"... I choose to die," the boy whispered.

"I choose death instead," he repeated more firmly.

The raven stared at him.

"... Are you sure?"

"Yes. I am."

"Even though you have a chance to become happy?"

The shepherd boy shook his head.

"What point would that happiness be if you know it's all false?"

"Ah... That may be so."

A brief wind passed over them.

"Hey, Mr. Cuckoo..."

"Yes, child?"

"What happens after you die?" the boy asked curiously.

The raven laughed.

"Unfortunately, not even a guardian of death knows what's beyond an end of a life," it answered.

"Isn't that... a paradox too?"

The bird craned its head.

"Hm... In a way, it also is."

a.n.:

thank you so much for the 10k reads!!