As An Antique Shop Owner, It's Only Reasonable That I Know A Bit Of Magic - Chapter 70

“The concept of belief is quite elusive. Sometimes it seems ineffective, yet at other times, it can endow certain entities with power they shouldn’t possess.

The ‘Grim Reaper’ currently haunting us became what it is precisely because of people like the mortician.

Their fanatical belief that the entity causing death is the legendary ‘Grim Reaper’

has transformed what was originally just a malevolent, unconscious spirit into something that can genuinely interfere with the probability of events occurring.

Killing through specific, interconnected coincidences isn’t due to compulsion but rather acts as a special ritual to harvest souls.

Faith grants it authority, and murder brings it power.

The interpretations added by its followers and those being hunted, based on their own understanding, have ironically shaped the Reaper’s modus operandi.

These characteristics have become deeply ingrained through endless cycles of hunting.

But a counterfeit remains a counterfeit. Relying on killing as a source of power is like a rootless duckweed.

Once severed, it will inevitably and irreversibly decline.”

Su Fan’s explanation left Scarlett bewildered; it felt like she understood, yet somehow she didn’t.

Seeing her confused state, he summarized:

“Simply put, that thing’s power is mostly depleted now. It’s practically no threat at all.”

“The proof is that I haven’t sensed any omens of danger so far.”

“Will it never appear again?”

“Even if it does reappear, it probably won’t be as powerful as before. Remember? Its few remaining followers have already offered up their own souls.”

“And the power it gained from the mortician’s soul was largely exhausted chasing me inside the police station.”

“Who knows? Without the support of faith and unable to continue killing, it might soon fade away on its own.”

Su Fan’s tone was light.

Scarlett was taken aback.

The Reaper kills in a specific order, an inescapable pattern.

But if it continuously expends power without successfully killing its target, it weakens itself.

Su Fan hadn’t just saved her; he had effectively saved the other passengers on the plane too.

“Let’s discuss the payment later. I’m quite tired now.”

Su Fan’s voice remained calm, but a hint of fatigue laced his words.

“Take me back to the antique shop. Your father should have given you the address…”

“I’m going to rest for a while. Wake me when we arrive.”

He leaned back in his seat, turned his head, and closed his eyes. Soon, he was fast asleep.

Witnessing this, Scarlett felt a pang of surprise, but it quickly made sense.

From yesterday until now, there had been constant, bizarre accidents, then seeking out the black mortician, followed by being taken to the police station for questioning and investigation.

Throughout this entire time, Su Fan hadn’t rested at all. Even someone made of iron would struggle to endure such an ordeal.

A twinge of guilt surfaced in Scarlett’s heart.

She had been so consumed by her own fear that she hadn’t considered Su’s well-being.

Only upon seeing him collapse into sleep did she realize how utterly drained he must be from protecting her.

With this thought, Scarlett gradually slowed the car.

At least let him sleep a little more peacefully.

Scarlett thought to herself.

But a sudden ringing shattered the brief tranquility.

With one hand on the wheel, she frantically pulled her phone from her pocket with the other.

“Hello, who is this?”

Scarlett’s deliberately hushed voice carried unmistakable irritation.

However, the person on the other end seemed oblivious to her tone, instead sounding so agitated he was on the verge of tears.

“Oh, thank God… Thank God!”

“You’re alive… you’re alive… Scarlett…”

It was her father’s familiar voice on the phone, but he was sobbing uncontrollably, his words barely coherent.

“What’s wrong, Father?”

Ever since learning Su Fan was protecting her, her father had regained his usual composure and calm.

Why was he like this now?

“What happened? Talk to me properly.”

Scarlett found a place to pull over and stop the car.

Glancing over and seeing Su Fan was still asleep, she tried to soothe her father.

After confirming his daughter was safe, he began to explain, haltingly.

Just moments ago, a bridge in San Francisco had collapsed, a section of the mid-span giving way. Countless people had died in the accident.

Because of his daughter’s situation, Karsten was hyper-sensitive to such major disasters and immediately began checking on the whereabouts of the surviving plane passengers.

The result struck him like a thunderbolt!

Due to various reasons, at that very time, every single remaining passenger—except for Scarlett—had coincidentally been on that bridge!

“Honey, when I saw the news, my first thought was whether you were on that bridge too… But thank the heavens, you weren’t… You’re alive!”

Her father’s profoundly relieved words, filled with heartfelt paternal love, fell on deaf ears. Scarlett didn’t process a single word.

She knew what this meant.

But she refused to believe it!

It was the Reaper!

The Reaper had killed all the remaining survivors at once!

It had skipped her, foregoing its one-by-one harvest, and instead gathered them all together and killed them!

She was now the only survivor left from the entire plane!

Had Su Fan’s theory been wrong?

Could the Reaper still gain power even without following its rule-based killing pattern?

Or could it truly interfere with reality as it pleased?!

The pattern she had relied on was completely overturned. The shadow of panic enveloped Scarlett once more!

A chilling, unnatural wind swept over her, making her shiver involuntarily.

She was clearly still inside the car, yet a black mist seemed to swirl before her face.

Then, the familiar song started playing from the car speakers again.

John Denver… the cold wind… the black mist…

Death is here!

Death is here!!!

Scarlett immediately turned and shook Su Fan’s body.

“Su! Su! Wake up! Wake up!!!”

Scarlett’s desperate, strained cries had no effect. Su Fan showed no signs of waking.

His face was so peaceful, as if quietly awaiting death’s arrival.

I can’t just wait here to die! I can’t!

Scarlett gave up trying to wake Su Fan and started the car.

This place wasn’t safe. She had to get Su away, head for the open, empty plains!

But the very second this thought formed in her mind, a violent impact slammed into them from behind!

The talisman amulet nestled against her chest suddenly burned hot. She knew one had shattered!

But this was only the beginning!
Impact after impact followed. The car’s airbags, sensing the collision, all inflated and burst forth!

Caught completely off guard, Scarlett’s face took the full force of the impact, whipping her head back and sending a sharp pain through her neck!!

A searing heat from her chest jolted her back to awareness!

The second talisman had shattered!
She tried to check on Su Fan in the passenger seat, but another brutal impact from the side made her vision go white and her ears ring!

The windows shattered. Debris and glass shards flew towards her!
Dazed, Scarlett had no time to dodge, but every sharp piece miraculously grazed past her cheeks. Simultaneously, another wave of intense heat erupted from her chest.

The third talisman had shattered!