Nine
How to be a Celestial Reaper?
One, you should own a huge badass scythe.
Two, you have to own a sweet girl's body and an ancient serpent a. k. a Jormungandr that is living on your skin like a tattoo but the difference is that it moves.
Third, you should be a foul-mouthed bitch and you don't have any remorse or emotion at all.
Fourth, you have to own a big place. I mean a big, big place where all the souls collected and reaped can be accumulated at once.
Fifth, be neutral.
Who are those who are meant to be reaped by the Celestial Reaper?
Vampires? Yep, check
Were People? These also. Check
Deities? Of course. Check
Supernatural? On my list. Check.
Angels? Least on my list but yes. Check
Demons? TOP priority to my list. Check.
Are all the same. They always end up with me no matter how long they live or how good or bad they do. No matter if they are powerful or weak. Rich or poor. Royals or commoners. Loved or hated. But when their time is up, I'll have to harvest them one by one or legions at once.
Who are those a Celestial reaper can't reap?
Answer? The Arches. I am telling you about the Archangels and the Archdemons. These are immortals, like me. They can't touch me as well as I can't to them. These two Arches are a pain in my ass if you ask me.
Their constant disputes about being good and evil are making my work double every single freaking time. So I often attend the neutral meeting about stopping their freaking useless disputes.
Archangels are prideful bastards. They think highly of themselves. Well, they live up above so probably it fits them. They are divine and the embodiment of cleanliness, sinless, and the messenger of Elohim.
Archdemons are seducers idiots. In other words, they are the embodiment of Evil. They drive any species to a sinful act and when they die and reap by me, the soul must be delivered to them without any delay.
And trust me. As much as I don't want to do anything about these two clashing bastards, I stand neutral.
"Nine! What the hell are you doing? My souls are due to be delivered today. Why are they aren't here yet?" tanong ni Mamon sa akin, isang Archdemon ng damputin ko ang receiver ng telepono na nasa harapan ko.
I've been reading reports that were handed by my reapers all around the Earth that needed my attention and this bastard suddenly called? It pissed me off.
"Let me check," sagot ko sa kanya. "Hold a sec." sabi ko pa bago tinawagan si Grim na siyang nangangasiwa sa mga soul delivery patungo sa Cythonic. Matapos kong ma-confirm na naglayag na sa ilog ng Stynx ang barkong punong-puno ng kaluluwa may pare-parehong kasalanan ay nagpaalam ako sa kanya.
"It's on the way, Mamon. Can you at least wait?" sabi ko sa kanya.
"Oh sorry. I thought you forgot it," sabi niya.
I rolled my eyes at him as if he was looking at me.
"Seriously? My place is jam-packed with sinners nowadays. I am sure you are aware of how long the sorting process takes," sabi ko pa.
"Okay. I'll call you when I receive the ship," sagot niya.
"And also call up when your delivery didn't make it on the day we scheduled," sabi ko pa.
"Alright. I'm sorry," hinging paumanhin niya.
Pagkatapos kong maibaba ang telepono ay biglang lumitaw sa aking harapan ang isang reaper na kulay pula ang uniform, indicating that he is tasked to reap a vampire species.
"What is it?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"We have a problem, Boss," sagot niya sa akin. "I have one particular vampire that is due to die last week. I've been hunting him for days. But someone is protecting the vampire from us, Boss. I suspected that someone is using a spell to help him avoid his death," sabi pa niya sabay bigay ng isang patch paper kung saan nakasulat ang pangalan ng nagmamay-ari ng spell patch na iyon.
Normal reapers cannot read those letters written there. It's only me who can read it. The patch is owned by the third generation of Archangel Uriel's bloodline.
"Leave it to me," sagot ko sa kanya. "You can go and continue your task. I'll handle this one," sabi ko pa bago tumayo.
Yumukod muna ito at saka naglaho bigla.
Yes, I couldn't touch the Archangels but breaking the law of death? It's punishable whether you are a generation of Arches or not. And I hate it when they break the law under my watchful eyes.
I suddenly disappeared inside my office and appeared in front of the vampire that was overdue to die and Henna Uriel. They are making out that gross me out.
"You're making a grave mistake, Henna," sabi ko sa kanila appeared in front of them.
Nagulat si Henna. She can only see me but her vampire can't.
"Run Dimitri. Run!" sabi niya sa katabi.
Vampires are extremely fast runners but he cannot outrun my murasame, the scythe that everyone feared. Napahinto ito sa pagtakbo noong masukol siya ng curve blade ng murasame the sharp part is ready to reap him anytime if I want.
