't that too few? Sun-woo maybe, but Do-gyeom seems too weak to keep up with you.

"That'll be enough."

Pulling all Four Guardians from Lunar Blossom Sect would leave gaps elsewhere.

Korea is bigger and more populated than it seems. Losing them would cause problems.

'Se-yeon as sword, Jo Un-gyeol as shield—perfect balance.'

And Do-gyeom was lucky. That was enough.

Master Mun Sun-woo was essential for Yu-ha.

-Fine. Understood. I'll send them. To the office?

"Yes, thank you. Oh, and I've found the enemies' location."

-What? Where? You heading there now?

"Their church and prayer center in Danyang, Chungbuk. People are held underground at the prayer center. Situation's tricky for me to go alone, so gathering the team first."

-Got it. Call when ready. I'll prepare to help anytime.

"Thanks. Feels reassuring."

Two hours to Danyang in Bungbung-i.

Se-yeon and Master Mun Sun-woo from Mujin City would take four hours.

We could invade New Country New Love Church around dawn tomorrow.

"Oh, Priestess."

-Yes, listening.

"Is Master Mun Sun-woo there?"

-He is, want to switch?

"Yes, message for him."

Soon, Master Mun Sun-woo took the phone, his voice weary.

-Yes... Fixer. What is it?

"Master, problem with Yu-ha."

-...Pardon?

"Here's what happened."

I briefly explained the attack on Yu-ha after school and her body spirit being extracted.

-...How's Yu-ha now?

"She seems... mentally shaken badly."

-I'll head to the office ASAP.

The fatigue vanished from Master Mun Sun-woo's voice.

Cold anger and quiet vengeance took its place.

Not content with attacking his spirit daughter, they ripped out her spirit too. He was ready to crush the enemy.

I asked the Priestess for some supplies and hung up. Time to check on Yu-ha at the office.

"Yu-ha, how's your body feeling?"

"Uncle..."

Entering the office, Yu-ha stared blankly into space, face like she'd lost everything.

Ha-yeon and Ye-rim had tried comforting her while I was gone, but the darkness in her heart lingered.

"It... wasn't a dream."

"Master Mun Sun-woo will be here before dawn."

"...Really.."

Even telling her Master Mun Sun-woo was coming, she sat there with vacant eyes.

The girl who used to bounce with joy at her spirit mother coming was lost. It was heartbreaking.

We needed to find a way to restore her spirit fast. Maybe Master Mun Sun-woo would have ideas. I'd boasted not to worry, but it felt frustrating now.

At that moment, Ye-rim, furiously searching something, shoved her laptop toward us.

"Um, everyone, look at this...? Just found this site... This person can do 're-descent of the spirit' apparently."

"Re-descent?"

"Yes.. Look here..."

"Huh? Wait. This person..."

The site Ye-rim showed featured a shaman explaining re-descent enthusiastically.

But her face was familiar. Where had I seen her?

"What's her name, Ye-rim?"

"Oh Se-eun.. Says she's the shaman for shamans. Does re-descent for those who lost their spirits.."

The site was run by the spirit medium who'd picked a fight with me and Yu-ha at the old talisman studies conference and got wrecked.

Unbelievable. Oh Se-eun showing up here again?

"Ye-rim, how'd you find this?"

"Oh, my community... posted there.."

"That 404 Ghost Club server?"

"Yeah, that one."

The anonymous community where Ye-rim became a digital sorcerer, gathering digital sorcerers.

404 Ghost Club server. She'd leaked info about shamans losing body spirits, and a member shared Oh Se-eun's site.

"Yu-ha, take a look."

"Uncle.. what's that?"

"Yu-ha, remember the young scholars' conference at the Talisman Studies Association?"

"Uh... yeah, Uncle."

"Remember that lady who bitched at us for being noisy?"

"Right.. nickname Mrs. Oh-sa or something? I think so. Kang San-jung Uncle mentioned it too.."

"Watch this video. It's her."

"What..? Huh? How... That lady definitely lost her spirit.."

In the video, Oh Se-eun had her body spirit—a child attendant.

I'd heard she'd lost it completely. What happened?

"This... must be fate."

Back then, when Oh Se-eun went nuts, Yu-ha pitied her like spirit delusion and begged not to kill but spare her.

So I'd warned her to be careful and let her go. Could that have changed Oh Se-eun?

A small good deed led to this much change. At the conference, she'd looked deathly after losing her spirit, but now she smiled reliably in the video.

"Ye-rim, got her number? Call now."

"This late...? She pick up?"

"Just try."

The person we'd spared out of Yu-ha's mercy held the key to restoring Five Flower Bell Spirit.

Good thing we listened to Yu-ha. Good deeds bring blessings—true indeed.

-Hello? Who calls this late? We're closed, call tomorrow.

"Excuse me, Oh Se-eun? You know me?"

-Huh? What nonsense. Hang up if crazy! Another prank call, annoying.

"Not a prank, Oh Se-eun. Lee Do-hyun from Fixer Office. We met at the conference."

