Overgeared

“Congratulations, youngest. The temple has appointed you out as a sacrifice.”

“Oh, my! There is such a happy event in my house!”

“You’ve succeeded, Iwata!”

It was an era when death meant the gateway to paradise. The boy smiled widely as he looked around at his parents and siblings, who were rejoicing while shedding tears.

“Yes, I’m glad. Thank you.”

***

It was the first time since the boy was born that he had seen such a dinner. The bread and meat that his parents received from the temple were piled up on the table.

However, the boy couldn’t even touch the meat. It was because there was the possibility that he would ascend to heaven.

The boy's father spoke to the boy, who was looking down gloomily at the pile of grass in the old wooden tableware set, “Iwata, you might be young, but you have accumulated a lot of merit. Didn’t you join the Reflection Group early on and serve the poor?”

“I, Iwata, also saved the little fox cubs who lost their mother two days ago.”

“Did you? It is great that you didn’t dismiss it lightly just because the other party is a beast. The gods of Asgard will surely make you an angel. You will become one of the young angels who play musical instruments and sing for the gods forever. That is why you should refrain from eating meat. The gods might be reluctant if you have yellow lumps in your body.”

“Uwah, it reminds me of Taitta. I cut open the swollen belly and it was full of yellow lumps. I thought there were no intestines the first time I saw it, right?”

“Considering the priests who performed the ritual frowned, I wonder if the smell was also bad. How can you sacrifice the sick as a living sacrifice... The temple made a rare mistake.”

“It wasn’t a mistake. They knew and proceeded with it? Taitta was also a priest. Maybe they wanted to give someone who served his whole life a chance to go to heaven.”

“That is true based on what I heard.”

“Thank you for the meal. I’ll be going!”

The boy often hated his father, who always nagged him, and his older brother, who supported his father. However, that wasn’t the case since yesterday. The fact that he was chosen as a living sacrifice made the boy a more positive person.

The boy, who ate all the bland vegetables before he knew it, jumped up from his seat and left the house immediately.

It was around this time last year—the boy was called to the Reflection Group because he was fast and strong. From then on, he had been busy every day.

Sadly, there were many elderly people in this city. He didn’t know if it was difficult, but according to the explanation of his superiors, it was a disease created by peace. They were people who missed the time to die due to the disappearance of war. The number of poor people who couldn’t go to paradise was increasing every day.

“I heard that the shoemaker auntie, Domiri, has the hair at the top of her head turning white.”

“Is that true? It is my first time serving someone I know.”

“How pitiful... we should hurry and find her before she goes mad and hides somewhere.”

The boy mingled among the young men holding clubs stained dark red with blood and went out to serve the people. The destination was the shoe store. The young men dragged out Auntie Domiri and beat her with all their might. The auntie’s young husband and daughters cheered in congratulations while the auntie screamed. She begged for help.

The boy felt it every time, but elderly people were really strange.

‘Why are they afraid of death?’

The gates to paradise would only open when they died. According to the priests who received the divine message: Most people would go to the paradise that Yatan created underground and would be freed from all the suffering they had experienced as humans. Additionally, some chosen ones would go to the paradise that Rebecca created in heaven in order to worship the gods.

could enjoy all types of carefree happiness, unlike life on the

to endure pain to reach death. However, the pain was only fleeting. If they endured for a moment, they would enjoy

seniors said. They must be suffering

was waving her hands and feet to stop the clubs. It would’ve been better to obediently expose her stomach and head, rather

is tough, tough. At times like this, I just

crazy? That isn’t a

wash away her sins in life. It was only after being hit in the stomach until the intestines were crushed that there was a possibility of reflection and ascension to heaven. Even if the underground paradise was better than the surface, it would be worse than heaven. That was why it was done with

already reflected enough. There is no need to suffer any longer, so put away

“Spare me… spare me...”

Did you immediately go crazy the moment the hair at the top of your head

if I die already, who will take care of my children...? They will starve to death under their immature father, who gambles with the money used

saying? I don’t

possessed

and kill her before we are hated by the

took the lead. Domiri’s daughters, who had been laughing and clapping, started turning red with anxiety when they

seniors to press on the back of Domiri’s neck, overpowering her. Domiri begged the boy, “Please,

Bam!

filled the boy’s vision. The boy, who was covered with the blood from Domiri’s broken head, finally relaxed his hardened face. He approached Domiri’s young daughters, who

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you!”

also

to the temple. For the next month before the ceremony, the priests

“Drink.”

transparent glass bottle“It is a medicine that purifies the soul. If

of ascending to

“Um, that’s right.”

joyfully drank the medicine and felt his consciousness go dim. His heart fluttered and he burst out laughing for no reason.

came closer after taking off their masks and clothes was wrinkled. How could a person’s body be like that? It was the first time he had seen it in his life. It looked a bit similar to Uncle

the gods are different from

was good. The drugged boy smiled and fell into the arms of the priests. Thus, the priests

two

roughness at the tip of his fingers.

a symbol of an old

are you

I am

clear about where he was and what he was doing now. He relied solely on his learned instincts. He picked up a silver candlestick

“This crazy guy...! Aaack!”

went crazy

serve the other person as soon as possible. It wasn’t hard because the boy was very fast and powerful.

“Hiik...”

other priests trembled. There were no soldiers who rushed over after hearing the commotion. The huge temple at night was still. It was because the priests sent away

“Poor people...”

eyelashes were white when he looked at it closely in the candlelight. Their shaved eyebrows and hair were

you going to do...?!” The priests screamed, but it was too late. The boy blocked the doorway and started his service. All the priests were beaten

in great turmoil the next day. It was because the knowledgeable people who examined the corpses of the priests referred to them as ‘very old people.’ The folds of their skin were

things started to change. People learned the truth that the priests who ruled the city were older than the

boy was fine. He

powerful than yesterday, and crumpled at once. The boy chuckled

seniors will go

were investigating inside. He was glad that his