《Seoul Object Story》
Chapter 1: Seoul Research Institute
T/N: Well, hello again! If you''re a reader of the novel "Whether You Call Me a Guardian Dragon or Not, I''m Going to Sleep," hehe~~
---
In a park evenly covered with green grass, a dog was running around, making small pitter-patter sounds.
The dog barked in a small voice, elicitingughter from people, and passersby also smiled pleasantly at the sight.
It was a scene like a painted picture in the park.
Above, the warm sunlight was shining on the leaves with afortable intensity, and in the shade under the trees, I was listening to the refreshing sound of cicadas while lyingfortably.
When I looked at the park and felt thirsty, I gulped down the iced water from the thermos bottle, refreshingly down my throat. However, contrary to my seeminglyfortable appearance, my back was damp with cold sweat.
Although it looked like a happy slice of everyday life on the surface, my face was strained from forcing a smile.
In fact, this resting space was all a lie. A fake created inside the building. The pedestrians walking around the fake park were all fake employees acting.Everyone was putting on a performance with all their might, which was only natural.
Because if they made a mistake, they would die.
The situation where the dog was happily running around the field, the owner was eagerly chasing after the dog, and the surrounding pedestrians were admiring and calling it cute, which seemed very happy on the surface, soon came to an end.
The dog, who had been ying excitedly, now seemed to have had enough and jumped into the owner''s arms.
Then, with a satisfied smile, it closed its eyes.
"Oh, are you tired already? Shall we go in and rest?"
The middle-aged woman, with a really regretful expression, carried the dog and went out through the exit prepared at the corner of the park.
As the middle-aged woman left and the door closed, everything inside the park froze as if it had stopped.
The happy slice of everyday life that had been visible just a moment ago was gone, and the faces of the pedestrians changed to those of hardworkingborers.
Beep.
At the buzzer signaling the end of all situations, everyone copsed on the spot and let out a sigh.
Most of the lights that had been shining on the field like the sun were turned off, and the familiar darkness filled the inside of the park, leaving only the minimum necessary light.
"Ah, I''m really going to die."
As I was vigorously massaging and loosening my facial muscles that had stiffened from forcing a smile too much, someone plopped down next to me and grumbled.
An anonymous employee whose name I didn''t know. I was consciously trying not to remember the names of my coworkers, but judging by the unfamiliar face, he must be a new hire.
Just the fact that he was speaking freely in the research institute''spartment, where words should be spared, gave away his newbie status.
"I took this job because they said they''d pay a lot, but after seeing the work we have to do here, aren''t they underpaying uspared to the work? Why are there so many rules to follow just to take care of that grotesque retarded bastard?"
As soon as I heard those words, a chill ran through my entire body.
It was too close, considering the dog''s hearing. Damn! He should have been properly trained before being sent here!
Before long, a light as intense as sunlight began to shine down on the park. The sound of cicadas also started again. The happy park at noon had returned.
I quickly got up from my spot and distanced myself from the stupid newbie, putting on the business smile I had erased from my face.
Not just me, but all the employees smiled brightly and distanced themselves, so the stupid newbie finally seemed to realize the situation.
"O-Oh No..."
But contrary to the newbie''s wishes, the dog appeared in front of him.
Unlike the size that could be held in one hand, it appeared, as big as a house, smashing through the wall.
"Whoa!"
All the employees eximed in admiration, with smiles on their faces, as if watching an adorable dog.
And they had to watch, with smiles and exmations of admiration mixed in, as the dog slowly dismantled and devoured the newbie.
It was an additional shift not included in the contract, caused by the newbie''s mistake.
After tearing apart the newbie for a while, the Object, seemingly satisfied, returned to its dog size and headed back to its luxurious doghouse, amidst the cheers of the employees.
All that remained in the spot where the newbie had been was a pool of blood from when he was human and a single Object report soaked in that blood.
Although the human had been torn to shreds, the sturdy Object report remained intact.
# This report is an asset of the Seoul Research Institute. Do not take it out.
# The contents of this report may be distorte read outside the institute.
Object Name - Cute Puppy.
Object Danger Level: 3
Manageability - Difficult to Manage (Low)
Management Method - It can be managed simply by treating it like a pet, praising it, and constantly telling it how cute it is.
Other than that, foods suitable for pets, walks, and creating an environment utilizing employees are necessary.
Expressing affection through physical contact such as petting is important.
Caution - If you deny its cuteness, it will try to kill you.
When uttering any words while looking at the cute puppy, let''s carefully consider putting our lives on the scale.
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Possibility of Removal - Not attempted.
Removal is expected to be possible.
However, since the management benefits far outweigh the management costs, attempting removal is prohibited.
Possibility of Containment - Cannot be contained.
The longer it is not adored, therger it bes.
It cannot be restrained with existing materials.
It can even prate thick steel tes, and other means of containment are highly likely to cause its death.
Possibility of Banishment - Not attempted.
It seems it would yield simr results to the containment experiments.
If the erged subject roams to find an owner to adore it, the damage would be unpredictable.
***
On TV, stories were being told about Objects that cannot be eliminated by humans.
A giant flying jellyfish that doesn''t fall even when hit by a nuclear weapon. An indestructible steel tower. Ghost-like objects that cannot be physically touched, and so on.
"Seeing things like this, it doesn''t seem like humans are the masters of the Earth anymore."
While grumbling in front of a friend who works at a national research institute, I took a bite of chicken. There were still many people in front of our alma mater.
Taking a sip of beer against the backdrop of the bustling noise.
"That''s true. If we don''t solve the Object problem, our generation may be fine, but the next generation will really struggle as there won''t be enough safend to live on, right?"
It was a world where the Object apocalypse theory was emerging.
There were countless Objects that harmed humans, and among them, many that humans could not eliminate.
If humans could not destroy, banish, or contain an Object by their power, they had no choice but to treat it as a natural disaster.
The number of people dying from Objects every year was constantly increasing.
"Another new hire died during this management task rotation. The newbies die, the experienced ones leave exhausted, and this ce is a mess too."
"But didn''t you say you''re in charge of a rtively safe Object? If the countermeasures are clear, it should be a pretty safe job."
"At least the mutt I''m in charge of has clear likes and dislikes. You just have to find it cute, smile, and exim in admiration, but is that why it can kill you? The stress is insane."
"Haha, was it a cute puppy or something? It seems there are quite a few idents even though the countermeasures have been clearly identified."
A mutt with no skin or muscles, just dangling blood vessels and internal organs, being called a ''cute puppy''. A mutt that made you want to curse every time you stroked its pulsating exposed flesh.
"When I first saw that dog, all I could do was curse, but these days I''m a bit envious. A cozy home. Delicious food. It seems to enjoy leisure activities better than me."
The ''Cute Puppy'' at the Seoul Research Institute, which generates enormous profits, was receiving tremendous financial support.
Numerous employees were hired to care for the dog, and whatever the dog wanted was provided. The hired employees had to take good care of it if they didn''t want to die.
"There''s been a lot of talk about your ''Cute Puppy'' treatment. They say they feel rtively deprived, but that''s just sour grapes."
"Ah, that''s all just media y by thepeting research institutes. They want a share of the profits, but since the pig director of the Seoul Research Institute is hogging it all, they''re under concentrated attack. But I heard they''re not sure what they''re aiming for with the media y?"
"Well, anyway, be careful since the atmosphere doesn''t seem good."
The drinking session ended with this kind of meaningless conversation going back and forth. Come to think of it, it was actually an important conversation.
***
In the middle of a real park as beautiful and sunny as an artificial park, an acrid smell of gunpowder that did not match the scenery at all wafted through.
"We are not"
"ves of Objects!"
The maniacs were rushing in with wild eyes, shouting slogans.
Was it because today was unusually clear sunny day without any dust?
Was it because the puppy suddenly wanted to see the real sun today?
Was it a problem that my role today was to carry this puppy?
If I had noticed earlier that the seemingly purposeless media y would lead to this terrorist act, would things have been different?
Those who had been fanning the mes of hatred in their ownmunity, iming rtive deprivation, carried out the terror with someone''s support and a little provocation.
No matter how much our puppy eats food worth hundreds of millions of won a day and lives in a golden doghouse, isn''t this too much?
The funny thing is, the puppy they targeted avoided the bomb, but I, without the puppy''s instincts and agility, was dying with my torso split in half.
"Oh my, our cutie wasn''t scared, was he?"
Even when a terror attack urred before our eyes and a colleague was half-killed, our research institute staff did not lose their professionalism.
I closed my eyes listening to an employee''s desperate cooing to soothe the startled puppy.
Praying to be reborn as an Object that can leisurely eat and y in my next life. *grrrr*
She had already gone a whole day without eating.
She was hungry, and meals were served at every meal, but she didn''t even dare to touch the water they provided in this suspicious ce.
If she simply epted what was given to her in this suspicious ce, she couldn''t even imagine what might happen.
The kidnapper was a prominent figure in the area, an old man already over 80 years old.
But the old man''s appearance was not ordinary at all.
He was shriveled up like a dead tree, with not a single muscle, and he could be considered a mummy.
Yet his movements and strength were far beyond human, so it was certain that he was a human rted to an Object.
The whereabouts of the old man''s remaining family were unknown, and judging from the current situation, it seemed highly likely that the family members had also been killed.
The old man''s exact purpose was unknown.
But it was easy to predict that the result would be terrible.
Why could such a prediction be made?
Because outside this prison-like room, there was a mountain of human bones.
Right next to the bars was a huge steel pig statue that captivated the gaze.
mes flickered indifferently in the pig''s empty eyes.
Around the red-hot pig statue, scattered fragments of human bones were strewn about.
Based on her experience in Object research, the old man''s strange superhuman strength and the mountain of bones seemed to be the result of that pig statue.
To think that such an incident would ur just as she came to investigate the abnormal phenomenon in Seoul Forest...
A year ago, she had almost died while investigating an abnormal phenomenon in Seoul Forest, and now her life was in danger again in Seoul Forest. Had she underestimated the danger of Seoul Forest?
rumble
Along with the sound of a heavy stone being scratched, light footsteps echoed.
It was the sound of the old man''s footsteps, who came down several times a day.
"Hey, still haven''t eaten?"
The old man''s hoarse voice was heard from outside the bars.
Tsk, he clicked his tongue and left the basement.
The old man''s glittering gaze was strangely chilling, but the reason was still unknown.
There were many other things she was curious about.
What kind of food is he constantly trying to feed her?
What is that ominous pig statue?
What are the piles of bones?
Is the old man''s physical ability really derived from the pig statue?
It seems he is kidnapping and killing people, but what is the reason?
She kept jotting down the questions that came to mind in her notebook, but the questions only continued to increase.
It would be good if the employees of the Sehee Research Institute noticed the director''s disappearance and find her before it''s toote...
But it didn''t seem easy.
***
Still not MC POV:
---
As the noisy rm clock was left behind, the clear morning air moistened her lungs and drove away the drowsiness as the curtains and windows were opened.
It was another pleasant morning.
She put on her employee ID card and headed out.
- Affiliated with Sehee Research Institute
- Researcher Oh Yerin
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This simple ID card with a photo and affiliation was absolutely necessary.
From the researchplex shuttle bus to the internal convenience store and security facilities, there was nowhere she could go without it.
She swiped her employee ID card and boarded the waiting bus at the shuttle stop.
On the bus, she checked the news on her phone and found that the abnormal phenomenon that urred overnight was a fire.
It was a sudden mass death incident.
Animals had died inrge numbers near Seoul Forest, and since a simr incident had urred a year ago, the gravity of the situation was particrly heavy.
There was even an article directly attacking her research institute, saying "Sehee Research Institute''s poor management?"
The Gray Reaper is being well-managed without any loopholes at our Research Institute, so it was frustrating to see such a nderous article.
A year ago, the mass death incident was tentatively concluded to have been caused by the ''Gray Reaper'' Object that was transferred to our Sehee Research Institute, but the director had strongly argued that it was impossible.
In my opinion, the Gray Reaper is a harmless Object, but looking at the revealed facts, it was clear that the Reaper was responsible.
Its ability to easily induce death made it the most suitable Object to cause the mysterious mass death incidents.
Furthermore, after capturing the Gray Reaper in Seoul Forest and transferring it to the Research Institute, the consecutive mass death incidentspletely stopped, solidifying that suspicion.
The endless broadcast was ranting about the significance of the mass death incident, the incident a year ago, and our Research Institute that is managing the Gray Reaper.
After passing the Research Institute security gate, the deafening silence of the istion facility weed me.
It was an early time when no one had arrived for work yet.
The Gray Reaper, which maintains a regr sleep schedule, had not yet awakened.
