READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 5
Even a flock of sheep is just a tasty snack in front of a wolf.
In a battlefield that transcends human boundaries, numbers mean nothing.
Sure, the radical faction struck first, but watching the scene unfold before me made me feel a flicker of sympathy for the sheep.
“Gahk!”
“Kugh!”
With a single kick, a person flew into a building, and with a single punch, it was like bowling pins scattering everywhere.
Normally, regular folks would realize they were outmatched and run for their lives.
“““For the Grim Reaper!!”””
Their fierce belief erased any fears they had.
With a roar, the radical faction hurled stones at Red with all their might.
Maybe they had already strayed far from the realm of regular people; they were surprisingly agile.
But before they could even pierce a hole in Red’s body, a loud *thud* resonated, and the rocks flew into the air.
Their momentum was strong, but Red’s punch left chests caved in and faces smashed.
Of course, they weren’t complete idiots.
Realizing a frontal assault wouldn’t work, they tried to catch her off guard from the sides, taking advantage of openings.
Due to the lack of eyes on their backs, such sneak attacks might be dangerous.
Thwack! She threw punches at a speed they couldn’t follow.
In that manner, Red toyed with the enemies using movements too enormous for mere mortals to catch up with.
To top it off, Red wasn’t even going all out. She was simply batting them around like a child at play.
The enemies fell one after another without even being able to scratch her.
Still, they refused to give up.
But you can’t take down a formidable opponent with sheer spirit alone.
Their faith was overflowing, but they were drastically lacking in reflexes, strength, speed, and every other aspect compared to Red.
Three minutes passed.
The ruckus that unfolded in front of the shop was wrapped up in the time it took to boil instant noodles.
Red’s face showed no sign of exhaustion.
“Is that all? I didn’t even break a sweat.”
This was the crime killer, Red.
Definitely a person to be wary of.
I made a mental note to be cautious not to reveal my identity in front of her.
*
“The old skills remain strong.”
The Shop Owner glanced around in admiration.
At his compliment, Red shrugged her shoulders slightly.
“Not much; it’s just that they’re weak.”
Red intertwined her fingers and stretched upwards toward the sky.
Then, after lowering her hands, she rolled her neck lightly.
“Anyway, I guess we should ask why they attacked us.”
She looked down at the ones lying on the ground, then approached the one who appeared to be the leader.
Bending her knees in front of the fallen guy and grabbing his arm, she twisted it mercilessly.
His body jerked, and he screamed.
He tried to resist the pain, but he couldn’t escape her grip.
When Red loosened her hold on his arm for the sake of conversation, he gasped for breath.
“Why did you come here?”
“It’s all for the Grim Reaper…”
“Why did you attack us?”
“It’s all for the Grim Reaper…”
Not satisfied with his answer, Red twisted his arm to the limit.
He struggled and drooled.
“Can’t you come up with something better than the usual ‘The Grim Reaper gave us a command’? If you think I’ll buy that nonsense, you’re sorely mistaken.”
Her indifferent gaze and flat tone were chilling. Ugh. Just as the rumors said, she was merciless.
“Even if you punish us… our faith will never waver! Even pain and death are the blessings bestowed upon us by the Grim Reaper.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Gyaaaaah!”
Even as he screamed in pain, the crazed light in his eyes peeked through the cracks of his shattered mask.
He was pitifully weak, but witnessing such fanatic devotion sent shivers down my spine.
Definitely a creepy bunch.
“The Grim Reaper is the one who will save this world!!”
He stretched out the arm that wasn’t restrained, his hand sparkling in the sunlight.
What he held was a small dagger.
In a final desperate act, he tried to throw the dagger and take someone with him.
“Hey, where do you think you’re waving that hand in front of people? Don’t know what happens to misbehaving hands?”
He was caught by Red and rendered utterly helpless.
As she applied pressure, there was a sickening crunch, and his hand shattered.
The dagger fell to the floor, and he slumped over, seemingly unconscious.
“I didn’t kill you. Not yet; I still don’t have the answers.”
Red stood up.
As she dusted off her backside and turned towards us, the one I thought had lost consciousness lifted his head.
“For the Grim Reaper!”
He opened his mouth wide.
Something within sparkled and glowed, and then something shot out.
Red swiftly swung her hand to deflect it, but she missed one of the light bullets that followed.
