43rd Death - The Making Of A Killer, Part 1

'So… this is the classroom,' Jiho thought, standing beside Seokjin and Yuna, eyes fixed on the room number at the end of the empty hallway.

"Alright, Jiho."

Yuna's voice snapped him out of it. She looked at him with a serious expression.

"…Let's talk after school."

Jiho's gaze drifted—then snapped to the window.

'…!!!'

Both Seokjin and Yuna tilted their heads, noticing his eyes widen. They followed his gaze toward the window—nothing.

"What's wrong—"

"GET DOWN!!!"

Jiho shoved Yuna aside and threw himself over her.

"Wha—!"

BOOM.

The hallway exploded.

The window burst first, followed by a shockwave that tore through the corridor. The entire building trembled from the blast. Jiho shielded Yuna with his body as shattered glass and dust rained down around them.

"Seok…jin…!! SEOKJIN!!" Yuna cried out the moment she realized he wasn't beside them.

Instinctively, Jiho pressed his hand against her shoulder, holding her down, eyes scanning the smoke-filled hallway.

'I need to keep her out of this…!!'

A cold, almost casual voice echoed through the settling dust.

"Jiho… An? Nah, that ain't you, right kid?"

The smoke thinned—just enough for Jiho to see.

'In… one hit? He's down!?'

There, emerging from the haze, was a man in a leather jacket, holding Seokjin—hulking form and all—by the throat.

Unconscious, as the man was smiling calmly. Directly at Seokjin.

"I can tell just by looking at your memories… The mom's memory drawer is empty…" the man muttered, amused. "But what luck—you're still a player. I'mma get loads of EXP from you."

'What…!? Even with this Perception stat… I… I didn't even see how he took him down!' Jiho exhaled sharply, stunned.

"SEOKJIN…!!! SEOKJIN!!!" Yuna's voice rang out again.

Jiho's head snapped toward her. She looked frantic—eyes wide, face pale.

"LET GO OF HIM, MOTHERFUCKER!!!" she screamed, unhinged, struggling beneath Jiho's hold.

'Right. That doesn't matter. I need to stop him,' Jiho thought, gaze sharpening.

'If I don't… he's going to get us all locked up and experimented on like lab rats. I can't have that. I need to stop him before anyone spots us—!'

"Stay here. I'll take care of this."

Jiho stood, his calm voice slicing through Yuna's panic like a knife.

As he rose, Jiho's Perception surged—time seemed to slow.

The man was about to crush Seokjin's throat.

'I don't know how he got him… but I won't let him use that on me…!!'

'Put it all equally into Strength and Agility!!!' Jiho commanded in his mind.

[Status Window]

Name: Jiho An

Class: Assassin

Level: 50

Stat Points Available: 400 → 280

[Strength]: 40 → 100

[Agility]: 40 → 100

[Vitality]: 100

[Perception]: 100

[Intelligence]: 25

[You cannot raise any more! You must advance to Second Subclass Advancement!]

'…Fuck!! No—it doesn't matter. This should do it!' Jiho clenched his fist.

"Skill," he called aloud, voice steady.

"…Ah?"

Joon-Seok turned slightly, sensing something—

—A second too late.

"[Shadow Step – Lv.1]," Jiho said.

He vanished.

EXP: 0%

Instantly blink a short distance in any direction. (Range: 1m)

HP Cost: 100

Cooldown: 10s

Jiho reappeared right in front of him—fist already flying.

He struck the arm holding Seokjin.

BOOM.

It disintegrated instantly—shoulder and all.

"…Ah…?" Joon-Seok murmured, stunned, staring at the space where his limb used to be. His eyes widened, almost comically slow, as if his brain couldn't register what had just happened. Blood spilled freely from the exposed, mangled joint.

Jiho's chest rose and fell with ragged breaths as Seokjin's unconscious body slumped to the floor.

Yuna immediately scrambled toward him.

"Seokjin, Seokjin!! Come on, I'm here, please—wake up, wake up…!!"

She slapped his cheeks over and over like a panicked child, desperate, not knowing what else to do.

His head lolled uselessly from side to side. Still unresponsive.

"He's… alive…" Jiho's chest heaved, eyes wide as he stared down at his bloody fist.

"I can hear his breathing," he huffed.

Yuna didn't understand how he knew. But somehow… she believed him.

There was a calm certainty in Jiho's voice that anchored her.

"Ah… hahaha…"

A wheezing laugh echoed from below. Joon-Seok, kneeling in a pool of his own blood, grinned up at Jiho.

"You must be Jiho… I'm sure of it."

'Right… this guy. He knew my name… Who is he…?' Jiho's heart pounded, his body tense. The man was bleeding out—but he was still smiling.