The interior of the istion room was furnished like a living space, and on therge bedy a life form with gray skin, curled up and eyes closed.
This was the ''Gray Reaper'', the most dangerous Object among those managed in Korea, known for its fearsome reputation.
Most of the Research Institute staff know that the Reaper is harmless, contrary to the ominous rumors, but those who don''t know tend to fear the Gray Reaper excessively.
The problem was the video that first revealed the appearance of the Gray Reaper.
In the video, the Reaper looked like the very incarnation of the god of death, walking through a pack of wolves, causing them to collide and self-destruct.
There were plenty of fast and strong life forms, but the existence that could cause mass idental deaths evoked an instinctive sense of rejection.
Regardless of its abilities, it was actually a cute and harmless life form.
At least for the past year, there had been no sightings of the Reaper attacking organisms without reason.
I poke the cheek of the soundly sleeping Reaper. Since no one has arrived for work yet, this is the only time I can exclusively enjoy the cute Reaper, so I have to savor this moment.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The sensation of poking my cheek woke me up. Every morning, she pokes my cheek, and since I don''t show any signs of disliking it, she''s been doing it every day now.
I don''t understand the reason behind this behavior, even though I''m a smart researcher who always argues against the director''s opinions.
Is it some kind of response test?
As I gently open my eyes, Oh-Yerin excitedly lifts me up.
She looks directly into my half-opened, drowsy eyes and gives a bright smile.
What she sees reflected in those eyes is thezy expression of ''me'' - the Object known as the ''Gray Reaper'' with gray skin and glowing yellow eyes.
"Good morning!"
Oh-Yerin is always brimming with energy. Not only her, but all the employees of this Research Institute seem to have an excessive amount of vitality, which has been one of the unsolved mysteries for me after being here for a year.
The Seoul Research Institute I was in a year ago had an atmosphere like conscripts being dragged into a war zone.
Well, with about one person dying per month, it''s not surprising they had such an atmosphere.
I had stubbornly persisted in that Research Institute, close to death, thinking I could never die.
Ultimately, I too had died during the terrorist attack at the Seoul Research Institute a year ago.
In the early morning, as I dozing off, Yerin picked me up and sat down on the sofa in the istion room.
Yerin tightly hugged me on the sofa and began to tell me one by one about the fun things that happened to her on her way to work today.
She talked about the new Object that was registered at the academic conference, and the story of the street food stall she saw.
These were quite interesting stories for me, who had not gone out of the Research Institute for as long as a year.
"They say there was another mass death incident near Seoul Forest yesterday. And everyone is saying the Gray Reaper did it. But the Reaper is here, those people are so ridiculous."
Yerin shook my hand back and forth as she expressed her anger.
"It''s too much to just me the Reaper for the same phenomenon that happened a year ago in the same ce. Our Research Institute has never had any idents in managing Objects, but they''re just making groundless usations."
The mass death incident was also the reason I met the director of the Research Institute, Lee Sehee, a year ago.
Back then, I had rescued Sehee, who had been kidnapped while investigating the incident, and that was the beginning of our connection. But now, another mass death incident has urred.
"You know what''s funny? This time, Sehee unnie also rushed out to Seoul Forest. When I arrived at the Research Institute, there was a message on the internal messenger saying ''Departed for Seoul Forest''."
I had a feeling that Sehee might have been kidnapped again, but I tried to ignore it.
No matter how clumsy Sehee is, she is a researcher who graduated from a prestigious university, so she wouldn''t make the same mistake twice.
Yerin also had a subtle level of concern, thinking, ''Sehee unnie is not an idiot, so nothing bad will happen again, right?''
Chapter 3: Seoul Forest Story (1)
Bustling and chaotic, I wander around the interior of the Research Institute.
People shouting, others rushing somewhere carrying stacks of documents.
When it gets boring resting in the istion room, Ie out to watch the people, and today the atmosphere seemed even more chaotic.
The istion room was a thoroughly sealed space, but it wasn''t a ce I was strictly confined to.
It was just a standard Object istion facility as prescribed byw, not a ce that could actually hold me captive.
As long as I wanted, I could be a ghostly entity and roam around freely, as there was nothing modern science could do about it.
Just a few minutes ago, I was cuddled up with Yerin watching a movie, but then I was taken away by Yerin''s superior, Kim Jungroo.
T/N: ording to the Revised Romanization of Korean (RR), the name ??? would be ''Kim Jung-roe'' or possibly ''Kim Joong-roo.'' However, for the purposes of convenience, I will use ''Kim Jungroo.'' HAHAHA! Please feel free to correct me if I''m mistaken.
Watching movies alone is no fun, so I decided to sneak out of the istion room and explore the interior of the Research Institute instead.The ce I chose was the meeting room in the middle of a heated discussion.
Lying sprawled on the central table during the meeting feels strangely pleasant.
I like that no one can see me, and the cool sensation is one of my favorite resting spots.
"It''s too early to confirm that Director Lee Sehee is missing. Theck of contact is likely due to the fact that electronic devices don''t work in Seoul Forest, which is amon urrence."
Ah, the reasonable Kim Jungroo made a valid point.
Even if the director is a bit of a klutz, it''s too much to say she''s gone missing in just a few hours.
Yerin also agreed without much objection.
Even though Yerin often skips work, during meetings she diligently types something on herptop.
I wondered if she was ying around, but when I looked closer, she was properly taking meeting minutes and voicing opinions, which was a bit of a shock - where did the Yerin who always goes out with me disappear to!
Well, if an employee who seems to be cking off is actually capable, they probably wouldn''t have been fired long ago, so I understood.
The conclusion was to wait a bit longer before determining whether the director''s disappearance was true, but the vice director voiced a dissenting opinion.
"There are many locals who maintain contact Seoul Forest, where Object incidents are frequent. ording to them, the director has not yet returned to her residence in Seoul Forest. She must be involved in some kind of trouble."
"Then should we conduct arge-scale search? With the recent mass death incident, there will likely be investigation teams from the government and other Research Institutes, so we need to consider potential conflicts."
The meeting ultimately decided to send an investigation teamposed of the recovery unit and the security team, both to find the director and investigate the cause of the mass deaths.
A rather ordinary conclusion.
But I can''t help but think that if I suddenly go out to search for the director, something interesting might happen.
Even if the chances of the director being in trouble are low, with the mass death incident and all, there might be an interesting event or two, right?
Of course, the main reason was something else:
"Do you know where the Gray Reaper is?"
"No, I don''t. Seems like it''s not in the istion room."
"You need to keep an eye on it until this situation is resolved. With the attention on the mass deaths, any problem would bring trouble to the Seoul Research Institute - hearings, being summoned, all hell breaking loose."
Everyone is saying the mass deaths were my doing, so I wonder what kind of reaction I would get if I showed up.
"Ah!"
Yerin, who often spends time with me, seemed to sense something and suddenly started calling me.
"Reaper,e out and let''s watch a movie! This time I''ll even pop some popcorn and really get into it!"
Hehehe, it''s been a while since I''ve seen Yerin so flustered, maybe almost a year? Ignoring Yerin''s desperate calls, I flew out of the Research Institute, heading towards Seoul Forest.
***
"What''s with the movie talk during work hours?"
A displeased voice of Kim Jungroo was heard.
"Ugh, it''s all because of the senior''s fault I should have kept watching the movie. The Gray Reaper often visits the meeting room when it''s not in the istion room."
"Well, we know the Reaper can''t really be confined and just roams around the Research Institute grounds at will. Is that a problem?"
"It is a problem. The Reaper is a stubborn one, and if it doesn''t want to be there, it''ll just take off. I bet it was listening to this meeting and was 80% ready to just leave."
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Kim Jungroo responded with an expression that showed he didn''t quite understand.
"Reaper has never left the Research Institute since being isted. Aren''t you overreacting a bit? It''s true that the Reaper''s intelligence is high, but it''s risky to definitively conclude that it understandsnguage."
"Anyway, while I can''t prove it with data, I''m certain the Reaper has gone to Seoul Forest. I''ll go to Seoul Forest too, so please approve my field work."
Although surprised by the sudden field work request, the senior approved it.
"Seoul Forest is dangerous, so be careful."
Kim Jungroo, the caring senior, approved the field work request despite his worries.
Of course, if he had known Oh-Yerin''s real intentions, he would never have approved it.
***
Sitting on the concrete ceiling, I gazed at the expansive forest under the gloomy, cloudy sky. Swinging my legs slowly, I enjoyed the pleasant breeze.
Facing the CCTV installed on the rooftop, I savored the wind.
The square sentry post, built high with cold concrete, was a clear boundary between civilization and the wild.
The road leading into Seoul Forest was in disrepair after crossing the forest boundary, further emphasizing the wild nature of the area.
Seoul Forest was created due to the appearance of the indestructible ''Steel Tower'' Object from Pyongyang. Even nuclear strikes couldn''t destroy it, shattering the naive human belief that nuclear weapons could solve any Object-rted problem.
Indestructible Objects that defy physical influence, like ghosts, turned out to be moremon than expected.
The Steel Tower was also known for destroying civilization, as electronic devices inside its territory were almost certain to malfunction, and even tall buildings and roads were destroyed.
That''s why the area beyond was called the ''outside of civilization''.
Inside the sentry post, there were two soldiers with shaved heads, looking bored. The senior-looking soldier was staring nkly at the TV inside, while the junior-looking one was gazing endlessly towards Seoul Forest.
The TV was constantly discussing the recent mass death incident - ''was it caused by a new object, or was it the Reaper''s doing?''
[This mass death incident is due to the mismanagement of the Sehee Research Institute. As seen in the previous incident at the Seoul Research Institute, ipetent Research Institutes should not be entrusted with managing Objects. Especially the "Gray Reaper", which is an extremely dangerous Object, could lead to an irreversible situation if a problem arises!]
The panel criticized the Sehee Research Institute''sck of management, mentioning the previous incident at the Seoul Research Institute, where I, as a human, had faced death.
"This mass death incident also seems to be the Reaper''s doing. It''s too strange for such a phenomenon-creating Object to appear in multiple individuals near Seoul."
The sentry guarding Seoul Forest spoke without taking his eyes off the forest.
Oh, so the mass death incident is linked to me as well, huh?
"Well, without evidence that the ''Gray Reaper'' did it, the conclusion will likely be that it was a new, undiscovered Object. With so many researchers having gone into the forest, it should be revealed soon."
The public opinion seems to have already decided the Reaper was responsible, but the investigation doesn''t seem to be reaching that conclusion so easily.
After all, without any evidence, they can''t definitively me the Reaper, no matter how much the public condemns it.
The TV panel was passionately ranting about how dangerous this world is and how unstable the foundation of this society is. They seemed more emotional than the sentry guarding the frontline of the objects.
"It''s strange. The time for return has passed, but she still hasn''te back."
The junior soldier was still unable to take his eyes off the forest. He had a worried expression, as if he was waiting for someone.
These days, there have been ominous rumors about deaths around Seoul Forest, so he must be worried about that.
"With this gloomy weather, she may not be able to return. You know that when it rains around here, it getspletely destroyed by thunderstorms."
"But it''s still strange. Usually, she would have emerged from the forest in about a month, but she still hasn''t. I would like to report this abnormal phenomenon and request a search team if possible."
"Hey, if a false report is discovered, you''ll go straight to prison. You know there''s zero tolerance for anything rted to Objects, right? It''s merciless. If you''re that worried, you could hire a private detective instead of a search team. They''d be faster and more urate, though it would cost some money."
So there are private detectives in this country too. When I was human, I never had the need to use one.
The junior soldier happily contacted the detective the senior had given him and asked him to find the missing person, no matter how much it cost.
"Huh?"
As themotion about the detective request subsided, the senior seemed to have discovered something.
Has he finally seen me? I waved my hand in front of the CCTV, feeling happy.
"R... Reaper!"
The two sentries were so startled that they didn''t even take the stairs down, but jumped straight down from the 3-story sentry post and fled in a truck.
Can''t they at least greet me?
Chapter 4: Seoul Forest Story (2)
Savemesavemesaveme.
My head is a mess.
I can''t think straight.
The director of the Research Institute should always analyze the situation calmly, but I have to analyze it!
I''m scared! I''m scared! I''m scared!
The old man took away a kidnapped person from the butcher''s shop, just like how one would choose meat.
It was a woman who yed the violin.
She was the most terrified of all the abductees.
I force a smile and think.The old man forcibly put the woman on the steel pig statue.
From the pig statue, a pile of charred bones was scattered on the floor with a thud.
The identity of the mysterious pile of bones on the floor was revealed.
mes suddenly erupted from the pig statue, and the muffled screams started again.
