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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: The Promised Reunion
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“So, you’re telling me you raised this whole ruckus and summoned us all here just to revise a single clause related to ‘unfilial piety’?”
King Yama let out a hot snort, his brow deeply furrowed in displeasure as he posed the question.
Of course, he still couldn't meet Kang-jun’s eyes.
He simply stared down at his own thick, fidgeting fingers.
“That’s right.”
Kang-jun answered curtly and got straight to the point.
“Dying before one’s parents is certainly unfilial, but I believe exceptions must be made in certain cases.”
“Exceptions?”
“I met a young child who fell into the ‘River of Three Crossings’ before her time was up, due to an unforeseen accident.”
Kang-jun took a breath and continued smoothly.
“She was nothing more than a helpless child whose life was unfairly cut short, through no fault of her own.”
After finishing, Kang-jun swept his gaze over the deities who governed their respective underworlds before continuing.
“And yet, I’m told that even such a child must cross the River’s Abyss, the lower rapids of the River of Three Crossings, for the sin of leaving the mortal world before her parents.”
“That is…”
“I even asked the boatman ferrying the child, and he said that after crossing the River’s Abyss, she was scheduled to be put on trial and punished.”
A solemn atmosphere fell over the conference room.
“Let me ask you something.”
Kang-jun turned to King Yama, who had worn a look of dissatisfaction from the very beginning.
“Do you believe that is a just course of action?”
He then added.
“It’s already a great injustice that the little one had to close her eyes without getting to enjoy all she should have because of an accident…”
Kang-jun’s gaze swept over everyone present.
“Why must she endure such a harsh punishment?”
Unable to answer right away, King Yama’s thick lips merely twitched. “That is…” he mumbled, struggling to find the words.
“Every day, we encounter a number of souls so vast it’s impossible to fathom, and we are hard-pressed just to judge their karma.”
“And so?”
“It may seem unfair from the child’s perspective, but we cannot possibly consider the individual circumstances of every single soul…”
Kang-jun cut him off.
“It sounds to me like you’re saying you’re too busy with your current duties to do anything, so you’ll turn a blind eye even though you know there’s a problem.”
A heavy silence descended upon the room for a moment.
Kang-jun continued in a serious tone.
“Even the parents, who live in agony because of their child’s ‘unfilial act,’ would surely not want their child, who passed on before them, to be punished.”
Kang-jun let his words hang in the air.
He glanced at each of their faces before asking again, his voice chillingly calm.
“So by what right do we presume to discuss whether or not to punish such children?”
“Well, the laws of the Underworld were established a very, very long time ago, so we have no choice but to…”
“Right. And I’ve gathered you all here today to fix those goddamn Underworld laws.”
Kang-jun, thinking of his own daughter, Seol-i, began to speak again, enunciating each word.
“For the parents left behind after their child is gone, the rest of their lives in the mortal world will be no different from ‘hell’.”
“Even the most exquisite delicacies will taste like ash in their mouths, and though they try to hold on, they will crumble whenever they think of their child.”
His tone was utterly serious.
“I’m not even sure if children who died unfairly are guilty of any crime in the first place…”
Kang-jun trailed off, then added.
“But if that is truly their sin, then from now on, the parents will bear the price of that sin in their stead.”
He then proposed an alternative.
“Therefore, I wish to reach an agreement that such young children will be given the safest path, not the ‘River’s Abyss,’ the lower rapids of the River of Three Crossings.”
At those words, King Yama nodded several times and began to mutter in a low tone.
“You’re saying to grant them passage through the middle stream, where a high, sturdy bridge is built, allowing them to cross the river safely…”
Perhaps he hadn't expected Kang-jun to bring up such a common-sense proposal.
After a thoughtful “Hmm,” King Yama showed a considerable degree of interest and asked again.
“Then what will become of such souls?”
Kang-jun answered without hesitation.
“I will take them.”
At his words, everyone’s attention focused on Kang-jun.
