The Reaper (Death) 5

+++

Donning their thick robes, the three Heroes and Doyun waited nonchalantly in a tavern.

Their suspicious attire with faces fully concealed by deep hoods would seem out of place elsewhere, but this was Cocachoatl – the heart of crime, where one in three passersby disguised their identities. They drew no suspicion.

To avoid unwanted attention, the three occasionally moved their forks and cups, but Doyun did not eat.

Appearing agitated, he incessantly fiddled with his pendant alone.

“…”

Doyun remained sharply vigilant, carefully observing whether the world had regressed, and if his and his companions’ heads remained attached.

As the only one present who had fought and been slain by the Reaper, he was endlessly confronted by mortal terror.

“…Would you care for a smoke?”

Noticing Doyun’s state, Dokkogamuyong offered him a cigarette.

Ever since learning Doyun’s true identity, Dokkogamuyong had carried Enoch’s favored cigarettes.

However, Doyun shook his head.

While smoking would likely calm his nerves, he did not wish to impair his senses with the odor.

‘Against the Reaper, senses are paramount above all else.’

The Reaper possessed the concealment power, akin to Satan’s military might and Baird’s impregnable defenses.

When facing her, he had to maintain [Seventh Sense] at its utmost limits. Otherwise, she could slip from his perception mid-battle, severing his neck before he even registered her stealth.

At least regarding concealment, neither Enoch in his prime, the Dark Lord, nor anyone on the continent could match a fraction of the Reaper’s prowess.

It was also why Enoch, despite surpassing her, had never managed to slay her.

Even as Doyun simulated hypothetical battles against her, one question lingered incessantly.

‘Is this… truly the right choice?’

On the eve of the decisive conflict, he doubted his own judgment.

‘Should I withdraw?’

What if everyone present died today? If the Alliance lost half its forces in a single night?

Due to his decision, the Alliance itself could crumble.

‘I must do it.’

Regardless of feasibility, it had to be done. But…

‘Can I… do it?’

In over a hundred simulated battles running through his mind,

Doyun and the three Heroes had not emerged victorious even once.

She was too overwhelmingly hopeless an adversary.

‘…’

Thump. Thump. Thump.

“…”

“…”

With their keen senses, the Heroes could hear Doyun’s madly pounding heart.

‘The one who had fought so valiantly during the Baird War…’

Of those present, only Doyun had experienced the Reaper firsthand.

Through his reactions, the three Heroes could indirectly sense her overwhelming presence, their faces tightening with tension.

Doyun’s pupils trembled restlessly, unable to focus.

‘Should I… withdraw even now?’

He incessantly battled mortal terror.

His nerves became excessively frayed, mental fatigue piling up even on the conflict’s eve.

Unable to bear it any longer, Dokkogamuyong moved to forcibly calm him when,

Jingle-

“Welcome!”

A customer entered the tavern, taking a seat at the bar table.

An operative from World Tree assigned to the search.

[I’ve found her.]

His telepathic message reached the four of them.

“…!”

Gulp.

The Heroes and Doyun trembled violently.

Heineken urged him to report swiftly.

[Quickly, report the details.]

[It’s…]

However, upon hearing the subsequent report, the four could not help flinching.

Doyun in particular, heavily shaken, doubted his own ears.

Heineken hastily inquired for confirmation.

[Verify again. Is that truly the case?]

[Without a doubt. I have confirmed repeatedly using an item that identifies surnames. The target is certain.]

[What was the target’s state?]

[She is currently underground…]

As the report continued, the three Heroes could not conceal their consternation.

[Just what is this…]

They glanced at Doyun’s reaction.

His pupils quaked like an earthquake, shifting between bewilderment, denial, relief, and hollowness.

A wave of vertigo washed over him.

Doyun pressed his forehead.

The tavern’s raucous din only amplified the suffocating silence’s weight.

“So I have to deal with that woman…”

“This bastard, where did he get the nerve! You…”

“Oh my, is that really…”

An eternal instant passed.

[…Lead the way.]

Doyun telepathically instructed.

[Understood.]

Paying his tab, the operative rose and left.

Finally, the four Heroes stood up.

Trudging silently, they headed towards the Underground Grand Auction.

+++

To confront her, they had to enter the Underground Grand Auction.

“Announcing my name can immediately halt the auction proceedings.”

Though Dokkogamuyong offered, Doyun shook his head.

“I wish to… enter discreetly.”

A feeble murmur.

Hearing the immense complexity in his voice, the Heroes silently nodded.

Dokkogamuyong and Bryhildr waited outside, with Heineken concealed using [Scheme Concealment] Lv.7 to guard Doyun.

Heineken had attempted to provide Doyun a stealth item but startled at his imperceptible movements.

‘How…?’

Possessing the [Stealthy Tracker] trait and [Pursuit] Lv.6, even Heineken could not sense Doyun’s presence.

It was the power of [Prankster’s Scribbles] acquired during the Cradle incident.

Shortly after, Doyun infiltrated the dimly lit auction hall, taking a central seat in the opera-style tiered seating area.

