NOVEL WEB Chapter 31
The saint pulled out a thermometer-shaped magical device from her pocket.
A faint sense of anticipation could be seen in her gaze as she looked down at the device.
But soon, fear and disappointment took its place.
…It must be the result of repeating hope and despair for a long time, I suppose.
“Saint, go inside and check.”
“…Ah.”
The saint quietly looked at me.
A warm vitality briefly swept through her eyes, which had been lifeless until moments ago.
A different kind of calmness seeped into her expression.
“…Yeah, I’ll go check.”
Finally, the saint nodded and smiled brightly at me.
The saint entered without hesitation.
Her hesitant steps gradually became lighter.
The cautious steps at first became steadily more determined with her resolution to confirm.
I quietly watched the saint standing in the center.
The magical device in her hand will tell everything.
Will it be a new hope?
Or another despair?
‘…Mr. Keres, please, have mercy on this poor person just this once.’
She quietly closed and then reopened her eyes.
Now, the result rests in her hands.
The saint carefully activated the magical device.
Though her fingertips slightly trembled, her eyes were unwavering.
A short yet clear mechanical sound filled the space.
The saint’s shoulders slightly hunched.
Her lips quivered as if swallowing a deep breath.
And, very slowly,
Her gaze lowered.
The saint silently stared at the magical device.
“…Ah.”
As if everything came to a halt in that moment,
The saint tightly clenched the magical device with trembling hands.
I quietly watched her and cautiously asked,
“…How is it?”
The saint didn’t answer.
She just, very slowly,
Her eyes began to turn red.
And—
A teardrop, then two, fell
Onto the magical device the saint held.
I rushed to her, forgetting what’s inside the Detention Center.
“Why, did it fail?”
“…D, Mr. Death.”
“Don’t cry. We’ll try something else, or I’ll try again… huh?”
The saint hugged me while sobbing.
Still tightly holding the magical device,
She buried her head in my arms like a child and burst into tears.
I flustered and gently wrapped my arms around her back.
“…Why are you crying? Did it fail?”
“No, no….”
The saint struggled to suppress her sobs while flailing in my arms.
“It’s gone….”
“…What?”
“The disease… it’s all gone….”
That’s when I finally understood the situation.
I held her shoulders and slowly pushed her away to look at her face.
Tears streamed down the saint’s face,
But it was full of joy.
“…Is it true?”
“…Yes, yes! It’s true, it’s true… it’s gone!”
The saint held out the magical device to me with trembling hands.
There,
The long-desired number ‘0’ was clearly marked.
“…Thank goodness.”
I was probably quite tense too.
As soon as I confirmed the ‘0’, my legs felt weak.
I would have collapsed if the saint hadn’t quickly caught me,
And then hugged me tightly.
The saint painfully struggled to speak while trying to suppress her sobs.
“…Thank you, thank you. Really, thank you.”
“No, it’s my duty. I’m glad you’re happy.”
The saint smiled brightly even as she cried.
I gently stroked her head and added quietly,
“So now, please cry and rejoice to your heart’s content. As much as you’ve held back.”
“…Sniff…”
At my words, the saint hugged me even tighter.
Her sobs grew louder, turning into great cries.
She just held onto me and cried incessantly, letting out the pent-up sorrow.
I silently patted the saint.
The long-borne chains were finally lifted in this moment.
How much despair had she endured?
How many prayers had she made?
How many nights had she spent in pain?
The seemingly endless time has finally come to an end today.
“…You’ll be okay now.”
“…Yeah.”
“Things will keep getting better.”
The saint slowly nodded.
Then, taking a deep breath, she painfully opened her mouth.
“…Thank you.”
A hoarse voice.
Yet the emotion it carried was immense.
I smiled and lightly tapped her back.
“You must have cried a lot to get a hoarse voice already.”
“…Yeah.”
The saint wiped her tears while wrinkling her nose at my words,
But her face still shone with a bright smile.
I extended my hand to gently stroke her head as I watched her silently.
“Are you done crying?”
“…Can I stay hugged a little longer?”
“Of course.”
