A Grim Task and the Meva Hotel’s Shadow

“Did you alter the destiny of that girl named Yali Miller?” the God of Death inquired, cutting straight to the chase.

Having no intention of concealment, Yodel candidly admitted the truth, recounting the entire incident.

Then, with a hint of worry, he asked, “Is ‘Death Premonition’ not meant for interfering with others’ destinies? Are there some hidden taboos surrounding it?”

“No, quite the contrary,” she replied. “You did exceptionally well. In fact, that was a task I was originally meant to complete.”

“Ah? Your job? Is it the God of Death’s role to save lives?”

In Yodel’s mind, the God of Death’s responsibilities would entail things like ‘killing KPIs’ or ‘elimination targets,’ yet it was becoming clear this was not the case at all.

“To be precise,” she elaborated, “my work involves ensuring individuals die precisely according to their predetermined plans.”

She unfurled the massive black tome she held, revealing its intricate contents to Yodel.

The pages were densely inscribed with countless names, each accompanied by their birth date, death date, and the precise manner of their demise.

“Do you see?” she asked. “Every death in this world is meticulously pre-planned. These death schedules are all automatically generated and executed by the very Power of Death itself.

“While these death plans typically unfold without issue, there are occasional instances where a few fortunate individuals manage to escape their predetermined demise. Conversely, a few unfortunate souls sometimes perish before their appointed time.

“My role, therefore, is to rectify these anomalies, ensuring that everyone departs at the precise time and in the exact manner that was originally intended.”

Yodel mused, “So, if the God of Death decrees your demise at three o’clock, you can neither linger until five nor perish prematurely at one.”

“Precisely,” she affirmed. “You grasp concepts remarkably fast. On a related note, Yali’s brother actually falls into that latter category—a premature death.”

“What?”

A look of utter helplessness crossed the God of Death’s face. “According to his original death plan,” she explained, “her brother was not meant to succumb to work exhaustion for another decade.

“However, on the very day Yali’s brother passed away last week, an unprecedented surge of unforeseen incidents suddenly erupted. I was overwhelmed and unable to manage them all within such a short timeframe, leading to numerous death plans going awry. Yali’s brother, tragically, was one such casualty.”

Yodel fell into thought. ‘His premature death,’ he mused, ‘not only impacted his own fate but also directly disrupted Yali’s death plan, nearly causing her to perish prematurely as well.’

‘If too many death plans go awry, creating a catastrophic chain reaction, wouldn’t the entire order of death for everyone unravel into chaos?’

“Theoretically, yes,” she confirmed. “And my… our work, precisely, is to rectify these errors promptly, thereby preserving the fundamental order of death.”

A mysterious smile touched the God of Death’s lips as she concluded, “Very well, we’ll leave it at that. You handled Yali’s situation commendably. Be at the second floor of the Meva Hotel today at noon, and I will personally present your reward.”

“A reward? Might I inquire as to its nature?”

“You will discover its nature tomorrow,” she replied. “Furthermore, I have a task for you, which you may consider a form of pre-employment training. Should you successfully complete it, you will receive even more potent abilities from me.”

Upon hearing of a task, Yodel instantly adopted a serious demeanor, yet the God of Death’s subsequent words nearly shattered his composure.

“A nefarious cult known as the Eternal Life Society is currently lurking within Landon City.

“Your mission: eliminate their leader.”

“Me?” Yodel stammered, pointing a disbelieving finger at his own chest, his face a mask of utter bewilderment.

While he might have been chosen by the God of Death, Yodel was acutely aware of his own meager capabilities.

Having only just transmigrated, he possessed neither connections nor resources, the original host’s physique was lamentably weak, and his sole ability, “Death Premonition,” was capable only of saving lives, utterly devoid of any combat prowess.

What conceivable means did he possess to contend with local powers like cultists?

In stark contrast to Yodel’s crestfallen expression, the God of Death wore a wicked smile, clearly relishing in the daunting challenge she had just presented him.

Yet, despite her amusement, she harbored no jesting intent. Her underlying purpose in assigning such an arduous mission was, after all, to gauge Yodel’s limits and ascertain the true extent of his capabilities.

“Hehe,” she chuckled. “You have precisely two months to complete it. I’ll be taking my leave now. Oh, and don’t forget to claim your reward at the Meva Hotel.”

With another sharp ‘snap’ of her fingers, Yodel’s vision once again plunged into darkness. When he next opened his eyes, he found himself back in his own bed.

****

Outside his window, the sun had already ascended high into the morning sky.

A sudden realization struck him: only a few hours remained until noon, and he needed to depart for the Meva Hotel immediately.

While the nature of the reward remained unknown, Yodel harbored a faint intuition that it would somehow aid him in his assessment.

Shrugging on his clothes, Yodel hastily flung open the door and darted out of his apartment.

He then stopped dead in his tracks.

He had no idea where the Meva Hotel was located.

‘There’s no other option,’ he thought. ‘I’ll have to ask someone for directions.’

Just then, he spotted a familiar face on the street—the very worker who had apologized to Yali the previous day.

Yet, for reasons unknown, the worker wore a profoundly dejected expression, standing rooted to the spot, seemingly lost in a world of his own thoughts.

Yodel approached him, intending to inquire if the worker knew the location of the Meva Hotel.

“Hello, sir,” Yodel began. “Do you recall me? We met yesterday.”

Joel looked up at the sound of the voice, and upon recognizing Yodel, his pupils instantly constricted. “Are you here to demand compensation?” he stammered. “But I… I’ve lost my job, I have no money left. Please, I beg you, have mercy on this wretched man and let me be.”

“You lost your job?” Yodel echoed, surprised. “But surely no one was injured yesterday, were they? It scarcely seems grounds for dismissal, regardless of the circumstances.”

“Who knows?” Joel sighed despondently. “Perhaps my boss simply sought a pretext to withhold my wages. As you’ve heard, I’m utterly unable to give you any more money, so please, just let me go.”

Yodel’s gaze softened with a profound sense of pity.

In all fairness, as a fellow working man, he genuinely wished to assist this unfortunate soul. However, his own pockets were equally empty, and Yali, back home, had also been cut off from her economic lifeline.

In his impoverished state, Yodel understood he could only look out for himself; he truly had no other recourse.

He shook his head gently. “Sir,” Yodel clarified, “I am not here seeking compensation. I merely wish to inquire about the location of the Meva Hotel.”

“The Meva Hotel? Of course I know it,” Joel replied, a frown creasing his brow. “My accursed boss absolutely adores that hotel; he goes there every Sunday at noon. Huh? Come to think of it, today *is* Sunday.”

‘What a coincidence?’

Yodel felt his Death Premonition ability suddenly stir to life, as if attempting to warn him. Though no explicit vision manifested this time, an uneasy intuition told him that trouble was once again brewing.

Observing the despondent Joel, Yodel’s mind began to churn with uneasy thoughts. ‘This man’s spirits seem terribly low,’ he mused. ‘Could it be that he, too, is contemplating…’

Forcing down the rising unease in his heart, Yodel nodded to Joel. “Thank you very much for your assistance,” he said.

He paused for a moment, then continued earnestly:

“I deeply sympathize with your plight,” Yodel stated, “but I implore you to remember this: no setback, no matter how immense, no difficulty, no matter how desperate, is even a thousandth as terrifying as death itself. Therefore, until death’s unavoidable arrival, we must strive to live our lives to the fullest.”

With those words, he turned and hastened his steps towards the Meva Hotel.

****

Simultaneously, on the other side of Landon City, Mr. Moras, Joel’s employer, ascended into his carriage, which then began to roll purposefully towards the Meva Hotel.