Despite standing brazenly before Participant #53, the man did not notice Doyun’s presence.

As Doyun stood before him, Heineken, concealed elsewhere, telepathically reported.

[According to Kaipang intel, Participant #53 has been collaborating with Lord Rioban to mass distribute drugs…]

“Remove him.”

Doyun nonchalantly uttered.

“Huh?”

#53 turned quizzically at the unexpected voice.

Slish-

He vanished from his seat.

Doyun slouched wearily into the plush chair.

“…”

After an empty exhale, the lingering drug stench permeating the cushion assaulted his nostrils, his head throbbing more intensely.

With the tension dissipating, the pent-up stress and consequent emptiness provoked surging irritation.

A thick, murderous aura swirled around him.

+++

Meanwhile, the surveillance team monitoring him from the spectator’s gallery exchanged puzzled looks.

“What’s that?”

In the brief moment they had averted their gazes, Participant #53’s appearance had changed.

Though all wore animal masks concealing their faces, #53 – no, the intruder – openly displayed his bare visage, seeming utterly disinterested in the auction proceedings.

“An intruder? But why is he there?”

“An exceptionally skilled individual? Took out the entire security team?”

“No. All personnel are alive and accounted for. There are no signs of conflict on any building camera feeds.”

The surveillance chief scowled deeply.

This was the continent’s paramount annual grand auction – no one could possibly breach its security to infiltrate the premises.

Overpowering and slaughtering the guards to force entry was conceivable, but evading all barriers, surveillance, and protective magics to surreptitiously sneak in was utterly impossible.

‘Perhaps Lord Heineken or that ‘Mad Woman’ could manage it.’

Yet this intruder was neither of them.

Then the conclusion was clear.

“Did those incompetent fools let him slip through?”

It must be a mere momentary lapse by the negligent security team, nothing more.

While unexpected, the chief dismissed it as trivial.

“Hey, go execute him.”

“Yes sir.”

He radioed someone elsewhere.

The surveillance chief turned his attention back to the monitor.

‘Though…’

That face seemed vaguely familiar…

Though he scrutinized the footage intently, the angle was unsuitable for positively identifying the subject.

“Security team is ready. Shall I dispatch them?”

“No, wait.”

He addressed a subordinate in the surveillance room.

“Hey, bring me the physical description and attire details for that rogue high-ranking Apostle who caused a ruckus in the city yesterday.”

+++

Doyun sat impassively, silently observing the auction proceedings.

Today’s merchandise category was slaves, with several top-tier slaves fetching hundreds, even thousands of gold coins each at auction.

“The next item! A young haphi girl of an endangered species about to go extinct…”

No sooner had the item been introduced than masked participants frantically waved their paddles, the bidding rapidly skyrocketing.

Seemingly unbroken, the haphi girl within the iron cage trembled with vibrant, moist eyes brimming with fear and bewilderment.

Like any pedestrian on the streets, this girl too was an Alliance citizen.

“…”

Witnessing this wretched spectacle, a thick murderous intent welled up within Doyun once more.

Already on high alert in preparation for the Reaper subjugation operation.

Yet now, all that had dissipated, leaving only emptiness.

With the tightening tension lifted, the pent-up stress he had suppressed stimulated him.

‘All of them…’

In his present state, observing these vermin scurrying about…

‘I want to slaughter them all.’

It was difficult to restrain his bloodlust.

However, Doyun waited silently, for he had yet to encounter her.

The haphi girl was soon auctioned off to the obese #29.

“Now, the next item!”

The foul auction continued.

Several items were brought up and taken down from the stage, their lifeless gazes, drug-laced odors, and masked swine buyers only sharpening the blades in Doyun’s heart.

After a while,

“Now, the next item…!”

The exceedingly animated auctioneer called out loudly.

“None other than a dark elf – a high-ranking demoness possessing exquisite beauty!”

“What did he say!”

“Oh…! This, this…”

The hall erupted into a frenzy.

Demons were universally hideous in appearance. But if the merchandise boasted such exceptional beauty, she must be a high-ranking demoness of leadership caliber.

An unprecedented auction item, a veritable treasure to these swine.

“For reasons unknown, this one crossed the Blight and ventured near the frontlines before being captured. Needless to say, she remains utterly unbroken and fresh…”

As the auctioneer rambled and paddles frantically waved, the dark elf on display maintained a serene, dignified poise.

Her gaze was fixated on one point alone.

Beautiful night sky-violet tresses, like clouds obscuring the full moon.

Surrounded by iron bars, her immature, severely underdeveloped physique betraying her youth. Yet her brilliant golden irises remained defiantly vibrant.

An aloof, disdainful demeanor, as if her predicament and current circumstances were utterly inconsequential.

Doyun regarded her intently.

And she gazed back at Doyun in turn.

‘…I’ve found you.’

They simultaneously realized it.

Luna Thanatos, daughter of the Warlord Reaper.

Enoch Ruozvolnick, the great Hero.

It was the first encounter between these two uncannily similar individuals.