Prepare a Hefty Sum for Your Life
"Did you see that, Lady Asin? Master?"
Jinhon looked at Noel and Asin with wide, blinking eyes.
-You are like a serpent. Did you watch all of this unfold, knowing the truth from the start?
"I didn't know the exact details. As you know, it's the business of the living, isn't it? The only information I can know with absolute certainty is that which pertains to the dead."
Jinhon cast a sly glance at Jang-yul's stepfather with a smirk playing on his lips.
'I knew it. That scent of death wasn't there for nothing.'
Noel stared intently at Jinhon.
No matter how common it was for a Grim Reaper to linger around someone on the brink of death, wasn't he crossing paths with this guy a bit too often?
-Wait a minute!
Yeong-hyeon clutched his head as if dizzy. Everything was moving so fast he couldn't keep up.
-...Are curses actually real?
-You and I exist, deities exist, and even a Grim Reaper stands before us. It is only natural that curses exist as well.
At Asin's firm response, Yeong-hyeon silently bit his lip.
It was a truly incomprehensible world. No, the more he learned, the more terrifying it became. He didn't know what else lay hidden out there, and he certainly didn't want to find out.
"...Master?"
Jang-yul quietly called out to Noel, who seemed to be talking to himself. He wondered what was actually there.
"Please bring Shin Jang-yul's father over."
Leaving those words behind, Noel turned and walked toward a seat further away. He couldn't very well have a conversation with Jinhon right here.
Once Asin lowered her sword, Jinhon approached.
"So?" Noel asked.
To Noel, it didn't seem like Jinhon had come here on purpose. The last time he had crossed paths with a Grim Reaper while taking Kkamang-i, it hadn't been Jinhon.
"Yes, sir! I am the substitute Grim Reaper who covers for Team Leader Jinhon when he is busy."
Since Jinhon had even gone to the trouble of finding a substitute, why would he come in person? It meant he intended to leave this matter to Noel anyway.
"Master. You're not angry, are you?"
"It was a coincidence, wasn't it?"
"It might be hard to believe, but it really was a coincidence."
Jinhon raised his hands in surrender once more.
"I know."
"As expected of you, Master!"
Jinhon fawned, looking as if he were about to shake a rattle like a loyal pet.
"Cut the act. Tell me what's going on."
"I've been investigating. Curses are rather troublesome for us as well. Even though they are committed by the living, we harbor deep concerns about whether they can be resolved solely within the realm of the living. After all, when a curse grows, it becomes a monster."
-As you say, the living often mistakenly refer to them as 'evil spirits.' Though they are not true ghosts, names hold great significance to all things. A monster can easily transform into a ghost.
At Asin's words, Jinhon pointed a finger in agreement.
"Exactly! That is the most troublesome part. They aren't even ghosts, yet they masquerade as them, corrupting other spirits with impurity. And if we cannot cleanse that impurity, we cannot guide those souls to the afterlife."
"So it's a bit of a gray zone?"
"You could say that, but it's a gray zone where it's still too ambiguous for us to intervene directly. That's why we've reached out to other shamans we cooperate with, but as you know, none of them can see or hear us as clearly as you do, Master."
"Why is that?"
At Noel's genuinely puzzled expression, Jinhon's mouth twitched slightly.
"Unlike in the past, genuine shamans are rapidly disappearing. In that sense, Master, you are truly extraordinary."
There was not a shred of falsehood in his words. Historically, shamans were the oldest allies of the afterlife, serving as bridges between the living and the dead.
Jinhon had once promised Noel that he would receive grand treatment after his death, and honestly, it couldn't be any other way. Noel possessed an incredibly potent blessing from the heavens.
'Though it is... rather peculiar.'
A different name existed in the Register of the Dead, yet it wasn't officially written down, nor was there a designated date of death. The more Jinhon looked at him, the more he wondered what kind of entity Noel truly was.
"To put it simply, you want me to handle the curse?"
Noel asked, pulling out a chair as he arrived at a suitable spot. Jinhon nodded eagerly.
"Yes, precisely. I have already scouted a good spot."
"Scouted what?"
