Enter King Yeomra!
Ye-yun had said she wanted to watch over her disciples a little longer.
Since there was still time before the bakery's construction was complete anyway, Noel told her to stay there until he called for her.
—Are we returning now?
Tam-rang asked, his voice heavy.
"Of course. We have to go home. So, what do you think of it?"
At Noel's question, Tam-rang narrowed his eyes.
What was he supposed to say?
—Must I... answer that?
"If you don't have a reason to answer yet, you don't have to. For now, just watch."
Since Tam-rang had been trapped in a small world for a very long time, the wider world must still feel unfamiliar to him.
He needed time to adjust.
"Sir!"
When Jinhon materialized amidst a plume of black smoke, Asin narrowed her eyes.
—Is it you again?
Jinhon flinched at Asin's voice and gaze, hesitating to step closer.
—Hello!
"Reaper Jinhon."
But Kkamang-i and Noel greeted him warmly.
Just as Jinhon was scurrying over to Noel, his gaze shifted.
"Huh?"
His eyes landed on Tam-rang.
As Jinhon's eyes narrowed in scrutiny, Tam-rang lowered his head and averted his gaze.
"You have another companion I haven't seen before? Who might they be... I feel like I almost recognize them, yet not quite?"
Jinhon tilted his head in confusion, but suddenly flinched and looked back at a voice coming through his wireless earbud.
Ahem.
"Sir."
Jinhon's expression had stiffened.
What was going on?
"Yes?"
"Do you... have a moment?"
"I have time, sure. Did something happen?"
Noel looked at him, anticipating some lucrative opportunity.
Deals with Grim Reapers were usually quite profitable.
"You remember the scapegoat incident from a while ago, right?"
Jinhon was referring to the case involving Hwaran, the god-class spirit.
Noel nodded.
"I remember."
"...Right now, my superior is here. Would it be possible for you to meet him?"
"Your superior?"
"......Yes."
Jinhon swallowed hard as he answered.
Jinhon's superior...
Noel recalled what Jinhon had mentioned back then.
King Yeomra...?
—Has King Yeomra himself descended?
Asin asked in astonishment.
How?
That question immediately swirled in her mind.
This was the realm of the living.
King Yeomra was a deity belonging to the underworld.
It should be incredibly difficult for him to cross over to the mortal realm.
"Could we... move to another location?"
Jinhon looked at Asin and Noel with an expression that was practically begging.
"But why is he here? Was that incident really that big of a deal?"
Noel's eyes widened.
Jinhon had said he would report it to his superior, King Yeomra, but a report was one thing—was it really worth a personal visit?
It wasn't even a true god, just a god-class spirit who had been suppressed for a few days. It felt like a massive overreaction.
"It is a huge deal. A lone shaman is not supposed to be able to suppress a god."
"Ah, so you talked about me, then? I thought we were on the same side."
When Noel stared at him intently, Jinhon's shoulders flinched.
"Reports... must be made completely truthfully, without a single lie. But I swear, I spoke entirely in your favor, Sir! I told him how amazing you are! That you are the most magnificent person I have ever met in my entire life as a Reaper!"
Tam-rang let out a scoff of disbelief at Jinhon's blatant flattery.
—Has the order of the underworld collapsed of late? To think a Reaper would flatter a living mortal so.
No matter how fascinating and bizarre Noel's powers were, he was still a living human.
Living humans eventually died, and once they became souls, the very first beings they encountered were the Grim Reapers.
How could they send someone so easily swayed?
Surely, departed souls would normally tremble in terror before a Reaper.
Yet here Jinhon was, unable to even look Noel straight in the eye, practically bowing in supplication.
"...Sir. Was that gentleman locked up somewhere until recently?"
Jinhon leaned in and whispered softly to Noel.
It had been ages since things had changed.
Decades had already passed.
It hadn't changed overnight, but rather gradually over time.
The underworld had its laws, but the uprisings of angry souls were always a terrifying thing.
"Perhaps he misses the old days?"
When Noel played dumb, Jinhon nodded in agreement.
"They are missed, indeed. Back then, souls listened so well. But now... sigh, it's just too difficult. Please, Sir, just keep doing what you're doing. You will surely go to a good place when your time comes."
"I can't tell if that's a blessing or a curse."
Telling a living person they would "go to a good place" was practically an insult.
Noel kept his expression neutral.
"It's a blessing! Living mortals usually don't realize there is life after death, do they? So some of them live recklessly, but their afterlife is miserable in direct proportion to the weight of their sins. The punishments last for an eternity, with the basic unit of time being hundreds of years. But you, Sir, already know what lies beyond death."
Jinhon grinned broadly.
"I do. I'm doing a good job, right?"
"Of course! I cannot express how grateful we are. Just calming the wrath of a god was an incredible feat."
"I suppose there have been other times when things went wild?"
Noel asked casually.
Since Tam-rang had been cast down from his position as a Seven Star God, he wondered if Jinhon might know something about it.
"Oh, yes. Let's see, the most recent major one was about a hundred and fifty years ago. The villagers offered a human sacrifice, which enraged the local deity. That deity punished everyone involved."
