Above Your Head

Vol 2. 31: Dragon Devouring Ghost Blade, and His Brother II (6)

Vol 2. Chapter 31: Dragon Devouring Ghost Blade, and His Brother II (6)

I have lived long enough to see all kinds of titles, but there weren't many titles with performance. Unlike others, I could freely change my own title at any time. However, there were only a few titles that I could acquire and change because the countless and permanent titles of the world belonged to their rightful owners. The title that I used on a daily basis was the Fly Hunter, which I obtained just by killing 100 flies… There was no need to explain further. However, I had some speculations regarding the titles.

'The titles that have performance are basically focused around killing. They are made by killing something and using its life as a material.' I would be able to obtain the Slayer title by murdering an existence. Then, if I continued to kill until the kill count exceeded 100 deaths, I would be able to get the Hunter title.

I previously trembled in fear as I saw my classmate, Kyung-eun, going around with the Human Hunter title. What did the title Human Hunter indicate? Didn't that mean that Kyung-eun killed at least 100 humans? If I was a human in my right mind, I would naturally be fearful. However, at the same time, I knew the fact that I could obtain the exact same title by killing 100 humans too. I also knew that the effect of the title would go beyond comparison to 'just' the level of the Fly Hunter…

Right now... I surpassed the Hunter title, which required me to slaughter 100 human beings. I even went beyond the Slaughterer title, which required me to kill 10,000 human beings. Then, finally, after slaughtering over a million humans, I painstakingly got a title beyond the titles of Slayer, Hunter, Slaughterer... A Disaster-class title.

Disaster of Mankind

- In the case of death, time Revival possible.

- times Teleportation to humans within a radius of 10 kilometers possible. The effect that ignores all interferences.

- Revival Stack will be recharged by 1 stack per 1,000 humans spared (up to 2 times)

- Teleportation Stack will be recharged by 1 stack each time a wicked being is killed (up to 10 times)

- You killed someone's father. You also killed someone's mother. Even daughters, sons, old men, and children, you slaughtered all of them without discrimination.

For you, who have slaughtered over a million human beings, it would not be enough even if you repent endlessly. Do you sleep well at night?

'As expected, it has such an unpleasant description,’ I thought. However, the content, which was no different from blatant criticism, was the undeniable truth. It also showed the intention of the developer who filled in that content, which came across as an intention that came from a relatively good place. 'Save human lives. If you really have to kill, then kill the wicked, huh...'

At the same time, the text also showed the limits of the developer. 'Either they had no intention of imposing a restriction, or they weren't able to impose a restriction.' In fact, the text only contained details that rebuked the massacre, but it did not include a penalty. The written details only had a slight directional nature. Even though the description of the title only conveyed that the existence who possessed this title had slaughtered more than a million people, no measures were taken to prevent such acts from occurring. 'If the title is obtained, then so be it. It only strengthened the owner of the title, and it’s a benefit.'

As long as I wanted to, I could aim to obtain the title that superseded and transcended the title of Disaster. If there was a next stage to the Disaster title, which could be achieved by killing a million people, it would probably be obtained by killing 100 million human beings. That was now a simple matter that could be resolved with a single orbital bombardment. There were 7 billion human beings on Earth, and I had already amassed more than 10 million kill counts.

Is there a problem, Captain-nim? Suddenly, Genie spoke to me, Your heartbeat is increasing.

'No, it's nothing.' I took a deep breath. I could feel my heart beating like crazy. 'I'm not in the right mind.' What craziness was I spouting? There were 7 billion humans on Earth? Since I had already amassed more than 10 million kill counts, it was a simple matter that could be done with a single orbital bombardment?

Captain-nim.

'It's alright, I'm okay.' I sat in a nearby chair and cradled my head. There wasn't any sense of alienation that hinted at my mind being violated. However, that was why it was even more terrible. A bottomless sensation of fear surged up. Sure enough, I… Could I live a normal life?

Perhaps I could have lived normally before. I would have been able to attend high school normally, go to college normally, join the army normally, and work normally. Of course, that life wouldn't have been really peaceful. Even if it was an ordinary life, there was an intensity tantamount to ordinariness.

If I wanted to live a normal life, I would have had to spend two years in the army. I would probably have to experience some absurd abuses, and I might be beaten up or insulted too. The same could be said about going out to society. I could get unreasonable instructions from my boss. I could also go through all kinds of hardships due to the influence of office politics, or I could cross paths with a bogus company and might have had to receive fair compensation too. However, knowing myself, I could have put up with it all. Of course, I would feel like crap when going through it, but who in the world would only live a life of fun? I could endure. I would have been able to hold back, sucking it up on the outside even when facing something unfair. I would simply vent my anger by unleashing a 30-min rap of swearing and criticizing my superiors, and the company, inside my heart.

