GRR 45

Tomorrow, to others, he’d probably look like a weirdo who came to the amusement park alone to ride every scary ride one by one.

“I’ll call you after I’m done playing with Heechan tomorrow.”

Just like he went to Jongno today, he had planned to visit a couple of places tomorrow to take care of Baek Kitae’s request, but it looked like he’d have to postpone that until next weekend. It was a relief that Baek Kitae understood his situation.

Tomorrow was going to be another rough day, so he should hurry home and get some rest. Just as Jion was about to get up with that thought in mind, he was stopped by Kwon Chasa’s low voice.

“What time are you going tomorrow?”

“What time are you going?” instead of “When will you call me?” The question felt a little odd. Jion shifted his hips slightly but sat back down on the sofa, then cautiously spoke up.

“…I’m going to go right when it opens. But why do you ask?”

“I will go with you.”

Jion was so startled that he choked on air. Kwon Chasa looked at him with an expression that said he was ​visit our site​overreacting. Once his breathing calmed down, Jion asked.

“You mean you want to go to the amusement park with me?”

“Is that somewhere I’m not allowed to go?”

“No… that’s not it…”

Although there weren’t any entry restrictions, going to an amusement park dressed like that would draw everyone’s attention. Jion imagined Kwon Chasa riding a roller coaster and couldn’t help but laugh.

He didn’t seem like the type to be scared… Would he just sit there with a blank expression? As Jion indulged in this silly fantasy, he suddenly felt Kwon Chasa’s piercing gaze. When he turned his head, their eyes met, yet he didn’t look away.

In the end, it was Jion who looked away first. His lips had suddenly gone dry, and his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.

Jion cleared his throat and kept his eyes fixed on his knees as he stammered on.

“Um… do you know what an amusement park is…?”

“I know.”

“How do you know? You’re from a long time ago.”

Since he had personally described himself as an “ancestor,” Jion had assumed he naturally wouldn’t know about amusement parks. When Jion couldn’t hide his curiosity, Kwon Chasa replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

“Do you think my knowledge stopped in the past just because I am old?”

“But you didn’t even know much about cell phones.”

“I just didn’t know how to use it. And considering I haven’t been to the living world for over ten years, don’t you think I’ve adapted pretty quickly for someone who’s been that disconnected?”

At the very least, his confidence was impressive. Jion watched him reply so confidently, as if he had nothing to be embarrassed about.

Does it even make sense for a grim reaper to have stayed away from the living world for over ten years? He must come here to take souls to the afterlife.

“You haven’t been to the living world for over ten years?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

Jion suddenly realized something. He knew almost nothing about Kwon Chasa.

All he knew was that he was a grim reaper, that he had come to take stubborn souls who refused to leave the living world, that he would return to the underworld once that task was complete, that he was old and… that he couldn’t tell if he had a good or bad personality, which had been confusing him for some time now.

He was being swayed, despite knowing so little about him. Feeling wronged by that alone, he decided that since the topic had come up, he needed to learn more about Kwon Chasa.

Kwon Chasa rubbed his chin for a moment, then spoke.

“Because I’ve been doing this for so long?”

“How long have you been doing this?”

“Hmm…”

He tapped the armrest of the sofa with his index finger and fell silent for a moment.

“About three hundred years, I suppose?”

“Th… three hundred years?”

That number instantly made him understand why he’d said he was old enough to be considered an ancestor. Three hundred years, that wasn’t just a long career.

How big is the age difference between us…? He’d been working as a grim reaper for 300 years, but if you added the time he’d lived as a human, he must be from an even older time. Jion tried to gauge the age gap between them and let out a sigh.

Wait, why am I suddenly sighing? It is not like I like that uncle… no, that ancestor, and it is not like anything could happen between us… once this contract-bound relationship ends, we will never see each other again.

Jion shook his head as he watched Kwon Chasa, who had unexpectedly opened up about himself without hesitation. Then why hadn’t he come to the living world for over ten years? Would he return once he went back to the underworld? Why had he been working as a grim reaper for 300 years? One question led to another.

“So… how did you become a grim reaper?”

“Yeomra ordered me to.”

