Chapter 209

The courtyard of Sehee Research Institute bathed in warm sunlight.

Lying on my personal seat there, I was eating pudding while watching the mini reapers wander around.

Since quite a number of mini reapers had departed riding cloud fish, the courtyard of Sehee Research Institute felt unusually quiet.

In that quiet courtyard, I spotted something rather curious – a golden reaper.

For some reason, this golden reaper kept wandering among people with an awkward expression, then quickly ran away whenever our eyes met.

While each golden reaper has slightly different personalities, this one seemed particularly unusual.

Every time I tried to get a proper look, it would vanish before I could make proper eye contact.

There’s definitely something intriguing about this…

I grinned mischievously as I stared at the spot where the golden reaper had fled just moments ago.

***

Thud-thud.

The black reaper carefully treaded through the thick shadows cast by the fake sun’s intense rays, quietly pursuing the attached human.

The attached human walked confidently in sturdy leather shoes along the gravel path.

But beneath that confident stride lay hidden sadness, loneliness, and despair.

Though desperate to rush forward and comfort the attached human, the black reaper couldn’t because the attached human feared it.

Feeling despondent, the black reaper lost its form and melted into a puddle like slime.

Peeep!

It let out a pitiful sound no one could hear.

“I want to comfort the attached human…”

“I want to play with the attached human…”

“I want to be praised by the attached human…”

Hoping to win the attached human’s love like many mini reapers have done, the black reaper seeped between the pebbles unnoticed.

As more people gathered around, the black reaper, now shapeless like liquid, flowed unnoticed through the cracks.

Suddenly, it froze.

‘!’

The attached human… is gone!

Startled, the black reaper swiftly seeped into the labyrinth entrance.

Upon entering, the black reaper was greeted by an entirely different space.

But none of that mattered to the black reaper.

‘The attached human is in danger!’

Though the labyrinth initially appeared harmless, once inside, it transformed into a dangerous “harmful object” intent on killing humans.

Moreover, despite entering through the same entrance, the attached human’s emotions felt incredibly distant.

Undeterred, the black reaper squeezed through walls and smashed through obstacles, rushing toward the attached human.

“The attached human feels anxious.”

Though the labyrinth walls were tough, they posed little challenge to the black reaper who possessed the strength to crush even alchemically forged metals!

Yet, the black reaper lacked the speed of a golden reaper.

Soon, the attached human began feeling not just anxiety but mortal peril.

“No!”

Summoning all its power, the black reaper transformed its body into sharp spines and launched them, piercing through multiple walls to rescue the attached human just in time.

Peeep!

Inside the wolf, the black reaper emitted a joyful sound as it executed its learned harmful object elimination technique.

First, infiltrating the body to destroy the brain, then shattering the energy-filled heart.

Breaking each vertebrae, pulverizing every muscle and bone.

Finally, tearing apart the head!

Thanks to the strong mom’s ultimate attack method, the wolf collapsed lifelessly.

To the black reaper, this elimination process was flawless and swift.

Mom really is amazing!

“Did I do well?”

Eager for praise, the black reaper emerged triumphantly in a celebratory pose. But the attached human’s reaction was far from expected.

Terrified as if witnessing something horrifying, the attached human fainted.

The attached human fears me.

The attached human is too startled and hurt.

Despondently melting away, the black reaper let out a soft “peep” sound.

Does the attached human dislike me?

The unconscious attached human twitched and frowned, seemingly caught in a nightmare.

Feeling sorry for the attached human, the black reaper gently patted its cheek with a small hand, though leaving only bloody red palm prints behind.

Deciding to approach differently, the black reaper resolved to stay close to the attached human in another form, even if not liked.

“It’s okay if you don’t like me.”

“I still want to be together.”

“Even if it’s a bit sad, it’s fine.”

Thinking these thoughts, the black reaper earnestly contemplated ways to connect.

***

The girl dreamed.

A nightmare of a monstrous giant creature with black skin emerging from a wolf’s belly.

Like an alien in a movie, it grotesquely tore apart the wolf and burst forth.

Trapped in this nightmare, the girl couldn’t move a finger.

Approaching slowly with ominous black luster, the monster licked her cheek with a blood-soaked tongue.

The sensation of blood on her cheek made the dream terrifyingly real.

“Huhk!”

Jolting awake, the girl sat up in shock.

Looking around revealed eerie green flames flickering, a shredded backpack, dungeon roses, and the decapitated corpse of a mutilated wolf.

It wasn’t a dream…

Seeing the wolf’s remains, the girl bent over and dry-heaved.

Even now, closing her eyes brought back the horrific writhing image of the wolf.

Dizzy and nauseous, she forced herself to focus.

Hungry and lost, staying put meant certain starvation in the labyrinth.

Shakily standing, the girl quickly checked her condition.

Despite encountering such bizarre phenomena, aside from some blood stains, she seemed unharmed.

“This caused that nightmare.”

Wiping her cheek, she saw the large amount of blood coating her palm and muttered.

What was that thing?

Examining the wolf’s corpse while fighting nausea revealed no clear clues.

She vaguely remembered seeing something yellow glowing before fainting, but her memory was hazy.

“Hungry…”

After the intense battle and subsequent collapse, hunger grew stronger.

Her limbs felt weak from exertion.

Ultimately, the girl stopped investigating the wolf and moved on.

Gathering the tattered dungeon roses into her pocket, she prepared to proceed.

Though likely unsellable, she took them just in case.

Opening her map book near the torch, she took deep breaths.

Scared.

Another wolf-like monster might appear.

And she might die from mysterious phenomena like the wolf did.

“But staying here will just lead to starving to death.”

Clutching her teeth, she tremblingly manipulated the torch.

The room flipped upside down, revealing a passage.

“To escape the labyrinth and return home, I can’t be intimidated by this!”

Shouting loudly to dispel fear, she cautiously stepped into the next room.

It was a mysterious chamber, indistinguishable from others except for a single sword planted in the center.

A sword unlike any she’d seen.

Compact enough for one-handed use but slightly short.

Simple in design with just a blade and handle, yet exuding unique authority.

The girl’s eyes sparkled at the sight.

“So this is what they mean by finding items in dungeons.”

Carefully approaching, she picked up the black sword.

It fit perfectly in her hand like a custom-made weapon.

Surprisingly light, almost weightless.

Though easy to swing, it worried her somewhat.

Is such a light weapon truly effective?

Its color differed greatly from normal swords, making it feel more like an ornament.

Still, as the first proper “item” obtained in the dungeon, excitement bubbled within her.

For some reason, the sword itself seemed happy too.

***

Initially thrilled after acquiring the sword, the girl soon became humbled again.

“Get away!”

Swinging the feather-light sword wildly at the swallow, it effortlessly evaded her attacks while flying freely in the sky.

“Haa… haa…”

Breathing heavily, she pondered her strategy.

Though the swallow avoided her swings vigilantly, this standoff likely wouldn’t last.

“Am I supposed to cut down swallows with a sword? Seriously?”

Grumbling internally about mimicking famous swordsmen, she noticed a change in the swallow’s gaze.

Suddenly, it darted straight at her at incredible speed.

“End of the line!”

Too shocked by the rapid approach to react, an unexpected phenomenon occurred.

Without swinging, the sword elongated, split into three parts, and instantly sliced the incoming swallow into four pieces.

“Wha… what is this?”

Stunned by her sword’s strange behavior, she blankly stared at the swallow’s remains.