Chapter 326
Several days later, on an ordinary, clear day, the sky was a perfect blue with not a single cloud in sight. Over the past few days, Young-Sik kept noticing a little reaper lingering around, watching him. Each time they made eye contact, he tried to get closer to the little reaper, but he would quickly vanish into thin air.
When the presence of “death” crept closer, like any other person, Young-Sik had initially felt fear. But as time passed, he found himself growing strangely indifferent.
At first, he had wished the little reaper was actually just a child merely playing pranks on him. But when he realized that no one else could see the boy and that even the ledger he had dropped was invisible to others, he decided to accept the reality before him.
In hindsight, the fact that he had lived this long was already a miracle.
A few years ago, during a health checkup, the doctor had cautiously told him to “start preparing himself.” Yet, he had lived for two more years beyond that prognosis—far longer than he ever expected. In truth, he had almost forgotten about his condition because, for the past two years, he had felt significantly healthier. But reality was always cold and unyielding.
Someone once said that life is precious because it ultimately ends in death.
Young-Sik reflected on his past. There had been difficult times, but looking back, his life hadn’t been so bad. The past two years, in particular, had been filled with happiness every single day. Perhaps this was what people who say “life is worth living” meant.
He considered himself lucky. Maybe, after the doctor gave him the bleak prognosis, the past two years had been a final gift from the heavens—one last blessing that let him feel warmth and joy among his neighbors. If he had known this earlier, he would have cherished them even more.
I should have done more... Young-Sik thought regretfully.
He shifted his gaze to the little reaper and saw his eyes remain fixed on the ledger. Slowly, Young-Sik placed the book in his hands onto the wooden gazebo and stepped back. For some reason, he felt lighter.
***
The little reaper lingered around Changshin Villa for quite some time. The time for a decision was drawing near. There was only one day left before the meeting of the Ten Kings. He carefully examined the ledger. No matter how many times he checked, “Lim Young-Sik” was still listed.