-...Pardon?

"Talisman Studies young scholars' conference. Remember? The guy and girl you picked a fight with."

A sharp intake of breath came through the receiver.

-H-how do you have my number..

"You posted it on your site for inquiries. Called that."

-Ah.. F-Fixer. That day I was out of my mind. P-please have mercy...

"Not calling to fight about that. Oh Se-eun, how'd you regain your spirit?"

-Pardon...? T-that's trade secret. Even for Fixer, can't tell...

"Re-descent possible, right?"

-Yes, of course. I don't lie about this. I succeeded. Three spirit mediums left reviews. I swear on my spirit, no lies on others' hope! Trying to do good deeds.

She'd trembled recognizing me, but answered re-descent with conviction.

"Oh Se-eun, I want to commission re-descent."

-From Fixer...? Aren't you not a medium?

"Not me. A kid in our office had her spirit ripped out by thugs in an accident."

-What..? Wait, who rips out a medium's body spirit! Not natural dissipation or departure— forcibly yanked? That affects the mind.

"As expected, she's not great. Can you help?"

-Where's your office? Natural parting and forced separation are different. Coming now. My spirit says help the Fixer.

I gave her the office address.

Oh Se-eun said she'd come right away and hung up.

"Yu-ha, told you? There's a way."

"...Uncle. Really possible?"

"She says yes. She got re-descent herself. Even her spirit said to help us."

"Uncle..."

At the hope of regaining Five Flower Bell Spirit, a faint light returned to Yu-ha's eyes.

She finally burst into tears, sobbing hard. Pent-up emotions flooding out.

Hope had bloomed where despair once was.

The darkness in Yu-ha's heart was gone. What a relief. Truly.

"Ye-rim, good job. Great work."

"Hehe.. No biggie.. Um, can I get a spare battery.."

To find re-descent info in under an hour—no kidding.

Time to give Ye-rim a fat allowance.

Gurgle.

"Ah.."

"Yu-ha, hungry?"

"Yeah... Yes, starving."

"Let's eat then. You guys hungry?"

"Actually, yes, Fixer. Been tense watching lurkers all day around the office. Skipped meals."

"Me too..."

Repentance Evangelism Society goons had everyone skipping proper meals.

Couldn't eat relaxed with intruders lurking.

"I'll prepare dinner..."

"No, Sowol, rest. Late-night snack? Ramen's best. Everyone cool?"

"Never had ramen as good as yours, Fixer."

"Uncle nails the water ratio."

"Sowol always makes it like Han River ramen.. kinda.."

Ye-rim's comment made Sowol bristle, defending salty Han River ramen, so I quickly pocketed her ring.

I love Sowol's soybean paste stew, but her ramen? Not so much.

-H-husband..!

"Ramen's gotta be salty to taste good."

-...Eek.

I wasn't hungry, but seeing Yu-ha hungry made me happy.

Feeling hunger meant the will to live was back.

Knock knock.

As I boiled a pot full of ramen and served the kids on side plates, someone knocked on the office door.

Oh Se-eun already? Super fast. Not even 10 minutes since hanging up.

"Namu Amida Butsu. Oh dear, dinner time? Bad timing, Fixer."

The late-night visitor wasn't Oh Se-eun, but Monk Gu Hye-ryeong.

"No, Monk, what brings you this late? Join us for a bite?"

"Haha, I'm fine. Eat up."

Why was Hye-ryeong Monk here so late? Bloodless Victory Corps? I'd planned to contact him anyway.

I told the kids to eat and moved to the partition table.

"You could've ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eaten first. Sorry for interrupting."

"No issue. Not hungry anyway. Just feed the kids."

"I see. Fixer, lots of weird people outside. What's going on? Trouble?"

"Yeah, about that..."

I gave Hye-ryeong Monk a rough rundown.

Villains in religious garb massacring hybrids, Bloodless Victory Corps seeking Dharma in the backworld depths.

He knew nothing of today's events. Not here for that.

"Bloodless Victory Corps. How do they have such power..."

"Renegade monks wielding black magic, saying they must free Dharma from the depths. Know anything?"

"Master Dharma entered nirvana long ago. Why wander the backworld? Strange."

"Right? Doesn't make sense."

"Beyond nonsense—it's like a ghost story. What did they see to fall into such delusion? They weren't this broken before."

Hye-ryeong Monk laughed incredulously at Dharma in backworld depths.

Typical monk thinking. Confirmed Bloodless Victory Corps were insane.

"The unlearned form gangs, spread false teachings, commit evil. As cultivators, we must guide them from wrong paths. But first, something else."

Before investigating Bloodless Victory Corps, he handed me a wooden box.

"What's this?"

"Real reason I came, Fixer. Open and see."

I opened the wooden box Hye-ryeong Monk gave me.

Inside was a 1,000-bead vajra beads made from dark red bodhi seeds.

The 108 beads from Woo-hyeon Monk were ruined in the Do-heon fight. Now new ones.

"Won't break unless against a demon king. That powerful."