It was that woman''s voice.
The cause of the screams that filled the basement was also revealed.
I move my creaking, uncooperative hand to take notes.
I write down information about the Object.
I don''t know what expression I''m making.
Was I wearing the confident smile befitting the director of the Research Institute? I''m not sure.
***
"Hey, install cameras on this side too. Be careful not to cross the boundary of Seoul Forest! If you cross it, it''ll be smashed to pieces, so be careful!"
The people installing the cameras were carefully setting them up.
It''s understandable, since any electronic device that crosses the boundary of Seoul Forest gets smashed like it was hit with a hammer.
The once-deserted entrance to Seoul Forest was now crowded with people.
They were setting up camps to support the team going in for internal investigation, and installing numerous cameras to observe any Objects that mighte out of the forest.
The mass death incident in Seoul Forest, and the traces of the ''Gray Reaper'' found at the entrance of Seoul Forest - the synergy of these two events has drawn a lot of people.
Especially considering the human tendency to be obsessed with being number one, the ''escape of the most dangerous Object managed by Korea'' would certainly cause amotion.
From my perspective, I haven''t really harmed anyone, but I''ve already been ranked as the most dangerous Object. It''s a rather nice title to have, so I''m grateful to ept it.
In fact, isn''t it a really cool title? The Gray Reaper, the most dangerous Object in Korea!
In fact, if I be more famous, a folklore like ''The Gray Reaper takes away crying children!'' might even emerge. Hehe.
This kind of reputation is very useful when I want to attract people.
There was also a camp set up by the Sehee Research Institute, and reporters were swarming there, bombarding them with questions.
"It has been revealed that the Gray Reaper escaped from the Research Institute. What are your thoughts on this situation?"
"You have put the citizens in danger due to negligence in management. Whatpensation n are you preparing?"
"It seems the mass death incident was also caused by the Gray Reaper. Is this the first time the Gray Reaper has escaped?"
Kim Jungroo, who was dealing with the reporters, seemed to be responding with a pale face.
Oh-Yerin, who should have been helping him, was nowhere to be seen. I wonder if she went out on a field trip, knowing this incident was going to happen.
The procession heading towards the interior of Seoul Forest was uninterrupted. With thisrge-scale search, I think Lee Sehee will be easily found.
Well, if bringing in a lot of people can increase the chances of finding Sehee, that would be helpful.
I discreetly the procession heading into the forest. I wonder how much the Seoul Forest has changed in the past year.
***
The scenery of the Seoul Forest vige still looked the same even after a year. Wooden buildings, gravel roads, and streets without power lines. It was like a scene from the Middle Ages.
The Seoul Forest vige is known to be the only residential area within Seoul Forest.
Due to the ban on the use of electronic devices and internalbustion engines, the people here live like in the Middle Ages. Perhaps because of this inconvenience, there is a reputation that half of the residents are criminals.
As a result, the area is quite unsafe, making it hard to believe it''s near Seoul.
Using electronic devices within the Seoul Forest area? They just get smashed to pieces. Without any reason. Even the high-rise buildings and roads that used to exist there have all disappeared that way.
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Personally, the Seoul Forest vige felt like an excellent folk vige with a strong sense of living.
The absence of rubber, stic, and asphalt made it feel even more so.
Even after a year, that feeling hasn''t changed.
What felt the most fascinating was themercial district, where they used gold and silver coins for transactions instead of banknotes that would disintegrate.
You could experience the medieval- trading full of weighing the coins, buying and selling goods, and haggling and scams.
Even snack-like foods were packaged in ss or metal cans, or leather-like materials.
Just going to the market was full of fascinating things, making you feel like you''vee to a tourist site of a different cultural realm.
Of course, that''s from an Object''s perspective.
Ufortable beds, poor facilities, unsatisfactory food, unstable security, an environment without electronics. For humans who have to eat and sleep there, it would be an inconvenient ce to visit as a tourist.
Even in a ce like this, there is a reason why society functions. And that is the existence of a ruler who manages this ce.
The person who cultivated this ce, which was once treated as abandonednd due to the inability to use modern amenities, and made a society function in its own way.
Han Gang-cheol, the King of Seoul Forest.
While he is called the King of Seoul Forest, he is actually the boss of a gang that rules this ce. In thiswlessnd without firearms or electronics, he is a fitting ruler.
If something happens, it would be to visit Han Gang-cheol at least once. If it''s not a one-time incident, Han Gang-cheol''s organization would certainly have some information.
Han Gang-cheol''s location? It would be thergest and best building in this vige.
The residence I visited, which was Han Gang-cheol''s abode, was an excellent building that evoked the image of a medieval manor.
Upon entering the manor, it was clear that something was amiss.
There were too many injured people inside the manor, and an ominous atmosphere permeated the ce. But it was unclear whether it was rted to Sehee''s disappearance.
I couldn''t easily ask someone what happened, as the mute concept of the ''Gray Reaper'' prevented me frommunicating verbally.
T/N: I thought she couldn''t talk, so she just doesn''t want to?
Writing would be possible, but the concept of the ''Gray Reaper'' is that it doesn''t understand human speech, that was also not an option.
Why such a concept? It was created for the sake of a happy Object life. If I could converse, I might end up negotiating with humans, which is something I don''t particrly want to do.
As I floated through the walls and ceilings of the manor like a ghost, observing every room, I overheard a meaningful conversation in one of the corners.
"Shouldn''t we seek help from the outside for this?"
"Ask for help for this kind of thing?"
In a room in the corner of the manor, Han Gang-cheol and a few others were engaged in a conversation, with several photos scattered on the table.
"There are already more than 10 people with their limbs torn off. The number of missing persons has also exceeded 30. Even when they move in groups of 5, they can''t catch it. I don''t think we can handle this."
"What difference would it make to ask for outside help? Without even being able to use guns, adding more people from the outside would be meaningless. The government will probably just choose to evacuate Seoul Forest. Then our business will have to shut down."
The missing persons incident! It seemed highly likely that Sehee could have been caught up in this.
"With so many outsidersing in, that thing will also have a hard time moving around unnoticed. Let''s try onest time tonight. Anyway, with all the outsiders, we can''t control the information anymore."
***
Night in Seoul Forest was unusually dark. The darkness of a city without electricity. Sounds that broke through that darkness reverberated throughout the vige.
"Catch it!"
"Drive it in!"
The gangsters, each wielding a de, were running in all directions, chasing after a certain entity.
A monstrous being that seemed to be 3 meters tall.
He was a human who was extremely thin and had limbs that were disturbingly long. Just by looking at him, he seemed more like a praying mantis or daddy longlegs than a human.
His physical abilities were not inferior to his bizarre appearance. He was so fast in the darkness that he could barely be seen properly, and the people who got hit by the monster had their bones snapping off.
To think they''re trying to deal with such a monster internally without revealing it to the outside, are they in their right mind?
Certainly, if the outsiders witness this monster roaming around, they won''t be able to keep it hidden anymore.
In fact, it''s more surprising that they''ve managed to keep it hidden so far.
This shows the extent of Gang-cheol''s control over the Seoul Forest, and his self-proimed title of ''King'' is justified by such a formidable power.
While the gangsters were frantically trying to catch the monster, I decided to search the house from which the monster had emerged.
Humans with poor night vision and limited peripheral vision might not have seen it, but this monster had sprung out from a small house built on the edge of the vige.
From an ordinary, unremarkable residential building that wasmon in the vige.
''Hmm.''
And as soon as I quietly entered that house, the first thing that greeted me was the monsters lying scattered on the floor.
Chapter 5: Seoul Forest Story (3)
The room I entered was an extremely peculiar ce.
A room with no windows.
Emaciated monsters scattered on the floor.
On the floor were snacks, drinks, and food items strewn about haphazardly.
The monsters were muttering with drool dripping from their mouths and hazy eyes.
Even when I dispelled the invisibility and waved my hand in front of them, monsters justy there with their hazy eyes, seemingly no longer in their right mind.
There were numerous doors locked with chains and padlocks, and without fail, there was at least one monster behind each of them.
''What kind of ce is this? Why are there so many monsters, and why are they confined in each room?''
Scratch, scratch As I walked around the house, I heard a faint sound of scratching wooding from somewhere. It was a small sound, but it continued without pause.
Straining my ears, the sound seemed to being from the second floor. The staircase leading to the second floor was covered in a thickyer of dust, as if it had not been used in a long time, and each step creaked unpleasantly.
Looking back, I saw small footprints trailing up the dusty staircase.
If I had known, I should have turned invisible beforeing up.
The scratching sound that had been continuous earlier had now stopped.
Fortunately, there was only an attic on the second floor, so it was clear that the source of the sound was the attic.
The attic, where I entered in an invisible state, was slightly different from the rooms on the first floor. In the dark room with no light, a monster was slumped against the door. The monster''s glowing red eyes were the only source of light in the dark room. It was clearly different from the hazy monsters.
Scratch, scratch
The monster with glowing eyes began scratching the door. It was a weak effort, but it continued without pause, its fingertips bleeding and staining the door, yet it did not stop. Among the confined monsters, this was the only one moving, and it seemed to be making a desperate attempt to escape.
Wanting to see if this monster would react, I dispelled the invisibility, and a faint sound of feet hitting the floor was heard, barely audible under the scratching sound.
The constant scratching sound stopped.
Sudden silence.
The monster, who had been staring at the door and scratching it, had now turned its head to look at me. Its dry, withered skin contrasted with the vivid light in its eyes, which clearly held a spark of intelligence.
"Who are you?"
The monster, which had only turned its head 180 degrees, now rose and slowly approached me. Though it had been hunched over, its height now seemed to exceed 2 meters.
"You''re not breathing. Are you not human?"
"How did you get in here?"
"It seemed like you suddenly appeared in the room, do you have the ability to ignore physical constraints?"
The monster paused in its speech and suddenly opened its mouth wide, frantically scratching the area where its ears should be. Its once-vivid red eyes became hazy, resembling the other monsters on the first floor.
The area where its ears had been was now just a horrific, scratched wound, with no trace of the ear-like organ left.
"Then, then, then, you can get it, you can get the fire, I need the fire, I''m hungry, I''m hungry, I''m hungry, I need food, I''m hungry, I''m hungry, I''m hungry, I''m hungry, I''m hungry, I''m hungry, I''m hungry, I''m hungry."
Spewing iprehensible words, the monster then curled up and began mming its head against the floor. It continued until the withered skin on its forehead split open and bled, then it stopped and rose again.
"Ah, I''m sorry. I couldn''t help it, I was so hungry."
Hungry? There were plenty of canned goods and snacks scattered around the room. I picked up a snack from the floor and offered it to the monster, but it shook its head.
"My hunger can never be satisfied by such things. I see, since you have no lungs, you cannot speak, How fascinating, that an Object that cannot speak would be given the ability to understand speech."
So he can''t eat it. I took a bite of the snack the monster had refused.
It''s delicious, but it''s like a curse that I can''t fill my stomach with this kind of food.
Anything would taste good to me if I were hungry enough to have a seizure, I should be able to eat anything deliciously. Has it be difficult for me to empathize with hunger and thirst since I was born as an Object and haven''t felt them for about a year?
"I''m sorry, but could I make a rude request? If you can, I would be grateful if you could help me."
"Could you go down to the basement and bring me some fire?"
''Aaargh, no!'' he shouted loudly, and the monster began frantically rummaging through the walls all around. The walls and doors reinforced with iron easily injured the monster''s body, and even though it was covered in blood, the monster''s frenzy did not stop.
The monster''s seemingly unstoppable frenzy continued until it copsed on the floor.
Of course, since it looked dangerous, I had evacuated in a ghostly state a long time ago.
"Ah, I''m sorry. I''m sorry. By the way, I can''t see you."
"Ah, I see. Were you a ghost-type Object like a specter?"
When I stepped back into the attic after dispelling the ghostly state, the monster nodded.
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"While I''m in my right mind, I''d like to make a request. I wish you would take my life. For some reason, I feel like you could do it easily."
The monster seemed to be mentally unstable at a nce.
Has it been affected by an Object? It is a well-known fact that the answer in such cases is ultimately to eliminate them, since the methods of dealing with Objects affecting the mind are hardly known. However, the fact that it directly suggested it felt desperate.
The monster closed its eyes after saying that.
''Hmm, this is troublesome.''
I may be called the Gray Reaper in the world, but I don''t have the ability to directly kill something.
Then why am I called the Reaper? I have the ability to learn how to easily kill a target. But that''s only useful when the target is not an Object. When the target is an Object, it''s just a hint.
