Rain fell into his mouth, carrying the faint tang of dirt and metal.
".?"
He woke to a gray sky. The clouds were low and heavy, bloated with additional rain. Droplets descended slowly, languidly, each one striking cold against his skin.
He lifted his hand and rubbed his face, sensing grit between his fingers. Laboriously, he stood up, mud squelching under his hands. That was when he noticed his attire — a mud-covered, patched brown robe stuck to him like wet tissue, the clothing having a faint smell of mold and smoke.
What the…? He couldn't recall putting this on. And why was he in mud, his body half-submerged in rainwater, lying face-down?
The very last thing he remembered was drinking instant noodles with coffee in his apartment. The stench of cheap seasoning. The whir of his fridge. Warm light. Now. this?
He got to his feet, staggering. His head was heavy, as if filled with wet sand. His eyes blurred and swirled out of focus. Shapes lurked in the mist before him, indistinct shadows that flowed like ghosts.
When his vision finally adjusted, he saw them — all wearing robes like his. Heads were bent, faces buried in the rain. Hands moved ceaselessly.
Some knelt next to motionless forms, loosening sashes and pocketing small things — a keepsake here, a pouch there — before draping a black cloth over each face. Others moved in twos, holding white arms and ankles, pulling the deceased into off-kilter stacks.
In the distance, fire poured from a dark well. A corpse slid in and disappeared beneath the orange light, the burning fire hissing and spitting as soaked cloth ignited.
Then the stench reached him — smoke and blood and that sweet, foetid scent like rotten fruit. His stomach recoiled in a hard twist.
The earth was a battlefield set in aspic. Shattered swords and shattered spears half-buried in the mud. Torn banners hanging in the mire.
Far off in the distance, he saw something much worse — the carcass of a gigantic beast lying twisted on its side. Its hide was cracked and split, and a spear the diameter of a tree was still thrust deep through its ribcage.
"Great, is this a movie set or something?" he grumbled, spinning around in a slow circle, looking for a camera crew, a boom mic, even a plastic prop.
Nothing.
Rain, mud, and the constant, heavy thud of bodies against the fire.
He rubbed the back of his head, expecting to catch a glimpse of the familiar upholstery of his couch. His fingers plunged instead into soggy, matted locks of hair.
"What in the world…," he breathed.
A piercing whistle sliced through the rain. One of the robed figures gestured toward him. "Oi! New chap! Don't just loiter there — get an arm and assist!"
Before he could respond, a body was shoved into his arms. It was heavy, lifeless. The cloth was ripped, exposing pale skin streaked with blood. A broken sword hilt protruded from the man's ribs.
At close range, the stench was worse — copper, smoke, and something faintly rotten.
The guy did not seem to register. He crouched down, reached into the dead man's sash, pulled out a jade token, and dropped it into a pouch, and draped the black cloth over the face.
He gagged and swallowed hard and said, "Uh… hey. Where's the camera crew? You guys shooting a history drama or something?"
The guy stared at him, rain dripping from his hair. He looked confused and irritated.
"What?
"Know…" He gestured to the pyre, to the bodies, to the muck. "The cameras. Props. Special effects crew?"
The man gazed for a moment, then grumbled, "Idiot," and returned to his task.
Nobody laughed. Nobody cried, "Cut."
Fine. If they were going to remain in character, he was happy to play along. These must be fake corpses. Perhaps the stench was simply makeup effects.
…Right?
He attempted not to glance at the face under the shroud.
Just an imitation, he said to himself. All imitation. A film set with very committed extras. That's why the body was warm.
Something occurred.
A wispy thread — no, a thread — of black smoke curled up off the body in his arms. It was thin at first, like steam rising from a boiling kettle, but it didn't go upwards. It moved towards him.
"What the—"
It passed over his lips before he could look away, cold and bitter. The room spun.
[Sin-Eater System Detected.]
The words didn't come from outside. They bloomed inside his skull, each one echoing like a temple bell.
[Initialization complete. Binding host soul…]
His knees hit the mud. His breath caught. Every nerve in his body felt like it was being branded with ice.
[Welcome, Designated Sin-Eater.]
[First sin consumed: Theft in the Afterlife.]
[Reward pending.]
The voice was calm, almost indifferent.
"What the hell is a—"
He danced on his knees, holding the body more tightly accidentally.
There was a distant ding in his mind.
[Reward Awarded: +1 Sin point.]
There was a warmth that spread in his chest and radiated into his arms and legs. It was mild, like drinking hot tea when it was cold outside.
He blinked. ".Alright. That is not a movie filming location.
Another body landed in the mud beside him. The man who'd called him earlier gestured at it. "Don't just sit there—grab it!"
He froze. His eyes fixed on the body.
And there it was again — the thin black wisp rising.
[Sin detected.]
[Consume?]
[Yes] / [No]
The words hovered in his head, waiting. Patient.
He swallowed. "…Screw it. Yes."
The smoke flooded in.
[Sin consumed: Murder of the Helpless.]
[+1 Sin point.]
The heat returned, this time stronger, and he nearly gasped.
A ghostly interface spread before his eyes.
[SYSTEM INTERFACE — SIN-EATER]
Name: Yu Hin
Designation: Designated Sin-Eater
Level: 0
Sin Points: 2
Soul Alignment: Neutral
Abilities Unlocked:
• Sin Detection: View black lines hovering above living heads.
• Sin Consumption: Drain sins to earn Sin Points (SP) and short-term buffs.
Rules of Sin-Eating
Only the living bear visible sin lines. The dead can still bear sins, but they have to be consumed directly.
Each sin eaten is counted. The worse the sin, the higher the reward — and the higher the danger of corruption.
Sin Points drive growth. At some milestones, you will develop, unlocking new powers.
Corruption Warning: Eaten too many heavy sins without cleansing and your soul alignment will be warped.
Pending Rewards:
• 10 SP Level Up Reward
• Special Reward: Unknown (Trigger conditions are not disclosed)
He blinked in an effort to understand. Words hung suspended.