Chapter 136: James City (4)

A tree pulsating in deep blue and these majestic walls... It was like something out of a dream.

As I watched the glass fragments twirl around in those mysterious colors, I heard James' voice cut through my reverie.

“We should head back now. It’s not good to stay on the wall for too long.”

Ugh, really? I felt a pout forming, but I just sighed and hopped onto the cart, cradling Reaper, who was lazily hanging in my arms.

I could always come back later to see it again, right?

We rode down the wall in the cart, which hummed quietly like it didn’t have a care in the world. James, who was driving, had this smug look on his face as he spoke.

“If you compare the time on your wristwatch with your phone right now, I bet you'll be surprised.”

What was he on about? With a huff, I pulled out my phone to check—and yep, just like he said, I was totally shocked!

I could've sworn I set my watch right when we landed at the airport, but it was nearly two hours off! Like, how does that even happen?

While I fiddled with my watch, setting it to match my phone, I shot a question at James.

“Is this whole time wonkiness thing because of the wall we just climbed?”

“Bingo! I don’t know if it’s the tree or the space where that tree’s hanging out, but yeah, the flow of time on the wall is a complete mess.”

Reaper must’ve found that interesting because it paused mid-pudding and perked up to look at James.

I mean, I kinda wanted to go back and stare at that tree some more, but the thought of time being all messed up made me squirm.

“Still, it’s manageable on the wall since time only speeds up or slows down by, like, fifty percent. But if you go beyond the wall, that’s where things get tricky. Even if you just spend a day inside and then come out, the time gap would be huge.”

Reaper's little antennae started wiggling like crazy. Hehe! It must be curious about what was beyond the wall.

Wait a minute... Reaper wouldn’t sneak past the barrier, would it?

I wondered about that while giving its antenna a playful lick.

*******Under the sky canopy in the Garden of the Mini Reaper, the Golden Reapers were having the most cheerful party ever! Their happy little faces beamed with joy as they gathered in large numbers, radiating energy full of life and love.

Right in the middle of all the fun was a Blue Reaper, looking a bit shy under a big ol’ hat.

It was like all the jumping, spinning, and running around was too much for it, so it pulled its hat down low, glancing around bashfully.

In front of the Blue Reaper, a campfire about the size of a Mini Reaper blazed brightly.

The fire danced along with the weak breeze stirred up by the Golden Reapers’ playful antics, casting a swaying shadow over the lively scene.

And oh, the campfire wasn’t just for show—it gave off the sweetest, most mouthwatering scent, like sugar melting in your mouth!

But amidst all the fun and sweetness, there was one thing that stood out: a flamingo made of transparent sugar, burning right in the middle of the fire.

The Sugar Flamingo was the one lighting up the party, having been reborn from a Glass Flamingo after it had hurt their youngest sibling.

< wouldn’t="" it="" be="" okay="" if="" we="" let="" it="" go="" now?="">

The Blue Reaper was the only one who suggested that maybe it was time to release it. But the Golden Reapers, with their bright, determined faces, just shook their heads.

They were pretty firm about how they treated the Object.

*******After we came down from the wall, it was already evening.

Even though I wasn’t hungry, I noticed Yerin looking a bit peckish. So, James, being all considerate and stuff, paused our tour and led us to the restaurant inside the institute.

At the buffet-style restaurant, James plopped down with his plate and said, “Let’s wrap up the tour for today. I’ll show you around the city tomorrow. Besides all the Object stuff, there are tons of things to do in this city. Plus, it's a great place for sightseeing.”

The bouncy fruit pudding looked sooo delicious, so I piled my plate high with it and sat down next to Yerin.

I could feel the eyes of everyone in the restaurant on me—probably because, you know, an Object like me was just casually helping itself to pudding.

Is it really that surprising?

It felt like they were looking at me the way you’d look at a parrot chowing down at a buffet. Weird, right?

But there was this one gaze that felt especially intense—and not in a friendly way.

Yerin must’ve noticed it too because she whispered to James, “That person is glaring super hard. What’s his deal?”

Despite its blank face, its legs were happily swaying, and its antenna was twitching to an invisible beat.

"N-n."

Suddenly, a wave of anxiety hit me.

Will Reaper really stay in America? Should I just up and move to the United States too?

The scale of the containment room James had shown us was so enormous I couldn’t even dream of suggesting something like it to the Sehee Research Institute.

As I wallowed in my despair, a Golden Reaper hopped onto my shoulder and patted my cheek.

“Are you trying to cheer me up? Thanks a bunch.”

I cradled the Golden Reaper in my hands and gave it a gentle stroke.

While the Golden Reapers beamed at me with their cheerful faces, Reaper was still busy riding the waves and swimming through the air.

Its expressionless face might have looked serious, but I could tell it was enjoying every second of this water park.

Reaper’s clearly having a great time. It didn’t even glance my way.

I don’t know how they figured out that I was feeling down, but a few of the Golden Reapers came over with concerned expressions.

I watched Reaper, having the time of its life, and felt a pang of sadness as I was comforted by the Golden Reapers.

*******The Wall Pressure Control Room, the very heart of James City, was the fortress of its highest security. It was a place where serenity usually prevailed, a calm amidst the storm.

But today, it was a maelstrom of chaos.

Emergency warnings flashed on the control console, their harsh lights cutting through the oppressive tension that filled the air. The wailing alarms underscored the gravity of the situation.

In place of the absent James, the Vice Mayor of James City stood steadfast by the main control panel. His presence was a beacon of resolve in the midst of turmoil.

“Everybody get out!”

His commanding voice cut through the clamor, a beacon of authority amidst the chaos.

Yet, the control room staff hesitated, their faces etched with fear and doubt.

One staff member, anxiety palpable, spoke to the Vice Mayor. “The escape radius calculation isn’t finished. We need to stay to maintain the barrier.”

“I understand!” The Vice Mayor's voice, though firm, carried the weight of sacrifice. “I’ll handle it. Everyone else needs to evacuate now.”

His words were not merely an order; they were a final, selfless command from a man ready to forsake everything for the greater good.

The moment they realized his intentions, the control room staff shed tears over his sacrifice and began to escape.

Realizing his intent, the staff, tears in their eyes, began their desperate escape.

Soon, the Vice Mayor was alone in the control room, now a hollow shell of its former self. The influence from beyond the wall began distorting the space, cutting it apart, and reassembling it in chaotic fragments.

Despite this, the main console continued its calculations with unwavering precision amidst the wreckage.

He drew a cigarette, placing it between his lips with trembling hands. His resolve was unyielding as he placed his hand on the control panel, a grim determination to maintain the barrier.

Beep-!

The calculation results emerged with a disconcerting sound. The Vice Mayor, hands shaking from the weight of his task, entered the data.

< the="" estimated="" range="" of="" damage="" is="" over="" 30km.="" abandon="" james="" city="" within="" 6="" hours.="">

The cold, unyielding message he typed was broadcast throughout James City.

In the midst of this desolation, the Vice Mayor remained resolute. He lit his cigarette, the smoke curling in the fractured space, a symbol of the world’s crumbling order.

Even as chaos reigned around him, he kept his hands on the control panel, his will unbroken.

He persevered in his duty, a final bulwark against the impending devastation.

It was the end of a man whose ideals had been at constant odds with James, now standing alone as the last protector of his city.