Unfortunately, the monster in the attic, who was wishing for death, was already too close to being an Object, even if it was human. That''s why its death looks like this to me.
[Destroy the source of the fire-made mochi] Grrrrr
A rough sound of stone scraping echoed. Did the old mane in again? But apletely different set of footsteps began to sound.
The sound of stone and bare skin colliding. Shuffling footsteps echoed.
''This sounds somehow familiar...''
It had a familiar rhythm, a sound I had heard many times a day.
No way.
Nononono.
I stretched my head towards the stairs while gripping the bars.
The faint shadow cast by the dimntern on the stairs drew a familiar silhouette.
"Reaper!"
I shouted in delight.
I don''t know why the Gray Reaper, who should be at the Research Institute, is here, but I''m just d to see it. If the Reaper is here, it must have escaped the Institute''s istion, but the joy of being able to survive outweighs the obvious fact that this could be a big problem.
Hearing my voice, the Reaper''s footsteps began to sound faster.
''The Reaper is here!''
Filled with anticipation, my heart started beating faster as well.
Chapter 6: Seoul Forest Story (4)
Sehee POV:
---
As usual, the Reaper had an indifferent expression on its face. Its expression seemed a bit sullen, but since it was the same expression I was used to seeing, it was reassuring in this situation.
Aftering down the stairs, it frowned while looking at the pig statue in front of it. The burning gigantic steel pig statue did indeed have a powerful presence that drew the eye.
After looking at the pig statue for a while, the Reaper seemed to be searching for something. In the blink of an eye, it stood in front of me as soon as it spotted me.
I was well aware that the Reaper had the ability to appear and disappear like a ghost even within the Research Institute, but this exceeded my expectations. Witnessing how effortlessly it disregarded distance and obstacles made it evident that the istion room at the Research Institute was merely a formality...
"Reaper, you came!"
I lifted the Reaper who was looking at me up close and hugged her tightly. I was d to see her, but the feeling of relief that I was now safe was even greater.
Of course, I knew the Reaper was not the terrifying being that guides death asmonly known, but I was aware that it was highly intelligent and could potentially guide the rescue by informing the people at the Sehee Research Institute about the location of this ce."I was so scared, Reaper. A person died just a few hours ago. It was a woman who said she yed the violin, but to die in a ce like this..."
"Can you still hear the screams? Whatever Object this is, it''s a horrifying one."
The Reaper just kept looking at me silently while I was hugging her. The Reaper was an Object that could not converse, but perhaps that''s why it was easier to talk to her. Oh-Yerin imed that the Reaper could understand speech, but who knows?
"I think that pig statue is the cause. Just the delicious smell of it makes it clear that it''s a harmful Object. If I wasn''t trapped in this cell, I would''ve rushed towards that pig statue."
Even now, I could see many people reaching their hands out through the bars of the other cells. They were simply reaching towards the pig statue, not even paying attention to the Reaper''s distinct presence.
"I should call people to rescue them, but that smell from the pig statue is so tempting. I don''t even know what kind of phenomenon that pig statue is causing."
The Reaper had now averted her gaze from me and was looking towards the entrance to the basement.
''Is there something in there?''
The Reaper, who acted out of curiosity without speaking, was simr to a cat in many ways. Since the Reaper often suddenly disappeared when it was interested in something else, I should quickly call for help.
"Reaper, please call for help. Request a rescue. Can you summon the people from the Sehee Research Institute?"
Despite my urgent plea, the Reaper was still gazing towards the entrance.
"Hic"
The sound of the heavy stone door being dragged echoed. The old man has returned! Or is it really the old man?
The flickering light cast an eerie shadow.
Something that resembled a giant insect rather than a human was approaching, making a rustling sound as it moved through the dust.
And then the old man''s face was revealed. It was definitely the face of the old man who had beening and going from this basement. But apart from the face, the familiar appearance was gone.
At the end of the long, snake-like neck was the old man''s face, which did not look human.
Beyond the neck, which seemed to be over a meter long, was the body of a monster, crawling like a spider with its elongated limbs.
I hugged the Reaper tightly, forgetting to breathe.
What is this? What is this?
H-How do I deal with this?
The old man, swinging his neck like a whip to look around, saw me and grinned widely.
Save me!
***
MC POV:
---
There was a suspicious spot in the house where I thought the basement might be, but I couldn''t find it. The clear scratch marks on the stone, as if the door had been opened many times a day, and the candlestick that seemed to have been used as a switch were the clues.
When I hung on to the candlestick, the heavy statue moved, revealing a passage leading to the basement.
The passage leading to the basement beneath the moved statue looked like the gates of hell. The dim corridor, and the endless screams of a womaning up from that corridor. I was certain that this was the ce where Sehee had been taken.
However, I fervently hoped that the scream was not Sehee''s as I hurriedly stepped down the covered in stone dust.
The sight in the basement was worse than I had expected.
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Centered around the gigantic steel pig statue were rows of cells stretching out on both sides. Near the pig statue, there were piles of charred bone fragments.
The most disturbing thing was the smell that filled the basement. It smelled delicious, but I couldn''t quite pinpoint what the smell was.
Normally, a delicious smell would be something specific like a tart fruit aroma or the scent of freshly baked bread, but this smell had no such distinct quality.
It was closer to a burnt smell, but the fact that it felt appetizing suggested it was definitely rted to the Object.
There were other signs of the Object''s influence as well.
At a nce, the people in the cells seemed to be out of their minds, all with dted eyes, mindlessly reaching towards the pig statue.
Fortunately, Sehee was trapped in one of the cells. Seeing the visibly relieved expression on Sehee''s face as I approached made me realize how much she had been through. As I entered Sehee''s cell, she rushed over and embraced me tightly.
Sehee held me in her arms, looking greatly reassured. She then began to recount what had happened and analyze the current situation.
As I listened to Sehee, I thought about how to rescue her.
Should I open the cell and lead Sehee out?
If I opened the cell now, Sehee would undoubtedly be lured by the scent of the pig statue, making it impossible to take her out. Even while talking, Sehee kept ncing at the statue, indicating she would be unable to resist it.
Should I call for help to rescue her?
It was uncertain whether we could overpower the madman who owned this house. Using firearms or explosives was not an option in the Seoul Forest, and taking him down with melee weapons would be impossible. Even if possible, bringing in another Object to defeat him would take too long.
I felt the madman entering the house.
Perhaps I had spent too much time searching the house, or the thugs outside were simply no match for the monster.
From beyond the soundproofing of the basement, a faint cry could be heard, ''The rat hase in! The rat hase in!''
Seeing that he was annoyed by the tracks I had left, he would soon be storming into the basement.
As I looked towards the entrance, the sound of the stone door being dragged open echoed through the basement. Startled by the sound, Sehee clung to me even tighter.
Lightweight footsteps sounded on the stairs. Considering the madman''s towering stature of over 3 meters, it was an incredibly light gait.
The madman''s shadow was cast on the basement lights. A long neck, elongated limbs, and a mummified, grotesque form. The head that suddenly emerged from the corridor was so bizarre that even I, who had been expecting it, was taken aback.
Sehee held me tightly, as if trying to protect me. The intensity peaked when the madman leered at Sehee, shoving his head towards her.
Looking up from Sehee''s trembling arms, I saw Sehee simply closing her eyes and murmuring, "It''ll be alright."
"Ah, so you''re the rat."
The madman grinned, baring his sharp, needle-like teeth.
But after a moment, his expression changed to one of surprise as he looked at me standing in front of Sehee.
"You are!"
The elongated limbs and neck of the madman shrank back into the form of an ordinary old man in an instant, like a snake hiding its head.
"Who are you? Why would an object like youe to a ce like this?"
The madman, now in the guise of a normal old man, could not hide his bewilderment and shouted convulsively.
"Is it because of that woman? If so, then quickly take her and leave, hurry!"
There are Objects that fear me and those that do not, and this madman seemed to be the former. A type of Object that fears me for no reason, even if I do nothing.
But this old man seemed too intelligent to simply be afraid, you see. The old man was now prostrate on the floor, just waiting for me and Sehee to leave.
I turned towards Sehee to ask for her opinion. Sehee''s eyes were full of curiosity, as if the old man''s unexpected behavior had dispelled her fear.
"Reaper, what are you doing? Why is he acting like that?"
Amidst Sehee''s fuss, a change urred in the old man lying on the floor. Before I could turn my eyes, his limbs were lengthening.
Is he trying to ambush me while I''m not looking?
The old man''s arms stretched out, extending all the way to my feet.
The sight of them growing without making a single squirming sound was strangely repulsive.
Strangely, regardless of whether it is a human or an object, people mistakenly believe that I see with my eyes like a human.
Chapter 7: Seoul Forest Story (5)
The old man who had been slowly extending his arms suddenly stretched them out at an incredible speed, as if he thought this was enough.
"You let your guard down!"
The old man who had grabbed my ankles started to lift me up and m me down onto the floor.
Boom, boom. [Indigestion]
Uhmmm, what kind of nonsense is this?
***
Leaving Sehee, who was asking me to call for help, I circled around the pig statue, trying to figure out what kind of ''indigestion'' a statue could have.
The pig statue was constantly emitting intense heat, and a woman''s piercing scream could be heard from inside it. The scream wasing from the statue''s belly, but when I opened it, there was only a pile of bones, with no source for the scream.
I couldn''t find the origin of the scream, but I did discover the source of the delicious smell filling the basement - a pure sphere of fire inside the pig statue''s belly.
I could pick it up with my hands, and it wasn''t even hot. Its appearance was that of pure fire, which was quite fascinating. It could be considered a sample of the abnormal phenomena caused by an Object.
Even at a nce, the ball of fire looked suspicious, but everyone who saw it seemed to have their eyes drawn to it, wanting to put it in their mouths. Even the usuallyposed Sehee became taciturn and had a hint of madness in her eyes when I was holding the ball of fire.
Some of the people trapped in the prison were cursing and telling me to hand it over, but there was no reason to give it to them since it was obvious that eating it would almost certainly turn them into a monster.
Eating something that an Object makes look delicious? That''s the same as saying you want to die.
Indigestion... Indigestion....
No matter how much I repeated it in my head, there seemed to be only one way.
To go inside the pig''s belly.
Since I don''t think a mere pig statue-level Object can harm me, there shouldn''t be any major problems. In fact, I thought that Object going inside the pig''s belly might be the cause of the indigestion.
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The problem is that I''m reluctant to put my body into the pile of bones inside the statue, but with no other options, I have no choice.
The steel pig statue was quiterge, and the vertical height of the pig''s belly was taller than my height, so it wasn''t too difficult to enter.
After carefully avoiding the bones and entering, I closed the door, and a dull sound and an ominous noise echoed.
The intermittent screams grew louder and louder, and an indistinct viscous liquid began to flow down the walls of the pig statue. And from within the pig statue, mes erupted from all sides, relentlessly raising the internal temperature.
''Oh?''
And the inner walls of the pig statue began to move farther away. No, the interior space was expanding. The steel inner walls had turned into a red skin, and the space that had been like the interior of a statue had now be a grotesque, humid and sloshing space like real innards.
And then a person whose skin was melting approached my face. Their hair was alreadypletely burned off, and their skin was slowly melting off like rubber, a horrifying sight.
The charred skeletal limbs of the person whose skin was melting were grasping and restraining me.
And then I realized. Ah, that person is the source of the scream. The woman screaming in agony was twisting her body, trying to escape, but it was a futile struggle due to the skeletal hands grasping her limbs.
"You too..."
I felt a searing heat on my wrist, and a charred skeletal hand was tightly gripping it.
"Die, die, die, die."
Suddenly, skeletons appearing from all sides began to grab onto various parts of my body, emitting heat.
"You''ll burn too!"
"You too!"
As I was unaffected by the heat, the heat felt all around me began to intensify. It was as if there was an endless malice, demanding that I too must burn and die.
The intensifying heat was starting to reach its limit.
The skeletal hands grasping me crumbled into ashes and began to scatter, and the viscera-like inner walls caught fire and started burning.
And then a tremendous sound of a pig being ughtered was heard, and I was back to the basement.
***
The basement was a mess. The blood-red inner walls of the steel statue had already begun to melt, and the basement visible through the cracks was a scene of smoke and mes.
Jumping down from the pig statue, I saw that it had already melted into a liquid. With no more clues visible, it seems the pig statue had melted due to indigestion.
Seeing the dangerous situation in the basement, Sehee took the lead in breaking down the prison bars to start the escape.
Rushing out of the basement, the scene that greeted us was that of a burning house and the thrashing figures of deranged individuals all around.
