Myst, Might, Mayhem - Chapter 42

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Episode 11: Dangerous Visit (4)

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Everything was black.

Guard Go Chan felt no sensation in the body.

Everything around Go Chan was empty, and none of the five senses could perceive anything.

‘Did I die in the end?’

What a damned life.

An orphan who did not even know who their parents were, Go Chan had been taken in by an assassin organization and spent half a lifetime as an assassin.

Just when Go Chan had retired to live like a proper human being, everything had gone wrong because of one damned impostor.

It was all so unfair that there was nothing to do but lament.

‘Where am I going?’

Go Chan had wondered from time to time.

What happened after one died?

Then a familiar voice reached Go Chan's ears.

“All things, submit to binding. The sacred decree is here. Today, the lord enters the tomb. Spirit messenger, guard my intent, guard my deeds. Diligently report transgressions. Cast no returning shadow. Descend and follow me.”

‘Ha...’

To think that voice could still be heard after death.

It was that fake bastard's voice.

‘Am I going to suffer even after death?’

Having lived as an assassin, Go Chan had never expected to go to paradise.

Still, hearing that voice even after dying was depressing.

Yet the voice continued.

“...”

The instant those words ended, Go Chan felt an incomprehensibly powerful force draw the soul away. The lost sensations were faintly replaced by something else.

At the same time, the blackened vision brightened.

‘!?’

Go Chan blinked.

Mok GyeongUn stood before Go Chan, forming a strange hand seal.

What was this? Had Go Chan not died?

As Go Chan wondered, an alluring woman with a displeased expression came into view beside Mok GyeongUn.

‘Gasp!’

It was Ha Chae-rin.

What in the world was going on?

Why were the two of them looking at Go Chan like this?

As Go Chan stood there in confusion, Ha Chae-rin spoke.

“Did it work?”

“Yes. I think the Eight-Sigil Spirit Summoning Method succeeded.”

‘Eight-Sigil Spirit Summoning Method?’

What were they talking about?

The Eight-Sigil Spirit Summoning Method was a type of occult art that used Eight-Person Talismans to command spirits.

Not knowing this, Go Chan could not understand what the two were saying.

Then Mok GyeongUn lowered the hand forming the seal.

“Guard Go Chan. Let me apologize first.”

-What? What is this?

Go Chan panicked.

The voice did not sound physical. It emerged in some strange, unfamiliar form.

Mok GyeongUn shrugged.

“Bringing you back to life was impossible from the beginning, so I tried to use the Six-Person Spirit Descent Art to turn you into a corpse ghoul. It seems I still lack enough deathly aura within me, so that failed.”

-Y-Young Master? What are you talking about? And why does my voice sound like this? Huh?

Go Chan looked down and froze.

Why did the palm look so hazy?

Go Chan could see through it to the other side.

There was no understanding what was happening.

“Brat, you only look hazier because your soul's rank is low. Stop making such a fuss.”

Ha Chae-rin said that to Go Chan.

-What?

Go Chan frowned.

That woman had just pierced Go Chan's heart while trying to kill Mok GyeongUn. Why was Ha Chae-rin acting as if they were acquainted?

As if noticing those thoughts, Mok GyeongUn said,

“Ah, Guard Go Chan. This isn't the Flying Kill Gate assassin you knew.”

-What do you mean?

“Blue Spirit took over the body.”

-...

Go Chan could not help but be confused by words impossible to understand.

Why was the body like this, and what was Mok GyeongUn talking about?

Mok GyeongUn scratched his head as he looked at the flustered Go Chan.

“Guard Go Chan. I think I should tell you this.”

-What is it?

“You died.”

-What?

“Guard Go Chan died.”

-...What do you mean? I am right...

Go Chan's expression stiffened.

Come to think of it, the strangely echoing voice and translucent body were both abnormal.

Go Chan looked around and headed toward a bronze mirror.

‘!?’

Go Chan could not hide the shock.

