Chapter 145
Chapter 145
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: The Assassins' Day Off
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Six out of the seven assassins of the Ghost-Slaying Soul Annihilators stepped outside.
From the First Ghost Soul all the way to the Seventh Ghost Soul.
The one missing from their ranks was the Sixth Ghost Soul, Sung-min.
"I'm sorry. I have to perform the prayers and rituals I missed for the past three days..."
Sung-min couldn't hide his regret.
As a high school student, he desperately wanted to tag along with the Ghost-Slaying Soul Annihilators on their outing.
But for someone who had received a divine descent, those three days—potentially his first and last—were utterly precious.
Even if he couldn't complete the full hundred-day prayer, offering them day and night without rest would surely strengthen his divine power.
"That's a shame."
Sung-min wasn't the only one feeling regretful.
It was one of the rare chances for all the Ghost-Slaying Soul Annihilators to build memories together.
Having even one of them absent felt like a loss to the rest of the assassin Ghost Souls.
But what could they do?
They couldn't force him, no matter how much they wished otherwise.
Understanding that it was a necessary time for Sung-min, the Ghost-Slaying Soul Annihilators swallowed their disappointment, reassured him not to worry, and headed out.
And so, in the alley in front of Yong-un's house...
"Whoa..."
Kim Gu, who had changed into casual clothes first, let out a gasp of admiration as the Ghost-Slaying Soul Annihilators emerged one by one.
The Ghost-Slaying Soul Annihilators didn't have a designated uniform.
Even so, they typically wore only black or white outfits devoid of any other colors, true to their assassin nature.
But the ones stepping out now were dressed in everyday casual wear where other colors took center stage, not black or white.
"Clothes really do make the person."
Kim Gu couldn't help but marvel.
'Is it because they're hunters? Their style... whoa...'
Myung-su came out first, followed by Barum and then Cheon-il.
Even the youngest, Cheon-il, had well-defined muscles from years of training that made his clothes shine.
Myung-su, who always wore suits or black assassin garb, now sported skinny jeans and a white shirt with a red rose embroidered on the left chest, looking like a completely different person.
"This feels uncomfortable."
Myung-su, Barum, and Cheon-il gave awkward expressions amid Kim Gu's praise.
But that lasted only a moment.
Screeech.
The front door opened once more.
"......"
This time, even words of admiration failed to come.
Kim Gu's mouth fell wide open.
Mu-hee and the Poison Witch, being led out hand-in-hand, completely shattered Kim Gu's expectations.
"Mu-hee unnie...? Is this really okay? The bottom is wide open—how do you even walk around in this?"
The Poison Witch, uncomfortable in her casual clothes, blushed and fiddled with her half-exposed black skirt and off-shoulder top like someone who had thrown them on haphazardly.
Meanwhile, Mu-hee wore a short beige skirt, a crisp white blouse, a black choker and bracelets around her neck and wrists, and finally a wide-brimmed beige hat resembling a straw one.
"Ah..."
Kim Gu, mouth agape, couldn't tear his eyes away.
"What's wrong? Does it look weird?"
Mu-hee smiled brightly at his expression.
"W-Well..."
Kim Gu's face flushed under her smile.
Unable to continue, the Poison Witch scowled, her own face red.
"I knew it. Unnie! This is underwear, not clothes. No way! I'm changing!"
She spun around to head back inside.
Kim Gu flinched at the sight.
'They're perfect! I knew they were pretty, but this much...'
He knew they had great figures.
But the assassin outfits had hidden the details.
Now, in these revealing clothes, a phrase he had never uttered before sprang to mind unbidden.
'She'll captivate every guy there.'
Screeech.
As the front door opened and the Poison Witch tried to retreat inside...
Kim Gu clenched his fists.
A sense of mission hardened his dazed expression.
'If I let her go back now... the blessing for all the guys at our destination today will vanish.'
I have to stop her!
Whoosh!
Kim Gu blocked the Poison Witch's path into the open door.
"What the—?"
The Poison Witch frowned.
Normally, Kim Gu would have shrunk back, but not today.
"You look beautiful!"
He threw his shoulders back and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"What?"
She kept frowning.
The same tone as before came out.
But her expression had shifted slightly.
Before, it had been pure "What the hell are you?" Now, it seemed like she was seeking confirmation: "For real?"
"In my humble opinion, all the Ghost Souls look amazing... but today's stars are definitely you two! No need to change!"
Kim Gu bowed deeply.
"W-What are you talking about?"
The Poison Witch flustered.
"Hee!"
Mu-hee beamed with delight.
"I hate it! Move!"
The Poison Witch shoved at Kim Gu, trying to force her way in.
But Kim Gu's bold stand wasn't in vain.
Thud. Whoosh.
Mu-hee grabbed both the Poison Witch's shoulders, spun her around forcibly, and shoved her out the door.
The Poison Witch, stumbling out, glared at Mu-hee.
"Unnie!"
