Chapter 2

    This Is What Life Is

    His life had come to an end... Was it too easy?

    Even though he felt a little regret that he had so little time to find happiness for himself, Kluay quickly let go of everything in a way that was almost unbelievable. At the very least, this middle-aged man's spirit now knew that life after death was likely real.

    "Mm... Looks like the kids at the foundation will be well taken care of for a while." Kluay gazed at his lifeless body lying peacefully, with no sign of suffering, and felt satisfied. He had some concerns about how long it would take for someone to find his body. Fortunately, it took less than a day for his junior colleagues to come knocking on his door.

    His corpse was discovered swiftly. How lucky he was that it didn’t rot and become a hideous sight. The will he had left was found when the condo management had to clear out his belongings with a lawyer. Everything was handled properly by the trusted lawyer, and all his money was transferred to the foundation without any issues.

    So, what should he do now?... Kluay’s soul had been wandering aimlessly for almost two weeks, yet no grim reaper appeared to collect him.

    "I’ve already let go of everything, haven’t I…?" The translucent figure thought in confusion. He had prayed, visited temples, and even meditated to clear his mind, but why hadn’t he moved on yet?

    Being somewhat obsessive, he repeated all those actions again, but nothing happened. In the end, his spirit started wandering around, checking on the people he once knew.

    His friends... Well, there weren’t many he was close to. The younger colleagues who had shown him some sincerity had already cried at his funeral. All those young people had their own struggles but still persevered in life. So, his attention shifted to those who had treated him badly or openly regarded him as an enemy.

    Mr. Vich… his first boss, was still working half-heartedly and stuck at the same level, moving from one department to another. His life wasn’t peaceful. His dog misbehaved daily, causing him headaches from his wife’s complaints and the neighbors’ irritation. At work, he continued to blame new employees, slipping out of trouble like a slick eel without any sign of remorse.

    Sister Duan… his second boss, who once worked him like a slave, was still filthy rich, changing cars twice a year and throwing lavish parties. Her connections with executives ensured her successful career and plentiful money. However, her personal life was suffocating and lonely… In truth, she wasn’t happy. She…frequently lied—to her husband about not being stressed, to her bosses about being capable, to clients about product quality, and, most often, to her subordinates, promising them things would get better before coldly firing them without a second thought.

    Mr. Ace… a former colleague, continued feigning illness and never worked a full day. He spent most of his time browsing the internet, trading stocks, playing games, and reading forums. Yet, no one dared touch him because he was a veteran employee protected by the organization’s leadership. Recently, his chronic sluggishness caught up with him, making him obese and causing severe health issues. He was now a vegetable in the hospital due to his third stroke… his life pathetic and meaningless, almost pitiful.

    Finally, there was Mr. Pira… his last boss, an imposing man with high qualifications and vast knowledge, who was nothing more than a servant in his own home, constantly ordered around by his wife like he was a mere dog. Saying that he was like a dog wasn’t an exaggeration. His wife no longer saw him as a human being. It was hard to believe that society favored people like this just because of their gender. His private life was devoid of dignity—a truly pitiful existence.

    Kluay chuckled at the sight of his enemies living their lives filled with troubles. Still, he offered them an apology and absolved them of all their sins. If there was a next life, he wished never to meet them again. As he spread his goodwill to them, his floating body began to feel lighter and more transparent.

    Ah… Is this the final thing I have to do…? The world around him gradually turned into an endless sea of white.

    "Finally done, huh…? Took quite a while," a lively voice rang out, causing the elderly soul to turn toward it. Before him, a blinding light shone so brightly that he had to squint. Gradually, a stunning figure emerged from the light—a woman, the most beautiful he had ever seen.

    "Who? Who are you? Are you the Grim Reaper here to take me away?"

    "I’m something that isn’t a Grim Reaper. I’m not here to take you. Just stopping by to watch a boring tale to heal my mind."

    "Ah..." The boring tale must have been about him. Indeed, his life story was rather dull. Kluay Khai awkwardly scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly.

    "It’s not about you. What’s truly boring... isn’t over yet," she said with a mischievous smile. Suddenly, a crystal bottle filled with a vividly colored drink materialized in midair. The enchanting woman took several large gulps to quench her thirst.

    "... So, what will you do next?"

    Kluay felt a spark of excitement. Memories of countless novels he’d read as a young man rushed through his mind. Was she some sort of deity? Did he die because of a mistake? Was there a reward, a new life waiting for him? Human imagination truly had no bounds. His thoughts spiraled so quickly that the unnamed goddess, who had been silently observing, burst into laughter.

    "Hahaha. Your imagination. Hahaha…" The glass bottle slipped from her hand, shattering into energy that dissipated into the air. Trying to calm her amusement, she finally responded to his unspoken questions, one by one.

    "I…might be what you mortals call a god, or not. Even if gods truly exist, those absurd accidental deaths? They never happen. No one writes your fate for you…"

    "As for the reward you’re expecting—a reward for what exactly? For living until the end? For being a good person?" She paused, giving him a moment to reflect, before swiftly shattering his hopes.