The strongest prayer beads of Lotus Sect in Korean Buddhism White Lotus Order were now mine.

Why give such a treasure to me?

"Can you give me this?"

"Om mani padme hum. Not giving it— the beads chose you, Fixer. Be careful."

"Careful how?"

"Don't commit evil while holding Thousand Buddhas Vajra Beads."

"Evil?"

"Yes. The ten evils of body, speech, and mind."

The Ten Evils.

Or Ten Unwholesome Deeds.

"When using Thousand Buddhas Vajra Beads, avoid anger at actions, excessive greed, slander, excessive wrath at others, deceitful cunning, lies, lust, theft."

"Just those?"

"No. That's nine of the ten evils. One most important left."

"What?"

"Do not kill."

No killing.

The most vital rule of Thousand Buddhas Vajra Beads.

"If I kill anyway?"

"For committing evil with Thousand Buddhas Vajra Beads, one of the Four Heavenly Kings will come for you."

Four Heavenly Kings.

Guardians of Buddhism's cosmic Mount Sumeru—east, west, south, north.

That's them.

One would come for me.

Disaster-class anomaly, maybe stronger. Like the grim reapers on Mujin Mountain—systemic world guardians.

"No killing... Show mercy to enemies?"

"Yes. Guide them to the right path with mercy. Otherwise, pay for killing."

I'd planned merciless execution.

Using this meant mercy.

"No, Monk. Can't promise no killing. I must execute some. New Country New Love Church's leader, General Assembly President—by my hand. Can't swear off killing with these beads."

I put the Thousand Buddhas Vajra Beads back and handed the box to the monk.

"Truly kill all without mercy?"

"..."

"I dare not preach to you, Fixer. Nor intend to. If that's your will, fine."

Hye-ryeong Monk pushed the box back to me.

"Why not take it?"

"It's left my hands. My duty ended delivering it. Now, how you use it is yours."

"No option to not use? If you don't take it, it'll sit in the office corner."

"Fine. But refusing Thousand Buddhas Vajra Beads now means no more Buddha power."

"Pardon..?"

"Fixer, didn't you wield Woo-hyeon Monk's beads' Buddha power to kill without killing?"

"..."

I killed Do-heon.

Beat a Bloodless Victory Corps monk ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to death with Buddha power.

No regrets.

He was evil, feared my Buddha-infused fist. Enough.

"Odd for a monk, but Buddha path is ruthlessly merciful. Sometimes mercy feels like shackles, burdensome."

"...You too, Monk?"

"Of course. I'm human. Cultivating to escape defilements and enter nirvana. Like you, I feel emotions, anger, attached to five aggregates."

Thus, torment.

Thus, endure and endure.

"Won't tell you to endure like me. No right or authority. Just know: you wielded Buddha power today and killed. No mercy, no guiding the lost soul—just to hell."

"...I know. No regrets."

"Thus, Thousand Buddhas Vajra Beads came. To check if your values, thoughts, actions' risks are bearable. And if Fixer is truly evil."

"Testing me?"

"World always tests humans. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠This too. Beads just evaluate. Penalty for 'refusing': no more Buddha power. Your choice."

I'm strong without Buddha power.

But is abandoning it right?

It might prove useful later.

Choosing not to use vs. unable to use—different.

Didn't want later regrets.

"And Fixer, maybe they can change. Some never do till death, but some change for better."

Hye-ryeong Monk's words echoed.

Could they change?

I'd seen people changed by me.

Ok-won sacrificing for all.

Oh Se-eun reformed, finding re-descent.

Many people and anomalies changed.

But Repentance Evangelism Society?

They'd crossed the line. Even if possible, after holy war—no mercy. My thought.

"If they can't change? Truly irredeemable evil?"

"Fixer, why ask? Answer's in your heart already."

Hye-ryeong Monk smiled slyly.

"Do as you will. Abandon beads, lose Buddha power? Or use, execute enemies, face Heavenly King punishment? Your call. Always has been. Or fear the Four Heavenly Kings?"

Fear Heavenly Kings?

If they come, deal accordingly.

Talked with grim reapers—why different?

Executing sinners with beads doesn't strip Buddha power.

Fear maggots, skip bean paste? Better take beads.

Block Buddha potential? No—use freely, face Kings better.

"Fear Heavenly Kings? Not really."

"Knew it. Fear's a defilement. You fear nothing. Challenge over abandon. Unbound by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠anything. You're free. Thousand Buddhas Vajra Beads don't restrain—just watch, evaluate. That's it."

Hye-ryeong Monk's words cleared my mind.

Whatever blocks me, I'll follow my will.

I took Thousand Buddhas Vajra Beads from the box. Just a watcher.

Didn't want to lose Buddha power even if Kings come. Could save, protect with it.

Killing bad sometimes necessary. Someone dirties hands. I'd do it.

Flawed logic? Others judge.

Show all Buddhas of Small Heavenly World my path.

Punishment comes? Accept gladly.

No fear needed. It's defilement.

If truly upright, charge ahead.