INV 22

The experience of falling in love with a world that does not welcome you was already more than enough for him.

During his childhood, Kwon Yihyeon had to live a life where the very air around him rejected him simply because he was the grandson of a shaman. While others talked about holding their mother’s and father’s hands to go to amusement parks or travel overseas, he was a loner who no one spoke to and who could speak to no one.

In the small world called a classroom, Kwon Yihyeon was thoroughly isolated, and thus his first love for the world came to an end.

It was only natural that Kwon Yihyeon, who found a studio apartment under the pretext of university, became fascinated by Seoul. A cold and indifferent world where no one questioned him or threw inquiries at him, so he never had to provide answers. Upon moving to the capital, Kwon Yihyeon was instantly captivated by this second world surrounding him.

At the same time, he thought that he never wanted to engage in an unrequited love again—the kind where no matter how much you crave it, you receive nothing in return.

Because Kwon Yihyeon was like a rhombus with broken corners, there was no puzzle piece that fit him perfectly. There was no world anywhere that would accept Kwon Yihyeon exactly as he was. Whenever he was seized by the miserable agony that even though others were “broken” in their own way, they managed to live well with one another while he alone was isolated, Kwon Yihyeon remained consistent with his cynicism. He tried to soothe his bitter heart even by doing that.

However, there was an undeniable truth.

This world was fascinating Kwon Yihyeon.

‘Actually, I longed for a moment like this.’

You have a special power. That is why you have been lonely until now, but you won’t be anymore.

Because people like you are here.

…If one could have secretly told the childhood Kwon Yihyeon, who used to pray and count the days for the chance to hear such words, about this very moment.

The young child would have burst into tears.

Those are such miraculous words, he would have said.

To Kwon Yihyeon, the Underworld held that kind of meaning.

The young man, who had not been honest with himself his whole life, suddenly felt his eyes grow hot.

To be honest, that was how it was. Kwon Yihyeon liked having a talent for shamanism. He liked that he, who felt like he would wander for a lifetime because of it, could finally belong somewhere; he liked this extraordinary, abnormal world where it felt like there would be plenty of “strange” people just like him. But at the same time, he wanted to reject that feeling. He wanted to hide it, and he wanted to suppress it.

He wanted to run away.

Because no matter how hard he tried, Kwon Yihyeon was merely Jae Angshin’s contractor.

Because no matter what, no one would truly accept Kwon Yihyeon.

‘…What if I’m the only one who becomes sincere.’

Before giving his heart away, it was Kwon Yihyeon’s habit to painstakingly examine the risk factors. Kwon Yihyeon was always like that.

As a child, Kwon Yihyeon thought he was just staying at his grandmother’s house, and it took a long time for him to accept that the great mountain was “our home.” Only after spending a very long time monitoring, judging, and dissecting… and finally gaining the certainty that it was okay to love, did Kwon Yihyeon pour out his affection. Kwon Yihyeon’s love was heavy. It was different from the light, “playing with fire” type of flings others had. Kwon Yihyeon always loved as if he were being strangled. The fact that he became Jae Angshin’s contractor was also because he loved his family, so look.

He truly loved his family enough to devote his entire body.

Kwon Yihyeon’s love was of that weight.

That was why Kwon Yihyeon was afraid of falling in love any further than this. Saying this might make him look like a novice or a greenhorn, but Kwon Yihyeon sincerely did not want to increase those things anymore. Those irrational emotions he would want to protect even by trading his life.

He didn’t want to be emotional.

He didn’t want to love.

“…”

Whatever it was.

He didn’t want to be consumed anymore.

“Kwon Yihyeon.”

Reaper Gwak called him. Kwon Yihyeon squeezed his eyes shut instinctively.

However, Gwak Deukcheon did not rush him.

“Make it clear what it is you are afraid of.”

“…”

“Give your emotion a name, and think. Never stop thinking. The moment a human stops thinking, it’s over. Judge clearly for yourself why these feelings are rising, and why it had to be this way. And then, accept it. Do not deny the emotions you felt. They are yours. They are your feelings. If you deny that, there is nothing left.”

“…”

“Take a deep breath. Inhale, and exhale. Slowly. Long. Imagine you are drinking in the air with your whole body. That’s it.”

The first moment Kwon Yihyeon took a great breath, he realized the fact that he had barely been breathing. Because the air was so terribly sweet, a hacking cough erupted. Only after retching up gastric juices as if vomiting, wiping his mouth, and letting two trails of gathered tears fall, did he follow Gwak Deukcheon’s words.

As he sank deep and continued his thoughts, a faint light suddenly wavered in his vision like a hazy glimmer.

‘What I’m afraid of is, perhaps, actually…’

Strangely, while his senses became more sensitive as he closed his eyes, he fell into the illusion that the world was full of stars. Clearly, Kwon Yihyeon’s vision was pitch black, yet it was as if another image was being overlaid simultaneously. Should he call them pure white stars? Grains, too many to be called stars, were scattered across the world in the form of a colorless abyss. They could turn bright red, or they could turn pitch black. Dark green or purple would be fine too. But Kwon Yihyeon wanted something else. There was no grand reason for it.

‘…It’s just that I’ve never seen Chacha wear this color.’

That kind of reason was all there was. But it seemed like that would be enough.

Yellow. Perhaps gold. A divine light that was too brilliant to be called metallic, and too auspicious to be called merely yellow—something that could only be called a blessing—flickered in the form of grains, swelled for a moment as if about to explode, and then washed over him like a waterfall.

