Try Living Without Me Chapter-52

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: cyno
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“Let’s make a bet.”

……

The Grim Reaper gave no answer.

Just moments ago, she had heard his eerie voice calling her name. Even if she couldn’t see him, that didn’t mean his voice should be inaudible.

“I’ll assume you’re listening and speak anyway. Don’t complain later that I didn’t warn you.”

— ……?

“What I want to propose is… damn it, are you even listening? You damn ghost. Just give me a sign if you’re hearing this.”

At this point, if she couldn’t negotiate with the Reaper, death was the only outcome. So, Dang Sobak grumbled and continued speaking as she pleased.

Truth be told, she didn’t fear death much.

After all, everyone born as a human was bound to die—it was just a matter of time.

Similarly, she had no lingering attachments to life.

The world was far too dull to harbor such regrets.

Nor was she afraid of the afterlife.

She had known since childhood that she was destined for hell, so she had long since made peace with it.

But…

‘I can’t die with all these unanswered curiosities.’

Hell had no night sky, and thus, no celestial readings to decipher.

That was the only thing that frightened her.

The “Fanciful Epic of the Sword Saint,” which had reignited her long-dormant interest, couldn’t be left unfinished like this.

In hell, she’d be stuck suffering for millennia, tormented by the thirst of unanswered questions.

That was the only reason she didn’t want to die.

Or rather, the only reason she didn’t want to die now.

“Reaper… I’m not stupid enough to not realize when I’m about to die.”

— ……

“Two shichen… that’s about how much time I have left, right? Since Reapers must strictly follow the Book of Life and Death, you can’t just take me before then.”

— ……?

“Yet you tried to claim me early… probably because you’re swamped with work, huh? So much that you’d resort to shortcuts. And that must mean… there’s someone else nearby who’s about to die soon. With the Chilhwajeon tomorrow, there might be casualties there too.”

— ……!

A subtle shift in the air—that alone told Dang Sobak she had struck a nerve.

Of course, she couldn’t relax just yet.

This was more of a sixth sense than a tangible confirmation.

“Well, I don’t care about your circumstances. Who lives or dies isn’t my concern. What I do want to tell you is… what if I cause trouble in those two shichen?”

— ……?

“Confused, right? Wondering what kind of trouble a mere mortal like me could cause. And even if I did, why would it matter to you? But… do you know that I’m privy to certain information that others shouldn’t know?”

— ……?

Dang Sobak paused, took a deep breath, and continued—her tone almost threatening as she picked up a brush and paper from the nearby desk.

“The creation of life.”

— ……!

“The resurrection of the dead.”

— ………!!

Just two phrases, but the air, which had been thick with bewilderment, turned vicious in an instant.

Those two words were considered taboo.

Like a mortal recklessly meddling with the heavens’ will.

“I can’t perform those two things right now. Even someone like me doesn’t have the means to pull them off in just two shichen.”

— ……

“But I can tell my father how to do it. The exact ratios for alchemical mixtures, the rituals and spells to summon souls… If I send him that, he’ll immediately try to break the taboo. He’s been obsessed with bringing my dead mother back for years, you know?”

— ……!

“Of course, it won’t be easy. The materials alone are absurdly rare… He’d need things like Gongcheong Seokyu or Mitaseongsu—extremely precious spiritual items. But my father? He’s the type to kidnap orphans for human experiments. He’d pour every last coin into this, no matter how futile. Can you picture the future now?”

— ……! ……!

The Reaper reacted violently—more intensely than ever before.

A murderous aura radiated from him.

— Dang Sobak, Dang Sobak, Dang So—!

Finally, in sheer disbelief, he hurriedly called her name three times, trying to extract her soul—

Snap!

“Go ahead and try~ If I don’t hear it, it doesn’t count!”

Dang Sobak smirked and plugged her ears. Left with no choice, the Reaper had to relent.

Unaware of this, she kept talking, still covering her ears as if determined to have the last word.

“You’re the same Reaper who came to me when I artificially created life before, right? The one who warned me never to do it again. I wasn’t sure the first time, but hearing you twice confirmed it.”

— ………….

“Reading the heavens’ will might violate the Mandate of Heaven, but it’s not as absolute as the natural order, right? Nothing disrupts the natural order more than the dead returning to life or the creation of beings that shouldn’t exist. Don’t you agree?”

— ……! ……!

“If such a taboo were broken… what would happen to you, the Reaper? The one who manages and guides the dead? A massive scandal involving the deceased. You’d get an earful from King Yama, wouldn’t you?”

— …………!!!!!

“So, let’s make a bet. A win-win. Well, it’s more like a win for me… but since I’m not exploiting the weakness I’ve got on you, it’s good for both sides.”

After a deliberate pause, she spoke again—

“Just wait until I finish reading the heavens’ will. If you don’t, I’ll spill everything to my father. What’s one missing soul among countless dead? It’s not like the world will end.”

— ………….

“In return, once I’m done, I’ll accept death without complaint. And I swear I’ll never speak of—or attempt—life creation or resurrection again. If I break my word, you can take me immediately. A bet’s a bet, after all.”