"So what happened?"
"Mortals have no way of withstanding a god's curse. They all died of indirect causes. The local deity was punished too, of course, but we were the ones who suffered the most. The paperwork alone was a nightmare, and since they all died at once through various means, we had to manipulate the memories of the living to minimize chaos... Whew, it was horrific."
Jinhon wore a look of pure misery.
He looked like the physical embodiment of every overworked employee's deep-seated resentment.
"What was the deity's punishment?"
Noel was curious to know how severe a punishment would be for something like that.
"They were placed under house arrest for several decades, forbidden from descending to the village."
"That was it?"
"Indeed. The sin of human sacrifice was far greater, after all. The local deity had accumulated plenty of merit over the years, so it was only fair to reduce the sentence."
Wait. Then just how massive was Tam-rang's sin?
Noel glanced sideways at Tam-rang, who was once again crouching in a far corner.
What on earth had he done to be stripped of his title as a Seven Star God?
"Back when I was a rookie, an incredibly massive incident occurred..."
Jinhon trailed off.
He froze completely, stiffening at the voice coming through his underworld-issue wireless earbud.
"I-I am on my way! I will be there right away!"
Seeing Jinhon snap to attention and practically screech in panic, Noel decided he would have to ask about it next time.
"Sir... shall we go?"
Please.
Jinhon looked at Noel with desperate pleading in his eyes.
"Since such an esteemed guest has arrived, we should head over."
The place Jinhon led them to required a taxi ride.
It looked like an antique market, and Noel had no idea why they were coming here.
I didn't expect to drop by here like this.
It was a place he definitely had to visit at least once to buy items for the second floor of his bakery.
He had already paid a deposit at the bakery equipment store.
The remaining balance was to be paid after the interior construction was finished and the equipment was installed.
Even though he had expected it, seeing a figure in the tens of thousands of dollars made his heart ache.
—Why are we coming here?
Asin asked Jinhon.
The energy permeating the surroundings was indeed quite pleasant.
"Ah, from what I know, this place is filled with items blessed with good fortune."
Noel's ears perked up at Jinhon's words.
To think he would get a verified recommendation like this.
A place recommended by a Grim Reaper had to be the real deal.
"My superior is a high-ranking deity, is he not? His divine presence is too heavy to manifest easily in the mortal realm. That is why the surrounding environment is crucial. In a place with many auspicious items, they help support that weight, making it much easier for him to manifest."
—A deity of his stature would rarely manifest for ordinary matters. Did you personally scour the area to find a suitable location for this occasion?
At Asin's gentle voice, Jinhon, who was walking ahead, felt a sudden surge of emotion and looked back at her.
To think there was a deity who actually understood his plight!
"...Yes. It was so difficult that I almost regretted reporting it in the first place. It's not like a location like this just pops up out of nowhere."
—How pitiful,
Asin murmured, looking at him with genuine sympathy, despite her usual distaste for Jinhon.
...I brushed it off at first, but seeing this, it really is a bit terrifying.
Even Noel felt a pang of pity.
Just what kind of sin had Jinhon committed to be driven to this?
The Grim Reaper was truly the perfect testament to the terrors of the underworld.
—Noel.
Kkamang-i called out, blinking as it snuggled in Asin's arms.
"What is it?"
—Can I go look around for a bit?
"Is that alright?"
Noel asked Jinhon.
"Yes. Our business today isn't with the prospective divine beast, after all. A brief excursion should be fine."
"He says a quick look is fine."
As soon as Noel relayed Jinhon's permission, Kkamang-i scrambled out of Asin's arms.
"Kkamang-i."
—Huh?
The little creature paused mid-step and looked back at Noel.
"Don't cause any trouble, and don't touch anything."
Kkamang-i's eyes darted slightly to the side.
That was definitely the telltale sign of an impending disaster.
—...Okay,
Kkamang-i squeaked in a tiny voice before dashing off in a hurry.
—Those were undoubtedly the eyes of mischief,
Asin observed suspiciously.
"Right?"
Noel replied casually, then turned his gaze to Tam-rang.
When their eyes met, Tam-rang's gaze practically screamed his refusal.
But a refusal was just a refusal.
"I'm counting on you."
At Noel's words, Tam-rang bit his lip and glared at him.
He had sworn upon his divine name to wear the collar solely to suppress the plague goddess's energy.
Pushing him close to that human named Cheol-min earlier was one thing, but this too?
This was a blatant breach of contract!
Yet, spurred by a sharp tingle around his neck, Tam-rang couldn't stop his feet from moving reflexively as he chased after Kkamang-i.
—Did you send him away on purpose?
Asin asked Noel in a low voice.
Noel nodded.
If even Jinhon, a mere Grim Reaper, had found Tam-rang's presence puzzling, there was no telling how he would appear before King Yeomra.
King Yeomra might also find him puzzling, but we can't take any chances.
Since Tam-rang was a fallen Seven Star God, he was quite famous; someone of King Yeomra's stature might recognize him instantly.
