THE THIRD OPTION
The expressions on his face must have been pretty obvious because Yeomra said, as if reading his mind, "Yes, there is more than one destination a soul could go to. Those who committed irredeemable deeds in life would be sent to hell, while those who did numerous meritorious acts would ascend to what you humans refer to as 'paradise'. And the remaining ones would then enter the cycle or reincarnation."
There's only one thing that Haneul got from that. "So, you're saying that you're not sure whether to send me to paradise or to let me enter the cycle of reincarnation? Am I right?"
Yeomra smiled. "Your guess is not completely correct. But it's not wrong either."
Haneul was truly getting impatient with this king of of the underworld. If not for the other wearing the face of Na Hongki, he might have already shouted at him. Maybe that's the reason why the other took on this form. Because he knew himself how annoying he could be.
"Mr. Yeomra? I'm sure someone like you is quite busy, so can you just go straight to the point?" he said politely, but anyone could tell that it's his roundabout way of saying 'can you stop talking nonsense?'.
"I should do that, right?"
'Why are you asking me?' - Haneul almost shouted.
"Hmm, but first, let me ask you something. Do you think I personally go and meet all the souls of the dead that arrive in the underworld?"
Haneul tilted his head, unsure why the other was asking this. But he still said, "Yes, shouldn't you?"
"Actually, no. I only review the lives that these souls had lived, and then make the decision on where to send them. There's no need for me to meet them personally. I only do that when there's a special circumstance," Yeomra explained. "Like now."
Haneul blinked. He didn't expect that there was a special reason why this guy was standing in front of him right now. He thought it was a normal occurrence that all dead people went through.
No, maybe he should have suspected that. After all, he still retained his consciousness, even after death. Maybe the reason for that was because he was meeting Yeomra and the other needed him to be able to think on his own.
"And what's that special circumstance?" he asked.
"Well, in your case, it's because you saved someone who was destined for greatness. That child is a future Nobel prize winner who would one day help solve the problem in plastic waste disposal."
Haneul was surprised when he heard that. Remembering the child he had saved, he didn't expect that the other was what people would call, 'destined for greatness'.
Yeomra continued;
"He wasn't supposed to be on that road today. But one of the new recruits accidentally mixed his record among the files of the people who would die today. And so, a grim reaper was sent to collect his soul.
"It's already too late when I discovered this huge mistake. The grim reaper was already on their way to finish their job. Thankfully, you were there. You not only saved a future Nobel prize scientist, you also saved me from a lot of possible headaches.
"That's why I'm meeting you personally. To give you a reward."
When Yeomra finished speaking, Haneul blinked and could only ask, "What reward?"
"You can either go to paradise, where your soul will experience eternal happiness, peace, and contentment, surrounded by beauty, tranquility, and harmony. Or you can enter the cycle of reincarnation and I will make sure your next life will be full of wealth, fame, and love."
When heard the two options, Haneul felt excited. Not because of the things Yeomra promised, but because of a certain possibility. "If I chose to go to paradise... can I meet my parents and sister?"
He looked at Yeomra, hope filling his heart. He was almost begging inside for the other to give him the answer he wanted. But Yeomra's next words dashed that hope.
"You can't. The three of them had already entered the cycle of reincarnation."
Haneul bit his lower lip. What did he expect? He should have known things wouldn't go his way. As how it had always been.
"Then, can I be reincarnated as their family?" he asked, trying his luck once again.
Yeomra shook his head. "As I've said, they had already entered the cycle of reincarnation. Their next life had already been decided. None of their futures involved any of them becoming a family with each other. But if you want to be a family to one of them, I can make that work."
Only being a family to one, would there even be any meaning to that? A bitter smile formed on his lips. If this was the case, then he might as well make an unreasonable demand.
Since he saved someone who would be very important in the future, surely Yeomra would grant him this much.
"Then I choose the third option."
Yeomra raised a brow. "A third option?"
"I want to go back in time."