Chapter 123

Thinking quietly, there might be a penalty, but it doesn’t seem impossible.

One of the rules even gods can’t break is that when life ends, no matter what, you go to the Dark Realm.

That means the souls of those who died because of the Mogmog Group are in the Dark Realm.

“Does that make sense?”

“Why wouldn’t it? It seems possible.”

After offering chrysanthemums at the Memorial Tower, Aquamarine and I sat across from each other at a café, drinking coffee.

“You still ordered a Venti, huh?”

“I did order a Venti, didn’t I?”

Aquamarine stared at me like I was stating the obvious.

Well, it *is* obvious.

Someone in the past probably ordered a Venti but got the smallest size instead.

“Back to the topic, is it really possible?”

“It’ll probably be really hard… but it seems possible.”

“Seems possible? Or is it possible? You can’t do anything without certainty.”

Hmm.

I sipped my café latte through a straw, lost in thought.

It’s definitely possible.

We already know the incantation, and we can narrow down the scope, even if it’s rough.

Anyway, we just need to filter out those who died because of the Mogmog Group.

But I’m not sure about the penalty.

“Alright. I’ll look into it too. I don’t think there’ll be any major issues, but just in case.”

“Yeah. Better safe than sorry. Make sure you know for certain.”

“Yeah. Thanks for worrying.”

“Worrying? If you die, we’ll be in a lot of trouble, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah. Got it.”

After finishing our coffee, it was getting dark.

The sun would set soon, and it was getting too late to do anything else.

“Aqua, what do you want to do?”

“What?”

“Do you want to call it a day or go home and eat something?”

“Food? Home-cooked?”

“Yeah, home-cooked.”

“Hmm. Alright, let’s see what the boss can whip up.”

“Sure, I’ll show you heavenly flavors.”

Aqua chuckled and called a taxi.

The subway isn’t far from here, but she seems to live by the rule of taking a taxi for anything over three steps.

Must be nice to have money.

—

“This is kimchi stew, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Why is it so sweet?”

“I think it’s fine.”

I took a spoonful, and it tasted good to me.

The pork was plentiful, and the broth was rich, but Aqua was making a face like it was too sweet.

“Kabe said it’s delicious.”

Wait, I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.

“Sohee, do you think it’s weird too?”

Sohee took a sip of the stew and then ate three more spoonfuls of rice.

Is it really that strange?

“Kabe just has a sweet tooth. This is too sweet. What did you put in it?”

“I just followed the recipe.”

“Ugh… never mind. Let’s just eat.”

Aqua sighed and started eating.

“Well, the vice president is used to her mother’s cooking, so maybe that’s why. I find it a bit sweet too, but it’s fine for a meal.”

What’s she talking about?

I looked back and forth between Sohee and Aqua, confused.

“Oh, my mom runs a Korean fine dining place. But I’m not picky; I just eat what’s given. Anyway, let’s just eat. Thanks for the meal.”

“Uh, yeah.”

I felt oddly swept up in Aqua’s pace.

Hmm… well, whatever.

“Where’s Eve?”

“She’s busy. After what happened with Escario, the Light Realm’s atmosphere isn’t great. She said she’s going there again today.”

“Really?”

She must be busy.

She came home late yesterday too.

She left early this morning and hasn’t come back yet.

…And she didn’t even call? Shouldn’t she at least let us know if she’s running late?

Huh? Why am I mad…?

“What? Are you mad because your partner didn’t call and is late?”

“Of course I’m mad… wait, what?”

Aqua was grinning, holding her spoon.

“Well, it’s fine. Times have changed, and same-sex couples aren’t seen as strange anymore. Eve’s at the age to date, and you too…”

I shoved a spoonful of rice into Aqua’s mouth.

“Mmph!”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full. You’re an adult; have some manners.”

No matter how busy she is, she should at least let us know if she’s running late or where she’s going.

