Chapter 17
There was such a thing as the right to die normally. It might sound absurd, but there was a ranking in the Mirror World on the best ways one could die. First place was a miraculous natural death, second place was painless suicide, and so on. One could become research material or a toy of the superior races if one were unlucky, unable to even die. Hence, many people thought death was a luxury in the Mirror World.
One of the worst deaths on the ranking was rape-murder. It was a disgusting act that destroyed the victim’s body, mind, and soul, regardless of gender. They were robbed of the peace that came with a normal death.
Seong-Hwi tried his best to eradicate sex crimes, which had practically become an epidemic in the Mirror World, while he was the leader of Clan Calasanz. This goal was primarily influenced by his clanswoman, Melody Mulder. However, his efforts did not stretch as far as managing various rehabilitation programs like those on Earth. All he did was kill the sex offenders, far from the morals of Earth. From his first murder, Seong-Hwi never once felt guilt when killing such inhumane scum.
Seong-Hwi saw traces of dried tears on the women’s cheeks and them biting their tongues, unable to endure the pain. His trauma—or trigger—was stimulated as he stared at the corpses who were stripped of their right to die normally. He felt severely disgusted. He was reminded of So-Eun, who died with a new life inside her, and his mother, who abandoned him.
The thoughts caused a series of chain reactions. To Seong-Hwi, a mother was a symbol of waiting, love, hatred, and a sacred thing that should never be tarnished. He grimaced as he thought about his mother, whom he did not even know the face of.
You people made the wrong choice. You shouldn’t have provoked me this way.
Seong-Hwi recalled his words to the people in the safe zone.
“Everyone here is a corpse, and this is a coffin. Your deaths were simply delayed for twenty-nine days.”
His desire to avenge them contradicted his cruel words to them a few days ago, but that was what made him human.
I wonder what kind of play this sorrowful yet hilarious story would be. A tragedy? A comedy? An opera? The theater of the absurd? A tragicomedy? No, let’s just call it a human comedy. That’s the closest answer.
Whatever it was, the actors of this absurd play known as life needed to fulfill their roles. Seong-Hwi did not know where the souls of the dead went, but as the living, there was somewhere he needed to go and something he needed to do.
***
Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
The Book of Psalms 55:6
***
“I establish a rule,” Seong-Hwi said in a place where he could no longer smell the bitter stench of blood.
[Commencing rule establishment of Destiny Weapon: Old Tarot Deck.]
[Please establish an ability.]
“The skill name is Symbol Embodiment. It allows me to embody symbols drawn on each tarot card for me to use.”
It was a simple explanation. When establishing a rule, it was imagination, not words, that mattered. Seong-Hwi had already used the ability before, so he knew exactly how the symbols were embodied.
[Ability established.]
[Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]
[The unique skill stat is shared with the Destiny Weapon stat.]
[Please establish a restriction on the ability.]
“Mana is consumed when activating Symbol Embodiment. The higher the symbol’s rank, the more mana it consumes to embody.”
[Restriction established.]
“Additionally, the restriction of Symbol Establishment is not limited to mana. It also consumes a new power. I define this power as Destiny Force, the secondary force of humans. Like mana, the higher the symbol’s rank, the more Destiny Force it consumes to embody.”
[Rule conversion, complete.]
[Adding Destiny Force stat to the Status Window.]
[Destiny Force F(0)]
[Destiny Force is a stat created by a human who questioned the legitimacy of predetermined destiny to overcome it.]
...
The unique skill and secondary force that Seong-Hwi created after countless considerations in his previous life had reappeared at last.
[Converting Destiny Weapon Old Tarot Deck to Symbolic Tarot Deck.]
...
[Symbolic Tarot Deck (Destiny Weapon)
Rank: F(56)
Description: A deck of 78 tarot cards. The symbols on each card can be embodied through mana and Destiny Force.
Unique Skills: Symbol Embodiment]
Seong-Hwi did not stop there. He used the Karma he had collected to upgrade stats.
[Magic F(15) obtained.]
[Magic F(12) obtained.]
[Magic F(17) obtained.]
[Magic F(15) obtained.]
[Magic F(14) obtained.]
[Extinguishing excess Magic F(3).]
[Magic F(29) → Magic F(99)]
...
Seong-Hwi raised his Magic stat to its highest value at rank F and upgraded his other stats one by one.
[Cheon Seong-Hwi
Health: F(49+50) Strength: F(49+50)
Dexterity: F(99) Sense: F(99)
Magic: F(99) Destiny Force F(99)
Karma: 1,067
Destiny Weapon: Symbolic Tarot Deck F(99)
Skills (2) Traits (0) Items (2) Cubes (0)]
[Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment]
[Item Skill: Myriad Faces]
[Items: Silver Bracelets of Queen Consort Muryeong F(59), Myriad Cheoyong Mask F(0)]
He raised his six stats and his D Weapon stat to F(99) and invested his remaining Karma into the Silver Bracelets of Queen Consort Muryeong, which he already knew had high potential. He had left a thousand Karma unused for a reason.