“I will bring them to the ‘Eternal Spring of Repose,’ the realm I rule in Niflheim, and allow them to live there, tending to small chores.”
Although he knew nothing of the other underworlds besides the Eternal Spring of Repose, he was certain that, as worlds of the dead, most of them would be gloomy.
Therefore, he thought the Eternal Spring of Repose, where flowers bloomed everywhere, was a more suitable place for children to stay than any other realm.
The deities exchanged glances for a moment. King Yama was the first to nod and speak.
“I approve.”
Next, Osiris, who had kept his back turned throughout the meeting, also nodded.
“I… approve.”
For him, the situation of having to stand alone had been quite humiliating, so he probably would have hastily approved any proposal that was brought up.
Now that a rather sensible and reasonable proposal had been presented, he was quick to nod and voice his approval, as if he had been waiting for it.
“I approve.”
After Hades also voiced his agreement, Kang-jun looked at Izanami, who was fidgeting anxiously…
*Nod.*
As she nodded, Kang-jun said, “Good,” and, in a voice imbued with divine power, declared the meeting over.
“With that, this council is adjourned.”
At the same moment, a “*Ding!*” sounded, and a system message appeared before the eyes of every deity present.
[The deity ‘■■■’, ruler of the Underworld’s Eternal Spring of Repose, who convened the Grand Underworld Council, has declared the council concluded.]
Then, the deity Osiris, who had been forced to keep his back to Kang-jun throughout the meeting, let out a long breath and spoke in a low voice.
“■■■.”
A moment of silence passed.
“I don’t think I will be able to easily forget what happened here today.”
It was a statement that was clearly akin to a warning.
“You’d be wise to forget.”
With that, Osiris was the first to storm out of the conference room…
[Osiris, Master of Abydos, firmly vows revenge for today’s humiliation.]
[All deities belonging to the Great Star Cluster ‘Kemet’ will become hostile toward you.]
Just as a series of unpleasant system messages appeared before Kang-jun’s eyes.
Izanami also carefully rose from her seat and gave Kang-jun a slight bow.
Then, without a single glance back, she quickly left the chamber.
[Izanami of the Underworld, the seventh of the Seven Generations of the Age of Gods, vows revenge for today’s humiliation.]
[The deities belonging to the Great Star Cluster ‘Takamagahara’ show extreme hostility toward you.]
Next, King Yama rose to his feet.
“I thought you were just a reckless fool who couldn’t tell his front from his back, but thankfully, it seems you’re not entirely ignorant.”
King Yama, who had been the most negative throughout the meeting, did not show any hostility toward Kang-jun, instead making lighthearted remarks.
“I judged that you were far too lacking to rule an underworld, but it seems you have a knack for getting things done and a fair bit of drive.”
“You flatter me.”
“In any case, I feel a weight has been lifted from my heart, thanks to you correcting a flawed law that was bound to be fixed sooner or later.”
After he finished, King Yama began, “However…”
He paused for a moment before continuing.
“Take this as my sincere advice. It would be in your best interest to fix that insolent way of speaking of yours.”
With those final words, King Yama also left the conference room with a booming “*Thump, thump, thump*,” his steps hurried…
Now, the only deities left in the spacious conference room were Kang-jun, who occupied the seat of honor, and Hades, who seemed to have no intention of leaving yet.
“■■■.”
Hades called out to Kang-jun, a gentle smile on his lips, his voice carrying a chilling aura as he posed a question.
“I do hope you haven’t forgotten the favor I did for you today.”
“Favor?”
“Not only did I yield the ranking of the Five Great Underworld Kings to you…”
Hades trailed off, stroking the fur of Cerberus, who sat beside him, before continuing.
“I also advised you to refrain from needlessly showing off your power, as countless deities are already coveting your epithet.”
The man acted as if he were dying to announce the trivial favors he had bestowed.
How should I put it?
It felt as if he were venomously mentioning his favors again just to make sure they were properly acknowledged…
“I don’t recall asking for any favors.”
