Chapter 19: Soul Residue and Perfect Wheat

“My mother was very sick in This World.”

It was the first time I’d heard Hallakgoong’s voice like this. I always thought he was sharp and cold, but it seemed he’d always been this vulnerable inside.

“So that’s why you came looking for your father?”

“Yes. But even bringing her to the Otherworld wasn’t easy.”

Hallakgoong let out a breath he’d been holding.

“Father tried every method he knew, but the residue still lingers.”

“She’s still suffering?”

“Yeah.”

‘Then what do you want me to do to help?’

Zack’s question made Hallakgoong hesitate for a moment before he finally answered.

“I’d like you to teach me Western knowledge.”

‘What kind?’

“I think my mother’s soul became shaken when she came to the Otherworld. Her soul couldn’t settle properly into her body and is now trapped. So when I heard about a student who wanted to come from the West…”

‘So that’s why my transfer was expedited.’

Zack fell into thought.

‘If it were my father, I think he’d know how to deal with that problem, but…’

“It’s not possible right now.”

Zack nodded.

‘I haven’t even been acknowledged as my parents’ child yet.’

“What?”

Mujae’s mouth hung open at the unexpected confession. But Zack’s flat tone made it sound as obvious as 1+1=2.

‘Especially my Grandmother. She denied me. But my Grandmother is the Goddess of Agriculture, and she gave me a task—if I wanted her acknowledgment, I had to cultivate Perfect Wheat. She said that if I was really her grandchild, that much should be easy. But, you know?’

“The wheat seeds became Monsters.”

‘Bingo.’

A distant look appeared in Zack’s eyes, as if seeing someone who wasn’t here.

‘The first time I faced a Monster, I was so shocked I collapsed on the spot, but my father saved me. Still, I didn’t have the courage to face him, so I just ran away.’

“Why?”

‘Because when my Grandmother denied my existence, my father just stood there in silence.’

A lonely shadow crossed Zack’s face.

“Uh… Are all fathers like that?”

No matter how hard he tried, Mujae couldn’t understand, so he muttered his thoughts out loud.

“I can’t figure out what you mean by ‘fathers’ at all.”

‘Maybe?’

“Probably.”

Hallakgoong and Zack burst out laughing at Mujae’s puzzled face. Hallakgoong teased him as Mujae sat there not getting the joke.

“Hey, your face looks just like a squished potato.”

“What?!”

‘Maybe it’s better not to have memories, like Mujae.’

Zack spoke like it was nothing special, but he looked lighter after sharing his circumstances.

‘At least there’s no obligation to try to understand them.’

“That’s true.”

“That’s all for you, right?”

Hallakgoong asked Mujae.

“Me? Well… I don’t have memories from my previous life, so Reincarnation was postponed, and everything I touch withers—guess that makes me a terrifying Dead person… Hearing it out loud, maybe I’m the strongest one here.”

Mujae intended it as a joke, but Hallakgoong nodded with utter seriousness.

“Of course.”

“?”

“So tomorrow, you’ll go to the Monthly Department Heads Meeting in my place.”

“
“…Huh?”

Mujae’s mind froze for a moment.

“What?!”

The next day, in Sara’s office.

Around an unusually large round table, the Department Heads were gathered.

Each seemed like a formidable character, and after exchanging a few polite greetings, Mujae already felt his energy draining.

He glanced around and quietly slipped into the seat at the far end.

‘Zack struggles with communication, and I’m too weak to hold my own in a place like this.’

He remembered Hallakgoong’s shameless face from yesterday.

‘Come on, they’re all Deities! I’m just an ordinary Dead!’

“Then, let’s begin the Monthly Meeting.”

Flower Supervisor Sara presided with a dignified voice.

“First, the budget redistribution.”

Mujae saw the Agriculture Team Representative’s shoulders flinch from across the table.

“The Celestial Personnel Department is pressuring us for a budget plan. How’s that coming along?”

“…The revised final version is ready. Since everyone’s gathered, I’ll submit it for the Department Heads’ approval today.”

“Good. If we get another re-examination notice, I’ll handle it myself.”

“…Yes.”

Sara’s charisma seemed even more formidable among the Department Heads.

“Second, adjusting the capacity for the Dead.”

Sara explained, pointing at the graph in her presentation.

