[The Chauffeur of the Afterlife]
When I was a kid, I loved robots.
The image of a giant machine assembling itself with a satisfying clank-clank, only to blast the villain into oblivion with a single shot. It’s the kind of spectacle that gets any boy’s blood pumping.
But thinking back on it now, I don't think I liked them just because they were big and cool.
Think about it. What if every time a robot transformed, workers had to manually snap the parts together, or someone had to stand in the back pulling cables just to make it move? The coolness would vanish, and the excitement would plummet.
Ultimately, the essence of a robot’s charm is its autonomy. The pilot pulls a single lever, the machine transforms on its own, and it reacts instantly to a single command—that automated system is the core of what makes a man’s heart race.
“...Is it possible?”
I muttered to myself, scanning the cars that packed the used car dealership. Spirits—won-gwi—clung to the bodies of the vehicles. These were entities that would naturally fade away with the passage of time. But what if I could persuade them to drive?
“That would be sick.”
No need to worry about drowsy driving, and I wouldn't have to touch the steering wheel myself. If I could just get a license, it would be the perfect automated system. It was a golden opportunity to become the robot pilot I’d dreamed of as a child.
If other people can’t see them, that’s basically self-driving.
My footsteps felt light as I walked down the hill. Perhaps because it was a weekday afternoon, the dealership was quiet. Only the cars, packed tightly into the vast lot, sparkled under the sunlight; there were hardly any people around.
Just then, someone walked out from a building that looked like an office.
“Welcome!”
“Hey.”
“What brings you here today?”
Judging by the professional, practiced smile, he was clearly a dealer.
I heard they’re incredibly persistent.
The aggressive sales tactics I’d read about in internet reviews naturally came to mind.
“I’m just here to look around.”
I drew a firm line in the sand, just in case.
“Oh, I see? Understood.”
Contrary to the rumors online, the dealer was surprisingly chill.
“Take your time looking around. If you have any questions, come by the office over there or give me a call.”
He handed me a business card, turned around, and headed back to the building without another word. Were the internet reviews exaggerated? Or did I just look like I didn't have any money? Well, whatever the reason, it was fine by me.
“I can look around in peace.”
I tucked the business card into my pocket and began inspecting the cars in earnest. To be precise, I was hunting for the spirits I’d seen from the hill.
The first one I checked was a white SUV. Only the upper torso was visible; the lower half was buried deep inside the bumper.
“Tsk. You’re stuck, aren't you, mister? Just asking, but can you even hit the gas?”
There was no answer.
Next was a black sedan. A female spirit had her face pressed flat against the passenger window. Her limbs looked intact.
“Could you at least grab the wheel?”
But looking closer, her head was pinned against the glass, making it look impossible for her to see the road ahead. “Sorry, miss. You’ll have a better chance next time.”
Leaving my disappointment behind, I walked over to a silver compact car. A middle-aged male spirit with a broken neck hanging at an angle greeted me.
“Mister, can you turn your head? You’ll get into an accident if you don’t watch the road.”
The more cars I checked, the more the reality set in. There were plenty of spirits around, but none of them were in a state capable of driving.
“Is my dream impossible after all...!”
On top of that, they had lost their reason, so I couldn't even communicate with them.
“If any of you can drive, can you raise your hand?”
I tried one last time, knowing it was hopeless, but the spirits didn't budge. “Damn it! They said dreams come true!”
Facing the massive wall of reality, I felt the futility of life. But I couldn't just leave these suffering spirits behind.
“Staying in this world won’t do you any good.”
I gathered energy at my fingertips. A faint light bloomed from my right wrist, enveloping the spirits nearby. I hadn't achieved my dream of self-driving, but sending them off properly was the least I could do as a human.
“May you be healthy and live long in your next life.”
One by one, the spirits began to fade into the dim light.
“In the name of Oranis, I take away your suffering and grant you peace. Be free from the shackles of this world.”
Just as I was continuing the exorcism—
“Holy crap, what the!”
I flinched and spun around at the sudden voice. It was an old, beat-up sedan that looked perfectly normal.
