The First Contract

You really are too nice for your own good, you know.

Where'd that come from?

That merchant you just helped, you wouldn't let him offer his thanks.

Well, that's not why I helped him. I don't do it for the reward.

You don't do it for the reward...

I simply cannot get my head around that.

Reall, oh? Zeviro, look. Over there...

Today just hasn't been my day.

I thought you called me out here to arrange work... But if all you're going to do is complain, I might as well head back. Go moan to your colleagues, not to me.

I can't do that! How could I tell my coworkers, or my boss for that matter, that I let a soul get away?

Abandoning your work, complaining to your collaborator... You are as oblivious as they come.

Huh? I'm not abandoning my work.

I'm just waiting for a soul to appear...

Wait, you again? Don't you know that it's rude to eavesdrop?

If you don't want other people to hear you, maybe don't talk in the middle of the road.

Well, you two certainly seem exactly as I remember you.

Oh, we meet again. Fate must be drawing you and I together.

You're Zeviro's work friend, aren't you?

That's right. I'm flattered that you remember me.

Good to see you, Aldo. Running around saving people again, are we?

I was just helping out a merchant who got attacked by a monster. It's no big deal.

Heheh, that sounds about right.

So anyway, this soul that got away. What was it like?

It was a kid. And, what else... She was quite the tomboy. She wasn't scared of me, which is pretty unusual.

"Catch me if you can!" she said. Who goes to hide in the Ancient Battlefield? Honestly, this is just the worst.

What are you talking about? It's a blessing in disguise. The battlefield is by far the most efficient place there is for reaping the souls of two-legged creatures!

But the two-legged souls are all humans... Though technically I CAN reap them, humans are so scared of us beastfolk that I prefer stick to the souls of my own kind.

Do you actually want to be reincarnated?

If you want to be picky, go ahead. But maybe you should collect a few more of the souls you need for reincarnation first.

There's nothing you can say that will persuade me to go there. It's way too dangerous.

He has a point. The monsters in the Ancient Battlefield can be pretty vicious.

That's not what I'm talking about. A lot of the souls there have turned into evil spirits, and I don't want to deal with that. If anyone actually wants to go, even if just to score some brownie points, they're welcome to go.

......

I understand what you're saying, but... What about the soul you were after? Didn't you say it was a child? What if she's feeling lost and afraid? Don't you feel bad for her?

The soul didn't really seem like the type...

But if you're so worried about her, why don't you go and find her? I have other work to do after this, so I can't be fussing over this one soul all day.

Well...

Fine. But you owe me one.

Really? I didn't even say anything yet...

I can tell what you're going to say. You can be quite predictable at times like this, Aldo. It's hardly efficient to go all the way there for just the one soul, but there's something in it for me. He'll owe me a favor now.

What was that?

If I refused, you'd just go on your own, wouldn't you? But if I go with you, pain as it may be, there's much to be gained from it. So just this once, I'll come with.

Thanks. I really appreciate it.

This is all working out perfectly. Now I won't have to listen to his complaining.

Sorry, Aldo. I would have loved to help you out, but I've got work to do...

It's the thought that counts. Good luck with your work, Dunarith.

Okay then, let's head to the Ancient Battlefield.

This place hasn't changed a bit.

Have you been here before?

Only for a short while, when I needed to reap a load of souls all at once.

Oh, when you returned to your child form?

I thought I told you to forget about that.

I know, but it really sticks with you...

......

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up.

So does that mean you pretty much left the moment you arrived? How did you collect the souls so quickly?

If you're curious, why don't I just show you? I was going to use the same method as last time anyway.

Really? I'd love to see it. What exactly are you going to do?

I'll summon my collaborator. He has a real knack for collecting souls.

You'll summon him? To the middle of this wasteland?!

Our location is no problem at all. He's been here all along, you see.

You handed that gem to your collaborators before, as proof of your contract. How...

Huh?

......

Kiwo, I have a job for you. Will you help me out?

Well, then...

W-Wait up, Zeviro. Where did he come from? And how come you look different?

I'll gladly answer your questions, but first...

Whoa! Why are there so many souls here?!

The kid can draw spirits near like no other. He's a spirit medium, so to speak. But he can get possessed by spirits all too easily, so I usually hide him in this jewel.

But how did a person get in that jewel? He's not, um, y'know...

No, no, you're barking up the wrong tree there. Kiwo is very much alive.

He is? But...

I used the power of the Purgatorians. We can interfere with souls, you see. But doing so on a living human is advanced work. Only very few of us are capable of such feats.

