Vide glanced briefly at the girl sitting beside him. She still looked cheerful, playing with her dessert spoon like a child with not a single worry in the world. After a few seconds, Vide shifted his gaze back to the two humans in front of him.
His expression was calm. Too calm.
“What I’m about to explain,” Vide said quietly, “might sound completely ridiculous.”
He paused for a moment, as if giving them time to process that.
“So I’m asking you to stay calm and listen until the end. Even if you don’t believe it.”
Miles and Caramella exchanged a quick glance. Neither of them said anything.
It wasn’t because they agreed. It was more like… they felt they had no choice. In a situation like this, it almost felt like their lives were at stake if they didn’t listen to him.
Vide gave a small nod, as if taking their silence as permission.
Then something very strange happened.
Without warning, a subtle movement appeared from Vide’s back. Not like someone opening something—more like… something alive.
Within seconds, a pair of large wings slowly spread out from beneath his black suit.
Jet-black feathers unfolded calmly, reflecting the warm lights of the restaurant. The wings were massive. Too massive for a human. Too real to be an illusion.
Miles’ jaw dropped, while Caramella nearly screamed—but no sound came out. Their throat felt locked from the shock.
Miles felt his chest tighten instantly. His breathing grew short. The world around him seemed to spin for a moment. A panic attack was just about to hit. This wasn’t fiction—so why did something like this feel so real?
Vide watched their reactions with a faint smile.
“Ah,” he said lightly. “Seems like this is the fastest way to explain things.”
He lowered his head slightly.
“Let me introduce myself. My name is Vide.” He paused briefly before continuing. “I am a Grim Reaper.”
Silence immediately fell over their table.
Miles swallowed hard. Those words felt strangely familiar. Slowly, his memory drifted back to the nightmare he had the night before.
That uneasy feeling that had been lingering inside him suddenly became much clearer.
He wanted to deny it. But unfortunately… the massive black wings right in front of him made that denial feel pointless.
From the start, his instincts had told him this man wasn’t human. And now he had his answer.
Miles’ mind started looping the same thought over and over again.
Does this mean… I’m going to die?
Reflexively, he glanced at Caramella beside him. Their face was just as pale as his.
Vide observed them calmly.
“That kind of reaction is normal,” he said lightly. “I can clearly see what you’re thinking.”
He leaned back slightly in his chair. “Death.”
Miles felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
Vide was actually a little amused by their fear. But this time, he chose not to show it too clearly.
He still had something important to deal with.
“A Grim Reaper can’t just appear in front of humans whenever they want,” he continued calmly. “If a Grim Reaper reveals their identity directly…”
He looked at both of them.
“…it means there’s something important.”
Those words did absolutely nothing to calm the situation.
Miles’ thoughts became even more chaotic.
He couldn’t think clearly anymore. There was only one worst-case scenario repeating in his head.
Am I really going to die today?
While Miles was still drowning in his own panic, Caramella suddenly spoke.
“So… we’re going to die?”
Their voice trembled slightly, but it still came out.
Vide shook his head gently. “Relax.” He raised his hand a little, as if trying to ease the tension. “This matter is actually more related to Miles.” He glanced at Caramella. “So you’re not that involved.”
For some reason, that only made things worse.
Miles immediately stiffened.
Caramella didn’t look relieved at all. If anything, their expression turned more serious. If this only involved Miles… then they couldn’t just ignore it.
Vide then turned to the girl beside him. She was still busy with her dessert.
“This girl,” Vide said casually, “is his soulmate.”
He pointed at Miles. “Your fates have already been decided.”
A few seconds passed in silence. Miles felt like his brain had completely stopped working.
What?
He looked at Vide with an expression that was impossible to describe. He had just been told that… the living being he once made out of gingerbread dough was his soulmate?
And even worse—
It was destined?
Miles rubbed his face with both hands. This didn’t make any sense. He had just gone through heartbreak. And now the universe decided to throw this at him?
Vide watched him calmly. “I know that sounds unreasonable,” he said.
He even seemed fully aware that his explanation wouldn’t make things any better. But he continued anyway.
Miles finally looked at him with a flat expression, clearly full of judgment. “No way,” he said. He pointed at the girl beside Vide. “There’s no way I’m destined to be with a piece of dough.”
Vide didn’t look offended at all. Instead, he just let out a quiet sigh.
Then, without any explanation, he pulled out a document from empty space beside him—as if it had just appeared out of thin air. He handed it to Miles.
Miles hesitated for a few seconds. But eventually, he took it. He actually wanted to ask what it was first, but his curiosity got the better of him.
Inside, there was only a single sheet of paper.
Miles read it slowly. A few seconds later, his expression changed.
The meaning was clear.
The document stated that the strange girl—now living as a human from gingerbread dough… was his destined partner.
Miles lowered the paper slowly. He looked at Vide.
“Okay, I need an explanation,” he said shortly.
Vide leaned back casually. “That’s a fate contract.” He gestured toward the girl beside him. “And to make things easier, you should call her Gingger.” He let out a small sigh. “It’s better than calling her ‘that strange girl’ all the time.”
The girl—Gingger—waved cheerfully, as if nothing was wrong at all. Completely carefree.
Vide continued, “Cases like this are actually very rare. Normally, Grim Reapers don’t get involved in matters like soulmates.”
He looked at Miles seriously. “But if a Grim Reaper is directly involved…”
He paused briefly.
“…then it means something a little different.”
Miles frowned. “I don’t get it.”
He let out a frustrated breath. “There’s only one thing I want to know.” He pointed at Gingger. “Why does a normal human like me have to end up with a living being made out of dough?” He shook his head slowly. “Honestly… I’d rather die single than be in something this ridiculous.”