The 300 years of nightmare that I dreamt of since young was not just a movie-like experience that overran. It was still a valid experience, even if I did not experience it directly. I was just a high school student who had not lived to 20 years old, but my mind was still similar to that of an old man.

Yes, I could live like that. No matter how shitty of an experience I had to go through, I could laugh it off. I was the kind of person who could overcome it all, regardless of hardships, with a bitter smile and a light laugh. I could play a few games to unload the burden and eat up a whole yangnyeom chicken[1] to relieve all the pent-up stress. But… however… It was no longer like that anymore.

'Damn it.' I could feel that the dream that I had never forgotten about while walking the battlefield was blurring. I realized the fact that the current me would not be able to relieve my pent-up stress with chicken and games. Instead of relieving stress alone, I would probably separate the Section Chief's head out of his spine. That was because I had already changed into an arrogant and cold-hearted…existence that was no longer human…

Dae-ha. Then, Ares said out of a sudden, You're full, huh.

'…What?'

You're scared. You look like a rookie general who's afraid of his own troops.

'Ares, it's not that simple.'

It's a simple problem. Ares lightly cut off my words and continued, In the end, you're simply afraid that you might not be able to properly lead, or that you might be swayed.

'I am.'

You just. Again, Ares interrupted, You just can't control your own emotions.

'...'

Don't build up your fears, Dae-ha. The Divine Spirit is not a devil that would corrode your soul.

My heart, which was pounding from agitation, slowly calmed down upon hearing Ares' words. I was deeply lost in thought. My changed self was the undeniable truth. However, was there anyone in the world who had never changed? I was no longer human, but to be honest, I wasn't human from the very beginning. I was…

Rattle! At that moment, I came to my senses at the sound of the window opening. Only then did I turn my head and took a look around. As I looked up, I could see the antique-styled flower patterns and the scenery of the well-managed pond from the changhoji[2] that covered up the window hanging on the door latch, which was made to entice the eyes at a glance.

'It's the Hyangwonjeong Pavilion, huh.' I arrived at a hexagonal pavilion built on an island in the pond. If Gyeonghoeru Pond in Gyeongbokgung Palace was used for a large banquet, this place was made to be a resting area for the personal use of the King. There was an Ondol[3] downstairs, and a resting area that was floored for all-seasons upstairs.

You're being treated pretty well. I can't believe you're being offered this kind of space.

'Well, given the situation, this is no surprise.’

I looked at Hyung's image by the window. Shwarrrrr- As the wind was blowing, I saw Hyung and the woman with fluttering hair next to him. They were neither near nor far, standing at a distance which was about a palm’s width apart. The sight of them was literally an artwork.

'My god.' It might be funny, but there was a Twin Rose in my school. It was a nickname that referred to the two girls who were celebrity grade beauties who would only appear on TV, which was considered rare in the world.

The target of this nickname, which had an unimaginably childish nature that caused my hands and feet to shrivel, was the Human Slayer Kyung Eun, who was in the same grade and class as me.

The other one was Min-kyung, the Black Rose, who was also the Student Council President, famously known as the Ice Princess. She came from an affluent family and engaged in many extracurricular activities, so people predicted her future involvement in politics. She was an existence who seemed to literally come out of a melodrama. However, in actual fact, rather than a drama, she was a character who seemed to appear in a fantasy novel or a modern historical drama. She originally had the Lee surname, not Han, and was the princess who inherited the main line of descent of the Lee Family. However, somehow, she seemed to have had a close relationship with Hyung.

It's a strange atmosphere.

'Yeah, it's really strange.' I stood quietly and stared at the two of them. I had already activated the Stealth Ability, and I was in a state where no one could sense my presence. I ran my eye through her figure without any particular difficulty.

The basic impression I had of her was that she was a martial artist. Her body that boasted a smooth silhouette was undoubtedly that of an Idol's, but upon closer inspection, her feeble-looking body was made of extremely trained and compressed muscles. Furthermore, both her hands were unbelievably rough and had firm calluses. Moreover, those eyes of hers were clear and clean, possessing not a trace of temptation. She was a female student at an age that was still ignorant of the world, but her eyes were filled with a firm belief and willpower. It was as if she was some sort of independence fighter, exuding a disparate charm that was hard to express.