[P-please...]
A middle-aged male spirit with an intact appearance popped out from the driver’s seat in a hurry. There had been nothing there just a moment ago. Was he hiding?
I tensed up and used Insight to examine the trembling spirit.
“...?”
Had my divine power malfunctioned? The spirit was trembling, but I couldn't see anything. I didn't feel any evil energy piercing my skin. He was just... a normal soul.
This is strange.
What was even more fascinating was that I couldn't feel any lingering grudge binding him to this world. If he were a spirit, he should have had intense obsession or resentment, but I felt no such shackles from this man.
I stepped toward the middle-aged spirit.
“Mister, how did you manage to keep your reason? Aren't you tied to this car because of an accident like the others?”
[N-no, I’m not!]
The spirit shook his head, waving his hands. [I didn't stay because of a grudge. I, I...]
I frowned at his words. If it wasn't a grudge, what on earth was keeping him in this world?
[It wasn't an accident. I passed away from overwork.]
“Overwork?”
[Yes. I collapsed while working late at the office and just...]
The middle-aged man’s story was this: he had been a father in his 40s who suddenly passed away, leaving behind a wife who was raising their young child alone.
[My earnings weren't much, but—]
“Forget it. You don't have to say anymore. But why are you staying here? Instead of going to your family. And what’s with this car?”
[Explaining this will take a while—]
“Mister, sorry, but could you keep it brief? I’m not exactly a genius, so I can’t focus if you talk too long.”
[......]
This car wasn't an accident vehicle; it had been sold due to financial hardship, and the reason he stayed in the car was because of the memories he had with his family.
“So, to summarize: you died of overwork, the car was sold because money was tight, and you’re staying here waiting for your wife, who’s living her life bravely without you. Is that right?”
[Yes...]
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
I reacted calmly, but I was quite surprised on the inside. A soul that remained out of love, not resentment.
“...I’m sorry to say this, but you said it’s been a long time since you visited, right? She might have remarried by now.”
[Haha, I suppose you don't know much about love, messenger.]
The spirit smiled lonesomely at my words. [I don't want my wife to spend her whole life missing me. It’s the opposite. I hope she meets a good person and becomes happy again. I want my child to grow up under a proper father, too.]
“If she has remarried, will you move on?”
[No. I will wait. Messenger, I beg you, please understand my situation and show me your generosity.]
Honestly, this guy. “...And what if I don’t show you generosity?”
[Haha... then I suppose I’ll have to follow the natural order.]
I want him so bad. So dreams really do come true! The image of self-driving flickered before my eyes.
“Hmm, to put it simply, you’ve found a loophole in the providence. You’re the first spirit I’ve seen who hasn't been consumed by oblivion.”
[I-I’m sorry.]
Anyway, the fact I learned through talking to the spirit wasn't much different from the providence I already knew. That man, who was maintaining his reason perfectly, would also develop a grudge if he went to his family because of his guilt. Then his memories would be consumed by oblivion.
That’s why he stayed in the car filled with memories. He held on by only thinking of happy moments so that a grudge wouldn't form.
But the problem was—how do I win him over? I had no justification to hire this upright spirit as my chauffeur. Even if he wasn't a chauffeur, having a cooperative spirit would definitely be helpful.
“Mister, you said earlier that your child wasn't feeling well, right? That’s why the hospital bills were so high.”
[Yes. The medical expenses were quite a burden. But thankfully, the insurance came through, so we were able to get the treatment.]
The spirit smiled at my words. Even though he had died of overwork while pushing himself to earn every penny for medical bills, he said he was just glad they could get the treatment.
I don't think there’s much I can do for him. I exhaled briefly and asked, “Is there no chance of a relapse? You said he was sick from birth.”
[That won't happen. I haven't seen him recently, but he was healthy the last time I checked.]
“Really? That’s a relief. Want to go see him with me right now?”
[W-what if I get consumed by oblivion while doing that?]
“I can handle that much. Don't go against your grudge.”
