Chapter 14
‘Forced Enlightenment?’
I secretly thought it would be nice if there was a way to forcibly enlighten someone, and it turned out there was a method after all.
So, where there’s a will, there’s a way, huh?
Of course, there were a few caveats to consider.
“If I forcibly enlighten someone…… does it harm the deceased?”
[Using Forced Enlightenment will prevent you, Mr. Jeongjikhan, from receiving the blessings (吉, good fortune) granted as enlightenment’s reward.]
[The destination of those forcibly enlightened will be determined by their accumulated karma, sending them to heaven or hell.]
Forced enlightenment—something even underworld messengers couldn’t perform—was possible after all.
At this level, wasn’t it comparable to the authority of King Yama himself?
Of course, the cost of consuming 10 tales of the deceased…… meant drifting further from the five-year contract.
‘Is that why no one uses it?’
If the previous manager had truly wanted Sukhee’s enlightenment, he would’ve used this method.
But it seemed he’d avoided it to quit his job sooner.
Jeongjikhan pressed his temples, pondered, then shook his head and stood.
No use dwelling on someone who’d already left.
The manager had his ways. Jeongjikhan had his.
He’d enlighten the deceased his way.
“Nahan, do you know about the ‘Restaurant of the Deceased’?”
[It is a restaurant operated by H Company, a competitor and partner of K Company.]
So Nahan did know.
“Where is it located?”
[The ‘Nahan’ system belongs to K Company. Detailed information about H Company is inaccessible.]
“So you don’t know.”
[Correct.]
He closed the system window and scanned the café.
“Everyone! Apologies for interrupting, but may I have your attention?”
All eyes turned to him.
With twice as many deceased arriving during 축시 (Hour of the Ox) than 자시 (Hour of the Rat), he’d likely gather more leads.
Once silence fell, Jeongjikhan smiled brightly.
“Has anyone heard of the ‘Restaurant of the Deceased’?”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Some shook their heads. Others tilted theirs in confusion.
No one seemed to know—or if they did, they lacked details.
A white-haired grandfather raised his hand and approached.
“Are you referring to the Restaurant of the Deceased?”
“Yes! Have you heard of it?”
“If it’s the restaurant…… I know it.”
Jeongjikhan inwardly cheered.
Just as I thought—ask the deceased, and someone will answer.
The grandfather settled onto a barstool, set down his coffee, and spoke low.
“Best not discuss the restaurant here.”
“……Why?”
“These deceased…… they don’t know of it.”
Jeongjikhan glanced around.
The others had already returned to their conversations, indifferent to the topic.
Must sound like nonsense to them.
He leaned closer, whispering, “Then how do you know, sir?”
“I’ve been. Last time was…… a year ago.”
“How do you get there? Does it help with enlightenment?”
“No. It’s not for those seeking enlightenment.”
“Then……?”
“It’s for those who refuse to enlighten.”
Jeongjikhan’s brow twitched.
Refuse?
Was it a den for malevolent spirits? But then the grandfather would be one—unless a spirit could revert to ordinary status. Was that possible?
Noticing his confusion, the grandfather smiled.
“It’s not for those with grudges.”
“Not for grudges?”
“What do you know of underworld messengers?”
“They’re…… civil servants of the afterlife.”
“Correct. To enforce laws forcibly, they must breach administrative codes. Those who break these become malevolent or vengeful spirits.”
“Then what of the restaurant’s patrons? They break no laws yet refuse enlightenment. Why?”
“What else? They’re waiting.”
The grandfather sipped his Americano, faintly smiling.
Waiting?
Jeongjikhan scratched his stubble. Cha Seungpyo had called it a place for those denied memorial meals, but this contradicted that.
Amused, the grandfather continued,
“Spirits without grudges or sins. They wait for someone to journey with.”
“Ah……”
“Messengers pester them to enlighten. So they flee to the restaurant—a place messengers cannot enter.”
“A sanctuary?”
“Exactly. Messengers can’t enter the restaurant, just as angels can’t enter this café.”
Interesting.
Tttttttttttttttttttttttttt