She turned her head sharply.
Red was about to dash over to swat it away, but the guy had tightly gripped her arm with all his strength, causing a delay.
In that split second, the chance to save was slipping away.
A bullet fired almost randomly was heading straight for the Shop Owner’s heart.
Under normal circumstances, the Shop Owner’s life would’ve ended right there.
But I was here.
Sorry, but I can’t let someone who creates happiness die here.
Smack!
I redirected some of my strength into the dessert tongs I was choosing from. Swinging those tongs, I sent the bullet flying into the sky.
Then I swung my arm again, launching the tongs straight at the attacker.
Whack!
“Gyaaah!”
The attacker’s arm twisted oddly after being hit by the tongs.
I deliberately kept it a light touch.
Red still hadn’t gotten any usable information from him.
“Kid, who the heck are you…?”
Red’s eyes widened.
But the surprise was only brief. Regaining her composure, she grabbed the guy by the hair and was going to do something.
Then she froze.
She clicked her tongue and let him fall to the floor.
“He ended his own life.”
Red looked around at the others sprawled on the ground.
I checked, too.
They were all lifeless.
They had chosen to end their lives to keep their information secure.
Such amazing loyalty. Or should I call it faith in this case?
Red frowned and scratched her head, clearly irritated at not getting any proper information.
With a deep sigh, Red approached the Shop Owner.
“Hey, old man, are you okay? Got any injuries?”
“Yeah, thanks to this little guest.”
I could feel eyes on us.
The extraordinary skill that ordinary citizens could never replicate.
Naturally, their attention turned toward me.
“Kid, what was that just now?”
At Red’s question, cold sweat trickled down my forehead.
It was really a relief that my face was hidden under a mask and hood.
I had only used about 3% of my power. So I figured it wouldn’t be a problem to hide that I was the Grim Reaper. It had to be like that.
But what if she sensed something?
If it were anyone else, it wouldn’t matter, but somehow I felt she might catch on, causing me to feel anxious.
Stay calm. If you panic here, it will seem suspicious.
I shrugged lightly, trying to maintain an air of nonchalance.
Deep in thought, Red stroked her chin.
Moments later, she locked eyes with me.
And in a low voice, she said:
“Kid.”
Thump!
“You said you were alone. How about considering coming to the orphanage?”
I was caught off guard by Red’s suggestion.
What? An orphanage?
“Actually, my sister sponsors an orphanage. There are many kids there without parents, just like you. And there are strong kids learning how to survive in this world, just like you.”
The word *orphanage* made my stomach churn.
Unpleasant memories bubbled up in my mind.
“At least, if you stay at the orphanage, you’ll definitely have a safer and more comfortable life than now. And with friends, you won’t feel lonely. What will it be? You wanna go with me?”
I shook my head without hesitation.
“Really?”
Yeah.
I nodded right away.
I know all too well how shallow and empty kindness can be in this world.
Seeing the light of day in this world, I recalled times when I hadn’t unlocked my powers yet.
In hopes of living, wanting to lean on anyone, I ended up in an orphanage a few times.
It was undoubtedly the worst.
They’d lure kids into the orphanage with warm smiles, but then leave them to rot inside. They didn’t care if we lived or died, didn’t even look us in the eye when we were sick.
Some would even exploit the children to earn dirty money.
They’d fill the empty spots with new kids as soon as one left.
The orphanage director, who remained indifferent through it all, would boast of their good deeds in front of people.
I couldn’t stand it, so I broke free from that place.
Yeah. Maybe she really would be different.
But the scar deep in my heart ached in refusal.
“Well… I can’t force you if you don’t want to. But if you change your mind, just let this old man know.”
It didn’t seem like Red had any intention of forcing me to go.
Phew. Thank goodness.
I didn’t want to go to the orphanage at all. Increasing my time with her raised the risk of my identity being discovered, so I shouldn’t stick around longer.
“You’re done with your business here, right? You should head home, then? Since I can take you home after what just happened, right, old man?”
“Sure thing.”
The Shop Owner nodded.
But I shook my head vehemently and firmly declined.
“Are you sure it’s really okay? You don’t have to insist.”
I kept shaking my head.
Even though I said I was okay, she was still worried about letting a kid go on alone, so she continued asking me. I kept turning her down.
Seeing my stubbornness, Red finally conceded.
