It was as if a monster from mythology had been brought to life.
A massive body with 50 dragon heads.
It resembled a hydra.
The creature made from countless blood exuded an enormous aura.
Perhaps even the renowned Solvers might be stunned in its presence.
The aura the monster emitted pressed down on the entire space with tremendous pressure.
It was aggressive and violent, spewing forth an immense coldness from its mouth, and even if one were to sever its heads, they would regenerate almost instantly.
Isaac had created a rather astonishing being.
He didn’t seem clever enough to create something like that, though.
In a world already teetering on the edge, if such a creature had been unleashed outside, it could have been a disaster for the city.
However, the disaster had encountered the wrong opponent.
“Grrr…! Grooowl…!”
Of the many heads that had boasted their might, only five remained now.
The beautiful and pristine body was singed in several places.
In a completely tattered state, it stumbled on the ground.
Yet the will flickering in its eyes had not been extinguished.
It glanced slightly to the left shoulder.
It lightly brushed off the frost that had settled there.
“Graaah!!”
In that moment, one head lunged toward me with its jaws wide open.
Though I tore my gaze away from the monster, I was not completely unconscious.
I lightly swung the sword in my right hand.
The blue blade neatly sliced through the attacking head.
The neck that had lost its head lost its strength and collapsed onto the ground.
Normally, the head would have regenerated immediately.
But blue flames erupted from the severed area, hindering its regeneration.
No matter how much it thrashed and spewed cold from its other mouths, the flames did not extinguish.
The flames grew fiercer, mocking its struggles.
I swung my sword again.
Swish!
A clean diagonal cut was made on another neck, and the head fell along the severed line.
Now, only three remained.
‘Isaac’s magic power felt weaker from outside. It’s time to finish this.’
I extended my left arm toward the monster.
I spread my palm wide open.
Black flames erupted from beneath the creature.
Starting from its lower body, the flames grew even larger, engulfing it entirely.
The flames only burned the monster.
“Graaah!!!”
The monster thrashed around, trying to escape from the black flames consuming it.
But that struggle was utterly in vain as it flailed within the flames, its shrieks drowned out by the sound of burning.
As I lifted my hand slightly, the monster’s body slowly floated into the air.
Clenching my fist, the black flames engulfing the creature shrank gradually, eventually transforming into a black sphere.
The black sphere blazed like the sun.
But it was not warmth; it was coldness that filled the air.
Like a solar eclipse had come, darkness enveloped the entire laboratory.
‘May those who fell victim to a man’s desires find a much better place in their next life.’
I swung my sword in a sweeping motion toward the black sphere.
A long line was drawn in the space where I swung, and the black sphere split in half.
The black sphere disintegrated into ash and dust, scattering into the air.
Light returned to the darkened laboratory once more.
Beep─!
Beep─!
Beep─!
As the monster vanished, the emergency alert signaling danger was lifted, and a mechanical voice announced the situation’s end.
The barrier that had enveloped the laboratory was lifted. The previously closed pathways reopened.
I looked around.
This is troublesome.
I had fought while trying not to leave any traces of the Grim Reaper’s magic.
Yet, despite my efforts, the broad laboratory had become a complete mess due to the aftermath of the battle.
All the machinery was shattered, the floor was cracked, and the walls bore marks from the sword.
Hmmm….
What can I say to justify this?
Right. I’ve made up my mind.
I’ll just claim ignorance. I have no idea what happened.
─Thank you.
─I appreciate it.
─Thanks.
At that moment, faint voices reached my ears.
I bowed my head slightly in response to the expressions of gratitude. And I wished once more.
That those who had been sacrificed to the desires of one man might live much better lives in their next lives.
That they might restart in a world far better than this one.
Now then, I should start acting like a kidnapped girl.
But first, I have something to do.
I lifted my gaze towards the pathway.
My eyes narrowed.
I wish it had ended there.
How foolishly I had come to my own grave.
No. Perhaps it was foolishness that led me this way.
As the Grim Reaper, I must deliver death to the author.
It was time to pay the price for this act.
“Cough cough…. Cough!”
Vomit and blood spilled forth.
The corridor echoed with painful coughing.
Isaac leaned against the wall, limping and walking slowly.
The emergency return device he had kept hidden in his pocket had activated.
“Cough! Cough cough…!”
However, he could not be said to be safe.
Whether the effects of his healing kit had vanished, his body was completely battered.
His face was smeared with blood.
His body was riddled with wounds.
The usual handsome appearance was nowhere to be found.
The injuries were so severe that one would not dare to imagine it was Isaac.
“What, what went wrong? Everything was supposed to be perfect…”
A headache surged, and dizziness caused his thoughts to spiral.
Yet he did not stop thinking.
Trying to understand why he was in such a state, why his plans had fallen apart, he struggled to grasp all the misfortunes that had befallen him, but no matter how much he thought, it didn’t make sense.
The reason he could not succeed was ridiculously simple.
His knowledge of the original work and the protagonist’s absolute power.
He believed in these two things.
He never doubted that he could manipulate the world as he wished and firmly believed that his actions would inevitably lead to a good ending.
As all protagonists in stories overcome adversity and challenges.
He believed that he too was moving toward a happy ending.
All of this was a result of an overly optimistic mindset, arrogance, and foolish actions.
Naturally, even at this very moment, Isaac did not realize such a simple fact.
