At late night, the park freed from the city’s hustle and bustle was immersed in tranquility.
In a dim corner untouched by streetlamp light, a girl was curled up, sitting there.
Her short hair covered her face, swaying gently.
The girl was fast asleep, tightly hugging an orb as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
“…”
The still somewhat cold night air reached the girl, causing her to instinctively curl up further.
Then, the light of the Golden Armored Reaper beside her began to grow stronger little by little.
The Golden Armored Reaper warmed the short-haired girl with the coziness of firewood, looking down at her with a gentle expression.
The Reaper carefully adjusted the intensity of the light and warmth.
While ensuring the girl slept peacefully, they took care not to wake her.
“Bad Object…”
The Golden Armored Reaper glanced at the girl’s orb with a slightly sorrowful look.
Though tempted to shatter it instantly, they refrained because the Attached Human would be sad.
Moreover, destroying the orb wouldn’t solve everything.
From the Reaper’s perspective, this orb was akin to poison.
A poison that transforms someone into something non-human upon consumption.
Even if outwardly retaining human form, the change would be irreversible.
“Mmm…”
The short-haired girl let out a small groan, curling up tighter against the chill.
Seeing this, the Golden Armored Reaper slipped closer, warming themselves further by burning more firewood like a cozy blanket.
As the warmth enveloped her, peace settled over the girl’s face.
The Golden Armored Reaper gazed at her, then closed their eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep.
Bathed in multicolored moonlight, a new ‘Festival’ was approaching for the short-haired girl and the Golden Armored Reaper.
Dawn painted the sky over Seodaemun District.
It was a special moment when the first light of morning outlined the city.
The short-haired girl and the Golden Armored Reaper sat side by side, admiring the view.
Their gazes fixed on the rising sun in the eastern sky, with simple breakfasts in hand.
The girl quietly picked up a cookie, taking a bite.
As sweetness spread across her tongue, a small smile formed on her lips.
The Reaper licked their paper-cup coffee with their tongue, wrinkling their brow at the bitterness.
Seeing this, the girl couldn’t help but giggle softly.
Though they’d only met the day before, they looked like old friends.
Suddenly—
“!”
With the girl’s small exclamation, the atmosphere around them shifted dramatically.
People crowding the streets vanished as if melting into thin air.
The sky was etched with familiar grid patterns, and white fog poured through the cracks.
The air’s density changed instantly, making it feel like being submerged underwater.
Though startled, the girl soon realized she could breathe in this strange liquid-like air.
The Golden Armored Reaper adapted immediately, swimming gracefully like in water, moving their limbs.
In the distance, red lightning split the sky, followed by an ear-splitting explosion.
It seemed like the signal announcing the start of the ‘Festival’.
Thus began the second day of the festival.
In the Mini Reaper Garden’s Marshmallow Plains,
Thick fog filled the area unusually.
The Blue Idol Reaper created the fog while I twisted the terrain, trapping it within.
With the fog-covered marshmallows, walls stood chaotically like a maze.
‘They’re having fun more than expected.’
This was a new playground made for the Golden Reapers to enjoy, but it gained unexpected popularity.
I sat atop a towering marshmallow wall, eating pudding while watching the Golden Reapers play tag.
Hehe.
Just then, a Golden Reaper darted around the maze in my sight.
They looked like they were being chased, glancing all around nervously.
Suddenly, another Golden Reaper with glowing red eyes emerged from the fog, shouting “Ang!” and lunged at them.
“Angde!!!”
The Golden Reaper started fleeing desperately.
It was almost like “Danger to the Attached Human!” level desperation.
The reason for such panic? There were penalties in this game.
Turning my head, I saw defeated Golden Reapers lying on the ground.
“Angde.”
“They’ve become [Term]…”
I tapped the protruding bellies of the [Term] Golden Reapers while enjoying their tag game.
It was truly a two-for-one deal.
Not only did it divert the attention of the biting Golden Reapers, but I also got to see their chubby [Term] forms.
Hehe.
While watching the game, one Golden Reaper’s movements caught my eye.
Given the rule that only the tagger can use ghosting, the tagger usually had the advantage, yet this Golden Reaper skillfully dodged every bite.
As time passed, the fog began to lift.
“Angde!”
“I won!”
The Golden Reaper with red lenses collapsed in despair, while the fleeing one jumped around celebrating victory.
I chuckled, grabbing the defeated Golden Reaper in my hand as they flailed their limbs.
“Angde!!!”
For the first-ever defeat of the tagger Golden Reaper, I decided to show off my latest creation.
First, I placed the halo of command on my head and slowly generated the spell.
