‘…A river?’

The vast expanse of the river appeared before her, leaving Livia’s mind blank. The sound of water rekindled her previously calmed thirst.

Gulp….

Livia’s throat involuntarily constricted despite knowing this water was forbidden.

From a distance, the watercourse resembled any river in the world of the living. Its source reportedly flowed from somewhere in that other world, making her wonder if just one sip would matter.

Perhaps terms like wailing, rage, and sorrow merely originated from the souls passing through this river?

The overwhelming desire to plunge into the water rendered her reason useless.

It even erased the memory of those hideous fish that once leapt from the river, gnashing their terrifying teeth while attempting to devour her.

Livia stared blankly at the flowing river and unconsciously stepped toward the riverbank.

Creak, creak….

An empty boat sat alone at the riverbank.

Who could own this boat? To her knowledge, only Charon, the ferryman of the underworld, could navigate this river….

While examining the old boat, a long shadow fell across Livia’s back. Simultaneously, Mumu, who had been following her, barked with a “Woof!”

“…!”

Startled, Livia whirled around to find Charon, draped in a black cloak, silently watching her before the ferry.

‘This is bad.’

Her heart sank upon realizing someone had detected her presence.

Should she flee? Or should she kill him? But how?

Livia frantically searched her mind in that split second.

While assessing ways to kill him with her strength or possible escape routes, her eyes widened in surprise.

Mumu wagged his tail affectionately toward the motionless Charon who stood watching Livia.

‘Does Mumu… know this ferryman?’

After briefly glancing at Mumu, who rubbed his head against the ferryman’s hand, Charon quietly approached Livia.

Flinching in surprise, Livia stepped back when he passed by her indifferently, boarded the boat, and extended his hand to her.

Livia shook her head with a rigid expression.

“I didn’t come here to board a boat.”

She knew souls with lingering attachments to the living world refused Charon’s boat. And Charon possessed the authority to forcibly take those who refused.

She worried he might view her as such a soul and forcibly take her away.

Why had Mumu brought her here initially?

When she cast a reproachful glance at Mumu in this difficult situation, all three of the dog’s heads met her gaze and smiled simultaneously, seemingly seeking praise. His vigorously wagging tail created quite a loud sound.

Just as she swallowed a sigh and began to step back, Charon spoke.

“I know. Let’s go for a short walk.”

His deep voice seemed unused for a long time, rough like sand…

Though clearly unfamiliar, something about his manner of speaking struck her as familiar.

A strange palpitation hammered at Livia’s heart. Though anxious about this underworld guardian’s sudden appearance, a peculiar attraction urged her to follow him.

After hesitating, Livia took Charon’s outstretched hand and boarded the boat.

***

The small ferry moved forward silently. Though the splashing water sounds rekindled her thirst, perhaps thanks to the presence in the boat, it wasn’t unbearably strong.

While repeatedly swallowing dry saliva, she observed Charon quietly rowing the boat.

Nothing appeared beneath the enormous black hood. Even his hands remained completely hidden by the long draping hood.

Livia glanced back.

Mumu hadn’t boarded the boat. Even when Livia stepped onto the ferry, the dog who had desperately protected her remained obediently in place, seemingly confident she would return.

That sight made Livia’s heart flutter once more.

Could it be…? No, it couldn’t be. Right?

Just when she told herself not to get unnecessarily excited and to remain vigilant, the smoothly moving boat came to a stop.

The boat seemed to have entered the River of Wailing, with sounds of voices pouring out sorrow and regret audible amid the water’s noise.

As she prepared to listen closely to the tumultuous water sounds, Charon asked:

“How did you come to be here?”

No emotion resonated in the eerie voice that reached her.

When she stared blankly at Charon, apparently questioning his meaning, he raised his head to look at her. Or at least, that impression formed in Livia’s mind, since nothing could be seen inside the black hood.

“…I meant to ask how you died.”

