REAPER SCANS
Legendary Returner’s Survival Guide
[Translator – TinTin ]
[Proofreader – Harley ]
Chapter 34
Song-yi wanted to give him a piece of her mind.
“If you were going to be so salty, you should have just cleared it yourself. I heard they called for backup, but no one came. Or could it be…” she trailed off, letting the question hang in the air.
“Could be what?”
“That the ‘great Jamie Wilson’ was scared?” Song-yi taunted.
“…What?”
“I heard the Gate Value kept going up. You got scared by the high number, didn’t you?”
“You goddamn bitch!” Jamie exclaimed.
Jamie shot up from his seat, a stark contrast to Song-yi, who remained seated with her legs crossed.
“Don't worry,” she said, a smile playing on her lips. “It was a measurement error.”
“…What?”
“I have an interview scheduled later, but I'll just tell you in advance. It was just an SS Rank Gate. About fifty Ghost Kings and one Ghost Emperor. Compared to the Baekdu Mountain Gate that we Unique Awakeners Cleared together two years ago, it was a cakewalk.”
“......”
“Yet you were scared of such a Gate? I'm quite disappointed.”
Mana erupted from Jamie's body, shaking the castle.
Song-yi didn't just sit still either. Two spheres materialized around her, three more on the ceiling, and one exactly six meters behind Jamie. A total of Six «Spheres of Light».
“Want to go at it right here?” Jamie threatened, not intimated in the least.
But neither was Song-yi. In the past, her chances of winning a fight against him were slim, but now things were different.
She was certain that if they fought now, she would win without a doubt.
She spoke out loud a thought she had been carrying for a while now.
“Why did someone like you have to be born in America of all places?”
“What?”
“Your personality is trash. You talk about freedom, but your actions are no different from a fascist. You have no respect, no manners. Did you know that you're a disgrace to the United States of America?”
The other Unique Awakeners simply watched the confrontation with amusement. However, one man was more focused than the others—an Asian man with a long scar on his cheek.
He was the Unique Awakener from China, his Level a staggering 680. It was the highest level among all Awakeners on Earth.
His name was Li Qiang.
Watching the confrontation between Song-yi Jamie Wilson, he sent a message to someone on his watch.
A reply came immediately.
[Just watch.]
It was practically an order.
After reading the message, Li Qiang turned off his watch.
The situation grew tenser. Just as the two were about to attack each other…
“Now, now, dear heroes, please calm down,” a voice interjected.
Santiago Muñez, the Association Chairman, stepped between them.
“The whole world is watching right now,” he said. “I know you two don't get along, but if you fight here, won't it cause trouble for the both of you? No, it wouldn’t be just you two, but for me as well, and all the heroes here. So please, calm down for now.”
Santiago was a man with global influence, a true heavyweight. No matter how reckless Jamie and Song-yi were, even they had to be wary of him.
The repercussions of a fight there would be unimaginable.
Ultimately, the two withdrew their energies.
Santiago clapped his hands together.
“Now, why don’t we have a productive talk?”
* * *
I arrived in Cheongju.
I had been meaning to address this point, but the world had definitely gotten nicer.
Places like Gyeongbuk Dreamvalley, which suffered tremendous damage from Gate Breaks in the past, were not included in the Gate Safe Zones.
A city’s Gate Safe Zone status was determined by how many S Rank Awakeners were present and whether or not it had an SS Rank Awakener.
However, travel between these Safe Zones had advanced to be incredibly fast and convenient.
Seoul was a Safe Zone, and so was Cheongju.
Back in my day, it used to take almost two hours to travel between the two cities, but now it only took thirty minutes by bus.
As soon as I arrived in Cheongju, I hailed a taxi.
“Hello, sir. Where to?”
“Mokryeon Memorial Park, please.”
Mokryeon Memorial Park was a cemetery located in Cheongju.
The scenery outside the window flew by.
I could feel the passing of time.
When was it?
I think it was when I first entered high school?
That was when she passed away, my benefactor and savior.
I was really immature and stupid back then to not remember it precisely.
I looked up at the name engraved on the columbarium.
It read: Jo Ae-hyeon.
She was a frail woman. She would often stumble while walking, and sometimes she would even randomly collapse.
I had no idea how serious it was.
It was about two months before she passed away.
She had terminal cancer. She had been secretly coughing up blood and receiving treatment at the hospital behind our backs…
However, after hearing the doctor's grim prognosis, she stopped going to the hospital and instead focused all her energy on taking care of me and my sister.
She told us, “I don't know what kind of people you two will become or what kind of lives you will lead, but I want you to always do what you believe is right.
“Even if the world turns its back on you, even if you face hardships and adversity, you can do it. And just like you think of me, I hope you will become another ‘me’ to someone else.”
She imparted so much wisdom onto us.
I want to emphasize this, but she was more than just a schoolteacher. She was the teacher that taught me about life.
I believe she was an orphan. She did get married, but her husband passed away shortly after, and she lived alone until she found me and my sister.
My sister and I thought it was destiny.
The only reason that I was able to survive on Titan was thanks to her teachings. From her, I learned unwavering conviction and unyielding will.
“…I'll come see you again, Teach,” I said, while giving a big bow.
In my entire life, both on Titan and Earth, I had never big bowed to anyone. On Titan, there were many kings, emperors, lords of races, ancient beings—yet I had never even knelt before them, let alone bowed down.