There was no reflection in the mirror.

-...Young Master... Am I really dead?

“Yes.”

-...

Go Chan was speechless.

The feelings became complicated, and something surged within.

There had been a small hope.

The hope that perhaps Go Chan had not died.

Watching, Mok GyeongUn offered words that were anything but consolation in a flat voice.

“May you rest in peace.”

-...Are you joking? Are you messing with me?

Go Chan could no longer contain the anger.

Already dead, Go Chan was sick of watching this bastard's reactions, and there was no reason to do so any longer.

-If you hadn't killed Senior Martial Brother Gam, none of this would've happened, you fucking bastard!

Curses poured forth.

Blue Spirit, inhabiting Ha Chae-rin's body, snorted at the sight.

They had expected this much anger.

Without considerable anger or obsession, one would ordinarily ascend rather than become a vengeful spirit.

Yet Mok GyeongUn had forcibly held Go Chan here and made one.

‘The rank is low, too.’

By rank, Go Chan was a Red Spirit, the lowest grade.

No more than the sort of earthbound spirit one might occasionally find lingering by the roadside.

-You fucking bastard! You dog bastard! You cow bastard! You horse bastard! Die! Just die! Even after dying, I curse... No, I'm dead. Anyway, I curse you, you fake bastard! May your family suffer for four to five generati...

“Phew. Close it.”

Mok GyeongUn sighed.

At that moment, something strange happened.

-Mmph! Mmph!

Go Chan could no longer open the mouth at Mok GyeongUn's command.

Go Chan wanted to curse, but no words came out regardless of will.

Why was this happening?

Mok GyeongUn smiled at the confused Go Chan.

“Though you died, Guard Go Chan, the Eight-Sigil Spirit Summoning Method has made you my spirit familiar.”

-...?

What did that mean?

“You're wondering what a spirit familiar is, right? Simply put, a slave ghost. Yes, that would be accurate.”

“A slave ghost? Hah! Wretched mortal, do you wish to die?”

Blue Spirit glared at Mok GyeongUn and raised their voice.

Mok GyeongUn lightly waved a hand and corrected himself.

“Let's say it's a spirit that must cooperate with me.”

-...

“Ah. You can't speak. If I let you talk again, will you keep cursing?”

Go Chan vigorously shook the head.

“Good. Then you may speak again.”

-Ah?

At Mok GyeongUn's command, Go Chan's voice returned.

Go Chan was at a loss over how to accept this situation.

Go Chan had cursed to the heart's content, thinking that death meant no longer being pushed around by this bastard.

But even after dying, Go Chan had to obey this bastard's commands?

‘...Fuck.’

The curse came naturally to mind.

Of course, it did not come out of the mouth.

Once Go Chan realized Mok GyeongUn could control the soul with a single word, fear took hold.

‘What in the world is this bastard?’

Go Chan had witnessed strange sights several times.

But Go Chan had never imagined Mok GyeongUn possessed such an absurd ability.

The power to subdue even the dead was unbelievable.

Mok GyeongUn said,

“Anyway, I'm glad we'll continue to be together, Guard Go Chan.”

-...

Glad?

Did Mok GyeongUn think Go Chan would be happy about being used even after death?

It went beyond complicated feelings. It was painful.

“Hmm. Do you dislike it?”

-...

“It seems you do. Shall I simply let you go, then?”

Go Chan's eyes brightened at those words.

Go Chan thought Mok GyeongUn would use the soul even after death. Was he really going to release it?

Seeing the hopeful expression, Mok GyeongUn glanced at Blue Spirit.

“I don't yet know an occult art that can release a spirit familiar. Is there another way to release one?”

“If I knew that, would I be like this?”

“I see.”

“Or, if Go Chan wants it that badly, we can forcibly perform an exorcism.”

Go Chan asked in confusion.

-W-What is an exorcism?

“It means forcibly driving away a spirit, brat.”

-...Driving it away? Does that mean I die?

“Most likely.”

