Chapter 493
Beneath the lush sky, a single Golden Reaper was walking alone.
His steps were heavy, and the usual lightness in his stride was nowhere to be found.
It was as if he were carrying an immense burden, or perhaps as if he were weighed down by all the sorrow of the world, walking slowly with his head down.
The sky was filled with round, candy-shaped clouds that drifted lazily by.
Below, an endless expanse of green grass swayed gently in the breeze.
The grass grew uniformly, as if carefully tended, and stretched to the very edge of the horizon.
Such a beautiful sight was rare.
But to the Golden Reaper’s eyes, nothing seemed to catch his attention.
He walked on, staring blankly ahead.
He didn’t even know why he was here, nor what this sadness in his chest was, nor its source.
Or perhaps, he didn’t want to know.
At that moment.
“Reaper!”
A familiar voice brushed against his ear.
The Golden Reaper’s antennae twitched slightly.
‘Human?’
In disbelief, he lifted his head, and there, far away, sat his Attachment Human.
They had laid out a white mat on the green grass, smiling brightly and waving their hand.
The mat was covered with all of the Golden Reaper’s favorite things.
Soft, freshly baked cookies were stacked like a small mountain, and sparkling, sweet candies were neatly arranged beside them.
From a porcelain cup, white steam rose, and the scent of warm hot chocolate drifted on the wind, tickling the Golden Reaper’s nose.
The Golden Reaper couldn’t believe his eyes.
He rubbed his eyes with his small hands.
But the scene didn’t disappear.
His precious Attachment Human was still there, smiling brightly.
The image of his Attachment Human only became more vivid.
‘Human!’
Without hesitation, the Golden Reaper dashed forward.
He crossed the grassy field, running as fast as he could with his short legs.
Finally, when he reached his Attachment Human, he threw himself into their arms with all his might.
As though fearing that, even for a moment, the human might vanish like mist, his small arms tightly gripped his Attachment Human.
The human smiled warmly as they looked at the Golden Reaper.
The smile felt like it eased all his worries.
“It’s okay. It’ll be alright.”
The soft voice enveloped the Golden Reaper’s heart.
The Attachment Human carefully lifted the Golden Reaper and sat him on their head.
Then they began to slowly look around.
“Such a beautiful view. It would be a waste not to enjoy a picnic.”
The Golden Reaper nodded.
The view from atop his Attachment Human’s head was even more special.
The candy-shaped clouds seemed closer, and the green grass glistened more brightly.
Delicious snacks and the Attachment Human.
Spending a picnic with the Attachment Human, eating treats, was pure happiness.
Especially since the Attachment Human worked for a place called ‘Black?’ and hadn’t even had time for a picnic, it felt even more precious.
It was such a cherished time, and the Golden Reaper wanted to etch every moment into his heart.
As they finished the heap of cookies and candies, the Attachment Human suddenly took on a serious expression.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t have picnics more often.”
The sudden apology caught the Golden Reaper off guard.
Why was this being said now?
A sense of unease began to settle in his chest.
“If I had known, I should have gone out more often…”
The Attachment Human’s voice was filled with deep regret.
Though he couldn’t understand the meaning behind the words, the unease inside the Golden Reaper grew.
It felt as if something terrible was about to happen.
‘No!’
Desperately, the Golden Reaper rushed to the Attachment Human’s lips.
He had to stop any more words from being spoken.
He didn’t want to hear anything else.
He threw his small body forward to cover the lips, but with the overwhelming size difference, his efforts were in vain.
It was as if he were a tiny fairy trying to stop a giant, and his resistance appeared pitiful.
“You’re kind and strong, so I’m sure you’ll do just fine.”
The Attachment Human’s voice was endlessly gentle, but the meaning of separation in those words shattered the Golden Reaper’s heart.
‘Stop it!’
The Golden Reaper clenched his small fists.
Then, with all his strength, he slapped the Attachment Human’s cheek. Once, twice, three times…
But his tiny fists were powerless, like hitting a cotton ball.
The Attachment Human simply looked at the Golden Reaper with a lonely smile.
“At least we could meet like this for a moment. If we wait, we’ll meet again.”
At those words, the Golden Reaper’s small fists dropped helplessly.
Instead, tears streamed down his little eyes like a waterfall.
Why couldn’t they stay together here?
Why couldn’t this happy moment last forever?
But the Attachment Human, as though reading the Golden Reaper’s heart, slowly shook his head.
There was faint moisture in his own eyes as well.
“Then, until we meet again, take care.”
With those final words, the Attachment Human looked at the Golden Reaper.
“My little friend…”
In that moment, the once brilliantly green grass field vanished in an instant.
