REAPER SCANS
Legendary Returner’s Survival Guide
[Translator – TinTin ]
[Proofreader – Harley ]
《Content Warning - The following chapter contains material that may be harmful or traumatizing to some audiences: DOMESTIC ABUSE and CHILD NEGLECT. Reader discretion is strongly advised.》
Chapter 27
I had no idea where to go.
An orphanage crossed my mind, but I didn't know how to get there or what to do once I did. Thinking back, it’d be stranger if I did. My big sister and I were just kids then.
This was a detail I forgot to mention, but we used to move around a lot, like most military families. We even lived in Cheongju for a time when I went to Gageong Elementary. Because my sister was older, she was in a different grade than me, but at one point, I ended up getting the same teacher who taught her.
Ms. Jo Ae-hyeon of Gageong Elementary. She came to mind.
When I contacted her, Ms. Jo was saddened to hear about our situation.
She used her own money to get us a place to stay and helped us until my sister and I could stand on our own two feet.
The funny thing is, that bastard Jin Tae-seob, our own father, never actively searched for us. I don’t know why. Maybe he was getting some kind of government assistance for having kids or something.
Anyway, that was how my sister and I ended up living by ourselves.
She focused on her studies and I worked.
Newspaper delivery, milk delivery—I did whatever it took to put food on the table. I felt this strong sense of responsibility to take care of her.
My sister exceeded my expectations. She was brilliant, got excellent grades, went to a great university, and became an amazing person.
I'll never forget what she said when she got into college.
“Shi-hu, now that I’m in college, it’s your turn to study. I’ll take care of you now.”
“What about tuition?”
“I got a scholarship, silly.”
She smiled, and at that moment, she looked like the happiest person on earth.
“I just want you to be happy, Shi-hu.”
True to her word, she started supporting me that day. A year later, I got my GED.
And then… I landed on Titan.
No matter how hard I tried, or how generously I tried to think, I couldn't understand why that piece of garbage, Jin Tae-seob, was still breathing.
“How are you not dead yet?”
“…L-Let’s… talk about this… calmly.”
My brows furrowed as I noticed his clothes and accessories.
I'm no fashion expert, but I know the difference between luxury brands and regular clothes. Everything that bastard was wearing screamed expensive. His ring had a massive diamond, and a thick gold chain hung around his neck.
And here’s the kicker. I could sense mana emanating from the ring and necklace. They were most likely artifacts with magical properties.
“Look at you, all decked out, you piece of shit. I guess gambling paid off after all,” I commented.
“…What?”
I took my hand off of him.
Tae-seob, hacking and coughing, brushed off his clothes.
He then sighed and asked, “Haa… Shi-hu, why are you acting like this all of a sudden? We were literally laughing and eating together the other day. Now you’re like a different person.”
I stayed silent.
“I liked that you were different from your stuck-up sister. Did she put you up to this? Did she say something?”
“Say something?”
“I see now. I can tell by your face. Yeah, I was getting money from your sister. That’s what you’re so pissed about, isn’t it? I’m your father! What’s wrong with a father getting an allowance from his daughter, you ungrateful little shit!”
As he spoke, Tae-seob’s face grew red with rage.
“You were always so disrespectful, even as a kid. How could you hit your own father in the head with a bat or soju bottle, you son of a bitch!”
I did hit him with both. I couldn’t argue with that.
Finally, Tae-seob lashed out, his hand connecting with my cheek.
Slap!
A sharp sound echoed from the impact, but I felt no pain. I didn’t even show any acknowledgement that I’d been hit. All I could do was laugh.
“This must be a gift,” I remarked.
“…What?”
“I’ve been bored. Gates, Apostles, none of it really excited me. But you? You’re different.”
“What are you even—?”
Jin Tae-seob didn’t get to finish his sentence.
I felt no need to overthink it or have a drawn-out conversation. I just needed to do what I couldn’t before.
It didn’t matter who tried to stop me. My sister, or anyone else for that matter, couldn't stop what I wanted to do.
I grabbed Tae-seob by the face.
C-Crack!
His face contorted with the crunching sound. Teeth popped out as his jaw misaligned.
I saw a window near the stairwell and dragged him towards it. Panic and fear flooded his face—a truly satisfying sight.
And just like that, I threw him through the window.
Time seemed to slow down.
And then…
CRAAAAASH—!!
A boom echoed through the air.
I pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag.
I looked down. Jin Tae-seob was pummeled into the ground below, and I was on the 26th floor.
People normally die when they fall from such a height. Artifacts, magical relics, none of it mattered. I’d made sure to break all of it before I tossed him.
A jolt of excitement surged through me.
This was fun.
I laughed.
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – TinTin ]
[Proofreader – Harley ]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
After checking the body, Youngsu didn't hesitate to leap upwards. His eyes were fixated on the window where Shi-hu stood.
Youngsu gently landed on the window.
Shi-hu, taking a drag of his cigarette, smiled.
“You’re here fast.”
“…Mr. Shi-hu. What… what did you do?”
Shi-hu tilted his head as if he didn't understand the question.
He then had a look of realization on his face.
“Oh, my bad. I’ve been away for so long, I forgot basic etiquette. You’re not supposed to smoke in the stairwell, are you?”
The cigarette burst into flames, turning to ash before disappearing completely.
Youngsu felt a chill run down his spine as he watched the cigarette disintegrate. He had misjudged him.
Jin Shi-hu was strong. Strong enough to toy with Jin Song-yi, one of the Seven Stars. The path to such power was likely filled with great turmoil.
It was only natural.
Now, what were the chances someone who sought such power could live a normal life?
It might be possible if they actively tried to suppress it, to blend in. However, they’d be fundamentally different from a normal person, deviating from the root.
