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In the midst of the desolate battlefield, the New Black Reaper carefully cupped the orb left behind by the Scarred Reaper in both hands.

The orb was warm.

It felt as if the warmth of the Scarred Reaper still lingered within it.

“Senpai…”

The New Black Reaper sighed softly, looking down at the orb in hand.

The countless scars on the orb seemed to tell the tales of the battles the Scarred Reaper had endured.

Long battles, the pain endured, and the hope that was held onto until the very end.

All of it was contained within this small orb.

“I can’t just sit here and give up.”

Though the weight of sorrow threatened to crush him, the New Black Reaper’s resolve began to strengthen.

Sorrow remained, but a new emotion began to swell within.

Determination and responsibility.

“I won’t let the things Senpai taught me go to waste.”

In that moment, the orb glimmered faintly.

As if the spirit of the Scarred Reaper was responding to the will of the New Black Reaper.

Emboldened by that tiny sparkle, the New Black Reaper slowly stood up, holding the orb tightly against his chest.

As he rose from his spot, the emotions of the New Black Reaper began to shift.

Anxiety and hesitation faded away, replaced by a solid will etched in their place.

What effect did this shift of will have on the firewood?

Golden firewood spread from the heart filled with resolve, starting to change the body of the Black Reaper.

Something descended upon the form resembling the Gray Reaper, appearing like a mini reaper.

What landed upon the New Black Reaper was long sleeves reminiscent of the ancient god’s long arms.

The New Black Reaper could feel a powerful force bubbling up from within himself.

It was similar to the 1st Sword of the Golden Reaper or the Crowned Reaper, but it was a new power.

And the light of the Color Universe filling the sky enveloped the New Black Reaper’s body.

“Mom…”

The New Black Reaper looked up, gazing at the Color Universe.

“I’ll work hard until you come.”

With a small vow, the New Black Reaper took steps toward the base, holding the orb tightly.

Thud thud.

His steps were powerful and firm without any wobble.

Behind him lay the desolate battlefield, while before him stretched an uncertain future, yet the New Black Reaper did not fear it.

As he walked across the barren land, the light of the Color Universe followed him.

And above the head of the advancing New Black Reaper, a faint halo floated.

*

A splendid Golden Reaper spilling flames from its eyes rampaged across the Marshmallow Plains.

While I was admiring the sight, it suddenly struck me that the blade that penetrated the Golden Reaper seemed familiar.

In that moment, a sudden realization hit me.

“It looks similar to the Ghost Reaper’s way of filial piety.”

As that thought flashed through my mind, my gaze naturally began to scan the surroundings.

And then, I spotted something shimmering near the Golden Reaper with glowing eyes.

It was the Ghost Reaper.

Instead of using the usual ghosting methods easily found by mini reapers, it was camouflaged using a piece of cloth wrapped around its body.

The cloth perfectly blended into the surroundings, mimicking the environment like magic.

However, as someone connected to all mini reapers, even the best disguise was useless if I paid a little attention.

I stealthily approached the Ghost Reaper and quickly reached out to grab it.

“!”

The Ghost Reaper’s eyes went wide.

From that expression, I could read the question, “How did you find me?”

“Was that Golden Reaper your doing?”

I asked, and the Ghost Reaper just chuckled and nodded.

“Thief!”

In that moment, the Ghost Reaper shouted with resolve and pulled out a translucent, intangible blade.

Is it called a thief because it strengthens the blade?

“It’s a knife!”

And then it lunged the thief at my hand.

I had a hunch it would do that, so I prepared and snatched the thief away.

Just like I did last time when I confiscated the filial piety.

“….”

The Ghost Reaper’s expression soured.

Its face carried a hint of grievance, saying, “I did it for Mom…”

I raised an eyebrow, questioning, what on earth did that even mean, while poking its chubby cheeks.

In response, the Ghost Reaper flailed its arms and began explaining the events that had transpired.

“Filial piety!”

“Thief!”

“Auto hunting!”

The Ghost Reaper, being freshly born and lacking any Attached Humans, struggled with its vocabulary.

It was better than a newly born Golden Reaper, but still quite incomprehensible.

Yet, I patiently asked questions repeatedly to grasp the Ghost Reaper’s intentions.

“So you made filial piety for me, who loves auto hunting, and you made the thief for me to gain stronger power against external beings?”

The Ghost Reaper beamed with delight, nodding as if to say that was it.

“Really? Then I guess I have no choice.”

Conveying my will, I returned the filial piety and the thief to the Ghost Reaper.

A happy smile spread across its face.

Then, it raised one knife in each hand to the sky.

“Filial piety!”

And again, the atmosphere was one that seemed ready to stab me, so I grasped the Ghost Reaper’s hands and conveyed my will.

“Just don’t stab me anytime, and only stab when I say I need it.”

I firmly cautioned.

I didn’t want to be startled awake by something poking me while I slept.

While I was conversing with the Ghost Reaper, Golden Reapers began to gather around me with thudding footsteps.