Anyway, I call him forth whenever I need him. He's an excellent collaborator in many senses.

He's your collaborator? But he's so young.

In exchange for his help, I will make his wish come true. That's our deal.

I see. So you protect him from the spirits, and he helps you with your work?

......

You don't have to ask permission to speak. If you have something to say, say it.

He doesn't protect me.

So there's something else you want from Zeviro?

I want him to kill me.

What did you just say?!

I told you before, I am not in the business of killing. My job is to lead souls to a new life.

But if I'm reborn, I'll disappear, right?

Correct. Your memories and feelings would go. You would be no more.

Good.

How could you say something so sad? It doesn't bear thinking about.

Sad? Everyone used to say they didn't want me... The said that I was a bad kid. That I didn't deserve to live.

That's horrible! Who would say such a thing?

No, I am bad. See, I... I killed my mom...

Wha...

Are you just gonna keep standing there forever? We didn't come here to play, you know!

But...

I've gotta get to work.

Okay. It's time to focus.

So what should I do?

You don't have to do anything. All we need to do is walk about the battlefield. The soul should come to us, drawn in by Kiwo here.

It doesn't look like the soul we're after is around here.

Off to the next place, Kiwo...

*sigh*

Looks like he's been hit by the soul's negative power.

Are you okay, Kiwo? You look really pale.

I'm fine... I can still...be useful...

Why don't you rest a little? I'd feel bad about dragging you around with us while you're feeling like this.

Fatigue will lower our work efficiency. You should do as Aldo suggests.

......

While we're waiting, can you answer my question from before now?

Before? Ah... You were curious about my appearance, weren't you?

Is there something strange about it?

Don't get me wrong, I'm loving your outfit. It really suits you. But it's your tail that intrigues me. You don't usually have one, do you? And unless I've got it wrong, I don't think I've ever seen a beast with a tail when in humanoid form.

That's because beasts don't normally take partial combat form. We're not ones to do things by halves.

Then why do you have one?

Because I'm a Purgatorian. Our combat form is free from restrictions, making it far stronger than our humanoid form, even for those like me.

But...for whatever reason, it's hard for us Purgatorians to take our combat form.

It is?

When we try to take our combat form, we are struck by an unbearable pain, as if our bodies are being torn open from the inside. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that those chosen to be Purgatorians died as children, before reaching maturity.

You make it sound as if it's somebody else's problem! Are you really okay, Zeviro?!

Of course I am. I've only taken partial combat form, you see. I get the best of both worlds like this. None of the harmful effects, yet the benefit of increased strength. Don't worry, I only do this as insurance against evil spirits.

That certainly is a relief.

Hm? Come to think of it, Kiwo...

Ah...

Would you mind waiting here for a little while? I'll go look for Kiwo.

But I can...

No, you stay here in case Kiwo comes back. We don't want to miss him.

Got it. Good luck!

......

I've got work to do...

......

You shouldn't go poaching other people's collaborators. Didn't anyone ever teach you any manners?

Zeviro... I found the soul...

Good work. You did well to lure it out.

The jewel told me you were safe, but I'd rather you didn't wander off on your own. It really messes things up.

Let's end this little game of hide 'n' seek, shall we? It's high time I reaped your soul.

That is a shame. But you'll have plenty of time to play in the afterlife.

What do you mean?

Death is...white?

Zeviro?

I think I knew that. My voice froze, my vision clouded over... My body was buried in white... I was all alone.

Zeviro!

Kiwo?

Thank...goodness...

Why would you do that? You have no reason to protect me.

Heheh. There are some things...that even you don't understand...

Zeviro!

......

Zeviro! Can you hear me?

Oh... Hi, Aldo...

You were gone a while so I came to look for you. What happened?

And where's Kiwo? Didn't you find him yet?

No, I found him all right. But he got hurt trying to protect me and that kid's soul took him...

What?! We have to go save him!

I know. But... I don't get it...

Zeviro?

Why would Kiwo do that? I'm a Purgatorian. I have a few tricks up my sleeve for dealing with evil spirits. Surely he must know that? But he jumped in front of me. There must have been a more rational way of helping with my work...

Maybe he did it without thinking.

Without thinking? Kiwo may be young, but he's not stupid.

I don't mean it like that. I mean, he did it because he likes you.

He likes me? We're just two parties of the same contract. There's no reason to like one another.

Liking someone isn't exactly logical. It just happens. It's not like you can control it.