-I'm already dead, though.

“If you die further from there, you'll be erased.”

-...You mean I'll disappear completely?

“Yes. You'll vanish completely from this world. Perhaps there's something else afterward, but I haven't experienced it, so I don't know.”

Go Chan's face stiffened at those words.

There had been the thought that being released by Mok GyeongUn meant going somewhere like the afterlife.

But from what Blue Spirit said, it sounded as if the soul itself would be killed.

Go Chan became afraid.

Being a soul after death was frightening enough. The thought of disappearing completely filled Go Chan with terror.

Perhaps that was why.

-Y-Young Master!

Go Chan knelt before Mok GyeongUn.

Then Go Chan bowed the head and pleaded.

-I... I misspoke. I just died, so my mind was in disarray. In my confusion, this subordinate acted rudely toward Young Master.

“Hmm? Didn't you say you didn't want to stay with me?”

-No! I absolutely want to remain with Young Master. How could I possibly not want to? Such words are unthinkable. Though I've died like this, I've been given another opportunity to remain by your side. I will serve you with the devotion of a dog and horse.

The change in attitude was swift.

Even though dead, Go Chan feared any further changes.

Blue Spirit clicked their tongue at the sight.

Throb!

Then Blue Spirit frowned.

Noticing this, Mok GyeongUn asked,

“As expected?”

Blue Spirit muttered in an irritated voice.

“This body can't even endure this much. I thought it might be somewhat better, but it's a useless wench.”

Go Chan looked on in confusion.

Ha Chae-rin's expression and tone were far too different.

What was going on?

Throb! Throb!

As Go Chan wondered, black veins bulged around Ha Chae-rin's neck.

Blue Spirit sighed deeply and left the body.

Whoosh!

Thud!

Ha Chae-rin's body fell facedown on the floor like a corpse.

Go Chan froze as if turned to ice.

There had been confusion over what was happening, but Blue Spirit emerging from Ha Chae-rin's body was utterly shocking.

‘W-What is that?’

Vengeful spirits could clearly distinguish each other's ranks.

Just as humans had five senses, vengeful spirits had senses that replaced them.

Those senses were warning Go Chan.

This was a monster beyond imagination.

Wooooosh!

It was enough to make Go Chan see an illusion of blood staining everything around them, walls collapsing, and even the ground splitting apart.

This was not an ordinary vengeful spirit.

Blue Spirit raised an eyebrow and spoke to Go Chan.

-Why haven't you lowered your eyes?

Go Chan trembled, then slowly lowered the head.

Blue Spirit snorted.

-A brat whose corpse hasn't even gone cold dares stare so intently at my august face.

-...I-I apologize.

Go Chan's feelings became complicated again.

There had been the belief that death made everyone equal, but that was not so.

Even among the dead, differences in power remained, and Go Chan was still no more than the weak.

Then Mok GyeongUn said,

“What a pity. I thought it was a body that suited you quite well.”

-I didn't expect much.

“Is that so?”

Mok GyeongUn clearly remembered Blue Spirit being very pleased with it.

Where else could they find the body of a young woman who had reached the Expert realm?

He had thought this body could endure Blue Spirit, but after only half an hour, it could not withstand Blue Spirit and began to crack like the servants' bodies had.

“There's nothing to be done. It's a pity, but this body will simply...”

-What's there to pity? It can still be used.

“Yes?”

-Go Chan's rank is low, so they wouldn't be of much use as a vengeful spirit anyway. Give this body to them.

Mok GyeongUn looked at Go Chan with interested eyes.

Go Chan tilted the head uneasily, wondering what that meant.

-Why am I suddenly involved?

Blue Spirit abruptly approached Go Chan.

Whoosh!

Go Chan instinctively tried to retreat from the overwhelming pressure, but Blue Spirit grabbed the soul by the neck and shoved it somewhere.

-W-Why are you doing this...

-Stop whining and get in. Opportunities like this are rare for a newcomer.