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Being a Reaper doesn’t mean erasing every memory.
Reapers who awakened as children and were trained, unlike those dragged straight to the battlefield upon Awakening, have memories that never fade.
Namely, the moments of training and practice.
Personal memories formed during that period vanish, but martial arts, magic, and weapon-use knowledge remain intact.
It was the greatness and terror of mind-manipulation magic.
‘This can’t be….’
Seonhwa saw Selena in Nana.
Their height and hair color differed, but their features and aura were similar.
Especially the disdainful, bug-eyed look that belittled others was identical.
Seonhwa had been classified as a divine-power-type Awakener long ago and underwent training.
She couldn’t clearly recall the faces of fellow students from that time, but the instructor’s face was vivid.
Selena, who appeared in all kinds of drills, felt especially familiar.
The last saint.
Mother Selena.
People thought the title “Mother” before her name was out of respect, but that wasn’t the case at all.
Those in the same field knew.
Her real nickname wasn’t Mother Selena but Mother Fxxker Selena.
“Give me a beat, you idiots. Never seen a celebrity before?”
The attendants showed bewilderment at Nana’s words.
What disrespect is this while the young master is in critical condition?
They expected angry Seonhwa to unleash a torrent of curses and stared at her.
With a tense face she only swallowed.
Like a mouse before a cat.
“Sister…?”
When Seongyu called cautiously, Seonhwa nodded.
“Do as she asks…”
“Huh? Are you serious?”
“Yes… Didn’t you hear from the Turtle Ship… that woman healed the wounded… she might be able to fix the young master too…”
“That may be, but…”
“Hey, bald guy.”
Nana flicked the blood on her hand toward Seongyu’s face.
“Aren’t you laying the beat yet?”
“Huh, huh—bald? It’s a shaved head!”
Seongyu said, annoyed.
To him, Nana was just a singer who performed in the city.
Famous only in the city, she was nothing compared to seasoned Reapers elsewhere.
And yet such a woman dared tell him, a top-tier Reaper, to play a drum.
He wanted to ignore her but had no choice but to follow Seonhwa’s orders.
“Well then…”
He swallowed his complaints and returned to his place.
He nodded at the attendants sharing his expression.
He lifted the drumstick and struck hard.
Doon! Dudung- Doon! Dudung-
The rhythm matched exactly the one Seonhwa used during ritual music.
Other attendants layered janggu, gongs, daegeum, and piri over it.
Nana swayed her body.
Soon she frowned and flicked her fingers.
“Raise the tempo! BPM over 140! Hey! You two, split the rhythm in half! You guys, play lighter!”
Doon! Tak- Doon! Dududongtak!-
It became completely different from before.
The clamor diminished and the rhythm grew more refined.
Where it had once sounded like ritual folk music, it now felt like music for dancing on a stage.
The magic circles and talismans on the floor felt like props for a performance.
“…….“
Seonhwa stared at Nana dumbfounded while supporting Baek Ho.
Nana moved her body to the beat.
Lightly at times, fiercely at others.
Her arms sliced the air to the janggu’s fast rhythm, and her slender waist waved and turned to the daegeum’s melody.
Her quick footwork over the magic circle matched the jaunty sound of the gongs.
She began to sing as she floated around Baek Ho and Seonhwa.
“Look at the fallen me—look at the ugly me—♬”
A gentle black light flowed from her body along with her sweet voice.
It coated her skin like a glass film reflecting candlelight, leaving afterimages that followed her movements.
It slowly wrapped around Baek Ho.
“Th-this light…”
Seonhwa touched the light.
She opened her eyes wide and checked Baek Ho in her arms.
The blood flowing from his face stopped.
The dark red veins that covered his body faded away.
“Is that…”
“A Reaper healing a human?”
“Huh… can this be possible…”
Unlike the attendants, Seonhwa understood.
Her memories of the priestess convent let her recognize it instantly and be certain.
This was divine power.
A pure miracle she thought she’d never see again.
What god could still be reaching out to humanity?
“Shooting star—Crazy star—I am the fallen star—the worthless star—♬”
Regardless of the attendants’ reactions, Nana’s performance continued.
Like a famous idol, she was in her element.
“Huh…”
Seonhwa was unsettled.
An Undead wielding divine power.
History said it was impossible.
Except for one person.
‘Kid, what’s your dream?’
Selena’s voice flashed through her mind.
It was during the first interview at the priestess convent.
‘I’ll become a Death Knight and contribute my body to humanity’s victory.’
‘Boring. Did you get an Ai planted too?’
‘Sorry. Is there another required answer?’
‘Kid, the dream I mean isn’t a grandiose goal or something that’ll inevitably happen. It’s something you want to become or try. Like romance or sex….’
Her memory cut off there once.
‘Then teacher, did you achieve your dream?’
‘I messed up. So I’m aiming for a next life.’
‘Next life… ?’
‘I know, I know. Why’s a little one so practical?’
‘Sorry. Then may I ask what your dream is?’
Selena tapped her plump lips and answered.
‘An idol. A top-tier idol.’