I smiled and opened my arms.
Then a beautifully smiling saint suddenly hugged me tightly.
The biggest problem is solved, but it isn’t completely over yet.
There are still numerous issues surrounding the saint.
First, I need to test Hi’s senior’s sleep capsule…
“Ah, that’s right. Here!”
Only now did I remember what kind of people are lying here.
Standing dumbfounded in the center of the Detention Center,
I shuddered at the endless horrific sights on both sides.
I released my grip on the saint and hastily covered my eyes.
“What happened all of a sudden, Mr. Death?”
“…No, it’s that…”
“…Ah, I see.”
Apparently, she realized it was due to my gore-phobia.
As usual, the saint tightly held my hand.
Though the warm touch conveyed through my hand calmed me,
“…Isn’t it somewhat disrespectful to these people?”
If I want to stay in this world,
Don’t I have to change?
After all, I’m the God of Death.
How can I face a world where death has disappeared?
I muttered to myself.
“…I suppose I should graduate from always relying on Saint.”
“What?”
The saint tightly gripped the hand she was holding.
Soon, her hand began to tremble quickly with apparent unease.
Only then did I realize I had said something misunderstood.
I flailed with my free hand and tried to explain.
“No, not that way.”
“Then, what do you mean?”
The saint’s trembling voice betrayed her anxiety.
I glanced at her through half-opened eyes.
Instead of joy, her face was now full of unease.
“…This is awkward.”
I sighed and slowly continued.
“I shouldn’t keep depending on you forever to come and go here.”
“…I’m fine though.”
“I’m not. As a so-called God of Death, I should properly face this world where death has disappeared. It’s also disrespectful to these people.”
The saint loosened her grip on my hand a bit.
She bit her lips as if pondering something, then declared firmly,
“I don’t like it.”
“…Huh?”
“Rely on me. On me.”
Before I could respond, the saint quickly continued,
“No, I didn’t mean to keep holding hands and going forward. I mean… Mr. Death, I affirm your effort to overcome your fears.”
“…Okay.”
“But I want to help you in this process, just like you’ve helped me.”
I was momentarily speechless at her words.
Her eyes were earnest.
“…Help me?”
I’ve been carrying everything alone,
And dealing with everything solo.
Because I’ve always worked alone,
Because I have powers that I had to handle by myself.
The saint smiled and touched my dumbfounded self.
“Mr. Death always carries everything alone.”
“…”
“Always trying to solve everything alone, trying to shoulder everything yourself…”
It’s been like that. That’s how it was.
Ever since I opened my eyes, I had to deal with everything,
Believing that it’s my sole responsibility, my duty to bear.
After being demoted too,
Even though compassionate and kind people approached me, I couldn’t easily depend on them.
Even when they reached out their hands,
I kept a careful distance.
Because I had to do everything myself after all.
I believed that’s what I had to do.
However,…
“One team, right? So, Mr. Death, lean on me too. Let me help you.”
The saint’s voice was warm and unwavering.
As if speaking something obvious.
I silently looked at the saint.
It was something I’d heard countless times.
“Let me help you.”
“You can lean on me.”
But I couldn’t easily accept those words.
I would just laugh it off, saying “I’m fine, I’ve improved,” and moved on.
But now,
I couldn’t help but accept.
For one reason,
I don’t think I can break through this stubbornness.
“Even when I started coming here to reclaim souls, it was like that.”
When the saint tried to go in with her mask on despite my reluctance, she firmly grabbed my hand.
Even while saying it’s okay, she wouldn’t let go.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. You’re weak against such things. I don’t want to watch Mr. Death endure everything alone.”
Morning and evening,
Her constant hand-holding gradually became familiar.
No,
More than familiar, it became natural.
“…Likewise this time.”
I slowly took a deep breath.
“…Just for a bit, then.”
“Eh?”
“…I’ll lean on you just for a bit.”
At that moment, the saint’s face lit up with a radiant smile,
As if she had obtained everything in the world.
I smiled slightly and muttered to myself,
“…Just a little bit, really.”
But how much that “little” is, even I don’t know well.