Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
After escorting a few more souls back, I noticed that one of the deceased was still sitting in the same spot, lost in thought. This puzzled me.
Based on my past experiences, souls that arrive here are always eager to leave as quickly as possible. If they cannot board a boat immediately, they would rather return to the mortal realm to pass the time. No one ever willingly stays here patiently.
Because it's really boring here.
"Have you decided how to do it?" After hesitating for a while, I couldn't help but ask him again.
"Um? Oh, are you referring to the ferry fee?" He seemed momentarily taken aback before quickly putting on a smile. "There's no rush anyway; let's just see how things go."
"Given your situation, there shouldn't be any other possibilities, right?" Seeing him still so nonchalant left me feeling perplexed. "Aren't you without any relatives to support you? If that's the case, just sitting here waiting won't yield any results. If you don't personally return to the mortal realm to collect resources for conversion, you'll end up with nothing."
"Indeed, that's true..." His response was somewhat indifferent, yet it carried a hint of melancholy. "So, is it absolutely necessary to gather enough fare to board the boat?"
"Well, about that..." I pondered for a moment. "There is actually another way to get on the boat, but so far, no one has managed to do it."
"Oh? What method?" he asked with considerable interest.
"As long as you stay here for a hundred years, you will earn a chance to board a ship for free," I said, pointing to the riverbank strewn with gravel beneath us. "However, if you choose to return to the mortal realm and then come back, all the time will have to be recalculated."
"Is it really that easy to get a free ride after just a hundred years? It doesn't seem difficult at all," he said, tilting his head in confusion. "Why doesn't anyone choose this method?"
"Because it's incredibly boring!" I waved my hand, gesturing to the empty space around us. "Can't you see? This riverbank is nothing but a wasteland of rock fragments, and the River of Oblivion is shrouded in darkness. The mist hanging in the air obscures everything around us—there's nothing here, nothing to see." I couldn't help but sigh. "That's why those who initially planned to take it easy for a hundred years to earn their free passage ultimately couldn't stand the desolation and solitude. They chose instead to take their chances and return to the living world to scavenge for resources."
"Is that so..." After listening, he still faintly smiled. "In that case, I'll make plans when I feel bored later."
"Hmm... it seems like you're the kind of person who finds it troublesome to compete with others for items, right?" I nodded in understanding. "Well, it's up to you, after all, you have plenty of time to consider. Maybe by the time the next grand event starts, you'll be bored enough to change your mind."
"Even so, no matter what decision he ultimately makes, it has nothing to do with me."
"Hehe, perhaps it will really be like that, but who knows!" he responded with a light laugh.
Looking at the smile hanging on his lips, I couldn't shake off a subtle sense of discomfort.
"...Actually, you don't have to force yourself to smile," I hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up. "There’s no need to create interpersonal relationships here, no need for false expressions or insincere pleasantries, so there's no need to suppress your emotions."
The souls after death usually experience a release from the shackles of the mundane world, their emotions often bursting forth, fully revealing their true nature.
However, the figure before me was not like that at all.
"Since you're already dead, just relax a bit."
From the moment I first met him until now, he has always been overly polite. That cautious smile, as if afraid of offending anyone, makes me feel quite uncomfortable.
No matter how you put it, I'm just a simple Ferryman who collects money to take people across the river. There's no point in trying to get close to me or building a relationship.
I watched as he froze for a moment, his usual smile instantly stiffening on his face.
After struggling for a while, he finally managed to raise a somewhat awkward smile.
"I'm sorry, but it seems this has become my habit, and it's hard to change it in an instant... I hope you can be understanding about this."
Comment 0 Comment Count