‘What? H-how….’
‘I like people’s attention. I’m confident in singing.’
’…….’
‘If I’m going to die, I’ll at least get all the attention I can. I’ll die striking a ridiculously sexy pose in front of everyone. How about it—wouldn’t that be awesome?’
Selena achieved her dream.
She truly died amid intense public attention.
In the historical photo she looked like she was prostrate in prayer, but Seonhwa, her disciple, knew better.
Arms stretched out and a back curved like a bow.
Hips raised upward.
It was the yoga pose she practiced alone while telling students to self-study—the so-called cat pose.
That’s why Seonhwa’s reaction to Selena’s last photo was a mix of sorrow and a wry chuckle.
“Psycho…”
“If you keep provoking me, you’ll see then—completely insane woman—♬”
—
I had a lot from birth.
The wealth of the Seven Great Corporations. The prestige of the Seven Great Families.
The title of being the grandson of the savior who invented the Reaper and the son of the hero called the greatest among commanders.
In contrast, I lacked talent.
Unlike other family members, I didn’t awaken black magic power early.
So much so that I didn’t feel black magic power even by my graduation year at the Superhuman Academy.
If I’d been an Awakener from an ordinary family, I’d have given up long ago and prepared to become a Reaper.
But having so much meant I had a lot to protect.
I couldn’t become a Reaper, so I had to rely on the elder Necromancers’ help.
Those old beasts who’d survived since the Hunter era.
‘Tsk tsk, blood doesn’t lie, does it.’
One old man told me.
That I had great talent.
That in the past I would have become a Hunter to leave a mark on history.
It was not praise but a curse.
‘You don’t fit being a Necromancer.’
After that, I was taken by the elders to a large windowless room and confined.
They called it the ‘Trauma Room.’
On the first day an old man brought ten people before me and said.
‘Kill them.’
They said not to worry since they were Undead.
When I hesitated, they used black magic power to injure the people.
They tormented them cruelly before my eyes.
Killing them felt like helping.
After that, countless Undead came to my Trauma Room every day.
I killed them daily.
Once when I refused, the Undead knelt and begged me.
Begging me to kill them.
Claiming their death was necessary for their families to live.
So I killed them.
‘Is this not enough? Increase the intensity.’
This time an old woman visited.
Afterwards, the Undead corpses in my Trauma Room weren’t cleared.
They began to pile up like a mountain.
‘You’re needlessly soft-hearted….’
‘I have a good method. It’s been verified.’
After the hunchback old man and the full-plastic-surgery old man visited.
People who were not Undead were brought into the Trauma Room.
Some were said to be Awakeners who would become Reapers, others criminals destined to turn into Undead.
So they told me to kill without remorse.
They said the memories would be erased anyway.
Contrary to their calm words, the eyes of those awaiting death were full of terror.
They carried resentment and hatred toward me.
‘Tsk tsk… a terrible dunce.’
‘Isn’t his vessel too large? As you know, that child’s body contains….’
‘Ahem, watch your words.’
‘Leave this one to me. I have a strong stimulant to break his mind.’
The day after the five old beasts blustered before me.
Around the 200th day of my confinement.
While I sat dazed, clutching a blood-soaked dagger as usual, a familiar face approached.
A friend I made for the first time in my life.
It was Frank.
’…Y-you crazy bastard! What are you doing coming here! Get out! Get out right now!’
‘Baek Ho.’
Frank’s voice was calm.
‘Anna died yesterday.’
’…What do you mean? She died?’
‘Car accident.’
’…….’
‘She awakened as a Reaper today and remembers nothing. Neither you nor I.’
‘Th-that can’t be…’
Shocked by the death of my girlfriend, Frank told me.
‘The autopilot was hacked. It’s not an accident, it’s murder.’
’…….’
‘The police won’t even investigate. There’s only one kind of case like this—when the perpetrator is a high-ranking Necromancer.’
‘Could it be… because of me… no, right?’
‘Who knows.’
Frank looked around.
He saw the heap of corpses nearby and the dagger in my hand.
He stepped in the slick blood on the floor with a slosh and slowly raised a corner of his mouth.
‘Next might be me, right?’
‘Fuck… this is insane… everyone’s gone mad! No one is sane!’
Frank grabbed my shoulders and pinned me.
With his usual easy smile he put the pistol beside him into my hand.
He made me point it at his forehead.
Weakened, I couldn’t shake off Frank’s grip.
‘Let go! Put it down!’
‘Baek Ho.’
‘Shut up! You bastard! Get out of my sight right now!’
‘Do you remember what I told you the day we first met?’
He made a fist-bump gesture with his other hand.
Just like that day.
‘You said you don’t have a mother, right? I don’t either.’
‘You crazy bastard… get lost….’
‘Baek Ho.’
Despite his flat voice, Frank’s pupils shook violently.
‘I don’t want to forget my mom. If I die like this… I’ll forget everything, won’t I?’
‘Who’s going to die, you crazy bastard… put that down now….’