It was something that happened in a place that was not reality. However, his vision became dizzily buoyant as if it were real. His center of gravity wavered, making it difficult to steady his body. In the moment a dizzy Kwon Yihyeon collapsed, Reaper Gwak muttered something.

Now, Kwon Yihyeon could understand those words.

“Kid, you’re pretty good.”

Until now, Kwon Yihyeon had thought the incomprehensible language Reaper Gwak muttered was some kind of spell given the timing, but it wasn’t. Reaper Gwak was a powerful individual of a level who did not need to be bound by spells, so he had no need to recite them. This meant they were just ordinary words, and the only reason he hadn’t been able to understand them was one thing: the presence or absence of spiritual power.

Now, he could know that.

“Following spiritual inspiration, you even awakened spiritual power… without a teacher?”

“…”

“You, just how on earth have you lived until now acting as if there was no problem?”

With a serious voice but an expression that wasn’t serious at all, Reaper Gwak approached casually and held out his hand.

He didn’t even have the energy to answer.

Kwon Yihyeon looked up at him helplessly and then took his hand.

And so, Kwon Yihyeon stepped into the lobby.

It was the moment Jae Angshin’s contractor entered the Underworld for the first time in ten thousand years.

PpQ

“Where are we going right now?”

Kwon Yihyeon asked several times, even though he knew Reaper Gwak wouldn’t give a proper answer.

The reason was simple. It was because they had been descending the spiral staircase leading to the basement for several laps now.

“Yep, crossing the Sanzu River.”

“…”

If Kwon Yihyeon had not been the possessor of sturdy physical strength, it was obvious he would have dropped out halfway. The weak body of a modern person had no choice but to function that way.

‘Is it because this is the Underworld? Their talent for sending people to the yellow springs is excellent.’

Kwon Yihyeon used that kind of thought as fuel to keep up stubbornly.

Since he had come this far, he was determined never to drop out.

However, he couldn’t stop his breathing from becoming rougher and rougher, yet Reaper Gwak only glanced at him and provided no assistance.

So, Kwon Yihyeon took the memory of almost thinking well of Reaper Gwak and threw it into the trash can in his mind.

Perhaps because few people go to the basement, the number of people they encountered on the stairs was also decreasing. The strange thing was that every person they met would flinch upon seeing Gwak Deukcheon, barely give a greeting, and then flee.

‘Shouldn’t the existence that needs to be looked at with cold eyes be me…?’

Jae Angshin’s contractor thought vaguely, and Reaper Gwak spoke.

“You’re being self-conscious. Rookie.”

“Ah, yes. Can you read thoughts too?”

“No. I just said it because you were making a moronic face.”

“…”

Kwon Yihyeon was too exhausted in mind and body to react to every little thing, so he remained consistent with a sulky expression. From then on, Reaper Gwak began to enjoy himself.

“Hey, now it finally feels like the rookie smells like a greenhorn! Huh!”

Would he get angry if I told him to stop acting like an old man?

They walked and walked until sweat was dripping, but the destination did not appear until Kwon Yihyeon’s breath was ragged. The moment they were finally able to stop the hellish descent down the stairs was after encountering a person as kind as an angel who spoke to the despicably-natured Gwak Deukcheon as if it were nothing.

“Hm? Reaper Gwak. How can you take a human on the stairs. There’s an elevator, so you should have told him to come that way.”

It is a sad thing that he also found out at the same time that his boss, Gwak Deukcheon, was a son of a bitch beyond imagination…

When Kwon Yihyeon glared at Reaper Gwak, he spoke nonchalantly.

“To measure his physical strength a bit. And to get a spiritual nature exam. Just for various reasons.”

Kwon Yihyeon felt like strangling his boss “for various reasons.” Even during that, the conversation between the angel and Reaper Gwak continued.

“A spiritual nature exam? Not the soul?”

“He’s an intern. We’re not rummaging through his head when he’s not even a regular employee.”

“Aha. I see. He’s being quite favored. Mr. Kwon Yihyeon is.”

Angel… I think you’ve misunderstood because you are too good-natured. Reaper Gwak does not favor me…

‘There’s no way a guy who made me walk this many stairs is the possessor of that much sensitivity…’

Regardless, the purple-haired angel dressed in researcher’s clothes left a deep look and passed them by. Reaper Gwak was heading down casually when he turned back as Kwon Yihyeon stopped in place, panting.

“What?”

“The elevator. You said there was one.”

“Yeah. And?”

Kwon Yihyeon contemplated whether he should throw his resignation letter in Reaper Gwak’s face right now.

“…Would it be alright if we took the elevator even now?”

Still, after finally recalling Chacha’s face, he felt he had to endure. If Kwon Yihyeon wanted it, Chacha might perhaps split Reaper Gwak in two. Kwon Yihyeon didn’t want things to go that far.

So he tried suggesting it with the most gentle smile possible, but Reaper Gwak replied with his characteristic sarcastic-looking lips.

“We’re almost there.”

‘That’s the same thing you’ve said how many times now…!’

Kwon Yihyeon was about to blow his top and scream. But then, clack, Reaper Gwak stood before a certain door and pulled the handle.

As the door opened, a light turned on inside.

Reaper Gwak turned his head, the pale light reflecting off the side of his face.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming in?”

“…”

“I’ll let you take the elevator when we go up later. Hurry up.”

Becoming docile at the mention of being able to take the elevator on the way up, Kwon Yihyeon neatly folded the resignation letter in his heart, let it fly away, and followed Reaper Gwak’s words.

‘An easy guy.’

This was possible only because he didn’t know Reaper Gwak’s sinister ulterior motives.