Paradise
by Afuhfuihgs
Everyone who received temporary citizenship from Runnerbit headed to Paradise, Eclipse. The full moon, which was late for work, rippled in the moonlight, replacing the starlight that had disappeared from the night sky, illuminating Eclipse. We entered through the massive main gate of Eclipse and each of us exclaimed in admiration.
Even those who didn’t know art, even those who ignored art, couldn’t help but admit that the metropolis of Eclipse was an artistic city. From the colors of the buildings to their placement and spacing, everything was kept consistent, allowing the moonlight of the night sky to reach every corner, making the city’s beauty shine like a jewel, with a cheerful personality.
Runnerbit pushed his chest out even further in response to our reactions and smiled.
,Follow this road to the center, and get your official citizenship on the 3rd floor of the largest and most beautiful building at the whale fountain. Then you can use everything in Paradise.”
Runnerbit bowed and went back the way he came. Left behind, we followed Runnerbit’s advice and started walking to find the whale fountain. Beneath the city’s artistry, each building held its own unique personality.
Ellie found a building with dozens of doors and excitedly tapped my arm to point it out, and Valentine burst into laughter as he watched a house where the windows repeatedly opened and closed simultaneously, as if blinking.
The city’s charm wasn’t the only thing Eclipse had to offer. Not only people, but also monsters dressed like people existed on the streets. Thanks to meeting a Lizardman speaking on the 4th floor, we weren’t too flustered, but when an Orc in a neat purple suit tipped his hat and greeted us with a smile, saying, ‘It’s shining darkness,’, we couldn’t help but be taken aback.
We realized only after a while that the Orc wasn’t special. Kindness to strangers was a matter of course here. Even people on the opposite side of the street greeted us loudly, and some didn’t just pass us by, but politely asked if there was anything they could help us with, without being intrusive.
There was no trace of coercion in that kindness. We realized before we arrived at the whale fountain that it was a natural reaction coming from leisure and happiness, not from laws or rules. These people had no worries. Even if they accidentally bumped into someone, they acted as if it were fate, laughing and chatting, which was very different from our competitive lives in the capital, so everyone’s eyes widened.
,Could this really be… Paradise?”
Many people agreed with Valentine’s murmur. Only Raelan was getting increasingly upset, distorting his face. He was the person furthest from Paradise, so it was actually a fitting look.
We arrived at the whale fountain in the center of the city, approaching with our mouths open from afar, and finally stopped in front of the fountain, gaping and tilting our heads back as far as they could go.
,Wow….”
Is this how tourists on overseas trips feel? I thought I’d never feel this way in my life, since I thought of travel as hardship rather than joy… The huge fountain, where several living whale sculptures danced like in an aquarium, was a beauty that didn’t even exist in the imperial palace, where all the beauty of the continent was said to exist.
I glanced sideways at Ellie, who was blankly staring at the whale. Ellie, who had never seen the sea, was looking at the whale with a dazed look, a sculpture that had no difference from a real whale except for its color. She had seemed listless lately, but I felt relieved to see her looking so happy, even like this.
,That building looks like the place Runnerbit mentioned.”
When I turned my head to where Raelan was pointing, we could see how wonderfully Runnerbit had told us our destination. The largest and most beautiful building in the city was closer to a building that could only exist in a fantasy. A waterfall flowed in the center of the building, and floors representing the four seasons existed transparently in the middle of the building, without even walls, pillars, or windows.
We headed to the building as if possessed. When we went inside, the first floor was full of all kinds of animals. Despite the many animals, there was no stench. No one could doubt that this was Paradise, seeing the animals pairing up, leaning on each other, and living together happily without any worries.
We passed the second floor, which was full of huge plants and fruits, and then the third floor appeared, which seemed like we could enjoy coffee and reading at the same time. A man in a neat suit without a speck of dust or wrinkles, sitting at a desk directly in front of the entrance, fiddled with his bow tie, then discovered us and gave us a gentle smile.
,I received a call from Runnerbit in advance. The rightful guests of Paradise who discovered the real ≪Door≫. Welcome to Paradise, Eclipse. I am Specter, in charge of the overall affairs of Paradise. Your citizenship was already completed before you arrived. Here, please find the one with your name on it.”
