Chapter 188

The battle between the Red-black Reaper and the Hungry Ghost Reaper, or rather the Gray Reaper and the Hungry Ghost Reaper, had come to an end.

To the younger sister’s surprise, the outcome was quite unexpected.

How could the Hungry Ghost Reaper, with flashy yet nimble movements, a blade that could cut through anything, and flames that incinerated everything around it, possibly lose?

As the Gray Reaper emerged victorious, the Golden Reapers, who had been watching the fight with sparkling eyes, began hopping around in all directions, creating a festival-like atmosphere.

Whether it was due to their genuinely joyful expressions or the mental pollution caused by the Golden Reapers, the younger sister found herself feeling slightly pleased about the Gray Reaper’s victory.

While observing the Golden Reapers gleefully bumping into each other and rolling around in excitement, an odd sound reached her ears.

Cough… cough…

It was such a faint noise that she might have missed it if she hadn’t been paying close attention.

No way, it couldn’t be…

Thinking it might just be a hallucination brought on by the hope that her older sister was still alive, she tried to ignore it.

But carrying that uneasy hope, she lowered her head, fearing her heart would shatter if her sister remained unchanged.

Cough… cough…

Once again, the unmistakable sound of a weak cough rang out.

Is this not a hallucination?

“Big sister?”

With a trembling voice, the younger sister bent down, only to find her older sister gazing up at her, her eyes barely open.

Seeing her sister awake, the younger sister could do nothing but let the tears flow endlessly.

Though there must have been something she should say, the younger sister could only cry, unable to utter a word.

“I told you, I don’t die unless my neck is cut…”

The tattooed woman raised her hand weakly, wiping away her sister’s tears with a crooked smile.

“Uh-huh.”

Clutching that hand tightly as if afraid it would slip away, the younger sister nodded vigorously.

The Golden Reapers clapped their tiny hands in celebration of the reunion between the sisters, then bounded off somewhere and returned with a massive marshmallow lump, offering it to them.

It was a perfectly roasted piece of marshmallow, nearly as big as the younger sister’s head, exuding an impressive presence.

Turning her gaze to the burnt corner of the reception room, she noticed a large lump of marshmallow sitting there, surrounded by Golden Reapers who were eagerly removing the burnt parts and collecting only the golden-brown portions.

Was there even such a marshmallow here before?

Taking a small bite, it tasted far too delicious to be an ordinary marshmallow.

“Big sister, this is so tasty. Do you want some? Is it okay if you eat it?”

Overcome by its deliciousness, the younger sister wanted to offer it to her sister but remembered her lower half had been cleanly severed.

Of course, her lower body had already regenerated quickly once her sister regained consciousness, appearing outwardly fine.

Still, the younger sister wondered if her sister was fully recovered after such a severe injury and asked cautiously.

“It’s fine. I’m just a bit dizzy from lack of blood, otherwise I’m good.”

“Then let’s eat together!”

Beaming happily, the younger sister fed her sister a piece of the marshmallow.

Even while eating, the older sister frowned slightly, sensing something strange.

‘The mood feels too cheerful given the situation—is this mental pollution? I clearly gave her the pills…’

But too injured to act, she merely harbored suspicions.

The marshmallow enjoyed by the sisters was perfectly roasted and truly delightful.

Behind their happiness, a sorrowful sobbing echoed softly as background music.

“Hiiiiiih”

***

Roasting and tearing apart the White Hungry Ghost, struck down by the Hungry Ghost Reaper’s ultimate technique, they celebrated their victory.

Meanwhile, they kept checking the Mini Reaper Garden, waiting for the Hungry Ghost Reaper to respawn as a snack.

Having died once at the Hungry Ghost Reaper’s hands, they now yearned to beat that guy’s head in as soon as possible.

Unable to wait forever, I stood up, conveying determination.

After defeating the “Dungeon Boss,” it’s only natural to look for a treasure chest.

“Alright, everyone, let’s go!”

Tiptap-tiptap, walking cheerfully toward a grand door that looked completely undamaged.

Approaching what seemed like a door the Hungry Ghost Reaper intended to guard, we advanced.

Gently pushing the massive door, it opened smoothly with a soft sound, revealing the interior.

What unfolded was pure fantasy!

As the door opened, torches magically ignited, illuminating the room.

Mysterious plants wriggled in their pots, and glass flasks on shelves bubbled with colorful foam.

