Chapter 220

Within the space right in front of me, a tear appeared, clearly inviting me in. For some reason, I had this feeling even though I didn’t know why. But I was hesitating about whether or not to step through. After coming back to my senses from the illusion, I started feeling like I’d already enjoyed enough adventure. Besides, it also seemed like there was no need to proceed further in this labyrinth without any tyrannosaurs. Turning away from the rift in space, I glanced at the Black Reapers, who looked genuinely cheerful. They didn’t seem fazed by the sudden change in environment at all. Just moments ago, they were locked in fierce combat, but now they were happily running around as if they’d forgotten everything. The inside of the labyrinth had transformed into compacted sand, and the Black Reapers were treating it like a giant ball pit, playing around with it.

They were swimming through the sand like it was a pool and throwing little grains at each other for fun. Well, I kind of understood. Ball pits are irresistible; they have a certain charm that’s hard to resist. I thought maybe it wasn’t age—it was scale. If there was a ball pit big enough for adults to jump into and play, everyone would love it. That’s my expert opinion as a former researcher, so it must be correct. I should definitely ask Sehee Research Institute to build a supermassive ball pit later. Hehe.

As everyone was enjoying themselves with the sand, one lone Black Reaper sat off to the side, looking despondent. It was the Deviant Reaper, the one who threw that infamous “Deviant Punch” at me earlier. The Deviant Reaper’s melancholy expression made it look like its body was melting into a puddle. It seemed worried about its Attached Human Girl, sitting near her sleeping face while endlessly waiting for her to wake up.

At that moment, the gloomy Deviant Reaper suddenly perked up, turning its gaze toward the girl. “Ugh… Umm…” A voice so soft it was barely audible—but the Deviant Reaper’s eyes widened instantly as it sprang up and dashed toward the Attached Human. Running across the sand with a splash, it clung to the girl’s cheek like glue. Simultaneously, emotions began to rise from the girl’s body, clear evidence that she was waking up. Sensing this, the Deviant Reaper rubbed its cheek against hers affectionately.

Watching them made me miss Yerin. I’ve got to wrap things up here quickly and head back to Sehee Research Institute.

***

The first thing the girl saw upon opening her eyes was a sky where sand flowed like rivers. And the squishy sensation on her cheek. Grabbing whatever was stuck there, she felt it wriggle in protest. The warmth and softness gave her an idea of what it was. Blinking her still-blurry eyes, she looked down at the small figure in her hand. There it was—beaming up at her with a bright face. Black skin, glowing white and yellow Odd Eyes, and an expression radiating pure affection. Her Black Sword, her guardian angel, her Black Fairy.

“Were you waiting for me to wake up?” Smiling faintly, the girl gently tickled the Black Fairy’s cheeks. In response, it grinned widely and clasped her finger tightly with its tiny hand.

After playing with it for a bit, the girl slowly stood up and looked around. Everything had changed since she lost consciousness in the labyrinth. The upside-down trees and falling snow were gone, replaced by a slightly warm temperature instead of the chilly cold. But the most surprising sight was yet to come.

“Gray Reaper!”

There it was—the Gray Reaper, Korea’s top-tier object, with its grayish skin and piercing yellow glow. The girl alternated her gaze between the Gray Reaper and the Black Fairy in her grasp, finally realizing something.

‘Black Fairy’ was actually ‘Black Reaper.’ Now that she thought about it, they did look quite similar—why hadn’t she noticed before? Yet strangely, the two didn’t feel alike at all.

Ah, it’s the expressions. The Gray Reaper wore an emotionless face filled with subtle dissatisfaction, while the Black Reaper lit up the area with its cheerful grin. Plus, those cute sharp teeth added extra charm!

Compared to the Gray Reaper, the Black Reaper had an entirely different aura until you met the Gray Reaper in person. So, the black-armored object must have been the Gray Reaper all along. The Black Reaper’s Black Sword-like armor, their similar height of about 1 meter, the disappearance of the black armor—all pointed to this conclusion. While not 100% sure, the evidence was compelling enough.

Meanwhile, numerous Black Reapers resembling the black armor were swimming and playing in the sand.

A Black Reaper throwing sand.

A Black Reaper swimming through the sand.

And a Black Reaper digging up a large human figure buried within.

“Huh?”

The armor being excavated by the Black Reapers was familiar—it was the ancient-looking armor hanging in the corner of Dog Meat Man’s shop.

“Ahh! Uncle!” Checking closely, the girl found him merely asleep. She sighed in relief. Knowing she herself had been trapped in a dream, she immediately understood his condition.