    "There is no such thing… What you expect… it’s just a comforting illusion created to help you endure a harsh world. At least, in that world."

    The soul trembled at her words, panic washing over him. Her voice grew distant, her figure beginning to fade.

    "Wait. What should I do now?" Kluay Khai called out, frantically trying to grasp her vanishing silhouette.

    "Dream… j..ust..wake...up…is..n’t…that…"

    And with that, the ethereal woman disappeared completely. No sound remained, only the gentle breeze. Dream? What dream?

    Kluay shut his eyes… He focused all his thoughts on one word: wake, wake ,wake, wake, wake… Over and over again, he chanted it in his mind until the ground beneath him crumbled, and he was engulfed in darkness. His consciousness slipped away before he could grasp what was happening.

    .....

    Kluay’s consciousness…faded, only to awaken in a place that seemed impossibly real. The freezing cold air bit into his small, curled-up body as he lay in a pile of foul-smelling garbage. A sharp gust of wind struck his face, jolting him awake. His crusted eyelids struggled to open, revealing a hazy, blurry world. The ground beneath him was hard and muddy, dotted with black puddles. The stench that filled his nostrils was unbearable, especially for someone like Kluay, who loved cleanliness.

    Was this the other world he’d read about in novels?...

    His entire body ached. His hands and arms explored his frail frame. He was small and emaciated, his limbs scrawny with no trace of fat.

    (This… What the hell is going on???) The soul of the man, far older than the body he now inhabited, cursed in frustration. The air he inhaled stabbed at his tiny lungs. His dry throat struggled to produce a sound as his hands desperately clawed their way out of the slimy pile of trash with all their might.

    "Help...help me... urgh—cough, cough, cough." Stomach acid surged up his throat, making him choke. The burning sensation spread all over, his throat searing in pain. The sour stench mixed with the smell of rotting garbage made his head spin.

    His faint, weak voice broke the stillness around him, carrying clearly through the silent surroundings. His blurred vision couldn’t make out who had arrived, but he could sense the warmth of another human being. The surrounding murmur of voices wasn’t in the language he’d used for decades in his old world.

    It sounded like English in some ways... His mind quickly connected the dots, and he managed to gasp out one last sentence before losing what little strength he had left.

    "Please... help me..."

    What came next—life or death—was uncertain… Simply dragging himself out of that putrid pile of trash had already taken everything he had.

    .....

    Bang, bang, bang… The loud knocking on the large wooden door of the orphanage next to the village church echoed in the late afternoon. The noise made the two nuns, who were busy preparing dinner for the children, abandon their tasks and hurry to the door.

    The person behind the knock was well-known to everyone in the community.

    "Calm down, Jason. You’ll break the door with those hands of yours. What’s so urgent?" The elderly nun called out in an exasperated tone before she opened the door, trying to stop him from knocking down the worn, fragile planks.

    "Sister Anne, someone found this child in the trash heap behind the village. He’s in terrible shape. Please, help him..." Jason’s arms cradled a frail, filthy child whose breathing was barely noticeable.

    "Quick, bring him inside to the fire!" Sister Anne checked his vital signs with practiced efficiency before directing Jason toward the hearth in the middle of the building. Though it was covered in soot, the warmth of the fire helped the child breathe more steadily. A small bucket of cold water was soon mixed with boiling water from the hearth. Using an old, rough cloth, they wiped the boy down to check for injuries.

    Fortunately, there were no fresh wounds—just long scars across his back and a few smaller ones on his face. There were no signs that he was a runaway slave.

    The other nun, who had been busied in the kitchen, hurriedly brought a bowl of hot soup made from turnips, onions, and soft-boiled carrots to the patient. The little boy—whose name they still didn’t know—drank it ravenously, emptying the bowl before falling into a deep sleep from exhaustion. The adults quickly found some leftover clothes that fit his tiny frame.

    .....

    The arrival of this new member threw the entire orphanage into a brief frenzy.

    "Another abandoned one?" Sister Anne lowered her gaze as she asked Jason. "Our church is already over capacity. I’m not sure if we can take in one more child."

    "After checking around, it seems like this is the first new one in the last two weeks." Jason averted his eyes. He knew all too well the current state of the village church. "I believe it’s just a stray case. There probably won’t be any more."

    "Let’s hope you’re right..." Another nun, who had just finished distributing food to the dozen or so other children, walked over. Exhaustion was clearly written on her face. "…But even if there are more, don’t worry. This is our mission—our test from God."

    "May the gods bless you, Sister. I’ll try to hunt more in the forest so the children can have something better to eat…"

    "Also, inform the village chief. That old man won’t be happy about having to provide more funds for our church again."

    "Don’t worry. I’ll inform Father directly. One more child won’t cost him more than a few coins."

    After saying his goodbyes and seeing the wooden door closed, Jason left swiftly like the wind.

    The chill of late autumn seeped through a small crack in the wall, whistling softly in the air.

Thus began the new life of a fragile little boy who had clung to life by a thread.