Chapter 154

The private jet’s bedroom, where a cozy atmosphere lingers after the lights go out.

Since the lighting was off, the soft moonlight seeping through the oval window gently illuminated the room.

The walls, adorned with deep mahogany panels reflecting the gentle moonlight, were lined up neatly, and beneath them lay a thick, soft carpet.

Stepping on the carpet felt fluffy, giving an inexplicably joyful sensation in this bedroom.

On the table, the small blinking light of a slowly pulsing cellphone shone, and scattered beside it were the remnants of countless pudding bowls I had devoured.

“Reaper…”

With a sound of smacking lips, Yerin mumbled something in her sleep.

Yerin nibbled at my feelers as if savoring some delicious food.

What kind of dream could Yerin possibly be having, lying there with her eyes closed under the soft moonlight, wearing a blissful smile?

In contrast to the happy Yerin, I lay uncomfortably clothed, nestled in her embrace on the soft, large bed.

When I ghosted out of my spot, Yerin began patting around like a baby searching for its toy.

Summoning a reasonably large hungry ghost and placing it in her arms, I approached the oval window to gaze at the scenery outside the private jet floating above a sea of clouds.

Several moonlights and countless starlights filled the sky.

It seemed somewhat desolate, like a snowy field, making the plane drifting across the sky appear lonely.

As I placed my hand on the cold window, I noticed a tiny gray hand and a blue sleeve.

I should be able to take it off now, right?

I instantly ghosted and discarded my kindergarten uniform.

Summoning a white hungry ghost, I forcibly dressed it in the uniform and made it sit on the sofa.

“Moo.”

The awkwardly squished hungry ghost groaned unhappily.

Its pitiful expression while wearing clothes was amusing.

“Hehe.”

Now that preparations were underway to visit the Mini Reaper Garden, I summoned a golden reaper onto my palm first, intending to leave it near Yerin.

The golden reaper frantically moved as if trying to tell me something.

Did something happen?

It jumped and gestured wildly, explaining enthusiastically.

Of course, understanding the golden reaper’s body language is hard, so I focused on reading its intent.

Younger sibling?

Is there a new youngest one?

Thinking while stroking the golden reaper who looked extremely pleased about the new younger sibling.

Another one appeared.

Lately, children seem to be popping up too frequently.

Still, mini reapers are different from me; they’re good kids, so it’s not bad even if their numbers grow.

If golden reapers like ‘mini gray reapers’ were replicas of me, it would have been a real mess…

A vision of my smaller self running around causing chaos made me laugh involuntarily.

Nevertheless, management is bothersome, so while stroking the golden reaper, I conveyed my thoughts.

“The eldest golden reaper needs to take care of the younger ones, right?”

The golden reaper happily nodded with vigor.

Still, I wonder why this happened?

I thought solving something related to the moon was necessary for them to increase…

Was it because the last thing I dealt with was the king of giant pigs, meaning a mini reaper with a pig head has appeared?

Imagining a less adorable mini reaper, I transmitted my intent.

“Then, protect Yerin well. I’ll be back from the garden.”

After summoning plenty of golden reapers to surround Yerin, I moved to the Mini Reaper Garden.

***

I was having an ancient dream.

The story of my birth.

An endless expanse of rugged mountains stretched far and wide, with only jagged rocks and fierce winds existing in this barren landscape.

The distant mountain ranges resembled sharp blades, and their peaks were covered in endless icy fog.

This harsh space refused any form of life, freezing everything, including souls.

Amidst this relentless cold and hunger, a single flame arose.

It was a lantern breathing redness and warmth into the monotonous world of ice and stone.

Within that flame, I was born.

I was born from the “human desire” to endure the unfathomable, brutal cold and hunger.

I was the lantern driving away darkness and the flame consuming the cold.

I was the existence that devoured the cold, lifeless rocks and offered the elixir of fire to combat hunger.

Upon opening my eyes, the first thing I saw were tiny humans worshiping me and behind them, a massive entity looking down at me expressionlessly, alongside a guardian turned white.

The dream scenery gradually faded.

I woke from a deep slumber, feeling myself regaining consciousness.

A moment of new birth.

Through blurry vision, I saw small beings surrounding me and a colossal presence looking down at me expressionlessly, along with a white guardian.

Ah, I’m finally back.

But as my vision cleared, the scenery wasn’t what I had dreamed of.

Instead of jagged rocks, there was soft, squishy ground, and instead of cold and strong winds, there was a gentle breeze and subtle warmth.

The beings surrounding me weren’t worshipful humans but a cheerful girl-like entity.

The once proud white guardian now wore a pitiful expression.

And the creator looking down at me hid mischief within their blank face, slowly approaching.

And then bit into my flesh.

My once robust body had transformed into something transparent, wobbly, and sweet.

I couldn’t resist my creator and could only helplessly allow myself to be eaten with a grievous expression.

