“Helping the King of the Underworld, you say…?”

Though the voice sounded threatening, it seemed to have caught his attention. Now, with the gaze of the King of the Underworld turned toward Natsuki, this was the perfect opportunity for a pitch.

“Yes. A letter-writer is someone who writes letters or inscriptions on behalf of those who cannot read or write. You said, ‘I fell to the underworld as a punishment for stepping on the King of the Underworld’s head,’ but could I have that sin erased in exchange for my work as a letter-writer… I don’t want to die yet.”

He dropped his head and pressed his hands to the ground, lying flat in supplication.

“Don’t speak of unnecessary things!”

It must have been a mistake to speak directly to the King of the Underworld without going through the officials. One of the red-clad guards prodded her with the butt of a spear. Why was Natsuki the only one to be prodded when other ghosts were making their own excuses? It was hard to understand. The officials, who had been stacking bamboo slips high, even began protesting in anger.

“A mere mortal should not attempt to take the place of the King of the Underworld! This is outrageous!”

“That’s right, that’s right. It is the King of the Underworld’s duty to write out the charges and pass judgment, something no mortal can take over.”

As the ghosts in the underworld jeered and criticized Natsuki, she let their words wash over her, then—

“Silence!”

With the King of the Underworld’s roar, countless slips flew through the air. The white slips, like talismans, struck the ground of the court with a sound like waves. Each talisman likely contained a curse. Suddenly, the entire space became eerily silent, as if water had been poured over it. Even the ghosts who had been so loud just moments ago froze in place.

“You, letter-writer. You said you would write the judgment on my behalf.”

“Yes, that is correct. I will write the words on your behalf. I will not pass judgment; I will simply write the words for you.”

“My hands…”

It was not to pass judgment but to write it. The job of a letter-writer was to write for those who could not, whether they were alive or dead.

(I’m probably the only one who would accept a ghost’s letter-writing job. I have to deliver that ghost’s letter… I can’t die here.)

The pride in her work, which she had nearly lost from the shock of death, slowly began to resurface.

“Yes. A ‘letter-writer must not distort the work of the person they are writing for,’ as it is said. How about you observe how I work first and decide afterward? If you are satisfied, then we can settle the price.”

Sensing an opportunity for a deal, Natsuki repeated her words and bowed low. As she knelt and waited for the King of the Underworld’s reply, it almost felt as if she could forget that she was in the underworld.

—Had she really died? Wasn’t she perhaps just dreaming?

Lost in a momentary haze, like a dream of an afternoon nap, she wondered if this fleeting instant was an eternity. The flickering lights of the candles behind the King of the Underworld seemed to reflect in his eyes as he thought about it. It had all seemed like a very short moment, but now, time felt strangely long, like the wind had blown and the flames of the candles flickered.

When the King of the Underworld finally rose, it felt as though she had been in the same place for a year.

“Red Guard. Bring that girl here.”

At the call, the red-clad guard, who had been prodding Natsuki with his spear, withdrew it. He must have meant for Natsuki to ascend the stairs. The guard roughly guided her away with the spear. As she ascended the stone stairs, which were engraved with intricate patterns, Natsuki glimpsed the shimmering aurora in the dark sky.

(The inscriptions on the stones… are they words praising the King of the Underworld?)

The enormous, grand hall with its vermillion-tiled roof had a magnificent appearance. She could just make out intricate carvings on the distant cliffside. It was so far away that Natsuki couldn’t read the inscriptions, but it was so divinely beautiful, an eerie sight, that it only deepened the awe of the King of the Underworld.

Looking down from the high platform, it almost felt like stepping onto an outdoor theater stage. As she approached with a bow, the face of the Underworld King came into clearer view.

(This beautiful man… is the King of the Underworld? Taizan Fukun?)

Just as she had imagined, the King of the Underworld had a sharply defined nose, long, elegant eyes, and a mouth that smiled faintly—like an actor, his face was perfectly symmetrical, and he looked like a youthful, handsome man. If someone told Natsuki this man came from some noble background, she would easily believe it.

Though he was the ruler of the underworld, this god’s expression carried a human-like quality. His look seemed almost amused, as though he were curious about how to deal with Natsuki’s words and actions. They say gods don’t age, and seeing it firsthand, Natsuki could only marvel in astonishment.

The face of a god—maybe it was a gift beyond human understanding. The desire to bow in reverence was mixed with an inexplicable urge to keep looking at him.

(Why does this face feel like I’ve seen it before…?)

As Natsuki tilted her head, the King of the Underworld beckoned with his feather fan, urging her to hurry.

“Very well… here is the judgment. This is the sample. Write it down.”

Responding to the King of the Underworld’s command, a lower-ranking official, dressed in a hood, brought over a chair. Natsuki thought he was just an ordinary ghost, but the cloth hanging from his face was inscribed with curse words, causing Natsuki to flinch. He hadn’t spoken, so he might not have been a ghost but a shikigami.

Earlier, when the King of the Underworld used the talisman, Natsuki had thought it resembled a Daoist’s technique, but it made sense that the King of the Underworld would know how to manipulate such magic. He was not just the ruler of the underworld but also a god who commanded the balance of Yin and Yang.

(Why not have the shikigami write, instead of me…?)

It seemed the King of the Underworld had noticed Natsuki’s doubt, for a voice immediately answered it.

“A shikigami can assist, but it cannot replace me. No other officials can do what I do. I am the only one who can make entries in the rokumōbo—the ledger of the dead.”

Upon hearing this, Natsuki realized the book in front of her was the ledger of the dead, a record of destinies.

“This is something new, so I don’t know how it will turn out… but try writing it first.”

Natsuki took the pen in hand. However, knowing that writing in this ledger would seal the fate of the dead made her hand tremble with nervousness.

“Just to confirm… writing in this ledger won’t bring a curse upon me, will it?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never had anyone write in it before. Let’s start with this man. His fate is that of a 61-year-old man. Cause of death: death due to illness. His crime is minor. His afterlife registry will be in the care of the god of the Three Gorges.”

The work continued relentlessly, and Natsuki quickly scribbled down the words in the ledger as instructed. She glanced at the King of the Underworld’s face to see if it was satisfactory.

“That will do. Now, quickly finish the rest. There are many slips to go through.”

Without a clear answer, Natsuki returned to her task. As she continued, the sensation of writing on the smooth paper felt strangely soothing. Once she finished, a shooting star-like light flashed through the dark space, likely signaling the disappearance of the ghost who had been judged.

“Good… this works well. Next. A murderer, executed. A 35-year-old man. In addition to the crime he was tried for on earth, he also committed murder, robbery, and assault. He will fall into hell.”

Natsuki couldn’t help but grimace at the contents of the ledger. However, a voice cut through his discomfort.

“Letter-writer, it was the King of the Underworld who judged this man. You are only writing it down.”

“Yes, that is correct,” Natsuki replied, writing the words as instructed, just as a bitter cry echoed in the background.

The lights and sounds of the underworld continued to shape her destiny, one word at a time, as she was pushed further into her task, under the watchful eye of the King of the Underworld.