[Become [Term].]
Simultaneously, I used the ability to make [Term] with the Green Moon.
Thus, the Super [Term] Golden Reaper was completed.
Hehe.
“This… is impossible…”
The Golden Reaper tried to get up but failed, trembling instead.
Satisfied, I poked their bloated belly repeatedly.
It was a delightful sensation.
Under the grid-patterned sky, downtown Seodaemun cloaked in thick fog had completely transformed.
The air, now liquid-like, wriggled as if alive, and countless walls cutting through buildings created a complex labyrinth.
Unlike the first day, the stage had turned into a maze.
The man leaned against a cold concrete wall, catching his breath while surveying his surroundings.
His heart raced, yet quiet confidence lingered on his face.
To him, this fog-filled maze was a far superior ally than any weapon.
His unique ability to perfectly blend into the fog shone brightest in such conditions.
He slowly rose, activating his power.
In an instant, his giant wolf form blurred, becoming indistinguishable from the surrounding fog.
Now he was the fog itself.
He strained his ears toward distant footsteps.
They sounded like sharp steel claws scraping stone floors.
‘Probably the participant who summoned the red lightning this morning.’
He continued moving, searching for the one who conjured the red lightning.
Silently gliding through the fog without making a sound, he followed its flow forward.
Rounding a building corner, he spotted his target.
A monstrous figure holding a massive bow with red lightning coursing through one arm.
It was truly intimidating.
Over 3 meters tall, with a bow capable of firing lightning.
If this weren’t a maze or the fog so dense, he wouldn’t have dared approach.
The man silently waited, timing his opportunity.
The red-lightning monster paced around, firing bolts skyward as if inviting anyone to come.
The man decided to strike when the red-lightning monster fired another bolt upward.
Slipping through the fog, he cautiously approached the red-lightning monster step by step.
KRAKK!
And at the moment it fired again, he leaped from the fog, tearing with sharp teeth.
Caught off guard, the red-lightning monster screamed and fell.
But it was too late.
The man’s attack was precise and lethal.
The battle was decided in an instant.
Extracting the orb from the red-lightning monster’s body confirmed his victory.
The man slowly rose.
A faint smile played on his blood-streaked lips.
‘This festival location is way too advantageous for me.’
‘I might end the festival today.’
He was certain.
That he wouldn’t lose in today’s battlefield.
The thrill of victory enveloped his entire body.
It felt like his wish would come true any moment.
[Ha ha, hahaha.]
Consuming the orb, the man transformed into a wolf with fog-colored fur, laughing through its mouth.
At that moment, the sky suddenly brightened.
A radiant comet pierced through the fog, splitting the sky.
A single beam of light connected the heavens to his heart.
[!!!]
No words escaped the man’s lips.
The moment he noticed the brilliant beam, he was already pierced through.
There was no sound, no pain—only the radiant light remained.
As he exhaled his last breath, he slowly voiced his hidden wish, dissolving into the world.
The end of a wish he couldn’t even remember.
A secluded alley in Seodaemun was blanketed in thick fog.
Amidst it, the voice of a short-haired girl echoed faintly.
“Is it over?”
Looking at the Golden Armored Reaper who had instantly returned, the short-haired girl asked. The Reaper nodded slightly.
At that moment, the orb in the girl’s hand emitted a faint light, beginning to absorb something.
The energy inside the orb rose steadily like clockwork.
50%… 60%… 70%…
The girl’s heart beat faster with the orb’s charging.
80%… 90%… Finally, 100%.
The moment the charge completed, a sound like the sky tearing open rang out, and a grid-like crack appeared.
Through the gap, a man began descending slowly.
Above his head floated a blazing halo.
The girl recognized him.
It was the very man she’d seen in her dreams.
[An unexpected turn, but this isn’t bad either.]
The man smiled faintly as he muttered.
Clap clap.
The man clapped, stepping on empty air.
With each step, transparent stairs formed in the air, allowing him to walk down naturally.
A bright smile blossomed on the girl’s face.
“Finally, I can bring my sister back! Thank you so much!”
She exclaimed joyfully, turning toward the Golden Armored Reaper.
However, the Reaper’s reaction was far from what the girl expected.
Upon seeing the man, the Golden Armored Reaper bared their teeth, adopting a fierce expression.
‘Why?’
Confusion crossed the girl’s mind.
Perplexed, she looked back at the man.
A chill ran down her spine.
The ominous aura emanating from the man’s expression triggered her instincts.
[You’ve worked hard.]
The man’s voice resonated through the backlight.
[Your wish will be fulfilled alongside the achievement of great endeavors.]
