Waiting For Your Reincarnation

“Is this place haunted?” 

When the woman turned her head to see where I was pointing, the light was gone. 

 

I blinked my eyes slowly, muttered to myself, and closed my mouth. 

 

The woman standing before me was a phantom, but there was a contradiction in her words.

 “I must have seen something wrong.” “Isn’t it possible that you’re tired because you’ve been working so hard since you got here?” “I don’t think so… Ah. Thank you for your suggestion. But I have to wait for a teammate under the clock tower.” 

I appreciated her kindness, but I didn’t know what would happen if I followed her, because not all the ghosts I had met so far had been sane.

 

The woman paused, her expression wistful.

 “If you need help, ask for Veronica Chloé over there. That’s my name. I’m a bit of a celebrity, so I’m sure you’ll be able to get in touch with me.” “Veronica Chloe, right? I’m Kim Yeon-young, but please call me Yeon-young.” 

Veronica’s name sounded strange to me because all the names I had heard so far were Korean. 

 

Sensing my hesitation, Veronica explained.

 “You can call me Veronica. Did you think of my name?” “Yes, I’m sorry, it’s just that it’s the most impressive name I’ve heard so far.” “That’s because I’m a Fourth Estate spirit. I was originally from the Fourth Division, and I settled here after I was transferred. Originally, I had a different name for Branch 1, but because of Ryu Won, I was called—” “Isn’t this the only center?” “No, there are actually five of them. By the way, what was your mission?” 

I wondered for a moment if it was okay to tell Veronica about the mission. If it was forbidden to reveal the details of the mission, I figured that Ryu Won would have told me beforehand.

 “There’s a Sly missing and I need to find it, and I got a tip that it’s in the square right now.” “Reminds me of old times. We had the most fun running around catching souls. What’s the name of the teammate you work with?” “Mr. Ryu Won.” 

Veronica’s face lit up when she heard Ryu Won’s name, as if she’d found a cockroach.

 

I knew she had a stubborn streak, but I was puzzled that she would have such a reaction.

 “Why would he do that? It doesn’t belong with a harmless creature like you. He’s cold-blooded. Don’t be fooled by his ice cave.” 

The advice not to be fooled by her soft, gentle image resonated deeply. It was difficult to deal with the fox-like behavior of this elegant woman.

 

Ryu Won always took the initiative in their conversations.

 

Veronica clenched her fists and gritted her teeth when she remembered Ryu Won. From the looks of it, Ryu Won was just as resentful as Jaeho.

 

I turned my eyes away and stared at the rising sun.

 “Okay, just like now, watch where the light enters the square. Sly’s instinct is to go where the light is. Ah! My old map of the square is probably at home.” “A map?” “Yes, a map. No, just wait here. I’ll be right back.” 

With that, Veronica picked up the oak barrel again and looked ready to run. I measured the distance between the clock tower and the shop.

 

I felt bad about letting her go without a map.

 

Luckily, the distance wasn’t too far, and Ryu Won would know I was there if I left the shop door open.

 “Come with me, they’ll give you a map and I’ll hold one for you.” “I’m fine. I’ll go to the store and leave a message for Ryu Won. I don’t want an unsuspecting soul like you to get hurt.” Veronica walked ahead, lifting th

e oak barrel, which weighed more than I could carry, onto her shoulders with a flourish. Again, it was an amazing feat of strength.

 “So, Veronica, what kind of work did you do at the center?” “Uh, similar to yours. I’m on the special physics team. I think Zharim is in charge of that team now?” “I don’t know. I haven’t been introduced to him yet.” “Did he go on a business trip or something? We’re really short on manpower. When Jihwa disappeared, it was pretty much just Ryu Won and me. Then Saeri came and things got a little easier.” “So, Ryu Won and the chairman were still there?” “Yes, especially Ryu Won. He was at the center longer than Saeri, I’m sure.” 

It was more interesting than I thought to hear about the daily life of the old center, and now I understood why Ryu Won was so relaxed with Saeri, even though she was the chairman.