— ………….

After a brief silence, Dang Sobak cautiously unplugged her ears once she felt the atmosphere had settled.

Luckily, the Reaper didn’t call her name again.

Still cautious, she kept her hands near her ears, ready to block them at any moment while waiting for the Reaper’s response.

— ……For a Reaper to arbitrarily adjust lifespans is also a taboo.

A vague answer—neither acceptance nor refusal.

But Dang Sobak immediately grasped its true meaning.

“Calling it a taboo means it’s possible, right? If it were truly impossible, there’d be no need to define it as a taboo.”

— Tch.

The Reaper’s faint grinding of teeth echoed. It was as good as acceptance.

Hearing this, Dang Sobak smirked victoriously.

“So, we’re done here? No snatching me away prematurely, got it? Or else… you know what I’ll do, right? I’ll disrupt the natural order itself.”

— Keep your promise. Break it, and I’ll throw you into the Flaming Prison—worse than hell—for eternity, never letting you set foot in the underworld again.

“…That’s terrifying. Anyway, I got it, so if you’re done, scram. I’ve got celestial readings to finish before dawn.”

— …….

As the Reaper turned to leave, Dang Sobak’s gaze shifted to the night sky—

“Ah, right. Hold on. One last question.”

She stopped the Reaper, who was about to depart for his next victim, and asked something that had been on her mind since before he arrived.

“The current head of the Namgoong Family, Namgoong Bin—what’s his deal? Why doesn’t someone like him have a star?”

— …….

“Ugh, playing mute again? Since we’ve made a deal, you can at least tell me this much. Why doesn’t Namgoong Bin have a star?”

After a brief hesitation, the Reaper left behind a cryptic remark before vanishing.

— When a person dies, their star falls.

“…Ha!”

Left alone again, Dang Sobak closed her eyes briefly, pondering, then broke into a grin.

The smile of a hunter who’d just spotted fascinating prey.

“How interesting.”

—

“Namgoong Bin, you bastard!! It was you!! You’re the one who framed the Sword Saint!!”

A man, tightly bound with rope, screamed at the top of his lungs.

Crouching before him, Namgoong Bin twirled a dagger in one hand.

Given Namgoong Bin’s sheer size, the man couldn’t escape his reach no matter how much he squirmed—especially with all his limbs tied.

“Ah, Merchant Guild Leader, what a pleasure to finally meet face-to-face. I believe we crossed paths a couple of times during the Crimson Blood Tournament… or was it?”

Licking his lips out of habit, Namgoong Bin taunted him mockingly.

“Spit! Shut your mouth!! You rat-faced bastard!!”

With his limbs restrained, all the man—the Iron Sun Merchant Guild Leader—could do was spit.

Unfazed, Namgoong Bin wiped the thick saliva off his face with his sleeve.

“Hmm… Why did you have to believe in the Sword Saint? If you’d just cursed him like everyone else, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“You scum—! Can’t you shut that mouth?! You dare slander the Sword Saint and think you’ll get away with it?! Have you no fear of heaven?!”

“I know Namgoong Cheolbin once saved the Iron Sun Merchant Guild… but what good does that do you now? Dead men tell no tales. Though I suppose it’s pointless to lament now.”

“You bastard!! I’ll tear you apart!! I’ll chew your organs to— GAAAHK!!”

Thunk!

Namgoong Bin’s dagger plunged into the guild leader’s throat. Blood gushed as flesh split grotesquely. The man who had believed in the Sword Saint to the end and investigated his traces met a futile demise.

A death so common in the vast world that no one cared.

Not even Namgoong Bin, who had just killed him.

“You knew too much.”

With those indifferent final words, Namgoong Bin stood up.

Behind him, a martial artist silently appeared and began disposing of the body—Cheolho-gak, Namgoong Bin’s right-hand man.

“My lord, Baekyoung Sawang still hasn’t returned today.”

“Is that so? Tsk, why’d that guy suddenly disappear without a word… Could’ve at least left a note.”

Namgoong Bin had no idea that Baekyoung Sawang had been torn apart by Salseong and devoured by the Blood Cult’s Jiangshi.

“And here I was, planning to delegate more work to him… Damn it, even if I’m defying heaven’s will, it’s not like the heavens are helping me.”

Grumbling in irritation, Namgoong Bin’s expression made Cheolho-gak cautiously speak up.

“My lord, if you’re troubled, please confide in me. I’ll take on Baekyoung Sawang’s duties as well.”

“You’re too dull to understand even if I explain.”

“Still, please tell me. Who knows? Speaking might help you find a solution.”

“Hmm… You’ve got a point. Maybe voicing my thoughts will spark an idea.”

Namgoong Bin turned to Cheolho-gak, who was still handling the fresh corpse, and began speaking.

“The biggest concern is Salseong’s silence. Given the thoroughness of the Assassination Society’s work, news should’ve arrived by now… If they failed, they should’ve at least refunded the commission.”

“Could it be because the target was the Sword Saint? Even tracking him down must be difficult. We haven’t been able to locate him either.”

