Inheriting the Throne of the Underworld

Chapter 3 – The Inheritor of Mythology (1)

“I will do it… Become The King of the Underworld.”

Perhaps it was a rash decision, fueled by youthful impulsiveness.

But I knew clearly which path would leave me with no regrets.

Even if choosing the other path meant forgetting those regrets, my heart ultimately desired this one.

Sometimes, there are moments when one must choose the right path over the easy one.

For me, now was that moment.

“Hey, are you sure about this?”

Hogu Byeolseong, who had been listening quietly, interjected with a low voice.

“The god of reward and punishment. It’s not something a little sprout like you can achieve just by sitting on their butt.”

With the eyes of a god looking down on a human, she abruptly assessed my resolve.

“Your father kept sending the same fools to Hell because he couldn’t achieve that.”

From the perspective of a god, she questioned the weight of destiny.

“They’re born, live foolishly, and only receive punishment in death. They’re reborn, live foolishly again, and die again to receive the same punishment. He watched over those idiots for a whole 20,000 years.”

“…”

I understood what she meant.

I thought about the countless sinners who had been dragged to this land.

Even if I ascended to Yeomra’s throne, their procession would never end.

Because punishment in this land was only meted out after life ended, and even after receiving that punishment, humans forgot everything.

They forgot and repeated their mistakes.

“…I know.”

So, I answered.

“Because I know, I want the myths of this land to continue.”

If even the world beyond disappeared, how could those foolish lives be held accountable?

“…”

Hogu Byeolseong said no more.

She simply continued to look down at me with unreadable eyes.

The capricious eyes of the plague goddess— difficult for a mere 49-year-old Chasa to comprehend.

“Hmm, well.”

It was the Director who spoke again.

“Alright, sir.”

She observed me for a moment and then nodded in a businesslike manner.

“Here are the documents for the transfer of the underworld’s mythology.”

She handed me a stack of unidentified papers.

“Please sign here.”

I quickly skimmed through and signed them.

Then, she solemnly declared.

“Very well. As of this moment, the Cosmic Order Preservation Council guarantees Lee Jeyeon’s right to participate in the Universal Mythology Integration Pilot Project as the supreme god of the underworld.”

Although it sounded a bit ridiculous as I listened to her. I had braced myself and accepted it, but… well.

It wasn’t like I was shooting down the sun or fighting monsters.

Was this really mythology?

But just then.

[ (!) An incomplete ‘Rumor (L)’ has been generated based on your Karma. ]

A pop-up window appeared unexpectedly.

[ ‘A new king has been born.’ ]

– Classification: Incomplete Rumor (L)

– Content: They say a new king has appeared in the world beyond (…)

– Effect: (!) This Rumor currently has no effect.

– Karma Points needed for completion: (0/100)

“Since you’ve participated in the Universal Mythology Integration Pilot Project, if you nurture this ‘Rumor’ into the sole ‘Myth’ of the Korean Underworld, you’ll achieve an initial victory.”

The Director’s explanation continued.

Nurturing a Rumor.

As a Hunter-turned-Chasa, I had a rough understanding of it.

In this era, Hunters occasionally obtain something called a “Rumor” with a low probability.

A Rumor is a visualization of a Hunter’s achievements— systematized and made visible.

For example, if you hunt a lot of goblins, you might obtain a Rumor like “Goblin Hunter,” which increases your stats against goblins.

In short, just as your reputation grows when you achieve something, if your achievements— like conquering dungeons and defeating other Hunters— are recorded as Rumors, you gain permanent power accordingly.

In that sense, Rumors are similar to skills.

However, while “skills” are innate and granted based on an Awakened’s characteristics, “Rumors” are acquired through achievements and can evolve into more powerful forms.

The important factor here is the grade of the Rumor.

Most Rumors are Normal (N) grade and cannot evolve.

However, Rumors with Unique (U) or Epic (E) grades can transform into more powerful Heroic Tales (U) or Epic Tales (E).

Therefore, Hunters possessing Heroic Tales or Epic Tales were rare, but rumors persisted of the existence of Legendary (L) grade Rumors, capable of evolving beyond even Epic Tales into full-fledged Legends.

And what I had in my hands right now was the rumored Legendary grade Rumor.

Moreover, the pinnacle of a Rumor wasn’t just a Legend.

“The final form of a ‘Rumor’ is a ‘Myth,’ isn’t it?”

A new kind of myth, different from existing ones, that could exert a real effect based on someone’s achievements.

The true goal of this project was to nurture Rumors into Heroic Tales, Epic Tales, Legends, and ultimately, Myths.

“Yes, but there are only nine Legends so far, let alone Myths. It seems the project hasn’t exactly gone as we intended.”

…I see.

So, while the underworld was closed, a few ‘Legends’ did emerge.

It dawned on me how little I knew about the living world.

After Daebyeolwang’s disappearance 20 years ago, Yeomra had completely forbidden travel to the living world.

