Afterlife Department

Chapter 387 – Abnormal

If they could, Huo Ling's brows would've already shot up to the sky. "Now… this is more interesting." He grinned. 

Yi Bing doesn't know whether to laugh or cry because Huo Ling is black-bellied. "During their first year, Prille fell in love with Luren. For two years, he pursued Luren." He said. "In their first year, Prille found out Luren joined in the Swimming Club. Unfortunately, he doesn't know how to swim. During their second year, Luren took over the presidency of the Swimming Club while Prille started to learn how to swim." He paused, then looked at Huo Ling whose brows spasmed while he is listening. He smiled. "If Luren and Prille were a couple, everyone would be touched by their 'love story'. Unfortunately (fortunately), they aren't, and everyone knows Luren is abstinent.. Instead, some female students hated Prille for being annoying, always chasing Luren, while the male students are just watching the show on the side, but gradually begone to see Prille as an eyesore because he is poor." He grinned.

"He's just a social-climber. More annoying and scheming than the imperial concubines." Huo Ling yawned. His expression is haughty. 

And you are my empress. Yi Bing thought in his heart as he smiled and withdrew his gaze when Huo Ling turned to him. 

"Since this is the case, where is Renton's place, then?" Huo Ling asked. "He transferred during the second semester of his third year, and he applied in the Swimming Club. But, he 'disappeared'. What the hell?" he frowned when he noticed something. "Just as when he arrived, he died. Isn't this too coincidental?" he asked and looked at Yi Bing. "Although his purpose is to study… but he was killed. Isn't this world too vicious to him?" he said, then paused. "… does the Fughlia High has malice towards him?" his brows furrowed. 

Yi Bing hummed in agreement. "To outsiders' eyes, Renton may be too unlucky." He said. 

Huo Ling's shoulder fell, feeling downcast. 

"If we only have a Life Note, we can check what truly happened to Renton…" Yi Bing sighed. 

Huo Ling nodded in agreement. He already knows what a Life Note is. "Can't you ask Qi Shan?" he asked. Qi Shan has a Life Record – a smaller version of Life Note.

"I could. But, that depends on whether Lei Shan – his assignment, a reincarnation of him is here, and if the life of the person we are trying to look into the Life Record is connected to Lei Shan." Yi Bing said. 

Huo Ling hummed a response and was about to nod again in agreement when his mind made a sudden screech and he sharply turned to Yi Bing. "Wait a minute… isn't Renton already dead?!" he asked in shock. 

"Yes, he is dead. What are you surprised for…?" Yi Bing asked. 

"Stop playing dumb, will you?" Huo Ling asked, mad. He frowned at Yi Bing. "What are you trying to do with the Life Record?! Renton is dead, so we should use a Death Note!" he told Yi Bing and decisively took out his Death Note, tapped on the search bar and typed 'Renton Hydd', then tapped the search button, only to freeze when he saw the page that appeared. 

"… I can't find it in the Death Note, thus I asked for a Life Note." He heard Yi Bing's voice behind him. He knows Yi Bing is also looking at the page of the Death Note, precisely on the words 'no results'. 

"What is happening…?" Huo Ling muttered, shocked, as he stared at the white screen, wide-eyed. 

"Normally, we could find the biography of the souls – or ghosts, in our Death Note. Even if they are ghost and are still 'living', but they are technically dead." Yi Bing explained. 

"… 'normally'?" Huo Ling asked. 

Yi Bing nodded. "But, our current situation is abnormal ah." He said. 

Huo Ling's lip twitched. "… f*ck." He cursed and threw the Death Note, only for the Death Note to disappear mid-air. He took a deep breath to calm himself. Their situation is too frustrating! 

"Oh, right." Yi Bing muttered when he remembered something. "You are also an abnormal… soul." His voice slowed down and he added the last word when he saw Huo Ling's face darkened. 

"Is it appropriate to remind me at this time?" Huo Ling asked when he remembered what happened in the Stable World when they met. 

Yi Bing told him he is abnormal… soul. 