“Well, if you really don’t want to, there’s nothing I can do. Just stay out of pesky business, and hurry home.”
Bowing my head slightly to say goodbye, I started walking away while hugging the neatly packaged dessert.
Just then, Red called out, stopping me in my tracks.
I looked back.
Red waved goodbye with a faint smile.
“Thanks for saving the old man, kid! Be careful on your way back. See you later.”
“When I come back next time, I’ll prepare plenty of your favorites, so make sure to drop by.”
I raised my hand high and waved energetically.
Then I turned around and took my leave.
‘Hope nothing troublesome happens.’
On top of thugs attacking, now a religious faction has joined in.
This doesn’t seem like a simple act of revenge.
What on earth were they plotting? What was about to unfold?
I stopped abruptly, turned my body, and glanced at the overcast, cloud-filled sky for a moment.
Then I resumed my steps toward the base.
‘Hehe. I should decide what to eat when I get back.’
*
After the kid disappeared.
Red pulled a cigarette from her coat pocket and placed it between her lips.
After lighting the tip, she took a deep breath.
As she exhaled, a foul smoke wafted into the air.
‘An interesting kid.’
At first, I thought it was just another child you’d find wandering in the city.
But after seeing him block that light bullet, my opinion shifted. The stunt he pulled was something even seasoned Solvers would struggle with.
It was no coincidence.
You needed experience and significant skill to pull off a trick like that.
How could a child? Whether it’s talent or whatever, he clearly wasn’t an ordinary kid.
And on another note, it pitifully indicated that he was a child burdened with numerous issues.
‘It would’ve been better if he’d come along.’
In this world, doing good deeds is treated like a sore thumb.
That’s why some whisper that such acts are merely attempts to satisfy their own self-importance.
‘Maybe so.’
He wasn’t a hero with a pure heart like one from a children’s book.
He simply reached out with the hope that children wouldn’t die wastefully in the city. This too was simply acting in furtherance of his own desires.
Thus, it wasn’t pure goodwill at all.
Anyway, that’s why Red teaches the children in the orphanage how to survive in the city.
That’s why she proposes going to the orphanage to every child she meets.
And this time was no different.
Most declined because they couldn’t trust people.
This kid did the same.
‘He still had a watchful eye, even while acting like a child.’
That must’ve been a habit formed from not wholly trusting adults.
Seeing a child with such an attitude was a bitter pill to swallow.
Maybe I felt that way even more because of the smoke.
‘But I feel like I’ll see him again somewhere.’
Red coldly glanced at the corpses scattered around before looking up at the gloomy sky.
The cigarette burned slowly.
*
In a room neatly organized with expensive furniture.
A man poured wine from a bottle into a glass.
Holding the filled glass, he plopped down into an expensive chair, the plushness spreading through his body.
As the man infused his magical power into the glass, frost rose above it.
Sipping slowly, he felt the cold sensation slide down his throat as he savored the flavor of the wine.
“Whew.”
At that moment, someone approached the man.
Wearing a skull mask and gripping a stone slab in his right hand.
“Izack, as you ordered, I sent the disciples. So, how did it go? Have you verified it?”
“No problems. It was just as I had information.”
The man, Isaac, lazily swirled the glass, while one of his companions banged the stone slab on the ground.
“If your words are false, we will not forgive you. Don’t forget that.”
“Come on, don’t you trust me after all we’ve been through together?”
They turned away, appearing displeased.
“All of this is to ensure the Grim Reaper’s complete descent into this mortal realm.”
“Yeah, I know all that.”
The group departed, and Isaac smiled at his reflection in the glass.
‘Hmph, serving the Grim Reaper. Sorry, but unlike you guys, I’m operating for a greater cause. So I’ll keep using you for a bit longer.’
The cult of the Grim Reaper swallowed the simple information I gave them wholesale, like a fish biting the bait.
Quietly chuckling at how easy it was.
Isaac brought the glass to his lips.
Then suddenly, events from that day popped into his mind.
‘Was it a coincidence? Or was it intentional?’
While conjuring an ice bird he created to oversee the ground from above, a light bullet launched from the ground shot up and hit his creation.
Thanks to that, his line of sight got cut off during the process.
‘Oh well, doesn’t matter. My plans are going smoothly, so I won’t fail.’
Finishing the rest of his drink, he uttered those words.
“Status window.”