GRR 6

Why was he speaking so scaryly to a kid who couldn’t even properly understand what it meant? He could have explained it in a way he could understand, and kindly.

Suho was terrified and unable to say a word. He could only cry. Jion faced Kwon Chasa with the sole determination to protect Suho from him. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid, but saving Suho was more important than that right now.

“He already promised me that he would follow the man in black clothes after seeing his mother. So… please give him just a little time.”

Perhaps he was projecting his own childhood self onto Suho, who was crying because he missed his mom. That must be why he felt so concerned, sorry for him, and wanted to help him. After all, he missed his mother’s warmth just the same.

Jion stood firm and endured Kwon Chasa’s indifferent gaze. Were grim reapers inherently such beings devoid of compassion? Watching that stoic face, Jion felt his confidence slowly fading, but since he could not back down, he held his head even higher.

At that moment, Yu Chasa, who had been lost in thought, opened his mouth while keeping his gaze fixed on Jion.

“Excuse me, euh living one…?”

“Yes?”

“Can you really see me…?”

“Yes….”

Even though he had spoken first, he was surprised that he could actually converse with Jion. Curious as to why he had suddenly spoken to him, Jion remained silent. Then Yu Chasa cautiously continued speaking.

“Is what you said earlier true…? That Suho promised to follow us after seeing his mom.”

“…Yes.”

“Haa… What were you thinking making a promise to a soul? You shouldn’t make promises like that.”

“…I know.”

Perhaps because it was nagging he had heard from his grandfather until he was sick of it, he felt annoyed. It was indeed dangerous enough to hear such words even from a grim reaper he had just met. But what could he do? He had already made the promise. He couldn’t undo what had happened.

“Hmm… do it’s really true….”

Yu Chasa muttered to himself, then immediately stopped talking. He quickly grabbed Suho’s waist and pulled him closer.

As Kwon Chasa, who had been observing the situation, loosened his grip, Suho immediately fell into Yu Chasa’s arms. Feeling the weight of the soul that Jion himself could not feel, the grim reaper stumbled as he tightened his hold on Suho. However, as if nothing had happened, he immediately composed himself and looked at Kwon Chasa.

“Kwon Chasa-nim, how about giving them some time, as the living one suggested…? I don’t think he’s wrong. We’ve already bought ourselves three days… and since we’re at it, wouldn’t it be better for the child to meet his mother and sort out his feelings before leaving? There’s no need to unnecessarily threaten him and drain our energy.”

Jion was slightly flustered by the voice, which sounded somehow innocent, and Kwon Chasa’s brow twitched noticeably. Yu Chasa glanced at Jion, then gave him a pleading look, the meaning of which was to hurry up and agree now that the stage had been set.

Jion puffed out his chest, gaining confidence at the thought that he might be able to reason a little with that grim reaper. In times like this, he had to at least raise his voice so he wouldn’t be intimidated.

“Since I promised, I’ll take responsibility and make it work. Once Suho sorts out his feelings, you two just have to take him then.”

Would a grim reaper really harm a living person? Jion swallowed nervously while trying to view the situation positively. In the meantime, he didn’t forget to check on Suho. The latter was still sniffling, but the trembling had subsided considerably compared to before, perhaps because he had found some stability in Yu Chasa’s arms.

“So, three days… no, I think I’ll be able to meet Suho’s mom tomorrow. I’ll take care of it by tomorrow.”

He deliberately spoke more confidently, fearing that if he showed even the slightest hesitation or lack of confidence, Kwon Chasa would swing his buwol first. Kwon Chasa tapped his buwol on the ground with a furrowed brow, but his fierce aura had softened considerably compared to the beginning.

Yu Chasa, who had been looking back and forth between Kwon Chasa and Jion, quietly placed Suho next to Jion and then stepped between the two with a smiling face.

“Oh, thank you so much! You will be blessed! When you go to the underworld later, I will take good care of you, ensuring your comfort!”

Yu Chasa bowed to Jion several times. Although the day of his departure to the underworld seemed far off, Jion nodded for now. There was no reason to refuse when he promised to take good care of him. Kwon Chasa, who had been watching the scene with a look of disbelief, sighed and closed his eyes briefly before opening them again.

