Endless Debt-Chapter 924 - 43: Day of Misfortune (Part 2)

"You love your mother, you hope she can survive, you want to change everything, yet you can do nothing."

The man’s voice stopped, both he and Hill immersed in this brief tranquility, while within the silence, Hill’s mind was flooded with rampant thoughts.

The man’s words seemed to possess a magic power, outlining the tragic ending in Hill’s mind with simple narration.

Hill saw his father reduced to ashes in the flames, while he held his dying mother, tears streaming uncontrollably.

"No... don’t..."

Hill became angry, he shouted, and just as he raised his fist to smash that exquisite face, he suddenly stopped, reading too many emotions in the man’s eyes.

Too many, too many...

"I am a merchant."

The man said, "But unlike most merchants, I trade in wishes."

"Wishes?"

"That’s right, wishes," the man opened his hands, "wishes that are omnipotent."

"I can fulfill your wish, Hill."

He continued, "I can heal your father, restore your mother’s health, I can let your family live a prosperous life, never to be troubled by suffering."

Hill asked, as if compelled, "Then what do I need to give in return?"

The man extended his hand, tapping on Hill’s chest, on the heart’s position.

"Don’t you already know?"

The man’s smile remained mysterious, only now his appearance in Hill’s eyes had radically changed, dense, pitch-black capillaries appeared beneath his fair skin, spreading from the eyes’ orbit, the entire eyes plunging into a grotesque depth, something writhing within, like maggots, or viscous tar about to drip.

"This trade is worthwhile, don’t you think? Hill."

The man tempted once more, while a more intense coughing sound arose, as if deliberately urging Hill to make a decision.

Hill’s eyes quivered, the man didn’t specify what this wish required, but Hill knew, he knew, he knew what that mysterious and precious thing was.

To agree?

The man was right, this was indeed worthwhile, if only to offer his precious thing, saving his parents, what could be wrong with that?

Hill tried to extend his hand to agree to the man’s request, but his body felt as if frozen, unable to move an inch.

"Damn it!"

Hill growled, rolling onto the ground, convulsing in pain as if in epilepsy.

He had already decided, if he could change everything, what harm would it be to offer that precious thing, to offer his own soul?

Hill wanted to grasp the man’s hand, but it felt as if another force was stopping him, maybe his own conscience? Or fear of evil? That force controlled Hill’s body.

In the end, Hill broke into tears, he felt that the reason he couldn’t extend his hand, was due to his cowardice, fearing more the loss of his soul than the fear of losing his parents.

He had clearly decided to save everything, but in the end, cowardice ruled over him.

The man coldly overlooked Hill’s pathetic state, sighing helplessly, he stood up, donning his black robe again, and took up his cane.

"Sorry, Hill, it seems our transaction must come to an end." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

The man had no intention of forcing Hill to make a decision, he never forces anyone, that’s a trait a merchant should have.

Hill watched the man’s departure, and in an instant, the scenes of the future played out before his eyes, he saw the plague filling the house, Death God waiting at the door for a long time.

"Such cowardice..."

The eerie voice echoed in Hill’s mind, he was unwilling to offer his soul, yet unwilling to face the dark future.

Struggling, Hill stood up, lunging forward, hugging the man’s ankle.

The man lowered his head, as if witnessing something amusing, he softly said, "To gain something, you must give something."

He crouched down, observing Hill in his pitiful state.

Fear coupled with courage, reluctance yet choosing to give.

The beautiful virtue blossoming in this young child, the delectable aura made the man feel a surge of hunger, eager to devour the boy now.

No, not yet.

"I see it, Hill, I see an endless brilliant future in you."

The man showed a look of delight, though Hill now was worthless, in the future, he will become extraordinarily valuable.

Hill will accomplish this, the man knows this will be a good investment.

Hill pleaded, "Take my soul, take it!"

"If it was just now, I think I indeed would have taken your soul," the man said, "but now it’s different, you possess fine virtues, excellent qualities, you should endure hardships, grow robustly, become even better, just like ripening ears of corn, that is the time for harvest."

"Will you just watch such a tragedy unfold?"

Hill didn’t understand the man’s words, but he could comprehend the refusal in the man’s speech.

He couldn’t understand why, clearly he had painstakingly made a decision, why then would the man refuse him? Was he deliberately mocking him?

"Hmm... listen to me, Hill, your worth is extraordinary, you shouldn’t squander such precious value on such trivial wishes."

Hill’s voice rose, becoming angry, "Trivial? You think such a wish is trivial!"

The man was puzzled, "Isn’t it trivial?"