Chapter 55: North Pole (1)

Chapter 55: North Pole (1)

Thanatos, having received a new name, headed towards the entrance of the afterlife located at the northern end, along with numerous dark spirits.

Since it was still under construction, the place was empty except for Talos, who was digging the ground. Sending them there was meant to familiarize them with their future workplace, and it was a bonus to have them dispose of the rocks broken by Talos into the sea.

Let's see. The work of neutralizing the morale emanating from the dragon's tomb was progressing well, and there were so many assigned to the task that a significant number were idle, to the point of complaints.

I had even chased out the dragons lounging around in the newly built temple to take a look around the world!

Of course, I left those who needed to neutralize the morale from the dragon's tomb. I rotated the personnel for the morale neutralization work periodically, and sent the rest to explore various parts of the world.

Naturally, hiding the fact that they were dragons! Just casually exploring the world! And to practice handling life force, I also had them heal injured people.

Kind of like wandering doctors?

In this era, where the concept of medical care wasn't well established, minor wounds often led to death.

I sent them out with the intention of helping such people a bit.... The dragons quite liked my orders.

Hmm. Dragons that like traveling.... How did it come to this?

Well, it's not for me to worry about.

So, gathering the dark spirits, directing the work of neutralizing morale, and sending the dragons cooped up in corners on world travels are all done....

Un. It's time to prepare teaching materials for the work of transporting souls, the future task of the dark spirits.

Then, I should gather souls.... Shall I go east this time?

I've often looked around the west, north, and sometimes south, but I should visit the east as well.

Come to think of it, the humans in the east.... are becoming similar to the East Asians, Asians from another world, but why such a change?

Is it the environment acting on humans? Is it because they live in the east that they resemble East Asians? What's that about? I don't understand.

If someone manipulated things to make it so, I'd like to see their face. Why would they do such incomprehensible things?

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The humans in the east lived in large numbers.

In the largest city, someone using the king's name had already established and was ruling a country, making it difficult to compare its scale with other places.

Simply put, the population was enormous. It was two to three times that of other places.

Why are so many born? How can so many people live?

Hmm.... They grow rice in the east, could that be the reason?

What was it? Carrying capacity? Even if you farm the same area, rice can feed more people than wheat?

I seem to have heard something like that.... Maybe that's the reason.

And so many people living means.

"Aaaah!"

"When will you come back?"

That there are also many who die.

The dead person's body is placed in a wooden coffin.... a bier, and then carried somewhere by a few young people.

Following the bier, several people were walking, wailing.

Hmm. Is funeral culture quite developed here? Well, it means that many people died.

I quietly followed the bier.

The bier, decorated with various trees and flowers, headed towards a mountain north of the city.

Not very tall, but a mountain with splendid terrain. However, that mountain was filled with numerous graves.

People called that Mangsan Mountain.

[I was confident in my solidity.]

“Sagarmatha's children did tend to be like that, but I didn't know it also meant mental solidity.”

[Only a few of us could do it. But what brings you here all of a sudden?]

I said, looking at the mountain spirit in its strange attire.

“Let's see. What is your name?”

[I have forgotten my name when I was a dragon. Now, I am called by this mountain's name, Mang.]

“Then I'll call you Mang. Do you fully understand what you just did?”

Mang nodded slightly, and the cloth hanging from the hat fluttered.

[I understand. I made the soul of the deceased disappear.]

“Why did you do such a thing?”

Mang seemed to organize its thoughts for a moment, then slowly said.

[To ensure that the deceased's regrets do not remain.]

“Regrets?”

[Yes. The souls of the deceased, if they have lingering attachments, do not disappear, and over time, they often transform into grotesque shapes.]

Un. You seem to know quite accurately. It seems you didn't do such a thing without knowing anything.

[There have been a few incidents where such beings attacked the living. However, if we sufficiently converse with them so that no regrets of the deceased remain, they do not transform in such a way.]

“So that's why you had those conversations?”

[Yes. I could have eliminated it with power, but then the soul would only be pitied. I just wanted to solve it through conversation if possible. If not done this way... Burning the dead body can produce a similar effect, but I do not wish to do that.]

Un. Good. Quite a desirable talent. The fact that you try to solve things calmly through conversation rather than force adds even more points! Nice! I like it!

I looked at Mang and smiled.

"Mang. Would you like to work with me on something?"

[Me? Work?]

"The work you're doing, but on a larger scale, preparing to manage the souls of the dead for the entire world."

Mang did not say anything for a moment.

[Is that, possible?]

"It won't be easy. But I'm preparing for it right now. It will take some more time, but it's gradually coming together."

Talos is continuously digging the place, and the dark spirits to transport the souls are ready.

Now, if we prepare the role of the afterlife's manager, the process of handling the souls, and the rebirth of the processed souls... Is that the end of the afterlife?

Ah, I should also prepare something like heaven.

Indeed, creating something completely new is not easy.

[May I take some time to think and decide?]

"Of course! Take your time. A talent like you is always welcome!"

Plus, you have experience! Experience! Experience in handling souls and resolving their resentments!

Can't resist an experienced employee! Ah!

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T/N: Let's have a moment of silence for our employee candidate.