* Winner of the 8th Japan Internet Novel Award!

“I should have told you that I liked you…
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know today would be the last day.”

The most brilliant memory engraved in the soul at the last moment of life,
A beautiful and heartbreaking love story between a messenger who was captivated by the 'color'.

[Rave reviews on social media from readers who read it first]
·A love story that emotionally touches the human heart!_@amak*****
·This is the first novel that expresses life in such beautiful and sad colors!_@tsukz*****
·A captivating story where the most dazzling memories of one's life are transformed into poignant and warm paintings! _@meg*****

Have you ever wondered what color your soul is? The human soul is a collection of emotions, imbued with all the memories from birth until death.
Among them, the most beautiful and shining color is the memory of a loved one and a precious memory.

I take the most beautiful part of the soul as a toll for guiding the dead to the underworld.
My days, outside of my work as a reaper, are spent in an atelier surrounded by a variety of colors, creating paints and painting with pieces of my soul that sparkle like crystal.
'I'm done with work for today, so I should take my time and draw.' As I was thinking that, a Mother Goose song started playing on my smartphone.

“Yes, you.
Hello.
Sorry, but today is another sudden mission.
“The details have been sent to you by email, so please check them quickly.”

Ah, I heard that there's a serious shortage of Reapers these days because no one has passed the aptitude test... ... Today, too, there's suddenly been additional work.
It wasn't the time to be leisurely.
Well, shall we go, Charles? What color will this soul's most beautiful memory be?

“It’s just around this time.
Cherry blossoms were blooming all over the town, making it so beautiful.
I wanted to show it to my grandchildren too.
Cherry blossoms of Onamaki… … … .”
That muttering was Shohei Kimura's last word.
The curtain fell over his eyes, wet with nostalgia, and he let out his last breath.
It was a faint sigh, but it spread out wide like flapping wings, sparkling in seven colors before my eyes.
Truly a dazzling and complex, multifaceted and… beautiful soul.
I sucked in the rainbow wings.
He sucks you in, swallows you up, and takes you to the underworld on a ship called the Nara.
As I closed my eyes, Shohei's life flashed by under my eyelids.
From the moment I died alone in front of the god of death to the day I was born into this world with a loud cry, I go down the hill of memories.
But in the midst of the vibrantly colored swirling waves, I discovered something.
--- pp.26~27

I don't want to die yet.
There are things I want to do… … I want to study abroad, and Hiyori too… … .
In my last dream, the finger of the god of death caressed my cheek.
“There is a next life.”
Were the words of comfort he uttered just before losing consciousness…?
“There you will fall in love with her again.”
… … What is that?
At the last moment, I ended up laughing.
It was a clumsy laugh that I couldn't tell whether I was crying or laughing.
But since it's the messenger of death, wouldn't it be worth believing it at least once? Like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, who could only meet once a year, in my next life, I will have a once-in-a-lifetime love with you, one that may or may not last forever.
The moment I thought that, I felt like my body became lighter.
Ah, I'm not in pain anymore, he said.
--- pp.66~67

"hey.
“I’m going to die now. Will I be able to meet you again when I die?”
I really wanted to ask that question, so I tried to make it as concise as possible.
Through our lively conversation so far, I have become quite interested in him.
No matter how much I looked at his gentlemanly gestures and speech, I never got tired of it, and his intelligent and knowledgeable conversations felt like they transcended the world, which made me like him.
If there is such a messenger, I even wish I had met him sooner.
“Well, there’s nothing we can’t meet.
“If you want that.”
“Really?”
“That’s the possibility.
“The future depends on your choices.”
I took the messenger's words seriously and considered them a blessing.
Without even dreaming that perhaps this was the greatest paradox of human life, I stepped into the air, feeling as if I had gained wings.
“Happy birthday, Kaede.”
Those were the last words I heard in this world.
A sense of floating that was almost immoral enveloped my whole body, and the sound of the wind hitting my ears made me close my eyes in pleasure.
But the red light of the sunset that burned the world penetrated even the inner corners of my eyelids and gently embraced me.
Ah, I'm glad.
Now I can finally be free.
--- pp.86~87

Ellie's wet eyes are so pretty even in this situation... so pretty that I feel like laughing.
Her emerald, washed in tears, was far more beautiful than the real emerald that sparkled on her chest.
So I loved her.
I ended up falling in love with the deceased.
Is this his punishment? Wouldn't Ellie have died a much happier death if she hadn't met me? Or is the very idea that she met me simply arrogant? Big Ben's bells are ringing, mocking my helplessness and emptiness.
“Master…… I…… last…… last…… and…… Puneun, said…….”
"what?"
“I…… am…… I…… will continue…… Master, you…….”
It was a quiet night.
It was a quiet night, as if a thin layer of snow had covered the world.
All that can be heard is the sound of a bell and her last words, spoken in a hoarse voice.
So I smiled and answered.
“When you looked at me, my heart was torn in two.
“Half is yours, and the other half is yours… … .”
In the end, I could only give such a twisted answer, but I think that our relationship with her was good because of this.
--- pp.166~167

There is something far more dazzling and valuable right before our eyes than the imitation of a novel that is gradually being buried in ashes.
I didn't hesitate any longer.
Perhaps this will be the last turning point and opportunity in my life.
If I don't take Demon's hand here, I will remain a laughing stock for the rest of my life, a person no one seeks out.
Then I… … .
“Don’t let go!”
Then I thought I heard someone scream.
But already infected with the demon's fever, I did as I was told, put my hand in my jacket pocket, and took out the cursed black rosary.
You like good luck charms.
Intoxicated by such cynicism, I never even considered why the demon knew about the rosary.
He stretched out his right hand, which had thrown away the rosary, and tried to grab hold of the past he had previously thrown away.
In an instant, the nylon wrapped around the guitar melted into a thick paste under my fingers.
A bright red tongue suddenly appeared, flashing a crooked crescent moon smile.
--- pp.249~250

When I opened my eyes, I was a swallow.
I'm not sure why I thought it was a swallow.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the darkness split in two for the first time in my life.
In the darkness above, there were many small granules floating like Braille, and in the darkness below, there was the sound of waves.
Then someone whispered in my ear, “Those are stars, and this is the sea.”
I don't know whose voice it is.
But the owner of the voice also said this.
“Sayra, you are a swallow.”
So I am a swallow.
In reality, my arm, as I saw it in the darkness, was pitch black, hairy, and fingerless.
If you look down at your legs, you will see that there are only three toes.
The toe in the middle was the longest, and its claws were particularly sharp.
At least they weren't arms or legs that I could remember by touching them with my hands.


No, I'm not a swallow in the first place and I can't see.
But now I am a swallow and I can see snow.
So, this is probably a dream.
Yes, I am dreaming.
I am dreaming that I can see for the first time since I was born.
This was my first experience like this.
Because the dreams I've had so far have been just as dark as reality.
So, I flapped my wings vigorously and flew up, happy that I could see, even if it was just a dream.
Then, I felt like my body was floating in the air and before I knew it, I was flying over the sea.
Cutting through the wind, gliding across the sea surface.

--- pp.374~375