Chapter 202

The checkpoint had grown quiet since hardly anyone was attempting to enter Mapo District anymore.

Still, the rumor that Mapo’s nights remained dangerous had kept most people away.

A few reckless souls still wished to pass through the checkpoint into the heart of Mapo, but when a Black Silhouette rose in the center of the district, even they disappeared.

The silhouette resembled a shadow standing upright, spreading an ominous aura that unsettled anyone who looked at it.

In this situation, Yerin hid behind the shadow of a vehicle, waiting for her chance.

Filled with determination to meet The Reaper, Yerin stealthily approached the checkpoint until she was pressed up against its window.

With the appearance of the black silhouette, the checkpoint’s defenses had weakened, presenting what seemed like a perfect opportunity.

Sneaking quietly…

While everyone was focused on the interior of Mapo District, Yerin slipped through an open window and moved silently forward.

Though association employees guarded the checkpoint, their attention was entirely on the black silhouette’s battle, allowing Yerin easier access than expected.

Once past the checkpoint, there was nothing to stop her.

Yerin ran toward where the black silhouette stood and also toward where The Gray Reaper was located.

An ominous Yellow Full Moon hung in the sky, casting its light over the empty streets devoid of any pedestrians.

Even the Golden Reapers who usually patrolled Mapo were absent, leaving the streets eerily silent—but Yerin’s heart raced with excitement.

The thought of soon meeting The Gray Reaper filled Yerin with anticipation.

She didn’t feel any fear; after all, The Reaper was invincible.

Then Yerin spotted something tiny moving on a building rooftop, no larger than a thumbnail.

Though distant and faint due to the darkness, Yerin instantly recognized it as The Gray Reaper—her sharp eyes missing nothing.

Even from such a distance, where facial features were indistinguishable, Yerin sensed The Gray Reaper might be in some kind of trouble.

Was something bothering it?

Seeing this, Yerin shouted loudly.

“Reaper, hang in there!”

Though far too distant for her voice to reach, The Gray Reaper turned its head sharply upon hearing the echo of her call and spotted Yerin.

It smiled warmly, radiating unmistakable joy.

In an instant, The Gray Reaper appeared right before Yerin, bounding into her arms with unrestrained affection.

As Yerin gently stroked The Gray Reaper, the environment around them began to change.

The hard asphalt vanished, replaced by soft, white marshmallow ground that stretched endlessly.

It was as if a fairy tale landscape had swallowed reality whole.

The marshmallow ground slowly expanded, creating an otherworldly scene where concrete buildings sprouted randomly from its surface.

***

After a week apart, the supply of firewood seemed endless.

Hugging Yerin alone generated more than enough firewood.

With sufficient resources, mini reapers, previously left out due to fuel concerns, were summoned.

First came the Giant Black Reaper, tasked with holding off the giant fake reaper while absorbing Yerin’s firewood.

The black reapers swelled to building-sized proportions to combat the monstrous fake reaper, which dwarfed the structures around it.

With a roar-like stance, the Giant Black Reaper engaged the black silhouette in battle, gracefully dancing across the battlefield.

For rescuing people, the Blue Reaper, Orange Reaper, and Sprout Reaper were called forth.

The Blue Reaper handled direct healing and relief efforts.

The Sprout Reaper could rewind time to repair collapsing buildings.

The Orange Reaper twisted probabilities to minimize injuries during accidents.

Finally, despite its poor efficiency, the Hungry Ghost Reaper was summoned. It seemed genuinely happy to be called upon after so long.

“Go wild!”

Understanding my intent, the Hungry Ghost Reaper conjured twin greatswords and charged toward the fake reapers with reckless abandon.

Summoning a Large White Hungry Ghost, I reclined atop its fluffy back.

Cradled in Yerin’s embrace, nibbling gently on the Hungry Ghost’s plush form, I rested peacefully—a perfected system of automatic hunting fueled solely by mini reapers and abundant firewood.

***

Inside a one-room apartment in Mapo District…

A woman cowered in the corner, clutching a blanket tightly in terror.

“Ugh…”

It had been such a blissful day, ending with playful giggles shared with the Golden Reaper before bedtime!

But now, the same Golden Reaper that once grinned warmly stood guard before her, teeth clenched in determination.

Despite having fended off a fake reaper with a gaping hole in its chest, another emerged stealthily from the shadows.

Watching the new fake reaper appear, the Golden Reaper turned back with tears welling in its eyes.