He must be caught in the labyrinth’s illusion too. Believing that Uncle, an expert in labyrinths, would wake up soon since she, a beginner, already had, the girl decided to wait patiently while watching the Black Reapers play, with one perched on her shoulder.

***

‘Guess I should go in after all.’

I ultimately decided to enter the rift. This labyrinth object didn’t seem bent on killing humans, but it was certainly harmful. Breaking through easily thanks to automatic Black Reaper armor hunting reminded me how strong even the swallows on the first floor were. They weren’t something ordinary people could handle just by being handed weapons.

Making up my mind, I thrust my hand into the unstable rift. It was a chaotic passage, even too rough for Mini Reapers to pass through smoothly. Confirming the state of the tunnel only made me less eager to proceed. Still, delaying would make it worse, so I shoved my entire body into the rift.

Ssschh… Ssschh…

My physically immune skin kept getting cut and regenerating repeatedly in the unstable space. What does it feel like to be swept into a whirlpool? Like a paper boat caught in a violent storm, I tumbled and flipped through the void. Finally reaching the destination, the turbulent flow ceased, allowing me to stand firmly on solid ground—a firm sandy floor beneath a pitch-black night sky devoid of stars or moon. On a low platform with nine steps rested a throne. And intertwined with the sand, eroded almost completely, sat an old man fused with the throne.

The entire sand kingdom and its throne were crumbling into dust. It was obvious that this overwhelming presence of the throne and the old man formed the core of the labyrinth.

[You’ve come.]

Then, a weary will resonated throughout the space. A centuries-old pain echoed, stemming from chasing a single purpose without achieving anything.

[Let’s begin then.]

With that, the sand filling the desert slowly gathered, forming sharp spears that aimed at me before launching at high speed.

I stared at the sand spear and gripped the air forcefully, trying to manipulate space. However, my ability failed to activate—I was clutching nothing but empty air.

Thud!

A massive spear pierced through my stomach, pinning me and rolling me across the harsh sand, leaving countless wounds on my body.

‘Why?’

Even as the wounds healed instantly, questions flooded my mind. Why couldn’t I cut through space? Why wasn’t physical immunity working? Was my power sealed again like with the Leader?

But this felt different from a simple seal. Trapped in this baffling situation, I instinctively used my ‘eyes’ to check the old man’s destruction conditions.

[Climb the steps to reach beside the throne.]

[Die in this world.]

Two conditions popped up, overlapping like a malfunctioning program, making them hard to read. Since this had never happened before, I immediately deduced one was fake. The moment I identified the conditions, I sprinted toward the throne steps.

There was one reason: I didn’t know my own death condition. Though I suspected “dying when firewood runs out,” I wasn’t certain. Moreover, the sand spears were powerful but took considerable time to gather. Even for someone short and clumsy like me, nine steps were manageable.

Feeling the gritty sand underfoot, I moved forward swiftly. Even as I reached the first step, the slow-moving sand showed no signs of gathering.

I won. Even if a spear comes now, I can make it!

Placing my foot on the first step, searing pain surged through my body. It felt like being crushed under immense pressure. Looking up, I saw a glowing halo floating above my head.

A halo hovered above me. Apparently, powerful objects aren’t easy to defeat.

Still, this much I could endure. Clenching my teeth, I ascended another step.

On the second step—

Boom!

Something exploded. My eyes felt like they were being shredded.

Ah, aaaah!

Gripping my eyes with both hands, I opened my mouth wide as if screaming.

Ah, I get it now.

My eyes burst. Two halos floated above my head. My entire body began trembling violently, ready to explode. Red embers streamed endlessly from my empty eye sockets.

It hurts. Hurts so much.

I climbed two steps. Two halos hovered above me. And there were nine steps in total!

Ha, hahaha.

Nine halos? That’s impossible.

Clearly, [Die in this world.] was the real answer. The weight of the halos pressing down grew heavier by the second. Standing on the steps became increasingly difficult.

Will I die when I run out of firewood?

I plunged my hand into my chest to force out the burning embers. Feeling the scorching heat, I tried to pull them out when—

Pii!

A small sound came from my shoulder. The Defiant Reaper, who should’ve been playing with its attached human beyond the rift, was there.

‘Mom, don’t give up!’

The Defiant Reaper exuded determination, climbing rapidly onto my hair and staring resolutely at the two halos above my head. Then, it leapt up, grabbing one halo and pulling it onto its own head. Despite being enormous compared to the Black Reaper, the halo shrank to fit its size instantly.

Though its body was torn apart, and red embers streamed from its eyes like blood, the mini-sized Defiant Reaper smiled brightly, radiating resolve.

‘Now it’s okay! Mom!’