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墨書 Inktalez
"By the way, what is the ferry fee you collect used for?" one day, the deceased suddenly asked with curiosity. "Is there really a need for money when people are dead? Does the underworld truly operate on capitalism like the living world?"
Hearing this question, I couldn't help but smile mysteriously.
"This... What do you think?"
He raised his hand to stroke his chin, tilted his head in contemplation for a while, and then chuckled.
"Could it be... that you've really pocketed all of that for yourself?"
"Heh, I knew you'd think that! Unfortunately, you're mistaken." I smiled and spread my hands. "To be honest, those are actually the penance funds for us Ferrymen. We need to accumulate a certain amount before we have a chance to escape this endless cycle of ferrying."
"Redemption?" He looked surprised.
"Yes, redemption." I nodded earnestly. "It is said that we Ferrymen were selfish and never understood how to help others in our past lives. Because of this, we are punished by being forced to assist in ferrying the souls of the deceased as a form of atonement."
"...I think this argument is very strange," he frowned in disagreement. "I also don't think you are someone who doesn't know how to help others."
"It's just hearsay after all, and I can't possibly understand the reasoning behind it," I shrugged skeptically.
After all, when it comes down to it, we are merely a part of this vast flow of fate, and apart from obediently following the system and drifting along with the current, there is nothing we can change, let alone escape from it.
"That being said, the matter of the redemption fee is indeed very real," I stated calmly. "However, although it's called a redemption fee, it's really just a formality; the coins themselves do not hold any monetary value—they are merely a symbol."
The gold coin I received would be returned to the other party after transporting the deceased to their destination; it was merely a formality.
"As for what sins I need to atone for, how much penance I have accumulated so far, and how many more souls I must escort to be free of my debts, I have no way of knowing." Even as the one directly involved, I could only wait for fate to reveal its answers.
"Redemption..." he murmured for a while, then looked up at me apologetically. "So, if I keep delaying crossing the river, wouldn't that be equivalent to delaying your chance to leave?"
"Oh, don't worry about it. It's not like I'm counting on your one coin to immediately absolve my sins just because you helped me cross the river. You can relax and stay put!" I waved my hand dismissively, unlike his guilt-ridden expression.
"I'm sorry..." He still had a guilty expression on his face.
"Putting that aside, do you really have no intention of leaving?"
It’s not that I’m trying to drive him away; I’m genuinely curious about why he would prefer to stay in this utterly dull place rather than leave.
“I…” He turned his gaze once more towards the indistinct surface of the River of Oblivion. “If I could, I would like to stay a little longer…”
I followed his gaze and turned to look at the familiar, hazy scene that had long become a part of my life.
"I really don't understand you. What’s so fascinating about this River of Oblivion? There's clearly nothing here..."
Upon hearing this, he smiled faintly.
"Indeed, there is nothing at all..."
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