***

Upon arriving at the Mini Reaper Garden, the first thing I noticed was a massive black sphere.

A replica of the [Unchanging Black Sphere] floated leisurely in the Mini Reaper Garden.

Beneath it lay the remains of a collapsed tower of snacks.

“Om.”

Apparently, it was built to climb up to the sphere, but due to the material being too high, it crumbled, and the golden reapers were happily eating the remains.

So, there’s a new sibling inside this sphere?

But since the sphere was too high up, there didn’t seem to be a clear way to get there.

How did they build such a tall tower using just snacks?

Golden reapers, you’re too capable.

Walking around the base of the sphere ponderously, I thought deeply.

If I could just fly, it’d be simple.

While contemplating at the base of the sphere, flames suddenly erupted in the Mini Reaper Garden.

Startled, the golden reapers surrounded the flames, and I curiously approached them slowly.

For some reason, it felt similar to when hungry ghosts appear.

As I kept staring at the flames, a small jelly pig inside started growing larger.

Strangely, unlike regular jelly, this one emitted an incredibly delicious smell.

Golden reapers drooled so much.

But they waited for me to eat first, alternating glances between the jelly pig and me.

Shall I try it?

Slowly approaching the pig, I tore a piece off and ate it.

“Om.”

It was an innovative jelly flavor—chewy with bursting juice.

Looking at the torn area, there was no sign of the bite mark.

Judging by the quick regeneration, it could serve as emergency rations like hungry ghosts.

As I turned away, the golden reapers happily rushed forward, each taking a small bite.

The jelly pig took on a pitiful expression like a white hungry ghost.

***

Gwanak-gu, ruins of Trinity Research Institute No. 3.

The ruins consumed by black liquid remained a land of death where not a single human could survive.

This Gwanak-gu filled with harmful slime was a place only humans in protective suits could traverse.

In the investigation camp set up near these ruins, a secretive meeting was underway.

The two remaining directors of Trinity were present.

The Director of the 1st Research Institute shook a sealed glass bottle containing black slime and said,

“Amazing, truly amazing. This liquid might become the beacon of humanity’s future.”

Hearing this, the Director of Research Institute No. 2 frowned and replied,

“You’re thinking of utilizing such a suspicious object byproduct? Do you want to end up like the Director of the 3rd Research Institute?”

“This liquid isn’t suspicious or a byproduct of an object.”

The Director of the 1st Research Institute continued with a meaningful smile,

“Haven’t you read the log of the 3rd Research Institute? We know the manufacturing method and its efficacy.”

“Surely, you don’t believe those grandiose claims about humanity’s evolution?”

“Surely, I wouldn’t.”

While laughing and responding smoothly, the Director of the 1st Research Institute betrayed a hint of sincerity in their smile, which the Director of Research Institute No. 2 sensed.

“Dangerous.”

Sensing ominous vibes from the Director of the 1st Research Institute’s expression, the Director of Research Institute No. 2 quickly stood up.

“I should go now. See you next time.”

“Alright.”

The Director of the 1st Research Institute watched the departing back of the Director of Research Institute No. 2 with a meaningful look.

***

I eventually managed to enter the interior of the black sphere.

Thanks to the small jelly pig’s ability to grow larger by eating something.

Force-feeding numerous snacks scattered around the Mini Reaper Garden to the pig bulked it up enough to reach the black sphere.

However, the inside of the black sphere was far from the joyful place the golden reaper described where the youngest sibling lived.

Rather, it resembled a graveyard.

In the distance lay a massive corpse.

And the liquid covering the floor consisted of mini reaper corpses.

Though they had lost their shapes and melted like water, I clearly recognized them.

Countless mini reaper corpses that had lost their logs.

Scooping up a mini reaper with my hand, I inserted some logs.

The mini reaper, liquefied like liquid, successfully regained its shape.

A legless creature with long arms.

A mini reaper holding a brightly burning log stared at me with empty eyes, then instantly changed its appearance.

A mini reaper identical to me, but black.

Should I call it a black reaper because it’s black?

The black reaper stared intently at me, then turned around.

Continuously alternating glances between the corpse and me, the black reaper tilted its head.

“Mom?”

Unlike the golden reaper, the black reaper seemed unsure. Seeing this, I generously cut half of the logs Yerin had diligently provided and inserted them into the massive corpse.

Whoosh.

With the sound of flames roaring, my consciousness transferred into the corpse.

Even transferring consciousness alone consumed all those logs instantly, and my consciousness bounced back to my body.

“Mom!”

The startled black reaper, eyes wide open, leaped onto my face and started crying loudly.

Following this, my logs filled the black sphere, and countless black reapers resembling me rose and rushed over.

“Mom!”

Though the sudden clinging and crying of the black reapers were slightly strange, their heartrending emotions were evident.

“It’s okay. Mom’s here.”

All I could do was pat the many crying black reapers.