Shi-hu was as dangerous as he was powerful.
Just look at this situation. As much as he was human scum, Tae-Seob was still his father, his own flesh and blood, yet Shi-hu just threw him from the 26th floor.
There was no other way to put it. Jin Tae-seob was dead.
And yet, Shi-hu was here acting as if the only wrong he had committed was smoking in the stairwell.
For someone who just killed his own kin, in broad daylight no less, to act so nonchalantly… It was unsettling.
This man was very unsettling.
“…Did you throw Mr. Tae-seob out of the window of your own volition, Mr. Shi-hu?”
Shi-hu laughed as if it were the most ridiculous question he had ever heard.
“Whose volition would it have been?”
“......”
“By the way. He said something interesting. Something about someone giving him money. What was that about?”
“......”
“Answer me.”
Youngsu found himself responding reflexively, “The Doppelganger and Master Jin were providing him financial support.”
He couldn’t explain it. He felt overwhelmed, like if he didn’t answer Shi-hu’s questions, something terrible would happen.
It was an intensely powerful feeling… So strong, he answered without even thinking.
Shi-hu let out a small sigh and placed a hand on Youngsu’s shoulder.
Youngsu felt the tension melt away from his body. He felt a bit more comfortable.
‘This man… He might indeed be a monster,’ Youngsu thought.
“Sorry about that. I get a little… intense sometimes. Take a deep breath and tell me everything. Slowly,” Shi-hu said.
His gentle smile was somewhat unnerving for Youngsu, but he forced himself to remain calm.
Tae-seob had wormed his way back into Song-yi’s life around the time she started gaining notoriety.
Song-yi couldn’t abandon him completely. She gave him a house, money, even bought him a car, because he was family.
But old habits die hard, and Tae-seob gambled away everything he was gifted. As time went on, he lost more than he gained.
Despite that, Song-yi… She was too emotionally weak to her own kin.
She had more money than she knew what to do with, so she kept giving it to him. And Tae-seob kept losing it.
He even managed to approach and weasel money out of the 200th Apostle, who was impersonating Shi-hu at the time.
Song-yi shouldered a lot of burdens. She carried a lot on her back, and she tried to carry it all by herself.
She had Youngsu and many others who followed her, but ultimately… they weren’t family.
The saying ‘blood is thicker than water’ didn’t become common without reason.
After hearing the entire story, Shi-hu let out a deep sigh with an emotionless expression on his face.
Youngsu said, “I’ll take care of this.”
‘This’ being the dead Tae-seob.
“How?” Shi-hu asked.
“It’ll be ruled an accident.”
Shi-hu chuckled. ‘Go figure.’
“This must not be your first rodeo,” Shi-hu commented.
After staring outside for a moment, Youngsu stoically replied, “I’m sure you’re aware, but Master Jin… she’s too kind. Merciless to monsters, but far too forgiving of people.”
“Hmm.”
“There have been many who tried to stand in her way. Master Jin prefers to deal with such problems through legal channels, but not me.”
“......”
“It’s a job that someone has to do, and I’ve always done what needs to get done.”
“Interesting. You’re a very pragmatic man.”
“As I said before, I simply use whatever means necessary to achieve my goals. Of course…”
“Of course?”
“If a legitimate means is the most efficient method, then that’s the path I’ll take. But if not…”
“If not?”
“Then I will follow suit with less savory methods. It’s what’s best for everyone.”
Shi-hu genuinely thought Youngsu was an alright guy. He could relate to him.
“All I ask is that you convince Master Jin, and I’ll handle the cleanup. You can leave the laptop and PC here. I’ll take it and get it prepared for you.”
Youngsu pulled out a wallet and handed it over.
“This is the Doppelganger’s wallet. ID, driver’s license, some cash, debit card, it’s all there. In case you might require it, I also sent the account information and password the Doppelganger was using to your email—the one you shared with me.”
Shi-hu took the wallet and smiled.
“Thanks.”
“I’m simply doing my job.”
And with that, Shi-hu left the apartment.
He pulled out his watch and made a call to his sister.
“What’s up? I’m not in Korea yet, but…”
“Jin Tae-seob is dead.”
“…What?”
“I threw him from the 26th floor. There’s no way he survived. I have to ask, why haven’t you already killed him yourself?”
***
In a hotel suite in Texas, Song-yi was alone, checking her body’s condition.
She silently pulled up her status window.
[Status Window
Name: Jin Song-yi
Job: Guild Master of the Salvation Guild
*Title: Luminescent Mage
Level: 595
Rank: SSS-
Potential Rank: *Undetermined
Achievements: 45
Stats
Strength: S+
Dexterity: SS+
Intelligence: SS
Vitality: SS
Mana (Ki): ??
Stat Points: 25]
The hologram flickered before her, displaying information that was both familiar and shockingly different.
There was only one significant change.
Her Mana value was now a question mark.
She has gained some Stat Points from leveling up, but it took more than a few Stat Points to raise her Stat Rank.
The higher the rank, the more Stat Points were needed to progress.
To go from S+ to SS- in any stat required a minimum of 200 Stat Points. The 25 she had were practically meaningless.
Song-yi could feel the change in her Status Window reflected in her own body.
She flicked her wrist.
Six «Spheres of Light» materialized around her.
And she wasn’t done. She felt she could create more.
With a thought, two more spheres appeared.
How could she even begin to explain this?
Shi-hu hadn’t done anything drastic. He simply… lightly tapped her.
But now her body was significantly more sensitive to mana.
It was easier to sense, easier to control. It was like there was a wall blocking a space, but that wall had been torn down.
Song-yi contemplated, ‘Just how strong is Shi-hu…?’
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