The six gems emitted a dazzling brilliance. Each color created harmony, showcasing a mesmerizing hue and revealing their presence.
It was a beauty that could captivate the heart.
However, that radiance was neither as warm as sunlight nor as predatory as moonlight.
Red felt chills run down her body.
The unease emanating from the glow raised the hairs on her skin, and the coolness began to freeze her body.
As the excruciatingly terrible magic power oozed from the gems and clung to her body, negative emotions faintly flared up, disrupting her concentration.
“These gems are the most valuable treasures among the treasures I possess. Each gem holds a special meaning and possesses corresponding powers, but… I suppose that story isn’t necessary.”
A massive energy swelled even more.
How much more was it going to grow?
But just as great power comes with a price, the magic power of the gems was also negatively affecting their owner.
Cracks slowly formed on Midas’s face.
Yet, seemingly unconcerned, Midas did not stop pouring his magic into the gems.
He was well aware that such actions were killing his own body, but he did not stop.
“Try this!”
A golden gaze full of determination crossed with the red eyes.
And then.
As the immense magic power gathered in the gems was unleashed, beams of light in six colors fiercely shot out.
“Hah!”
At the same time, Red braced her legs and took a step forward.
With her red eyes shining, her arm swung.
A thunderous sound accompanied the golden flash shot forth.
The spear, drawing a golden trajectory, tore through the light of death and destroyed the gems.
It pierced through Midas’s torso.
His body, now with a large hole, wobbled before slumping backwards.
Shortly after, a loud noise echoed throughout the arena.
The entire space shook violently, and the world began to slowly crumble.
At that moment, the golden cage that had been suspended high in the sky fell down.
With Midas’s defeat, the door of the cage that had been tightly shut opened by itself.
Red’s eyes widened slightly as she thought about how to save Lily, for a white-haired girl leapt out from inside the cage.
‘Wait?!’
The wingless human like a bird could naturally not escape the grip of gravity, so her small body fell rapidly.
Red chuckled.
A normal child would be frightened and curled up in such a situation. But Lily was different. She was anything but ordinary.
Or perhaps she jumped, believing that Red would catch her safely.
If that was the case, she must live up to that expectation.
Red jumped upward.
At the moment when the two crossed paths, Red moved her hand in perfect timing.
She caught Lily safely and pulled her into her embrace.
“It’s okay now.”
Red landed softly.
While examining the Lily in her arms, Red noticed a small smile on Lily’s lips, as if she found something delightful.
Red reached out her hand to Lily’s forehead. And then, smack!
Lily blinked as if surprised by the sudden flick to her forehead.
Thinking she was going to be patted on the head again, she was about to accept it when the flick came out of nowhere!
Rubbing her forehead, Lily pouted her lips, slightly sulking, but Red began to lecture rather than apologize.
What was she thinking, acting so reckless? What if she got hurt?
Lily, flustered, moved her eyes in a flurry before eventually bowing her head.
Seeing her like that, Red smiled softly.
Regardless of the reckless behavior, it was good that she had endured it and was safe.
Red gently patted Lily’s head.
Pat pat. Pat pat.
Though Lily accepted the warm touch silently, she quickly swatted it away, seeming embarrassed.
*
The situation was over.
Perhaps due to the aftermath of the intense battle, or perhaps because they had defeated the owner of the space.
The arena, whose role had ended, began to slowly crumble.
As if being sucked into the sky, the broken debris rose high into the air and disappeared.
They had to get out before this place completely collapsed. Otherwise, they might be trapped here forever.
“Just wait a moment.”
Red’s words made me nod.
Red approached the person who had kidnapped me to see if he had any remaining business with him. My curiosity piqued, and I followed her with quick steps.
I stood beside Red, looking down at the man lying on the ground.
He was in complete tatters.
The body that had continued to regenerate after being beaten by Red was now crumbling steadily, unable to regenerate at all.
“Turns out you’re still alive.”
Red murmured.
It wasn’t exactly a wrong statement.
But he didn’t really need to finish him off. It was only a matter of time.
The immense magic power that had been felt from the man was now reduced to mere embers, and even that was slowly extinguishing.
Noticing our presence, the man twitched slightly.
However.
Unable to muster the strength to move his body, he merely lay still even though we were there.
After taking a long breath, the man spoke with effort.
“Congratulations on your victory…”
“…”
“Since you won in a fair contest… you should receive a reward…”
“I’m not accepting anything you give. Just disappear as you are.”
Red coldly declined.
Despite the frosty rejection, the man emitted a chuckle as if he found it amusing.
