Had No Choice

Amon rested by a nearby tree near an abandoned house by the hill. With it overlooking the city, somehow, he wondered right here and then how this hill is untouched by civilization.

Though it is not touched by humans and no buildings here were present, Amon thought that it is still wonderful that this place is at its peak beauty—the trees sturdy and the nature around it full of life.

Amon crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned on the tree trunk. With him letting out a sigh, he then looked at the sky and then recalled what had happened a moment ago.

He thought of how his powers were far too great when it comes to dealing with the affairs of the mortal realm, especially in collecting souls.

Whenever he revealed himself and look at people, his power would be the judge of how they are going to die. If they die with a smile on their face, they have left the world peacefully. However, if they have sinned...

It would be like how the criminal had died a moment ago if ever he or she has stared straight into the Grim Reaper's eyes.

Amon himself had no control over his power. With this a fact and with him not knowing if ever he could control it, somehow he was no longer worried of what's to happen—as if he was numb to it already.

He was already bestowed with the power since he was born. He never knew his parents and because of that, people saw him as a curse. They said that the moment he was born, his eyes already killed both of his parents.

Amon was abandoned from then on, fending for himself over some scraps. How he survived and how he learned to walk or to talk without having parents?

That remained a mystery.

Amon thought it was hopeless then when he was a kid, but then came Eucraick. Before he was appointed as the kingdom's adviser and before he was even shunned from the main castle, Eucraick took him under his wing and taught him—even took care of him.

Some might say that Eucraick is like his parent, but to them, they always reiterated that he is nothing but a guardian.

Eucraick, ever since Amon was young, knew about how dangerous his power is. That is why he provided him with a mask and only saw his real face whenever he slept.

Put it simply, anyone who would look at Amon directly in the eye would immediately die.

It may either be a happy death, or a sad death, depending on how a person has lived his or her life. That is why Amon's face is hidden, and with the help of the mask, he can only see things in a limited visibility.

Amon is forever grateful to him. It is because of Eucraick that he lived that's why Amon never hesitated to say yes when Eucraick asked the favor of being the kingdom's new appointed Grim Reaper as he stepped up as the king's adviser.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts as he no longer wanted to remember the past, Amon let out a sigh. With him now walking away from the tree as he decided to continue on soul collecting as the Grim Reaper, Amon stopped in his tracks when he heard a muffled groan of pain.

'Huh?'

Amon walked about and looked left and right. The moment he did, his eyes immediately widened to what he saw.

The moment he magically entered the empty house, he saw a woman who is about to die—but what made him panic (ruining his usual calm demeanor), was the fact that the woman is giving birth!

Amon even gasped the moment he saw the woman crowning. With the head of the baby coming out from her, Amon did a pose that resembled the painting called "The Scream", already unable to contain his shock.

With him witnessing the deaths of people and not how they are brought about in this world, how the hell will he be able to finish his soul collecting business when he suddenly sees a woman giving birth when she's destined to die!?

The woman is losing a lot of blood. The woman looked completely tired and at the same time, determined despite her already losing the energy.

As this sight was still before him, Amon wondered if he would help the woman by teleporting her to the nearest hospital as she gave birth, or to just take her soul right here and then since she is indeed destined to perish this day!

But... what of the baby?

'Geez!' Amon panicked in his mind. 'What of the baby!?'

Amon bit his thumb as he thought to himself. With him agitated as he furrowed his brows together, he then couldn't help but think aloud. Since his identity is concealed with magic, then he doesn't have to worry about being heard.

"Wh-what should I do? Someone's giving birth and I have to get the mother's dying soul! This is the exact opposite of my job!"

The Grim Reaper frantically walked back and forth as he was a bit hesitant on whether to get the woman's dying soul while she was giving birth to a human child. However, Death was surprised when he felt someone grip his wrist as if life depended on it.

The Grim Reaper furrowed his brows in shock as he locked eyes with the weak woman holding his hand.

'She... can see me?'

"P-please..." The woman's voice was hoarse, obviously tired as she tried her best to speak. "If you're going to take my soul as you say, then save my child."

"But—"

And without even hearing a proper reply, the woman gave her last ounce of strength in giving birth to her child, dying the moment she heard the first cries of her baby.

The Grim Reaper sighed as he worriedly stared at the corpse of the woman and the live-baby crying.

The little voice then reminded him of the dying wish of its mother that he had no choice but to fulfill.