At that, Hades nodded a few times and stared intently at Kang-jun.
“I hear you’ve already made enemies with some of the deities from the Great Star Cluster Asgard. As of today, you’ve made a few more.”
Kang-jun replied immediately in an utterly nonchalant tone, as if it were no big deal.
“I don’t care.”
“As brave as they say,” Hades replied, then added in a soft, measured tone.
“If you promise not to forget the favor I did for you today, I’d like to offer you a few more small ones…”
When Kang-jun showed a displeased expression, Hades muttered, “No, no, that’s not it…” and began to speak again.
“Considering your fiery temper, it’s unlikely you’d readily make such a promise…”
“You read me right,” Kang-jun replied. He stood up, cradling Marbas who had been curled up on his lap, and added.
“I’ll be on my way.”
Just as Kang-jun was about to leave the conference room and return to the dock where he had been.
“I swear on the River Styx.”
“What’s with the sudden freezing-to-death oath?”
“I will grant you a favor with no strings attached.”
At that, Kang-jun asked back.
“Why?”
Hades shrugged once and rose from his seat as well.
“Because I have a premonition that a day may come when I, too, will need your help.”
Kang-jun retorted.
“Unfortunately for you, I don’t have the slightest intention of ever helping you.”
Hades nodded several times and replied in a perfectly composed tone.
“When the moment comes that I need your help, the decision to help or not will be entirely up to you.”
He finished his thought.
“There is no compulsion.”
“What kind of favor are you talking about?”
“I will provide you with useful information.”
From Kang-jun’s perspective, it was a deal with no downside, so there was no particular reason to refuse.
“Speak.”
He then added.
“While spending my tedious days in the underworld I rule, I happened to witness a rather interesting scene.”
“An interesting scene?”
“A few deities from the Asgard star cluster, your complete adversaries, were plotting something quite sinister.”
Hades paused for a moment before continuing his explanation, his voice tinged with its characteristic chill.
“Are you aware that a dimension named ‘■■’ exists somewhere on the outskirts of the Abyss?”
“What dimension?”
“It seems you know nothing. A calamity lies sleeping there.”
At those words, Kang-jun’s brow furrowed.
“What are you talking about?”
Hades once again began to spout vague, cryptic words.
“A few gods from the Great Star Cluster ‘Asgard,’ who are your adversaries, are moving to awaken the calamity sleeping there and bring it forth.”
“And?”
“I suspect their intention is to incite the awakened calamity to destroy you, then snatch the epithet of ■■■ that you possess.”
Kang-jun replied resolutely.
“It’ll be a wasted effort.”
“Are you certain?”
“I will never die.”
Hades then advised in a rather serious tone.
“The epithet of the calamity sleeping in that dimension is known as ‘The Calamity Wrought by ■Time,’ but I know its true name.”
“True name?”
“Even for you, it won’t be easy to defeat ‘it,’ but the story might change if you know its true name.”
A moment of silence hung in the air.
“Its true name is…”
Just then, a brilliant white light enveloped the two of them…
[The Creator God has intervened to block the deity Hades from revealing the secret!]
[The Grand Underworld Council has officially ended!]
[You will be returned to your original location shortly!]
[3-.]
[2-.]
[1-.]
Amidst it all, the ‘last words’ Hades had left echoed in Kang-jun’s ears like a ringing bell.
“Its true name is…”
The voice was faint, yet distinct.
“The Discarded ■■■.”
And so, Kang-jun and Marbas were forcibly returned to the 「Dock of the River of Three Crossings」, against their will.
“What was that? What an unsettling feeling…”
Meanwhile, his warship, the Naglfar, which had already dropped anchor at the dock and completed its mooring, came into view.
It seemed the time had come to put a proper end to this ‘journey to the Underworld,’ which had all started with a single word from Seol-i.
As Kang-jun and Marbas reappeared inside the cabin, Yun Hui-su hid her daughter behind her and asked anxiously.