“Mom!”

“My brother’s calling!”

“There’s a human too!”

The Golden Reapers that gathered around started spilling forth their will haphazardly.

What’s going on?

Tilting my head, I began to follow the leading Golden Reapers as they walked me out.

*

The courtyard of the Sehee Research Institute was like a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

All kinds of mini reapers were running about, and tiny animals no bigger than a fingernail frolicked freely.

In the middle of this mysterious scene sat a Silver-haired Girl.

Mini reapers were curiously poking at the sprouts growing atop her head, but the Silver-haired Girl had no mind to care about them.

Soon, she would be meeting the Gray Reaper, famed as a special-grade object.

“Will the special-grade object, the Gray Reaper really show up?”

“I haven’t met them despite trying every time I went due to my prophetic dreams. Will I finally meet them today?”

As if answering the Silver-haired Girl’s inner anxiety, a nearby Mini Flower Reaper whispered sweetly.

[Mom, they’ll come soon!]

Of course, this Mini Flower Reaper, who accompanied the Silver-haired Girl, would also be classified as a ‘special-grade object’ if measured, but the Gray Reaper was on an entirely different level.

It could appear anywhere in the world, and no one could stop it—a true special-grade object in every sense of the term.

Thud thud.

Just then, the moment the Mini Flower Reaper’s prophecy came true, the Gray Reaper appeared in the courtyard.

Even though it merely appeared, its overwhelming presence enveloped the surroundings.

The Gray Reaper’s gaze brushed past the Silver-haired Girl.

And with apparent disinterest, it summoned a giant Hungry Ghost to sit upon it and began watching TV nonchalantly.

The Silver-haired Girl’s mind grew muddled.

“What should I do? I need to talk about the dream… Can I just speak out of the blue?”

But the Gray Reaper seemed entirely uninterested in her.

It only gazed expressionlessly at the TV screen.

It rarely moved other than casually tossing aside the Mini Reapers clinging to it in annoyance.

“What if I inadvertently upset it by saying something?”

The girl’s unease grew.

At that moment, with the Attached Human unable to move due to nervousness, the Mini Flower Reaper took the initiative.

It approached the Gray Reaper with thudding footsteps and sent out its magic.

[Mom!]

[I had a dream!]

[It was a dream where you got stabbed by a transparent blade!]

Hearing that, the Gray Reaper’s expression shifted slightly, and the hair atop its head fluttered.

Then, it changed its posture as if uninterested and resumed watching TV.

It looked as if it was trying to balance on a massive exercise ball.

Though it still seemed to not be listening, the Mini Flower Reaper continued its magical communication, convinced that Mom was indeed listening.

[The Black Reaper looks dangerous!]

[There’s an external being!]

[The Color Universe is showing too!]

It relayed a series of short, intense messages in quick succession.

And, feeling like it had accomplished its mission, it returned to the Silver-haired Girl’s arms, nuzzling in.

[Let’s go back now!]

A proud smile graced the face of the Mini Flower Reaper.

With a puzzled expression, the Silver-haired Girl slowly rose and began to exit the courtyard.

“Goodbye!”

“You have to come again!”

From behind her, the farewell messages of the Mini Reapers she had played with could be heard.

‘…’

Once outside the Sehee Research Institute, the Silver-haired Girl finally seemed to relax.

But questions still lingered.

“Did the Gray Reaper really hear about the prophetic dream?”

[Yes!]

The Mini Flower Reaper’s answer was full of certainty.

“Really?”

When the Silver-haired Girl expressed doubt, the Mini Flower Reaper replied all the more firmly.

[Mom’s antennae were quivering. She definitely heard it!]

“Antennae?”

The puzzling words made the Silver-haired Girl tilt her head, but the Mini Flower Reaper just repeated, “The antennae are the antennae!”

*

Late at night, Seoul Forest was enveloped in silence.

Colored moonlight filtered through the leaves, creating shadows, and I stood alone with the Golden Reaper in my grasp.

Standing where the Steel Tower had been, I looked up at the sky, lost in deep thought.

“A Black Reaper vanished while keeping watch over Seoul Forest.”

As I spilled my will, I looked down at the Golden Reaper in my hand, who nodded in acknowledgment.

The Golden Reaper seemed really happy, smiling as if glad to provide me with answers to my questions.

“But a Black Reaper went missing and didn’t report to me?”

“Ah!”

As the atmosphere shifted uneasily, the Golden Reaper began to struggle to escape my grip.

I turned the struggling Golden Reaper into a plush toy.

“No way!”

The Golden Reaper drooped sadly with a forlorn expression.

I enjoyed the soft and squishy feel of the Golden Plushie Reaper and expanded my sensations throughout Seoul Forest.

However, no matter how hard I tried to concentrate, I couldn’t detect the presence of the missing Black Reaper.

Instead, only the unstable shaking of space was clearly sensed.

“I feel like there must be an entrance to get in around here…”

I began walking around the dark Seoul Forest, trying to ignore my slightly anxious feelings.