It was no wonder Jin Tae-seob didn't like me.
This was a first.
I stayed there for a while, prostrated before her, before slowly getting up.
I had somewhere I needed to go.
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – TinTin ]
[Proofreader – Harley ]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
Busan, the second capital of South Korea.
No further explanation was needed.
Busan was massive. The size of the land was also a crucial factor in Gate occurrences.
Countless Gates appeared in Busan, and the undisputed ruler of this city was the ‘Gwangan Beach Madmen’ Guild, famous for having an SS+ Rank Awakener.
True to their name, this Guild was full of eccentric individuals, and today, their elite forces were scheduled to Clear an S Rank Gate in Busan.
The Madmen arrived at the area warded off by the police and the gate safety management team.
Jeong Joon-ho, the Vice Guild Master, had been feeling that something was off with the Guild Master lately.
“Master Ma, are you alright?” Joon-ho asked.
The Guild Master had a few screws loose, as expected of someone who would name his guild ‘Gwangan Beach Madmen’.
His name was Ma Jinno.
Some wondered if it was putting on an act for show. However, they were wrong. He had named his guild Madmen because he indeed lived up to the name.
Jinno, who usually sported a wide grin and would beat the crap out of anyone who got in his way—be it a government official or anyone else—was now replying with an uncharacteristically calm expression on his face.
“Why you ask?” Jinno asked.
“You seem a bit… subdued lately. If there's something going on… Maybe I can be of assistance?”
Jinno shook his head. “It’s nothing. Don't worry about it. Let's just clear the gate.”
“Yes, sir.”
As they were about to enter the Gate…
Everyone stopped in their tracks.
A man was sitting in a chair in front of the Gate.
He smiled as if he had been waiting for them.
“You’re finally here, Jinno.”
Because Jinno was at the back, he couldn't quite make out who the man was. Not his face, nor his build.
His brow furrowed. ‘Who the hell does this guy think he is…?’
Jinno pushed past the Vice Guild Master and stepped forward, only to stop dead in his tracks.
“Let’s not waste time. Jeong Honam, Lim Kyeongtae, they also live in Busan, right? Bring them here,” the man declared.
He then paused for a moment to stand up, before continuing, “The rest of you lot, go home. Police, civilians, Awakeners, all of you. Chop chop.”
“......”
“Don’t worry, Jinno. I'll wait, so go make some calls.”
Jinno looked back at him with a bewildered expression on his face, feigning ignorance. “…I have no idea what you're talking about. Who are you to be ordering people around here? Do you think you’re all that just because your sister is Jin Song-yi?”
“Not exactly.”
“You’re nothing but a third-rate author. Go back to Seoul and write your trash.”
Speaking of which…
“You do know you guys appear in that trash, right?” the man said.
“…Cut the crap and get lost. This is no place for a lil’ bitch like you.”
This was the true nature of Ma Jinno, the madman. This was how he had normally acted.
The Vice Guild Master felt a sigh of relief. It was nothing after all. Their Guild Master was fine.
Meanwhile, Shi-hu let out a chuckle. “As the bigger man, I’m setting the stage for you here. Why do you insist on running your mouth?”
“......”
“I'll be inside, so stop blabbering and bring all the Apostles in Busan. I'll go ahead.”
With those words, Shi-hu disappeared into the Gate.
Everyone gasped.
Shi-hu was a Non-Awakener, yet he just entered an S Rank Gate? Was he insane?
Only one person remained unfazed.
Ma Jinno, the Guild Master of the Gwangan Beach Madmen.
He was the 148th Apostle.
He immediately turned on his watch.
* * *
The inside of the Gate looked normal.
There was a sky and a ground, a strange structure stood in the distance, and strange creatures resembling Beastmen roamed the area.
I decided to ask the Beastmen-like creatures a question.
“Canine heads and human bodies… You bunch look a bit like the Wind Lycans on Titan. What should I call you?”
Their answer was short, “According to God’s will.”
I was a little surprised. “You speak Korean? Well, who is this god you believe in? Jesus? Buddha?”
They didn't answer.
It’s said that when you enter a Gate, you could naturally understand the monsters' language.
Even though their races were varied, they spoke to you in your native tongue. Koreans heard Korean, Japanese heard Japanese, Americans heard American English, the British heard British English, a Hong Kong Chinese heard Cantonese, a Mainland Chinese heard Mandarin, and so on.
It was said to be the influence of the Gate, but even though us humans and monsters could understand each other, it was impossible to have a long conversation.
Because situations like the following unfolded.
There were about fifty of them. Each one was comparable to an A Rank Awakener.
They had approached me before I knew it and were brandishing their weapons.
Halberds, spears, swords, daggers. They wielded a variety of weapons.
I pondered for a moment.
Should I kill them or not?
I generally tried to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
Of course, I couldn't deny that I had been hunting down Apostles, but this and that were different matters.
I had a reason to kill them, which was why I sought them out. But this… I was the one who entered their home.
Unlike my sister or other Awakeners, I didn't see the monsters inside the Gate as enemies yet.
Some might call it naive, but that was just how I felt.
“Tsk.” I clicked my tongue.
This was just like when I killed the Golems. I had no choice.
I reached out my hand.
BOOOOM!!!
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