“But if you insist on giving, before you disappear, tell me who it was that made you like this. Who disturbed the spirit of the Seven Great Transgressions.”
Huh? This man was one of the Seven Deadly Sins?!
It was the moment the secret of the immense magic power was revealed.
But what did he mean by manipulation?
Having no prior knowledge, I just quietly observed.
“After our fight… someone came to find me… a man who claimed to be a prophet…”
“A prophet…? Could it be that snake you mentioned earlier?”
“Yeah… It would be best if you didn’t converse with him… Otherwise… you or that guy will end up with a snake coiling around your head…”
“That guy? Did the one who survived also fall?”
“Yeah… That friend of Wrath is in the same situation as me…”
“Sounds fitting for a villain.”
The vacant gaze that had been wandering in the air turned weakly towards Red.
The almost extinguished gaze began to flicker back to life, and he continued to speak after repeatedly coughing.
“Just one… Before I go, just answer me one thing… You said helping someone is for yourself. What does that mean…? Money, honor, solver rank… what are you really doing all this for…?”
At the man’s question, my ears perked up.
Based on the context of the conversation, he was asking why Red helped others.
I was curious about that too.
Why would someone as strong as her go out of her way to help others at a loss to herself?
But knowing Red’s personality, I thought she wouldn’t entertain a villain’s request.
So I had more or less given up, but Red exhibited an unexpected behavior.
Red slightly lowered her eyes. Her thoughtful expression seemed to reflect seriously on the question.
Then she took out a cigarette from her coat pocket.
After putting the cigarette in her mouth and raising her head.
Just as she was about to light it.
Her eyes, which had glanced, accidentally met mine.
Red’s face turned startled as if she had realized something, and she returned the cigarette to her coat pocket.
She glanced at me with an awkward expression and said.
“There’s nothing grand about it. I just do it because I like it. Unlike you, I’m not the type who can just ignore people in trouble.”
“Why… what do you gain… for going that far…?”
“I should be the one asking. Do you need a special reason to help someone?”
Boom!
The man’s eyes widened.
Perhaps it was a response he hadn’t anticipated, his face was one of great surprise. His pupils were trembling.
I understood the man’s feelings.
Because I too was secretly astonished by Red’s words.
Who would have thought there would be a person in this cold, selfish world who would utter such words?
Especially from Red.
For a moment, I doubted whether it was really true, but it was not something she would say for show, given her nature.
It was so funny that I had to suppress a laugh that was about to burst out.
This world does not help others recklessly unless it benefits themselves.
The saying that if you want help, you need to pay first isn’t without reason.
What if you pay, but they don’t help? You have to ask for help with even bigger money.
Such is this world.
Someone like Red wouldn’t be unaware of that.
Yet the fact that she could express such words—was it because she was strong enough to freely say it? Or was her personality just inherently like that?
‘Truly a foolish person…’
Someone who does not fit in with the city.
A remarkably kind person to survive in this world.
“Hahaha… Really… absurd… a truly foolish… answer… It suits the gem I was trying to get my hands on…”
“You, a person like you, could never understand.”
“Yeah… you’re right…”
The golden eyes were losing their light.
Now, there was barely any body left above the man’s torso.
I could hear the breath of life extinguishing.
“As a reward for giving a satisfying answer… you should be careful of the Cult of the Grim Reaper…”
“What?!”
‘!?’
The word that suddenly came from the man’s mouth surprised both me and Red.
The Cult of the Grim Reaper?!
Why was that name coming up here?
“What do you mean by the Cult of the Grim Reaper? Are you saying this incident is related to them? Was there another purpose for kidnapping Lily besides calling me? Hey!”
Red bombarded the man with questions.
I prepared my magic at my fingertips, just in case the man started spouting nonsense.
“Damn!”
Fortunately, after spitting out his incomprehensible statement, the man could not continue.
The rest of his body crumbled completely.
Confirming his death, I withdrew my magic.
Boom!
As soon as the man died, the speed at which the space crumbled quickened.
Red picked me up.
She ran quickly towards the exit.
I turned my head to absorb the disappearing space until the very end.
I did not feel sympathy for the man’s death.
He was one of the Seven Deadly Sins, and surely many had met their downfall at his hands.
A villain’s miserable end.
Many rejoice at the villain’s end.
But I could not smile. A somber feeling washed over me.
His end overlapped with my image.
I was no different from him. No, I was worse.
After all, I am the infamous Grim Reaper.
Having led many to death, what kind of conclusion would await me in the end…?
Suddenly, I became curious about my demise.