The sweet scent in the air, the round candy-shaped clouds, all disappeared without a trace.
In place of everything stood the harsh, red-tinted reality.
The Attachment Human, who had been enjoying the picnic just moments ago, was now cold and lifeless, bathed in red.
‘Human…’
Reality was unbearably cruel.
The Golden Reaper could not bear to look at the scene and tightly closed his eyes.
Perhaps, if he fell asleep again, he could meet the Attachment Human in a dream.
Holding onto that small hope.
The waves of desire in the sky flowed endlessly down.
It was like an invisible tear, flowing endlessly across the sky of the entire world.
The network that had once been filled with hope and happiness was now submerged in a whirlpool of deep sorrow.
“I don’t need the office anymore.”
“I don’t need any more cookies…”
“Human, don’t leave.”
“If I sleep, I might meet the human in my dreams…”
“Human, don’t sleep too long…”
These were the faint wills of the Mini Reapers, lost in sadness.
Normally, such faint wills would never be heard amidst the noisy wills in the network.
But now, since no Mini Reapers were sending wills, only these sorrowful whispers filled the silent network.
The wills flowing from the children’s tiny hearts were the same.
Even if they had to give up everything, they would be content if their Attachment Humans came back.
But the Mini Reapers knew.
Those who had already left could never come back.
“Human, please don’t leave…”
Another small whisper flowed through the network.
The Lead Doll, who was listening to the hushed network, looked down at the Gray Reaper, who was receiving real punches.
After secretly resurrecting the Incinerator Golem, he had asked the Black Reapers to control the golem again, only to be met with their genuine punches.
The Lead Doll looked down at the Gray Reaper with a somewhat sympathetic expression.
He had probably done this to cheer up the Mini Reapers, but his method was too harsh.
At that moment, the furious Black Reapers destroyed the Incinerator Golem.
“No! My Golem!”
The Gray Reaper looked at the wreckage of the golem with an expression full of frustration.
“For the Mini Reapers, I did what was right…”
The Lead Doll, feeling like there might be a misunderstanding, quickly turned his head and looked up at the sky.
The numerous wishes that filled the air.
Unfortunately, the Lead Doll, who always affirmed everything, had lost the power to grant those earnest wishes.
“May there be a Valhalla for humans.”
“May we meet again someday.”
But the wishes that were now being spoken, the Lead Doll could grant.
As he turned his head, Mingming, with the Halo on, was crying.
“Ming!”
Mingming and the Circulation Halo.
The desperate desire flowing through the sky.
The soul interference of the Blue Immutable Sphere.
The level gained by devouring the Red Foreign Entity.
And the Dream Garden that the Gray Reaper no longer used.
Combining all these, the Lead Doll began to draw the wishes.
A massive amount of firewood burned, and reality under the control of the Gray Reaper began to twist.
The rules began to change.
Death became another beginning.
The connection between souls became a ladder leading to the next life.
[That wish was granted.]
[Now, death will no longer divide the Attachment Humans and the Mini Reapers.]
A massive city was created inside the Dream Garden.
It was the city of the dead Attachment Humans.
Once the city of the dead was completed, the Mini Reapers began to awaken one by one.
In the dream world, where they had entered with deep sorrow, the small eyes of the children regained their light.
And, as if drawn by something, they began to move.
A large number of Mini Reapers gathered like waves, heading towards the giant door at the center of the city of the dead.
The sound of small footsteps echoed in the darkness.
The city was quiet.
It seemed to have been waiting for someone for a long time, holding its breath in the silence.
The faint light filtering between the tall buildings was like starlight, and the empty streets were filled with the excitement of something about to be filled.
Then.
Thud. Thud.
With a heavy sound, the giant stone doors began to slowly open.
The light leaking from the crack in the door was like the first sunlight heralding the dawn.
The light grew brighter and illuminated the dark city.
When the door fully opened, a familiar sight unfolded before the Mini Reapers.
An endless green grass field and a clear sky with no moon.
It was like a Valhalla for the Mini Reapers.
A soft breeze blew, enveloping the Mini Reapers’ small bodies.
And through that door, people began to walk out one by one.
Their faces were filled with confusion.
It was as if they had just woken up from a long dream, looking around, trying to figure out where they were.
But their confusion didn’t last long.
“Human!”
The Mini Reapers began running towards their Attachment Humans.
The small footsteps were no longer heavy.
They were as light as birds, and just as fast as the children’s hearts.
It was the moment when long sorrow turned into joy.
The laughter of the reunited Mini Reapers and humans brightened the entire city.
Small hands held larger ones, and small bodies were embraced in warm arms.
“Human, now we’ll be together forever!”
The darkness, once full of sorrow, was now bathed in the light of hope.
