GRR 89

When he told Lee Yujeong about Suho, he had even mentioned that he could see ghosts. Naturally, her husband must know that too. He didn’t know if they believed everything he said, but since they came all the way to the alley, they probably didn’t think he was just talking nonsense.

Could this have something to do with ghosts? Jion wondered as he fiddled with his phone in his pocket. He thought he’d have to tell Kwon Chasa about it if that were the case. Lee Yujeong affectionately looked at Jion and spoke.

“I feel like I didn’t properly thank you back then because I was so flustered, and I also have some news I wanted to share, so I came to see you.”

As she spoke, she glanced at her husband and gave a gentle smile. Intrigued by the mention of news she wanted to share, Jion looked back and forth between the two of them.

“I… am pregnant. I’m about seven weeks along now… I feel like it’s all thanks to you, Jion, so I really wanted to say thank you.”

“Oh…”

Caught completely off guard by the news, Jion gasped. Lee Yujeong looked at him and smiled softly. After taking a moment to compose herself, she spoke a bit more seriously than before.

“Actually… it was really hard for us to conceive Suho. I’d had several miscarriages before that… Both my husband and I… after what happened to Suho, we never even talked about having another child, [Read on]let alone mentioned Suho himself. Just thinking about it was too painful… I couldn’t bring myself to talk about children.”

He had no idea she’d been through all that. Since he was a child conceived after several miscarriages, a child they’d struggled so hard to have, it must have made accepting Suho’s death all the more difficult.

What should he say at a time like this? He didn’t want to offer hasty words of comfort. After all, without having experienced that pain himself, he couldn’t claim to fully comprehend the suffering Suho’s parents must have felt.

Jion remained silent, unable to find the right words. Lee Yujeong, however, smiled as if she knew what he was thinking.

“By the way, on the day you came to visit, Jion, my husband and I talked about Suho for the first time. It’s a bit late to say this now, but… when you told me you’d met Suho, I honestly couldn’t believe it. On the contrary, my husband raised his voice, asking why I’d just let you go and why I hadn’t listened to more of your story.”

“…….”

“My husband and I didn’t see Suho that day, but we did have a vague feeling… of something. We felt relieved to hear that our Suho had gone safely. Since that day, my husband and I talked about relying on each other and living our lives well. And not long after that, our child came to us like this.”

Lee Yujeong continued speaking while carefully cradling her belly, which did not yet show signs of pregnancy.

“It reminded me of you, Jion. Maybe it’s because you helped ​visit our site​us send our Suho off… It also made me wonder if that’s why Suho came back to find us.”

Jion didn’t know. Was Suho still undergoing judgment in the underworld? Had all the trials ended, and was he waiting to be reincarnated? Or had he been sent to hell for wandering the living world?

However, for some reason, it seemed that Lee Yujeong was right. This was because Chasa Kwon had already said something that could be used as grounds for that.

‘Samsin might let you be born as your mom’s son again because she feels sorry for you, so why are you acting so foolishly’

Do they show consideration for children like Suho who died young, children who missed their mothers so much, allowing them to continue the ties from their past lives when they are reborn? Did Kwon Chasa know this, which is why he wished for Suho to go to the afterlife as soon as possible?

Although his manner of expression was extreme and he showed no consideration for the listener, perhaps he truly wished for the deceased to somehow find a new life and live happily as humans once again.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you, Jion.”

His nose tingled and he felt a lump in his throat upon hearing those sincere words of gratitude. Just knowing that his action had allowed someone to smile again filled him with pride and joy.

“No, it’s nothing. It must have [stolen content]been hard for you to believe me, so I’m the one who’s grateful that you trusted me.”

Even if those two hadn’t appeared in the alley at that moment, Kwon Chasa would have found a way to take Suho to the underworld. Suho was already ready to depart when he had asked if his mother couldn’t come see him because he had to follow the man.

Fortunately, thanks to them trusting him and coming, Suho was able to see his mom and dad, and he was able to let go of all his attachments to this world and pass on to the underworld without a hitch. Thanks to that, he was able to keep his promise to Suho as well.

“Come visit us sometime after the baby is born.”

“When is the baby due?”

“Around August next year… It’s still a long way off.”

