Chapter 22
It is said that humans recall their most memorable moment before they die.
When Ricardo first heard that, he had wondered.
Would someone like him, who had lived alone amid ruins, even have a moment that would come to mind at the end of life? Perhaps it would be a memory from his earliest days, when he was cared for by his nanny. After all, she had been by his side the longest.
Or maybe some never even get the chance to recall such a thing.
He had pondered it many times, but in the end, Ricardo could not reach a conclusion. Or rather, he had no time for it.
Somehow, he had become lost in other thoughts—childish and somewhat absurd thoughts about how he could see the reaper in front of him for just a little longer.
When he was with Rosina, Ricardo completely forgot that he was a “half” abandoned by everyone else.
It was understandable; she had always looked at him as something precious. Being by her side meant he no longer felt lonely or anxious.
And so, months passed in what felt like an instant.
It was only today that Ricardo realized the answer.
“Ugh…”
Ricardo groaned softly, swinging his hand.
A chunk of blue light struck the blade, sending it flying. The sword, which had come perilously close to his neck, was hurled into a corner of the alley.
If he had been just a moment slower, his head would have been severed.
The reaper toyed with its own wrist, staring at the sword’s trajectory. The force behind it was so great that the blade almost disappeared from sight.
Then, it turned its gaze toward Ricardo.
Its eyes were fixed on the blue light radiating from him.
Inferno and Celius—two worlds’ powers combined into one marvelous force. The strength, spoken of only in rumors, was too brilliant and blinding to describe with any words.
“Beautiful…”
The reaper murmured, almost entranced, its eyes flashing.
Then came the whispers escaping its lips:
“I want it. I want to destroy it. I want to kill.”
“Let’s kill. Kill.”
Its gaze now carried even more madness than before.
Despite the imminent danger, Ricardo was not focused on the reaper in front of him. He neither felt threatened nor concerned.
His mind was entirely consumed by the memory that had come to him in the moment he thought he would die.
‘Ricardo.’
‘You must survive.’
‘I meant it when I said I didn’t want any other reaper to come for you. I wanted it to be me. Keep that promise. Survive no matter what.’
A memory before death, pleading for him to survive.
Ricardo let out a small, bitter laugh.
The very person who had said those words was not there. No matter what he did, she did not appear.
The sight of himself desperately clinging to those words in his final moment struck him as absurd.
Tracing back the memory of Rosina, his face contorted, and a tear slid down his roughened cheek.
‘You said you’d always protect me when in danger.’
He had called for her so many times, yet she did not come.
Where were you?
Thoughts of dread crept in. What if, just hypothetically, the wound from that day hadn’t healed…?
Anxious, Ricardo shook his head violently, trying to clear his mind. Just completing the thought sent chills down his spine.
He gripped the ring Rosina had left him more tightly.
The robe she had left behind had long since worn thin from constant use.
Now, this ring was all he had to cling to—a tangible proof that Rosina had been by his side.
It was more precious than anything else.
The reaper watching Ricardo noticed this and its eyes gleamed.
It realized that Ricardo’s attention was elsewhere. One side of its lips twisted upward.
‘Look at this.’
Even with a reaper in front of him, he was thinking of something else?
…How dare a half-breed do that?
From its hand, a cluster of black light began to seep and spread. Its eyes, now twisted with rage, seemed to decide that merely killing him would not be enough.
Perhaps there was something more entertaining to do.
The reaper’s gaze landed on the hand Ricardo was gripping so tightly—the one with the ring. In an instant, its arm shot toward him.
“Ah, what’s this?”
The reaper snatched the ring from Ricardo’s hand and held it up.
The pink diamond at its center sparkled in the sunset.
“Where did you get something like this? I’ve barely ever seen one.”
“Give it back!”
Ricardo frantically reached upward, but the reaper raised it higher, effortlessly avoiding his grasp.
“A half-breed like you could never have bought such a precious thing. Did you steal it from some noble? Or maybe…”
The reaper chuckled darkly, realization dawning.
“Ha, could this really be Rosina Winslet’s? Hah! She gave something worth more than a house to this scum? Madness.”