I like Feinne and my grandpa, and all of my traveling companions. There's no reason for it, I just do. That must be how Kiwo felt. You're just you, and that's why he likes you.

I can't understand that at all.

But I owe him a debt. To fail to pay it back would go against everything I stand for.

Right. Let's go and save Kiwo.

The jewel will tell us where Kiwo is. We'll find him further in.

Kiwo! We came to save you!

Give Kiwo back to us!

Wha?! My attack did nothing...

I see... The soul's negative power must have activated some kind of magic that clings to the land here.

Aldo, do you think you can keep the soul busy for a minute?

I'll do my best!

Kiwo...

Why...

Our contract is still in place.

So I came to check what you want to do. Do you want to die and have me reap your soul? Or do you want to live and keep on working with me? The choice is yours.

Zeviro?! What are you saying?! We came here to save Kiwo!

We did. But it's not up to us what form that should take. Kiwo gets to decide how he wants to be saved.

I do? What do you mean...

While there is life yet in your body, you get to decide whether you live or die. It makes no difference which you choose. It doesn't change our contract.

I'm bad... I shouldn't be alive.

So you want to die. Am I correct?

I don't know... I know I should die... But...I'm scared...

......

You need me... And it makes me happy to feel useful. But the happier I feel, the scarier death seems... I'm sorry...

You don't need to apologize.

Then, um... I...I still want to live.

Okay then. In return for your work, I will let you live.

I'm not so sure. You seem to be placing far too much trust in that power. Borrowed power can be a surprisingly fragile thing.

Once it has been taken from you, you can never get it back.

What if I told you I could? That I do, in fact, know of one way to destroy that power.

Now, I can't use this often...

But since you asked so nicely...

Zeviro?! I thought it was dangerous for you to take your combat form?

It is, but that's not a problem for now. Didn't you once say... That only by taking risks can we reap a bigger reward?

And that's how it's done.

You can't escape from my scythe now. Looks like it was worth changing into my combat form after all. Time to reap your soul...

It's over now.

I'm like you? Don't make me laugh. All we have in common is that we both died before we ever got to grow up. That's all.

And what's more... I don't feel sorry for myself.

Oh!

I found excellent collaborators, an ideal area to reap souls, an efficient way to carry out my work, and I did it on my own. I'm not a little kid that others can take advantage of anymore.

No, it's not... But it will be your fault if this little tantrum of yours leads you to disappear here.

Weak souls cannot stay in the realm of the living. Once you disappear, you cannot be reborn.

It may seem that way to you, but we are just protecting the providence of Purgatory. And I'm not lying to you. This is the truth, plain and simple.

I will. That is my job, after all.

If only that soul could have lived to be an adult...

I wish it were so, too. I want nothing more to do with that annoying soul. It caused me nothing but trouble.

We should tell the other Zeviro that you managed to reap the soul.

I'm sure we'll meet again, so I'll just tell him whenever I next see him. He let another scythe wielder reap the soul of one he let get away. This shows just how oblivious...

No, I guess it's unfair to expect that much of him...

......

What's wrong?

I'm bad. I always thought I should die... But when it came down to it, I was too scared.

There's nothing wrong with not wanting to die.

I'm glad you said you wanted to live.

Even though I'm a murderer?

*sigh*

Your mother's time was up. You had nothing to do with it.

But Dad told me... I did a bad thing, I killed my mom...

You didn't. I'm the one who reaped her soul, so I should know.

Huh?

There's no need to be so surprised. Excluding my encounter with you, I don't usually have anything to do with the living outside of work.

......

You don't believe me?

No, I do... I believe you. So it's okay for me to be alive?

You have my word. Even if you change after this, my scythe will not be pointing at you until your time is come.

Thank...you...

Kiwo?!

It's okay. He's just fallen asleep from exhaustion.

Don't go, my love. Please. Don't leave me on my own.

Mom...

Stay away, you angel of death!

You've brought nothing but bad luck ever since you were born! You made my family and the townspeople shun us, and now you even took your mother's life... I wish you'd never been born!

I'm sorry...

Huh?

Are you...Death...?

Well, what have we here? I vanished so as not to cause commotion... And yet you can still see me? I heard such people existed, but I've never actually come across one before.

Are you here to take my mom?

Kiwo! Pull yourself together! There's nobody here! Didn't you realize that, you fool?!

But...

Just stop. You're driving me insane. What I wouldn't give for it to be you who died and not your mother.

*sniffle*

It looks like you're in the middle of something. I'll be on my way then.