‘Just one favor. If I resurrect, show people my mom’s photo and tell them she didn’t abandon me. Tell them she did her best… I know it’s impossible, but you can do it.’
‘Fuck… stop the bullshit….’
‘See you outside. Friend.’
Bang!
That day I awakened black magic power.
Bathed in Frank’s blood.
I lost consciousness and woke up to the five old beasts praising themselves around me.
They were congratulating one another and plotting what to scrounge from Yeomra Corporation.
I told them.
Shut your mouths.
Take Frank’s corpse from Yeomra, I said.
If they stopped me, I’d dry up and kill the seed implanted in my body.
I raved with a knife to my heart.
‘How did you know about that thing!’
‘How dare you threaten us!’
‘Calm down everyone. Baek Ho, put the knife down. That’s not something you should touch. It’s humanity’s hope.’
The elder Necromancers didn’t touch Frank’s corpse.
They also kept their promise not to meddle in my life.
Because I knew of the entity inside my body.
“So. Is that the thing?”
Above the black lake.
A black tiger stood beside me and spoke.
Sangun, the Black Tiger.
The black divine beast I contracted with second.
Smaller than before or perhaps because a tiger seemed familiar, it wasn’t very intimidating.
At first meeting I could barely breathe, but now there was no thrill.
“You’re putting on airs. It’s because I’ve devoted myself to your abyss. You’re the one wishing me to look like this. How presumptuous for a human to think so.”
“It’s pretty unpleasant having my thoughts read.”
“I’m more disgusted that I contracted with a weakling like you.”
“When did you enjoy it before?”
“Ahem, so what is that object?”
Sangun raised a forepaw and pointed to the stone pillar in the middle of the black lake.
The fluffy fur on its paw looked rather appealing.
“Ap-appealing? Do you truly want to die…”
“I don’t know what that is either.”
I turned my gaze and looked at the pillar.
About the height of two train cars set vertically.
It was embedded in the black lake, its smooth surface etched with unknown characters.
“That it’s an ancient human treasure divided among the Seven Great Families, somehow lodged in my heart, and feared by the elder Necromancers—something like that?”
“So this was why they coveted your heart so much.”
“You don’t know either?”
“I don’t.”
“Divine beasts aren’t anything special either.”
“…….“
“Just kidding.”
I stroked Sangun’s head.
It was as soft as I’d expected.
“Grr… again, this is just an illusion created by your mental image. It is far removed from my true form.”
“Uh huh.”
“So why summon me in a place like this? To show me that? Or to make me hear your story I don’t even care about?”
“You roughly know. That I’m dying.”
“I know.”
“Save me quickly.”
“…….“
“Now you’re trying to backtrack?”
The contract I made when I first met Sangun through X’s introduction.
If I were to die without great power, we’d meet in my mind’s gap and it would help me.
Though there would be a price.
“Of course. I’ll do as you wish.”
“Clear enough.”
“Naturally. For divine beasts, contracts are more precious than life. It’s an essential virtue to become a higher being.”
“Hmm….”
Now that it came so easily, a nagging unease washed over me.
“Why are you helping?”
“Even when you offer help, you bitch about it. Tsk… You’re my contracted one I haven’t seen in a while—wouldn’t it be a waste to just eat you? Simply put, you’re a grow-and-eat pet.”
“Grow-and-eat? What’s that?”
“Tsk tsk, it means raise you up to eat later. You human don’t even know that?”
I didn’t know who the last contractor was, but it wasn’t pleasant.
“Clear it away.”
Sangun used its forepaw to push my hand off its head.
It lifted its head and stared at me.
Small in size, its gaze still brimmed with predator dignity.
“Let me ask one thing too.”
“What?”
“Why do you sacrifice yourself to help the dead? They’re dead bodies anyway.”
“Who knows.”
In Sangun’s stare there was a thick, gritty feeling.
I could read its thoughts.
“Hmm… atonement… rather than that, you’re quite chivalrous. Or you have other reasons you haven’t shown me.”
“Bullshit. I just do it because it irritates me and feels wrong.”
“You’re sly. You’re an interesting one after all.”
After those words, Sangun’s body began to grow little by little.
A previously absent sense of intimidation rose and pricked my dulled senses.
“Every deal with a divine beast has a cost. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“I know.”
Sangun’s yellow eyes scanned my body.
Just as it opened its mouth to bare sharp fangs.
<B… bitch… ah… fuc…♬
“Wait.”
“…What are you doing at an important moment?“
<Properly insane woman~♬
“Can’t you hear this song?”
“…….“
“Your mustache is twitching.”
“…Yeah, I hear it. You keep calling me crazy. You should’ve watched your manners. Even when someone’s dying, an insult still stings.“
“Ha.”
As the song grew clearer, my dulled senses returned and vitality flowed into my body.
“Was I recovering? Since when?”
“…….“
“You didn’t know and pretended not to? A divine beast losing face like that?”
“You had a useful toy latched onto you.”
“Why the sudden self-intro?”
“Just get lost.”
Sangun closed its eyes.
Then I felt someone grab my leg from under the lake and I was sucked into the black water.
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