Chapter 195

The Yellow Full Moon shone so brightly it was hard to look at directly.

Just by gazing at it, one could feel as if they were about to drown in madness—an ominous yellow hue.

The silhouette of a Female Student standing against that Yellow Full Moon began to blur slightly.

“Why didn’t you go home earlier?”

“Why didn’t you go home earlier?”

And then, the sound of voices overlapping—like static from a broken speaker—resembled both the familiar voice of the Female Student and an unfamiliar Adult Male voice.

As if a TV screen filled with distorted noise, everything around her became chaotic—her figure blending between white and black streaks.

Then, my head started pounding like it would split open.

The ringing in my ears grew louder, making it harder to even stand upright. It felt like the student was being bombarded by some kind of headache-inducing waves emanating from the Female Student.

“Really, what a wonderful night.”

Suddenly, a low murmur echoed, and the Female Student vanished right before the student’s eyes.

“!”

Though startled, strangely enough, the student could sense where she had gone and what she was doing—because the source of their migraine seemed to shift behind them.

‘She’s holding a dagger, aiming straight for my heart.’

Reacting instantly, the student rolled forward.

WHOOSH!

A menacing sound sliced through the air, tearing the student’s school uniform vertically.

Had they reacted any slower, bones might have been exposed.

“Amazing, how did you dodge that?”

Amidst admiration, clapping hands could be heard—she was applauding while tapping her dagger against her other hand.

Or rather, I could *feel* it more than see it.

With their heart racing wildly out of sheer tension, the student pushed off the ground and fled into the Alley.

***

Soft lighting that didn’t hurt the eyes, warm air filling the room—after leaving the bathhouse all refreshed, I lay down in the sauna when suddenly, a Golden Reaper approached me, grabbing my pinky finger and tugging on it excitedly.

“Mom! Hurry up!”

The Golden Reaper looked thrilled, calling me over with great enthusiasm.

They weren’t panicking but instead appeared incredibly excited.

Could they have found something interesting?

Lately, Golden Reapers only seem interested in sword fights, so discovering something unusual feels unlikely…

Still, I followed along as the Golden Reaper trotted ahead cheerfully.

We arrived at the backyard where Golden Reapers always gather to play—but today, every single one stood still in a circle.

So quiet!

For beings usually brimming with energy, this calmness was rare.

In the center of the group stood four Golden Reapers proudly holding short sticks resembling swords, though too small to truly qualify as such.

As soon as I arrived, five Golden Reapers were declared winners in some sort of selection battle, and everyone cheered enthusiastically.

Was this why they suddenly wanted to engage in swordplay?

I watched indifferently as they celebrated, handing out awards. But surprisingly, the ceremony was short yet intense.

Holding their short sticks high, the Golden Reapers unleashed their willpower simultaneously.

“O Light!”

And just like how sunlight once fueled their beams, firewood flowed into the sticks, transforming them into radiant blades.

“Woah!”

I gasped in awe.

Lightsabers!

Each saber reflected the personality of its wielder despite sharing the same basic design.

Though their forms varied, the emotions embedded within each blade remained consistent: pure happiness and infinite love for humanity.

Perhaps these “human-loving sabers” wouldn’t harm humans even if swung at them.

Jealousy bubbled inside me.

I want one too!

Who knew Golden Reapers could craft such things? As I pondered ways to steal one, one of them handed me a cloth-wrapped object.

It seemed deliberate—as if presenting this gift had been their plan all along. The others watched me with bright, expectant eyes.

‘No way…’

Feeling the shape beneath the cloth revealed a small stick fitting comfortably in one hand.

‘No way, no way!’

Unwrapping the cloth exposed a handle resembling an exaggerated version of what the Golden Reapers held.

“Wow, is this a present?”

Overwhelmed, I hugged and petted the gathered Golden Reapers in gratitude. Though secretly guilty for contemplating theft moments ago…

Well, technically, I haven’t stolen anything yet, so I’m safe.

Hehe.

While rolling around happily with the Golden Reapers, a sudden unease crept over me.

‘What if I can’t create a lightsaber because I don’t know how to shoot beams?’

Anxiety surged, prompting me to rise abruptly and draw the weapon.

Channeling my willpower, I shouted:

“O Light!”

