Metamorphosis

6. Sumurai: the Ronin

He could not leave all the guilt, the anger, the sadness behind when reincarnated into next life.
Park Joong-gil, was Joseon blooded orphan , born in the Tokugawa period of Japan. He had no attachment and became a sumurai Ronin, one chose not to honor the code was "on his own", was meant to suffer great shame. It was undesirable to be a Ronin, not having the power of employed Sumurai.

Unlike other Ronin who was often disruptive, Joong-gil was just rebellious, individualistic and vagrant.

In his youth, he was tempted, learnt sex from a widow. But the price he paid was the never-ending nightmares that followed. Nightly, he saw bloodshed, heard a woman admonished him for killing the innocents.

Around the age of thirty, he died in an earthquake.

He was repatriated to Jumadeung because the Japanese side refused him for his Joseon blood.

" I finally learn about my origin after death!" He spoke with wry humor.

He found Jumadeung interesting, wondering whether he could stay behind, instead of reincarnation.

" As the Japanese side haven't sent us complete record of yours! I am afraid your application to be our grim reaper was declined."

"Those fucking Japanese! Any other means to ask for my complete resume back?"

"I would have told you if there is!"

"..... "

"But I promise to make a remark on our record that you are interested in Jumadeung. Next time, when we meet again, and if you are still interested, we would give you job interview."

********

Jade Express remembered him, the face that told he had never- fulfilled longings which he did not make sense of.

" You was hunter Park Joong-gil. Why chooses Jumadeung? "

" I have been tired of the Land of Living, that Dynasty. "

" I am sorry, Jumadeung is not the place for escape from fatigue, tiredness!"

"I am attracted to this place, it is like I will have my needs met here, although I don't know what they are. I am sorry I give you this pointless answer."

Jade Empress studied his lives records, and pondered, " You have health condition related to sleep, haven't you? "

" I am used to losing good sleep. It would not be an issue. Trust me. "

" But.... "

"The monk said I was deeply wounded, karma things..."

"Don't you want to know what it was about?"

"I would rather not, it was already the past which I could not rectify. Anything that could help curbing the impact of the past? Like concealed the memory to numb the pain? "

"You feel those pains?"

"It is not physical, but mental. It fades when I am focused on working...."

"When it comes to your rest time, the pain visits you to disrupt sleep?"

"It is the nightmares... but I am used to it. Can you do something about the memory ?"

" Let's make a deal. I will limit your access to that part of the memory, but you could initiate the access when you are ready for it. "

" I do not need any access, just conceal it, can you!? "

" On condition that you sign the Deed of Guarantee! "

" To guarantee what?"

"To perform without dispute, with absolute obedience!"

"May I know what is the expected performance?"

"I don't know. Some day, when I use the deed, you will know."