Well, 20 years is enough time for the world to change twice over.

If I went out there, I’d have to start by understanding the current situation.

“First, you need to turn that Rumor into a Legend, sir.”

A more detailed explanation followed.

“If your Legend surpasses the other nine Legends and becomes the sole Legend of the Korean underworld, it will automatically ascend to become the Myth of the Korean underworld.”

“Yes, I understand.”

It wasn’t that bad, after all.

My Rumor was Legendary (L), capable of growing into a Legend.

Even Unique (U) Rumors that became Heroic Tales or Epic (E) Rumors that became Epic Tales were rare. To have a Rumor that could be nurtured into a true ‘Myth’ would undoubtedly be a great source of power.

“Yes, it seems to be working.”

The Director nodded.

“Now then.”

She suddenly pushed up her sunglasses.

“Prepare to pay your taxes.”

…Huh?

“You’ve officially become a participant in the Universal Mythology Integration Pilot Project, so you need to pay the participation fee.”

What?!

“Considering your circumstances, we’ll give you a grace period of three weeks.”

“Hold on, taxes? Out of the blue?”

I interrupted, dumbfounded. The Director sighed.

“Sir, the Cosmic Order Preservation Council just recognized your divine authority.”

Then, she declared boldly.

“Rights come with responsibilities. Even on a primitive planet like Earth, you should know that!”

Hey, who are you to lecture me?!

“But you haven’t done anything for me! Why should I pay taxes?!”

I retorted indignantly, and the Director puffed out her chest with a stern expression.

“If you live in a country, you pay taxes to the country! If you live in the universe, you pay taxes to the universe!”

Wow, that’s really annoying.

“So, how much is the tax?”

I had to give in, even though it was frustrating.

I was a minor god who had lived for 70 years without even knowing about cosmic officials.

What could I— a weakling, do against aliens who suddenly invaded Earth one day?

“Please wait a moment.”

The Director pulled out a calculator from somewhere.

“Hmm, based on the Karma accumulated in the underworld’s mythology…”

She tapped on the calculator and said.

“It’s 100 million Cosmic Credits.”

“100 million?!”

I shrieked at the outrageous amount.

“100 million won in three weeks?!”

I was stunned, but after a moment’s thought, I calmed down.

100 million was indeed a lot of money.

But Hunters often earned hundreds of millions at a time, didn’t they?

If I could develop my Rumor, I could somehow manage 100 million… No, honestly, 100 million would be a piece of cake…

“No, sir. It’s 100 million Cosmic Credits.”

The Director corrected me.

“Cosmic Credits?”

“It’s the new common currency on Earth, adopted by the Cosmic Order Preservation Council.”

What a lousy name!

“It varies depending on the exchange rate, but currently, it’s about a hundred times the Korean won.”

“A hundred times?”

Wait, then 100 million Cosmic Credits converted to won would be…

“10 billion?!”

I screamed again at the shocking amount.

“How am I supposed to make 10 billion won in three weeks?!”

I protested, feeling like this was truly unfair.

“That’s your problem, sir.”

The Director added shamelessly.

“If you fail to pay the taxes within the deadline, the Cosmic Order Preservation Council will revoke your status as the supreme god, and the underworld will become the property of the Cosmic Order Preservation Council. We are informing you of this in advance.”

“You cosmic swindlers!!!”

I finally exploded.

“You never intended to hand over the underworld to me from the beginning!”

Now I understood why the bulldozer had come first.

They were so eager to start the demolition because they never planned to give me the underworld in the first place!

They could just take it away under the pretense of taxes!

It was a forced merger from the start!

“Just wait, you cosmic bandits!”

***

A short while later.

I came to the living world to earn 10 billion won.

It was my first time in the living world in 20 long years since the underworld closed, but the situation wasn’t exactly conducive to reminiscing.

[ Lee Jeyeon (Yeomra) ]

* Authority – Reward, Punishment, Death, Underworld

* Skills – [L] Book of Life and Death, [L] Dosan Hell (Inactive), [L] Hwatang Hell (Inactive), [L] Hanbing Hell (Inactive)

* HP 9/9

* Strength 9/9

* Magic Power 10/10

* …

My status window, which I hadn’t opened in 49 years, was in the worst possible state.

“Not a single stat above 10!”

Having an average stat below 10 meant I was the lowest of the low.

“These bastards, they gave me this trash of a body?”

I was currently possessing a fake body created by the Cosmic Order Preservation Council.

A fake body.

Its official name was Semi-Permanent Possession Vessel.

It was a biological item created by the Cosmic Order Preservation Council in the image of a human.

Just as Hunters raise their stats, gods also become stronger by raising the stats of their fake bodies.

It meant that I had to grow using the System’s power, just like a human.

However, if the fake body suffered fatal damage and ceased to function, the possessing god would also perish.

So, if the body was fatally wounded, the god had to quickly leave it.

