Chapter 57

If someone were to ask where in the soul is a person’s life recorded, I could simply answer that it’s written in the Bai.

I think I mentioned this before… while investigating the structure of the soul.

Anyway, thanks to thoroughly understanding such facts, implementing the functionality Mang requested wasn’t difficult. By engraving the technology onto the bronze mirror I had prepared beforehand, I was able to complete the tool Mang desired.

It was a simple device that, when reflecting a soul in the mirror, would pull out and read the memories recorded in its Bai. But you know…

And here’s an extra bonus!

Since paper hasn’t been invented yet in this era, I reluctantly made something using bamboo slips, alongside the bronze mirror, and handed them over to Mang.

“What is this?”

“Would you like to unfold it?”

At my words, Mang carefully unfolded the bamboo slips.

“There’s nothing written on it…”

“Hmm. That means it’s working properly.”

With a small smirk, I extended a random soul I’d picked up nearby toward Mang.

“Would you like to reflect this soul with your bronze mirror?”

It was a soul I’d found recently around here. When I used the mirror to read its memories, it turned out to be some foolish guy who got into trouble by bullying people in the city and died after being hit on the back of his head with a rock at night.

Seriously, what a fool.

“So you’re saying I should test the mirror, correct? Understood.”

Mang reflected the soul with the bronze mirror, and simultaneously, a faint light emerged from the mirror, revealing the soul’s memories.

Of course, reading through an entire lifetime takes a lot of time, so we’re showing only a condensed version—just the important events or scenes of sin. It summarizes those for you.

Otherwise, reviewing each human life one by one would take an eternity.

“Wow, this is amazing. You’ve implemented the function I asked for with such precision.”

“Ho ho… but there’s more. Would you like to unfold those bamboo slips now?”

“These ones? There was nothing written on them before…”

“This time, it will be different.”

You see, those bamboo slips—the Book of Life and Death—are designed to work in conjunction with the bronze mirror.

Honestly speaking, a document listing the lifespan of all living beings… well, that’s just impossible! Yeah!

Sure, if I used the power of creation, it might somehow be possible, but I wanted to try doing it with my own abilities this time.

Instead, I approached it from a slightly different angle, which resulted in this Book of Life and Death.

“Hmm? The letters are appearing on their own!”

“Isn’t that impressive?”

Through the bronze mirror, the memories are automatically recorded in the Book of Life and Death. Then, based on those memories, several possibilities are considered, and if the individual lived without committing significant sins or major problems, their expected lifespan is recorded.

In simpler terms, it indicates the potential lifespan the soul would have had if they lived a righteous life.

Though, since it’s just evaluating possibilities, you can’t fully trust it. However, it does give a rough estimate of life expectancy.

Of course, a righteous life doesn’t necessarily mean a long one, so there are cases where the expected lifespan is shorter than the actual lifespan.

“This person died at 28, but the register says they would’ve died at 78…”

“That means this person had the potential to live until 78, but various issues cut their life short.”

“They didn’t fulfill their full lifespan?”

“Yeah, roughly. Though remember, it’s still just a possibility, so there’s always room for error.”

After all, unexpected quarrels can happen, leading to grudges, and then one night, a sharp rock hits the back of the head. Stuff happens.

“If you use these tools, you’ll be able to read the soul’s memories and understand whether their life was heading in the right direction, wouldn’t you?”

At my words, Mang nodded slightly.

“These items will help evaluate the lives of souls if they judge whether they lived rightly.”

“Exactly. But keep in mind, these tools aren’t omnipotent. They only assess lifespan, not the weight of sins committed.”

“I’ll need to separately judge that aspect.”

I nodded slightly. And as for judging the weight of sins… well, I don’t plan on assigning that role to Mang.

One person shouldn’t bear too much responsibility, right?

That role… If Seres decides to work in the afterlife, I’m considering assigning it to her.

While making these items for Mang, I also prepared something for that task. Once Seres makes her decision, I’ll hand it over immediately.

So, with three people managing the afterlife…

Tanatos, commanding the spirits of darkness to gather lost souls.

Mang, confirming whether the souls lived their rightful lifespans using the mirror and the register.

Seres, weighing the souls on a scale to determine their fates based on their sins.

Roughly, that’s how it’s planned to work.

Of course, circumstances may change, but anyway…

“If these incredible items have proper names, what are they called?”

