Chapter 99: Pudding Factory - Aftermath (2)

Reaper (MC) POV:

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I was having a dream.

A dark and gloomy dream.

A dream so vivid like reality that I couldn't feel any difference from reality.

However, the ability to induce sleep obtained by dealing with the Golden Tree made me aware that this was a dream.

The vast wasteland was littered with the remains of broken Objects.

Arid land and dry air.

For some unknown reason, this place seemed to be the 'Golden Reaper's Garden'.

The Golden Reaper was nowhere to be seen, and the place had nothing in common with it, but strangely, it gave off that feeling.

A black, sticky substance was oozing out from the debris of the shattered Objects, pooling around the debris like blood flowing from a wound.

Even though only the Objects were shattered, it gave off an eerie feeling.

In this eerie setting, people with familiar appearances were seen.

Ninjas in black masks and black clothes.

A swarm of ninjas extending to the horizon like black cockroaches.

They were bowing their heads towards an empty throne.

The throne was made of debris from the destroyed Objects.

Despite being empty without its owner, the throne exuded an aura of dominance along with its peculiar dreadful feeling.

The ninjas were bowing their heads towards the throne with expressions mixed with reverence and fear.

It was a reverence towards the unseen owner of the throne.

And then, a murmuring could be heard.

The unintelligible hymn of the tongueless ninjas began.

Though the song had no lyrics, the feeling of reverence it contained flowed into me clearly.

Reverence and worship!

An unknowable sense of omnipotence spread from the flame.

Even in a dream, I felt like the flame was growing by consuming emotions.

As I basked in the omnipotence that filled the flame, I felt a gaze upon me and turned my head to see a black silhouette on the throne.

Pitch black.

Bright red.

It was a gloomy appearance of mine.

The moment our gazes met, the dream began to push me away.

It felt like it was telling me not to come here.

The space that created the dream became blurred and began cracking like glass.

Through the blurred vision, an unfamiliar sky appeared.

In the sky, there was a moon burning with black flames and seven colorful moons shining like a rainbow.

***

Yerin POV:

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When I opened my eyes from the sudden disappearance of warmth, Reaper was nowhere to be found in my arms.

"Reaper?"

I looked around but couldn't see Reaper, so I decided to go look for it.

It was unusual for Reaper to wander alone in the deep night without any reason.

After passing through the dark hallway and going outside, I finally saw Reaper.

In the backyard of the Research Institute where a cool breeze was blowing.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen Sehee unnie lately?

***

??? POV:

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An imposing hall unfolded like a scene from a forgotten era.

In the center, a grand mosaic was spread across the floor, with intricate tile patterns telling various stories.

It was an exotic landscape and a picture containing a legend never seen before.

<Humanity killed the Gods. And then needed them again>

<The gods were cruel but protected humans>

The Director of the 3rd Research Institute read the inscriptions written on that mosaic.

The chairs and tables surrounding the mosaic, made of the finest wood, were inlaid with gold and silver, their surfaces smooth and shimmering with a faint glow.

Arranged around the circular table surrounding the mosaic were many ominous objects that seemed to be used in some suspicious religious ritual.

A freshly scraped skull placed on a golden plate.

An unidentifiable heart still dripping blood placed in a silver bowl.

Such things were neatly arranged in an orderly pattern.

After gazing at the mosaic for a while, the Director turned his gaze to the butler standing beside him and said,

"The culture of other worlds is quite exotic, isn't it? So, what is it?"

"The operation targeting James has completely failed."

"Ah, so it ended up failing completely after all. Now James will spread his debased alchemy rampantly in Korea too. We'll need countermeasures."

He sounded calm, but there was underlying anger.

"Wasn't it the Gray Reaper that even made Lophiomus struggle? What are we missing here? Is this James' doing? No, he shouldn't have that level of skill yet."

The Director muttered while pacing restlessly over the mosaic, then raised his head and asked,

"There must be more to report. Didn't the investigation into why it failed produce any results? Tell me."

The butler handed some photos and documents to the Director and began his report.

"Based on surveillance cameras and such, there appears to be no outside interference other than the Gray Reaper. Compiling the data, it seems certain that the Gray Reaper succeeded in dealing with Lophiomus. The Institute concluded an urgent re-evaluation of the Gray Reaper's combat capabilities is needed."

The Director reacted uncharacteristically irritably after listening to the butler's report.

"No. Absolutely not. There's no way something like that could have acquired the ability to deal with Lophiomus."

"However, based on the information obtained so far, there are no other possibilities..."

The Director grabbed the butler's shoulder and shoved him aside, then strode past him out of the mosaic hall.

"Investigate again. This time, don't bring back any shoddy results."

Turning his head to issue the stern order, the Director left.

***

3rd Person POV:

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In Gangseo District, where all buildings had vanished due to desertification.

The disaster that began at the Kkachisan Research Institute had turned the entire Gangseo District into a desert.

The damage was immense.

Gangseo was one of the more populous districts in Seoul, and that entire area had disappeared.

A camp for the displaced residents was set up nearby in Yangcheon District.

So many people had died during the desertification that not that many were at the camp.

And then an endless rain began to fall on that camp.

Drizzling softly.

A very small amount, but rain that never stopped.