Unknotting Fate

CHAPTER 28: Kana is Dying

"Good afternoon. How may I help you, sir? Actually, sir, before you answer that, why are you shirtless? It's a bit rude, don't you think, sir?"

"What did Kana give up for my life?"

"I think ignoring my question about your shirt is a little unfair."

"Who cares! Can't you see he is dying!" Ko exploded while he pointed at Kana.

"Oh, that will be my second question. Why is 7219 lying on that couch, and he looks distraught."

Ko took a deep breath.

Oh, my Gods!

"I am begging you to please help me. I need you to focus." Ko said as he massaged his temples.

The death accountant shook her head. She seemed displeased with the slayer's manners.

"Let me check. What's your family name, slayer?"

The Death Accountant snapped her fingers, and a very long scroll appeared. It was so long that it touched the floor and reached the adjacent room.

"Resurreccion," Ko answered.

She searched for his name.

"Ah, yes. 7219 offered his life energy to us to bring you back from Limbo. However, we told him his life force is special; he only needed to give 40% away."

"40%? Then why did he become so weak? Why is he dying?"

'That's due to an illness he absorbed last year; wait, let me see his profile; yes, here, oh.....it's for you too. He–

"I know, my virus..."

"Yes, sir, it has gradually weakened his remaining life energy."

"If I trade my life for him, he can return to normal, to his original energy, to a body with no virus?"

"Yes."

"Okay! Then make the trade." Ko beamed. A rush of hope made his legs wobble.

"Sir, please think about this. You'll be dead."

"No, I've thought about it. I'm ready!"

"I'll leave you alone for 5 minutes so you can ponder about some more."

"Are you listening? I said I've thought about—

"I don't think you have, sir." She disappeared, leaving Ko boiling in anger."

He took a deep breath and heard Kana groan his name. Creased on his eyes, head tossing side to side, and heavy breathing, Kana looked like he was stuck in a nightmare. Watching him suffer made Ko realize something.

I can't leave him. I can't do this to him. There has to be something else.

 His annoyance with the Death Accountant dispersed after realizing trading with his life was the worst thing he could do to Kana.

5 minutes passed, and The Death Accountant returned.

"So, have you thought about it?"

"Yes....I don't want to trade with my life."

She vibrantly nodded like she was pleased to be correct.

"However, I don't know what else I can give you in exchange for my two wishes."

She began to pace in the living room.

Ko sat down dejected. If there were nothing else he could trade to save Kana, he would offer his life, which pained him, knowing how much his death would maim Kana.

"Ahhhhhh!" she shouted as she hopped where Ko was sitting.

"What? You have an idea?" Ko's desperate heart was banging in his chest.

"My knowledge about human affairs is rusty, but are you the new God Slayer?"

His heart deflated like a balloon.

 "What? Who cares about that? What can I give you to save him!" Ko's voice got shrill as he spoke. His hands were shaking.

"Sir, you have two cores." She said with so much glee in her voice.

Ko raised a brow.

"So what? No way two cores can be a fair exchange for what I am asking?" He argued.

But Ko was wrong. She shook her head and said, "Your cores will be the payment."

Ko was flabbergasted. He just stared at her.

She nodded. "You're refusing, aren't you, sir? I understand. You'd rather give up your life than give up your cores."

"What, no, no, no.... I don't care about them. I'm just in shock that this compensates the trade."

"Sir, many people, not just slayers, would risk their lives to get their hands on a core. You, sir, Ko Resurreccion, should know that better than anyone."

The old Ko would have known, but the present Ko can't wrap his head around it.

The death accountant may have recommended it, but she predicted Ko would refuse. She was shocked that he agreed and how unbothered he was about the deal. She had never encountered a slayer that would ever make this trade. Dying would have been a more desirable choice.

"So it's a deal then?"

The death accountant nodded. Ko smiled. "What're you waiting for then? Take it already."