The next morning, with a mischievous grin plastered on my face, I was hiding inside a vent along the route to the security room.
I was really looking forward to seeing how the prank I’d been preparing for the Blue Reaper since yesterday, using the Golden Reapers, would turn out.
“Here they come!”
After waiting just a few minutes, the Blue Reaper disguised as a Golden Reaper entered the security room with confident strides.
Since I’d visited in the guise of a Golden Reaper several times before, the walk felt pretty natural by now.
Once I confirmed the Blue Reaper had entered the security room, I slowly phased through the thick walls, sticking just my head out to spy on the interior.
Inside the security room, the Blue Reaper looked slightly flustered, being harassed by the Golden Reapers.
“Amazing Golden Reaper!”
“Wow, what a strange one!”
The Golden Reapers were hopping around excitedly, circling the Blue Reaper who moved differently from the usual Golden Reapers, treating it like some kind of fun discovery.
Though not as many as in the courtyard, there were an unusually large number of Golden Reapers gathered in the security room, which is usually unpopular with them. The Blue Reaper looked completely thrown off.
Of course, the reason so many Golden Reapers were here was because of me. While strolling nonchalantly through the Mini Reaper Garden, I casually mentioned to the Golden Reapers,
“There’s a mysterious Golden Reaper inside the secure security room deep within Sehee Research Institute!”
I dropped this tidbit lightly as if passing by.
And sure enough, shouting “Treasure Hunt!” the Golden Reapers began exploring every nook and cranny of Sehee Research Institute.
Although the Golden Reapers didn’t know where the security room was, that only made it more exciting for them.
Now, wouldn’t it be funny if these Golden Reapers figure out the Blue Reaper’s disguise and chase him away?
Hehe.
For some reason, whenever the Blue Reaper tries to get close to the Attached Human, I feel compelled to interfere. It doesn’t happen with other Mini Reapers.
But the Golden Reapers’ reaction wasn’t exactly what I expected.
“Younger Brother!”
As soon as they realized there was a Blue Reaper pretending to be one of them, the Golden Reapers cheered as if solving a great mystery.
That’s odd.
Wouldn’t they normally want to strip off the disguise and see what’s underneath?
Instead, the Golden Reapers happily munched on the snacks set out in the security room while the Blue Reaper resumed quietly watching the Security Room Employee.
The Blue Reaper looked surprisingly content.
My perfect prank… failed?
Annoyed, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
“Time Acceleration!”
While ghosting, I accelerated time and swiftly approached the Blue Reaper.
The Golden Reapers, used to my tricks, quickly sensed the time distortion and turned their heads in surprise.
Even though the Golden Reapers tensed up and started accelerating time too, it was meaningless since you weren’t my target this time!
The Blue Reaper, distracted by thoughts of the Attached Human, didn’t notice my approach.
As my hand reached closer to the Blue Reaper’s blanket, the Golden Reapers rushed over shouting, “How dare you harm our younger brother!”
“Hehe, I win this time!”
The moment I grabbed the blanket firmly, I released the time acceleration.
Time flowed back to normal, and everything happened at once:
The sound of Golden Reapers rushing toward me.
The Blue Reaper panicking as the blanket came off.
Security Room Employees turning their heads towards the commotion among the Mini Reapers.
The Golden Reapers clung to my fist trying to retrieve the blanket but, unless they’re Black Reapers, there’s no way Mini Reapers can overpower someone bigger like me.
“Tu-tu-tu!”
The Golden Reapers shot daggers at me for disturbing their younger brother, but I was simply waiting to see the Blue Reaper’s reaction.
When the Blue Reaper’s eyes met those of the Security Room Employee after the blanket was removed, he nervously adjusted his cap, unsure of what to do.
His body shook as if boiling.
Just like I expected, he started arranging strings to escape…
“<Please hide me...>”
But before finishing the message, the Blue Reaper froze, standing still.
“You can do it.”
A determined resolve slowly emanated from the Blue Reaper.
Then, raising his head slowly, he stared straight into the eyes of the Attached Human without averting his gaze.
Directly, confidently.
Seeing his reflection in the Attached Human’s eyes, the Blue Reaper smiled happily.
Thud-thud.
Footsteps echoed beside the dying campfire.
Men approaching greedily, inching closer to the sleeping girl clutching a sword tightly in her arms.
She slept peacefully, unaware of the danger.
“I’m sorry. But in this labyrinth, dying cleanly is better. Don’t hate me too much.”
The man muttered softly, then thrust his dagger forcefully toward the girl’s heart.
Clank.
Just before piercing her skin, the black sword melted into shadows, stopping the dagger mid-air.
The shadow expanded, engulfing the entire room.
The girl’s sword dissolved entirely.
The fading campfire was swallowed by darkness.
“What… what is this?”
“Another weird phenomenon?”
The three men formed a defensive circle, wary of all directions.
“Greedy.”
The shadow rose, taking shape, stretching to touch the ceiling.
“Hypocritical.”
Two sets of glowing white fangs and eerie white eyes emerged from the mass.
“Betrayal.”
The towering shadow took form, long arms extending unnaturally.
Click-click.
Its sharp teeth clashed as it glared at the men. A white flame erupted from its chest.
Simultaneously, streams of white fire, resembling tears, trickled down from its artificial eyes.
It looked almost monstrous, yet hauntingly sorrowful.
“Betrayers!”
Terrified, the men tried to flee, but couldn’t move a muscle.
They had already been ensnared in webs spun by the shadow.
Like helpless prey caught in a spider’s web.
The giant shadow began picking them up one by one, crunching them in its massive jaws.
Crunch.
Snap.
Gulp.
Bones shattered; screams filled the night, but the shadow absorbed even the sounds, leaving nothing behind.
After devouring all the men, the shadow vanished as if it had never existed.
The campsite returned to how it was when the girl fell asleep—except for one difference.
The pommel of the black sword she held had changed from warm yellow to ominous white.
A space entirely composed of sand—walls, floor, and ceiling—all flowing endlessly like a river.
In this sandy void floated a bright ring of light, glowing vividly.
Below it, the flowing sands formed intricate shapes: countless rooms and grotesque monsters, resembling a miniature maze.
High above, seated on a tall chair, an old man sat with closed eyes.
His stern face was pinned in place by numerous sand stakes.
Suddenly, the tranquil space began to tremble violently.
The once stable but fluid environment lost its form, shaking chaotically.
It started with the miniature maze, which scattered and distorted.
The bright ring intensified its glow.
Sand rained down with a soft rustling sound.
It seemed as though the entire space might collapse.
But as the old man opened his eyes and gazed down at the miniature maze, the chaos ceased.
His horrifying gaze, filled only with sand instead of eyeballs, restored order to the distorted scene.
A massive image of the Black Reaper appeared.
And its brutal act of devouring the men.
The old man, staring intently at the Black Reaper as if nailed in place, didn’t budge even after the Reaper transformed back into a sword.