Jion had struggled to bring up the subject, but he answered readily. He looked like the type who would rather die than do something someone else told unauthorized copyhim to do, so hearing that he did it because Yeomra ordered him to felt a bit deflating.

“So… do you have to do it no matter what if you’re told to?”

“That’s right.”

“Do they tell every dead person to become a reaper?”

“I suppose not.”

“Then who exactly do they order to become a grim reaper?”

Kwon Chasa, who had been answering Jion’s questions briskly despite his lack of enthusiasm, remained silent. As a brief silence fell and the mood grew heavy, Jion finally shifted his gaze to gauge Kwon Chasa’s reaction.

Had he been too nosy? Just as Jion was racking his brain for something to say to lighten the mood, Kwon Chasa ran his hand through his hair and spoke.

“Humans who had committed sins grave enough to warrant enduring both the Eight Hot Hells and the Eight Cold Hells.”¹

“……”

“So, student, live your life without sinning. Unless you want to end up like me.”

He pushed himself up from the sofa using the armrest. Jion couldn’t even process the words; he just stared up at him. Kwon Chasa shrugged and gestured toward the entrance.

“Aren’t you going home?”

“…I guess I should.”

Jion bit his lower lip as he watched Kwon Chasa walk out of the living room. It was only for an instant, but because he had glimpsed an unreadable emotion in his somber expression, his heart ached.

Jion hurried after Kwon Chasa, who was already a good distance away. Had he asked too many questions? He berated himself as he walked.

 ***

The next day, Jion went to the amusement park with Kwon Chasa. He still [unauthorized copy]felt uneasy about the conversation they’d had the night before, but Kwon Chasa, who had come to pick him up early that morning, looked completely relaxed, as if he’d already erased yesterday’s events from his memory.

When they arrived at the amusement park through the gate he’d summoned, there were already a few people there, even though opening time was still an hour away. He paid for their two all-day passes with the black card he claimed the Jade Emperor had given him, and Jion checked the barcode that had been sent to his phone. Then, he glanced up at Kwon Chasa, who was looking around with a bored expression.

“By the way, Chasa-nim.”

“What?”

“…Do you always have to dress like that?”

Kwon Chasa was probably the only person at the amusement park wearing a black suit and dress shoes. He had the kind of looks that would draw attention even if he were wearing ordinary clothes, but since his outfit was anything but ordinary, everyone nearby couldn’t help but glance at him as they passed by. He, however, didn’t seem to care in the slightest.

Kwon Chasa gave his outfit a cursory glance, then replied in a similarly lackluster tone.

“I’m working.”

“So do you wear different clothes usually?”

“No.”

“…You don’t change at all?”

Could it be that he doesn’t even wash? No, wait, maybe he doesn’t need to wash because he’s a grim reaper? Come to think of it, Jion had never sensed any kind of body scent from him. As if he knew exactly what Jion was thinking, Kwon Chasa wryly smiled.

“Jion-hyung!”

Just then, Choi Heechan appeared, flying through the air and waving cheerfully. Upon spotting Kwon Chasa standing beside Jion, Choi Heechan blinked slowly, then immediately whispered.

“Hyung, why did that guy come with you?”

“Uh, well…”

“Choi Heechan. I can hear everything.”

At Kwon Chasa’s remark, Jion shuddered, and Choi Heechan covered his mouth with his palm. But he soon puckered his lips and clung to Jion’s side.

Jion and Kwon Chasa moved to join the line waiting to enter. Just as Jion was thinking that there were a lot of people who took having fun seriously, Choi Heechan chattered excitedly.

“I can’t wait to get in. It’s gonna be so much fun.”

Choi Heechan looked like he’d been genuinely waiting his whole life to come to this amusement park. Jion wasn’t that old himself, but seeing him act so childlike made him chuckle.

“Have you been here before?”

“Of course. I used to come here once or twice a year. I’m really good at riding scary rides.”

“Really…?”

Judging by the sparkle in his eyes, it didn’t seem like he was just bragging. I hate scary rides… Jion didn’t want to ruin Choi Heechan’s mood, so he didn’t say anything. Then, when his gaze suddenly met Kwon Chasa’s, he gulped.

Why does it feel like he’s always staring at me…. Otherwise, is there any reason our eyes would meet this often?