The Jingle of a Single Coin
"Clink. One wen."
Right now, I had 270 wen in coins on hand. My balance had ballooned after nabbing that Big Book bastard earlier. Looking at it now, I couldn't help but think I'd been pretty damn diligent about saving up all this time. If I'd just stuck to manual labor, it'd take twenty-seven straight days of ten wen a day without a single break to scrape this together. But thanks to mixing in yokai hunting, I'd amassed this tidy sum in no time flat.
Let's see. I hadn't even been in the Murim world for a full month yet. And if I'd adapted this well already, it meant I'd pretty much mastered the rules of survival here. Damn, I was proud of myself. Kim Geun-hyeop, you're the GOAT.
"Aunt art."
Alright then. So how should I spend the money I had? I'd leveled up from grunt work to yokai slaying, so it was only natural to invest accordingly. This called for some serious thought.
With that in mind, I crashed at the guesthouse for the night.
Massive Outbreak of Little Blue Ghosts at Migang Wharf
Recruitment: 2 People
Pay: 200 wen per person
In the morning, I checked Dahoebang's bulletin board, and there was a headline that yanked my eyes right to it.
"Whoa."
Looks like a massive swarm of Little Blue Ghosts had shown up.
How many had to pop up to need two people? And the pay was 200 wen per head, no less. Last time with that Little Blue Ghost pack, it was 200 wen too. This time, with two guys splitting 400 wen total, it was a fat gig.
My gut screamed it: this was gonna be a tough one. But that wasn't reason enough to back out. Who the hell was I? Kim Geun-hyeop, yokai exterminator extraordinaire. A man with Inuyasha-level power, minus the iron chain. And with my experience wiping those ghosts already, chickening out here would trash my rep and make me a total pussy on the spot.
"Can't have that."
Good. Two-man job meant it couldn't be that dangerous. Back-to-back, what could a bunch of Little Blue Ghost shits do? I'd broken their encirclement solo. Like General Radahn, hero of the Shattering Wars. Me plus one buddy? We'd clear it easy. Hell, we'd wipe their whole species off the map.
Wait, was that cool? If Little Blue Ghosts went extinct, what happens to the ecosystem? I cared about yokai ecology, so I signed up right away.
"I saw the notice about Little Blue Ghosts at the wharf."
"Ah, you've been taking a lot of yokai extermination jobs lately, huh?"
"Heh heh, how'd you know?"
"You've done it several times recently."
The clerk recognized me.
"You should be fine. But this one's for two people. No one's paired up yet, so wait a bit."
"It'll fill quick, right?"
"Little Blue Ghosts are such a pain. If luck's not on your side, might not fill today."
"Hmm... I'll wait here then. I wanna squash those bastards ASAP."
"Great enthusiasm! Wait over there! I'll pair you up as soon as someone's free!"
"Thanks."
He recognized me and gave me the VIP treatment? Even explained personally—appreciated.
About an hour of awkward loitering later, someone showed.
"You... taking the wharf Little Blue Ghost job?"
Smaller than me, skin and bones. Dull-looking face. Obviously no Murim guy. Combat power looked lower than mine... but numbers mattered more than individual skill here.
"Yeah. Name's Kim Geun-hyeop. You?"
"Go Seok-sam."
"Got Little Blue Ghost experience?"
"Once or so..."
This guy's words were too damn short.
"Eh, that's fine. I've bagged over ten."
He showed up in under an hour. We'd fight together today anyway, so I'd smooth things over.
Went straight to the clerk for the briefing.
"Little Blue Ghosts swarming Migang Wharf, wrecking the cargo. They hit every night—real nuisance. Handle it proper."
"Got it."
Memorized the route to the wharf, then headed out with Go Seok-sam.
"..."
This guy was too quiet. Should I break the ice?
"My first yokai job was total annihilation of Little Blue Ghosts at a farm."
I started chatting while walking.
"Over ten rushed me, and I smashed 'em one-sided. How about you, Go Seok-sam?"
"Just... caught some that showed."
"'Some'? How many?"
"..."
Why so silent?
"Hmm."
Tried small talk after, but his social skills were trash. Normally I'd shut up too, but... we had a real fight ahead, as comrades-in-arms. Comradely spirit welled up—I had to get him talking.
"Eh, no harm chatting with your partner before battle. Long walk to the wharf anyway. Where you from, Go Seok-sam?"
Got more aggressive. Kept it light, personal stuff. He seemed introverted—those types suck at refusing. Keep yapping, he'll crack eventually.
"Anhui Province... local."
"Nice. Local means you've got roots. Why yokai hunting?"
"Gotta... eat."
"Huh? Eat? Local guy could do other work, right? You've got connections here?"
Conversational trick. Locals can do yokai jobs, but phrase it like they can't, ups the odds he'll explain.
