Waiting For Your Reincarnation

I was curious about the structure of Ryu Won’s brain. I wondered where the idea to draw attention to himself through vandalism came from.

 

I let out a small sigh. Then I leaned closer to Saeri and handed her the yellow papers I had brought with me. Saeri took them, her right eyebrow twitching.

 “This is Sly 320210’s treatment report. It says there’s nothing wrong with her body, but she’s lost her luster since coming to the center, so she’s requesting permission to use the forest room for rehabilitation.” “Hmm… At this rate, there’s a chance of spontaneous extinction. You reported it as an unusual case, didn’t you?” “That’s Marie’s report, right? Marie is sick?” 

Veronica’s eyes flashed fiercely and she turned to me. Her eyes seemed to take in the whole context very quickly.

 

I looked down. I didn’t know how to explain.

 

Saeri didn’t react either, just glanced at the paperwork.

 “Okay, I expected that.” 

Veronica flopped down on the couch in the conference room and gave up.

 

No, she pretended to give up. Her golden hair glistened under the lights and looked unusually tousled today.

 

She folded her arms across her chest and spoke the words that sounded like a blast from the past.

 “I will retire and reincarnate.” “What?” 

Saeri put the papers she was reading on the desk with a loud bang. Ryu Won, who had overheard this situation, was also a bit surprised and looked at Veronica.

 

Only I didn’t know what was going on and stood still like a doll.

 

Veronica snorted and crossed her legs.

 “Now that I’ve done enough, I need to find a good place to reincarnate. I can’t keep running a tavern and taking care of the center forever.” “That’s not fair. It’s too abrupt.” 

Saeri furrowed her brow and sprang to her feet. She rubbed her temples vigorously with her hands, feeling a headache coming on.

 

It occurred to me that Saeri was overreacting. I hadn’t been at the center long, but I had learned the organization’s motto.

 

The main focus of the Soul Protection Center was to protect souls.

 

If that was the direction of the center, then Veronica must be a soul to be protected by Branch 1, and she refused.

 “I…, Veronica, since you regained your memories, isn’t reincarnation possible?” “I can, whenever I want, but I’m the owner of the pub.” 

What does being a pub owner have to do with reincarnation?

 

Veronica winked at me, who looked confused. Even with her explanation, it didn’t make sense.

 “What about all those higher-level clients you’ve been taking on as a middleman? You need to make sure you have a successor.” “One minute you’re telling me to reincarnate, and the next you’re telling me not to? Oh, I don’t know. I’ll reincarnate right now, please.” 

Saeri, crushed by Veronica’s childlike impulsiveness, was unable to continue. There was a moment of silence in the room.

 

Wordlessly, Saeri signed her name at the bottom of the document she had received from me. 

 

Then she handed it back.

 

I sorted the piles of papers one by one. Then I saw a space for each manager to sign.

 

Veronica, Daeheon Lee and Shin Saeri.

 

Veronica’s signature was in the corner of her left ear. That meant she was also one of the managers of the project.

 

I stared at her with big Maltese eyes. Veronica lifted one corner of her mouth to explain.

 “I’m saying that Veronica’s Witchcraft Tavern isn’t just a pub.” “Then…?” “On the outside, it’s a tavern, but behind the scenes, it’s a First Branch guild. I’m the guild leader, and I handle the requests of the city. I’m the middle man between the town and the center. Usually, I organize the requests and deliver them to the center, but sometimes I do it myself.” “That’s definitely a problem.” 

Veronica’s words explained Saeri’s reaction.

 

If she were to be reincarnated without a transfer, it would be as if one of the bridges between the Center and the village had been blown up.

 

Saeri scolded her, saying that this was no way for a child who knew exactly what she was doing to behave. 

 

Veronica didn’t even pretend to listen, cupping her ears with her little fingers.

 “On one condition,” Veronica said, her voice a little softer. “Let me see Marie again. She’s sick right now.” “You know I can’t make you a special deal, right?” 

There was silence again. They couldn’t agree on anything. I fiddled with the smooth surface of the paper.

 

She remembered Marie’s words from earlier in the recovery room. It wasn’t a reincarnation she wanted to show, but happy memories of Veronica.

 “I hate it when people get carried away and break the rules.” 

For the first time, Saeri, who always wore a pleasant smile, showed her tearful face. There was a harshness in the gold that was like hot summer sunshine.

 

Veronica clasped her hands like a person in prayer and said nothing.

 

She knew this was the right path.

 

If Marie doesn’t get her light back, she will be destroyed. Before she disappears, what she wants most is to see Veronica. But the laws of Tanato’s world prevent Veronica and Marie from meeting.

 

There is a better way, even if it means breaking the rules.

 

Isn’t it the Center’s job to help souls find their right to happiness?

 

Deciding something, I took a deep breath. Then I took a step closer to Saeri and Veronica.

 “I…, Chairwoman. I have something to tell you. I saw you in the hospital room earlier…” BANG! 

The sound of someone slamming the conference room door cut them off abruptly. Saeri gave a slight jerk of her chin, indicating to open the door.

 

I opened the door to the conference room, only to find out that it wasn’t the special team or any other employee, but Marie.

 

***

 “Marie!” 

Veronica jumped to her feet. Marie bounced easily through the air and into Veronica’s arms.

 

As she hugged her tightly, a blindingly bright light emanated from her body.

 

It was even brighter than the midday sun.

 “Ugh.” “Tsk.” 

Ryu Won shielded my eyes with his hand as I let out a soft groan. He pressed down very gently so that no light could get in.

 

A few seconds passed.

 

Ryu Won’s hand withdrew slowly. I blinked to adjust to the situation. The light was slowly being sucked back into Marie.

 

A throaty, almost screaming sound echoed through the conference room, calling for Marie.

 

With a powerful burst of light, Marie assumed her puppy form and wagged her tail as if she had completed her awakening.

 

Sly’s soul turned into a phantom. Saeri put her hand on Marie’s head and closed her eyes.

 “Haha, what’s that, Sly’s spirit, but it’s also like a phantom.” 

Saeri stood there, unable to take her hand off Marie. Veronica looked at her with eager eyes. Marie’s tail wagged regularly.

 

I didn’t know why, but it was clear that something miraculous had happened.

 “Miraculous…, what a thing.” “Mr. Ryu Won, can a soul change into another type?” “I’ve never seen it.” 

Saeri, who had been deep in thought for a while, finally let go. Then she blurted out the word

“mutant”

and sat back in her chair with a thud.

 

She brushed her fringe back with a flick of her hand, and a new contract appeared on her desk.

 

Saeri looked at Marie and asked a question.

 “You’re not going to reincarnate right away, are you?” “Mm.” “I can’t force you. As soon as you become a phantom, you have the right to live in the village. Veronica, check the contract.” 

Marie doesn’t have to return to the forest.

 

Marie had been accepted by Saeri as a ghost. Veronica sat back in her seat, her fists clenched, her face frightened, and read the contract.

 

She didn’t know what to expect. Ryu Won stood next to her and spoke.

 “So this is all happening.” “Sometimes a desperate heart can work miracles and I believe in it.” “Yeon-young. You are…really…” 

I waited for Ryu Won to continue, but no matter how long she waited, he didn’t speak. 

 

Feeling strange, I turned my head, but Ryu Won had his back to me.

 

I thought about what I had said. As far as I could tell, I hadn’t made any mistakes.

 

Then I reached out to touch Ryu Won’s broad back.

 “Ryu Won?” “I’ll go out first.” 

Ryu Won disappeared from the conference room like the wind.

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