Chapter 185

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The tattooed woman was nervously sweating as she frantically brainstormed ideas.

‘Can I win this?’

Is it even possible for a ‘Guardian’ created by humans to reach this level of power?

“This looks tough. We should prepare to run.”

At the small voice’s suggestion, the younger sister gulped audibly and gave a tiny nod.

The woman clenched her fists in frustration.

If only I had my sword, I wouldn’t feel this disadvantaged…

She quickly scanned her surroundings, searching for anything usable.

This is an alchemist’s workshop – there must be something useful here.

Then she spotted the ornamental bookshelf placed in the reception room.

“Hmph.”

The woman let out a small laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

There were plenty of usable samples here – things that would be impossible to obtain on Earth, and rare even in my hometown.

Even better, there was what appeared to be a high-quality alchemist’s sword on display.

It was as if everything had been set up specifically to defeat that guardian.

As the woman seriously surveyed her surroundings, her younger sister asked worriedly, “Sis? Is something wrong?”

“No, everything’s fine.”

Approaching the wall slowly, the woman unsheathed the hanging sword and declared, “We don’t need to run anymore. I’m going to win.”

With a confident smile, the tattooed woman turned to her younger sister.

***

Between the giant hearth and towering bookshelves, I chased after the mini reapers.

Little faces popped out from between the bookshelves, grinning mischievously before scattering in all directions whenever I lunged at them.

“Run away!”

“Mommy’s coming!”

Realizing I wasn’t really trying to catch them, the mini reapers began treating it like a game of tag, happily darting around just out of reach.

What started as a serious tooth-collecting mission had somehow turned into a fun game of tag.

Suddenly, one golden reaper found itself caught in my grasp.

Despite their usual agility, it seems they got too caught up in the thrill of the chase.

Caught off guard, the golden reaper tensed up, watching my every move out of the corner of its eye.

As my fingers slowly approached its face, the golden reaper squeezed its eyes shut and clenched its mouth tightly.

If I pulled its teeth now, it’d ruin the fun atmosphere we’ve built up.

But seeing it tremble with fear gave me the urge to mess around a bit.

Since they regenerate anyway, pulling a couple molars shouldn’t be a problem, right?

I’ve always wanted to see what mini golden teeth look like…

Should I really do it?

Instead, I gently stroked the golden reaper’s head.

“You’re it now.”

Tapping its head lightly, I passed on the role of ‘it’. The golden reaper opened its surprised eyes slightly before breaking into an embarrassed grin.

Fortunately, I managed to suppress my prankster instincts and continue the game of tag.

Now there are two ‘its’: me and the golden reaper!

“Come on!”

Communicating my enthusiasm to the golden reaper perched on my shoulder, I received an eager nod in return.

The other mini reapers watched enviously, clearly wanting to join our team.

Before long, what started as a strange game of tag ended with everyone becoming ‘it’.

Initially, they subtly avoided being caught while pretending not to want to join, but eventually they were dramatically falling over on empty floors to get caught.

Lying sprawled on the ground, they’d look up at me with expressions clearly saying “Catch me already!”

When I deliberately ignored them, they’d crawl closer in disappointment until they were right in front of me.

Thus, the game of tag concluded with everyone becoming ‘it’.

Just as we were about to move toward the iron door…

KABOOM!

A massive explosion echoed from beyond the iron door.

The floor shook violently, enough to collapse a regular cave.

The powerful explosion felt unlike anything ordinary.

Startled, the mini reapers stood on their hind legs like meerkats, staring intently at the iron door.

Beyond the door emanated a powerful and unusual presence.

Different from any object I’ve encountered before.

It reminded me of the ‘eye’ used by the leader.

Feeling this wasn’t something to be left alone, we hurried toward the iron door.

***

In the reception room now reduced to ashes, the tattooed woman extended her hand into the air, reciting her prayers.

With each invocation of sample names, numerous samples hanging on the decorative shelf transformed into particles of light, getting absorbed into the sword.