"Before I die…" Joon-Seok coughed, blood spilling from his lips, "…I need to tell you something. It's an important life lesson… and a critical detail. Just for you… only for your ears… Come close. Listen to me."

Even with his heightened Perception, Jiho could hear it—his heartbeat was real, faint, but honest.

He wasn't bluffing.

And he knew Jiho's name.

Whatever it was—Jiho needed to hear it.

Driven by instinct and adrenaline, Jiho dropped to one knee, eyes narrowed with caution, and leaned in.

His ear hovered inches from the man's mouth.

Then—

Seokjin's eyes snapped open.

"SEOKJIN!!" Yuna cried out, overjoyed.

"JIHO… NO… GET… AWAY FROM HIM…!!"

Seokjin's voice was hoarse—strained—but desperate.

He couldn't move.

Jiho didn't hear him. His focus was locked on Joon-Seok's dying breath—until it wasn't.

"Your naivety…" Joon-Seok whispered, lips curling into a grin, "…is why I'll get to kill your mommmy."

His voice twisted into a low chuckle.

"Thanks, kid."

Before Jiho could react, Joon-Seok's palm slammed against his face.

"[Skill: Life Drain]," he said, voice thick with mockery.

Jiho's body went limp.

A heartbeat later, Joon-Seok's mangled shoulder began to regenerate—flesh reknitting, muscle reforming.

"You've got some nice stats, bro…"

[EFFECT: YOU NOW TEMPORARILY GAIN A STAT BOOST FROM YOUR VICTIM'S BODY!]

[JOON-SEOK – STATUS WINDOW]

[Strength]: 100

[Agility]: 100

[Vitality]: 100

[Perception]: 100

[Intelligence]: 74

[EFFECT DURATION: 2 HOURS]

[WARNING: YOU'VE USED LIFE DRAIN TWICE TODAY! YOU MAY NOT USE IT AGAIN FOR 48 HOURS!]

"And… damn. That's my target?" he muttered, glancing at the profile in his head.

"Sheesh… That's one hot mommy you got there, Jiho."

His grin deepened. Cruel. Unfiltered.

"Maybe I'll play with her once I get there. And when you finally wake up—paralyzed, helpless—I'll make sure you get a front-row seat while I fuck her. While I kill her. That'll teach you… not to be so deliciously naive."

"…Before I kill you too, of course."

"Ahh…"

'Fuck… no… No… Mom… MOM…'

Jiho gasped internally, panic rising—before everything faded to black.

His consciousness slipped away.

Yuna sat frozen, unable to move.

Joon-Seok slung Jiho's limp body over his shoulder and turned to her, grinning.

"Lucked out, haven't you?" he said casually, looking down at her.

"I've gotta kill this guy's mommy for some EXP and rewards. You understand, right?"

He smirked.

"Well. Smell ya."

And with that, he jumped into the air.

Yuna clutched Seokjin tightly, trembling. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak.

— LATER, OUTSIDE JIHO'S HOUSE —

"Phew… Nice joint, kid," Joon-Seok muttered, standing in the backyard with Jiho slung over his shoulder.

He scanned the home, licking his lips.

"Don't worry, I won't make too much of a mess. Nothing a good mop can't fix—"He paused.

"Or maybe I will… She was fucking hot, after all…"

His eyes gleamed as he looked toward the door.

"Now then. Let's do thi—"

He froze.

The door to the An residence opened.

"Thank you, I'm full," said a calm voice.

A young man stepped outside and turned back.

"You sure? Don't feel uncomfortable—I can always make more when Jiho gets back!" a gentle female voice called from inside.

"I… I know, Miss An," the boy replied, awkward.

"Thanks. Really. That was the best…" he cleared his throat, "the best meal I've ever had."

He bowed.

"I've got something I need to take care of."

He shut the door behind him and slowly turned.

Facing Joon-Seok.

His hands slid into his pockets. He stood tall.

"Ahh…" Joon-Seok exhaled, grinning like a child.

"Jangy!!!" he sang out. "Look at you! You LOST THE WHEELCHAIR! That means... You're just like me, right? Since no way your mommy and daddy did anything for you since you were so worthless!"

"…"

Jang's eyes flicked to Jiho's body—then back to Joon-Seok.

His hand clenched, knuckles popping.

"…You dog-killing piece of shit," he growled.

"I'm gonna break every bone in your body and feed you your own SHIT. Cocksucking cum gobbler."

He raised a middle finger, his voice cold and unshaking.

"Let's see if you're still laughing when I cave your fucking skull in."

Joon-Seok's smirk vanished.

"…That's rude, Jangy. Do I need to reteach you manners?"

"Kill yourself," Jang snapped.