The deranged individuals, spewing mes from their mouths and eyes, were simply writhing in agony on the ground. The problem was that the mes were setting the house on fire.
"I-I cannot die like this!"
A towering old man, over 5 meters tall, suddenly sprang up from the burning house and shouted.
"I don''t want to die! After all I''ve been through! After all I''ve endured!"
The old man screamed as his house burned to the ground, he saw people fleeing, and he yelped.
"I won''t die alone!"
The old man''s agility was not as sharp as before, but his speed was still considerable.
Exhausted by the thick smoke and intense heat, the people were even more unable to escape his speed.
However, the old man''s final attempt was blocked by the interference of other deranged individuals who were trapped in the house.
"How dare you! How dare you!"
The long-limbed, spider-like deranged individuals continued to bite and entangle each other, not stopping the fight until they werepletely reduced to ashes.
The fight continued until morning, and I kept watching the scene.
Chapter 8: Seoul Forest Story - Aftermath (1)
Ah, this is a dream.
I realized it intuitively.
After returning from Seoul Forest, I had fallen asleep on thefortable bed at the Sehee Research Institute, and now I was trudging through the rain.
It was a familiar scene.
It was the image of myself from a year ago, walking aimlessly through the rain-soaked forest, gripped by fear.
Even though my body had be physically invulnerable, I was still endlessly gued by the fear of death, wandering without direction.
Death was approaching.
I wasn''t out of breath, but my breathing had bebored.
Even though I had achieved a ghostly state free from physical constraints, I could not escape death.Unlike the deaths of other Objects, the conditions for my own death were not visible.
I instinctively knew that death was approaching, but I couldn''t understand what it was or how to solve it.
The me the size of a fist that had reced my heart was now burning smaller than a speck of dust.
Was this the intuition unique to Objects?
I had known since the moment I was reborn that if this me were to disappear, I would die.
But the me only kept diminishing, never reigniting.
No matter how I tried to feed it or threw myself into the raging fire, there was no change.
Feeling suffocated, as if my insides were burning, I opened my mouth and let the rainwater pour in.
That''s when a calm voice reached my ears.
"Oh my, there¡¯s an object passing by. Won''t youe and rescue me from here?"
Looking towards the source of the voice, I saw a woman peering at me through the bars.
The owner of the voice was standing there with her arms crossed, calling out to me in aposed tone.
At that moment, I had given up.
Since I was going to die anyway, I might as well help someone before I go.
***
The ce, which appeared to be a normal prison, was in fact a sizable Object.
The rescue mission, which seemed like it would be simple, took days, and during the time I spent with the rather rambunctious woman, I was able to forget the fear of death.
But eventually, the long, dungeon-like tunnel dide to an end, and as I reached the end of the dungeon, my own life also reached its end.
While Sehee was reveling in the joy of escape, I slowly prepared for my death.
''At least, I''m dying after saving a life'' , I thought.
The me within me had reached its limit.
I waited for the impending death, leaning against the shadows of the gloomy tunnel, watching Sehee joyfully raising her arms in the sunlight.
''Ah, this is truly the end'' , I thought, when Sehee returned to the tunnel and embraced me, saying,
"Thank you, thank you so much!"
With a slight glimmer of tears in her eyes, Sehee smiled brightly.
In that moment, the me within me began to burn fiercely.
I couldn''t think of anything.
It felt as if a bomb had exploded inside my body.
And that''s when I finally understood the me that was lurking within me.
A me that burned on the fuel ofedy and tragedy.
The me of curiosity.
And so, like Sehee, I began to seek out people who could be the kindling for my me.
It''s a memory with a certain significance.
It''s a meaningful memory, but it was also incredibly difficult, so if I had to ssify it, I would call it a ''nightmare''.
As my vision grew increasingly blurred, I felt someone poking my cheek, and suddenly I found myself back on thefortable bed at the Research Institute.
***
Sehee POV:
---
I had a nostalgic dream.
I suspect it was because I found myself in a simr situation of escaping.
The situation where Reaper saved me from the brink of death.
In the middle of the night, with the rain pouring down, making it hard to see ahead.
Reaper, with a faint glow like a firefly.
Compared to Reaper''s current appearance, the atmosphere waspletely different, to the point that it was hard to believe she was the same Object.
There was ack of curiosity, and Reaper seemed almost indifferent to the surroundings.
The burning glow that is so prominent now was barely visible back then, sometimes even going out.
Still, it was strangely frightening when I first saw it.
The weak but burning glow strangely triggered a sense of fear in me.
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Compared to now, it was a level of light that would be considered child''s y, but even then, it had that effect.
I tried to act calm, hiding the trembling in my voice as I spoke to Reaper.
It was almost like a gamble.
A humanoid Object that suddenly appears across the grate.
Even if it''s a human-type, there''s no guarantee it can understandnguage.
And even if it can understand, most Objects that can understand humans are deceivers.
I spoke to it with a thought close to gambling.
It was an all-or-nothing situation.
Suddenly, the cave that swallowed me had no exit, and dangerous y-type Objects were wandering around.
Whether I starved to death or got beaten to death by the y-types, it was a life-threatening crisis.
In fact, many people died right before my eyes.
Fortunately, Reaper seemed to roughly understand human intentions and was not hostile to humans.
That''s how I managed to survive.
At that time, the Reaper kept moving deeper into the cave, even though I should have gone outside. No matter how much I pulled its hand, trying to find a way out near the surface, it remained immovable.
When I was wandering alone, it was a ce full of life-threatening crises, but when I was with Reaper, it felt like an escape room attraction. Moreover, Reaper seemed to know exactly what to do, as if it had the solution to the escape room. At first, I thought maybe there was something thatmunicated between Objects.
We found a key hidden in a box and opened the corresponding door.
Observing Reaper''s actions, I realized this was not just a simple cave, but a puzzle-like Object. That''s when I understood why Reaper was aiming for the deepest part of the cave.
We had to clear this dungeon to be able to leave.
The moment the long tunnel leading out appeared after we neutralized the infinitely regenerating golem at the very bottom of the cave, the sense of exhration was something I could never experience again.
I was so mentally uplifted that I didn''t feel the slightest fatigue even as I climbed the endless stairs.
When I was cheering at the exit that had opened up in the middle of the forest, I turned back to see Reaper, who had grown increasingly gloomy, crouching in the corner.
Reaper, who had always been expressionless, now had a small smile on her lips that seemed self-deprecating yet satisfied. For some reason, that smile was so sad that I forgot about my cheering and rushed over to hug Reaper.
At that time, I instinctively expressed my gratitude with all my might. I don''t know why, but I felt like I had to do that, even though it couldn''t understand human speech.
Maybe influenced by that greeting, Reaper suddenly shone brightly, startling me, and transformed into its current appearance.
Anguid expression, but always with curious eyes.
I can never forget the startled expression on Reaper''s face at that time.
I never imagined the expressionless Reaper could make such a dramatic expression!
***
??? POV:
---
A clipping from an old newspaper was pinned on the cork board.
[Dozens of casualties after an Object suddenly appeared in Seoul Square, is the management system of the private Research Institute really okay?]
"The ''Abyss'' that was rampaging in Seoul Square is still alive? Those idiots at the center are out of their minds?"
In the dark room, the man muttered as he stared at the cork board. Next to him, a small female shadow was constantly writing something in a notebook, clinging to him.
Strangely, the shadow of the woman was there, but her actual form was nowhere to be found in the room.
Underneath the newspaper clipping, there were a lot of handwritten documents, such as a list of employees who had left a certain Research Institute and projections of budget trends.
After briefly scanning the documents, the man let out a long whistle.
"There are too many people leaving, way too many. At this rate, the catchphrase ''The safest National Research Institute with 0 casualties!'' will be too suspicious, won''t it?"
The suspicious parts were heavily emphasized in red, to the point where the documents looked almost entirely red.
"Ah, this case is too dangerous for my junior to handle, but it''s also the role of a senior to silently watch over him until he cries out."
The man chuckled as he turned away from the documents.
The dim light of the gasmp was not enough to fully illuminate the room, so the silhouette of the figure in front of the cork board was only faintly visible.
"Busy, busy. This time it''s a business trip to Seoul Forest where I can''t use electronic devices. An analog detective is also good."
The man in a neat suit lit his pipe as he organized the cork board.
"Well then, Watson, I''ll be going. Take care."
The faint shadow in the gasmp''s light nodded and then disappeared.
The man in the yellow coat turned off the gasmp and left the room.
***
After the man left and the gasmp went out, themp began to burn on its own again.
And the blood-stained shadow of a woman reappeared.
The blood-stained shadow of the woman began to paint the walls and bookshelves with a sticky, blood-red liquid.
[Is this Holmes perfect? Perfect? Perfect?]
[Perfect so far].
[No unsolved cases.]
[Aren''t you choosing the cases? Choosing the cases? Picking cases?]
[Fortunately, that''s not the case.]
With a pop, themp went out, and the blood-red inscriptions covering the walls and bookshelves disappeared along with it.
Chapter 9: Seoul Forest Story - Aftermath (2)
The vige of Seoul Forest had turnedpletely into ashes. The fire that started from one house was fatal due to the densely built wooden structures in the vige.
In the midst of the ashen remains of the vige, employees of the Research Institute were walking around for investigation and cleanup work. They were busy ssifying the debris and organizing data.
On a hill overlooking the employees working, two men withpletely different atmospheres were looking down at the site.
One was a cold-looking man dressed in a ck suit. The other was a cheerful man in a yellow-dyed suit.
"It''spletely burned down. Well, can''t be helped since they were all wooden buildings!"
The man in the yellow suit said as he rummaged through the remaining debris.
"..."
"Han Gang-cheol, who almost single-handedly built Seoul Forest Vige, died too, and the vige is gone. Perhaps the Seoul Forest Vige will disappear like this. I hurriedly came here in response to the request to find someone, but I don''t know if I can fulfill the request now. Don''t you have anything to help me? It would be nice if you could find something like a violin?"
"...If you want information, make an official request to the central Research Institute."The man in yellow didn''t seem bothered by the response he expected and continued eagerly rummaging through the debris piles. The man in the ck suit didn''t stop him either.
"Based on the testimonies, there are too many stories about the Gray Reaper, but no clear evidence. Wasn''t it the same a year ago? Circumstantially it seems like the Gray Reaper''s doing, but no evidence. This time too, the Gray Reaper burned down an entire vige! The news might report it like that."
"...If there is no contradictory evidence, we can only draw the most reasonable conclusion."
"No, I''m not ming you. Since no electronic devices can be brought into Seoul Forest, there''s nothing you can do. Thest report also just mentioned circumstantial evidence, right? If it turns out apletely different Object caused this, it would be a disaster."
The man in the yellow suit picked up a charred, twisted piece of wood from the debris pile and eximed loudly.
"Oh! Here it is! A violin! This seems to be the violin that the person the client was looking for had. I may have something to tell the client."
"..."
The man in the yellow suit said he should go around and listen to people''s stories, and left abruptly. The man in the ck suit, without looking at him, said as he filled out paperwork:
"If it''s about the violin, ask Lee Sehee, the head of Sehee Research Institute. He may know something."
"Thanks~ Work hard."
The man in yellow wavedzily as he left. The man in the ck suit didn''t respond and closed the filebeled ''Record of Seoul Forest Vige Fire Incident'', looking around the site again.
***
After the Seoul Forest incident, in the noisy director''s office of the Research Institute, Oh-Yerin suddenly rushed in, saying she was fleeing from the furious Kim Jungroo.
"So you just ran here?"
"Yes, senior Jungroo was really angry. He must have been harassed by reporters...Unfortunately, I was caught red-handed because I wasn''t staying in Seoul Forest Vige when the big fire broke out in Seoul Forest."
I couldn''t help butugh at the absurd story. She had just written her name in the Seoul Forest visitor log and left for the day, so Jungroo had reason to be mad. Well, he''ll get over it after some scolding since it''s Jungroo.
"Do you think the Gray Reaper case will probably be taken over by the central Research Institute this time? Public opinion like the ''cute puppy'' case..."
"The central Institute may not be able to contain the Gray Reaper either."
Yerin, who was very close to the Reaper, had a look of disappointment on her face. But judging from the public opinion, it seemed certain that the case would be handed over to the Central Research Institute.
The Research Institute was in a chaotic atmosphere after the Seoul Forest incident. In particr, an inte article published today had a big impact. Until recently, it was treated as a third-rate inte newspaper that mainly carried sensational articles, but after publishing a special feature on the Gray Reaper a year ago, it had be extremely famous.
''Daily Object''
Anyone from the Sehee Research Institute would not be able to ignore that ce, as they constantly came and bothered them.