“I’m sorry… So sorry…”

Despite the severed left arm dripping golden flames like blood, the Golden Reaper could only weep helplessly, having exhausted all available firewood.

Unable to hold on any longer, the Golden Reaper dissipated into particles of light.

Awakening in an endless plain—the Mini Reaper Valhalla—it immediately rushed to The Gray Reaper’s side.

Ignoring everything else, it sprinted toward the human it had sworn to protect.

It might already be too late, but giving up wasn’t an option.

Arriving at the door of the human’s apartment, traces of fear lingered in the air.

Phasing through the door via ghosting revealed a horrifying sight.

A Bad Object grinned malevolently, swinging its sword.

The human, frozen in terror, trembled helplessly.

A massive blade of light loomed ready to cleave the human in one strike.

“Humans are in danger!”

Though arriving just moments too late, the Golden Reaper stretched out its intact hand toward the woman, projecting sheer willpower.

Desperately wishing to grasp space itself like a mother protecting her child, it found this impossible.

Yet, abandoning the human was unthinkable.

Into this brutal battlefield floated something round and innocent.

White Flames shaped like plump hungry ghosts drifted like bubbles into the room.

At the sight of these white flame hungry ghosts, the Golden Reaper ceased crying and raised both hands triumphantly—”Hooray!”

“Snack brother!”

As the Golden Reaper’s resolve spread, the flame-shaped hungry ghosts accelerated like missiles, colliding with the fake reaper and exploding violently.

Though immune to physical attacks, the fake reaper was powerless against the Hungry Ghost Reaper’s mastery of Flame Techniques.

BOOM!

With a tremendous explosion, both the fake reaper and the flame ghosts vanished without a trace.

Though startled by the sudden blast, the woman gradually calmed under the comforting aroma emanating from the Golden Reaper.

Pat-pat.

The Golden Reaper, now perched on her shoulder, tapped her cheek gently, prompting her to exhale deeply in relief.

But peace was short-lived as a loud crash echoed from outside.

BOOM!

The entire building shook violently from the powerful shockwave, threatening imminent collapse.

Panicking, the woman fled outside with the Golden Reaper in her arms.

Descending into the night, she discovered a surreal scene of marshmallow ground and mini reapers valiantly fighting.

A colossal black reaper battled a giant shadow, their fists clashing and sending shockwaves rippling in every direction.

Countless buildings crumbled under the force but restored themselves as if rewinding a video.

Blue reapers darted about the skies, determined to shield every person in Mapo with protective barriers.

[Protect the people!]

Exhausted from their relentless efforts, these blue reapers would retreat momentarily to recover before returning to the fray.

A flaming white hungry ghost provided warmth to those emerging onto the streets.

“Hooh-hoo!”

Even beside the woman, a pitiful-looking white hungry ghost burned itself to drive away the cold.

Its fiery presence emitted a strangely sweet fragrance.

***

The Hungry Ghost Reaper incinerated fake reapers, while the Black Reaper snapped the neck of the giant fake reaper.

Ah, finally some rest.

I should’ve brought Yerin sooner; underestimating the difficulty of this object was a mistake.

Looking up, the Yellow Full Moon shrank steadily.

As mini reapers patrolled and acted, the moon’s presence diminished.

Is fear fading?

Given the structure of the yellow moon, this must be it.

Daybreak approaches.

Once the sun rises, the destruction conditions for the yellow moon will be met.

After confirming its destruction, I plan to lock myself in an isolation room for a month’s rest.

Living on the streets of Mapo for a week has made Sehee Research Institute’s warmth and comfort incredibly nostalgic.

“How shall I torment the Yellow Reaper? They deserve punishment for all this hardship…”

Lost in thoughts of how to torment the mini reapers spawned from the yellow moon’s destruction, Yerin’s voice interrupted.

“Reaper, look at this. There are so many videos about you on TV.”

Yerin fiddled with my antennae as she showed me smartphone footage.

Golden Reapers marching confidently, guiding people to safety.

Black Reapers roaring dramatically as they threw giant fake reapers aside.

Hungry Ghost Reapers elegantly slicing through enemies while rescuing people.

Orange Reapers herding cloud fish to transport Golden Reapers.

How were these videos even captured?

Looking up, I noticed dark drones swarming the skies.

Thanks to the broadcast, I could sense the goodwill radiating from most humans within my perception range.

If this is the case, how many people across Seoul harbor similar feelings toward me?

The thought of countless admirers flocking to Sehee Research Institute felt troubling.

This potential disruption to my peaceful life there caused me to furrow my brow.

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