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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Grim Reaper, Kai (4)
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At her words, Kai was momentarily speechless.
"Or else… I think I'd be too sad…"
"..."
"No one in this world… would remember me…"
Jushia, having learned that everyone she had spent time with was a doll, felt a deep, heart-wrenching sadness at the reality that no one knew she had ever lived in this world.
"So, Kai, please… remember me…"
"..."
"Is that… too big… a request…?"
Seeing Kai unable to answer easily, Jushia finally couldn't hold back the tears that streamed down her face.
"The deal…"
"..."
Kai slowly reached out a hand towards Jushia. He then gently wiped away the tears flowing from her eyes as he continued speaking.
"The deal has been made."
"…!"
At his words, Jushia, though her vision was already blurry, forced her eyes open to look at Kai. At the same time, she offered him a bright smile and spoke her last words.
"Tha… thank you."
With those words, Jushia quietly closed her eyes.
"..."
Kai stood still like a stone statue for a long time, watching Jushia, who had met her death.
He simply gazed endlessly at the deceased Jushia.
Then, after a moment, Kai slowly extended his hand towards her.
A faint, thread-like light began to stretch from his hand towards Jushia, and soon, a soft glow of light flowed from her, circling around him.
"..."
Kai caught the light and gently tossed it upwards. The empty space opened, rapidly drawing in the light, and then vanished as if nothing had ever been there.
"Tenth thousand…"
Kai quietly murmured to himself as he watched the scene. Then, he picked up Jushia's deceased body and headed towards her house.
"..."
Kai laid her on her bed. He gazed at her for a moment one last time before slowly turning and leaving the house.
The place he headed to was a cliff situated in the mountains, overlooking the village.
It was a spot Jushia had often led him to.
Recalling Jushia's beaming smile as she said the village was visible at a glance, Kai looked down at the village with a somewhat wistful gaze.
*Whoosh!*
But a moment later, as Kai lightly waved his hand, the village was instantly engulfed in a massive blaze.
"Because it was a village just for you…"
It was a village created solely for her.
"Since you're gone, it's no longer needed."
Since the village no longer had a reason to exist, Kai simply erased it with fire.
"Hoo, it burns well."
"..."
Just then, an unfamiliar voice came from behind him.
However, Kai seemed to have already sensed his presence, showing no change in expression, and merely continued to watch the village burn and disappear.
"How curious."
"..."
"Did you have special feelings for that child?"
The stranger spoke to Kai, observing him with an intrigued gaze.
"..."
Only then did Kai turn his head to look where the voice came from, finding a man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties.
Sitting under a shaded tree nearby, with a tea table set up out of nowhere, sipping tea, the man had strikingly pure white hair without a speck of dust and blood-red eyes.
A gentle smile played on his lips, making anyone who saw him feel at ease.
"No."
However, at the sight of the man, Kai merely frowned slightly, displaying an displeased expression.
"Hmm, if not, then fine. Anyway, come over here and sit down."
"..."
At the man's words, Kai looked at him with an expression full of annoyance, then eventually moved to his side and sat in the opposite seat.
"Would you like some tea?"
"No thanks."
"So cold."
"Just keep your promise."
"Promise?"
"…Surely you haven't forgotten."
"Well, what promise? What promise did you and I make—"
*Grab!*
"Ha… haha! Of course, I remember. As if I'd ever forget that."
"..."
"…So, would you mind letting go of my collar?"
The man offered an awkward smile to Kai, who was grabbing his collar and staring at him with a chilling gaze.
Kai, still looking displeased, watched him for a moment before letting go of his collar.
"Tsk. Still, I'm your superior! What an ill-mannered fellow!"
"Since when have you expected good manners from me?"
"Starting today!"
"Did you come here to play word games?"
"Yep."
"..."
"Ha… haha! S-surely I didn't come just to play word games."
The man, who had been grumbling while responding to Kai, quickly had to change the atmosphere when Kai sent another cold glare his way.
"Right, we made a promise."
A moment later, the man picked up his tea again and recalled the promise he had made with Kai long ago.
"When your ten thousandth mission ended, I promised to grant you one wish."
"It was a promise made on Lord Shainos's name."
"Yes, it was a promise made on my name."
The God of Death, Shainos. The one who guides and manages the souls of the dead.
That was the identity of the man now sitting playfully smiling before Kai.
"And now it's also a rule."
"Ha… haha!"
Shainos let out another awkward smile at Kai, who was glaring at him, grinding his teeth.
As Kai said, long ago, he had thought that if Kai's request were applied to other Grim Reapers, it would increase work efficiency and be beneficial, so he had made it a rule.
But the important thing was that when Kai first made that request, he had teased him for a long time and hadn't granted it.
It was only much later that Kai finally got his permission, but now other Grim Reapers could easily have that wish granted, so it was only natural for Kai to be angry.
"Alright, I don't know what the wish is, but I'll grant it."
"..."
"Tell me."
Shainos smiled faintly at Kai and told him to state his wish.
He said it with a rather generous expression, as if he'd gladly grant any wish, no matter what it was.
"I want to quit."
"Hmm?"
"I'm quitting my job."
"..."
But as soon as Kai's answer followed, Shainos's smiling expression froze.
"Do you even know what you're saying?"
"Yes."
"Quitting the work of a Grim Reaper means your existence loses its value, and that means…"
"Annihilation."
"You know that, so why are you spouting nonsense?"
Shainos, for the first time, dropped the smile from his lips and frowned slightly at Kai's nonchalant utterance of the word "annihilation."
"Ten thousand times."
"..."
"I've faced ten thousand deaths."
"…You're tired?"
"Yes."
"..."
Kai, who had been guiding human souls as a Grim Reaper. Unlike other Grim Reapers who had lost all emotions, Kai still possessed human emotions. Remembering this, Shainos remained silent for a moment.
On the surface, he appeared more cold and indifferent than any other Grim Reaper, but judging him by his outward appearance when observing his guidance of souls was a mistake.
Unlike other Grim Reapers who didn't care if a dead soul was annihilated and simply completed their mission, Kai guided souls who had died unjustly and refused to follow the Grim Reaper, using a "deal" to help them easily accept death and follow him.
He would grant their final wish, allowing them to peacefully embrace death.
"..."
But it was only now that Shainos realized that such human emotions had made him tire faster, and he let out a quiet sigh inwardly.
"Any thoughts of reconsidering?"
"No."
"..."
Shainos clicked his tongue quietly at Kai, who seemed to have made his decision long ago, leaving no room for negotiation.
Then, he fell into deep thought, staring at Kai without a word for a long time.
"…Alright, I'll grant that wish."
"Thank you."
After a moment, Shainos nodded, seemingly having decided to grant Kai's wish, and spoke.
"No need to thank me. Just don't resent me later."
Shainos, giving Kai a peculiar, unreadable smile as Kai thanked him, then extended his hand towards Kai.
"See you again later."
"..."
Kai heard Shainos's final words and felt his consciousness fading as a bright light streamed from Shainos's hand.
He briefly wondered why Shainos said "see you again" when they would never meet if he ceased to exist, but soon, even that thought began to disappear as Kai drifted into a deep sleep.
