Chapter 147

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a brick wall softly glowing with an ethereal light.

The gaps between the bricks revealed flames flickering on the other side.

The ceiling looked as if it were draped in red cloth, with crimson flames swirling above, while dark smoke coiled upward like dancing tendrils.

In air so acrid it would’ve choked a Human, thick clouds of smoke, creamy in texture, filled my vision, making it hard to see.

Struggling through this oppressive haze, I turned my head and spotted the Golden Reapers sprawled around me in a circular pattern.

Except for the extinguished glow of their firewood, they lay peacefully as if merely asleep.

These children had chosen sleep over resurrection to avoid burdening my firewood supply when they returned from the garden.

Grateful for their consideration, I raised my hand to gently pat one of the Golden Reapers—but then realized my current state.

My arm felt weighed down by an unfamiliar heaviness, and when I forced my fingers to move, they crumbled like sand.

My skin was disintegrating into fine particles, slowly drifting away like dry sand.

Truly, I was on the brink of death.

The firewood was almost entirely depleted.

This level of exhaustion hadn’t happened since meeting Sehee.

Though I wanted to pat the Golden Reaper, my hand shattered like sand; though I wished to share my firewood, there was hardly any left.

There was nothing I could do but lie there helplessly, waiting for the firewood to replenish.

After all, moving my arm might snap my wrist, and stepping forward could shatter my ankle.

I simply stared at the ceiling, slowly burning away.

Fortunately, the firewood began to refill rather quickly.

Negative emotions such as fear and confusion surged around me, much like during the Central Research Institute incident when the residents of Songpa District sent their support.

Clearly, something was happening outside.

Was Yerin safe?

While worrying about her amidst the unsettling atmosphere, I gradually sensed some recovery in my firewood levels.

Slowly rising, I gathered the scattered Golden Reapers into my arms and transferred the firewood.

Like a dim fluorescent light flickering back to life, the Golden Reapers’ bodies began to glow again.

“Mommy!”

Awakening, the Golden Reapers buried their faces into my chest, rubbing against me like long-lost friends.

“You’re really Mommy!”

That’s right… I’m here.

Reassuring them with affection, I hugged the Golden Reaper tightly.

Close call—almost died.

In this strange world, with this unfamiliar body, I nearly perished.

Despite feeling invincible and believing anything was possible, the fuel efficiency of my firewood proved abysmal…

Probably because I forced my already dead body to move.

What was that world anyway?

Could it have been connected to Artifact Number 0?

Many questions arose, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on them.

As I stood up, the Golden Reapers on the ground looked up at me with worried expressions.

Some clung tightly to my hair, fearing I might lose my firewood and die at any moment.

It’s okay.

Don’t worry.

Conveying my reassurance, I stepped forward.

Thump-thump.

Like a family of ducks marching together, we moved toward the surface, our steps lively despite the maze-like complexity and obstructed vision from the smoke.

Thump-thump.

Gradually, the anxious Golden Reapers started regaining their cheerful expressions, enjoying our walk together.

Arriving at the surface, a massive change greeted me.

Though it was late night, the streets were bathed in crimson light instead of darkness.

A massive wave-like Spirit Barrier loomed before us, its fiery red glow pulsating ominously.

***

Outside the window, a crimson glow surged.

Waking up, I found myself surrounded by incomprehensible screams, the chaotic noise even seeping into the quiet hotel room.

Looking out the window, the once-dark cityscape was now drenched in an immense, flame-like red light.

Just in case, I pulled back the opposite curtain and was met with intense heat.

Beyond it stood a towering wall of fire, ready to collapse at any moment.

Its size was unimaginable, the flames undulating like a living entity.

Meanwhile, only one Golden Reaper remained beside me, clinging anxiously to my face, determined not to let go.

“We must evacuate immediately!”

At that moment, the frantic-looking Secretary burst into the room.

Realizing the absence of both the Reaper and most of the Golden Reapers, she grabbed my hand and led me out of the hotel.

“Hurry!”

At the hotel parking lot, the Secretary handed me a motorcycle helmet and seated me behind her.

“Hold on tight.”

As we sped off on the motorcycle, a sound akin to the sky collapsing echoed above.

The flaming Spirit Barrier buckled under its own weight, beginning to crumble.

Through the fiery wall, enormous Pigs stampeded into the research compound, shaking the ground beneath them.

Amidst this inferno, the Secretary skillfully navigated the motorcycle away from the chaos, seeking safety further from the barrier.

Abandoned cars littered the roads, corpses sprawled everywhere.

People burned alive.

Others drained of their brains.

Flame-spewing Pigs proudly strode through the streets, incinerating anyone in sight.

Ghost-type Objects wandered among the people, their presence inferred solely from the corpses they left behind.

Through this pandemonium, the Secretary drove with determination and desperation, expertly weaving through the crumbling world.

It was like a scene from a movie, escape seeming almost within reach.

But fate is fickle.

With a heart-stopping impact, the motorcycle collided with an invisible obstacle, sending both me and the Secretary tumbling onto the asphalt.

Clunk. Clunk.

Regaining consciousness thanks to the Golden Reaper tapping on my helmet, I noticed the demolished motorcycle far away and the unconscious Secretary lying motionless nearby.

A sharp pain stabbed my ribs.

Something must’ve broken.

Even so, considering how fast we were going, surviving was a miracle.

Thanks to the Golden Reaper’s protection, no doubt.

Then, noticing us, a Pig approached, eyeing me like prey.

Thud. Thud.

Each heavy step reverberated like impending doom, impossible to outrun with my broken bones.

Summoning courage, the Golden Reaper rushed forward as the monstrous Pig prepared to unleash flames.

The air shimmered with heat as the small figure charged ahead.

Suddenly, a tear split through space.

Instead of a thunderous roar, the lava-and-flame creature emitted a deep silence, meeting its end.

The terrifying beast split in two, its form collapsing into ashes.

Among the scattered embers and smoke, a flicker of golden light danced.

Beyond the torn halves of the Pig, a silhouette emerged.

Piercing eyes cutting through the darkness.

Long flowing hair.

A small stature brimming with fiery resolve.

And finally, grayish pallid skin.

“!”

The Reaper appeared, accompanied by numerous Golden Reapers.

“Reaper!”

Forgetting the pain in my ribs, I limped toward the Reaper, relief washing over me upon seeing their face.

***

Yerin embraced me tightly, rubbing against me with joy.

“Reaper, are you hurt?”

She looked me over worriedly.

“Your glow is weaker than usual… and you feel more brittle.”

Caringly caressing my cheek, she studied the fading fire in my eyes.

But to me, Yerin looked far worse off.

Her body was covered in scratches, and her side seemed especially painful.

Compared to her, I merely lacked firewood.

Attempting to save Yerin, I had torn through space, causing my dwindling firewood to bottom out again.

Yet now, it was refilling rapidly.

Worry, relief, kindness, affection—all these emotions poured from Yerin, restoring me.

Whether from worry or overcoming near-death, Yerin’s firewood output was stronger than ever.

Turning my head in her embrace, I saw the chaotic street.

Ghosts haunting the skies, Pigs roaming the ground.

And far away, casting a colossal shadow, the instigator of this calamity.

The Pig King.

Its massive face pierced through the thick smoke, locking eyes with me.