“Purchase an E-rank Destiny Force stat cube.”
[Destiny Force stat cube
Rank: E
Description: A 3x3 stone cube made up of 27 small cubes. The user’s Destiny Force stat will rise randomly between E(8~18).]
The E-rank cube, commonly called the stone cube, was worth a thousand Karma, and the range of stats it raised was reduced by two compared to the wood cube. Normal people during the mandatory quest would have to give up on raising all other stats to buy one of these, but Seong-Hwi had already raised all of his stats to F(99) and had taken the next step.
[Destiny Force stat cube (E) obtained.]
A stone cube, approximately one meter in each dimension, appeared before him. Unlike the wood cube that looked as if eight small cubes were stuck together, each side of the stone cube was made up of nine squares and looked as if twenty-seven small cubes were stuck together to make one large cube.
The stone cube was rapidly shuffled like a Rubik’s cube. It stopped, and the twenty-seven small cubes separated to spread out in every direction, and a white light inside lit up Seong-Hwi.
[Destiny Force E(16) obtained.]
[Destiny Force F(99) → Destiny Force E(16)]
“Huuu,” Seong-Hwi breathed to calm his heart, which pounded rapidly due to the sudden boost in the Destiny Force stat.
Destiny Force was like a premonition—a hunch that something good would happen. Anticipation for the future, optimistic certainty, and such feelings were all included in Destiny Force. The E(16) Destiny Force gave Seong-Hwi certainty about a much better future. It was like a continuation of a momentary epiphany experienced by artists or theologians. One could even call it an unending enlightenment, so Seong-Hwi needed to have full control over his emotions at all times.
“I wonder what Hector would say if he saw me like this.”
Seong-Hwi would barely earn any Karma through hunting after putting so many points into his stats. He recalled a conversation he once had with Hector Jameson, a former fellow clansman.
“Seong-Hwi, people think I’m impatient and ignorant because of my Straight Punch skill, but aren’t I a gentleman compared to you whenever you go apeshit?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t ever get into stock trading if we get the chance to return to Earth. People like you are the first to go broke. You think of yourself as logical and analytical, and because of that, you overconfidently buy stocks after thorough research. No doubt you’d see lots of profit in the short term, but you’ll let your emotions take over when it matters the most, and there won’t even be a penny left to your name. Haha!”
Hector was right. Seong-Hwi had even gathered his comrades to vent his worries about it once.
“Guys, from what I’ve heard, the human brain can’t think logically and emotionally at the same time. The brain pattern for each exists separately—if one is high, the other has to be low.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’ve been thinking, and I’ve noticed my logical and analytical thought processes are lacking. Everyone here knows how stupid I act sometimes.”
“Well, that’s your specialty, after all.”
“Haha! I can’t argue with that.”
“Stop laughing! I’m serious. A clan leader shouldn’t be like this. I let my emotions take over at crucial moments. I feel Jurie or Lina would be far better than I as the clan leader.”
Seong-Hwi wondered if he was worthy of being the leader of their clan. No matter how he thought about it, many other clansmen were a better fit for the position. Although he had created the clan, the destinies of every member were intertwined. He was more than willing to step down from the position if it would better the clan. However, his comrades only laughed at him.
“Idiot. That’s why you’re the leader.”
“Seong-Hwi, a logical person can never be a leader. They could only be the chief of staff at most.”
“I would’ve dragged you down myself if I felt you weren’t worthy of the position. You’re just the right amount of both logical and emotional, which is why you can embrace both types of people.”
“I told you last time, didn’t I? If I were to describe you with one phrase, it would be a romantic pragmatist.”
“Is that what’s been on your mind this whole time? Haha! You’re so cute, leader.”
All of them told Seong-Hwi that his worries were pointless. They simply told him to do as he liked, that it would ultimately be the right choice, and that they would be with him every step of the way.
“Okay. As you all said, I’ll do as I like,” Seong-Hwi mumbled.
However, it did not mean he had upgraded his stats without thought. His brain, tempered by the Mirror World, analyzed the cost and benefit amidst his rage. He would profit another way in exchange for giving up on earning Karma through hunting.
There were two traits one could earn during the mandatory quest. One was Yuri Nazakov’s Chaos Hunter, and the other was what he had tacitly given up on after deciding to earn Karma through hunting Chaos, the Hundred-Man Killer.
***
Woof! Woof!
Seong-Hwi’s F(99) Sense detected the movements of Black Dogs from across the thicket.
“Ugh,” he grunted, stumbling from pushing off the ground too hard.
His mind had not caught up to the sudden boost in stats.
Dammit. It hasn’t even been that long since I adapted to my old stats.
Regular people could never experience such a side effect. Seong-Hwi focused on controlling his movements and came across thirty Black Dogs tearing each other apart.
Twenty-six Blood Black Dogs and four Bone Black Dogs.
Seong-Hwi put his hand into his hoodie out of habit, but flinched.
Argh, I’ve gotten too accustomed to using a knife.
Although his Bowie knife had been his main weapon, it was his sub-weapon now that his true weapon was reborn. His D Weapon, Symbolic Tarot Deck, was summoned in midair with a golden sheen, completely different from the former Old Tarot Deck.
