Death Cast

00.14 | The Penultimate

"Which means not dying is also an option?"

Barron gave a slight nod of approval. He leaned back in his chair, one hand raised, inspecting his cuticles. The way he acted made it seem like they were chatting about something insignificant. Even though he stated that he needed to rush and sign the contract, there was no urgency in his voice.

In spite of the grim reaper's presence, Jaerim's attention was drawn to the paper in front of him. The second time he looked at it, he noticed that not only were the fonts too small to read, but it was also written in a language that was not human.

This setup raised suspicions!

Jaerim expressed his worries about the deal. "As you can see, it's hard to make a deal like this one. It is written in a language I am unfamiliar with. Isn't this merely setting me up for a trap?"

He is not interested in signing a contract where there is a high chance of fraud.

"Also," Jaerim added. "Am I still legally able to sign a contract? Didn’t my rights get put off the moment I got the maple mark?"

Once a person was diagnosed as an Autumn, the law of human rights would be taken away from them. This is something Jaerim knows about. The law will automatically declare their death, thus would no longer be part of the human rights protection. This means that Autumns won't be able to make decisions, which includes becoming state witnesses or signing documents. All of their accounts will also cease to work.

Any properties under the Autumn will also be taken by the government. If there is no will or any relatives that would collect the possession, it will become public property. The procedures will be done by the court to give proper equity of the remains and to make sure that the Autumn won't be able to collect their stuff once again.

All of their possessions will be taken away from them, as they will be of no use.

After all, they only have a little time to live.

"What rights are you referring to? Human laws? Are you still subject to human laws?"

Jaerim nodded. "Anything I do would be regarded as invalid, from eating a proper meal to having a good life. That's the penalty of becoming an Autumn."

Barron hummed in recognition. "Do you understand what you were saying right?"

"I do?" Jaerim nodded slowly. "Is there something wrong?"

"Technically, human laws are naturally for 'humans'. Since you are not considered a 'human', then why do you have to follow them? You have long crossed the threshold of death and life, what is there to worry about?"

Aside from that, grim reapers may be considered higher entities than the government. In comparison to human-driven norms, the principles they uphold are universal. Jaerim has only just realized it now. Human laws no longer incriminate him.

"Doesn't that make me a bit OP?"

The limitations of humans were set by-laws so the order could be maintained. If one is not subjected to this limitation, then that individual would be able to do whatever they want. They could kill, they could murder, they could loot whatever establishment they wanted. Law is no longer a thing they should follow since they had been exiled from its order.

It is freedom close to chaos.

Barron laughed. He had been deceived by the person's appearance and had forgotten that Jaerim was only a twenty-something. In comparison to the years he has lived, he is still a kid. It is natural for him to be bemused by the basic premise.

"You humans are fascinating. You are the smartest and one of the few species in the world that were able to create civilization despite being weak and afraid. You fear a lot of things, and you are highly susceptible to a lot of events. Why do you still exist in this world?"

With his head slightly tilted to the side, Jaerim observed the relaxed grim reaper. His brow furrowed at the question, clearly considering a response. He didn't say anything at the end. Barron had expected it.

"Anyway, you don't have to worry about this or that law; you're dead, so what's there to punish you for?"

"Really?"

"Still doubting?" Barron asked, without glancing at Jaerim. "I thought you believed me. Didn't you say I am not the kind of person to joke about things?"

Barron stopped checking his cuticles and dragged himself toward the table, bringing him face-to-face with Jaerim. He drew his palm under his chin and fixed his gaze on the person in front of him, staring straight ahead. But the youngster is engaged in analyzing the contract.

"So, what's it about? What's this? It's all just lip service?" Barron gave a sly snort. "For more than a century, I've received several compliments. I'm no longer enticed by the mere mention of compliments. Perhaps you’re baiting me?"

"I'm not baiting you," Jaerim sighed.

He gave up looking at the contract. He is only hurting his eyes and brain trying to understand something supernatural. It's better to just ask it out.

"If not, then why are you hesitating?"

"It's normal to hesitate," Jaerim picked up the slim pen beside the paper and examined its sleek body. It is a fountain pen without ink. A thought entered his mind. "I need to use my blood as ink?"

"What?" The grim reaper looked at the pen in Jaerim's hand. He frowned. "You think I'm a devil that needs a mere blood sacrifice?"

"You are not?"

"I'm not!" Barron sneered, the golden halo in his eyes flashing dangerously. "You really think I am a devil?"

Jaerim, with his head lowered, did not answer, but his silence answered his question affirmatively. Barron rolled his eyes, leaning back in the chair. The lamp on the table shook a little, the light flickering from the little disturbance. Jaerim blinked his eyes from the sudden haziness.

