Chapter 77 – Sacred Ritual

Vroom-

The van rattled down the mountain and moved somewhere.

Gwak Seon-yeong, sitting in the back seat, tried to look outside but couldn’t due to the black film covering the windows.

‘Where are we going?’

Though she knew she was going to meet Lord Heaven, not being able to see outside made her anxious.

She gave a self-deprecating smile.

What did it matter where they were going?

It didn’t matter at all.

As long as she could become a hunter.

‘I must become a hunter no matter what.’

Hadn’t she already made up her mind?

To definitely become a hunter, defeat monsters, and earn lots of money.

‘I must.’

Just as she was reaffirming her resolve…

“Excuse me.”

Another woman sitting across from her spoke up.

“Are you going to meet Lord Heaven?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Could it be to receive a blessing to become a hunter?”

When Gwak Seon-yeong nodded, the woman smiled brightly.

“Nice to meet you! I’m here for the same reason – to become a hunter. Oh, my name is Kim Ye-seul.”

When she suddenly extended her hand, Gwak Seon-yeong awkwardly shook it.

“Ah, I’m Gwak Seon-yeong.”

“I’m really glad to meet you. If you’re here for the blessing, you must be turning twenty soon, right?”

“Yes.”

“Since we’re the same age, shall we speak casually?”

“S-sure.”

Though slightly taken aback by how quickly she suggested speaking informally, Seon-yeong didn’t dislike Ye-seul’s friendly approach.

“Seon-yeong, when’s your birthday?”

“Next Friday.”

“Only a week left? I have about ten days left too. Nervous, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you come after your dad told you about becoming a hunter too?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Do you believe it?”

Gwak Seon-yeong thought carefully.

“Well, regardless of whether I believe it or not, isn’t it worth trying if there’s even a small chance of becoming a hunter?”

“Are you that desperate?”

“Well, it’s not exactly that…”

Gwak Seon-yeong trailed off.

Kim Ye-seul smiled understandingly.

“Whatever your circumstances, you must be having a hard time to come here. I’m the same honestly. I’m half-skeptical about increasing awakening probability, but I came here clutching at straws.”

“…”

Sighing, Kim Ye-seul spoke about her situation as if lamenting.

“Actually, my brother was a hunter. No, had been a hunter. He wasn’t very famous, just an E-rank hunter, but he earned enough to live comfortably.”

Gwak Seon-yeong listened quietly to her story.

“Then one day, we got a call. News that my brother had been killed by a monster. They said he let his guard down thinking he’d caught them all, and didn’t see the monster coming from behind.”

“Ah…”

“Since he died in the dungeon, we couldn’t even recover his body. He was so happy about buying a new car, who would have known this would happen.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Kim Ye-seul smiled brightly.

“It’s been over four years. I cried so much I can’t cry anymore. Later, I got angry. Why was he so careless, making his family suffer like this.”

“…”

“And I got angry at the monsters too. If it weren’t for them, my brother wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

The smile had completely disappeared from Kim Ye-seul’s face.

“People say becoming a hunter is like winning the lottery. But I don’t care about money. I just want the power to defeat the monsters that took my brother away, that’s why I want to become a hunter.”

“…Does your father allow it?”

Kim Ye-seul shook her head.

“Of course he opposed it at first. What father would want their child to become a hunter after losing their son like that? He strongly opposed it, saying he couldn’t lose me too. But I told him firmly – I won’t die meaninglessly like my brother. I’m quite stubborn, you know. Hehe.”

Kim Ye-seul laughed brightly, as if trying to break the heavy atmosphere.

“That’s why I want to become a hunter. Do you have any special reason? You looked serious earlier…”

“Me…?”

Gwak Seon-yeong had her own circumstances.

“My reason is similar to yours. Our thriving business went bankrupt because of monsters. Because of that, my mom had an affair and divorced, my dad’s business failed, and we’re still struggling with private loans.”

“…You must have it hard too.”

“I hate monsters too. Our family’s bankruptcy was all because of them. But for me, financial reasons are more important than power.”

“Still, we both hate monsters, right?”

“Yeah.”

Though their goals were different, they shared the common ground of wanting to become hunters because of monsters.

Perhaps because of this similarity,

the two felt a connection and grew closer.

“Once you become a hunter, you won’t have to worry about money. How much did you say your dad’s debt was?”

