Chapter 18: Shield and Dagger (6)

After a couple more minutes So-yeong finally calmed down ,her eyes were still red from all the crying and her clothes were drenched in tears.

She finally noticed that the floor was now eerily silent and So-yeong could tell that at least there were no more ghouls around her thanks to her 'Keen Hearing'

"Hic..sob.."

Slowly So-yeong looked around and realized what was in front of her.

Countless dead ghouls were sprawled along the hallway some of them had their head and spinal cords torn away from their body, others had their heads slammed and crushed to the wall or floor, some had half of their heads torn, and some were bitten from head to neck.

It was truly a carnage were blood and gore painted the floor and walls like some kind of artist frustratingly painting nonsense.

"blurgh!"

Unable to withstand the scene coupled with the smell of flesh and blood So-yeong vomited on the floor the scene in-front of her was too nauseating to look at, this wasn't a scene that a child was supposed to see.

"Hic..sob.."

*I have to move...*

So-yeong was pale, her lips won't stop shaking, her hands are cold and she could barely even keep her strength it wouldn't be weird if she fainted right now.

*I need to help uncle*

After a couple of minutes So-yeong regained her strength although she was still pale and her hands were still cold and shaking

So-yeong slowly stood up luckily her vomit didn't reach the blanket and there were no bloodstain that might've came from a ghoul.

So-yeong picked the blanket without folding it and started walking steadily although it wasn't as steady at all as her legs were still shaking.

*Right I still have to wrap Uncle's wound with the blanket to stop the bleeding*

Normally wrapping an unsterilized cloth on an open wound is not recommended as it could cause an infection but that's just in a 'normal situation' and So-yeong isn't really in a situation where you'd call 'normal'

"Ahh!"

**Bam**

Once again the unfolded blanket managed to snag her foot and made her fall down and a loud thud and crash followed her fall it was undoubtedly an audible sound.

"Hiii!"

So-yeong squealed in fear and hurriedly hid herself inside the blanket afraid of the fact that there might still be monsters around and that they would eat her the last remaining courage she had managed to salvage disappeared.

"Hic..hic..sob..u-uncle..hic..uncle.." So-yeong started crying and sobbing.

She couldn't stop sobbing as she called out to the man that saved her, as she hid inside the blanket suddenly amidst her sobbing her ears heard something from afar.

**Step** **step**

They were the sounds of footsteps it sounded heavy and unsteady as it walked closer to where So-yeong was.

"!"

Afraid of the footsteps So-yeong held her breath trying her best not to let out a sound.

**Step** **step**

The sound got closer and closer and as it did So-yeong's shaking became worse and her pale face became even paler, the coldness of her hands reached her neck she was in terror.

**Step**

It stopped in-front of her.

*Uncle please save me...*

She tried her best to keep silent but her body found it hard to stay still as it kept shaking under the blanket.

She could feel that something was in front of her but she didn't dare to peek outside the blanket.

"So-yeong.. are you alright?"

*?*

Hearing a familiar rustic voice So-yeong peeked out of the blanket then she saw a large man crouching while covering his blooded shoulder.

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In front of him was a blanket that is clearly hiding someone small a child to be precise.

Of course that child was So-yeong and Bak knew this too, the blanket was shivering like a puppy that meant So-yeong was shaking inside too.

Bak had a look of concern in his face and he started looking around as if he was looking for something.

*I woke up because of a scream*

Indeed Bak had lost his consciousness because he lost too much blood more than his Regeneration (small) could possibly recover. Currently his wound was still open and blood still came out but unlike last time the wound was smaller.

An ear piercing scream had forcefully dragged out Bak's consciousness when he opened his eyes it took time for him to regain his wits and his head felt like it was being torn apart as he listened to the scream and he had the sudden urge to slam his head to the ground as hard as he can.

[Negative Status Resisted!]

But thankfully before he could even start raising his head his skill helped him regain control and the ear piercing scream finally turned into crying in his ears.

Bak followed the crying and then it stopped but Bak continued walking and finally he reached this shivering blanket.

*That scream was definitely similar to a 'Banshee' but that's not important now what's more important is...*

"So-yeong.. are you alright?"

Bak asked in a concerned voice.

*She was closer to the scream I hope she's alright*

The scream had affected Bak even from afar he was concerned for So-yeong who was closer to the scream.

Suddenly the Blanket stopped shivering and a cute face of an 8 year old popped out it was So-yeong, her eyes were still watery and her voice was a bit shaky.

"U-ncle?"

So-yeong looked at Bak as if he was a ghost but almost instantly she was filled with relief and leap towards Bak's chest.

"!"

Bak was surprised by the sudden leap and almost stumbled back but he held his ground and catched So-yeong.

"Be careful you'll get blood on you"

Bak informed her as he slightly moved So-yeong away from his bloodied side.

So-yeong looked at Bak and to his wound, Bak noticed So-yeong's gaze shifting and grew curious.

"?.. It's fine Uncle will be fine this wound won't do me in yet so yo—"

Before Bak could finish his sentence So-yeong suddenly jumped out of his arms and picked up the blanket.

Bak observed the small child as she tried to collect the blanket with her small arms.

*Now that I think about it where did she find that? Did she carry it around? Why?*

Question marks swirled around Bak's mind when suddenly So-yeong spoke in a bit shaky voice.

"U-uncle.. um blanket.. c-cover wounds.. er blood.."

So-yeong spoke in a broken way that would've really made anyone confused.

"?"

Even Bak tilted his head in confusion.

"..."

"?...?"

"..."

"?"

