Death Cast

1.37 | Grecia Bella Theatre

Jaerim returned to his room with an extra wound on his arm. His nonchalant reaction made the white-haired grim reaper look at him with an amused expression. Barron, who remained stationary at the makeshift tea table, furrowed his brows and kept a close eye on his every move. Silvester is nowhere to be found. In all likelihood, he's the only one doing a decent job around here. Jaerim saw Barron's gaze as he walked into the room. He turned his back on the curious pair of blue eyes that were gazing intently at him.

The silence was broken by Barron by asking, “You caught the rat?” 

Jaerim headed straight to bed and brushed the sheets by hand. He hesitated briefly as the grim reaper inquired, but then began tidying the bed. The grim reaper gave a nod as if the lack of a response was sufficient for him to understand. When he set the glass cup on the saucer, it clinked.

"It looks like we'll be leaving this dreary location soon."

Jaerim slept soundly that night. He awoke normally the following morning. Barron and Silvester were nowhere to be found as he looked around. He stood there staring at the ceiling for a few moments before getting out of bed to clean himself. After completing his morning routine, he left the hallway and headed straight to the kitchen.

When Jaerim first came into this realm, he was startled to find a person eating alone at a table. It was the strikingly handsome man himself who radiated an unwelcoming energy. He couldn't forget the individual, particularly the deep-set blue eyes that seemed to contain the soul of anybody who looked. He couldn't help but be taken aback.

However, he did not dawdle around and walked toward the side of the table where the good-looking man was sitting and sat beside him. It is different from the first day where he ran away to avoid interacting with the suspicious man. Of course, the person was still a stranger until now. That’s why he was over-cautious. 

“Sir Elias,” Jaerim called out. 

The good-looking man who was eating with his head bowed came to a standstill. He raised his head, his brows furrowed charmingly, and looked at Jaerim with a hostile look on his face. Jaerim had to restrain himself from gasping after being struck by the unparalleled beauty. He pondered why this jester was so adamant about not meeting Bella, despite the fact that he was quite attractive. Is it possible that the heavy white face paint disguised it?

However, Jaerim kept his thoughts to himself as he concentrated on the jester.

“Sir, I will help you save Bella.”

After mentioning Bella's name, the jester's eyes glowed with a menacing glitter. Jaerim couldn't help but swallow when he noticed the jester's tightening of his grip on the knife. Nevertheless, he kept going with a steeled heart. If he intends to stab, all he has to do is avoid it as much as possible.

“You have to listen to me. If you want to save her, listen to my words.”

Elias is still looking at him dangerously, but his hands holding the knife loosened. It encouraged Jaerim to continue talking. 

“I have a plan. It will not only save Bella, but also the theater she likes. And you, you will be held as a hero. It’s -”

“Why do I have to believe in you?” Elias said, his eyes narrowing. “Why would I believe a foreigner?”

“...”

Why? Why would Elias have to believe in him? The question made Jaerim ponder it. If they were to exchange shoes, Jaerim will also react the same way. Who would suddenly go out and greet someone and tell them about death? He would be horrified and probably decide to settle somewhere out of human reach. 

But that’s under normal circumstances. 

From the jester’s reaction, Jaerim could tell that the main actors were conscious. This is something that Jaerim understood after staying in this place for more than three days. 

It’s more than just a mere simulation. 

Things are real, people and their expressions are real, and the pain is real. He was also calling Jaerim a foreigner, as if the person knew that Jaerim was not from this world. No, this person and the others are aware that there are foreigners occupying their world. Well, that wouldn’t be surprising in this highly analyzed simulation. 

He looked at Elias and said, “It will end your suffering.”

Everything will end - including all the indignity and shame thrown at him. He must have repeatedly entered the scenario of not saving Bella over time. It's like a recorder that has been going into a loop for a long time. Jaerim thought that ending that loop is the door to this place. 

He needs to find the door. And to do that, he must end their suffering. How would he be able to find the passageway if it was moving all around him?

A clever smile crept out of Jaerim’s face as he stared at Elias properly. The blue eyes and black eyes clashed, but it was calm and peaceful. Elias suddenly felt a thrill coming from Jaerim. The person who looked very average and only attractive when he cross-dresses, why does he have a unique soul?

“You have to trust me,” Jaerim said definitely. “Since there’s nothing else you could do to change it. After all, this is just an illusion from the past. Unless someone enters the scene to interfere, they will continue the cycle.”

That’s right, there was nothing Elias could do. 

“What do you want in return?” Elias asked. He knows this help is not free. Jaerim smiled more. 

“It seems that Sir Elias understands. Then, I hope we can leave peacefully at the end.”

For a moment, Elias was silent, as he looked at Jaerim. He pondered for a while, then nodded his head. 

“I can do that… that’s the least that I could do.”

“That’s good, then…”

Noel arrived in the kitchen and unexpectedly found the two people chatting in whispers. They are so close together that they should have just gotten glued. Noel suddenly felt annoyed, and so he walked toward the two people. He grabbed Jaerim by the collar and pulled him away. Jaerim reacted with surprise when he was fetched out. He raised his head and saw Noel. 

“Too close,” Noel announced as he sat on the chair beside them.

Jaerim did not mind his rudeness and smiled. “By that, the plan should work. We will be able to get out of here at last.”