BXBX NOVEL Chapter 131: Black Rust: Epilogue (1)
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.
Once they’d finished, they scampered over to me, their eyes twinkling with anticipation, like baby birds hoping for a snack.
With a grin, I patted their heads and placed a fresh piece of origami paper on top. Their joy was palpable—bright smiles and cheers followed as they eagerly resumed folding their new paper.
Meanwhile, the Grey Reaper, who had just made its grand return this morning, was nestled in a blanket on a mat.
It looked like a cozy, lumpy blanket roll, with only its antenna swaying gently at the top, providing the sole indication of its presence.
Around this blanket roll, some Golden Reapers, who seemed less interested in origami, were attempting to catch the swaying antenna.
Hehehe-! It was like a never-ending game of “catch the antenna,” and oh, was it a charming sight. Soft and tantalizing, the antenna proved irresistible.
Eventually, the Golden Reapers managed to grab hold of the antenna and, with great delight, munched on it as if it were a prize.
In the midst of their mischief, I heard the crackling sound of a mini Hungry Ghost darting across the lawn.
Above it, a Golden Reaper beamed with joy, twirling a pinwheel that spun in the morning breeze.
The Golden Reaper who had made the pinwheel was practically vibrating with excitement.
Tap-tap! Tap-tap!
As I watched the playful scene, I felt a gentle tap on my thigh. I turned to find a cluster of Golden Reapers surrounding me, having discarded their origami papers.
All of them seemed to be there for one thing—pinwheels.
I pulled out more origami paper from my bag and handed a piece to each eager Reaper.
As the minutes ticked by, the backyard filled with the delightful sounds of Hungry Ghosts scampering about and pinwheels whirring energetically.
*******A show that seemed to be all the rage lately was blaring on the TV in the detective's office. Junior Number 2, parked in the corner like a lost puppy, stared at the screen in a daze.
The host of the program was a striking figure, decked out in a dark purple suit that matched his equally purple hair, slicked back with meticulous precision.
Looking at the purple man, Junior Number 1 spoke with a smile on her face.
Junior Number 1, with a smirk that could only mean trouble, turned to me and said, “Sunbae! Are you sure you’re not related to this guy? Your fashion sense is practically identical.”
I glanced down at my neat yellow suit—carefully chosen, thank you very much—but really, comparing the two was like comparing a classic to a costume party.
Junior Number 1 didn’t seem to expect an answer. She just giggled and turned her attention back to the TV.
The purple host announced the guest with a flourish:
[ Today’s guest is the chairman of the New Seoul Promotion Policy Committee. Let's give a warm welcome to the Honorable Chairman! ]
The screen filled with a slightly disheveled man as the purple host’s theatrical accent and exaggerated actions set a dramatic tone.
As the conversation meandered, the topic turned serious, the focus shifted to the recent destruction of the ‘RS’ city.
[ In the headlines lately, there was a story about a city called 'RS' being destroyed. Truly tragic. When we look beyond Seoul, this isn’t the first time a city has collapsed. ]
The purple man looked at the chairman with a serious expression and continued.
[ Which really begs the question, is it time to consider relocating Seoul? ]
The chairman, who’d been ready to talk about the tragedy, found himself skillfully redirected by the host, who now insisted on the safety of Seoul.
The chairman’s face twisted with annoyance, but he seemed resigned to it.
Honestly, the whole show reeked of something fishy. The constant emphasis on Seoul’s safety felt too rehearsed, too contrived. It had the distinct whiff of a ‘big event’ about to unfold.
When the show wrapped up, Junior Number 2, who’d been zoning out, suddenly approached me with a serious expression.
“Detective sunbae! I’ve got something to tell you.”
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?