384 The Crow Never Dies 5 (1/2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
Juho still remembered his last moments vividly, and his body still remembered what it had been like to struggle in the water. Since coming back from the dead, there had always been a deep-seated question in his heart: ”Will I die the same way?” Needless to say, the young author wanted to avoid that fate at all costs, feeling a desperate need to change from his old self. However, before he knew it, that fear had dressed itself as negligence and hid in his subconscious. It had been his dream to become something even greater than a genius: the Great Storyteller. Juho wanted to change desperately.
”I think you're asking the wrong person here,” Wol said, cackling frivolously. When struck by the realization that Wol had died in a similar manner, Juho found himself feeling slightly better.
”I wish I was in your position, Mr. Kang.”
”Yeah, right,” Wol said, clicking his tongue irritably. Juho brushed his face down with his hand. It was true that there was no reason to be envious of someone who had died.
”Do you read minds now?”
”That's what being dead will do to a person.”
At that moment, sensing a presence behind him, Juho turned around. A crow was peeking its head in through the sliding door. Upon seeing the bird, Juho felt a strange coldness travel from the floor, up his leg, giving him goosebumps. 'It can't be here,' Juho thought to himself as he rose from his seat and started stomping his feet on the ground. 'I wanna kill it.'
”Enough,” Wol said firmly. To Juho's surprise, Wol was looking at the crow and smiling. Confused, Juho furrowed his brow.
”Don't be heartless now. Let the bird in. It's cold out,” Wol said.
”I don't think it's much better in here,” Juho replied.
”Well, just leave it be. That bird is smarter than you think.”
Juho clenched his lips reluctantly and watched the crow as it walked in through the door and headed toward a corner of the room, remembering that he had never seen it fly.
”Who knows? That bird might know when you're gonna die,” Wol said.
”... It's an animal, Mr. Kang.”
”Well, it's still funny,” Wol said, closing his eyes. Juho tapped on his shoulder, which felt hard to the touch.
”Mr. Kang, I don't think you should sleep in the cold like this.”
”I'll be fine.”
”I have something to tell you.”
”What?”
”I finished it,” Juho said.
”I know,” Wol replied.
Swallowing nervously, Juho asked desperately, ”What did you think?”
”So much for yelling at me. I thought it was your story?”
”Which is why I'm asking. Last time we talked, you said that it wasn't half bad. How did I do this time?”
”Eh. At least you didn't make a fool out of me.”
”That goes without saying.”
When Wol remained silent, Juho shouted his name. At which point, a mischievous smile appeared on Wol's face.
”You did well.”
”... I did?”
”That's right. I liked it. I would've kept it simple toward the end, but nevertheless, it was still interesting. Oh! Personally, writing about lunatics isn't my thing. I would've never done that,” Wol said. The hand with which he was rubbing his stomach started slowing down, eventually stopping.
”Mr. Lim told me that you'll probably never show yourself to me again.”
”Hm.”
”Where are you headed now?”
”Beats me.”
So far, talking to Wol had been mostly infuriating. It was clear that Wol was trying to provoke the young author. Otherwise, Juho wouldn't have been so high strung.
”Then, what do you know?” Juho asked with a sigh.
To which, Wol answered, moving only his lips, ”One day, you'll repeat the same mistake you made in the past.”
Looking down at him, Juho said, ”I'll never make that mistake again.”
”Life is long. You just wait.”
While Juho was at a loss for words, Wol rolled his eyes and looked toward the young author, saying, ”It happens. Just don't blame yourself too much. You'll be fine.”
”... Very helpful, Mr. Kang.”
”Like I said, there's no need to be so tense all the time. At the end of the day, you are you, and a novel is a novel. You're contributing to society somehow. Even if you're doing nothing but breathing and existing.”
”But you're dead.”
”... Always hitting where it hurts most,” Wol said, his eyes closed half-way.
”Life is long, so you just keep writing until you feel confident. It's your story, so feel free to do as you wish.”
At that moment, the wind came along, blowing against Wol's lifeless hair. No matter how many times Juho called out to him, Wol didn't respond.
”So, this is what it's like to die twice,” Wol said with a grin on his face, his eyes filled with life for a brief moment. ”Not bad. Not bad at all.”
”Hold on, Mr. Kang!” Juho exclaimed, grabbing Wol. Still with questions left to ask, the young author wasn't ready to let Wol go just yet.
Then, raising his finger, Wol pointed up at the sky and said, ”It's morning.”
With that, Juho opened his eyes and jumped out of his bed. The shadow cast throughout the apartment was telling Juho that it was about to be evening. Realizing that Wol had lied up to the very last moment, Juho chuckled. At that moment...
”What are you smiling about?”
Juho looked back, startled by the voice coming from behind him.
”What are you looking at?” the voice asked.
”Mr. Lim.”
”You might wanna lock your door. Otherwise, you might end up dying quicker than you anticipated.”
Rubbing his tired eyes, Juho said, ”I don't wanna die.”
”Then, you better lock your door.”
”Yes, sir,” Juho said, still chuckling. He couldn't help himself for some reason.
”Seems like you're in a good mood,” Hyun Do said.
”Maybe,” Juho replied.
”I suppose it makes sense, especially with Wol out of your hair.”
”Are you here to read the manuscript, Mr. Lim?”
”I couldn't stop thinking about what you said about the manuscript, so I had to come. If you don't feel comfortable showing it to me, that is perfectly fine.”
”Not at all. One moment.”
With that, Juho went into his room and brought out the manuscript.
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