"Don't think of uttering nonsense in front of Yam." As I moved through a corridor whose ceiling clearly seemed to reach the sky, I heard that same woman, the reaper, calling out to me in a voice laced with arrogance and pride.
I was already having a hard time digesting the fact that a world I had only read about in web novels existed, and here this woman, who had killed me, was clearly treating me as if I were an insect, unlike the man who, with a smile, was guiding me through the place and telling me about every detail.
"I'll say you killed me because I rejected your marriage proposal." Naturally, if she expected me not to utter nonsense, then I would make sure to say all the nonsense I could think of to make her realize that she wouldn't get any work from me by showing that arrogance.
"Y-YOU FILTHY HUMAN!" she lashed out again, the same killing threat emitting from her body. But naturally, since the moment I arrived in this place, it was simply a tingling sensation and not fear at all. It was as if she appeared more like a normal arrogant woman throwing a tantrum.
However, after seeing that error message and chatting with Satan—who, to be honest, manipulated my mind enough to make me believe that God does not exist or shouldn't be trusted—I realized that he had probably made this Grim Reaper commit a very grave mistake.
The only mistake I could think of at present was that she had killed me.
I was dead just because I made a comment that was reflexive, not because I wanted to, and having been here for enough time, I knew that we were heading toward a place where even this Grim Reaper would have to face consequences, according to Satan's words, making me truly eager to see the one whom even the carriers of death fear.
"Ryan, I must suggest that you could speak your heart out to Sir Yam; he cannot kill you as you are already dead, pfft." Suddenly, another voice whispered in my ear. I turned to see another man with green eyes giving off a friendly vibe, which instantly made me nod, though I still felt awkward hearing him say that.
"Loki, don't misguide him," Gupta stated as he, as usual, remained at the front. Everything was too confusing for me, as various individuals from mythologies were appearing.
Naturally, after hearing his name was Loki, I was not about to talk to Yam the way he suggested; Loki is known for distraction.
"Ryan, he just wants you to do the opposite of what he said, and you fell for him." I heard Gupta tell me how, even though I didn't want to, I had really fallen for Loki's instigation as in truth, he wanted me to remain silent in front of Yam.
Understanding this place was already becoming difficult, but even after knowing Loki's character, I realized that unlike Satan, who manipulated common sense and reason, this Loki guy had a gab for a mouth, knowing well how to manipulate others by using their own perspectives.
"We arrived; go inside, Ryan and Valeriana." Finally arriving at a huge door, I saw both of them halt as Gupta gestured for me and that arrogant woman to enter by ourselves.
And with a nod, we both entered.
'So, she also has a name.'
Moving within, as the door behind us closed with a rumbling sound, my eyes were looking towards the room.
Unexpectedly, unlike what I had thought, this was really a room filled with a single pool labeled 'Transmigration,' and the other thing was a desk at a distance with several documents piling up over the desk, with eyes somehow peeking through the gaps as I saw a man seated while stamping the documents.
"I greet the Lord of Death. Pardon my presence, My Lord."
Suddenly, that woman, who seemed too prideful to even appear, who never lowered her head directly, gave a 90-degree bow to that man, clearly making me realize that the person in front of me was the ruler of this death—Yam.
Without a moment of hesitation, I also tried to follow what the woman did, giving a 90-degree bow and trying to greet him, "Lord—Mffhh?!"
But somehow my voice didn't come.
'I can not speak?!' My whole body trembled as I wasn't even able to part my mouth to speak something, let alone greet him, causing me to swiftly lift my head to look towards that man, but just my head moved; my body remained frozen.
However, he appeared busy while handling the documents, not even showing his complete face, making me turn towards that woman.
"My Lord, this man came in front of a truck while saving a child, leading my scythe to mistakenly touch him."
'Lies!'
'It was the truck that came in my way... leave that, what child?!'
It was utterly shocking for me, as I wasn't able to utter a single word, while that woman was violently lying here, with my mouth completely sealed.
