"..."
Castorice did not refuse.
It wasn't that she particularly valued the pleasures of food—it was just that she'd been here a whole day without eating a single thing. Was she hungry? Not really, but…
Alright, fine, she did value the pleasures of food.
The three of them gathered around the fire in front of the tent, using a fallen trunk as seating, chatting as they ate.
"Whoa! So you only became an S-rank today, Castorice-noona? That's amazing!"
Yoo Jinho's eyes went wide.
"Didn't you already graduate from university?"
Sung Jinwoo shot Yoo Jinho a resigned look. Here was a grown man with a degree, calling a current college student "noona."
"Haha, well, Castorice-noona is stronger than me, so it's only right to call her that."
Yoo Jinho seemed to have completely forgotten the tense standoff from earlier.
Or perhaps, since he wasn't Castorice's target and his mind wasn't overly complicated, he simply assumed the earlier situation had been a mutual feeling-out.
Sung Jinwoo, however, knew perfectly well that if he'd made one wrong move back there, he'd probably be keeping company with his shadow soldiers in the underworld right now.
And... even though they were chatting amiably enough now, there were still things Sung Jinwoo didn't understand.
First, why had Castorice sought him out with such a judgmental attitude? Second, how had she been able to enter that red Gate?
They'd only just met. Sung Jinwoo didn't think their relationship was at a point where they could pry into each other's secrets. Besides...
Because of Castorice, he'd lost two-thirds of his shadow soldiers. It wouldn't critically impact his combat strength, but... it was still a loss.
Sung Jinwoo wasn't the type to insist on forcing the dead to become his puppets.
After all, these shadows hadn't wronged him in life, and he genuinely hadn't known his power forcibly overrode others' wills. If he'd known, he would have been more cautious.
But even with all that context and understanding, it didn't mean Sung Jinwoo held no resentment at all.
Noticing his mood, Castorice spoke up. "Is the earlier matter still weighing on you, sir?"
"..."
Sung Jinwoo glanced at her but said nothing.
It wasn't that he was trying to act cold; he just couldn't quite gauge the young woman's emotions and didn't know how to respond.
From their current conversation, her personality seemed gentle enough. But first impressions lingered.
The oppressive pressure from the System's consciousness and senses wasn't something he could easily forget.
"My actions were not personally directed at you, sir. If you wish to voice complaints, I will accept them fully. After all, your power is a means of survival for you. Restricting it falls under my duty as a guide of the River of Souls. That it caused you inconvenience is an undeniable fact."
If he'd been a necromancer from the previous world, Castorice wouldn't have bothered with such explanations. That path would have been his own choice.
But this world was different. Here, one's path wasn't chosen; it was predetermined from the start.
"If I had to say, I do have some grievances," Sung Jinwoo admitted. "But with you taking this attitude, holding onto them would make me seem petty."
He sighed.
"I mentioned before that your ability differs from that of other necromancers, correct?"
It was rare to meet someone so perceptive, rational, and calm.
Castorice pondered for a moment, suddenly recalling the uncompleted rule from the underworld.
"Ordinary necromancers borrow the power of the deceased from the underworld. I, however, take the souls directly from it."
Sung Jinwoo naturally remembered. The difference, in simple terms, was the distinction between hiring and kidnapping.
What he didn't know was that this distinction only existed after Castorice's arrival.
Before Castorice came, necromantic summoning was also coercive. But now, with the underworld established, such practices were no longer permissible.
Necromancy could only function with the consent of the deceased.
Now that she thought about it... did she owe the necromancers an apology...?
"Your ability is extraordinarily powerful, sir. Not in terms of raw magical strength, but something more fundamental."
Castorice nodded. "I can relax the restrictions I placed earlier... but in return, you would need to pay a certain price."
A price?
Sung Jinwoo's expression remained unchanged. In a transaction, give and take was natural. If the other party demanded nothing, like the System did, that would be cause for worry.
Wait... like the System?
Sung Jinwoo's face abruptly paled.
Come to think of it, the last time he'd doubted the System was right after first obtaining it, shortly after he started growing stronger—around the time he first met Yoo Jinho and entered his first dungeon.
But since then, why had he so gradually and unquestioningly accepted the power the System granted?
Was it because it was the only entity offering hope of saving his mother? He didn't want to doubt it, didn't dare to doubt it.
Remembering that the Shadow Monarch's power also originated from the System, and that it had attracted someone as uniquely positioned as Castorice, Sung Jinwoo quickly regained his composure.
He turned to Yoo Jinho. "You know, I have a favorite barbecue seasoning. I think I left it in the tent."
"On it, Jinwoo-hyung!"
Yoo Jinho was no fool. He knew this meant there were things he shouldn't hear, that he was being asked to leave. He immediately darted into the tent and zipped the entrance shut.
"Castorice-ssi, could you tell me... just who exactly are you?"
A few moments ago, Sung Jinwoo wouldn't have asked this question.
"Your perception is truly remarkable, sir."
Castorice offered the praise.
Both knew it was somewhat perfunctory. After all, though Castorice hadn't stated it explicitly, her words and actions had revealed plenty of clues.
"I am the administrator of the underworld, the entity who brought the concept of death to this world. You may also call me Thanatos."
Castorice smiled. "However... though I call myself Thanatos, I am, in truth, the successor to that role."
Brought the concept of death to this world? In other words, if she didn't exist, death would no longer exist in this world?
Sung Jinwoo's eyes widened. He had tried to estimate Castorice's significance as highly as possible.
Even when she called herself the underworld's administrator—essentially its ruler—he wasn't overly surprised. But to bring the very concept of death? That was entirely different.
Death was part of the world's foundational rules... Even as a successor, this was beyond Sung Jinwoo's comprehension.
Wait...?
"Castorice-ssi! Can you see this thing?!"
Sung Jinwoo tried to summon the System interface, but the black window that usually appeared at a mere thought was now completely unresponsive.
The System was afraid!
Sung Jinwoo was absolutely certain of it. The System was afraid of the purple-haired young woman before him!
Afraid was good! Afraid was very good!
A smile actually spread across Sung Jinwoo's face. He wasn't afraid of overt transactions.
What he feared was unknowingly becoming a manipulated pawn, paying an unacceptable price in the shadows. But now, knowing the System wasn't invincible, that it too had something to fear—he couldn't help but feel a wave of relief.
Yes. Despite having known her for only a short time, in Sung Jinwoo's eyes, Castorice was far more trustworthy than the System.
"My apologies, Castorice-ssi. My own matters can wait."
Having calmed down slightly, Sung Jinwoo returned to the previous topic. "May I ask, what is the price you mentioned? And what did you mean by relaxing the restrictions?"
Curiosity flickered in Castorice's eyes, but she didn't press for answers. He clearly intended to explain eventually.
So, she followed Sung Jinwoo's lead. "I wish for you to help me complete the rules of the underworld."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.