Specter spread his palm and pointed to the citizenship certificates placed on the desk as if showing them off. Seeing that, Raelan twisted one corner of his mouth.
,A civil servant with fast processing… This is definitely Paradise.”
When I picked up the citizenship certificate with my name on it, Specter’s body suddenly split into several. Derroch reflexively put his hand on his sword in surprise, but Specter smiled nonchalantly and approached each of us.
,Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you, but I can’t give up these little pleasures. Hehe.”
Specter, who approached smoothly, began to explain the citizenship to us.
,Those with citizenship are residents of Paradise. Citizenship is an ID, a guide, and an instruction manual. If you check page 3, you can confirm that you have been assigned the house that suits you best.”
,They’re giving away houses for free…?”
When Colton asked with a surprised face, Specter next to Colton gave a warm smile.
,Of course! Everything is free in Paradise. Meals, buying things, everything is free in Paradise! Even your house is your own personal space where you can do anything, your own Paradise. It will be the end point of every world you have never experienced, and the place where tomorrow’s happiness continues.”
,If everything is free, there’s no reason to work?”
When Raelan asked with shining eyes, Specter smiled and answered.
,No! You can do any kind of work you want. If you want to get paid, you can get paid and buy things with it. It’s for those who think that being stressed by excessive labor is proof that they are alive!”
Before Raelan could frown and argue, Derroch interjected.
,Then is it possible to take other people’s things?”
,It’s possible. But there’s no reason to. You already own everything. Because this is Paradise!”
,…What about fighting? Using magic? What happens if you attack someone passing by for no reason?”
When Ellie bombarded him with questions, Specter pointed to the citizenship certificate.
,All questions will be answered by your citizenship. Basically, fighting never happens in Paradise. Of course, there is a special zone for those who enjoy killing people or feeling pleasure from dying. A person named Norris has a hobby of jumping off the roof of a 10-story building every day to commit suicide! Getting up from the floor and eating a sandwich 3 minutes later is his daily routine.”
As soon as Specter finished speaking, everyone started asking questions. While each Specter continued to explain, I silently read the entire citizenship certificate. I don’t know the concept of heaven exactly, but Paradise is similar to what most people think of as heaven. A place where everything is abundant, where you can do everything, and where you can achieve everything.
Specter, judging that he had explained roughly enough, clapped his hands at the same time, and the Specters that had been divided into several became one again.
,It will be easier to understand and accept by experiencing it directly than by explaining it in words. The place you will love the most in the city of Eclipse that you will love will definitely be your home. Now, you can each go and see your house. After that, feel free to enjoy Paradise!”
Specter nodded and returned to his seat to start other work. We, who were watching, gathered in front of the stairs to talk.
,It would be good to check each of our houses first and then meet back in front of the fountain.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Raelan’s words. There were no clocks separately, but there were letters on the first page of the citizenship certificate that told the time and date of Eclipse. Watching the ink move like it was alive and the time change, we made an appointment to meet in front of the fountain in about 3 hours, left the building, and headed to our respective houses.
I headed to the house listed on my citizenship certificate. Passing by tall buildings and entering an alley, a small but somehow cozy two-story house came into view. There was a yard with green grass growing, and a pretty table where I could relax and have a cup of tea in the sunlight.
The appearance of the house, which didn’t suit me at all, made me wonder if I had come to the right place, so I checked my citizenship certificate again, but it was definitely my house. There was even a yellow mailbox with ‘Ross’ written on it in crooked letters. Is it handwritten…? It was like a child had written it.
When I stepped into the yard, I felt a sense of comfort and familiarity coming over me. Strangely, the corners of my mouth went up, and the bottom of my heart, which was always simmering low, became calm.
When I opened the door and went inside, the comfortable scent of the house completely melted my heart. The scent, the temperature, and the messy yet warm and affectionate appearance of the house made me blank out for a moment. Then, I heard someone running in my ear.
Dudududada-!
Does Paradise also have noise between floors? I heard the sound from above my head and looked up, then lowered my head at the sound of someone quickly stepping down the stairs. A small child turned away from the stairs and found me, giving me a beaming smile. The child who followed behind, sobbing, also looked at me and gave me a lovely smile, as if nothing had happened.
And at the same time, they ran towards my arms as if they were their destination, shouting like this.
,Daddy-!”
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