A shadow slowly appeared on the desk that is definitely not owned by a human. It crept from the grim reaper's side up to Jaerim's until he was all but covered by the black entity. Jaerim did not dare to look up or move and just listened to the rustling of fabric in front of him.

"Getting comfortable here, aren't we?"

The same gentle voice came out, but there was an obvious trace of coldness in it. A frosty finger caressed Jaerim's neck, making him jolt. The feeling of numbness slowly crept down his back, drying the sweat drenching his clothes.

"We've only known each other for about an hour or so," Barron said, his voice flitting past Jaerim's ears. It seems like you have forgotten that I am not a measly human..."

A sharp, cold metal touched the skin of Jaerim's nape. It's easy to guess the kind of weapon placed under his neck. It was only hovering over his skin, but he could feel the sharpness in it, the kind that only needs a little strength to slice thru things.

"You humans are interesting, ah. I only showed a little kindness, but you already managed to take a step up. The next thing I'll know, you might have been trampling me over, preparing to dig a grave for me."

Barron liked observing humans and, over more than a hundred years of existence, he had somehow understood their subconscious nature.

They could be cute, adorable, and sweet little creatures who only wanted to reach the ultimate pleasure of happiness, good health, and wealth. The ability to adapt in almost all circumstances made humans a good community that could only prosper for the greater good.

On the other hand, humans are also treacherous, greedy, and evil—much worse than the devil. To get whatever they desired, humans could cross mountains and sail seas just to reach the goal of immortality. It is a kind of selfishness that is incurable.

These two-faced creatures really made a great deal with the gods to make them special.

Barron looked at Jaerim. To which category does this little guy belong? Does he have greatness in his heart or a treacherous one that could easily betray his friends?

The two remained at a standstill, each hearing their own breaths. Jaerim felt like he could hear his heart beating in his head, or that he had been constraining his airflow, making him feel as if his lungs had shrunk.

The shadow remained to hover over him, waiting for words to pass out judgments.

"Then how about I just sign it?" Jaerim tried to twirl the pen in his fingers, acting calm and unperturbed. The pen had a good length and the proper weight, so it smoothly moved around his fingers.

The grim reaper watched the pen play around Jaerim's fingers. He remained silent for a while before retrieving his aura and scythe behind. Him backing up immediately lightened the atmosphere, making Jaerim silently sigh in relief.

The heavy burden on his shoulders is gone.

"Just use your soul. You are dealing with a grim reaper, so, naturally, you are giving up your soul."

"Paying with my soul, huh," Jaerim muttered, trying to remain casual. "It dealt greater damage than the devil's."

"Of course, after all, there is a huge difference between seeking the devil to exact sins than dealing with a grim reaper."

Devils are used for contracts that go against the laws of the universe. There is no means of equal exchange, thus, the transaction is illegal and very risky. Once the soul has been sacrificed under the hands of the devil, the human being can no longer be saved from utter damnation.

However, a grim reaper stood in a different position. They are officially recognized by the law of the universe as the caretakers of departing souls. There is no need for a sacrifice, instead, an exchange will be made.

"What do you think about your death?" Barron suddenly asked. "What is death to you?"

Jaerim paused, watching the pen fall from his grip. It clumsily rolled towards the center of the paper, leaving behind a long shadow. Jaerim looked up and met the golden-haloed eyes again. He pursed his lips, biting the bottom part of his lip.

"I didn't know there was a question and answer portion in this deal," he said. "Are you not hurrying me up?"

"Killjoy," Barron booed.

"What's fun asking me?" Jaerim picked up the pen and placed the nib on the bottom part of the paper where his signature was needed. The moment the top touched the paper, a bluish-luminous ink made a dot.

Barron watched as the youngster easily signed his name to the contract. The wonderful, vivid color of sky blue highlighted its existence against the white paper. It wasn't contrast against the light color, but it still made a prominent mark.

"I just want to know," Barron said after a while. "It's interesting to know the answers of a dead man."

"So, I'm already pronounced dead, huh," Jaerim grumbled.

"Are you not? Only by signing the paper could change your status."

Jaerim pushed the paper back to Barron. The grim reaper skipped the terms and conditions of the contract and went directly to the signature. A faint feeling of warmth from a living soul could be felt coming from it.

He thought. Even his soul is interesting.

Barron called Silvester in after Jaerim signed the paper. He only learned about the idea of the contract and not the whole thing, so he could not explain the details to Jaerim. When Jaerim learned about it, he gave the grim reaper an accusing look.

Barron didn't explain it to him because he also didn't understand how it worked!