The spirit hesitated for a moment before nodding. He seemed to trust that a messenger would be fine. [Just in case, are you really sure it’s okay?]
I told him not to worry, acting bold. “Of course. I don't lie.”
It’s hard to recover memories consumed by oblivion, but it’s not hard to maintain them.
***
Before long, we arrived at a small villa complex.
“Is this the place?”
[Yes. It’s definitely here.]
It was the process of following the grudge to find the connection. [...I can feel it over there.]
Is it a playground?
Following the spirit’s guidance, we passed the villa complex and headed toward a small playground nearby. It was a humble space with an old swing set and a slide.
The spirit stopped as soon as we arrived. I followed his gaze.
“That’s him.”
A child sitting on a swing. With a pale face and arms hanging limply, no matter how I looked at it, he didn't look healthy at all.
“Mister, I’m sorry to say this, but are you sure he was treated?”
[I-I definitely saw him getting treated at the hospital. He received chemotherapy, and they said his condition had improved...]
“If he’s like that even after treatment, isn't something wrong? What kind of illness is it?”
[...It’s acute lymphoblastic leukemia.]
My goodness. I didn't know much about medicine, but I knew well enough how terrifying leukemia was.
“Didn't it relapse?”
[T-that’s impossible. I checked multiple times. And if it had relapsed, he wouldn't be at the playground; he’d be in the hospital.]
“I guess so.”
That was when it happened.
“Minjun!”
A woman’s voice echoed from afar. “How many times do I have to tell you!”
The woman, who had run over from the villa, pulled the child into her arms. “I told you we had to go to the hospital...”
Her hands trembled as she stroked the child’s back. “Please, stop worrying your mother. Okay?”
“...I don't want to go to the hospital.”
“Choi Minjun!”
It seemed the thing we feared had become reality.
Black energy erupted from the man’s body as he watched the two of them.
“Mister, pull yourself together.”
[AAAAH! This can’t be! This can’t be!]
“Mister.”
Screams turn into bitter grudges, grudges call for oblivion, and oblivion erases existence. Who would have thought hiring a chauffeur would be this difficult?
Let’s do this.
I immediately reached out and manifested my power. The black energy that had been erupting writhed, blocked by the light. It was merely buying time; if things continued like this, he would turn into an evil spirit in no time.
“Mister, pray.”
[......]
“Pray with all your heart. I can treat Minjun, but it’s too late for you. I can only protect you if you pray with sincerity.”
Perhaps my words reached him; the spirit began to pray in a trembling voice.
[M-messenger. I am fine, so please, I beg you, just our Minjun...]
“I told you I’d treat Minjun.”
[Grrrrr...]
He was so consumed by oblivion he couldn't even speak properly, but the desperation in his scream remained the same.
“In the name of Oranis, I accept this soul’s prayer. May blessings remain so that your love does not become a grudge, and your sorrow does not become darkness.”
As I finished the prayer, the black energy began to lift. Meanwhile, Minjun’s mother, who had seen me talking to thin air from the side of the playground, hugged her child tightly and hurried away.
Does she think I’m a lunatic?
I turned my gaze to the spirit. “Mister, are you feeling a bit better?”
[...Yes. I’m sorry.]
“Forget it. I’d have lost my mind too if I were you.”
The spirit hesitated for a moment before carefully opening his mouth. [What you said earlier... does that mean you can really treat Minjun?]
“Yeah.”
[H-how...]
“I have things I need your help with, too. We’re helping each other out, right? Think of it as employee benefits.”
I cut off the spirit and looked at the old villa. Treating him? That wasn't hard. The problem was that I’d been branded a lunatic in Minjun’s mother’s eyes just a moment ago. A lunatic approaching her saying he’ll treat her sick child? She’d obviously report me to the police.
“Hmm...”
The situation seemed more complicated than I thought, so my deliberation grew longer. Wait, was there any reason to overcomplicate this? If you get caught, it’s a crime, but if you don't, it’s not.
“Mister, do you have a chimney at home?”
[...Excuse me?]
It seemed like being Santa was going to be difficult.