Wait, Mr. Death!

Death? I don't like to be called by the names you humans have given us. My name is Zeviro. I am a Purgatorian, a reaper of souls.

So? What did you want?

I have a request.

You want me to bring your mother back to life, correct? I'm afraid I can't do that.

Um... I want you to kill me.

...... Did I hear that right? You want me to kill you?

My dad... He said he wished I was dead. So I want you to make his wish come true.

I'm sorry, but no. There appears to have been some kind of misunderstanding. My scythe is not a weapon of murder. It is here to lead souls to a new life.

Is that soul...heading for the kid?

I'm sorry. I summoned it here...

I see. You're a spirit medium. How interesting.

You're not angry at me?

Angry? I can think of nothing better than souls coming over of their own accord. If anything, I should be thanking you.

Oh...

That makes two souls reaped today. Not bad for a day's work.

*sniffle*

I've taken care of that soul now. Surely there's no more need to cry?

I'm sorry... But... No one's ever said "thank you" to me before...

...... So you can draw souls toward you, and you're not scared of me or the spirits?

......

Your name was Kiwo, right? How would you like to work with me? Of course, I'll give you something in return. If you help me out, I'll grant one request.

You will?

But I won't kill you.

It's not much of a substitute, but I can reap your soul when you die. A reaped soul can be reincarnated. And then you as an individual will disappear. That must be close enough to your wish.

When I die, you'll make me disappear. I can accept that. Promise me you'll make sure you end me.

Of course. You have yourself a deal.

It doesn't look like he's going to wake up. Where could we go? It would cause quite the commotion for a beast like me to turn up in Rinde, so perhaps we should rest up at the Konium inn.

Zeviro, how are you doing? Physically, I mean? Didn't you say that taking your combat form came with risks?

I am still in a fair bit of pain, but it's nothing I can't handle. Perhaps I can draw out a little more of my beast power.

Stop being so reckless. I'm worried about you!

I'm kidding. Just because it all ended well this time doesn't mean I should expect the same result the next time. And if something were to happen to me, that would put you and Kiwo in a difficult position. It would be a mess to sort out.

Did you rest well?

I'm sorry about yesterday. I caused you so much trouble...

I wouldn't say that at all. Right, Zeviro?

Hm? Yeah. It was no trouble at all. Anyway, I have something important to tell you, Kiwo.

What is it?

I want to cancel our contract.

Where'd that come from all of a sudden?

I-I don't wanna...

I wanna stay with you...

But surely you no longer wish to disappear from existence?

Well no, but...

Our contract was never fair. I'm a Purgatorian. It's my job to reap the souls of the dead. I would end up reaping your soul, with or without our contract.

Oh...

This was fine before, because it still served your purpose. But now it doesn't, which is why...

I would like to break our current contract and start a new one.

Huh? So it's not that you don't need me anymore?

Your abilities are very beneficial to me.

Benny...fish-all?

What he means is, he needs you.

......

So? Would you like to make a new contract with me?

Yeah...

My requirements from you haven't changed. I still want you to use your ability to help me. But what would you like in return?

Can I ask for anything?

Anything it's possible for me to give you, yes.

Um... I want you to be my teacher.

Your teacher?

I don't wanna die anymore, but I don't know how to live. So I want you to be my role model.

If it's a role model you're after, you should really use a mortal, not a dead beast like me.

Nope. I'm happy with you.

You do have a cool way of life, Zeviro.

Not you too, Aldo...

Strive to be needed, not to need. You would be the perfect person to teach Kiwo about life.

I wanna grow up to be like you, Zeviro. Won't you let me?

I have a very particular set of skills, and they won't necessarily come in useful for you. But if you're fine with that, then I accept your terms. I did say I'd grant you any wish that was possible for me to give you, after all.

You will?

However, when I'm teaching you, there will be no cutting corners, and no going easy on you.

Um... That's fine... Thank you, teacher.

Teacher, eh? I've never been called that before.

Ah...

Lesson number one. You can't buy time, no matter how rich you are. Once it's gone, it's gone. If you want to yield good results, don't waste a single second.

O-Okay.

Well now, Kiwo. While we've stopped here, what do you think we can do?

Hmm, probably work?

Correct. You're a smart one. This shouldn't be too hard after all.

Come along, now. Let's get to work.

I know Zeviro said he couldn't understand why anyone would help someone for no reward... But I think he's starting to get it. They both help each other out in this new deal of theirs. Sounds good to me!

Zeviro! Kiwo! Wait up! Let me help you!