"You heard him. We're the stars today."
"Unnie...?"
"More importantly, you might want to think about what you're wearing."
Mu-hee's gaze scanned the awkwardly posed Poison Witch from top to bottom.
Then it locked on one spot.
"...Eek!"
The Poison Witch hastily straightened up and covered herself with both hands.
In that moment, Mu-hee subtly turned her head to glance at Kim Gu still inside the door.
"What are you doing? Aren't you our guide today?"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
Kim Gu snapped to attention like a raw recruit and bellowed.
As Kim Gu stepped out, Mu-hee shut the door to prevent the Poison Witch from sneaking back in.
Gripping the door handle tight, she flashed a meaningful smile.
"Today's definitely going to work."
She licked her lips and turned slowly with an enigmatic expression.
"Let's go~"
"Yes! Right this way!"
At Mu-hee's words, Kim Gu strode ahead with a booming voice.
The first chapter of their everyday life, just like anyone else's, had only just begun.
"This... is definitely supposed to be fun for normal people, right?"
Mu-hee's smile cracked.
Kim Gu's smile, facing hers, began to crack as well.
"You see, there are a lot of people here. Before meeting friends back in the day, we always..."
The first stop on the Ghost-Slaying Soul Annihilators' everyday life tour was none other than an arcade.
These days, with PC bangs everywhere, people flocked there instead, but the original was the arcade.
Kim Gu had tons of memories here.
Bad ones, like getting robbed by scary older guys,
And good ones, like winning tournaments against ten players solo.
That's why, brimming with excitement, he brought the Ghost Soul assassins here to share similar memories.
'But...'
He had overlooked one crucial fact.
All the Ghost-Slaying Soul Annihilators were...
Monsters who far transcended human limits.
"This is fun?"
In the basketball game where you tossed balls into a hoop, they flew in like the hoop had a mind of its own, sucked straight in on descent.
Naturally, top scores across the board.
"T-That's how it's supposed to..."
"Why is this one so weak?"
Punching the pendulum-like ball for points had shattered the high score machine entirely.
"N-Normal people usually..."
"Hyung, this is boring."
The motorcycle simulator at high speeds hit max score while they yawned.
"Other people get scores like..."
"This one's meh too."
The coin-op machines cleared bosses in record time, only to find them dull.
"It's not supposed to be like this..."
With each failure, Kim Gu's face grew longer.
Memories should stay memories.
Forgetting their superhuman physiques meant no memories—just boredom.
But then.
"Oh? This one's kinda decent."
Just as the day threatened to become a total disaster!
Myung-su tossed out a comment that drew everyone's attention.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The game in the center of the arcade had captured Myung-su's heart.
A wide, flat table held a thin, round puck.
Plastic rails around the edge kept it from flying off.
The rules were simple.
Using a round plastic mallet—like a sword hilt detached—hit the puck across the table into the opposite hole.
Just smack it lightly into the far goal to win.
But Myung-su's game transcended simplicity into another dimension.
Tik. Tok. Tik-tik.
"N-No, this game isn't supposed to be like..."
Kim Gu watched in horror.
Normally, you chased the puck, defending and attacking for fun.
But Myung-su moved with superhuman dynamic vision and speed, the puck a blur.
'Who the hell is he playing...'
No one on Myung-su's side.
But the mallet there moved on its own, matching his blistering pace.
As confusion mounted over the empty opponent side...
"Yes!"
In a blink, Myung-su racked up points.
And Kim Gu figured it out.
"I-It supports online matches!?"
[Gangnam Player VS Myeongdong Player] 5 : 3
"He even beat the First Ghost Soul in three rounds?"
Kim Gu's eyes bulged as he stared through the screen.
A crowd gathered around the massive arcade in Myeong-dong.
Standing before an identical machine, facing off against the First Ghost Soul Myung-su, was a familiar figure.
"I'll win this."
Sword Tiger, leader of the Demon Dragon Squad.
He fumed and cheered over a mere game.
"L-Leader?"
Just then, Sword Tiger gave up points.
"Why call me! I lost!"
"Is it fun, sir? Actually, this game is normally..."
"It's fun. I'm realizing blood can boil outside of battle too."
He fished the puck out of his goal and set it down.
Then slapped it hard, restarting the rally.
"Who could possibly match Leader like this..."
Jin-mo, on forced vacation like the Ghost-Slaying Soul Annihilators, stared blankly at the screen text.
"Gangnam Player? Talent in Gangnam?"
"Argh... ate another one!"
No one knew until the end.
That Gangnam Player was Myung-su, and Myeongdong Player was Sword Tiger.
"Whew, doesn't matter anyway. The real game starts two hours from now, after sunset."
"Whew, good thing we can kill time. Hurry up, evening!"
Kim Gu, who recommended Gangnam, and Jin-mo, who suggested Myeong-dong.
Each nurtured dreams of everyday fun in their spots, intently watching the impossibly fast game.