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As a major media outlet that had profited from the Gray Reaper, they were actively pushing the theory that the Gray Reaper was behind this incident. Reading the article, the Gray Reaper seemed to be the ultimate mastermind controlling the Objects, and the main culprit who had plunged this world into sorrow.
I wonder what kind of interview they conducted toe up with a story about the Reaper summoning burning monsters from hell through a Voodoo ritual.
"Ah, this is a report issued by the Central Research Institute. As a researcher, you can freely ess it. I brought it because I thought the director might not know about it."
"Hmm, is that so?"
What conclusion did the report issued by the Central Research Institute draw about this incident? It would be nice if it was favorable to the Sehee Research Institute, but the chances of that are slim.
Oh-Yerin closely stood next to me as I read the report. It was ufortable, but since she said she hadn''t seen it yet, I had no choice but to read it together.
''This incident appears to be rted to a new Object called the Steel Pig Statue (tentative name) and the Gray Reaper.''
''A total of 8 people, all members of a family residing in Seoul Forest, were found to have mutated due to the Steel Pig Statue. The physical transformation was severe, but since there were no changes in their genes or teeth, tracking them was rtively easy.''
''The Steel Pig Statue seems to have the ability to produce fiery dumplings. Judging from the many testimonies about the unbearably delicious smell, it appears that consuming them causes physical mutation.''
''Except for the head of the household, they all seem to have been confined in the house, presumably to monopolize the fiery dumplings (mochi-like).''
''Consuming the fiery dumplings appears to make it impossible to eat other food. Before being confined, the family members were often observed vomiting when trying to eat food in the vige.''
''The monsters seem to have kidnapped people, fattened them up, and then sacrificed them to the Steel Pig Statue.''
''This Steel Pig Statue incident was found to have no connection to the mass death incident that urred in Seoul Forest.''
The report contained detailed information about the incident. The good news was that while the appearance of the Gray Reaper was observed, it was difficult to establish a clear causal rtionship.
Yerin seemed a bit shocked by the part about the victims'' deaths, her face turning pale. It seemed that more people had been sacrificed in this incident than expected.
Well, the pile of bones in the basement was quite substantial.
Thump, thump, thump.
The sound of heavy knocks echoed, startling Yerin, who looked around frantically. But no matter how much she looked, there was no way to escape from this director''s office. Haha, this office doesn''t have a back door.
As Yerin''s gaze met mine, I gave her a sly smile.
"D-Don''t tell me, Director..."
"Director, I''ming in."
With those words, Kim Jungroo entered and grabbed Yerin, dragging her away. The sound of Yerin''s pitiful screams echoed as the office door closed.
***
After a series of incidents, the Seoul Forest outpost once again fell into silence. The junior''s face mirrored the gloominess of the overcast weather.
A person in a bright yellow suit came and went, but the situation remained the same. The junior was endlessly shedding tears while holding a charred violin that was delivered as a personal belonging. Even if told to take a vacation, he ignored it.
"Juaya... I should have stopped you from going."
Apparently, the person the junior was looking for was his younger sister, and she was a victim of the Seoul Forest incident. It is said that there were witnesses to her death, so the chances of survival are hopeless.
The junior''s gaze, muttering while holding a charred violin in one hand and what appears to be his sister''s ashes in the other, no longer seemed normal.
"It''s the Gray Reaper''s fault. It''s the Gray Reaper''s fault. It''s the Gray Reaper''s fault. It''s the Gray Reaper''s fault."
The junior had a small smartphone in his hand, and a so-called ''cyber wrecker'' video was ying on it.
Although the ''Daily Object'' usually spouted nonsense, this time it was focused on attaching all kinds of reasons to depict the Gray Reaper as a demon.
Normally, I would have yelled to get rid of that illogical video, but I couldn''t bring myself to say that now. It was pitiful because it was his sister, but I was afraid that if I said that in front of that gaze, the junior might stab me with a knife, as he seemed on the verge of going crazy.
I could only eagerly await the end of the work shift. As usual, but even more so now, I desperately wanted the work to be over.
Chapter 10: Central Research Institute (1)
Reaper (MC) POV:
----
Unlike the chaotic Research Institute, the istion room had a calm atmosphere, except for the faint sound of the TV echoing through the room.
The TV was condemning how dangerous the Gray Reaper was, and how irresponsible it was to entrust such dangerous Objects to a private Research Institute.
Listening to the broadcast, they were depicting me as a being capable of turning Seoul into a sea of fire and transforming people into monsters.
Yet, I had done almost nothing in this incident.
However, I did gain something from this incident. I obtained one of the abilities possessed by the steel pig statue.
It''s not a particrly useful ability, but still.
"Reaper, somehow a strangely pleasant scent ising from you today."While I was nkly watching the TV, cradled in Yerin''s arms, she suddenly spoke.
"Even though you don''t smell anything, I feel like there''s a scent. Has something changed?"
Yerin hugged my head, puzzled.
Unlike the pig statue that had the power to captivate and drive people mad, the ability I gained was just ''a pleasant scent emanating from me''.
In fact, most of the abilities I possess are like that - weakened copies of the abilities of the Objects I''ve destroyed.
Except for the ability to gain hints about how to kill, all the other abilities I have are from the Objects I''ve defeated, such as ghostification and physical immunity.
Those two abilities alone are more than enough, so I don''t go around hunting Objects to collect their powers. Searching for abilities is neither fun nor convenient.
"What could have changed? Should I go to theb and analyze theponents?"
Yerin was still curiously and cautiously analyzing this sudden new ability of mine. She was diligently trying to figure out where this scent wasing from and whether it was a real, tangible fragrance.
I was fine with her putting a portable analyzer near my head, but when she suddenly tried to lick my scalp to taste it, I was so startled that I ghostified and ran away.
Doesn''t she have anymon sense about the dangerous alluring elements that cane from Objects?
Yerin''s endless fragrance exploration came to an end with the arrival of Kim Jungroo, who hade to find her not returning to work.
As soon as he detected the mysterious scent, Kim Jungroo rushed out of the istion room, then returned with an oxygen mask. He forcibly put one on Yerin and dragged her out,pletely prohibiting entry to the istion room until the danger was determined.
Of course, this entry ban didn''tst long, as I simply ghostified and freely roamed around the Research Institute as usual.
***
My goal is a peaceful life without any worries, buttely, my days have not been veryfortable.
The aftermath of the Seoul Forest vige fire incident didn''t end as quickly as expected, and today, protesters were shouting through loudspeakers in front of the Research Institute, making the atmosphere chaotic.
The ongoing protests and public pressure have dampened the overall mood at the Research Institute.
Even a lively ce like the Sehee Research Institute couldn''t maintain its vibrant atmosphere with this continuous situation.
Sehee Research Institute seems to be trying to keep me by any means, but it doesn''t seem like a good choice.
It would be better to hand me over to the Central Research Institute, as the protesters suggest, and quickly resolve this situation.
After all, there is no physical way to contain me, as I can ghostify. I could simply go to the Central Research Institute, explore it to my heart''s content, and then return whenever I''m bored.
Expressing this intention is simple. I just need to subtly hint it to Yerin, whom I believe I canmunicate with.
"You want to go to the Central Research Institute? Why?"
In front of the perceptive Yerin, I gestured towards a picture of the Central Research Institute, and she quickly understood. It was a bit unexpected to see her make an expression like she was about to cry.
"Really? Are you really going to go?"
I firmly nodded my head, and Yerin slumped down like a wilted cabbage.
It took several hugs and pats on the back before Yerin started to regain her energy.
It was quite difficult to console her since I couldn''t speak.
"I see. It''s because the Research Institute is too chaotic right now, isn''t it? You don''t need to worry about that. The Sehee Research Institute is a fairlyrge research institute, so it can withstand this!"
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But I highly doubted they could withstand it, especially the director of the Sehee Research Institute.
"Okay, I''ll go tell Director Sehee."
Upon hearing the news, the director of the Sehee Research Institute gathered everyone and made an unexpected announcement.
"Let''s have a farewell party!"
As soon as the director''s order was given, the courtyard was quickly cleared, and a makeshift party venue was set up. I was seated in a high ce, like a baby at a first birthday party.
They had even put a party hat on my head, which Yerin found amusing and kept taking photos with her phone. Some people even came to say their farewells, despite thinking I couldn''t understand them.
And so, myst day at the Sehee Research Institute passed in a slightly raucous manner.
***
The dawn with a slight bluish hue. The usually noisy Sehee Research Institute in front of me was now quiet.
Surrounding me were the staff members of the Sehee Research Institute on one side, and the personnel from the Central Research Institute, all d in reinforced protective gear made of steel, on the other side.
Unlike the light attire of the Sehee Research Institute, the Central Research Institute personnel''s gear,plete with transparent riot shields, seemed a bit excessive. And I could sense a very familiar atmosphere in their tense demeanor.
Now that I think about it, that was the feeling at the Seoul Research Institute as well. That tension, as if death was nearby. Of course, there seemed to be some fundamental differencepared to the Seoul Research Institute.
They grabbed me with a tool resembling a tranquilizer gun and started dragging me away. It was a tool that firmly mped onto my neck and limbs - isn''t this a tool used for capturing wild animals?
I could easily escape using my Ghostification, but I wanted to take a look inside the Central Research Institute, so I decided to endure and follow their lead.
After cing me in a cage made of thick iron bars and they drove off and started driving away from the Sehee Research Institute premises.
The employees seated around the cage, staring at me. Through the transparent goggles, I could see the difference in their expressions.
While the employees of the Seoul Research Institute were exhausted and filled with fear, these people had fear, but it was covered by hatred.
They resembled the terrorists who had killed me in my human days with a bomb attack.
Seeing those rigid expressions, I had a feeling that the tour of the Central Research Institute would be quite unpleasant.
Well, if it''s unpleasant, I''ll just have toe back quickly.
***
In an office of the Central Research Institute.
"This is a mess. Is this supposed to be a report? There''s nothing here! Just useless rambling!"
"But it''s an official report submitted in writing, so there must be something useful in it, right?"
The deputy director of the National Central Special Research Institute, who was receiving the report, was venting his anger. What he was looking at was the report on the ''Gray Reaper'' sent by the Sehee Research Institute. The man, who seemed to be a subordinate, was anxiously hoping that the director''s anger would not be directed at him.
"The ssification is sloppy too. They haven''t even conducted any experiments. How can they have received the national budget for managing this important experimental subject while managing it so carelessly?"
The report from the Sehee Research Institute was very long and verbose, but itcked almost any information that the Central Research Institute considered important.
"No indication of whether it can be eliminated. They just pretended to do istion experiments, and didn''t even try to test the possibility of expulsion! And they just wrote down a bunch of ridiculous precautions!"
The precautions sent by the Sehee Research Institute only included things like the Gray Reaper''s favorite foods, furniture, and TV programs.
The deputy director endured the rising blood pressure as he read through the entire report. And he reached a conclusion.
"The only useful information is that Ghostification is possible."
"What? Ghostification is possible? Isn''t it forbidden for private research institutes to handle experimental subjects that are difficult to iste like ghosts/phantom?"
"No, it''s not forbidden. The Central Research Institute is the only one with istion rooms capable of containing ghosts, so most of them are sent to the Central Research Institute."
The deputy director took a small card the size of a business card from his pocket, signed it, and gave an order.
"As soon as the Gray Reaper arrives, redirect it to our special research institute. To contain an Object properly, the best way is to contain it within another Object."
The subordinate employee who received the signed card and left, the deputy director turned his gaze to the frame on his desk.
In the frame was an old newspaper article.
[Dozens of casualties after the sudden appearance of Objects in Seoul Square, Is it okay to leave the management system of the private research institute as it is?]
The deputy director''s eyes gleamed with hatred as he looked at the article.
Chapter 11: Central Research Institute (2)
A ss-walled istion room. The walls and ceiling are painted white.
I was alone in the empty istion room.
Unlike the expression of the employee who had put me in this istion room, as if saying ''You''re done for now that you''vee this far!'', I didn''t feel much different in the istion room of Central Research Institute.
If anything, the gloomy atmosphere was more than I had expected.
The dimly lit atmosphere and the rigid expressions of the researchers were quite unsettling.
The expressions of the lower-level employees directly managing the Objects were even worse than those at the Seoul Research Institute.
Just by their expressions, it seemed like they were the ones being isted, not the Object.
Beep
A loud buzzer sound apanied the release of high-temperature steam from the wall. I easily avoided it by ghostifying.The experiments conducted in this istion room were all like this.
It started with firearms.
Buzzer sounds and gunfire. Sudden gunfire without the buzzer.
