Chapter 135

The emergency staircase, rarely used by anyone, was where a security room employee sat, waiting for someone.

Looking somewhat anxious, as if engaged in a drug deal, the employee held what appeared to be a ‘Gray Reaper Pudding.’

The employee turned their head around and then suddenly smiled brightly upon noticing something.

From behind the railing of the upward stairs, a blue cap could be seen poking out.

The employee felt moved as they saw the Blue Reaper approach, despite some shyness.

They had successfully managed periodic meetings with the Blue Reaper.

Ever since first spotting the Blue Reaper, who tidied up like an old lady, how much effort had been put into this?

Blue Reapers were hard to find, and feeding them pudding was quite the challenge.

All the efforts made to catch the Blue Reaper’s attention finally seemed worth it.

Yum yum… The Blue Reaper slowly ate the spoonfuls of pudding offered with small bites.

The employee carefully placed the Blue Reaper on their palm and fed them bit by bit.

Seeing the Blue Reaper’s tiny cheeks squish while munching under their deeply pulled hat brim filled the employee with warmth.

Though still feeling a slight distance, just being able to meet regularly was already a great achievement.

The employee resolved to one day relax in a studio apartment with the Blue Reaper, feeding them pudding.

Just as the Blue Reaper was halfway through their pudding, eating slower than even the Golden Reaper, a red emergency light began to flash.

“Beeeep! Beeeep!”

The noisy alarm echoed through the stairwell, casting an ominous red glow.

What could it be?

Of all times, why now?!

Sehee Research Institute had such high emergency standards that when the alarm went off, it usually meant serious trouble.

It wouldn’t sound unless something drastic happened—like an angry blue lizard playing piano killing someone with it.

Even the Blue Reaper, busy devouring pudding, looked startled and scanned the surroundings.

Ssshhhh…

A sharp cutting sound emerged from the emergency landing steel door.

The transparent beak of a bird pierced through the steel door—it was the [Glass Flamingo].

This new object boasted a body made of glass-like material that beautifully refracted and reflected light.

Still, it had been classified as safe due to its apparent lack of aggression.

But now, the Glass Flamingo appeared wild and full of menace.

The Blue Reaper stepped forward in front of the security employee and traced incomprehensible strings of characters in the air.

[Please protect us!]

A water droplet shield encircled the Blue Reaper and the employee.

However, the Glass Flamingo paid no heed to the barrier, slowly advancing with a sound akin to clinking glassware.

The employee cautiously moved forward, prepared for anything.

The Flamingo’s steel-cutting beak and confident stride unnerved the employee.

The Blue Reaper nervously backed away while glancing around at the approaching Flamingo.

[Ten needles of water!]

Sharp water projectiles formed in mid-air and shot toward the Flamingo but seemed to have no effect.

After pulling back slightly, the Flamingo launched its beak like a bullet, easily piercing through the water shield and targeting the Blue Reaper.

The employee hugged the Blue Reaper and rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding the beak.

Thanks to the quick evasion, the employee managed to protect the Blue Reaper, though not entirely unscathed.

Even grazing the beak resulted in a large chunk of thigh getting sliced off.

Hot pain surged through the wound as blood gushed out.

Looking down at their hands, the employee found the Blue Reaper staring wide-eyed with shock.

[Please don’t hurt me!]

[Please don’t hurt me!]

[Please don’t hurt me!]

[Someone help us!]

With incomprehensible strings of text, the pain gradually subsided.

Must be the Blue Reaper’s magic.

Trying to send the Blue Reaper down the stairs for safety, the creature resisted, tightening its whole body.

Shaking their head firmly, the Blue Reaper stood fearfully in front of the Flamingo.

The brave act was shattered when the Flamingo casually kicked the Blue Reaper, causing them to clutch their stomach and collapse.

At that moment, something burst out from the floor of the stair landing.

Golden heads shimmered everywhere—on the railings, above the stairs, everywhere.

Rarely seen, the Golden Reapers wore expressions of anger.

Despite its bold strides, the Flamingo seemed uneasy.

Though seemingly moving forward, the Flamingo paradoxically grew more distant.

As soon as it passed the steel door it came through, it abruptly turned around and bolted.