Lee Yujeong gave a slightly sheepish smile, and her husband urged Jion not to forget to come visit. Then he asked for his contact information and they exchanged numbers. After exchanging a few more words, they got up to leave.

After stepping out of the office to see them off, Jion stood there until the two figures gradually faded from view. As he rubbed the stinging tip of his nose, Kwon Chasa came to mind. If it hadn’t been for Suho, he wouldn’t have met Kwon Chasa either.

He realized that the thanks should really go to the grim reaper who had safely taken Suho to unauthorized copythe underworld. So, he decided he should definitely tell Kwon Chasa about today’s events. To do that, he’d have to see him again today.

Satisfied that he’d found a suitable excuse, Jion turned around belatedly and climbed the stairs with a smile on his lips. He made a plan to call Kwon Chasa right after his part-time job ended today.

***

Kwon Chasa had stopped by the Seocheon Flower Garden to restock the spring water he needed to give Jion. He did not return directly to the living world but headed for Yeomra Palace instead. The registers that once filled a corner of his study were now few in number, and since he could return to the underworld immediately as long as no more work was added to his workload, he thought it would be better to ask Yeomra.

He headed for the main hall without hesitation. Kwon Chasa encountered a juseon-dongja at the door. Seemingly startled by the unannounced visit, he flustered for a moment.

“Have you come to see King Yeomra?”

“Yes.”

“King Yeomra has stepped out briefly to see the Jade Emperor, so she’s not here right now… but please come in.”

He had assumed the King’s absence was due to a trial, so the news that she had suddenly gone visit our siteto meet the Jade Emperor left him a little confused. Kwon Chasa accepted the juseon-dongja invitation and stepped inside the throne room.

“Please wait here for a moment. She should be back shortly.”

The juseon-dongja smiled, bowed slightly, and left the throne room. Left alone, Kwon Chasa silently surveyed the interior. Aside from the dazzling red silk still covering the floor, which drew his gaze, there was nothing unusual. The space was vast, yet it contained very few objects.

He found himself recalling the first time he had set foot in this place. Back then, as a sinner, his wrists were bound, and the shackle on one of his ankles was weighted with an iron ball, making it difficult even to take a step.

While he was being tried, he was dragged to Yeomra Palace and made to kneel. Yeomra, seated on her throne, was leisurely flipping through a book. It wasn’t until he became a grim reaper that he realized that book was his own register.

In the spacious throne room, where the occasional rustle of turning pages could be heard, he stared at the floor. At that moment, looking at the red silk that caught his eye, he could only think that it resembled the blood of his father that had stained his hands.

‘Why did you do that?’

Those were the first words Yeomra said to him. Only then did he lift his head, and the Yeomra he saw was no different from the Yeomra of today. Her jet black hair falling to her waist, the gentle curve of her eyes when she smiled, and even her affectionate voice, which often reminded him of his mother.

‘It’s not all your fault.’

Yeomra, who had come closer, wore an expression of genuine sorrow. But at that time, he couldn’t accept those words positively.

If he had gritted his teeth and endured, believing that not everything was his fault, would his father have been able to clear his name? Would his family have eventually understood his choice?

Since he was already dead, all those “ifs” were useless. His sister was right.

‘It’s all your fault. Father’s death, Mother’s suffering until she passed away, it’s all your fault!’

It was all his fault. No matter what others said, he was the one who made every choice. When his father begged him to kill him so that he might live and protect the remaining family from harm, it was he who ultimately gripped the hilt of the sword. It was he who pleaded before the king not to hold the clan accountable, since he had killed the mastermind of the treason with his own hands.

In the end, he couldn’t hold on for long and took his own life, so his younger sister must have endured the rest of her days resenting and hating him. He felt deeply sorry about that. After all, anger is an emotion that gnaws away at oneself. His heart grew heavy at the thought that his sister must have lived her entire life engulfed in that emotion.

Back then, when he closed his eyes and bowed his head to deny Yeomra’s words, she knelt down to meet his eye level.

‘You were capable in your lifetime. [Read on]Very intelligent and talented. It just so happens I’ve been in need of someone like you.’

‘……’

‘Would you like to work under me?’