  ***  

We soon arrived at the shop. The sign on the two-story building with an orange brick roof read

‘Veronica’s Witchcraft Store’.

 

Veronica kicked open the door with her foot, carrying an oak barrel.

 “First floor is the bar; the second floor is where I live. Come by later if you want a drink after work. I’ve got a cute little bar, and I’ll take care of you.” 

The first floor was well-lit enough to be a cafe, not a bar. We walked past the round tables scattered around the store and went behind the straight tables in the back.

 

Veronica left the oak barrel there and went upstairs, coming back down with a faded piece of paper.

 “It’s in this shape because I didn’t take care of it, but you shouldn’t have any trouble seeing it.” “Thank you.” 

The map Veronica gave me was surprisingly useful. 

 

It was intuitive and easy enough for me, who had never seen a map of Branch 1 before, to understand right away.

 

Navigating the city on my own would be a breeze. If I could just find Sly, I could complete today’s mission quickly.

 

My heart felt a little lighter. I stared at the stairs to the second floor that Veronica had taken earlier.

 

Veronica’s shop was more like a wannabe house, something I had dreamed of since I was a kid. To live in a house that looked like this, with a garden full of plants.

 “Miss Veronica, are you the owner of this house?” “Huh? Huh, is it?” “Do they pay you enough to buy a place like this when you join the Special Forces?” 

Her sea-green eyes narrowed. The muscles in her face twitched, little by little, until she held her stomach and burst out laughing. She hadn’t seen that question coming.

 

My mouth twisted slightly in frustration.

 

You might be surprised. In Korea, you don’t even have to win the lottery to buy a building anymore, but a job after you die can change your life.

 “Well, first of all, our jobs get more dangerous the higher we get, so we get paid pretty well, but you have to find your memories before you can buy a building here.” “What?” “Finding memories is a Phantom’s job, and it’s a requirement to get a place in the village. The minimum requirement is to be a reincarnated Phantom, so all the children who live in the village are souls who have found their memories.” “What? Memories?” “Yes. This is an old district where those who have found their memories are given a short grace period before being reincarnated into this world.” “So, Veronica, you have memories too.” “That’s right, I’m waiting for something. I usually leave places like this when I find my memories, because having memories is a sad thing.” 

Veronica wiped away her cheerful expression and sat down on a stool in the shop, looking outward as she said this, her face looking bitter.

 

I covered my mouth for a moment. I wondered if it would be deceitful for me to add anything to my memories.

 

I turned my attention to the map, trying my best to ignore Veronica, who was lost in her own thoughts.

 

Veronica’s Witchcraft Shop was near the center, so if she wandered around the low buildings, she should be able to find Sly.

 

As soon as Ryu Won got here, we could go there.

 

I remembered Veronica’s words earlier about communicating with Ryu Won. 

 

Veronica was still haunted by her memories.

 

As I was rushing to Ryu Won, I noticed something moving under the window.

 

The sunlight only seemed to make that part of the window transparent, but the intermittent shimmering told her that something was there.

 

It looked like the shiny object I’d seen in the square earlier.

 “Veronica, am I the only one who sees that thing moving?” “Oh, that’s Sly. Isn’t that what you were looking for?” 

Veronica snapped out of her thoughts. If I had a heart, it would be beating out of my chest.

 

After a moment of joy at the quick resolution of the request, I had a practical question.

 “Do you happen to know how to catch a Sly?” “You don’t know? Didn’t you take the Sly Catcher from the lab?” “Ryu Won had to go back to the center to get it, so can’t I catch them without it?” “Well, it’s the old-fashioned way, but we have to catch them by hand and wait for the container.” 

I nodded at Veronica’s words. If I missed this part, I didn’t know when I would find the little creature again.

 

I crouched low and crept towards Sly with the stealth of a cat. Veronica moved to get Sly’s attention.

 

When I was near him, I reached my hand into the strange void and clasped it tightly. Then I felt a tingling sensation and a spark in my head, and I froze.

 “Ugh!” “Yeon-young? Yeon-young, wake up!” 

Veronica’s voice called out to me, and more sensations flooded my head like water.

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