Behind it, a tsunami of ferocious Golden Reapers chased after.

***

Contrasting its massive exterior, the interior of the [Unchanging Black Sphere] was claustrophobically narrow.

A space barely big enough to fit a round table in the center.

Made of black stone, the interior housed a single plain wooden circular table.

Like an island adrift in a dark void sea, the table exuded presence.

At first glance ordinary, the wooden table’s grain appeared meticulously crafted, showcasing an ancient elegance.

On the table lay numerous miniature chairs.

Lifting one up, I marveled at its perfect size for mini reapers.

The peculiar furniture was surrounded by walls inscribed with unknown glyphs.

Characters unlike any earthly script, resembling cryptic symbols imbued with unsettling madness and despair.

Marks gouged into solid rock as if by fingertips driven by insanity.

The grooves were stained with old blood.

Destroy the Book that Killed God.

Destroy the Book that Killed God.

Destroy the Book that Killed God.

The walls were densely covered with the same sentence, written obsessively like a madman’s mantra.

Every surface—walls, ceiling, floor—even the table revealed similar carvings once uncovered.

Ink-stained words read: [May my wish reach the god.]

Touching these words, a surge of firewood-like sensations overwhelmed me.

Despair, anguish, hope—all emotions swirled into waves.

As these emotions were sucked into my inner firewood, the space lost its strength, contracting violently before swallowing me whole.

I found myself back at James Research Institute.

***

The [Unchanging Black Sphere] wobbled like liquid and swallowed the Reaper.

Startled, I glanced around as James murmured in awe.

“Indeed.”

“The Reaper disappeared—is everything alright?”

Hearing my question, James calmly replied.

“Is there any particular issue you foresee?”

Thinking about it, imagining harm coming to the Reaper felt implausible.

“And I suspected there might be some interaction between the [Unchanging Black Sphere] and the Gray Reaper.”

Before I could respond, the [Unchanging Black Sphere] vanished instantly, leaving the Reaper standing dumbfounded, looking at the spot where the orb had been.

Clunk-clunk.

Turning his head, the Reaper slowly walked over, wearing a puzzled expression, clenching and unclenching his fists repeatedly.

“The [Unchanging Black Sphere] worked. The other 0th Artifacts are en route, so let’s start the James Research Institute tour.”

James added, “Wouldn’t it be a shame to visit America and not do some sightseeing?” before departing the empty field.

I tightly held the Reaper’s hand and followed slowly.

Researchers equipped with various devices arrived to investigate where the [Unchanging Black Sphere] had been.

Something feels off here.

Why is James feeding 0th Artifacts to the Reaper?

***

James Research Institute was expansive enough to warrant starting the tour via an electric cart.

Cradling a large pudding container, I sat on Yerin’s lap, enjoying the scenery.

Snuggled in Yerin’s embrace, indulging in delicious pudding helped clear my mind after dealing with the [Unchanging Black Sphere].

Though sensing newfound abilities, their nature remained unclear and confusing—but perhaps ignorance was bliss.

If necessary, understanding would come naturally.

As James drove the cart uphill along winding slopes, we eventually reached the summit of a colossal wall surrounding James City.

Reaching skyward, this towering structure enclosed something grand and awe-inspiring.

“The [Unchanging Black Sphere] was the catalyst for founding James City, but that tree maintains it.”

The sight before us was mysterious and breathtaking enough to be the first thing James showed us.

Yet, it didn’t feel safe.

The wall seemed designed to cage the tree, while numerous observation devices atop it symbolized humanity’s fear.

The central tree radiated beauty yet unease.

Its massive trunk pulsed with indigo light, akin to the heartbeat of the earth.

The eerie luminescence evoked feelings of connection to another realm.

“Wow, shards of glass are flying everywhere!”

Yerin marveled at the transparent fragments swirling around the tree.

Instead of leaves, fractured glass-like pieces spun endlessly around the tree, reflecting ominous light in kaleidoscopic patterns.

Beautiful as they were, these fragments harbored seeds of destruction.

Approaching humans would likely face grave danger.

The tree continuously tore apart surrounding space.

And it seemed to grow ever larger, defying containment by mere walls.

Is this really okay?

No matter how I looked at it, it seemed dangerous….