“Are you at least acquainted with that kid?”

“…I met him for the first time yesterday.”

“You just met yesterday, and you’re going to this much trouble?”

“That can happen….”

“You’re ridiculously nosy.”

Kwon Chasa laughed and stared at Jion. Jion flinched slightly but feigned composure on the outside and held his ground. Kwon Chasa appeared to be deep in thought for a moment, then reached a conclusion and nodded slightly.

“Seeing how confident you are, it looks like you have a plan.”

“…….”

“By tomorrow night, hour of the pig. Can you do it?”

“…Yes. I’ll give it a try.”

“Alright. Then I’ll trust the nosy living person? Since you’re so willing to help.”

Jion frowned at the annoying voice, which was sarcastic in contrast to the man’s agreeable words. He couldn’t tell if the man was genuinely trying to trust him, or if he was pretending to be generous to mock him while already assuming failure. Jion simply stood straight, determined not to show any weakness to the grim reaper before him.

“Yu Chasa, that’s all for today.”

“Ah, yes!”

Kwon Chasa took his eyes off Jion and vanished from sight in an instant. Yu Chasa disappeared only after bowing respectfully to Jion with a smiling face, and silence soon descended upon the alley.

“Ha….”

Jion let out a long sigh as his legs finally gave way and he slumped to the ground. Suho, seemingly drained of strength as well, plopped down on the floor and ‘clung’ to Jion’s arm while crying. Even as all the strain left his body and his eyelids grew heavy, Jion couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of Suho beside him.

“…It’s a relief, Suho. Right?”

It was only one day, but it was a relief that he had bought some time. Even though the situation could not yet be definitively described as optimistic, Jion decided to think positively. Since tomorrow was Saturday, there was no need to waste time at school doing nothing, and since he knew the address, all that remained was to go back and confront the situation directly.

Jion smiled brightly as he watched Suho nod while crying, then let out a long sigh and steeled himself.

He once again imprinted in his mind the time set by Kwon Chasa, the grim reaper who had absolutely no compassion.

* * *

Jion had woken up early and was busy bustling around the kitchen and living room despite it being a day off from school. He finally opened the sliding door of the master bedroom.

“Grandpa, breakfast!”

The face peeking through the gap in the door still bore traces of sleep, and his hair, which hadn’t been properly dried after washing last night, was sticking up in places. Jion’s maternal grandfather, who was flipping through a newspaper while wearing glasses, closed it with a loud rustle and set it aside as soon as he heard his grandson’s voice. Only after taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose did the grandfather look at Jion, who was grinning.

“You came home late last night too, so why are you grinning like that as if you did something right?”

“I told you, there was something important….”

“Since when did hanging out with ghosts become such an important thing?”

He spoke nonchalantly, as if he had seen right through Jion’s last night. Jion flinched slightly, but laughed good-naturedly, entered the main room, and linked arms with his grandfather.

This was possible because his grandfather wasn’t holding a pipe right now. If he had been holding anything, he would have had to hunch his head down and cover it to avoid getting beaten, and flee straight to his room.

Fortunately, nothing happened that would cause him to wail in the morning. The two came out into the living room amicably and sat facing each other across a small table spread out in the center of the cozy living room.

On the table were a few side dishes, a hearty kimchi stew, a golden-brown fried egg, and two bowls of freshly cooked rice. It was the breakfast prepared by Jion, who had been busy since early morning. While his grandfather prepared breakfast on weekdays when Jion went to school, Jion would set the table on weekends.

Jion picked up his spoon only after confirming that his grandfather had started eating first. He took a spoonful of steaming rice and put it in his mouth, then ate some stew. He swallowed it without chewing properly, then stuffed another spoonful of rice and a fried egg into his mouth. He was eating quickly because he was in a hurry due to the many tasks he had to do since the morning.

His grandfather noticed Jion’s strange behavior and spoke with a displeased expression.

“Where are you rushing to go again? You’re going to get indigestion, you rascal.”