Honestly, it wouldn't be the end of the world if he found out, but now is not the time.
Until he knew the exact reason why King Yeomra wanted to see him, he needed to maintain a good relationship.
Tam-rang could complicate things.
Of course, he was also concerned about Kkamang-i wandering off alone.
Is there something here?
With that thought, Noel followed Jinhon, who had resumed walking, and navigated the market alleys.
How long had they been walking?
Just as he estimated about seven minutes had passed, Noel's eyes darted busily from left to right.
...Whoa, there really are a lot.
The entire street seemed to be overflowing with good fortune.
Noel, who had been smiling as he eyed the tempting items, suddenly froze as a prickling sensation washed over the back of his neck.
Huh...?
It felt almost like bloodlust.
It was baffling, considering he hadn't made any enemies who would bear such a grudge.
Something was approaching.
—Stay where you are,
Asin commanded.
Interrupting her conversation with Jinhon, she stared directly at a specific spot.
Whatever it was, it possessed an incredibly wicked energy.
"Oh dear, Guardian Deity, Sir. Please leave this to me. It seems my subordinates let one slip through."
Jinhon bowed apologetically and began fiddling with his watch.
"What do you mean, 'one'?"
Just as Noel asked, something long and writhing emerged from Jinhon's watch. He swung it with lightning speed.
It was an incredibly long whip.
Crack!
With a sharp, resounding snap, the approaching entity let out a piercing shriek.
Just hearing the sound made Noel wince at how painful it must have been.
"Vengeful spirits that belong in hell occasionally escape. Just a moment."
Jinhon tapped his wireless earbud.
"Hey. Get over here and take this rogue spirit back. And keep your eyes peeled."
After contacting his subordinate, Jinhon released the binding.
Watching the cord whip around and bind the spirit securely, Jinhon bowed deeply to Noel and Asin.
"I apologize for this uncouth disturbance."
"That's fine, but how do things that are supposed to be in hell manage to escape?"
Noel wore a puzzled expression.
"Well, living mortals sometimes perform devil-summoning rituals or ghost-calling ceremonies. As if devils actually exist in this world! But when those rituals occasionally succeed, they tear open a rift in the underworld. The spirits slip right through..."
Jinhon stopped mid-explanation.
An incredibly heavy, dense, and sharp energy suddenly surged toward them.
As Jinhon broke out in a cold sweat, even Noel was taken aback.
He couldn't remember the last time he had felt such a vast, overwhelming presence.
"H-He has arrived."
Every trace of a smile vanished from Jinhon's face.
Noel could only imagine how terrified he must be now that his ultimate boss had personally arrived.
"This way."
Jinhon turned toward a shop.
Before entering, he slapped something onto the door.
It looked like a simple piece of paper, but it was inscribed with highly complex characters.
Yeomra... what?
Just as Noel's brow furrowed, Asin spoke up.
—It reads: 'King Yeomra Audience Coupon.'
🎟️ King Yeomra Audience Coupon 🎟️
"...Huh?"
—Indeed, it does.
Asin also let out a dry chuckle, seemingly dumbfounded.
"Is this even allowed?"
—It appears to be a single-use item. If that is the only way to facilitate a meeting, what choice is there? Mind your words and actions even more carefully than usual.
"I know, I know."
As Noel offered a bright smile, Asin watched him with a slightly skeptical expression.
In truth, the only deities Noel had treated with any real respect so far were Jebi and the Mountain God.
She had witnessed with her own eyes how he treated other gods.
—Will you truly be alright?
"Of course, of course. I'm actually quite good at playing the social game."
Noel walked inside with absolute confidence, but Asin could not hide the deep anxiety etched across her face.
She was truly worried.
The interior of the shop was filled with wooden carvings.
Though it looked like an ordinary store and no one had touched a thing, thick smoke billowed through the air.
Seeing Jinhon bowing deeply toward the source of the smoke, Noel could immediately tell that King Yeomra was right there.
"Haha. There is nothing to fear, so you need not be tense."
A voice echoed—benevolent, yet carrying a strange, passionate energy.
It was also incredibly deep and booming.
"I wonder if my employee guided you properly. I was waiting so long I thought I might have to start playing cat's cradle to pass the time."
Jinhon's face turned utterly pale at King Yeomra's words.
"It's a joke, a joke!"
King Yeomra laughed heartily, and Jinhon forced an awkward chuckle to match.
"Ha... ha... ha..."
"Hello, King Yeomra."
—It is an honor to meet you.
Noel and Asin bowed toward King Yeomra.
"I half-expected to be showered with curses for such a sudden request, so I am exceedingly pleased to be greeted so warmly. Could you wait just a moment—say, five seconds? It has been a while since I last manifested, so this... whew, it is not going very smoothly."
After a series of clattering noises, the smoke gradually dissipated, and King Yeomra finally revealed himself.
"......"
As Noel stared blankly at the figure emerging from the smoke, Asin quickly reached out and clamped her hand over his mouth.
...You must not laugh.
Pfft.
But when a muffled snicker escaped Noel anyway, Asin looked at King Yeomra in sheer panic.