“I’ve named the bamboo slips ‘Book of Life and Death,’ but I haven’t decided on a name for the mirror yet. I was thinking either ‘Yebyeong’ or ‘Jeongpariyeong.’”

The mirror reflecting human karma: Yebyeong. The mirror so pure and clear it reflects an entire life: Jeongpariyeong.

Honestly, either one works fine for me!

“Well, why not use both names? Whichever one you call, it’ll respond, right?”

Hmm… maybe you’re right. Sure, let people call it whichever way they want.

Whatever the mirror’s name ends up being, it won’t make much difference, will it?

“Anyway, preparing something like this… Now I can no longer refuse your proposal.”

“Ah, I’ve been waiting for those words.”

Creating such items for a new hire? That’s nothing compared to the effort I put in!

“However, I am the Mountain God of this mountain. If I leave, I’ll just be another spirit among many. What do you plan to do about that?”

“That’s something I’ve thought about too.”

If the mountain is bound here, why not make it part of the afterlife?

Not physically moving it, of course. Just giving people a nudge in their perceptions so their faith creates the belief in you as the God of the Underworld.

“So, first, let’s hide this mountain.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t worry, it’ll be quick.”

I smiled gently at Mang.

——————————

The capital of the Yin dynasty, the largest city in the East, known as Seongdo.

In this massive city, home to countless people, a strange rumor began to spread.

“North Mangsan Mountain has disappeared.”

What is North Mangsan Mountain? Isn’t it the mountain located north of Seongdo, filled with graves?

But one day, it vanished without a trace.

Where the mountain once stood, thick fog now hung, and undertakers searching for graves in the fog-covered North Mangsan Mountain inexplicably ended up on the other side of the mountain.

Truly, even ghosts would cry over this.

Some said the Mountain God of North Mangsan Mountain was angry.

Angry because the mountain had been covered in graves.

Others claimed North Mangsan Mountain had become the underworld.

A mountain shrouded in death had sunk into the underworld.

No one knew the truth.

All that was certain was that North Mangsan Mountain was no longer there.

After some time passed, another rumor spread.

The Mountain God of North Mangsan Mountain had become the God of the Underworld.

The deity who judges the dead in the underworld.

As the fog surrounding where North Mangsan Mountain once stood began to lift, the mountain itself completely vanished without a trace.

Truly, even ghosts would cry over this.

——————————

Through such processes, Mang was no longer the Mountain God of North Mangsan Mountain but had become the God of the Underworld.

“This is absurd. All I did was spread rumors.”

“Humans tend to fear what they don’t understand while simultaneously respecting and admiring it.”

This method worked because humanity’s knowledge was still limited.

People who couldn’t comprehend natural phenomena and imagined gods—it wasn’t hard to guide their thoughts with a bit of manipulation and spreading rumors.

Thanks to this, Mang was no longer bound to the mountain, and at the same time, his appearance changed slightly.

The crown… the flat square panel atop his hat remained the same, but the color of the cloth draping from it shifted from white to black.

His clothing, previously green and brown, was now predominantly black.

Perhaps because humans associate death with the color black.

“What will happen to North Mangsan Mountain, where I once resided?”

“Hmm… Well, I thought about sinking the mountain underground, but I figured you wouldn’t like that. So, I attached it to the entrance of a nearby mountain range.”

“Rather nonchalantly mentioning quite an abnormal feat. Even though it’s not a huge mountain, you’re casually saying you moved it.”

“Come on, this is nothing.”

I gave Mang a small smile.

“Since you’re no longer the Mountain God of North Mangsan Mountain, you can’t use the name Mang anymore, can you?”

“Hmm. For that reason, I’ll bestow upon you a new name. A name fitting for the new God of Death.”

“A name?”

Names are important. Words representing existence, after all.

To the point where a name can somewhat decide one’s destiny.

“I’ve prepared two names for you. One for the East and one for the West. Which would you like to hear first?”

Then, Mang—no, he’s not Mang anymore. The new God of Death spoke without hesitation.

“As the mountain I resided on was in the East, please tell me the name I’ll be called there first.”

“I thought you’d say that.”

With a gentle smile, I opened my mouth.

“Yama. That is the name you’ll be called in the East. In the West, you’ll be known as Moros.”

The name of the Underworld’s Judge and the name of a god symbolizing death in Greek mythology.

There could be no better names for managing the underworld.

Thus, the second manager of the underworld was confirmed.