Instead, he was busy searching for the cause of his problems externally.
─Murderer.
“No! I’m not a murderer!!”
─You just want to win the game. You just want to win in the game and receive your rewards.
“No, no, that’s not true! I’m doing this to save the world… to protect everyone. Why can’t you understand my heart…?”
─You’re not a hero or anything.
“I’m, I’m the protagonist of this game… the main character…!! Cough cough…!!”
Anger and resentment coursed through Isaac’s eyes.
“It’s not over yet… cough!”
Isaac reached the end of the corridor, intending to unleash his masterpiece upon the world.
He planned to eliminate all those who hindered his story using the masterpiece and propel the narrative back in his desired direction.
He didn’t care if the masterpiece went out of control.
It would be better for the world that fails to recognize his nobility and ideals to perish.
“Everyone…! Yes, this is all your fault…. It’s strange that a world that doesn’t understand my intentions exists…. Tsk… hehe…”
Struggling, he stepped out of the corridor, arriving at the laboratory, only to find his body frozen in disbelief.
What he was seeing was unbelievable.
The laboratory was in ruins.
And standing alone inside was someone.
It was Lily, the silver-haired girl who should have been dead.
“Why…? Why are you alive…?”
Isaac’s eyes caught sight of the broken massive glass tube behind Lily.
There, he sensed that the great aura that should have been there was missing.
Why? Why?
His eyes rapidly processed the information from the scene, and amidst that, he noticed the blue blade clenched in Lily’s right hand.
No way!!
“How could…?”
Isaac could not articulate his words.
In that moment, the illusion of a skeleton knight in black armor briefly appeared behind the girl before vanishing.
Isaac’s eyes widened.
A faint smile crept onto his lips.
He knew what the identity of the skeleton knight was.
Naturally, the girl’s identity followed.
Isaac covered his forehead with one hand in disbelief at the absurd truth.
He shuddered with laughter.
“Cough… Hahaha…! So that’s how it was. So that’s what it was!!”
With a loud voice, Isaac gazed intently at Lily.
“You! You were the Grim Reaper!!”
No one could have imagined.
Who would believe that the Grim Reaper, a figure spoken of in the city’s ghost stories, could take the form of such a beautiful and small girl?
Once Isaac regained his composure, he extended both arms towards the Grim Reaper.
“Grim Reaper! Let’s join forces! With your power and my knowledge, we can save this world!!”
Isaac might have gone insane.
In a brutal reality, seeking to avoid it even slightly, he embraced absurd imaginings and spoke insane words.
The Grim Reaper fell silent at such madness.
Isaac’s eyes widened in shock as he saw her face.
Emotions began to surface on her previously expressionless face devoid of any hint of feeling.
Her gaze turned ferocious.
The small girl’s blue eyes were filled with rage.
Understanding the implications, Isaac raised his head and began to laugh like a madman.
“Hehe… Hahaha…!”
The insane laughter echoed in the laboratory.
Isaac’s eyes were wide open, and his mouth stretched into a wide grin as he faced the Grim Reaper.
“Grim Reaper!! Prepare yourself!!!”
With the remaining magic power, Isaac solidified the blood flowing from his right arm into a scythe.
A weapon fitting to confront the Grim Reaper.
Grasping the red scythe, he charged toward the Grim Reaper with rapid steps.
As the madman closed the distance, Lily remained still.
Isaac’s lips curled up even higher.
He thought to himself.
The reason he had come to this was all the Grim Reaper’s fault.
Therefore, to kill the Grim Reaper, he poured all his emotions into this.
Thus.
At the moment Isaac and the Grim Reaper crossed paths, a gentle breeze blew.
Step by step.
Isaac passed by the Grim Reaper, taking one step after another when suddenly he felt a line drawn across his body, and blood gushed forth.
With a dying gasp, Isaac fell forward.
From the wound, flames erupted, quickly engulfing his body.
The unscathed Grim Reaper scattered the sword into the air and moved on, indifferent to his death.
What had made him that way?
Had he always been such a man?
Or did this city make him so?
Or had he been corrupted by knowledge and power close to omniscience?
Perhaps all three.
The man who fancied himself the protagonist was swallowed by the Grim Reaper’s hand, his flesh consumed by the flames of hell, and his soul was completely obliterated.
I dealt with Isaac and lay down in a suitable place.
Then I closed my eyes, waiting for them to arrive quickly.
From the darkness, hurried footsteps could be heard.
And then.
“Lily!”
In response to Red’s shout, I slowly opened my eyes as if I had just woken up.
I propped myself up.
I met Red’s gaze.
This part is crucial.
I had prepared various excuses regarding the carnage that occurred here.
Now, I just had to act appropriately and deceive her.
In that moment, she quickly approached and wrapped her arms around me tightly.
My eyes widened.
Taken aback by her action, I flailed my arms.
“It’s okay now. I came to save you. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Hearing those words, my panicking arms stopped as if by magic.
Thinking back, it seemed that no one had ever come to save me like this.
Experiencing such an embrace was rare as well.
Though I had been embraced at the zoo before, this moment felt much warmer.
My chest felt tingly.
Had it been any other time, I would have pushed her away with both hands, unaccustomed to such feelings, but just for this moment.
I allowed myself to get a little lost in this warmth and embraced her tightly with my own arms.
It felt warm….