I tried to move from my place, but my shoes, even my body, had become stiff, as if I were just a statue, unable to move, let alone utter a word.
"I asked for him to return back to his body, but due to the accident, it was already destroyed beyond repair, so he rejected."
'No, no, you bitch!'
'You tried to flee the scene after screwing me over!'
Even though her head was bowed at a 90-degree angle, without being able to see her face, I knew she was smirking right now.
With my body clearly not listening to me, I could only look towards her and then that man who should, given his status, have detected that this woman was lying; yet he was still busy dealing with his documents, not even glancing my way to hear my side.
"I hope, my Lord, you will give this poor soul a new life while retaining his memories as they are."
'So that you can again take it and laugh while I live, fearing all my life?!'
'This bitch!' It was as if I could see her intentions clearly; I understood what each of her words meant and the reason she took my side in front of the man who seemed more focused on his paperwork rather than listening to the truth of my situation.
"Of course, I understand the mistake, and I would request my Lord to seal my powers for, um, 30 seconds maybe?"
'Fuck, fuck, what the hell?!'
It was already getting too much, as this woman, for screwing over my life, was only suggesting to seal her power for 30 seconds?!
'She is clearly using everything in her favor to keep me quiet!' Reflecting on how she had sealed my mouth and my whole body to silence me, I was reminded of how laws in my country worked.
Due to being in a third-world country, the police beat up individuals and force them to accept crimes they didn't commit.
However, according to strict 'justice' law, they must present these individuals in front of a judge, who is supposed to obtain verbal authentication from the individual about whether the police have beaten him or not.
But here's the catch: due to being busy with several cases, the judge—let alone hearing the victim—only meets the eye of the police officer, who is the one to authenticate that he has not beaten the victim by giving an affirmation.
A messed up system where the laws are made to suppress the victim and uphold the real criminals.
But who would have thought even those claiming to be justice themselves are using the same system?
'No, that man still hasn't lifted his gaze, and it's just this woman blabbering; maybe he—'
:: GRANTED ::
'Fuck'
A voice reverberated, filling the whole place as my mind went blank.
Eyes remained fixed on the woman who slowly lifted her head, glancing towards me as a grin formed on her face, a smirk reaching her ears as she uttered something silently.
But the movement of her lips conveyed the words she wanted me to hear.
// Just wait a few more years before I kill you and drag you down to hell to feed your limbs to Cerberus. //
In that moment, it was as if my mind just snapped.
I saw nothing but the woman who straightened her back as my body shifted, making me realize that her powers had been sealed for those 30 seconds, which now seemed to define the value of my life—removing her control over my body.
It was as if the judgment had already been made without me having anything to say, while that woman moved on toward the door and that man was still busy writing, not that I was going to get justice here.
As my body started to glow, I felt the connection as if I was really going to reincarnate.
'Damn you all!'
I was angry.
This was unlike how I had thought I would be given justice here, clenching my jaws with my eyes fixed only on that woman who clearly, uncaring, moved while ruffling her hair as if for her it was nothing.
It pissed me off, and I sprinted.
My anger was directed toward her.
"Huh?—kyaaa—you huma—!?"
I could only hear her yell as I tackled her, grabbing her waist eith both hand and pushing us both into that single pool labeled 'Transmigration.'
Maybe due to reading several web novels, I at least knew that if nothing else, I could at least humiliate this woman by being thrown by a mortal human in a pool.
SPLASH!
And the last thing I heard was the splash of the water as both of us fell into that pool.
----
SWISH
A white glowing silhouette appeared within the room beside the desk of the Yam who had his head lowered, looking towards the document as he clearly ignored the arrived man, whose body was clearly exuding intense energy yet calm demeanor, with eyes looking towards that transmigration pool.
He left a message before disappearing from that timeline while giving a 90° bow.
"Thank you for accepting my humble request, Father-in-law."