“As you can see here, the number of the Dead accepted by Seocheon Flower Garden keeps decreasing. This is because there are fewer children in This World, but all the other hells are at full capacity.”

“Surely you’re not suggesting we take in just any Dead, right?”

“That’s not the case.”

Sara shook her head.

“Our Seocheon Flower Garden is watched over by Three Goddesses Grandmother herself. She’d never allow just any Dead to enter.”

“So then?”

“First, here’s the suggestion from the other hells: They want us to broaden the age range for the children we accept.”

Everyone seemed to agree.

With the world growing harsher, even among young Dead, more were arriving as sinners, so fewer and fewer made it to Seocheon Flower Garden.

At this rate, there was no worry of Seocheon Flower Garden’s capacity being maxed out.

“Then, unless there are objections, I’ll note that as agreed. If a specific proposal comes in, I’ll inform you all.”

Sara neatly wrapped up the agenda.

Mujae, witnessing an adults’ meeting for the first time, just rolled his eyes in wonder, saying nothing.

As the meeting continued, and six items were resolved, it happened.

“Seventh, promotional videos for each department.”

“Huh?”

Mujae, half asleep, jolted upright. In the process, he locked eyes with the Meal Service Team representative seated across from him.

She’d seemed less stressed lately and greeted him with a shy smile.

“This proposal comes from the Meal Service Team.”

“Yes, the Promotion Team came to film us last time…”

The Meal Service Team representative spoke in a timid voice, but Mujae remembered how she used to bellow announcements in the cafeteria and was startled by the contrast.

“They filmed with such effort, but nothing aired. So, how about having the Promotion Team make an introduction video for each department?”

“Introduction video?”

Mujae’s eyes sparkled. If it were Hallakgoong, he’d have groaned, ‘Great, more work…’ clutching his neck, but for the passionate Promotion Team Department Head, it was just a sweet opportunity.

The Fertilizer Team representative agreed.

“That’s a good idea. People just think Seocheon Flower Garden is all about picking flowers—they have no idea what we actually do.”

Even the Facilities Team, who’d just gotten a taste of the Promotion Team’s methods yesterday, nodded in agreement.

“There’s already so much Data filmed, so if we just edit it properly, it’ll be a great asset.”

Despite a third of the Greenhouse being destroyed, they only banned filming and entry for now, showing just how good-natured the department was.

The Promotion Team was grateful for their goodwill and, in return, promised to send Zack as a test subject for them…

“Do we really… need to make one for every team?”

While most departments were on board, only the Agriculture Team Representative seemed unenthusiastic, flashing her usual smug smile.

“Our team’s already famous, you know.”

“We’ll make one for you anyway.”

Mujae grinned brightly.

“It’d be unfair if every other team had one except the Agriculture Team.”

“…Fine, then.”

The Agriculture Team Representative pouted. Sara seized the moment and wrapped things up.

“Excellent. Please provide an estimate and let us know.”

At last, the long Monthly Department Heads Meeting was over.

The Department Heads got up, breaking into small groups, catching up amidst their busy schedules. Mujae tried to leave as well, but the Agriculture Team Representative stopped him.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“I sent you the Agriculture Team Office cctv footage—did you see it?”

“cctv?”

It was news to Mujae. At that moment, Sara hurried over.

“Oh, it hasn’t been shared with the Promotion Team yet.”

“Is that so? Hmph….”

“Anyway, sorry for the trouble. We’ll definitely catch the culprit.”

“Of course. Please be more careful in the future.”

The Agriculture Team Representative stayed prickly to the end. After she left, Sara explained to Mujae.

“The day the Promotion Team’s Data disappeared, we made a request to the Agriculture Team Representative.”

“Oh! Because of the person who deleted our Data, right?”

But Sara still looked troubled. She scratched her head, drawing out her words.

“Right. So the Facilities Team and I checked the footage…”

“Did you see the culprit?”

“No.”

Sara looked crestfallen, a rare sight.

“What?!”

“At that time, there really was no one in the Agriculture Team Office.”

“That… can’t be, can it?”

Sara seemed equally puzzled, lost in thought.

“The Facilities Team is checking if the cctv footage was tampered with. In any case…”

Sara’s forced smile looked reliable for once.

“We’ll catch the culprit for sure, so don’t worry—just focus on making that department introduction video.”

He patted Mujae lightly on the shoulder.