SSS Demon King System: The Rise of a Dying Extra-Chapter 16: Pale Night.

It wasn’t unusual for it to snow in that city, it was practically inevitable.

Still, that didn’t change how unsettling the nights became when snow fell.

The city of Coul wasn’t known for being very bright at night.

The frigid environment made it almost impossible for fire or light spirits to shine in their lanterns; and using a magical artifact to illuminate every corner of the city was too expensive.

That’s why snowy nights were the darkest, unless as on that night, Sin and Selene were especially bright.

However, the pale color of the light reflected on both moons was especially unsettling when there was snow involved.

A white fog formed, which barely allowed visibility.

Being deprived of one sense, hearing intensifies, making every sound become a seed that can bloom into the most terrible of fears.

This phenomenon was named "Pale Night," and it’s said to occur when the boundary between the living and the dead blurs too much.

Many claim to have heard the laments of spirits who haven’t been able to reach nirvana, though skeptics claim it’s just the wind whistling through the trees.

Roberto was one of those skeptics.

He always mocked that type of superstition; they were ridiculous tales to make children go to bed early.

However, now that he was experiencing it firsthand, Roberto began to believe that perhaps, those tales had some truth to them.

The cold and fear were making him tremble incessantly.

Who would say that this man had received military training?

Though, Roberto was too scared to think about his pride.

What good is pride if you’re dead?

Roberto was a faithful believer in self-preservation after all.

Every howl of the wind put the guard more on alert, who had decided it was better to stay still and not discover the origin of the noise.

If it was the wind, it was stupid to worry, and if it was a wanderer, it was better not to disturb it.

Soon, something more unsettling than any ghostly lament was established: silence.

Too much silence is never good.

If something makes noise, at least you can see it coming, however, if you can’t see the danger, prepare yourself.

Then, the silence was broken; footsteps were audible, noticed thanks to the crunching of snow.

Roberto’s entire body tensed.

The man felt cold sweat forming on his face.

He wanted to move, but couldn’t, he was paralyzed.

Wait? What was he so afraid of?

That footsteps could be heard was the best news, after all, ghosts don’t walk, right?

It was just when he reached that conclusion that he felt a hand rest on his shoulders.

"UWAAAA!"

In an abrupt movement, the man turned around, feeling his heart beating so fast it seemed about to burst.

In his turn, he couldn’t help but lose his balance and fall on his ass in the snow; that clumsiness would be his downfall.

It was in his desperation that he saw her... Death, death had arrived, and it was coming to take him away.

It was too late to flee, but Roberto wouldn’t leave without a fight.

Even on the ground, the guard started kicking while letting out high-pitched squeals like a pig’s.

He had to buy time and escape.

But impassive death had no mercy. Roberto saw death’s cadaverous hand stretching toward him... Cadaverous?

"Idiot! What the hell are you doing? Don’t make so much noise, what if they hear us?" a hissing voice was heard.

Death had spoken to him, though Roberto’s brain capacity was too insufficient to decipher the message.

It was then that he realized: beneath that cloak, there wasn’t a living skeleton, but a woman.

Is death a woman?

Well, surely being male wasn’t a requirement to work as a reaper, there were no reasons why there couldn’t be female reapers.

Though, the more obvious conclusion was another.

"So it was you. Damn, you gave me a good scare," the guard relaxed knowing who it was.

Apparently, Roberto was so scared he had completely forgotten the reason he was there.

"Scare?" the woman looked at the man with a raised eyebrow. She still couldn’t believe she had seen a grown man kick in the snow in such a pathetic way. "Tsk, it doesn’t matter, I already brought the merchandise."

The man smiled while getting up on his own, rejecting the woman’s hand in an attempt to preserve a shred of pride, even though he completely lacked it.

"Good, I hope it’s something juicy."

"It’s the most expensive thing I could steal without getting caught," she said while handing him a wooden box.

"Let’s see, let’s see," the man opened the box, seeing its contents: a pendant with a green gem. Even to his untrained eye, Roberto noticed it was surely valuable. "Incredible!" he said while whistling and closing the box. "I hope they give me a good price for it."

"You better. I don’t want them to give you a pittance again, and if they do, I’m keeping everything," the woman demanded, which made Roberto laugh a little.

"If you’re so short on money, you can always continue with the business. Really, I don’t plan to haggle much with those black market types, they’re pretty scary."

"Damn idiot! If you’re so cowardly, why do you get into the black market? And I already told you, this is the last business we do together!"

"Yeah, yeah, sure, though that’s what you told me last night," Roberto mocked.

"I’m serious," the woman answered severely. "And don’t even think about running off with the money, if you do, I plan to turn you in even if I have to fall with you."

Roberto couldn’t help but let out another laugh while shaking his head. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Don’t worry, I always keep my word."

"I hope so," the woman finally said, then turned and started walking away.

Roberto watched her leave into the fog, telling himself she needed to relax a bit.