The card Seong-Hwi wanted was pulled out of the deck once he pictured it. It showed a white hand, sprouting from a black cloud, holding a light blue sword.
[Activating Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]
[Ace of Swords]
The Ace of Swords, the element of air among the Element Cards, was embodied. The light blue sword in the drawing came out of the card and entered Seong-Hwi’s grasp. Seong-Hwi smiled as he felt the Ace of Swords subtly trembling as if happy to be reunited with him. He charged at the Black Dogs as rapidly as his upgraded Dexterity stat allowed him.
Woof! Woof!
Grrr!
The Black Dogs that had been fighting one another simultaneously turned to Seong-Hwi.
“Chaaa!”
Seong-Hwi tightened his grip on the Ace of Swords and sliced the Black Dogs closest to him. The Black Dogs’ os split in half as soon as the power of air infused in the Ace of Swords made contact with them. Five Black Dogs melted instantly.
As expected, hunting for Karma isn’t an option anymore.
Seong-Hwi had been earning Karma, albeit very little, through hunting, but didn’t even get the notifications anymore. All he could do now was hunt out of obligation.
Woof! Ruff!
The Black Dogs charged at Seong-Hwi as a pack in a zig-zag motion, as if to prevent Seong-Hwi from escaping. The Ace of Swords’s embodiment was canceled and returned to the card. Seong-Hwi embodied the next symbol.
[Activating Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]
[Ace of Pentacles]
On this card, the white hand coming out of the black cloud was supporting a gold coin with a pentacle on it. It was of the element earth among the Element Cards. The circular coin came out of the card and covered Seong-Hwi, acting as a sturdy shield that blocked all of the Black Dogs’ attacks. No matter how ferociously the Black Dogs tried to attack Seong-Hwi, they couldn’t approach him as the Ace of Pentacles knocked them back.
Can I embody two symbols at once?
Although the Ace of Pentacles was rapidly consuming his mana and Destiny Force, it was worth a try since he had upgraded his Destiny Force to E-rank.
[Activating Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]
[Ace of Wands]
Another card was pulled out of the deck. The white hand sprouting from the black cloud was holding a flaming red wand this time. It was of the element fire among the Element Cards. The Ace of Wands came out of the card and entered Seong-Hwi’s hand.
“Hup!”
Seong-Hwi infused more mana into the Ace of Wands, igniting a flame at the tip of the wand and condensing it into a ball.
“Go!”
Seong-Hwi pointed the Ace of Wands at the pack of Black Dogs, forcibly grouped via the Ace of Pentacles’s knockback effect.
Whine!
The fireball emitted from the Ace of Wands and struck the Black Dog pack. Most of them were swept into the fiery explosion and melted. It was so hot that even their blood evaporated.
“Fuuu,” Seong-Hwi exhaled.
Although they’re inferior symbols, two at once is still a bit heavy. It eats up a lot of mana, too.
The Ace of Pentacles and the Ace of Wands were canceled and returned to the cards. Only three Blood Black Dogs and one Bone Black Dog remained. They were hesitating to attack and simply waited for the opportunity to do so.
Seong-Hwi reached into his hoodie and pulled out his knife. He charged in without worry of getting surrounded and instantly cut down three Blood Black Dogs. He then punched the remaining Bone Black Dog on its chest. The Black Dog’s ribs crumbled like a cookie against Seong-Hwi’s F(99) Strength, and so did its os. Thirty Black Dogs had become pools of blood in just one minute.
“Not bad,” Seong-Hwi expressed with a smile.
The stifling feeling of hunting without skills had been somewhat relieved. Although he only had one unique skill at the moment, Symbol Embodiment couldn’t necessarily be classified as a single skill.
It was the masterpiece he had perfected through his experience of using all five basic categories: enhancement, emission, conjuration, manipulation, and transformation. For example, the Ace of Wands was mainly a conjuration ability with contributions from emission and manipulation.
Seong-Hwi inspected his body. He was not fatigued thanks to his upgraded Health stat, but felt like having a drink to commemorate establishing a rule for his D Weapon.
[Activating Unique Skill: Symbol Embodiment.]
[Ace of Cups]
A card was pulled out from the deck. The white hand sprouting from the black cloud was supporting a light blue translucent cup. It was of the element water among the Element Cards.
Seong-Hwi drank the clear water that formed inside the Ace of Cups. His accumulated physical and mental fatigue washed away, and he was filled with vigor. However, the skill activation drained his mana and Destiny Force.
Seong-Hwi had physical melee and ranged magic attacks, could defend, heal, and buff at the same time; he could deal damage, tank, support, and heal. His name became more well-known in his past life once he created his unique skill, Symbol Embodiment, earning him the alias Thousand Skiller. It went to show how enormous the potential of his once-perfected D Weapon was.
“Something finally feels like it’s going right.”
It was like finding perfectly fitting clothes. Seong-Hwi was planning on heading to the second zone right after hunting more Black Dogs until he activated the trait quest.