"I've noticed this for a while, but spirits seem to be drawn to you much more easily, Master. If not for the formidable presence of your Guardian Deity, the ghosts swarming outside the bakery would have rushed you by now."
"Spot on."
But what could he do? It was the unwanted price paid by one born with the power of death.
"That's why I went to locate a sacred ancient tree on my way here. I dropped a few hints, so they will grant us a branch. If you fashion it into a rosary or prayer beads, minor spirits won't dare come near you. Oh, and the same goes for dark magic."
"Can you make at least two?"
One would be for Shin Hyeon. Noel had actually been growing a bit concerned lately. In his previous world, the thing ghosts excelled at most was blackmail, and their favorite tactic was targeting those close to their mark. Even if the spirits here seemed relatively docile, one could never be too careful.
"Of course. My intuition is incredibly sharp."
-Is it not merely that your tongue is exceptionally long?
At Asin's dry remark, Jinhon let out an awkward laugh and looked at her. Just hearing her speak made him feel as if his head might roll off his shoulders.
"You should go. Come back later. You're busy, aren't you?"
Noel smiled faintly. He had intended to deal with the curse anyway. He despised the sheer audacity of whatever had dared to bare its claws at him, in any shape or form. Such things needed to be utterly crushed. Only then would they never dare attempt it again.
"I am busy, yes."
"Then why aren't you leaving?"
Noel asked when Jinhon, who had looked ready to depart at any second, remained standing still.
"Well... my team member mentioned that you gave them a chocolate, Master. I was hoping that such a grace might be bestowed upon me as well, so I waited a moment... but it seems my turn has not come."
Just as Jinhon began to look embarrassed, Noel pulled a chocolate out of his pocket. Only then did the Grim Reaper's expression instantly brighten.
To Jinhon, it must have felt like encountering worldly food in the middle of ascetic training. Noel himself could no longer return to a life without fried chicken. It was a dish that belonged in a world of dreams.
"Thank you so much!"
Jinhon bowed deeply and finally vanished.
-If you gave him something even tastier, he'd probably faint.
Noel chuckled at Yeong-hyeon's dry observation.
"True enough."
Who would have thought Grim Reapers would be so weak to the food of the living?
Hearing footsteps, Noel turned his head. Jang-yul's stepfather, whom he had told Jang-yul to bring over, was not behind him.
"...Master. About the window earlier... is there really something here?"
"It's a curse."
Though momentarily bewildered by the word 'curse,' Jang-yul immediately placed a hand over his heart and spoke.
"I believe you, Master."
Evil spirits were real. Had he not suffered from one himself? Just remembering how horrific it had been was enough to make him feel nauseous.
So why wouldn't curses exist? They absolutely had to be real.
"Shin Jang-yul, your stepfather is the one who commissioned the curse. I suspect his target was you, but that's just my guess. We'll have to ask him for the details, won't we?"
"Does the person who commissioned the curse suffer consequences as well?"
"Of course. Nothing comes without a price. So bring him over. Whatever your relationship is, and whatever his reasons were, make good use of this opportunity. His life is on the line, after all."
Noel handed the reins over to Jang-yul. Just how terrible was their relationship for him to resort to a curse?
"Thank you, Master."
Jang-yul bowed. He understood perfectly what kind of opportunity Noel had handed him. It was a chance to legally bind his stepfather's hands.
Life.
Knowing exactly how heavy that word was, Jang-yul looked up with a serene smile.
"He is my stepfather."
After briefly stating the fact, Jang-yul headed toward him. What he needed to do was incredibly simple.
While the employees cleared away the shattered glass, his family members whispered among themselves about what had just transpired. There was no need to pay them any mind. One was trying to leech off him, while another was pointing a blade at his throat.
"...Jang-yul."
His stepfather approached with a displeased expression.
"Yes, Father."
"We all gathered here because you asked, but where on earth did you drag in a creature like that?"
'A creature like that?'
The smile on Jang-yul's lips twitched slightly. He had always known what kind of man his stepfather was.
"I know you haven't been in your right mind lately because of your illness, but I still think this is going too far."
Pretending to care.
"That man is a cultist. A fraud."
Pretending to be a loving father.
"Didn't you see what he did to us earlier? He just stretched out his hand and claimed it was over. I don't know how much longer we're supposed to play along with this nonsense. Just how much money did you throw away on a con artist like that?"