We’ll all be moving out soon anyway, and we don’t have much time left to spend together like this.

It’s disappointing.

…Disappointed?

Me?

Because I can’t spend time with Eve?

Why?

Why is that?

Huh?

“What are you doing? You stopped eating.”

Aqua’s voice snapped me out of it.

I must’ve been spacing out, holding my spoon. I started eating again.

—

Eve came back that night—or rather, early morning.

She looked exhausted, and it was obvious she was tired. I couldn’t bring myself to ask why she didn’t at least call.

“…Did you eat?”

“Not yet.”

“Wait a bit.”

“No… it’s fine. I’ll just sleep. I’m not hungry. Where’s the kid?”

“I put her to bed.”

Eve waved her hand lightly and headed to the bathroom.

I grabbed her wrist.

“Why?”

“Eat a little before you sleep. Sleeping on an empty stomach is bad for you. Just eat a little.”

“…Alright.”

While Eve washed up, I reheated the kimchi stew and served some rice.

I also plated some radish kimchi and green onion kimchi and fried an egg.

As the stew bubbled on the table, Eve came out and sat down.

“Wow, you said to eat lightly, but you prepared a feast.”

“Well, who else is going to take care of you but your wife?”

“Heh, true. Thanks. I wasn’t really thinking about food, but seeing this makes me hungry.”

I sat across from her as she took a spoonful of rice.

“Is the Light Realm that chaotic?”

“Yeah. It’s an unprecedented situation with the god gone. We have to appoint a regent and sort out a lot of things.”

“I see…”

Neither of us expected this, but we knew it was a possibility.

We wouldn’t have killed Escario without being prepared for this.

“It’ll be busy for a while.”

“Yeah. It’s fine. We expected this. The stew’s good.”

“Right?”

See?

Aqua’s taste buds are just weird.

“But it’s a bit sweet.”

“Just eat what you’re given. Oh, there’s something I wanted to ask.”

“What?”

Eve was cutting into the fried egg with her chopsticks. I made it sunny-side up because I like runny yolks, and Eve didn’t seem to mind either.

The yolk oozed out, and Eve dipped the egg whites into it before eating.

“So, I’m not sure what to call it… a ritual? A summoning? I’m thinking of doing it.”

“What are you talking about?”

Eve looked at me, her chopsticks paused mid-air.

“I went to the Memorial Tower with Aqua today.”

“Oh? With Aqua?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s surprising.”

“Why?”

“Aqua wouldn’t have wanted to go.”

What’s she talking about?

“Why?”

“Hmm, if Aqua agreed to it, it’s probably fine. But I shouldn’t say too much. Ask her later. Anyway, what about it?”

I was curious, but if Eve couldn’t say more, it must be personal. It’d be rude to push.

“Anyway, about the people who died because of the Mogmog Group. Their souls are all in the Dark Realm. So, while we were offering flowers today, I thought…”

“Yeah.”

“What if I set aside a day to temporarily connect the human world and the Dark Realm—”

“Don’t.”

“What?”

Before I could finish, Eve cut me off.

Her expression was stern. I’d never seen her look so serious.

“You’re planning to summon the souls of the dead to let them meet their loved ones, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t. It’s been ten years. The living have started to heal and move on. Do you really want to reopen those wounds?”

That’s… not possible.

Even if it were, it’s not something I should do.

“That’s… not right.”

“Exactly, so don’t do it. The wounds are finally healing. Don’t tear them open again.”

“Hmm.”

Eve’s right.

I was being shortsighted, thinking it’d be nice to let them see each other even briefly, but it’s not the right thing to do.

“You’re right, Eve. I get it.”

“Just.”

“Huh?”

Eve wasn’t finished.

“Call the reporters and sincerely apologize. Promise it won’t happen again. They might not forgive you, but they’ll understand. Especially since you didn’t directly order it.”

“…”

They might not forgive, but they’ll understand.

It’s heavy.

This moment feels heavier than ever before.