Unlike humans, gods could exist as spirits.

Being able to escape as a spirit before the body died was a privilege, if you could call it that.

But giving me such a weak body under these conditions…

“They’re basically telling me to die, aren’t they?”

Not only did they demand 10 billion won, but they also put me in this fragile body.

A weak body was prone to death, and even if I survived as a spirit, I couldn’t earn money in that state.

…In the end, the Cosmic Bandits’ target was clearly the underworld.

Either I, the sole heir, would die and they’d reclaim it, or they’d take it away because I couldn’t pay the 10 billion.

“Damn it, those dirty bastards.”

I frowned as I examined my status window.

But there was something strange, despite the body being so weak.

First of all, I had four Authorities.

– Reward

– Punishment

– Death

– Underworld

Authorities could grant special abilities on their own— amplify the effects of skills, or even combine with other Authorities to create entirely new effects.

Hunters usually obtained one Authority randomly upon Awakening.

Gaining additional Authorities was incredibly difficult.

As befitting the name ‘Authority,’ it required undergoing life-threatening trials.

But I had four Authorities.

Even though they were all Authorities befitting Yeomra’s name, having four Authorities was still not something just anyone could achieve.

“Moreover… all the skills are Legendary (L) grade too.”

Although they were currently inactive, all the skills named after the Ten Kings of Hell were L grade.

Even the ‘Book of Life and Death’ skill, which allowed me to read souls, was L grade.

With Unique (U) and Epic (E) skills being rare, having all skills at Legendary (L) was definitely extraordinary.

“If they really wanted me dead, why would they do this?”

Certainly, the body I was possessing was trash.

But a Hunter’s abilities weren’t solely determined by their stats.

After all, everyone’s stats became the same once they reached the maximum of 100.

What mattered in the end was what kind of ‘Rumors’ you had, and the power of Rumors depended on your Authorities and skills.

So, the fact that I, with an L-grade Rumor, had four Authorities and L-grade skills… meant I had potential far beyond that of other Hunters.

“Maybe they really do want me to create a new myth.”

I thought for a moment, then shook my head.

The absurd 10 billion won tax and the trash body were too malicious for that to be true.

Then what were they thinking, those guys?

“…By the way.”

After checking my status window, I glanced to the side.

“Are you going to keep following me, Mama?”

Because Hogu Byeolseong— that capricious pestilence goddess, adding to my already frayed nerves.

“Hmm, well.”

Hogu Byeolseong, meeting my gaze, looked me over.

“Hey, you really died young.”

She said something completely unrelated instead of answering my question.

“I didn’t realize it when you were wearing those rags earlier…”

“…Rags.”

She was probably referring to the black robe and *gat, the symbols of Chasa.

[TL/N: *a specific type of hat worn by men. It is typically a wide-brimmed, cylindrical hat made of bamboo or horsehair with a bamboo frame]

I had changed into modern clothes suitable for the living world when I manifested.

Well, I always kept my hair short because topknots were uncomfortable anyway.

“Your uniform is ugly.”

“…Uniform.”

Where did she even learn those words?

They said she disappeared a long time ago.

Now that I looked closely, she was wearing black canvas shoes that covered her ankles, along with her ornately embroidered *jeogori and red skirt.

[TL/N: *a traditional Korean upper garment that is part of the hanbok, or traditional Korean dress]

It seemed she had adapted quite well to the modern era.

“Doesn’t Gangrim say anything about your hair?”

“Ah.”

I fidgeted with my hair at her words.

It was light-colored for a native Korean, and too short for a topknot… Gangrim had initially scolded me a lot, asking what kind of mess it was and if I had dared to dye my hair as a Chasa.

“Anyway, you look different dressed like the kids these days.”

She muttered to herself, then asked.

“Did you at least die after coming of age?”

“Well, I lived a bit longer than that, at least.”

I died at twenty-one, so I had lived a little longer than that.

I just gave an awkward laugh.

“That’s a bit of a shame. You’re pretty; it would’ve been perfect if you had lived for another two or three years.”

“…”

“Well, I suppose you have a certain boyish charm.”

“…”

“Of course, even the dead would prefer a fresh-faced new Yeomra if they have eyes, right?”

“…”

Her words made me feel a bit awkward.

I cleared my throat and asked her again.

“Do you have any business with me?”

Not that… her compliment about my looks made me lower my guard or anything.

“Business, huh?”

Hogu Byeolseong unexpectedly gave me a faint smile.

“Well, I suppose you could call it that.”

For some reason… her face suddenly looked incredibly lonely.

[ (!) An incomplete ‘Rumor (E)’ has been generated based on your Karma. ]

At that moment, a pop-up window appeared out of nowhere.

It was a notification for an Epic grade Rumor.

“What’s this?”

I couldn’t help but be surprised when I checked the new Rumor’s identity.

It was a Rumor that absolutely shouldn’t have been possible at this point.

———–