A few seconds passed and So-yeong's face was as red as a tomato, she was embarrassed by the fact that she couldn't relay her intentions correctly. Maybe it was because of the shock of being chased by the ghouls that she couldn't speak properly or was it an effect of her 'scream'? nevertheless So-yeong was having a hard time relaying her thoughts into words.

Bak on the other hand tried his best on thinking.

*... Blanket,cover wound, blood?... Oh! Does she mean to use the blanket as a bandage?*

"You want to use it as a bandage for my wound?" Bak asked for confirmation.

"! Mhmm!"

Relieved that Bak guessed her intentions So-yeong nodded rapidly.

Seeing this reaction Bak nodded along.

"But its a bit big for a bandage.." Bak pointed out as he looked at the object.

Indeed the blanket was too big for it to be used as a bandage it at least needs to be cut to strips in order to be used as such.

Realizing this fact So-yeong looked at Bak in shock and looked at the blanket again she looked at Bak and the blanket again her expression was like a shocked squirrel.

Soon So-yeong's eyes grew teary and she was in the verge of crying again.

[———] the muffled mechanical voice started making a sound too.

"Should I help you? Here give it to me I'll turn it to strips"

But before So-yeong could burst out crying Bak offered to help.

So-yeong looked at Bak and her expression quickly turned into an expression of happiness.

"Mhmm!"

So-yeong handed the blanket over to Bak and watched earnestly as to how Bak would do it.

"..."

Bak was a bit embarrassed by So-yeong's earnest stare but he still proceeded.

[Herculean Strength Active]

Holding on to the blanket with both his hands he started tearing the blanket into strips.

**Kshhhk** **kshhhk** **kKsshhkk**

"Here it's done"

Bak handed So-yeong the now strips of the blanket.

"Y-yes"

After receiving the strips So-yeong quickly started wrapping Bak's shoulder where the wound was.

It was a haphazard way of wrapping and ut was understandable as So-yeong never really learned how to properly wrap a wound with bandage.

Bak who had experience could clearly see that So-yeong was doing it all wrong but after seeing the little girl's hard effort as she wrapped him with the DIY bandage strips Bak didn't want to ruin her effort.

*She probably ran away that time to find a way to help me* Bak thought.

"Done!"

Finally So-yeong finished wrapping Bak's shoulder.

If seen from a different perspective the way the strips were wrapped around Bak's shoulder would hinder his movements.

Bak knew this too but he didn't care.

*The wound's already close anyway*

"You did a good job!" Bak praised So-yeong with a smile.

So-yeong felt proud and happy as Bak praised her so she smiled happily in response.

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::Meanwhile Somewhere in Japan::

Two figures sat on a bench while a body lay in front of them with something floating above it.

"Alright I'm done re-adjusting his soul for his body" the male reaper said.

As he lowered his hands, his fingers were numb after moving it around in order to manipulate a soul.

"Finally!" The female Reaper sighed in relief.

She's been forced to watch over the process just incase something goes wrong but fortunately nothing bad happened.

"Yes finally.. but couldn't you have just recovered his soul without any issues?"

The male Reaper Complained as he looked at Alsyel's soul slowly merging with the body.

"It wasn't me who synchronized him with a 'memory' some local Grim Reaper did"

The female Reaper replied while shrugging.

"And where exactly is that 'local grim reaper' now?"

"Oh I sent him somewhere very faa~ar"

The female Reaper said with a mischievous smile on her face like a child who just pulled a prank.

"Somewhere far..."

"Yup.. he dared to speak rudely in front of me so he deserved it!"

"That temper of yours deserves an award" The male Reaper sighed and turned around

"Oh my thank you~!"

"That wasn't a compliment!"

"Anyways shouldn't he be awake by now?"

The female Reaper asked as she looked at Alsyel who has fully merged with the body.

"Not until I wrap him with my chains"

The male Reaper replied as he held black chains on his hands.

[Scythe•(Chain Form)]

[Option 1-2 Activate]

The black chain slowly wiggled its way and wrapped around Alsyel series of clanking accompanied it as it wrapped around.

Soon the chain fully wrapped around Alsyel like a mummy.

"Activate Option 3"

[Option 3: Soul Bound]

[Activated]

[From now on this soul will never leave this body]

[If situation arises where the body and soul is damaged beyond standard functions special option 4 will be activated]

[Do you agree to use Option 4 if need be?]

A transparent window appeared in front of the male Reaper.

"I agree"

[Confirmation has been received and acknowledged]

[From now on Option 4 will be used for emergencies]

The male Reaper swiped his hands along the air and the window disappeared in response. He was smiling along the way.

"Option 4... I can't believe the Supervisor actually allowed us to use it, even our own Supervisor back home refused the use of it"

The Female Reaper stated as she looked at the chains wrapped around Alsyel with astonishment.

"To be exact the Supervisor didn't explicitly allow it but he didn't refuse it either so I'm pretty sure its fine"

The male Reaper followed with an expression of 'I don't give a f*ck'

The female Reaper saw his expression and laughed in a most noble manner.

"Well that's worth noting better put that on my drafts just in case I need it"

"Oh you're an accomplice by the way"

The male Reaper smirked as he turned around.

In response the Female Reaper sighed in annoyance as she remembered this male Reaper's nickname within their society.

*Rotten Asshole*

"Haaahh I feel so refreshed! Playing with words is always fun!" The male Reaper shouted in happiness.

"Ugh"

Suddenly a sound from Alsyel came out, he was about to wake up.

"Ah but looking after this bastard really pisses me off"

The Reaper's smile quickly turned into a frown of annoyance as Alsyel slowly opened his eyes.

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