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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: New Beginning
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Lucian's heart grew heavy at the sight of Sei-an, who seemed to have lost his memory and didn't even recognize him.
'My brother...'
Meanwhile, Kai also felt his mood sour as he looked at Lucian.
Sei-an's height, neither particularly tall nor short, meant Kai had to crane his neck to meet Lucian's gaze.
"..."
Lucian's tall stature and handsome features reminded Kai of his own appearance when he was Kai. Remembering Sei-an's face, which he had just seen in the mirror and would have to inhabit for a while, Kai let out a quiet sigh.
"Even if it feels stifling, don't move around for a while. Just rest."
Hearing Sei-an's sigh, Lucian assumed he was frustrated by his inability to move freely. He helped Sei-an carefully into bed, speaking to him in a gentle, admonishing tone.
"..."
Kai listened to Lucian's words, which, despite his stoic expression, clearly conveyed his concern for his younger brother, and quietly observed him.
"...I understand. You can go now. As you said, I need some rest."
Kai spoke stiffly, his expression a little hardened.
"Alright, rest. I'll drop by again later."
But Lucian showed no change in expression at Kai's cold words. He even pulled the blanket over Sei-an before leaving the room.
"..."
Watching Lucian leave, Kai's gaze hardened further.
'Family...'
Kai had never had a family before, so none of this felt familiar.
Someone's worried gaze or concern felt awkward and burdensome. That's why his expression hardened and his tone became stiff.
"Haa..."
A moment later, Kai felt weariness wash over him and slowly closed his eyes.
The physical pain was one thing, but he felt it had been a mentally exhausting day. With that thought, Kai gradually drifted into a deep sleep.
"Why are you so lenient with *him*, of all people?"
How much time had passed? Quietly, figures appeared by Kai's side.
It was the God of Death, Shainos, the very target of Kai's furious teeth-grinding just moments ago, and Bayron, the lesser deity who served him.
"There's a lot of talk among the Grim Reapers."
"What kind of talk?"
"That Kai is receiving special treatment..."
"And?"
"That they're expressing dissatisfaction..."
"Dissatisfaction, you say."
"..."
"They dare question *me*?"
"..."
Bayron flinched, his body stiffening instantly. A smile still lingered on Shainos's lips, but it was distinctly different from the playful grin he'd worn while looking at Kai moments before.
Seeing Shainos's cruelly cold smile, one that brooked no dissatisfaction, no one daring to question him, Bayron felt a cold sweat trickle down his back.
'A mistake.'
He had momentarily forgotten, due to Shainos's constant grinning and teasing in front of Kai, what kind of being he truly was.
The fact that he was Shainos, the God of Death, who oversaw all deaths in the world, more cruel and merciless than anyone.
"I will handle it myself."
Bayron quickly bowed his head, vowing to handle everything himself.
"As you should."
Only then did Shainos erase his cold smile, returning to his usual playful demeanor. Bayron, his eyes filled with fear, bowed deeply once more.
"..."
Shainos turned his gaze from Bayron and silently looked at Kai, who was still in a deep sleep.
"Ugh... Grrr... Shainos-nim..."
"..."
Then, seeing Kai grind his teeth and call his name in his sleep, Shainos let out an awkward smile.
"...I should probably not appear before him for a while."
Thinking it would be best not to show himself to Kai until his anger subsided.
***
"So, he won't show up even if I call him now, huh?"
While Kai was confined to his room, unable to move, time flowed on relentlessly.
In the interim, Kai had tried calling Shainos several times a day to demand an explanation for the situation, but Shainos had not appeared before him once since that day.
"Let's just end this relationship, end it."
Concluding that it would be better for his future life, Kai no longer sought out Shainos either.
"...The weather's nice."
Then, Kai suddenly turned his head and slowly rose from his spot, looking at the clear, warm spring sky.
His broken foot was still a little uncomfortable, but the rest of him had almost fully recovered, so moving around wasn't much of a strain.
Picking up the crutches prepared by the bed, Kai slowly made his way outside.
"...! M-Master Sei-an!"
"Gasp!"
As Kai stepped out of the room, he couldn't help but look puzzled at the sight of people screaming upon seeing him and then hastily bowing their heads.
It was because their excessive fear, causing them to bow so low that their heads nearly touched the floor, was utterly bizarre.
"..."
But that momentary confusion quickly passed. Kai, who generally had little interest in other people's affairs, continued walking, leaving the spot and heading out of the building.
"Haa."
Perhaps it was because he had been cooped up in his stuffy room for so long and was finally outside, but even the air felt sweet. Kai let out a long breath.
Kai walked towards the garden, bathed in warm sunlight, located directly in front of his residence.
He then settled down under the shade of a tree and began to pass the time idly.
"Hmm?"
Then, Kai suddenly turned his head and saw a rather familiar sight in one corner of the garden.
He saw large and small wooden blocks and carving tools, seemingly prepared by the gardener for decorating the garden.
"..."
Kai rose from his spot and approached. He then naturally sat down and began to carve something.
In an instant, the ordinary wooden block transformed into a work of art in Kai's hands.
"..."
A moment later, Kai finished his carving and silently gazed at the statue he had created, his expression hardened.
"...Does this mean I'm supposed to keep my promise?"
Kai, quietly muttering to himself as if sighing, rose and left the garden, heading towards his residence.
"Annoyingly good weather, isn't it?"
The sunlight that had felt so pleasant just moments ago now felt utterly depressing.
"Haa... haa..."
A short while after Kai left, someone came rushing to the spot.
The old man, who looked well over sixty, had run so fast that he had to gasp for breath for a long time.
"Oh dear... I'm getting old, making mistakes like this."
A moment later, as his breathing calmed, the old man clucked his tongue at the wooden blocks and carving materials strewn about.
"To think I forgot to tidy this up."
He was Besen, the gardener of Count Shurayton's Family.
He had just made a small statue to decorate the garden and, after placing it, completely forgotten to tidy up the area.
Only later did he remember that he hadn't cleaned up, and now he had rushed back in a hurry.
"Huh?"
As Besen, the gardener, was tidying up the scattered items, he suddenly froze, his eyes widening in surprise.
"This is..."
Before him lay an exquisitely crafted sculpture, so lifelike it seemed to breathe. It was the statue Kai had just made.
"..."
A statue of a girl smiling with unparalleled clarity. It was Jushia, the subject of Kai's last transaction.
Kai, who had unconsciously recalled Jushia's image while carving the statue. Jushia, who had asked him to remember her one last time.
Remembering Jushia, who had particularly loved the warm, sun-drenched season of spring, Kai had returned to his residence.
Perhaps, he thought, this new life was meant for him to fulfill his last promise to her.
"Who on earth...?"
Staring at the statue Kai had left behind, Besen couldn't close his gaping mouth.
Besen, who had spent many years tending the garden and was skilled at creating sculptures, had never made or even seen a statue so exquisitely detailed. For a long time, he stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the sculpture Kai had made.
