Adopting Disaster

Chapter 199: Chapter 199

'Is this a dream?'

No.

Reed knows this place.

This dark sensation, a place where something seems to exist but doesn't.

In this place, Reed met the real Reed, who had switched bodies with him.

'Could it be that I'm dead?'

Someone suddenly attacked him at night.

Death usually comes unexpectedly.

He didn't want to think that way.

He thought there was a separate reason for being in this space.

That's when it happened.

Gradually, light began to shine in the space that seemed like eternal darkness.

At first, the light was so intense that Reed covered his eyes.

As his eyes adjusted to the light, the source of the light began to show itself.

It was three women with six pairs of huge wings.

"Who are you?"

"Do not be afraid."

"We are not here to punish."

"We came to adjust."

They each answered Reed's question.

"I am the past."

"I am the present."

"I am the future."

"We see all the time."

"Within time, everything is equal."

"And there is no injustice."

They spoke one word at a time, which was confusing.

Reed decided to ask only what he needed to know.

"What do you mean by adjustment?"

"Seven disasters will come upon you."

"Six of them have been completely extinguished."

"All removable incidents on the mortal line are over."

"What do you mean, I've done everything I could and there's still one left?"

"The last disaster cannot be found by your hands."

"The seed of the last disaster has been harvested."

"By someone who should not have it."

"The one who usurped the position of God is now burdened with sin and trying to enforce an unjust prophecy."

"Inland matters will be dealt with inland."

"Outer space matters will be dealt with in outer space."

"That's why we are adjusting."

Reed was beginning to grasp what they were saying.

However, there was one thing he was not sure about.

'Although they spoke as if they were in an advantageous position, it didn't sound advantageous at all.'

That was the meaning of the adjustment.

"So you want to say this is the end?"

"Originally, it would be."

"But it's not the end."

"There is an exception."

"That would be you."

"Are you talking about me?"

He hadn't expected that.

The angel answered Reed's question.

"We know everything in the world."

"That's why we create singularities."

"As a result, the world has derived an unwanted conclusion."

"Therefore, fairness has collapsed."

Reed was tense at their words.

Does that mean this is the end for him here?

"Are you saying you're going to punish me?"

"Fairness is important."

"Fair justice is all about balance."

"There are no exceptions in execution."

"But if there's no need for execution, there's no concept of exception either."

Though they spoke difficult words, he understood what they meant.

If they punished the outsider, they would also have to punish Reed himself.

'Did they know... that I'm not from this world?'

Somehow, Reed's existence had held them back.

It was amazing that they had pushed him this far.

Reed decided to think that way.

"Will you accept the adjustment?"

"Is it possible to just hear the story first?"

He asked the question, just in case.

"It is possible."

Upon hearing the answer, Reed nodded his head.

"Understood."

"We will begin the adjustment."

Shortly after, a black substance rose in the brightly lit room.

It had a human shape, but it was not human; something stood in front of Reed.

Reed stared at him clearly.

That person was the one who harbored the last disaster.

"How are you?"

He greeted first.

"Who are you?"

As her expression changed, strength went into Reed's wrists.

"I can tell. Dad, Phoebe, Dolores, Morgan... everyone will be unhappy. So I made up my mind."

Rosaria swallowed her saliva and spoke confidently.

"I will erase all the memories of Rosaria living in this world."

"What?"

His throat was tight.

He wanted to ask what she meant, if she was in her right mind, but the words didn't come out.

Ignoring Reed's question, Rosaria continued.

"If a world without Rosaria was originally happy, that's what Rosaria wants. So, there's no need to be sad even if Rosaria disappears."

"Is that your choice? Do you want to break up with me like that?"

"It's not like that. But I know what that man is talking about."

Rosaria smiled.

It was not a smile full of emotion, but a restrained smile like an adult.

"I think I now understand the things I didn't know before."

"Rosaria..."

"If I stay down here, everyone will only be in pain."

Her words wavered.

Did she not know she was talking about parting?

Reed couldn't understand how she could smile like that.

"I wish Dad was happy."

"I am..."

"Then I think I'll be really happy. So, Rosaria will disappear!"

"No, don't do that. I don't want it to be resolved by you disappearing!"

Rosaria lowered her head.

After a moment, she raised her head again.

Her mature smile contained sadness.

"I'm sorry."

"Wait, please... call her out once more."

"...I'm sorry."

* * *

Dream big tl dot com

***

Rosaria made the best choice.

She got up from her seat and walked toward the incomplete being.

"Let's go back, to the world where you and I should be."

"Let's do that."

As Rosaria stood next to the man, a change occurred.

Pure white wings sprouted from Rosaria's back.

Wings also sprouted from the back of the incomplete being, but the color was black.

They began to ascend.

"The negotiation is over."

"Are you satisfied with this?"

The angels asked like questions in a game.

The incomplete being answered first.

"Yes, I agree."

Then Rosaria answered.

"I also agr—."

At that moment, Rosaria's body sank.

Rosaria looked down below.

Reed was standing, holding onto Rosaria's legs.

"No."

Reed said.

"I can't let you go."

"Reed..."

Rosaria looked down at Reed with affectionate eyes.

The incomplete being yelled at Reed.

"You rude human! It's already over! Holding onto her like that won't change anything."

"I can't. I can't allow it."

"It's your daughter's choice. She realized it, so why are you clinging so disgracefully?"

He already knew it was disgraceful.

Rosaria was important enough to Reed that he didn't care about his disgraceful appearance.

There was a bond that only Rosaria and Reed could feel.

The bond between father and daughter.

Even if their blood wasn't connected, even if they had only met a few years ago.

They both knew for sure that they were in a parent-child relationship.

"Please... don't leave me."

His left hand falls away from the increasingly distant Rosaria.

He held her even tighter with his remaining hand.

"I can't let Rosaria go. I haven't done much for her yet, and I can't bear to see her give up on herself because of my incompetence."

He clings and clings.

"I'll try my best. So... please stay as a little child in my memories and in front of my eyes. Please..."

That last desperate plea, along with the grabbed ankle, slipped away.

Reed fell to the floor.

He stood up and looked up at the sky, but he could not see Rosaria.

Reed bowed his head.

He tried to swallow and hold back, but tears leaked out.

The man who boasted that he would solve everything couldn't even protect his own family.

Everything was over.

And so...

"No."

A warm light embraced Reed's back.

The large wings enveloped Reed's whole body like a baby bird.

"I'll stay here after all."