'He isn't even trying to walk on eggshells around me anymore.'
Jang-yul merely smiled. It was true that he had grown weak. But it was entirely unacceptable for his stepfather to speak that way about the Master, to whom Jang-yul owed a debt of gratitude he could never fully repay.
"...Dear."
His mother tugged at his stepfather's sleeve, trying to stop him.
"No, didn't you see it too? Just how sick must the boy be to act like this? Jang-yul, since you're busy, I will handle that man for you."
"Father."
"Yes?"
"Would you mind stepping over here for a moment?"
Jang-yul smiled serenely. Though his stepfather looked slightly uneasy at the request, he walked over to him.
"Father."
"Yes."
"I had no idea you were so deeply devoted to shamanism."
At the soft yet chilling words, his stepfather froze and stared at Jang-yul.
Jang-yul lightly tapped his own cheek.
"You need to control your expression. Isn't that what you always told me?"
Jang-yul resumed walking, and his stepfather's pace quickened to keep up, dryly swallowing.
"You called him 'a creature like that,' but the Master was kind enough to tell me exactly what you've been up to."
"...Ha. Jang-yul, why would I ever..."
"Unfortunately for you, the curse didn't work. And now, I hear that very curse is targeting your life instead. What do you plan to do?"
When Jang-yul turned his head slightly to look at him, his stepfather's face drained of all color. He clutched his throat, his fingertips trembling. There were far too many things coming to his mind right now.
"I can swear on my own name that the Master's abilities are genuine. Shall I introduce you to him? Or not?"
"Jang-yul..."
"All you have to do is drop the blade you've pointed at me. And bury whatever scheme you're currently preparing."
Jang-yul stepped closer to his stepfather and lowered his voice even further.
"This is my final warning to you as a family member. What will it be?"
"You... you must be joking..."
"Father, have you ever seen me joke? To be frank, I wouldn't feel the slightest bit of regret even if you died. In fact, I would gladly pray for your swift passage to the afterlife. I am only saying this because I worry for my mother."
"..."
"Fine. If you have something more precious to you than your own life, then by all means, proceed."
Jang-yul turned away and quickly walked back to Noel. If the man refused the opportunity handed to him, there was nothing more to be done.
"Wait!"
His stepfather hurriedly ran after Jang-yul.
"...Can you prove what you just said?"
"Why should I have to prove anything? I'm not the one with everything to lose here, Father. You are."
Jang-yul let out a dry chuckle. He had always known the man was shameless, but to act this brazen after casting a curse was truly something else.
"Wait. Jang-yul."
As the frantic voice drew nearer, Noel looked at the stepfather. The man's eyes still held doubt, but it was far less than before.
"You seem to have quite a substantial slush fund," Noel said, addressing him directly.
"What did you say...?"
The stepfather looked suspiciously between Noel and Jang-yul. Just what had Jang-yul told this shaman?
"You recently stored some gold bars. The safe is black. As for the password... ah, I'm not sure if I should say it out loud."
"H-how on earth do you..."
The stepfather was utterly aghast. That had happened just yesterday. And Jang-yul hadn't even been home because of his work.
"3-4-7-1. I'll stop there."
The moment the password left Noel's lips, the stepfather's shock turned into sheer, unadulterated terror. He understood exactly why Noel was revealing this.
The man slowly turned his gaze to Jang-yul. Jang-yul was smiling serenely.
Get ruined, or die.
If he didn't want either, he had to willingly put on a leash of his own accord.
Gasping for breath, the stepfather stared at Noel.
"Did you honestly think you'd get away scot-free after using dark magic? Or do I need to drag the bastard who cast it here by his hair for you to believe me?"
Surely, he had gotten the message by now.
-Kkamang-i really is amazing at this.
At Yeong-hyeon's praise, Noel also wore a satisfied expression.
'Of course he is.'
He decided to give Kkamang-i an extra Churu treat when they got back. The little spirit would probably go wild with joy again.
"Since you are the father of my precious client, I'll treat you well. Make sure you prepare a hefty sum for your life."
Noel lightly rubbed his thumb and index finger together.