Instant Death Awakens
Red Mask Ghost laughed creepily, as if to say “What are you going to do about it now?”
Then she grabbed my head and jaw with both hands.
“Uuuuugh!”
It was a crushing force, like being squeezed in a press.
My body, which was tall and sturdy, was lifted straight into the air.
Am I going to die like this?
Maybe because I had just witnessed the bus driver’s final moments.
I could easily picture my own future.
Of course, that didn’t mean it was acceptable.
Damn it! The moment I try to escape from being a shut-in in the corner, I run into a ghost!
I had been trying so hard to survive in this world.
It was unfair that this happened on the very first day.
Even in this world, running into the Red Mask on the bus isn’t that common!
Usually ghosts and anomalies don’t appear during the day, do they?
Why did this have to happen to me?
…Should I have just held a talisman?
Suddenly, the image of Chae Young cheering for me until morning flashed through my mind.
A kind child who had lost her parents at such a young age and was still taking care of a pathetic older brother.
If I died, would she really end up completely alone?
“Uug…”
When I thought that far, an unknown power surged up inside me.
It wasn’t like I had awakened to some incredible power.
At best, I had just grabbed the Red Mask’s wrists with both hands.
“?”
The hard arms felt like gripping rebar.
Of course, the Red Mask’s arms didn’t budge even an inch.
Heh heh.
The Red Mask laughed mockingly at me.
Then she tightened her grip on my head.
It felt like my face was being forced into a compression press.
I don’t want to die like this.
When I thought that deep down I truly didn’t want to die so pointlessly.
Instant Death Skill
Effect: Once per day, unconditionally 'instant death' any target you desire.
Then the system messages appeared one after another.
[Condition for awakening achieved!]
[Error!!!! Error!!!! Error!!!! Error!!!! Error!!!!]
[Critical… defect… has occurred.]
[Re-searching for correction.]
.
.
.
[Re-search completed!]
[Hidden ability acquired!]
Suddenly, something popped up in front of my eyes.
Awakening? Ability? Hopeful words lit up my vision.
[Skill has been awakened.]
[Effect: Once per day, unconditionally 'instant death' any target you desire.]
I hadn’t even read the text properly.
It was a trait or skill I had never seen even while playing games.
Whether I know what it is or not…
Anyway, this was definitely the only hope for me to survive.
I didn’t have the mental state or time to analyze it properly.
I poured my whole heart and said to the Red Mask in front of me.
“Die.”
Thud!
With that, the Red Mask’s body collapsed like a string-cut doll.
****
“So… the anomaly that was fine suddenly collapsed?”
“Yes, yes! That’s what happened!”
The exorcist who arrived at the bus listened to the survivors’ stories.
When he arrived, the incident was already over.
Two people had died.
There were no other injuries.
Considering it was a sudden B-rank anomaly, the survival rate was close to a miracle.
The problem is how the anomaly was exterminated…
The survivors’ opinions were all the same.
The Red Mask that had been standing fine suddenly collapsed.
Looking at the anomaly’s state, the passengers weren’t in a hallucination state either.
There were no wounds on the Red Mask’s body.
Normally, even in exorcism, there should be at least some physical impact.
But here, there was no trace of battle at all.
It was like the soul had simply ‘disappeared’.
If this is possible, the person who knocked it down must be an exorcist of an incredible level.
I didn’t think of any exorcist who could take down a B-rank Red Mask like this.
If it’s among the top exorcists affiliated with Cheonjihae, maybe?
“Eh, some guy came out and saved us.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
While listening to each story, the young siblings’ account was peculiar.
“That scary ghost attacked us. Some guy came out and blocked the ghost for us.”
“Are you talking about the dead person?”
I asked just in case, but the kid shook his head.
“That guy was muttering weird things and got caught by the ghost. But the ghost couldn’t kill the guy and collapsed.”
“That, that oppa must be the exorcist on TV!”
The exorcist’s eyes lit up at the kids’ words.
Grabbed by the Red Mask but the ghost collapsed in return.
He deliberately came out to save the kids in danger.
Plus, testimony that he mumbled words I couldn’t understand.
Considering the circumstances, that person likely exterminated the Red Mask.
Normal people often can’t understand the exorcist’s incantations.
When the exorcist nodded, the kid took out something with effort.
“That exorcist gave me this too.”
The exorcist unfolded the paper the kid gave.
It was a talisman with miraculous effects.
Oh my! A talisman with such clean and strong spiritual energy!
This isn’t something easy to make, even for a mudang who receives heavenly power.
It’s not easy to see even before the price.
Even if not, it must be something that only a genius talent among 1st grade exorcists can make!
Throwing it away like this casually.
This level of talisman means it’s an ordinary miraculous spiritualist.
This person really exterminated the Red Mask!
The exorcist nodded with conviction.
“By any chance, who was the person who saved you? Are they still here?”
“I don’t know. When the ghost fell, he disappeared right away.”
“Disappeared?”
“Eh? I saw the clock and was startled, then ran out and ran very fast.”
“Hoo… Even after taking down an anomaly of this level, leaving without any compensation.”
Taking down a B-rank anomaly is already a big deal.
Saving over ten passengers is an enormous achievement.
Leaving without caring about all that, without expecting anyone to recognize, just leaving!
He’s a benefactor. Truly, a benefactor appeared and saved people.
The era where exorcists gather to found large corporations, take money, and save people.