“The white flower resembling the sun. The mirror revealing the reverse side. The blue leaf that melts magical books.”

The mirror seemingly torn from space, along with the white flower and blue leaf, blended together, igniting a blue flame along the sword blade.

When swung, the blade released a sweeping slash filled with spreading blue flames, causing a massive explosion.

Persistent flames that clung tenaciously, refusing to die out.

Flames so vicious that a butler hungry ghost would burn endlessly until losing all regeneration ability.

However, these flames never reached the hungry ghost reaper, instead flowing harmlessly past it.

Again, the attack missed.

No matter what attack she tried, nothing reached the hungry ghost reaper.

Even someone familiar with magical books like her had never seen such a phenomenon before.

After centuries of development aimed at countering magical books, alchemy proved completely ineffective – could this be a ‘moon’-level threat?

“Haa… haa…”

Breathing heavily, the hungry ghost reaper contracted its body.

“!”

And then launched forward at incredible speed, using its body like a spring.

Though barely dodged in time, the attack was incredibly fast.

The sharp edge of the hungry ghost reaper’s arm cleanly severed part of the woman’s arm and torso.

Coughing up blood, the woman struggled to heal her wounds.

With no visible escape route, the situation seemed utterly hopeless.

Running from such a fast hungry ghost reaper would be impossible.

This called for some clever tactics.

Despite having many samples left, none of the alchemy techniques she knew worked.

Neither the white flames that halt regeneration, nor the endlessly burning blue flames, nor the explosive red flames had any effect.

Continuing like this meant certain death.

At least she needed to save her younger sister.

Only one option remained.

Using all remaining samples in one final strike to draw attention while escaping.

“Blue mountain steel. Time-encapsulating transparent flower…”

With each prayer, the samples disappeared one by one.

Unlike her usual use of 2-3 samples, over ten were infused into the sword, causing it to vibrate as if near breaking point.

The sword blade grew darker as it absorbed the numerous samples.

The world’s most useless yet most spectacular alchemy was being created.

Gritting her teeth, the woman raised the sword high.

And brought it down with all her might.

Simultaneously, colorful flames spread in all directions, filling the surrounding space.

Fantastical flower fields sprouted on the floor, and a blue sky replaced the ceiling.

Like a grand fireworks display, a bright flash accompanied by a loud explosion blinded everyone’s vision.

“Run!”

Grabbing her younger sister’s hand, the woman gritted her teeth and began her escape.

Using materials worth several castles in this fireworks show should buy them a few seconds.

WHOOSH!

But hearing an odd sound and looking back, she saw the hungry ghost reaper transformed its hands into a giant broadsword, swinging it down.

With all her strength, the woman pushed her younger sister out of the sword’s trajectory.

CHOP.

An unimaginably grotesque sound accompanied the separation of her upper and lower body.

“Big Sister!!!!”

Her younger sister’s voice reached her fading consciousness.

“Run…”

Struggling to speak through lips that wouldn’t fully open, her words dissolved into nothingness.

***

Arriving at the site of the massive explosion using time acceleration and ghosting abilities, I found the doll-headed younger sister in danger.

Some object wielding a massive blood-drenched sword was slowly approaching, while the younger sister clutched the decapitated doll head, sobbing uncontrollably.

The object with arms transformed into a giant sword looked quite unsettling.

It resembled me somewhat, with a face like a hungry ghost – rather unpleasant.

I hope it doesn’t have horrifying fangs behind that closed mouth.

If so, I’ll have to pull them all out.

Our eyes met with the hungry ghost reaper.

The dumbfounded hungry ghost reaper suddenly crinkled its face like a walnut upon meeting my gaze, then opened its mouth wide and screamed,

“GYAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Looking extremely angry, it charged straight at me.

As I prepared for close combat, I grabbed the space with a ‘DUN’ sound.

“What? What’s happening?”

Instead of forming in my intended location, the black sphere appeared elsewhere entirely, missing completely.

Simultaneously, a massive slash cleaved my body horizontally in two.