“About 70 million won?”

“Don’t worry. As a hunter, you can pay that off in a month.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah. My brother was an E-rank hunter around level 100, and he bragged about making 5 million won in just one day. He said you could easily make at least 100 million won a month with consistent work. Ah, that’s at level 100 though.”

Gwak Seon-yeong’s eyes widened at this new information.

She’d heard hunters earned well, but didn’t know it was this much.

“You look really surprised.”

“Yeah, I didn’t know hunters earned that much…”

“I’m not surprised anymore since my brother bragged about money so much.”

“Then Ye-seul, you’re more interested in hunting monsters than money?”

“That’s right.”

“I hadn’t really thought about that aspect… Isn’t it more disadvantageous being a woman?”

“No. When you awaken, everyone becomes equally strong regardless of gender. The system gives you power.”

“Even with basic muscle differences?”

“Yeah. Some country once did a strength test with young men and women and elderly people with the same stats, and they all scored the same. After awakening, your body is affected by stats. There’s even a major guild called the White Lotus Guild made up of only women. Gender doesn’t matter when it comes to strength.”

The two fell silent as they were talking.

The car had stopped, presumably reaching their destination.

*Slide*

“We’ve arrived. Please get out.”

The two women gasped in amazement as they got out.

A building that looked like it was recreated straight from mythology stood in the mountains.

“Please follow me, both of you.”

Their eyes couldn’t rest as they followed the attendant inside.

The wide, pure white interior space captivated them.

“This way.”

The attendant headed to a study next to the entrance and pressed a button hidden behind a bookshelf.

*Slide*

A secret passage opened, revealing stairs leading underground.

“Please watch your step.”

Though anxiety crept in at the sudden dark stairs contrasting with the white surroundings, it was only momentary.

Having come this far, they had no intention of backing down.

This fear was nothing compared to what they would face as hunters.

*Click*

At the bottom of the stairs, they encountered a pure white corridor.

Fortunately, only the descending passage was dark – the underground was also made of white marble.

As their anxiety dissipated, they were once again amazed.

They were surprised to find such a place hidden underground.

“Here we are.”

What the attendant pointed to was some kind of shower room.

“Please undress here and clean yourselves thoroughly.”

“What? Clean ourselves?”

“You’ve heard of purification rituals, right? It’s a procedure to cleanse impurities and compose yourself before meeting Lord Heaven.”

“Ah, yes.”

“All shower supplies are provided inside, please wash up and come out.”

After the attendant left, they undressed and started showering without suspicion.

As they dried themselves with towels, they looked around in surprise.

“Huh? Where did my clothes go?”

“I definitely left them here…”

Their clothes had vanished completely.

Instead, neatly folded white robes were in their place.

Hearing their confused voices, the attendant spoke from outside.

“We’re keeping your clothes, so please change into the prepared robes without worry.”

“What? Just robes, not clothes?”

“At least give us underwear…”

“Underwear isn’t necessary for the ritual.”

Though extremely uncomfortable, they had no choice but to wear the robes.

They needed to wear something to leave.

When they left the shower room, the attendant led the way.

“Please wait here, Lord Heaven will call you in turn.”

They entered the directed room.

After the attendant left, they whispered nervously.

“Ye-seul, we’re doing the right thing, right?”

“I don’t know either…”

“No underwear… something feels wrong…”

Shortly after, the door opened and the attendant appeared.

“Ms. Kim Ye-seul. Lord Heaven is calling for you.”

“Ah, yes!”

Kim Ye-seul looked at Gwak Seon-yeong before leaving.

‘I’ll be back.’

Seon-yeong nodded slightly at that look.

After the door closed, quiet stillness followed.

‘It should be fine.’

Though she was wearing only a robe without underwear in a suspicious underground location, she didn’t have negative thoughts.

She assumed it was just the order’s sacred ritual.

‘Though it’s strange, if I can receive the blessing and become a hunter, this much is…’

However, that thought didn’t last long.

Because a scream was heard.

“Kyaaak!”

Startled Gwak Seon-yeong jumped up.

It was definitely Kim Ye-seul’s voice.

Another scream came as she opened the door.

She ran to the room where the sound came from and opened the sliding door.

*Slide*

An old man was on top of Kim Ye-seul.

The old man’s face twisted like a demon as he looked up.

“You wench! I told you to wait your turn!”