“You underestimate the Assassination Society too much. They’re an elite group—one of the three major factions in the Central Plains alongside the Orthodox Alliance and the Black Blade Society. Even the Blood Cult avoided them during their invasion. Given their intelligence network, they should’ve found him long ago.”

“Is that so? Hmm… Then what should we do? Should we inquire with the Assassination Society?”

“Doubt they’d answer kindly… Ah.”

Mid-sentence, Namgoong Bin’s expression blanked momentarily—the look of someone struck by sudden realization.

“Damn it, no wonder there’s no news… That’s what it was? Ha, to think I only realized this now. I must be getting old.”

“My lord? Did you forget something important?”

“I did. Something crucial. I forgot that the pink-haired girl Cheolbin kept sparing in every loop’s early stages had the same hair color as Salseong. Hah… To miss such a simple connection.”

Namgoong Bin let out a hollow laugh.

“Then Salseong must be that girl Cheolbin saved. Right, that makes sense. That’s why she ignored the request and told the other assassins not to take any jobs targeting the Sword Saint. Everything fits now.”

“My… my lord? What are you talking about? Every loop? Early stages?”

“No need for you to know. The real issue is what to do now. If Salseong ignored our request… I’ll need someone else to kill Namgoong Cheolbin.”

Namgoong Bin tapped his temple, deep in thought.

Not that he needed much time to deliberate.

Only four people in the world had the martial prowess to kill Namgoong Cheolbin.

The Five Peaks of the World.

Excluding Namgoong Cheolbin himself, that left four.

1. The Great Monk of Shaolin – Out of the question.
2. The Assassination Society’s Leader, Salseong – Also out. Doubt she’d work with him now.
3. The Heavenly Demon of Tian Shan – Impossible. Too far away, and meeting him would be suicidal.

“That leaves just one.”

The Imperial Overseer, Gwanjon.

Not a martial artist, but arguably the most influential figure in the current martial world.

He single-handedly reinstated the fading “No Conflict Between Officials and Martial Artists” treaty and eradicated the “Evil Path” factions from the martial world.

No wonder only bandit sects and river clans remained—Gwanjon had annihilated the “Evil Path Heaven”, the central force of all heretical sects.

The Black Blade Society’s rapid rise was thanks to absorbing the survivors left adrift after that purge.

“You’ll go to Gwanjon. Tell him the Namgoong Family Head wishes to meet.”

“W-What? G-Gwanjon?! The martial world’s butcher?!”

“Problem? I won’t force you.”

“N-No! If my lord commands it, of course I’ll go! I’m just… a little worried. I’ll depart immediately!”

Swallowing his protests, Cheolho-gak turned to leave—

“Wait.”

Namgoong Bin suddenly called him back.

“Actually, don’t go to the authorities. Just head to the alliance. I’ll meet Gwanjon myself.”

“What?! Y-You’re going personally?! That’s too dangerous! Let me go instead!”

Cheolho-gak protested vehemently, but Namgoong Bin shut him down firmly.

He knew his subordinate would follow him secretly otherwise.

“No, this task is beyond you. Just go to the alliance leader and request funds. About 2,000 gold ingots. And don’t forget to mention that laundering through the Gold Coin Merchant Guild will handle the rest.”

“The alliance leader…? You mean the Sword Venerable? Would she even obey my orders?”

“Hmm? The name contract should ensure compliance… Ah, right. That was me.”

“Even if I deliver the message, I doubt the alliance leader will listen.”

Stumped by this unexpected hurdle, Namgoong Bin froze momentarily.

He closed his eyes, massaging his temples, then muttered under his breath—not to Cheolho-gak, but to himself.

“Hmm… One backstab usually makes them compliant. Should I tell Cheolho-gak to try it…?”

By sheer coincidence, Cheolho-gak overheard.

“Huh? What did you say just now?”

“Hm? I said one backstab might make her compliant. But don’t actually try it. Coming from you, it’d backfire.”

“No, I mean… what’s a backstab? Back… stab…? You said that word earlier too, during the alliance leader’s interrogation. Did you mispronounce Bokho Fist?”

Cheolho-gak looked utterly baffled.

Namgoong Bin stared at him blankly before suddenly bursting into laughter.

To Cheolho-gak, it seemed completely out of nowhere.

“Pfft—HAHAHA! Right, backstab is modern slang! Even its etymology is foreign! No wonder it sounds out of place in a wuxia setting!”

Cheolho-gak gaped at him, but Namgoong Bin couldn’t stop laughing.

“Thirteen years here, and I’ve practically become a martial artist myself. Hahaha… Just thinking about it makes me laugh.”

He chuckled intermittently, shaking his head.

“Recalling memories of our language like this… Life really is full of surprises.”

Still grinning, Namgoong Bin finally addressed Cheolho-gak’s earlier concern.

“Ah, right. The contract binds the contract itself, not me. It’s in the second drawer of my desk. Take it with you—that should enforce the order. Heh…”

“Uh… Yes, understood. I’ll return soon.”

After one last worried glance, Cheolho-gak set off for the martial alliance.

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