Ricardo froze at the words. The reaper laughed louder, as if unable to contain its amusement.
“You know how they cling to precious things? Just holding onto it—what do you even plan to do? Sell it, maybe.”
“…”
“That crazy girl will never return anyway.”
Ricardo’s heart sank. His vision blurred as though someone had signaled him.
Except for the ring in the reaper’s hand.
“I’ll take this. Every time I see this jewel, I remember the girl with red eyes who looked down on me. Every time we met, I wanted to pluck them out—I couldn’t resist.”
Ah, no more.
“I can’t get over it. Would’ve been a great addition to my collection.”
“I’ve said too much. You’re going to die anyway, so I assume you won’t mind me keeping the ring?”
You…
“I’ll make sure your soul reaches the Master.”
I miss you so much.
At that moment, blue light and black light collided violently.
The two powers clashed for a brief moment, then the blue force began to drive out and erode the black.
“Ugh… ugh…”
Through the flashing bright light, the reaper’s agonized groans could be heard, as if it could not breathe properly.
After a moment, a sharp scream pierced the air.
When vision returned, the space was empty—completely devoid of anything, as if nothing had ever existed.
Ricardo staggered forward, carefully picking up the fallen ring. Then he moved weakly, struggling to maintain the balance of his powers.
‘Where should I go?’
Where could he go to meet her?
How could he call for her without breaking the promise?
As he wandered aimlessly, his eyes caught a large poster on the wall. Slowly lifting his gaze, he read it, eyes widening.
Ricardo immediately turned and ran toward some destination.
“Glexinia Empire: Emergency Troop Mobilization”
A considerable amount of time passed after that.
He could not know the exact day, but that was how it felt to him.
No matter how weakened he was, this reaper’s body, trained over countless years, would not die easily.
When souls attacked, he fought them as far as he could, fainted, and then faced them again upon waking. Over and over, suffering near-fatal injuries, losing consciousness in endless cycles.
This relentless underground life was all-consuming.
‘How many days has it been this time?’
The repetitive pattern had erased his sense of time. Both body and mind had grown numb. He had screamed so much that his voice was now gone.
He felt as if he were wandering endlessly in darkness, under a pitch-black sky.
The only connection to the outside world came from scattered news trickling down from the Taros prison staff.
‘Lately, Celius and the humans are causing a ruckus, right?’
‘They say they’ve captured all the white-haired ones!’
‘White-haired? Isn’t that the one that girl protected? Because of them, they lost their powers and got thrown in here!’
The reaper supervisors snickered as they watched him deal with the souls.
‘Bringing that guy to Inferno is just a matter of time.’
‘Now we only have to wait for his death!’
He was still alive.
Though it was despairing news, it allowed him to hold on.
Ricardo’s whereabouts were uncertain, but he was alive.
Windsor had made no attempt to contact him, aside from a few subordinates who came down to check on him and left.
‘But eventually, he will come for me.’
If Windsor realized that Ricardo could not be turned into a reaper by any means, he would try to use him again. Or, judging Ricardo’s words as lies, attempt to eliminate him completely.
This was, in a sense, a gamble that Rosina had placed on Ricardo.
He must not give up living. He must not take the salvation offered by Celius.
He must keep the promise that only she could make.
Until Windsor realized that only she could turn Ricardo into a reaper—and that she would be needed again.
‘He might forget me before then.’
But that did not matter.
Even if that happened, she would no longer have a reason to live.
At that moment, a presence was felt nearby.
The souls, sensing her awareness, surged forward. She met them without resistance.
The numbers were against her; she would fall eventually. There was no need to expend extra energy.
Closing her eyes, she braced herself.
“Kkeeek.”
One soul screeched strangely as it flew by. The others followed. Soon, the area was silent.
She looked up to see a new arrival.
His crimson hair flowed as he softly narrowed his eyes.
“A very pleasing sight, Rosina.”
It had been a long time since she heard that voice.
If Windsor appeared before her, the reason was obvious.
Either she had become necessary again—or completely useless.
Would this be fortune… or misfortune?