On a large table sat a mystical crystal orb with floating stars.

Neatly arranged beside it were astrolabes and sextants.

Swords polished to perfection and thick leather coats hung on the walls.

It felt like the workshop of a magician, swordsman, and alchemist combined.

The sight of doll heads made it likely the place belonged to an alchemist.

Mini Reapers scattered across the room, their eyes gleaming at the strange tools.

Walking slowly inside, I noticed something very peculiar.

It was an enormous mirror reflecting what seemed like ‘something resembling me,’ the Girl with Blue Hair, and a White Hungry Ghost.

The blue-haired girl smiled brightly as if posing for a family photo.

A gray something eerily similar to me sat expressionlessly.

And a Mini White Hungry Ghost looked utterly sad.

The girl with blue hair felt oddly familiar since I’d seen her hologram many times.

Her resemblance to me made it even more so.

Despite looking exactly like me, the gray figure in the mirror didn’t feel like ‘me.’

Not only because of my memory loss, but because something fundamental seemed missing.

Whenever encountering objects, the blue-haired girl often appeared, giving me a sense of destiny guiding me.

What does it all mean?

I don’t know.

Staring intently at the mirror, deep in thought, a Golden Reaper approached in panic.

His expression alone suggested what he was about to say.

“Mom, hurry!”

Following the Golden Reaper led us to a cozy little room.

A plushy large bed and various neatly arranged furniture pieces filled the space.

Strangely familiar and comforting.

Upon reflection, it dawned on me immediately.

If we added TVs and electronics, it’d be identical to my ‘isolation room.’

How fascinating.

Our tastes are shockingly similar.

In the center of the cozy room lay the Girl with Blue Hair, clutching a shattered orb, lifeless.

Technically, she wasn’t dead—she was destroyed.

After all, the girl wasn’t human; she was an Object.

An Object long since destroyed.

***

The Little Hungry Ghost dreamed a very long dream.

A dream spanning from cherished memories of the past to the present, filled with joy.

It began at the moment of birth.

Looking up at the solemnly sealed ‘eye’ within a large flask, the master kindly explained the Little Hungry Ghost’s mission.

“Protect that eye. Keep intruders away until the lead doll returns. Got it?”

It seemed so simple.

The Little Hungry Ghost possessed flames capable of burning all magical books, the master’s masterpiece.

“K.”

Yet, it voiced a dissatisfied grunt.

Why did only the lead doll get the most important role?

So slow, so clumsy, unable to even stand properly!

It envied the doll.

The doll monopolized the master’s attention, which made it jealous.

Until the day the master could no longer move, continuously repairing the doll.

“If only I could meet him…”

The master lamented his inability to meet ‘him’ due to his limited lifespan.

Sensing the master’s final moments, the Little Hungry Ghost carried the fallen master to the bed gently.

And in those last moments, the master whispered softly, “Sorry.”

It didn’t want to hear apologies.

Rather, it wished for words of encouragement in their final exchange.

When the master passed, the foolish lead doll ceased functioning, plunging the workshop into endless silence.

Still, the Little Hungry Ghost steadfastly carried out the master’s final command.

Incinerating countless Tooth Hungry Ghosts who had devoured cores and gone mad.

Years passed.

Finally, the moment arrived.

The fateful moment the master spoke of.

A faint explosion echoed from above, and the lead doll vanished.

The master knew everything.

Which made him even more enviable.

Why could it only wait?

Thus.

For the first time and last, the Little Hungry Ghost disobeyed the master’s orders.

It consumed the ‘eye.’

Not merely to protect and deliver it, but to become the lead doll’s final trial.

If the master was right, the clumsy lead doll would easily defeat it.

“So if I win, that means I’m more suited to the master’s plan, right?”

Soon enough, the lead doll approached.

A familiar presence.

Handing over its core to the master’s hand, the Little Hungry Ghost set off.

And lost.

Ultimately, the master was correct.

The Little Hungry Ghost couldn’t defeat the lead doll.

Still, it was happy.

It fulfilled the master’s final task.

But it was also incredibly sad.

Its role ended here.

Forever barred from returning to the sleeping master’s side.

As the endless dream drew to a close and true death beckoned, its consciousness was pulled back to the surface.

Soft marshmallow ground and the scent of hot chocolate.

And the sight of the lead doll standing there, fists clenched, wearing a fresh smile.

“!!!”