After briefly hesitating whether to answer, the thought of ‘what if…’ held her back. Livia’s trembling lips parted after a moment’s pause. Strangely, her breathing became unsteady.

“I didn’t die. I just… temporarily escaped from life.”

“Escaped from life? Why…?”

“That’s…”

Where should she begin?

The contract she made with Echidna when she nearly died after being chased by villagers and falling off a cliff? Falling in love with the sea god who had rushed to kill her? Or how once again her loved one faced danger because of her? Or perhaps her current predicament of facing death again because of it?

The story proved too vast and secretive to tell just one part. She didn’t know where to begin.

And above all…

‘Could this really be “him”? What if it’s just my delusion?’

Livia glanced up at the ferryman who concealed his appearance with a black hood. The figure sitting there emanated only the cold, fierce energy of one who leads the dead.

Perhaps misinterpreting Livia’s hesitation, Charon whispered in a seemingly considerate, low voice:

“This is the River of Wailing. Everything becomes buried in those crying sounds. Those wails will erase your voice.”

That comforting tone suddenly made Livia sorrowful. What did it matter if she was right or wrong? Livia realized then how exhausted she truly felt. She had never considered wanting to tell someone how hard and sad her life had been, but today, she felt like sharing that story just once.

Perhaps the regretful voices coming from across the River of Wailing influenced her.

How did it all come to this…?

Recalling the beginning of everything, one thing immediately came to mind.

“Everything… began with my revenge for my family.”

Her voice, soaked in longing, recited a mournful monologue.

With each blink, memories of times past surfaced.

Their home burning brightly amidst acrid smoke, the villagers grabbing her hair and slamming her to the ground. Her poor family whom she had to bid farewell to without even hearing their screams…

Her old dog was beaten to death while protecting her, and the seashore she plunged into, vowing revenge.

The witch she met there…

It all seemed like a dream. Even a made-up story couldn’t possibly be this colorful and bewildering.

Her voice, full of sorrow, cracked at the end. Hot tears fell heavily, making her eye sockets ache with each blink.

“…For my selfish revenge, I dared to point a blade at the god of the sea. A mere human, raging that she would harm the sea god. I behaved that way because otherwise, I couldn’t maintain my sanity… No, in fact, I think I was already out of my mind by then.”

“……”

“…It was very difficult. In truth, I’ve already died and come back to life several times. But I couldn’t give up. The thought that those who killed my family would live well became revoltingly unbearable.”

“That is…”

“But as time passed, I came to understand. That it wasn’t just anger that moved me…”

“……”

“I continued to miss my family. And I think I was… very lonely.”

Livia wiped away the tears that had dampened her face and smiled awkwardly.

“I rushed at a god with nothing in sight, and that crazy human woman… he said he loved her.”

“If you mean a god…”

“The god of the sea whom I tried to kill and who killed me several times…”

In response to Livia’s shocking words, a sighing breath flowed from beneath Charon’s hood. Hearing the trembling breath that seemed to express disbelief, Livia nodded with an awkward smile.

“Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Even I who speak of it can’t believe it… who would?”

Livia lowered her head. The tears falling steadily wouldn’t stop. But the sound of the sobbing river water concealed her tears.

She had thought unburdening everything would bring relief, but instead, her heart only felt heavy. It was then that Livia felt she truly faced this enormous reality for the first time.

All that she had denied repeatedly, everything she had postponed thinking about, became reality and overwhelmed her.

Not to love Triton.

Not to hastily accept the witch’s contract.

No, she shouldn’t have taken the sheep out that day.

If only she had died together with her family on the same day…

“…Livia.”

Above Livia, who trembled with regret washing over her like a tidal wave, a gentle voice called out.

Startled, Livia slowly raised her head. With an incredulous expression, she looked ahead as Charon lowered the black hood he had been wearing.

“Livia… my poor sister. You must have been through so much.”

Ah.

Ahh…

Livia covered her mouth with her pale hand. She stood up abruptly and crossed the rocking boat to reach Charon, no, her brother.

“Iason!”