Chapter 325

The Ten Kings who presided over the afterlife held regular meetings to discuss major decisions. Among them, the highest-ranking figure, Grand Supreme Yeomra, often missed these meetings due to his responsibilities managing the seventh floor of the Core. Unless it was an extraordinary situation, he rarely attended.

However, this was one of those extraordinary situations.

“Come up with a plan! A plan!”

“King Taishan, lower your voice. Shouting won’t solve anything.”

“How can I not shout?! Fine, since we’re on the subject, King Song, isn’t this all your fault? Just how weak was your seal for

that

bastard to break free?!” King Taishan shouted.

The kings of the afterlife were busy raising their voices, pointing fingers, and shifting blame instead of solving the issue at hand. Watching the chaos unfold, Yeomra closed his eyes, feeling a deep fatigue settle over him. Instead of finding a real solution, they were too focused on pushing the responsibility onto someone else.

What a mess. What are we supposed to do?

Yeomra thought wearily.

Solomon, who had been sealed away for thousands of years, had awakened.

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

During the Great War that once ravaged the Deep Realm, Solomon had dominated the battlefield with overwhelming might. Luckily, the Dragon Lord stepped in, neutralizing Solomon long enough for the Ten Kings to seal him away successfully. That was how they managed to turn the tide of the war in the past.

“No, how is this my fault?!” King Song yelled indignantly.

Why does every argument here always start with denial...?

Yeomra let out a deep sigh, resting his chin on his hand. Sometimes, he genuinely wondered whether these people were truly the rulers of the afterlife. Still, he understood their frustration.

The power of Solomon, the Primordial Evil, was beyond comprehension. He was so powerful that even the all-ruling Overlord found it a challenge to take him down. But the real issue was that Solomon had probably grown even stronger than before. Solomon of the past was an incomplete existence—a being without a physical form. Now, his soul was gradually manifesting into reality.

The Ten Kings all agreed on one thing: no one among them could stop Solomon now.

“Alright, alright. Everyone’s getting too worked up. Let’s call it a day and cool our heads. Oh, Grand Supreme, do you have anything to add?” The King of Equality looked at Yeomra.

Yeomra shook his head and answered, “I do not.”

“Then let’s reconvene in seven days. Everyone, come back with a solution by then. Also, don’t forget to check on the souls registered in your ledgers. That’s all. Dismissed!”

***

At Changsin Villa, security guard Lim Young-Sik was busy sweeping the courtyard. At seventy years old, he wasn’t exactly thriving anymore. He had once worked as a construction laborer, but after his health declined, finding work through labor offices became increasingly difficult. Eventually, he took a job as a security guard, a role he had now held for five years.

Since it was morning rush hour, some residents hurried to work, while others sorted their recycling or headed out for autumn outings. As Young-Sik swept, familiar faces passed by, greeting him warmly without hesitation.

However, things weren’t like this at Changshin Villa when he first started his job five years ago. Back then, people hardly acknowledged each other—the demanding, exhausting modern city life fostered individualism, and no one paid much attention to their neighbors.

“Good morning! It’s a nice day, isn’t it?” Someone greeted him, and Young-Sik could recognize the voice even without looking up. Still, he glanced up to confirm.

“You’re heading out early today,” he said to Do-Jun.

“Yes, I have a meeting.”

They had known each other for a long time now, but it was only in the past two years that their dynamic changed. In fact, Do-Jun had been the first to start greeting him every morning, and from then on, the other residents followed his example. A young man with proper manners like Do-Jun was a rare sight these days.

Without a word, Do-Jun handed him a black plastic bag.

“What’s this...?” Young-Sik asked.

“It’s just a breakfast sandwich. I made some for the kids and made some extras.”

“Oh, you really didn’t have to... Thank you.”

Starting work at five in the morning, Young-Sik often skipped breakfast. Did this young man somehow know that? Because Do-Jun occasionally brought him simple meals.

“Well, I’ll be on my way,” Do-Jun said.

“Take care. Have a good day.”

“Thank you, sir. You as well.” With a small smile, Do-Jun nodded and walked off.

Young-Sik watched his retreating figure for a moment before opening the plastic bag. Inside, neatly wrapped in foil, was a warm sandwich. Setting his broom aside, he sat down on a nearby bench. Between the toasted bread was a slice of ham, cheese, and a perfectly cooked egg.

It was more than enough to fill an empty stomach in the morning.

He wasn’t sure why, but every time he ate the food Do-Jun gave him, the exhaustion in his body seemed to fade.

***

“This is strange,” said a little reaper as he observed Young-Sik.

“What is?” A voice asked from beside him.

“

Eek!

Hey! You scared me!” The little reaper jumped in shock and fell onto his bottom at the unexpected voice.

Turning his head, he saw a baby staring at him. She was dressed in a yellow tracksuit and carried a small backpack. Most importantly, she was able to see him.

“You... can see me?” the little reaper asked.

“Yup,” Byeol said.

“That’s impossible! Only the dead should be able to see me. Are you dead?”

