Afterlife Department

Chapter 482 - Name Record

Special World 4512. An interstellar world. Huo Ling thought. He remembered this world, not because it is an advanced world, but because of the setting of this world.

Special World 4512 isn't just an interstellar world, but also an ABO world. ABO, or the acronym for alpha, beta and omega, the secondary sexes aside from the two primary sexes – male and female. Because of the creation of the secondary sexes, there were now six classification of sexes: male alpha, female alpha, male beta, female beta, male omega, and female omega. The alphas can't give birth, while the omegas can, most especially the female omegas who are the most fertile. Although male omegas giving birth sounds absurd, but they can't do anything about this. Meanwhile, the betas are like the ordinary humans. Male betas can't give birth, but female betas can. So, their reproductive organs are like the ordinary humans.

But, if they were no different than the ordinary humans, then why are they still differentiated as betas? It is due to the pheromones – which how the secondary sexes came to. As for how the secondary sexes came to, this is due to the new evolution of the humans. As time pass by, generations after generations, the technology became more developed, as well as the intelligence of the humans because of the advancement of the technology, which made their imagination unlimited. And because of the advancement of the technology and the human's intelligence became more unrestrained, science, naturally, became even more profound.

Thus, not long later and the secondary sexes have been created. But, this was not without pay. The humanity paid a big price. Apocalypse, as well as throwing away their morality to further advance in exchange of the humankind's future…

Humans built mechas, then spaceships in order to explore the galaxy… before they knew it, a long time has passed and history was drenched with their predecessors' blood. It was when their predecessors have finally realized their dream and made the humans become stronger and secured their safety did peace is restored and they created a new era.

The secondary sexes are one of the causes of the humans becoming stronger, and the major cornerstone of the humans' evolution. Because of the pheromones, the bodies of the humans became stronger. This is how it is for the alphas. But, there is also another downside – the omegas. They were deemed as a 'failed' product, since their bodies that should have been stronger due to pheromones became weaker instead. As for the betas, their bodies remained the same. The scientists concluded that they have strong immune system that rejected the pheromones.

As for how the pheromones work, the alphas can use it to suppress and attack their enemies. Due to this, most of them become soldiers. On the other hand, the omegas can use it for seduction, and also for defense – example is to confuse the enemy. Because they are the most fertile people, they are often used for reproduction, which is very demeaning since they also are fellow humans but were reduced to just this. Fortunately, this was only in the beginning. Later, after the inhibitors were created, omegas became scientists or technicians, and some even businessmen, which made their status in the society became better.

Meanwhile, since the betas rejected the pheromones, they weren't affected by them. They are secretly called the 'neutral party', and is often hired for peace-keeping in case there is a pheromone attack, especially if it is large-scale.

"As you already know, the Collection Department's mission is to collect the souls that have accidentally gone astray in their reincarnation cycle, and they also collect the remaining souls of the grim reapers who has entered their reincarnation cycle before." Gu Shi spoke.

Huo Ling nodded in understanding. This time, their task is to collect a soul. He and Yi Bing will be going with Shou Ji and Shi Jiu to assist them, since the interstellar world is complicated because of its advanced era. For Huo Ling, this is also one way of training, and for him to become more familiar with his job and also for him to gain more experience.

"But, this time, not only the world that you are going to is complicated, the task itself is also complicated." Gu Shi continued.

"Why?" Huo Ling asked.

"Because the soul that we will be collecting was a reborn soul." Shi Jiu answered.

"Reborn?!" Huo Ling exclaimed.

Rebirth is reincarnation through time, unlike transmigration which is reincarnation through space. The reborn soul was reincarnated in the world but travelled back in time. And reborn souls, as well as transmigrated souls, don't appear in Death Note. This can be called cheating death.

Huo Ling now understand the gravity of the situation.

"Huo Ling." Yi Bing spoke.

Huo Ling turned to him.

"There is one thing that you should know." Yi Bing turned to look at him. "Between transmigration and rebirth, rebirth is more serious." He said.

"Why?" Huo Ling was surprised.

"Because transmigration is travelling through space. But, rebirth is travelling through time." Yi Bing answered. Before Huo Ling could speak, he continued. "In rebirth, the space will be affected because of the time." He said.

Huo Ling's eyes widened as a thought flashed in his mind. "In transmigration, the soul only replaces another soul in their body, but time and space won't be affected, since the transmigrated soul would become the original soul in the original soul's body." He spoke. "On the other hand, rebirth happens when a soul travels back in time. The soul will still become itself. But…" he looked at Yi Bing in the eyes. "If the reborn soul changed what happened back in time, the succeeding time would also change. And since the time change, then, the space… would also change." He explained.

"What a smart lad." Shou Ji can't help but praise.

"Thank you." Huo Ling humbly answered with a slight nod.

Yi Bing's lip curled up into a proud smile.

Gu Shi, seeing Yi Bing's expression, secretly rolled his eyes. "That's right." He agreed as he faced Huo Ling. "It is fine if only small changes were made. But, if it made big changes and change the future…" he didn't continue.

The atmosphere turned heavy.

"This soul not only cheated its death, but it is also dangerous since it might change the future at any moment." Gu Shi heaved a sigh. "And since we don't know at which point in time you will arrive and how much would the changes be…" he shook his head.

Huo Ling solemnly nodded. Just as what Gu Shi is worrying, the past can't be changed. So, they will be arriving in present so they also won't be affecting the past of the world. But, at which time in present, and how much the present has changed, that is yet to be seen.

"… huh?" he muttered when he suddenly realized something. "Shouldn't reborn souls not be recorded in the Death Note?" he said as he looked at them. "So, how did you know that there is a reborn soul?" he asked.

Shi Jiu smiled in appreciation for Huo Ling's wit.

"The Collection Department has the Name Record." Gu Shi answered.

"'Name Record'?" Huo Ling muttered.

"It is similar to Qi Shan's Life Record." Yi Bing spoke. "But, the difference is that the Name Record contains the birth and death days of the people." He said. "This can be said to be covering up the blind spot of the Death Note, since the Name Record can see the reborn souls, who should have died but then continued to live." He explained. "This can also be applied to the transmigrated souls." He added.

"Now I understand." Huo Ling nodded as he pondered. "But, don't the transmigrated souls replace the original soul in their body?" he asked.

Shou Ji can guess what Huo Ling wanted to ask. "Yes. They do." He answered. "The transmigrated soul's death day would appear. As for what happens when it possesses another soul's body… the original soul's death day will appear, regardless its body still lives." He explained. "The Name Record can also be called as 'Soul Record', since it only cares about soul's life, and not its body. Thus, the transmigrated souls can never escape it." He added.

"Oh…" Huo Ling muttered, feeling amazed. So there is also the Name Record! He thought. He only knows about Qi Shan's Life Record. He didn't know that there is also a Name Record!

"Ehem. There is also one more reason why Shou Ji and Shi Jiu will be going with you." Gu Shi continued.

Huo Ling turned. That's right… they will be working with the Collection Department, but it doesn't need for its chief and vice-chief to accompany us, right? He thought as he looked at Gu Shi, then Shou Ji and Shi Jiu, with a doubtful gaze.

Shou Ji smiled. "My original world is the Special World 4512." He spoke. As if what he said wasn't shocking enough, he added. "My death is one of the effects of the soul's rebirth.." He told him.