"Not... really connected."
"No connections? What?"
Kept prodding, and he finally opened up. Nothing major. Bottom-feeder life like me, no one to lean on, drifter basically. No martial arts, just scraping by. Felt a kinship. Good—we were partners today.
"Got it."
Enough on the buddy. We'd fight together, after all.
Wrapped chat, kept walking—wharf before I knew it. I stepped up, talked to the overseer.
"From Dahoebang?"
"Yeah. Little Blue Ghost job."
"Murim man? Solid build."
"Heh heh, picked up some self-defense fist arts, but no Murim."
"Right. They spawn right here. Pissing me off—no end to it. Clear 'em quick."
Familiar drill.
"When do they show?"
"After sunset. Come back then."
"Will do. We'll show you the corpses at dawn."
Overseer nodded. Deal sealed.
"Go Seok-sam. Half day till night. Meet back here before sunset?"
"...Sure."
Time to scout terrain, rest, return.
Time came. I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Go Seok-sam, gazing at the night sky.
"Sun's down. Ghosts'll come soon. When they do, back-to-back, slaughter 'em. As long as they don't grab your rear, they're no big deal."
"..."
Laid the groundwork, but he was too tense to reply.
"Hoo, huu..."
Scared? Breath shaking.
"Nervous? You said you had experience. They're not scary."
"Ah, aa! There!"
Right then, Go Seok-sam pointed into the dark, yelling.
—Gooooh.
Little Blue Ghosts' glowing eyes appeared. Ones popping up everywhere, closing in slow.
Blood boiling.
"Here they... fuck."
But holy shit, so many!
"Hup!"
At least double last time! How many was that? Platoon-sized swarm.
No fear. We had double the numbers too. They met me? Today was extinction day. One or dozens—didn't matter.
"Wooshiiiik!"
"Siiiik!"
Overconfident in their horde, the Little Blue Ghosts snarled as they charged.
Gripped my staff tight, fired up battle spirit.
"Hah, haa...!"
But Go Seok-sam looked rough.
"D-didn't expect this many!"
Freaked by the numbers. Looked total noob. Still, partner tonight. Pump him up somehow.
"No panic! Lots of 'em, but back-to-back, we're good! Fight fearless, we win! I've soloed ten!"
"What the...!"
Moment I boosted him—
"Wooshiiiik!"
"Siiiiiiiik!"
"Wooshit!"
Ghosts charged like a wave.
Their moves? Old news. I'd smashed enough to read 'em blind.
"Wooshiik!"
Spotted the fastest—
"Shut the fuck up!"
—Ppak!
Unleashed full-power smash, caved its skull. Pot-shard crack echoed.
"Hahaha! You pathetic shits!"
Enemy heavy, but solid backup. Noob or not, comrade behind me. Not alone—that hyped me. This was the battlefield.
"Die!"
—Ppeok!
—Ppak!
Swung staff, punched, kicked—batted and pulverized ghosts. Routine now. Stay cool, we win.
"Uwaaaak!"
"Go Seok-sam! Snap out of it!"
But this fucker was a mess. Taking hits already. Ghosts realized he was weaker, ganging on him over me.
—Ppaat!
Ghosts latched onto him!
"Aaaaack!"
What, can't peel 'em off? Just scream and flail?! So fucking frustrating!
Care first!
"Go Seok-sam! Grab and rip 'em off!"
Whirled, bashed a ghost head with my staff.
"Kkieek!"
"Get off, you fuck!"
Yanked another by hand, hurled it hard.
But he collapsed, legs gone.
Wanna rant, but priorities—fight, not bitch!
"Get up! Go Seok-sam! This ain't play—this is war! Fight to kill!"
—Kkwak!
Grabbed his collar, yanked him up.
"Ughak...! Haa! Haa!"
"Stance! Fight from behind! Got it?!"
"Y-yeah...!"
Eyes glazed—panic attack? Mental break already? Worst noob ever!
Wanted to bond earlier, but doom vibes rising.
"Wooshiiiik!"
Whatever—ghosts still coming to kill. To survive and get paid, slaughter every arrogant shit. Needed his help, money on line!
"Hap!"
Show brave front, boost morale!
"Go Seok-sam! Shout and fight!"
"Hah, haa...!"
"Scream at least, fucker!"
"Aa...!"
Yelled, swung staff—smacked incoming ghost.
That instant—
—Ududak!
"Huh?!"
Something latched my back...!
"Little Blue Ghost! You fuck!"
"Wooshiiiik!"
How'd it get behind?! Thought flashed—turned reflexively, and I froze in horror.
—Tatatak!
Go Seok-sam's retreating back.
"Wha?!"
This motherfucker was running!
"What?! He's bailing?!"
This crazy shit ran?!
"You fucking—!"