The exploration ship had finished docking at the Greenland harbor.
No one disembarked.
Because something had reached them just moments ago.
A roar that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
"I—I'm not the only one who heard that, right?"
"Anyone with ears would have heard it."
The mercenaries lined up along the railing furrowed their brows.
There was no way to know what the owner of that cry was.
The distance was too great to see anything.
Even so, they knew instinctively.
That this was something you should never face.
That if you did, you'd die without even leaving your bones behind.
"Hmm."
Roche, leaning against the railing, let out a low hum.
"It's gone. The sound."
"Yeah, it is."
The reply was calm to the point of being flat.
Roche turned to look at Elia, standing beside her.
Elia was walking back and forth with Momo perched on her neck, showing little interest in what was happening beyond.
"Did Jinhyuk-ssi make the sound disappear?"
"Probably?"
"You're not worried."
"Why would I need to be?"
Roche smiled.
A refreshingly straightforward answer.
Just how strong was their trust in each other?
How strong did it have to be to answer like that without even a moment's hesitation?
"Oh!?"
Momo, who had been giggling, lifted her head.
She hopped down and waved her hand.
"Bye-bye, hairstylist unnie! I gotta go!"
Before Roche could even return the farewell, Momo slipped into the cabin.
Roche formed a question mark in her mind.
Where was that adorable little thing going off to alone?
She turned her gaze to Elia.
"Don't you need to go too, Elia nim?"
"Nope. Unlike me, our chubby little one's busy. Talented in many ways."
"And you're not?"
"I'm just a layabout sipping tea in a corner."
"A layabout, huh. That sounds nice."
Stretching languidly, Roche leaned back against the railing.
"What kind of person is Jinhyuk-ssi? If I could meet him again, I'd ask myself, but somehow I feel like he won't be there when I get to Recid Hillt."
"Hmm. What kind of person, I wonder."
"Tough question, I take it."
"Something like that. He shows too many different faces depending on the situation and who he's with."
"Then let me change the question. How can you trust him to that degree? He's still a stranger, after all."
"Because he's worth it."
Roche nodded.
And without realizing it—
"I envy you."
—her true feelings slipped out.
Unwavering trust.
That was something that could never exist in the world Roche had lived in until now.
Elia looked at Roche quietly before speaking.
"No matter how well someone lives alone, everyone needs at least one person they can lean on, you know?"
"You mean I need someone I can trust?"
"Something like that."
"I've never had that until now. That kind of thing. If I tried to build it, I'd be killed nine times out of ten."
Elia wore a meaningful smile.
"Good timing, then. Now you've got one."
"You mean Jinhyuk-ssi?"
"I'm not sure if he's good-hearted, but he's a decent guy. He won't waste your trust."
Roche's lips curled up slightly.
*Not sure if he's good-hearted*—she thought she understood a little.
Her face still stung from where she'd been hit, after all.
"Elia nim."
"Yeah?"
"You can go now. I've fully recovered. And there won't be any idiot trying to attack me at this point. You've been staying here to watch over me, haven't you?"
"Sharp one, aren't you."
"Survival was my trade."
Elia nodded and handed her a drink.
"If you ever get into a fight, drink this. It'll lighten your body."
"Is it bad-tasting, by any chance?"
"Probably?"
Roche accepted it politely with both hands.
"Thank you. I'll drink it well. And please tell Jinhyuk-ssi I'm grateful too. Except for the part where he punched me in the face."
"I will."
With a light wave, Elia turned around.
She walked toward the cabin where Momo had disappeared earlier.
*Creak... Thud.*
Roche watched the closed door and smiled.
She felt strange.
Like she'd been bewitched by a ghost, maybe?
But for some reason, she felt good.
Light, even.
"Ugh."
Stretching out long, Roche began to walk.
The mission was a clean failure.
The defeated soldier was making her exit here.
* * *
Near the Ilulissat iceberg.
"Kyaaaaaaah!!!"
Momo's powerful battle cry burst forth.
The cry didn't end with just one.
Two. Three. Four. It kept coming.
"Is our chubby one having a hard time?"
"Phew."
Momo straightened up and wiped her forehead.
"I almost actually did it!"
Jinhyuk swallowed dryly.
This was a first.
Seeing the greedy collector Momo struggle like this.
"Why won't this thing cut?!"
Momo stomped her feet on top of the black dragon, fuming.
It wasn't surprising.
These scales had even deflected Seyra's sword, and she was over level 200.
In fact, the Drakkan's exterior was almost completely intact.
The sword energy that had pierced through the Dragonheart had simply shattered everything inside.
"This won't do!"
Momo came down and grabbed the oxygen tank and mask lying scattered on the ground.
"Momo, deploying!"
Before anyone could stop her, she disappeared into the Drakkan's mouth.
Her drive was truly incredible.
"Ha."
Had a minute passed since Momo went in?
Renya, who was nearby, let out a hollow laugh.
Elia and Kamela stood side by side, clapping softly.
'Oh, shit.'
The massive Drakkan's body was shrinking rapidly.
To the point where you'd wonder if it had been all bluster from the start.
Truly, the great teacher Momo.
Once the blade got in, everything after was a piece of cake.
"The dragon is gone, sir."
More precisely, only the hide remained.
Along with the scales that couldn't be dealt with.
Jinhyuk opened the Drakkan's mouth to make it easier for her to come out.
Momo walked out with a squelching sound.
Earthquake-level pupil dilation hit Kancho's eyes.