The Central Research Institute was just repeating these useless actions.
Suddenly, bombs would explode inside the istion room, and various toxic gases were sprayed. Highly acidic liquids were sprayed, and nitrogen was poured in.
Considering the diverse destruction conditions I''ve seen in Objects so far, these various attempts are not bad methods, but the focus is too much on destructive methods. There could be solutions that seempletely unrted.
For example, just looking at the destruction condition of the steel pig statue in the Seoul Forest incident, there are clearly destruction conditions that would be difficult to find with this kind of approach. Of course, they don''t know that, so they''re doing these experiments.
The lizard trapped in the istion room across from me was one such case.
The destruction condition for that lizard was [to receive a standing ovation from 10,000 people simultaneously].
The front of the istion room waspletely transparent ss, so I could see not only the people passing by, but also the interior of the istion room across from me, where a lizard was being periodically killed.
It didn''t look physically sturdy at all, and it was just a palm-sized little lizard. The only thing that set it apart was its blue color, otherwise it didn''t look like an Object at all.
The lizard''s true value was revealed in the experiments. A methrower reduced it to ashes without leaving a single bone fragment, but about an hourter, blue mes flickered in the air and the lizard was resurrected.
After that, persistent experiments continued. They tried various methods to prevent resurrection, such as dissolving it in acid and burning it, but the lizard kept reviving.
At some point, they gave up on killing the lizard and moved it to another istion room.
I had hoped to be moved to another istion room like the lizard, but it seemed they had no intention of sending me to a different ce, unlike that blue lizard. What''s the difference between me and that lizard?
***
In the ce where the lizard had been, a cat was brought in. The person who seemed to be the cat''s owner lured it into the istion room with snacks and toys.
I thought they would torment the cat like they did to the lizard, but surprisingly, they didn''t. The cat was a ghost-like, so they just isted it without even trying.
The ghostly cat, though trapped, seemed quite rxed.
However, this rxation was short-lived.
Apparently bored, the cat tried to stick its head out through the ss wall, and its rxed demeanor disappeared.
The cat couldn''t pass through the wall and just bumped its head against the istion room ss.
The ghostly cat, trapped in the istion room, couldn''t get out through the ss wall and just scratched at the wall with its ws, meowing. Since it was a ghostly cat, its pitiful cries sounded even more heartbreaking, as if it was bewildered by the situation.
Could it be that this istion room is effective in containing objects with a ghostly nature?
Carefully examining the walls of the istion room, a cryptic hint came to mind.
[Fulfills the wish of the Research Institute Director.]
The walls and ss of the istion room were all ssified as Objects. They seemed to be the same Object or derived from the same Object.
The destruction hint was [Fulfills the wish of the Research Institute Director] .
This was another bizarre hint. I didn''t know who the Director was or what their wish was.
Using Objects to contain other Objects. No wonder the employees looked so confident.
It was obvious why they wouldn''t let me out. There was no reason to take me out of the prison that could contain ghostly beings. It would be troublesome if I escaped during transport.
Was it really impossible to pass through? I thought to myself and tried pushing my hand against the wall, but I only felt a slight resistance, and then I smoothly passed through.
Huh? I can pass through so easily?
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However, from the hand that went into the wall, an incredibly loud noise could be heard, like the sound of a crowded gymnasium, with a lot of murmuring and indistinguishable voices mixed in.
It was an iprehensible phenomenon, but I decided to just go through.
What could happen?
***
An rm was sounding throughout the Research Institute.
There were indications that the high-risk experimental subject, the Gray Reaper, had escaped from the istion room.
The problematic CCTV footage presented as evidence showed the Gray Reaper passing through the wall. In the video, the Gray Reaper inserted its arm, seemed to ponder something, and then pushed its entire body into the wall.
Of course, they weren''t stupid enough to open the istion room door just because of that video. It was already reported that the Gray Reaper''s intelligence was extremely high, so the opinion was presented that the video was a deception to lure them into opening the door.
Furthermore, the Gray Reaper was not visible on the opposite wall, which further strengthened that opinion.
However, the possibility of an actual escape was also considered, so all external doors and windows were sealed. Personnel within the Research Institute were also prohibited from going outside.
Both field and office staff were assigned the task of searching for the Gray Reaper. The field staff were running around every corner, tracking the Gray Reaper''s traces, while the office staff were thoroughly analyzing all CCTV footage to find any images of the Gray Reaper.
I was assigned the task of patrolling the interior of the Research Institute, equipped with arge shield in my right hand and a truncheon in my left. It was a ridiculous idea to chase after a high-risk special-ss Object like the Gray Reaper with just this kind of armament.
The only constion was that the Gray Reaper was unlikely to have escaped outside. After all, it had never managed to escape before, so why would it suddenly try now?
The researchers had all hidden in the internal bunkers, and only the general staff were wandering around, each carrying arge shield, making the spacious Research Institute corridors seem much narrower.
Perhaps that''s why the Research Institute corridors looked unusually dark. ck butterflies were densely clustered on the ceiling, and they were asionally fluttering around.
Now that I think about it, when did those ck butterflies appear? About a week ago?
Well, It''s nothing serious.
Nothing serious at all.
Come to think of it, there were also a lot of butterflies in the mirror in my dormitory. Is that strange?
Not really strange.
Ah, it stings.
A ck butterfly bit me with its sharp teeth.
But wait, do butterflies have teeth?
They might.
The butterflies started to swarm and cling to me.
When did this start? It''s been like this since yesterday.
It''s nothing serious.
"Hey, why do you have so many bug bites on your arms? It''s only early summer, were there that many mosquitoes?"
My colleague''s voice sounded strangely distant. Butterflies were swarming so densely that they obscured my vision as they flew down from the ceiling. Were butterflies sitting in my ears, preventing me from hearing properly?
I couldn''t see my colleague''s face because of the butterflies.
"Hey, what are you looking at? No matter how tired you are, you need to stay alert."
The butterflies were a hindrance. I couldn''t even walk properly.
When are they going to get rid of these butterflies?
It''s just us field staff suffering like this, the Research Institute always does this.
Amidst the butterfly-filled vision, an intense yellow pierced my eyes.
It was the intense yellow emanating from the Gray Reaper''s eyes.
The Gray Reaper was gesturing for me toe over quickly.
Ah, I need to quickly signal that I''ve spotted the Reaper...
But my body wouldn''t move.
Butterflies were clinging all over me, preventing any movement.
And I was too drowsy to even stand.
With the Gray Reaper right in front of me, I lost consciousness.
Chapter 12: Central Research Institute (3)
The room was dark, except for the bright light from the projector disying the footage of the gruesome murder that had just urred.
The victim in the video seemed strange. At first, he was walking normally, but after some time, he started waving his hands in front of his eyes and muttering incoherently.
"Hey, what are you looking at? No matter how tired you are, you need to stay alert."
The colleague walking next to the victim also noticed something was off and started shaking him and speaking to him.
When the victim''s eyes met the Gray Reaper''s, the victim suddenly reached out towards the Reaper, as if the Reaper was the culprit.
The Gray Reaper quickly approached the victim, grabbing his legs. In an instant, the victim''s skin burst open with wounds, and his body was torn apart and scattered.
The Reaper, covered in blood, looked around briefly before disappearing. The colleague who witnessed this ran away, screaming from the horrific scene. The video then ended, and the bright lights in the room turned on.
"This is a very gruesome incident. The victim was a 32-year-old security guard named Jeong Dong-jeon. When found, his entire skin had been peeled off, and all of his internal organs were missing. The only eyewitness from the video is also unable to properly carry out his duties due to the shock of the incident."
The presenter continued the briefing in a calm manner."Based on the victim''sst words in the video, ''Gray Reaper...'', it is clear that there is some connection. Considering the victim had no prior contact with the Gray Reaper, this incident should be ssified as an ''indiscriminate attack''."
"The Gray Reaper was previously ssified as a high-risk Object, rated 4 in terms of aggressiveness. However, given this indiscriminate attack, its aggressiveness rating should be increased to level 1."
"So, the Research Institute will need to take more proactive andprehensive measures to deal with the Gray Reaper."
As the presenter finished, the meeting room erupted inmotion.
"The Sehee Research Institute must have known about this. We need to clearly investigate the circumstances of their cover-up and hold them ountable."
"But then, are you saying we should publicly reveal that the Central Research Institute failed to contain the subject and caused a victim? How is the security and control of this incident being handled?"
The presenter responded with a satisfied smile, "Ah, you don''t need to worry about that. The personnel involved in this incident have already been transferred to other private research institutes."
An elderly man with a long white beard spoke in a soft voice, "So, this meeting means we have to use ''Lophiomus'' in this situation, doesn''t it?"
T/N: ording to Wikipedia, Lophiomus is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family, Lophiidae, the goose fishes, monkfishes or anglers. well something like monkfish or angler fish, maybe?
"Yes, that''s correct. Since the istion room''s containment has been breached, we don''t know when the Reaper might escape. As soon as the Reaper''s location is confirmed, we will evacuate the key personnel and then release ''Lophiomus'' within the special research institute."
"There''s no other choice. Proceed with that n."
This conclusion was reached in the closed-door meeting of the National Object Management Association, far from the Central Research Institute.
***
A security email arrived at the Object Association. It instructed them to release ''Lophiomus'' within the Research Institute to eliminate the escaped Gray Reaper.
"Hah, so it''se to this."
The "Lophiomus" that caused the disaster in Seoul Square needs a lot of data to tear and kill it, but in this way, useful research material will disappear again. The email confirming this was automatically deleted in less than 10 seconds.
The security system was excessively strict, but it was understandable.
If the fact that a monster that eats people is being raised inside the Research Institute is revealed, it will not end with just a scandal.
"We need to evacuate the Research Institute. Inform the researchers and prepare quickly. As soon as the location of the Gray Reaper is confirmed, we will evacuate."
I gave the instructions to the secretary I had summoned. The important personnel, the researchers, will escape, and the regr employees currently working at the Research Institute will be "transferred" to other private research institutes.
"Ah, Vice President. Changes have been observed in the Director''s behavior. It may be a trivial matter, but it seems difficult to consider it a coincidence."
"Hmm? What happened?"
"The Director''s research logs have started to include drawings of the ''Gray Reaper''."
"Is that so? It''s certainly too coincidental to be considered a coincidence. Okay, I''ll check it outter. I''ll be going now."
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The secretary bowed and carefully left the room.
It is certainly a coincidental event. The research logs written by the Director have random subject matter, but the fact that he is writing about the Gray Reaper at this time is difficult to consider a mere coincidence. Even though we are busy preparing to release "Lophiomus" in the Research Institute, I need to confirm this.
The ce I arrived at after passing through the long corridor was an incredibly spacious office. The walls were filled with countless books, and in the center was a huge desk and chair. And a man in ab coat, constantly writing something on paper and throwing it to the floor.
The Director of the National Central Special Research Institute.
A man who has be an Object. Or an Object mimicking a human.
"Certainly, this is the Gray Reaper."
On the papers scattered on the floor, there were clear drawings that could be identified as the Gray Reaper. The annotations written on them were in iprehensible characters, but they were clearly part of a research log.
The documents written by the Director are impossible to interpret. Precisely, those who seed in interpreting them disappear suddenly into thin air. No one knows where they disappear to, so no one tries to interpret them.
Instead, these papers are used as padding for the protective suits of the field personnel. Since Object is resistant to other Objects, it is an excellent protective gear against Object targets. However, the leakage of the padding material is a concern, so its use is limited.
If this log were to leak out into the world, it could cause a mass disappearance incident, a dangerous substance spreading throughout society. Copying it is very easy, and the potential impact is unimaginable. It could be even more serious than the theft of military ammunition or explosives.
Fortunately, the method of eliminating the Director, who endlessly produces such dangerous materials, has already been discovered. By officially dismissing the Director, he will disappear from the face of the earth.
However, the Director''s existence is essential for the maintenance of the Research Institute, so the ''Vice President'' must take over the management of the Special Research Institute.
I put the paper with the drawing of the Gray Reaper back on the floor and left the room.
Will the Director return to normal if "Lophiomus" is killed? No one knows.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Crossing the wall, the world that greeted me was monochromatic. The walls were filled with massive bookshelves, and the spacious room had only a desk and a chair, a deste scene.
"Oh, a different visitor this time."
A man in ab coat with a neatly trimmed beard spoke.
"Normally, researcherse here, but this is the first time an Object has visited."
The man chuckled and pped his hands.
"You must be ''KR - 897''."
The man summoned a file from thin air and flipped through the documents while speaking, "You must be ''KR - 897''." As I tilted my head at the unfamiliar term, the man continued his exnation.