In this world, a master who saves people and disappears without a word.
It felt like seeing a romantic swordsman from wuxia.
Too bad. I won’t have another chance to see such a benefactor.
The exorcist recalled the swordsman whose face and name he didn’t know, and expressed gratitude and regret to him.
Meanwhile, the very person who exterminated the Red Mask.
“Hah! Hah! Not yet! Not too late! I can’t become a useless person who did nothing!”
He was running while sweating profusely for the corporate entrance exam.
****
“Team leader. Time is almost up.”
“Hmm.”
The short-haired beauty checking documents with an impressive impression.
“Still one person hasn’t come.”
Cheonjihae is Korea’s top exorcism mega-corporation.
Just taking this exam is an honor.
So, being late to the exam is unusual.
What kind of fool would miss such an opportunity.
But today seemed to be the day that fool appeared.
“Since the exam doesn’t start at exactly noon, can’t we wait a bit?”
“No. To be late to Cheonjihae’s exam. For a guy who hasn’t even passed the basics, the opportunity is too precious.”
The subordinate’s words made Han Sujin nod lightly.
She didn’t think the exorcist’s qualifications or caliber were determined by that.
But rules are rules.
“Okay. Then since it’s noon, close the door.”
“Understood.”
When the two were about to pack and leave.
“Wait a moment!”
A man came running, sweating.
He reached the door and kneeled, panting.
“Hah! Hah! L-late…?”
The man asking with a desperate face while huffing.
His appearance was like a puppy, cute.
“I… have to take the exam… Hoo! Can I get in?”
The subordinate shook his head firmly.
“Entry time has passed. If late, no one can enter.”
“It’s only 11 o’clock?”
“Exactly 11:23. The entry time was until 11.”
“Can’t you make an exception for this? There was a bus stop in the middle…”
“Even if there’s a reason, if late, can’t enter.”
“Hoo! I see. Sorry.”
The man who was taking a breath suddenly said as if remembering.
“…But why are you speaking in informal speech?”
“……Eh?”
“No, if I was taking the exam, I wouldn’t know. But if I hadn’t taken it, I could be a potential customer! Why are you speaking informally?”
“Ah, no… that’s…”
The subordinate was flustered, stuttering.
He was an exorcist affiliated with Cheonjihae.
In today’s world, even ordinary citizens, company presidents, politicians, etc., bow before him.
But a guy who came to take the exam was challenging him like this.
“Does Cheonjihae speak informally to customers? I should report to customer service.”
But the logic wasn’t wrong.
After all, Cheonjihae is a company.
So the subordinate couldn’t say anything and was flustered.
“…In that sense, let me in. And let’s forget this incident as if it never happened. Ah, good!”
“Eh, eh? Wait, where are you going to…”
“Once! Just once! Looking at what you said earlier, it’s not even a minute, only 20 seconds late! I won’t complain even if you don’t let me in for a cup ramen!”
Where did this guy come from?
Han Sujin burst into laughter from the side.
“Hahaha!”
The two men’s argument stopped with the hearty laugh.
“Hey, new guy. You said the bus stopped earlier, right?”
“Yes! This is a story that can’t be heard without tears…”
“Time is short, summarize in one line.”
“The Red Mask killed the bus driver.”
The subordinate looked at him with an expression like ‘What kind of crazy guy…’
“Hmm, if entangled in an anomaly, no choice. The effort to run here is admirable. Hurry in.”
“Hah! Thank you! Pretty unnie, I will be loyal!”
“Pfft!”
The man rushed inside quickly, afraid his words would change.
The subordinate who was dazed asked Han Sujin.
“Ah, but team leader! What if you let him in? Suddenly Red Mask? It’s obviously a lie…”
“True.”
“Eh?”
“I just got a breaking news that a B-rank anomaly suddenly appeared on the bus, the Red Mask.”
“Hoo?”
The subordinate looked at the screen Han Sujin showed with disbelief.
“Distance is there, nearby exorcists would be faster, but considering time, it can’t be a lie.”
“No, then. Did you really come late because of the Red Mask?”
“The words and situation match, so yes.”
Still, proper news hasn’t come out yet.
Hard to believe he heard from somewhere and made it up.
“Then, there’s definitely an unfair side, but anyway, being late is a fact…”
“Well, so what. It’s interesting.”
“Interesting?”
The subordinate’s words made Han Sujin, a martial arts specialized exorcist, nod.
“From what I heard, one bus driver and one general passenger died in this anomaly.”
“……”
“Someone ran here right after seeing a person die in front of their eyes to take the exam. Interesting, right?”
“Hmm.”
Exorcists are used to seeing colleagues’ deaths.
But a social newbie who hasn’t even joined yet has such mental strength.
“Isn’t it hard to judge just from that? Maybe he just didn’t think.”
“So, let’s watch for a bit. If he’s nothing special, he’ll fail the practical anyway.”
Han Sujin said while chuckling, still amused.
“And look at how he challenged us by saying he’ll enter. With that kind of mentality, maybe we can give him the chance?”
The subordinate nodded at her words.
Yeah, this exam is especially difficult. Surviving there would be fate.
Of course, such a thing won’t happen.
From the guy I saw just now, almost no spiritual power was felt.
Passing Cheonjihae’s exam, called the tomb of exorcists, at that level is impossible.
Especially in this test where geniuses are participating en masse.