"You're making my men's job difficult, Henna. We cannot delay reaping and yet here you are interfering with our work. Don't ever think I cannot punish you but I can even if you are an Uriel," sagot ko sa kanya bago pinitik ang aking kamay.
Something made a slash in the air. Bumuka ang slash na iyon at saka lumabas ang limang naglalakihang tentacles mura room at walang anu-ano ay pumulupot iyon sa katawan ni Henna.
"The report will be sent to your parents and also," sabi ko pa bago pinitik ang aking mga daliri making murasame move and cut through the vampire's neck severing the soul from its body.
Napasigaw ng malakas si Henna habang umiiyak.
"You took the chance of that wretched soul's ending place. He could be in Elysium or chance to reincarnate, who knows but now he's completely a goner," sabi ko pa sa kanya before the tentacles pull her in with them.
I do not allow any breakers of the law under my watchful eyes. As long as it involves death and the balance of the universe, I'll be your enemy. I am the one who believes inaction speaks louder than voice. Once I saw you breaking my law, you're dead or imprisoned in my Abyss, a kind of prison where no way out and torturing are everywhere. The only way out there is me.
Pagbalik ko Axis Mundi, naroon na ang Ina ni Henna. Pulang-pula ang mga mata obviously she's been crying. Kasama niya ang dalawa pang kalalakihang mula sa hukbo ng Powers, Archangels' warriors.
"Celestial reaper, I'm begging you. In behalf of my only daughter, I beg for forgiveness," nagsusumamo na pakiusap niya sa akin at nagpatirapa pa sa aking harapan.
"Your daughter broke my rules. I'm sorry. I cannot let her out. You know me very well. Break my rule and taste my wrath," sagot ko sa kanya bago tumalikod. "And your daughter knew it and yet she doesn't fear the consequence of what she did." sabi ko pa sa kanya.
"Please, I'm begging. Take me instead," pakiusap niya.
"Sorry, that won't do," sagot ko bago bumuka ang asul na apoy na siyang nagsisilbing pader na nakapalibot sa buong Axis Mundi. No one can enter nor can escape exempt me and my reapers.
"Celestial reaper! I'm begging you!" narinig kong sigaw niya but I couldn't careless.
"Boss," sabi sa akin ni Grimm. "A meeting with Psychopomps has been urgently scheduled. They are waiting for you," sabi pa niya.
"What is the problem this time?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"Aside from finances, there's been problems with the River Styx. She has been pissed right now. They wanted you to talk to her as well as the River Hades. They cannot continue sailing souls to Cythonic if these problems occur. We will delay some shipments and the archdemons will be pissed as well," sabi pa niya.
Napatampal ako sa aking ulo.
"This again," naiiling kong sabi. "I'll go and meet them. Prepare food and snacks. And also did you bring the list of their expenses?"
"Yes, boss. It's right with me," sagot niya sa akin.
Habang lumalakad ay napansin ko ang pagparoon at parito ng mga reapers bitbit ang mga nakakadenang mga bagong harvest na kaluluwa. These souls will be sorted by time they died. They will be brought to the sorting room where I or Charon will weigh their sins.
"Charon, start the sorting while I'm at a meeting," bilin ko kanya ng nakasalubong ko siya.
"Copy, boss," sagot niya sa akin at sumaludo pa.
Pagpasok ko sa loob ng meeting room, legions of Psychopomps stand up and greeted me.
"Good to see you, everyone. I heard this is an urgent meeting. My table will be welcoming any problems, worries, suggestions, and financial support. I'm sorry I could prolong this meeting due to my work. You are welcome to say any work-related request. Let's make our job always on time. We cannot afford delays," mahabang salita ko sa kanila.
"Big boss, I have a suggestion," sabi sa akin ni Pixie, isa sa leader ng psychopomps na ang kanyang ruta ay patungo sa Helli at Hator, level 2 at 3 ng Cythonic kung saan nakatira sina Azmodeus at Baal, dalawa sa Archdemons na nakatira sa Cythonic. Sa River Styx siya nagmumula at dadaan sa River Lethe kung saan naroon ang daanan patungo sa nasabing level ng Cythonic.
"Yes, what is it?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"I suggest that we need to purchase a new type of ship that Lady Hel recently created," sabi niya sa akin.
"Yes, go on. I'd like to hear more about it," sabi ko pa.
"Her new ships are made of human fingers and then bound with her curse. I heard she used it during Ragnarok. It was never destroyed. I think we need to have that since Styx is being bitch today," sabi pa niya.
"Grimm, please take note of this suggestion. I'd like to see this ship personally," sabi ko sa aking assistant.
"I've already written this, Boss," sagot niya sa akin.