Chapter 24: Life or Death?
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After threatening the father, Sayru left the house, the man following behind, leading him to the chiefs who, according to his words, longed for salvation.
Sayru found the story utterly ridiculous, lacking the slightest logic.
To wait for salvation from someone useless—someone who might never even come? He thought their so-called hope had reached a level of stupidity beyond reason.
"I need to know how he knows about my memory los—huh?"
Suddenly, Sayru collapsed to the ground. He did not rise again.
"Pitch-black darkness… emptiness… Did I die? Seriously?"
Sayru couldn't even comprehend how he had died, to the point that he refused to believe it.
But the void pressing against his senses confirmed it—this wasn't the first time he had died.
"Will I lose my life just like this?! The chance I was given… to live it like this?! Damn it!!"
Yet in his rage, Sayru had forgotten something crucial.
How could the dead think at all? His anger had blinded him to such a simple truth.
...….
"It feels as if hundreds of years have passed… Is this truly death itself?"
Still convinced he was dead, Sayru remained in that place for what felt like centuries, unmoving.
"That tea was delicious… suddenly I feel hungry. Hungry…?"
At last, realization struck him.
He was not dead.
"I'm… grateful that no one is watching me right now. Otherwise, I would've killed myself from the embarrassment…"
His face flushed red, but he quickly acted as though nothing had happened, standing up once more.
Ahem… so I'm back to that place without even a trace of light, huh? This situation is strange to the core… it feels like I'm no longer myself ever since I came here.
Many questions churned in Sayru's mind, but he was right about one thing…
He was no longer the Sayru he once had been. Something was slowly, imperceptibly, changing him.
So, just as he had before, he began walking in one direction for hours upon hours.
And, just like before, he was transported—this time, near another village.
As he approached, he discovered it was not the same village as the last.
But this time, instead of rushing away, he began exploring its streets. His foreign clothing drew stares, his presence standing out sharply as he walked among the villagers.
"Could it really be him?"
"Shut up! He'll hear you, idiot."
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
Realizing wandering wouldn't help, Sayru asked where he could find the village chief.
"The chief? That would be me! Why do you seek me?"
To his surprise, an old man serving food at a shabby tavern was the chief himself.
Sayru grew even more convinced he was trapped in a land of lunatics.
"You say you're looking for the other chiefs? Hah! What a strange young man you are."
The chief didn't believe him at all, dismissing it as a joke. Sayru finished his meal and left.
And once again…
Sayru died.
"Again? I suspected as much, but this is too strange… I don't even know how I die each time…"
As before, he found himself in the dark void once more.
...….
"What is this bizarre world…? And why do I keep dying over and over?!"
By his tenth death, after visiting several villages, Sayru had lost his composure entirely.
Each time, he died the same way—but never understood how.
He recalled the word 'trial' from before, and so pressed forward, regardless of how many times he might fall.
But the strangest part of all… was that he wasn't even sure if he was truly dying.
Or rather, was he dying at all?
"Excuse me, sir, did nothing catch your eye?"
This time, he found himself in the final village mentioned by the father at the beginning—the twelfth.
Seeking to avoid unnecessary interaction, he entered a clothing shop.
"I'll take this one."
"Thank you for your purchase, please visit us again."
He bought the garment and stepped outside—when suddenly, the truth struck him.
The haze of confusion unraveled.
He turned sharply, stepping back into the shop, eyes fixed on the shopkeeper.
"You… haven't you had enough of your games?"
Shock.
To hear him accuse her so suddenly…
Even the shopkeeper herself looked bewildered.
"W-What are you talking about, sir? Is there something wrong with the clothing?"
Sayru seized her wrists, shouting:
"Enough! You're coming with me, now!"
He tried to drag her out of the shop.
But, unfortunately… Sayru died once again.
...….
"Damn it!!! She was toying with me all along—that wretched trickster!"
And once more, Sayru returned to the endless void.