Town Square. Bathed in the light of the moon, our dueling ground was set. The children, unaware of what was happening, stood on both sides holding torches, while Cassandra was tied to a wooden pillar with rope, wearing a menacing expression.
“Wh-what’s going on here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Hey, why is Mama tied up like that?”
The kids whispered nervously, trying to assess the situation by quickly moving their eyes and heads.
Peter Pan looked up at the full moon and smirked uneasily.
“Alright, everyone listen up! These traitors defied me today!”
“So? What does defying you have to do with being a traitor?”
My words made Peter Pan glare daggers at me.
“Hmph! Anyway, these traitors are terrible folks! They even killed Tinker Bell and tried to use the magic powder only the king can use!”
“T-Tinker Bell is dead?”
“Wh-What the heck!”
“Hold on. Magic powder? You mean they were trying to use it instead of stealing it?”
The kids’ pupils dilated dramatically. Stupid Peter Pan doesn’t realize what he just blurted out— knowing how to use the magic powder means knowing how to produce it!
In the eyes of the kids, now filled with despair, a glimmer of hope long forgotten began to shine.
Peter Pan frowned, displeased with the kids’ reactions, and shouted.
“Quiet down! The king is speaking! To continue… the nerve of Siyoo! As soon as he arrived today, he challenged me for the throne! I won’t back down! I’ll face this despicable traitor fairly, without using the magic powder! How’s that for awesome?!”
You brazen liar. The kids forced smiles and applauded his arrogance.
“Your vocabulary level… seriously, how old are you and your vocab is still like this?”
“Shut up! What’s wrong with my vocabulary?! Hmph, sounds like some stiff talking!”
“…”
“What?”
I chuckled lightly before continuing.
“Are my words scratching your pride, coward pretending to be young? How long do you plan to drag this out?”
“Fine. Let’s start now!”
Finally, the moment has come. I confirmed there was no leather pouch containing the magic powder around his waist. Cracking my knuckles, I pondered how to teach him a lesson as I stepped forward.
“Peter Pan, why don’t you want to grow up?”
“Pfft, because it’s boring! When you’re an adult, all you hear is ‘take responsibility’ and ‘do this’—it’s such a hassle. I’m gonna play forever as a kid!”
“Isn’t that contradictory?”
“What?”
Peter Pan clearly had no idea what ‘contradictory’ meant.
“In other words, your words and actions don’t match. What kind of position is a king supposed to hold? A king takes responsibility. Dumb jellyfish. It’s a heavy duty to lead the people and the nation. But you claim you don’t want responsibility while still acting like a king. And look, you’ve even created the role of ‘Mama.’ The one who’s supposed to take care of and raise the kids.”
“Huh, hmpf! Stop sounding so stiff~ I don’t get what you’re saying.”
“Pretending not to understand, huh? You just want the power and reassurance that comes with being king and having a ‘Mama’ figure, but you refuse to take responsibility. That’s wrong.”
I reached Peter Pan and stared him down as he glared at me.
“There are plenty of adults like you too. You’re just a cowardly adult who refuses to take responsibility. Not a kid!”
I swung my fist straight at Peter Pan’s face. Honestly, I’m not much of a fighter, but I didn’t think I’d lose to a plain kid without magic powder.
Whoosh.
“Huh?”
Strange. I was sure I aimed for his face and thought I’d hit him, yet my fist sliced through thin air.
“Haha! All talk and no action, huh? Can’t even land a punch!”
An irritating voice came from below. Below? I tilted my head down to see a giant crocodile glowing green with its mouth wide open.
“My turn now?”
“d*mn it!”
I hastily backed away. Phew! The crocodile’s jaws narrowly missed my arm.
“Close one~ Next time I’ll definitely get ya~”
“Watch your tone, jellyfish croc!”
d*mn, how could I forget! Captain Hook lost an arm to Peter Pan, supposedly eaten by a crocodile in the original story. Meaning… Peter Pan must have transformed into a crocodile and bitten off Hook’s arm. Who would’ve imagined Peter Pan could transform into a crocodile? And it’s a fully grown crocodile bigger than me. One bite and it could tear off my leg or arm.
“Kyaa! It’s Peter Pan’s magic!”
“That’s his crocodile form when he gets really mad!”
The kids screamed in shock. Someone should’ve mentioned this earlier!
I quickly distanced myself from the crocodile. What should I do? There’s no way a bare-handed teenager can defeat a giant crocodile. Look at that thick skin. Punching it would hurt my hand more. And strangling it? Doubtful my arms could wrap around that thick neck.
At least the good news is, due to its massive size, the crocodile’s speed isn’t as fast as expected.
“Running away already? You challenged me to a duel!”
“We agreed to fight fairly! Transforming into a crocodile is cheating!”
“Nah~ If you count, you can transform too~ We just agreed not to use the magic powder~ Aren’t you dumb~”
Peter Pan approached me, clicking his teeth together rhythmically like a clock ticking.
Think. In my current state, there’s no way I can beat crocodile Peter Pan. For me to win…
“Ugh~ What are you doing?”
“What am I doing? I’m using tools like a proper human, you dumb beast.”
I snatched a torch from a nearby child and waved it toward Peter Pan’s face. Though he mocked me, he couldn’t get close due to the heat from the torch.
“So what are you gonna do? Just standing there like a statue?”
“Yeah~ same goes for you.”
For now, buy some time. Think fast, Siyoo. Can I k*ll the crocodile with this torch? No way. Without pouring oil on his body, this small torch won’t do much. If he charges at me, it’s over.
Click click click.
That rhythmic tooth-clicking sound is driving me insane!
“Since you won’t attack, I will!”
Peter Pan, in crocodile form, charged at me with sharp teeth bared. Screw it, I threw the torch into his mouth.
Startled by the sudden attack, Peter Pan tried to turn his head but ended up reflexively biting the torch. He twisted his head in pain.
“Ahhh! Hot!!”
Peter Pan spat out the torch, tears streaming down his face. His tongue was swollen bright red. Good, even if I can’t k*ll him, I can still cause him pain!
I reached for another child’s torch, thinking this was my chance to burn him while he’s distracted!
But my hands met nothing. The kids, scared of Peter Pan’s wrath, turned their backs and held onto their torches tightly.
“We can’t give you the torch!”
Are you kidding me?!
“You guys want to escape Peter Pan’s control, right?! I can do it!”
“N-No way! If we help you, Peter Pan will drag us away and we’ll never return!”
“But if I win, that won’t happen! Gah! Fine! Call me the Black Reaper then!”
“The Black Reaper?”
At the mention of ‘reaper,’ the kids’ expressions changed. The child in front of me hesitated, trembling while holding the torch.
“It’s too late now~”
Suddenly, my vision flipped. From above to below. Ah, I’m falling. Something thick and hard struck my ankle.
Thud.
Pain shot through my palms and knees as I hit the ground. The crocodile’s massive tail swept past, having knocked my legs out from under me. Peter Pan stood before me, having recovered from the swollen tongue, his shadow looming large.
“Hahaha! The subjects are on my side~ Because I’m the king! Siyoo, you’re finished! Black Reaper, my foot! I’ll eat half of you and turn the rest into magic powder! Nom nom~”
“Ah, cr*p.”
As I stared at the crocodile’s gaping maw inches from my face, I thought.
Is this the bad ending?