"I've become Red Momo, sir."
"Red Momo, how is it!"
"It's cool, sir! There's even smoke coming from my body!"
"Splash some water on my face! Blood got in my eyes!"
"Wait a moment, sir! I'll go fetch some!"
Kancho ran off somewhere for his best friend, Red Momo.
He returned and splashed the water he'd scooped up.
"Kyaaaaack!! My face is freezing!!"
So that's where he got it—seawater.
That must be incredibly cold.
"Yaaaaah! You idiot, pointy-ears!!"
While Momo sent Kancho flying with a dropkick, Jinhyuk pulled a bottle of water from his inventory and poured it over her.
He should have just taken it out earlier instead of waiting for Kancho.
"Phew! I feel so refreshed!"
Momo roughly shook out her hair and walked over to the Drakkan's feet.
She casually pulled out the claws one by one.
It seemed the only thing she couldn't cut was the scales.
Jinhyuk helped Momo collect the claws.
Then he took the crafting recipe out of his bag.
*Ding!*
[The required amount has been met! The materials for the Transcendent-grade one-handed sword, Soul Reaper crafting recipe, are being updated!]
Finally, all the materials were activated.
Without any further delay, he pressed the craft button.
The materials rose into the air and merged together.
When they were fully combined, a dark gray light scattered.
*Ding!*
[You have successfully crafted the Transcendent-grade one-handed sword 'Soul Reaper'!]
A sword with a blade curved like a crescent moon in the center.
From the hilt to the top of the blade, bizarre patterns covered it.
[Soul Reaper / Level Requirement: 100 / Grade: Transcendent / Harvest Level: 1]
# A sword forged by the legendary blacksmith Svenson for the Reaper Katiel, poured with all he had!
# Attack Power: 600.
# Contains the power of the Reaper!
# Unique Trait: Soul Harvest
## Harvests the souls of all those killed by this sword.
An Epic-grade two-handed greatsword has an attack power of 200 to 300.
But a one-handed sword at 600? That was excellent.
Jinhyuk rubbed his chin and examined the unique trait.
Soul Harvest.
As soon as he saw it, certain bastards came to mind.
The Rakshasa.
Even if you cut their lives short, they used the souls they held to regenerate almost instantly.
"Renya. Do the Rakshasa not die until their souls are completely depleted? Or do they die and then come back to life?"
"The latter. For an instant, they do face death. Though they could recover even while not dead, I suppose."
The corners of his mouth lifted.
A completely different case from the immortal Dark, who simply didn't die.
This... this might just work.
*Ding!*
[Soul Reaper has been added to your Weapon Collection!]
[Weapon Collection: 6/10]
# Ganjiang and Moye
# Salamanca
# Perakan
# Kamachi
# Yerga's Axe
# Soul Reaper
[The unique traits and unique skills of the added weapon are now shared with the party!]
'I hope it works well.'
If it did, it would be an absolute disaster for the Rakshasa.
Because no matter how many souls they had collected so far, it would mean they only had one life to live.
"An unusual sword."
Seyra slowly examined the Soul Reaper.
"Thin and light, yet absurdly sturdy. It suits an owner skilled in unpredictable movements."
"Right? Seems perfect for a nice, clean slice."
Jinhyuk reached out and grasped the Soul Reaper.
For one thing, it looked cool, so he liked it a lot.
"Huh?"
Kancho, who was in front of him, stepped back.
The others were also staring intently at Jinhyuk.
"What's wrong?"
They pointed a finger behind Jinhyuk.
Jinhyuk looked up and furrowed his brow.
He'd almost screamed.
Behind him was the shape of something.
Gray skin and a pitch-black cloak draped over it.
Anyone would look at it and think, 'I am the Grim Reaper!'
Was it going to move with him?
He took a step.
Sure enough, the shape followed.
This time, he swung the Soul Reaper.
The shape swung a massive scythe in sync.
He'd thought it might be good for an assassin since it was light yet sturdy, but...
It seemed that wouldn't work.
Its uniquely eerie appearance would get him spotted from a distance.
"It looks like something out of a horror movie, sir."
"Scary!"
The Kanmo duo backed away, making whimpering sounds.
Jinhyuk rubbed his eyes.
He thought it was cool.
Tastes were really this different.
*Ding!*
[Player Jinhyuk has become the owner of the Soul Reaper!]
[You gain harvest experience based on the souls you reap!]
[Upon reaching certain levels, the power of the Soul Reaper Katiel will be unlocked!]
His pupils shook violently.
He covered his mouth with one hand.
What the hell. It was a growth-type weapon.
He'd seen them a few times on the Tower site.
Items that improved in function upon meeting certain conditions.
The site summarized growth-type items like this:
A white elephant.
Because the drop difficulty was abysmal, and even if you busted your ass growing a low-grade growth-type item, the function you got was often underwhelming compared to the effort.
But if the grade was Transcendent?
That was a different story.
"The boss's eyes got scary, sir."
"Mm! Those are eyes of greed, I'd say."
"Momo knows too! When Momo sees a good item, her eyes roll back too!"
Jinhyuk barely suppressed the corners of his mouth, which were trying to ascend to heaven.
He cleared his throat a couple of times and looked around at his companions.
Except for two or three of them, they were a mess.
Including himself.
Especially his adorable Red Momo—she was almost horror-movie level.
Whatever the case, they probably needed to wash up first.
*Step.*
Let's head to Greenland.
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T/N:
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