“What! I’m not dead! I’m bweathing just fine!” To prove her point, Byeol took in a deep breath and then exhaled loudly. “See? I’m bweathing just fine.”

“You’re right.”

The little reaper scratched his head and checked the ledger, but no baby was listed. The only person nearby whose name was recorded in the ledger was Lim Young-Sik, who was currently sorting recyclables.

Byeol crouched down beside the little reaper, mirroring his stance. Then, she shifted her gaze to where the little reaper was looking—the security grandpa.

Dusting off his pants, the little reaper sat in the same squatting position as Byeol and checked the ledger once again.

“This is really weird. That old man should have passed away already,” he muttered.

Hearing that, Byeol’s eyes narrowed in displeasure. “That’s a mean thing to say.”

“No, I’m serious. Only the dead can be listed in this book. Look.”

Byeol stared intently at the register the little reaper held out. She saw the name “Lim Young-Sik” listed there. Blinking, she looked at it again. The little reaper was right; the security grandpa’s name was clearly written in the book.

Glancing at Young-Sik, who was pressing down on plastic bottles before placing them into a bag labeled “Plastics,” Byeol’s face crumpled.

“

Sniff, sniff

... Is gwempa gonna die?” she asked the little reaper.

“That’s the problem. He should have already.”

“But gwempa’s alive...”

“This is baffling. I can’t just take a living person to the afterlife. What should I do?” The little reaper was obviously worried.

Byeol felt her heart sink. Something about this situation made her feel as if she was about to lose the security grandpa. She suddenly swung her backpack to the front, unzipped it, and pulled something out.

“Here, take this,” she said, extending a blue package labeled

King Gummy Worms

.

“Huh?” The little reaper tilted his head, puzzled. “What is this?”

“It’s gummy wums! Twy it!”

“I’ve never had them before...” The little reaper hesitantly accepted the gummy worms, still unsure of what it was.

“In exchange, don’t take gwempa away.”

The little reaper looked at Byeol.

Her innocent eyes were filled with sorrow. “Pwease... I’m begging you...”

“Alright.”

“

Gasp!

Weally?”

The little reaper was taken aback. Why did I agree to that? But before he could dwell on it, Byeol smiled and stood up.

She exclaimed, “You pwomised! Bye-bye then!”

***

Young-Sik turned his head and looked toward the flowerbed. He saw a small boy wearing a black robe and a

gat

standing there[1]. Pausing from his task, Young-Sik approached the child.

“Hey there, kid. What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Uh, um...” The boy’s eyes darted around nervously.

He held a package of King Gummy Worms, fiddling with it briefly before suddenly running off.

Young-Sik tried to reach for him but then stopped. Instead, he picked up a notebook the boy had dropped, which had “Ledger” written on the cover. When he opened it, he found his own name written inside.

***

Meanwhile, Yeomra visited the Deep Realm, more precisely, Wei Zhongqi’s restaurant, now the most popular eatery in the Core.

“Hmm...” Yeomra hummed, deep in thought.

Here, he was faced with the greatest dilemma of his life.

Ramen or kimbap...?

He had come because of a special discount event, but the prices were still steep. Yet, the residents of the Deep Realm eagerly lined up, calling it a “steal.” Ramen and kimbap were both priced at five hundred purple mastery stones each.

Wei Zhongqi, holding an order slip, sighed and asked, “Isn’t it about time you made a decision?”

It had already been ten minutes since Yeomra first raised his hand to order, only to mutter, “Ah! Wait, just a second!” every time he tried to order.

Wei Zhongqi’s patience was wearing thin. “Just get the ramen. You had kimbap last time.”

“Very well... Make it delicious, please...”

“Got it.”

Soon, the ramen was served, and Yeomra savored its divine, spicy, salty, MSG-rich flavor. Slurping up every last drop of broth, he stared longingly at the empty bowl before looking around.

Despite Solomon’s unsealing and awakening, the Deep Realm remained peaceful. Residents chatted away happily, eating their meals without a care in the world.

“Are these people insane...?” Yeomra couldn’t help but wonder.

News of Solomon’s resurrection had spread throughout the entire Deep Realm. Considering that many of them had lived through the Great War, their lack of concern was baffling.

Yeomra grabbed a passing Transcendent—it was Imfelheim. He was working part-time, serving food to customers.

“What?” Imfelheim asked.

“No, that’s what I should be asking you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know Solomon has awakened, right?” Yeomra said.

“Yeah.”

“Then why is everyone so damn carefree?”

Imfelheim glanced at Yeomra’s expression. He asked, “Didn’t Baal tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“The King of Earth used that... what’s it called... ‘Soul Sword’ skill to erase half of Solomon’s soul. The damage was so severe that Solomon is currently unconscious and recovering. Baal made a big deal about it when he was here last time.”

Yeomra’s mouth fell open. “So you’re telling me they fought one-on-one in the Deep Realm?”

“No, not exactly... The King can apparently send skills from Earth to the Deep Realm. Either way, Solomon was hit and is now in critical condition.”

Yeomra stared at Imfelheim, dumbfounded.

1.

Gat

is a traditional Korean hat that Korean grim reapers are often depicted wearing ☜