Dragon Ball Roshi-Chapter 302: The Death of Taro

"Dad?! What are you..."

Ninn was stunned. Standing in front of the massive desk of King Yemma, waiting for her, was none other than a sharp-dressed man in a suit, exuding the aura of a successful businessman—Tam, her father who should've been long dead.

Just like Ninn, a bright yellow halo floated above Tam's head. Beneath this symbol of the dead, his body was not the aged form she remembered at the time of his passing, but rather that of a vigorous man in his prime.

"What? Has it only been a few years, and you don't recognize your old man?" Tam said with a smile.

Ninn walked over, dazed and confused. To her knowledge, her father had passed away many years ago and should've already been reincarnated. Yet now, after her own death, she was reunited with him in the underworld—in the legendary Hall of Yemma no less. Stranger still, he wasn't the frail old man she remembered, but youthful and full of life.

Just like she was now.

Could it be that all the dead received this kind of treatment? Dying didn't seem that different from living at all.

Ninn found herself unable to make sense of what was happening.

But when she looked back at the main hall of Yemma's court, where long lines of souls waited, she noticed they didn't retain their earthly bodies like she did. She had already sensed it before—whenever she passed near those souls, she could feel a faint reverence in them toward her.

Clearly, not just anyone retained their physical form after death.

As for why she and her father Tam could...

An image of her grandfather, Taro, floated faintly in her mind. Aside from her grandfather—whom she had always seen as all-powerful since childhood—she couldn't think of anyone else capable of making such an ordinary Earthling like herself so... extraordinary.

"I know you're confused, but don't worry. Let's listen to Lord Yemma's judgment first," Tam said, smiling as he patted her shoulder, urging her to hold off on the reunion for now and go through the proper process.

"...Alright." Ninn nodded, pushing down her questions. She followed her father's gaze and turned to face the towering King Yemma with his immense, awe-inspiring presence.

Yemma had just finished speaking with his superior, the Northern Kai. As he saw Ninn look toward him from below his desk, he coughed with a booming "Ahem!" and solemnly opened his ledger. With a commanding voice, he announced:

"Ninn of Earth, born in Earth in the year 632, passed in Earth in the year 745, aged one hundred and fourteen. Her life was ordinary—neither sinful nor meritorious—and by rights should be sent to the Pool of Reincarnation. However... due to her father Tam's significant contributions to public affairs in the underworld after his death, and her grandfather's voluntary transfer of vast merit to his descendants, Ninn is hereby granted the right to ascend to Heaven with her physical body and live in eternal freedom. Reincarnation, should she desire it, can be chosen at a later time."

Tam bowed slightly. "Thank you, Lord Yemma."

Yemma waved his hand and coughed. "No need. Mm... no need. After all, your father Taro is practically immortal. His merit is enough to ensure both you and your daughter may eternally retain your bodies in the underworld."

What he didn't say aloud was: even without Taro's transferred merit... your whole family's got ties with the Northern Kai. Since Lord Kai himself has personally intervened, what more can I say?

Ninn's expression softened at once. She murmured with a sigh, "Grandpa..."

Tam gently patted his daughter's slender back with a laugh. "Hah, what's the matter? Did you think the old man wouldn't care whether we lived or died?"

Ninn didn't respond.

Tam sighed and said softly, "I used to think the same... but after I died and came here with my youthful body, I realized the old man had everything arranged long ago... When you think about it, in this state, death really isn't all that different from life."

He chuckled and added, "Well... except for the glowing halo on your head."

Ninn couldn't help but smile and rolled her eyes at her father. "He never really cared about our lives anyway... Alright, alright," she said, exasperated, "I'm not blaming Grandpa. He's never wronged us. Dad, I did live a full hundred and fifteen years, you know. I'm not some thoughtless brat."

"It's just... I didn't expect Grandpa would do something like this." Ninn tucked her hair behind her ear—so much like Hathaway—and laughed. "It feels just like back then when I saw Grandpa and Grandma become young again. I never did find out what exactly happened between the two of them, but it always felt like... Grandpa must've done something for Grandma."

"Father... wasn't the kind of person to do that kind of thing," Tam said softly. "But kid, you should know—anyone can change because of someone else."

Ninn's smile spread. "So Grandma changed Grandpa, huh?"

"No, I think you did too, my little star." Tam laughed and put his arm around her shoulders. The two of them now looked so alike in age that they seemed more like siblings than father and daughter.

"Alright! Stop blocking the front of Yemma's court! If you're done, get moving already!" Yemma banged the desk and shouted.

Tam, used to it, bowed with poise. "Then we'll take our leave, Lord Yemma." He led Ninn out through the side gate, and as they stepped into the corridor beyond, both of them froze in surprise. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Standing at the exit were four people.

It was Taro and Hathaway, chatting with Baba the Fortune Teller—and a cute little girl standing sweetly by their side. Tam didn't recognize her, but Ninn certainly did!

"Bulma? Grandpa? Grandma? They..." Ninn stared in shock.

"You know that little girl? Go on, Ninn, the old man and Grandma must be here to meet you." Tam patted her back and gently nudged her forward. Just then, the group ahead stopped their conversation and looked over.

Tam exchanged glances with his parents as he approached, hands open, smiling and winking playfully.

Hathaway shook her head with a smile.

"Well, I've got no business here anymore. I'll be off now," said Baba, looking back at Taro and Hathaway as she saw Tam and Ninn walking over. With that, she floated off on her crystal ball.

"Sis, you..." Taro shook his head.

Baba narrowed her eyes at him from above. "Taro, I've read your fate many times, but the more I read, the harder it is to grasp. Your future... I can't see through it. It's like a dead end, yet not a dead end. Very strange indeed..."