Nothing happened.

But wait… What does shouting “O Light!” have to do with manipulating firewood anyway?

Maybe it’s just their personal flair?

Deciding to try another approach, I shoved firewood into the hilt like when treating Mini Reapers.

“Whoa!”

A dazzling blade erupted upward, glowing fiercely.

And it stretched impossibly high—almost touching the sky.

“Mom, amazing!”

“Mom, you’re so strong!”

The Golden Reapers cheered loudly, marveling at the spectacle.

Hehe, I have a lightsaber now!

Even if it wasn’t particularly special compared to Spatial Cuts, the mere fact that it was a lightsaber gave it immense value.

How cool!

Just as I basked in the thought of wielding my shiny new lightsaber, however, an ominous creaking sound emerged from the hilt.

CRACKLE.

Like wood twisting under pressure.

Startled, I stopped feeding it firewood immediately.

Upon inspection, fine cracks covered the once-smooth surface of the hilt.

It might still work if handled carefully, but repairs seem necessary.

“Can this be fixed?”

When I asked the Golden Reapers, they merely tilted their heads and replied, “We don’t know. Ask someone.”

So, they didn’t make this after all?

***

Running, running, endlessly running.

WHOOSH!

Dodging another downward stab, the Student tumbled across the Floor violently.

The dagger screeched against the concrete, embedding itself deeply—a force no human could muster.

Confusion swirled in the Student’s mind as they fled.

What is going on? Was the Female Student who helped tidy up the library actually a serial Murderer?

Yet somehow, the situation felt far more complicated than that.

Certainly, this must involve an Object—and perhaps the headaches aiding in evading attacks are also connected.

Panting heavily, the Student pushed forward despite exhaustion. Meanwhile, the relentless killer maintained steady breathing.

A sharp dagger whizzed toward the Student again.

Reacting instinctively, the Student swung a nearby Trash Can to block the attack.

BAM!

The thin metal pierced clean through, creating a hole in the Trash Can.

Impressed, the Killer couldn’t hide her surprise.

“You blocked it again? How are you managing this?”

Indeed, dodging attacks invisible to the naked eye required extraordinary abilities.

Without the headaches guiding direction and position, survival would’ve been impossible.

“This can’t last forever,” the Killer stated matter-of-factly.

Desperately weaving through winding Alleys, the Student fought for survival.

Since the Killer moved unnaturally fast along straight paths, navigating complex routes offered the best chance of escape.

And those faint traces of golden presence noticed during dawn and dusk…

Though unsure why, the Student clung to hope that this friendly aura represented their last lifeline—even if it turned out to be a dangerous Object luring them into greater peril.

“Looking for a Golden Reaper, huh?” the Killer mocked with fake amusement before adopting a growling tone.

“No matter how great or powerful you think you are, there’s no escaping the madness under the moonlight!”

She traced the moonbeams with her fingers, wearing an almost euphoric expression.

GASP. GASP.

Breathing felt like burning from the inside.

After such a long chase, the Student collapsed onto all fours, muscles refusing to obey commands.

Scattered debris from overturned Trash Cans and Glass Bottles cluttered the ground.

‘Hurry, get up!’

At that moment, a low voice whispered in the Student’s ear.

“It’s time to die.”

PLUNK.

A cold yet scorching blade pierced the Student’s back.

Hot liquid streamed endlessly from the wound.

Flipping the body over, the Killer raised her dagger high, preparing to sever the neck.

Despite all the blood splattering everywhere, not a single drop marred her pristine form.

Through blurred vision, the dagger’s arc came into sharp focus.

Simultaneously, a beam of Golden Sunlight descended from above.

***

A magnificent golden trajectory enveloped the scene in a circular glow.

Blinding brightness flashed momentarily before fading away.

The labyrinthine Alley shortened dramatically to less than 30 meters.

The sinister Yellow Full Moon disappeared, replaced by soft gray illumination.

A comforting aroma reminiscent of sunshine wafted through the air.

Struggling to sit up, the Student saw it.

There stood a Golden Object radiating brilliance, gripping a single golden sword.

With a grumpy expression, as if dissatisfied with something, the Golden Object scanned the surroundings.

Meeting the Student’s gaze, it broke into a reassuring smile.