“W-what are you doing!”

The old man backed away as Gwak Seon-yeong approached.

Kim Ye-seul scrambled up without even fixing her fallen robe.

“Ye-seul! Are you okay?”

“S-Seon-yeong! *sob*…”

Kim Ye-seul was crying with a pale face, clearly terrified.

“What happened?”

“That, that old man tried to assault me…”

“What nonsense! I told you this was a sacred ritual!”

The situation wasn’t hard to guess.

“What sacred ritual? This is attempted rape!”

“Silence! Don’t you want to receive the blessing!”

“Blessing…?”

Gwak Seon-yeong belatedly realized the attempted rapist was Lord Heaven.

“This is supposed to be a blessing?”

“Yes. Aren’t you all children who came to become hunters? You can become hunters by continuously receiving my spiritual energy.”

“…”

Gwak Seon-yeong was dumbfounded.

To think the blessing was actually having relations with this old man.

“That’s impossible. There’s no such blessing.”

“You came all this way only to deny the blessing? Didn’t you come to receive it in the first place?”

“But I never thought it would be like this…”

“What does the method matter? Didn’t you come prepared to endure any type of blessing if it meant becoming a hunter?”

He had a point.

Gwak Seon-yeong had come here willing to try anything.

“But this isn’t right…”

“That’s all prejudice. Your head is full of evil spirits, making you see this sacred ritual negatively.”

Then Kim Ye-seul, who had been crying, fixed her clothes and shouted.

“But you tried to force me even when I said no!”

“That was all for your sake. Wouldn’t you regret going back without becoming a hunter?”

“No! I won’t do it!”

Gwak Seon-yeong put an arm around Kim Ye-seul’s shoulders.

“We’re leaving. We want nothing to do with your blessing or whatever this is.”

“Won’t you regret it?”

“No, so don’t try to stop us.”

Whether the blessing was real or not, she had no intention of receiving it through such filthy means.

As they turned to leave, attendants who had rushed over hearing the noise were blocking the door.

“Hehe, who said I’d let you leave?”

“We said we don’t want the blessing.”

“Actually, there is no blessing.”

The two women looked shocked at Lord Heaven’s confession.

“You’ll be locked up here as my playthings for life. Don’t be lonely. There are many companions who share your situation.”

“What do you…”

“You’re… joking, right?”

“Yes, everyone denies reality at first. But they say their minds go blank after it happens. Then as days and months pass, they gradually accept reality and give up on escape.”

“You’re insane…”

“Say what you will. It’s just the ravings of someone denying reality.”

Then Lord Heaven spoke to the attendants behind him.

“You all guard outside the door.”

After they silently bowed and left, only Lord Heaven and the two women remained.

“Now, who wants to receive the blessing first?”

“Crazy old man.”

“Fine, I’ll start with you then.”

Lord Heaven approached Gwak Seon-yeong and grabbed her wrist.

“L-let go!”

Though Gwak Seon-yeong struggled, it was useless.

His grip was so strong she couldn’t budge at all.

Though he looked like a weak old man, he was actually an A-rank hunter over level 2,400.

“Let Seon-yeong go! Let her go, you damn old man!”

Kim Ye-seul punched him from the side, but Lord Heaven didn’t even flinch as if it tickled.

“You wait your turn.”

“Let go! I said let go!”

“Such annoying chirping.”

Lord Heaven raised his hand to Kim Ye-seul’s head.

*Thud*

She collapsed unconscious.

“W-what did you do?”

“Just put her to sleep briefly, don’t worry about it.”

Lord Heaven forcefully pushed Gwak Seon-yeong down.

“Ungh!”

“Stop resisting and submit. Your mind will be much more at ease.”

Unable to resist, Gwak Seon-yeong’s eyes reddened.

‘Why did I come here wanting to be a hunter…’

Regret washed over her like a wave.

Suddenly, she remembered Gil Chung-su’s question.

-Do you really think money is more important than life?

Honestly, she had thought money was worth any price, even life.

But now she could answer clearly.

‘I want to live… Dad.’

That’s when it happened.

*BANG!*

The door flew off as attendants collapsed and tumbled in.

Surprised, Lord Heaven looked up.

A man stood in the doorway.

“Who are you?”

“Me?”

Min Do-jun summoned a ghost sword in his right hand.

“The grim reaper, here to collect an old man.”