Chapter 131: Black Rust: Epilogue (1)

Dawn cast a soft light over the world, bathing the completely collapsed city in a subtle glow.

Just the night before, a strange gathering resembling a fairy festival had taken place, but the Mini Reapers who had distributed hot chocolate and cookies to the people were now nowhere to be seen, as if they had been nothing but a dream.

The campfire's embers were no longer battling the cold and were fading, but they were being replaced by the rising sun.

Was it really a dream?

The only remnant of the previous night was the dying campfire.

Yet, even if it had all been a dream, it wouldn’t have mattered.

The survivors, whose faces had been marred by shock and sorrow, now shone brighter than before.

Despite the grief over the city’s collapse and the loss of their homes and families, the inexplicable warmth and hope bestowed by the Mini Reapers seemed to breathe new life into their weary souls.

It was like magic.

But even with such magical hope, the skeletal remains of the city left a sense of despair lingering.

At that moment, a man spoke softly to those gathered near the remains of the campfire.

"We'll be able to do it."

The man’s words lacked context, but they were filled with hope.

“Even though our city is in ruins, it can be rebuilt. After all, this city was originally built from ruins.”

He urged the survivors to find an intact building, convert it into temporary accommodation, and start creating their new village.

“Of course, it will take a few years to restore the city to its former state. Moreover, it will involve a lot of hard work.”

“But together, we can rebuild not just buildings, but lives. We will transform this desolate place into a haven of hope.”

Although the man's words alone were not enough, they were sufficient to reignite the hope left behind by the Mini Reapers.

One by one, people rose from their seats and gathered around the man.

It was a rare event in a world where cities were continually collapsing.

In this ruined city, overshadowed by loss, the bricks of hope began to be stacked.

The man then carved a symbol of the new city into the large remnants of the ruins.

It was a symbol commemorating the magic from the previous night that had given them hope.

It was a burning Hungry Ghost made of marshmallow with a slightly uncomfortable expression.

*******The backyard of the Sehee Research Institute, bathed in the soft embrace of early morning sunlight, was a serene little slice of tranquility.

Dewdrops sparkled like tiny jewels on the freshly trimmed grass, and the leaves glimmered in the soft sunlight.

The sky was shifting from dark blue to a lighter hue, gently nudging the start of the day.

To fend off the morning chill, I perched on a chair, cradling a warm cup of coffee—my personal magic elixir—from the institute.

My eyes wandered over to the Golden Reapers, who were merrily playing on the flat marble floor of the backyard.

The strong aroma of coffee mingled with the earthy scent of the morning air, marking the start of a sensory wake-up call.

Every sip brought a cozy warmth that was a delightful contrast to the chilly morning breeze.

The gentle rustling of origami paper crafted by the Golden Reapers added a soft, almost whimsical soundtrack to the morning.

Origami had become the latest trend in the backyard since the Reapers had returned. I have no clue why, but apparently, origami was all the rage.

So, naturally, I brought a pile of origami paper with me when I fetched my coffee.

The Golden Reapers, with their tiny bodies pressed into the colored paper, folded it with adorable determination.

I was bracing myself for some major drama—maybe she’d accidentally blown up a building or something.

But no, we just headed to the rooftop for some privacy.

Out on the rooftop, I lit up my pipe, exhaled a plume of smoke, and looked at Junior Number 2, waiting.

“So, what’s the big secret?”

With a look of utter hesitation, she squeezed her eyes shut, pulled something from her chest, and shoved it in front of me.

On her palm was a Golden Reaper, grinning as if it was begging me to look closer.

“Actually, I stole an Object from Sehee Research Institute!”

I raised an eyebrow and let out a casual puff of smoke. “That’s it? I already knew. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Junior Number 2’s eyes widened in surprise. "Pardon?"

“Well, Junior Number 3 probably knows too. Everyone’s aware, except Junior Number 1, who’s probably too busy obsessing over her hammer to notice anything else.”

I took another drag of my pipe, savoring the moment as I watched Junior Number 2’s bewildered expression.

*******When I woke up, I had ten Golden Reapers clinging to my antennae like they were fishing for something. They were all so light and fluffy that they made my hair look like a party in full swing.

Trying to shake them off, I swung my antenna with all my might.

The Golden Reapers flew through the air, their little faces expressing pure heartbreak—as if their favorite toy had been snatched away.

Ugh, why did even more of them get addicted to antennas?

The backyard of the Sehee Research Institute was a mess of origami scraps, and Yerin, who had been next to me when I fell asleep, had vanished.

Plop-! Plop-!

I wandered around the institute, looking for Yerin and hoping to find something fun to do.

“Huh? America?”

Then I spotted Sehee, Yerin, and James chatting in the hallway near my containment room.

I had planned to pull a prank on James the next time we met, but to my surprise, he had come to visit me in person! How could I resist having a bit of fun?

I crept closer, thinking up the perfect prank. But before I could get too far, James noticed me and, with a big, happy grin, held something out towards me.

“This is the new ‘Large Gray Reaper Pudding.’ I bought it for you before it goes on sale.”

He thrust a pudding, bigger than my entire body, into my hands.

Wow, it’s gigantic!

The sweet aroma of the pudding was too tempting to resist. I decided to be generous and forgive all of James’ previous misdeeds.

I peeled open the pudding container and scooped up a spoonful of the soft, creamy dessert.

Om nom nom—!

Ah, bliss.

This pudding is simply divine.

As I indulged in the deliciousness, I heard something hard to ignore.

“Let me ask this again: Would you like to come to the United States of America with the Gray Reaper?”

USA?