'Well, Hyung is by no means inferior in that department though.' I turned to look at Hyung, who was 171 centimeters tall. Although he was not very tall for a man, his exceptional beauty was of no comparison to even a decently beautiful woman. In addition, his body, which had always been full of life, was filled with killing intent. He was giving off a strangely dangerous and revolting vibe.

Besides that, what was Hyung's current position? He was not even 20 years old yet, but he had already achieved the strongest level of armed might in humanity. Even if he was seen to be an existence without any foundation, it didn't matter. With his level of armed might, any household would be impatient to nab Hyung for themselves.

Boom! At that time, a heavy drum sound broke the silence from a faraway distance. The pond water under Hyangwonjeong Pavilion formed a small ripple and dispersed. The pond was ringing at the sharp drum sound, which signaled war.

Hyung and Min-kyung turned their heads at the same time, facing towards the sound of the drums. The drum sound could be heard a few more times before silence descended again.

"It's time."

"...!"

"Who is it?!" In an instant, the two of them silently turned around like lightning. As both Hyung and Min-kyung were martial artists with outstanding abilities, they unleashed a fierce energy.

However, upon discovering that it was I who stood on one side of the pavilion, the terrifying bloodlust that Hyung was exuding disappeared in no time. Surprise as well as delightfulness burst forth. "Dae-ha!" He ran towards me and hugged me tightly.

Hyung was an unbelievably cute creature that I couldn't believe was my brother. Who would have thought that this was the man who beheaded someone with a cutter knife only dozens of hours ago? I replied, "Long time no see, Hyung."

"…Really, man. You don't look like brothers at all, but it seems that the thing you two have in common is your absurdness." Min-kyung, who unsheathed a large saber before I knew it, relaxed her posture with a dumbfounded look. However, she only relaxed her posture. Her expression was still full of vigilance. "How did you get in here? This is a place with all sorts of barriers erected, so even a High-rank wizard can't cross over..."

"Are you feeling well?" I ignored her and separated myself from my brother, who was in my arms.

Hyung, whose face was flushed, shook his head. "Is this time for you to worry about me? I almost ran out when I heard you went missing."

"I told you not to, didn't I ?"

"Ah, that's..." Hyung stopped what he was saying, and glanced around for a moment.

I looked back at Min-kyung. Min-kyung hesitated as if she felt something from my attitude. I called, "Min-kyung sunbae."

"Wait, what are you? You, is there really 'something'?" She spoke in a blunt manner as if accustomed to giving orders. Her manner of speech was that of a noble person who always received the respect of others. However, I could read a sense of fear in her voice.

"Something?"

“Yeah. You, is there something going on?"

"..." I looked back at my brother because I did not know what she was talking about. I don't know what was so pleasant to him, but he had a face full of smiles. He had such a cheerful face that I felt like giving him a slap on the face. "What the, hyung. What the hell did you explain to the Student Council President about me?"

"I didn't say much. It's just… Hehe,” Hyung smiled and replied, "I just said my younger brother might be a transcendent. And a very, very scary one at that."

"...Why did you have that kind of thought?" I had to ask because I didn't understand. Because, up until I was on Earth, I was nothing more than an ordinary high school student. Of course, there was the fact that I could see the titles. There was also the singularity that I dreamt 300 years worth of dreams. However, it wasn't an ability that was revealed on the outside, so why did he have such a weird thought?

"Because we're family."

"What?"

"We're family, so I know when I see you."

"...My god." I let out a forced laugh because I was dumbfounded. However, somehow, I felt strangely better by feeling this supposedly worst feeling ever. After being violated by the Divine Spirit, it was difficult to treat humans from the bottom of my heart because I saw them as beings who were of a lower status than me. However, hyung was different. Maybe just like what he said, it was because we were family.

"…Why?"

"Hmm?"

As I looked back upon hearing the trembling voice, I could see Min-kyung looking at me with a ridiculous expression. It was as if she was looking at something she could not understand at all.

"What is it again?"

"Why aren't you denying it?”

"What do you mean?"

"Transcendent!"

1. Korean spicy marinated chicken.

2. Changhoji is traditional Korean paper made from mulberry bark, and this particular one is used to cover up windows.

3. Ondol, in Korean traditional architecture, is underfloor heating similar to a Kang bed-stove that uses direct heat transfer from wood smoke to heat the underside of a thick masonry floor.