Yi Bing awkwardly smiled before he looked away. "We should label this as an 'Abnormal World' instead of a 'Special World'." He said. "This is the first time this happened, and although this situation is special, but the situation is really abnorm… ehem. Strange." He immediately changed his word when Huo Ling glared at him. "I'll send a request to Gu Shi." He said and hurriedly opened his communicator to avoid Huo Ling's accusing gaze. 

He loves to tease Huo Ling, but also doesn't want for the other to be angry… especially towards him. This is really contradicting, but Yi Bing is enjoying this. 

"We can't pull up Renton's biography in the Death Note, so our only hope is the Life Record, but which we don't have." Huo Ling wryly smiled. 

"This is actually reasonable." Yi Bing spoke. "The Normal World changed to a Special – Supernatural World. Whether it was due to the existence of Renton's ghost that this happened, or was it due to the world changing that Renton's ghost appeared, but the fact that Renton's ghost exists can't be changed." He said. "Renton's biography not appearing on our Death Note even though he is dead must be one of the effects of this." he explained. 

Huo Ling nodded. "So… what should we do now?" he asked. "Our objective is the disappearance of the world energy, which is definitely connected to the change of this world from being Normal to Special. Supernatural. And the location is the pool area." He said. "But, there's Renton. He is our responsibility now, so we should resolve his attachments, in which I guess is also related to the pool area – our objective." He told Yi Bing. 

Yi Bing smiled in satisfaction. He didn't make a mistake to make Huo Ling a grim reaper. Not only Huo Ling is smart, but he is also sympathetic towards soul – or ghosts, which is one of the basic requirements for a grim reaper – in which, ironically, they shouldn't have, since they don't have a heart. 

"Of course." He spoke. "We will finish our task, and also help Renton." He said. 

Huo Ling nodded. "So… what's our next step?" he asked. 

"Find someone." Yi Bing answered. 

"Who?" Huo Ling asked. 

"That student who spoke Renton's name." Yi Bing answered. "He seemed to know more about Renton." He said. 

Fughlia High, monday.

"Huh? I only happen to remember him since I was interested on his friend." The student with a silvery-white hair said, then sighed. "Such a pity that the girl died. She really doesn't deserve it!" he said. 

Yi Bing nodded and thanked the student before he let him go. 

The student was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something. "Why are you asking about Renton?" he asked. 

Yi Bing and Huo Ling have already made up an excuse for this. "Go." Yi Bing whispered to Huo Ling. 

Huo Ling blinked his eyes as he stared at the student. "I – I'm sorry… I shouldn't have…?" he asked, making his voice sound aggrieved. 

The student's expression turned awkward. He didn't think Huo Ling would be very sensitive. "N-no… it doesn't matter. I'm just asking…" he explained. 

Huo Ling hung his head, acting pitiful. "I actually overheard some things about school senior Renton…" he said. "He just wanted to defend his friend, right? I agree with you, school senior. That pitiful school sister shouldn't have died. Ah…! Such injustice!" he sighed and shook his head. 

The student's expression turned sympathetic and he nodded in agreement. 

"So, I just want to ask about school senior Renton to know more of his character. Someone who fights for justice is worth to be followed, right?" Huo Ling asked and smiled at the student. 

The student's face flushed in shame. "O-of course." He nodded as he answered, feeling flustered. He didn't expect Huo Ling's answer. "I'm sorry for thinking you are nosy." He apologized. "I was also nosy, and I'm sorry about it, too." He added. 

Huo Ling giggled. "It's alright, school senior. We're also at fault for not stating our purpose and being clear." He explained. 

The student smiled at Huo Ling, appreciating his character. "Now that I think about it, I seem to remember someone that might know Renton." He said. 

Huo Ling pressed down the excitement in his heart. "Who?" he asked, acting reserved to not show his eagerness. Then, he remembered Renton's club membership registration form. 

If Renton submitted the form to the swimming club, then, Luren might know him, right? And his ghost is now with Luren… He thought. Do we have to directly ask Luren about Renton? But, there seems to be something inexplicable going on between them… 

"Tüller." The student answered. 

"… huh?" what 'Tüller'? Who?