“D-don’t tell me we have to say goodbye already?”
She looked like a wild animal protecting its young, a truly pitiful sight…
But even Kang-jun could not defy the natural order of life and death.
“It is time to let her go.”
At his words, Yun Hui-su suddenly dropped to her knees and began to beg, wringing her hands.
“Just a moment, please, just a little more time together…”
When Kang-jun forced himself to look stoic and shake his head, Yun Hui-su finally began to sob, “Please, please…”
“I promise your child will be happy.”
He had convened the council and amended the ‘laws of the Underworld,’ so there would be no trial, no harsh punishment.
She would be sent directly to the Eternal Spring of Repose, the realm he governed in Niflheim, where she would be given small chores.
Since it was a place where flowers bloomed everywhere, he planned to give her the task of tending to the flowerbeds and letting her run and play freely in her spare time.
“Furthermore, when the day comes that your life ends, I will summon you there as well, so you can be reunited with your daughter.”
At that, Yun Hui-su hugged her daughter tightly, muttering, “Hyesu, Hyesu…” like someone who had lost her mind for a moment…
“Then right now…”
If she truly had to die to be with her daughter, she would rather die right then and there.
She suddenly clamped her hands around her own slender neck and squeezed with all her might…
Kang-jun immediately grabbed her hands, pried them away, and began to explain in a gentle, placating tone, as if soothing a child.
“Unfortunately, if you take your own life, you may never be able to reunite with your daughter.”
Although he wasn’t an expert on the laws of the Underworld, hadn't they been harsh even to children who died unfairly in accidents?
Considering that, it was only natural to assume that someone who ended their own life could not expect lenient treatment.
“Mom.”
Just then, Hyesu wrapped her arms tightly around Yun Hui-su, patting her back gently as she spoke in a soft voice.
“Mom, later…”
She then added.
“Let’s be sure to meet again later.”
“Hyesu…”
“I’ll be waiting.”
The child was composed.
“Mom, you’re strong, right?”
“My Hyesu…”
“Hyesu is strong, too.”
The child smiled as she spoke.
“You said you’d defeat all the bad monsters for me.”
At those words, Yun Hui-su let out a small, “Ah.” She nodded blankly and replied in a dazed tone.
“Yes, Mom will defeat them all for you…”
The child hugged her mother tightly again.
“You have to defeat them all before you come.”
“I will, I’ll defeat them all…”
“You can do it without Hyesu, right?”
Yun Hui-su bit her lip and nodded. The child carefully asked again.
“You can live without Hyesu, right?”
Her mother’s words, that she couldn’t live without her, had weighed heavily on the child’s mind, making her hesitate to cross the river she had to cross.
Now, the child had finally mustered the courage to voice the question she had held in her small heart for so long.
“I don’t know…”
“Mom, live,” the child said soothingly. She gave a smile as fresh as a wildflower in early summer and added.
“Still, you have to live.”
The child gently posed the question, then whispered into her mother's ear the words she had kept buried inside.
“Live, even without Hyesu.”
Yun Hui-su nodded weakly.
Before her child, who was trying so hard to be brave…
She had no choice but to be brave herself.
Just as the child, holding the boatman’s hand tightly, stepped off the Naglfar and set her first foot on the dock.
*Crack—*
Suddenly, a fissure split the air, and from beyond it, a large carriage emerged…
“Let’s go.”
With the child and a carriage full of toys from Seol-i, it began to race toward the Eternal Spring of Repose, which lay beyond the rift.
“Bye, Mom!”
The child poked her head out of the carriage’s small window and began to wave her tiny hand vigorously, trying her best to act composed.
It was a fated farewell.
Even though she had known this parting was coming, Yun Hui-su wailed and sobbed.
Watching the scene, Kang-jun also felt a tightness in his own chest.
He felt a little estranged by this change in himself, this newfound ability to empathize with another’s sorrow.
“Let’s go back.”
And so, the Naglfar once again left the dock behind and began its voyage toward the mortal world.