"Ah, is the name ''Gray Reaper'' more convenient for you? In fact, we find it difficult to pronounce your name. Haven''t you ever thought it strange to give such a name?"
"It seems odd that there is a widely epted naming convention that can cause various problems and make ssification ufortable."
"It seems that now humans living in reality have even lost the freedom to give names to objects."
The man muttered with a meaningful expression and then added with a smile,
"Well, what''s the use of saying this to an Object like you? Here, such limitations of the real world don''t matter, so we can freely name you, the 897th discovered in Korea."
The man stood up from his chair, spread his arms in a weing gesture, and began walking out of the room.
"Well, since you''re the first Object toe here, it''s only fitting that I, the Director of the Research Institute, guide you."
"Wee, 897th, to the eternal Research Institute trapped in the crevice of time."
With an exaggerated gesture, the man greeted me and smiled meaningfully.
The moment I met the passion shining in the man''s eyes, I easily realized from the hint '' Fulfill the Director of the Research Institute''s wish'' that this man was the Director of the Research Institute being referred to.
Chapter 13: Central Research Institute (4)
After opening door to the Director''s office, the scene that greeted me was the bustling Research Institute, with numerous researchers moving about.
The strange thing was that the istion rooms they were observing appeared to be empty.
"Ah, it may seem a bit odd. We are studying Objects, but there are no Objects visible anywhere, right? Let''s take a closer look."
Upon closer inspection, I could see a blurred form inside the istion room.
"There are no Objects here, but we can see the forms of Objects that exist in reality. From past Objects to those yet to be discovered."
The blurred form in the istion room was my own image. It was the weary expression I had when under a hail of bullets.
Looking around at the other istion rooms, I saw the ''Gray Reaper'' reflected in all of them.
Me waking up in the forest.
Me looking up at the Steel Tower.Me watching TV in the istion room.
Me inside the belly of the steel pig statue.
All of these were my past and present images.
It felt very strange to have a dozen or so people carefully observing my every move, meticulously recording everything. From the moment I opened my mouth slightly, they would write something down. Even when I picked up a pebble from the ground, they would diligently jot it down.
"This is the researchb for you, number 897. In fact, we have been waiting for you for a very long time."
Waiting for me? Why?
"That curious expression on your face - it''s rted to the future we have been waiting for. There is a predicted future where youe to this Research Institute, and our wish is fulfilled within a month."
"After a long, 30-year wait, it''s now just a month away."
Smiling, the Director began leading me around the Research Institute. The size of the Institute seemed to expand as the Director walked, revealing more and more istion rooms and Objects.
"There''s still a lot more to show you. Let me guide you to the ce where the Object we consider most important is kept."
At the end of the Director''s brisk pace was a massive elevator. It was unlike a normal elevator, with aplex system of keys and authentication devices.
The Director operated the devices and activated the elevator.
"Beneath us is the Object that the Central Research Institute considers the most important."
After a long descent, we arrived in a dimly lit basement. It had a utilitarian, unfinished concrete bunker-like atmosphere.
The area reached had a metal grate floor, and beneath it, I could see bloodstained concrete and the transparent form of a monster.
"That''s ''Lophiomus''. It was announced as the Object that caused the disaster in Seoul Square, after escaping. But the truth is, Association released it there to try to kill me."
"The Association announced that the elimination was sessful, but here it is, safely kept in the Central Research Institute."
Lophiomus resembled a fish Lophiomus, but the numerous tentacles covering its body made it seem anything but fish-like. Its sheer size, the size of a house, made it clear how imposing a real-life giant fish would be.
"Lophiomus was called the ''Object that eats Objects'', but I''d like to call it something else."
"The Object that eats the Association''s enemies."
"Anyone too capable or not to the liking of the Association''s elders ended up in Lophiomus'' belly."
The Lophiomus under the cage was diligently tearing something apart. Bloody raw meat was dripping from its mouth, not even drained of blood.
"You should watch this carefully. Objects deemed uncontroble by the Central Research Institute are fed to Lophiomus."
Suddenly, all the images I was seeing started to distort and warp.
The Director had an calm expression, as if he had anticipated this phenomenon.
"As expected, we couldn''t keep holding onto the Objects. This brief encounter was too short to fully convey the ipetence and vileness of the Association, or the power of Lophiomus."
Like ice on a river breaking and falling into the, the illusion shattered and fell back to reality.
"I hope we can have a longer conversation next time. I hope we can meet again, ''KR-897''."
And just like waking from a dream, I returned to reality.
***
When I opened my eyes, I was outside the istion room wall I had been confined in.
The time didn''t seem to have passed much.
The atmosphere of the Research Institute was calm, and the clock didn''t appear to have advanced significantly.
I had managed to pass through the wall confining the spiritual body, even if I had ended up in a somewhat strange ce.
The cat across from me meowed enviously as I silently waved my hand at it.
As I savored the freedom outside the istion room, listening to the cat''s cries, I noticed some ck butterflies fluttering in the hallway.
They seemed to be spiritualized Objects, as no one found them strange.
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There weren''t many of the ck butterflies, just asionally fluttering around.
Objects being openly flown around in the Research Institute that manages Objects?
It was clear they were intentionally ced Objects, not something unknown, and it hinted at some incident.
I wandered the hallway, hoping for a harmless incident befitting the pretty fluttering butterflies.
***
After chasing the butterflies around the hallway for a few minutes, a loud siren suddenly red.
"The Gray Reaper has escaped!"
"Scour all the CCTVs to confirm its movement path."
It seemed my escape from the istion room had been detected.
The Research Institute staff were frantically searching for me.
I had climbed up onto a cab in the room where they were most busy, observing the scene from above.
It seemed to be a control room of sorts.
"She''s not here. She''s not there. We can''t find her location", the reports kepting in, but I was focused on something else.
It was a cluster of butterflies, swarming a person.
The butterflies were so dense that they seemed to weigh the person down, who had an extremely heavy and tired expression, despite the butterflies being spiritual and weightless.
The butterflies were so thick around him that they must havepletely obstructed his vision. They covered the walls, ceiling, and swarmed in the air.
If I were in his position, I would have yelled in frustration, but fortunately, he seemed unable to see the butterflies. If he could, his entire field of vision would be blocked.
Even the cute butterflies were creepy in such numbers.
The fortunate thing was that the butterflies avoided me. If I released my spiritual body and brushed against them, they would flutter their wings frantically to distance themselves.
The man trudging around searching muttered to himself asionally,ining about the annoying butterflies.
Can he see the butterflies?
He tried to swat them away, but that had no effect on the swarm.
I noticed something strange after the man left the control room, following the butterflies.
The butterflies were attacking the man.
Only one butterfly had slightly bitten his forearm, but it was still an attack.
The man was constantly waving his hands around, as if the butterflies he asionally saw were now always visible and never resting.
Once the man clearly perceived the butterflies, he started trying to swat them away.
The man who could now see the spiritual beings also seemed to be able to see my ghostly form.
His eyes clearly looked at me and tried to point at me.
However, the man''s gestures were just like a drunken person, unsteady and iling, unable to stand properly.
I thought, is this Object just slowly withering him away? But upon closer inspection, it was a more horrific Object than I imagined.
The man was already dead.
The butterflies had burrowed deep into his body, making it appear as if he was still moving.
Appalled by this unimaginable desecration of the corpse, I dispelled my ghostly form and rushed towards the man, thinking the butterflies would easily scatter since they feared me.
My assumption was correct, but the resolution happened in a slightly different way than I expected.
The butterflies that had burrowed into the man''s body all took flight at once, and the man quite literally exploded and scattered apart.
I could only look around in stunned bewilderment. The area was filled with blood, flesh, and screams.
Had I made a mistake?
***
In a corner of the storage warehouse of the Central Research Institute, a secretive conversation was taking ce.
"Thank you so much foring, senior. The outside is currently off-limits and the atmosphere feels suspicious, so I was feeling anxious."
"No, no, it''s fine. In fact, I''m the one who should be grateful. ''Lophiomus'' may still be alive! I can''t miss out on such a big incident, you know."
Standing before the female employee in the Central Research Institute uniform was a man wearing a bright yellow suit,pletely out of ce with the atmosphere of the Research Institute.
"The number 1 detective in Korea hase, so you can rest assured."
Chapter 14: Central Research Institute (5)
The man in the bright yellow suit quickly flipped through the thick documents handed over by his junior.
"Wow, it seems like you''ve gathered all the data. Looking at the materials now, it seems like we can just submit this and be done with it. Was there really a need for me toe?"
The junior replied hesitantly.
"Actually, the investigation itself isplete. We couldn''t see the true form of Lophiomus, but we found out where it is. However, it''s tightly controlled, and it''s impossible to go outside. Especially this Central Research Institute, it''s such a messed up ce that there''s not even a venttion shaft to escape through. Even if we tried to break the windows, they won''t shatter."
The junior sighed and continued.
"I was hoping to wait until the control is lifted and we can go outside. But the current atmosphere is not normal. It''s exactly the pattern when the ''Lophiomus'' we investigated was about to be released. The researchers are hardly moving around, they''re all gathered in the central conference room, and the external ess ispletely restricted. It''s really creepy, you know?"
"Well, that''s certainly what the data says, it does seem like that kind of situation. The gray Reaper has escaped, and there''s even a murder case that seems to be its doing."
The man hummed the Central Research Institute''s CM song as he continued.
"They say it''s the safest national Research Institute with zero casualties, but a murder case has urred, so it''s a big incident. Lophiomus would be worth bringing up."The man chuckled softly and added.
"You did the right thing calling me. If you had just waited for the control to be lifted, the Research Institute would have probably released Lophiomus. So? You and these data materials are going straight into Lophiomus'' belly."
"Then let''s hurry back!"
The eager junior urged him to leave, but the man could only shake his head.
"I really want to go back too, but it''s impossible. My cane can take me anywhere, but I can only use it once every three days. So from now on, three days have to pass before I can leave this ce."
"Then let''s pray that Lophiomus doesn''t show up within those three days."
***
''Huh? So what happened?''
The cat then let out a small meow.
Lying t on the cool floor of the istion room with the baby cat on my belly, it wasn''t a bad feeling.
I had initiallye to the istion room to torment the cat that couldn''t escape, but in the midst of receiving the cat''s angry paw swipes, I realized one thing.
We canmunicate when our bodies are in contact!
So I''ve been listening to the cat''s adventure story while resting the baby cat on my belly. The warm body temperature and soft fur feel nice as I gently stroke the cat.
The slightly chilly istion room seems to make the cat enjoy the warmth of my body.
''What? If I want to hear more, just stroke you better?''
Chuckling to myself, I listen to the cat''s meows, and the bustling of the Research Institute feels like a distant story.
Well, the istion room is so well-sealed that hardly any sound gets through, so that helps too.
It''s not my fault at all! After the piranha butterfly murder case, the Central Research Institute has been in quite amotion.
The researchers have bepletely invisible, and the staff are bustling around, looking for me.
I sometimes see them trying to lure me with pudding, but what on earth did Sehee Research Institute write about me?!
The fact that there''s no mention of the ck butterfly story suggests that they''re treating this incident as something I did, without properly investigating.
The victim said a lot about seeing a butterfly as they were dying, but it seems they didn''t look into it.
There are even more butterflies fluttering around the Research Institute corridors than before. I don''t know what criteria the butterflies use to choose their targets, but at this rate, another victim is bound to be bitten and killed by the butterflies.
It''s also a bit strange that the researchers have disappeared. As high-level personnel, are they hiding in a safe ce when dangerous Objects are roaming around?
Well, while it''s satisfying to just keep lying here, it''s time to get up and start moving around. I''m curious about where the butterflies areing from, and I also feel like there''s a suspicious atmosphere inside the Research Institute.
After conveying my intention to leave, I picked up the cat with both hands as it meowed cutely, asking toe along.
Unfortunately, I don''t have the ability to materialize and move together with the cat. If I took the cat me, it might get caught in that time cracks or something in the Research Institute.
''I''lle back for you when I get the chance'', I left a light promise like that and departed the cat''s istion room.
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As I stepped out into the corridor, I noticed that my former istion room had been suddenly well-furnished.
It was just like the istion room at the Sehee Research Institute.
Arge bed, TV, game console, refrigerator, and snacks were waiting for me.
I thought it might be fine to spend some time here, but the exploration of the Research Institute seemed more interesting, so I decided to rest here a bitter and set out.
The Central Research Institute was indeed incredibly vast, and there were a huge number of isted Objects. The Sehee Research Institute actually only had me as a fixed isted test subject.
The problem was that without someone exining the Objects, they were just strange-looking animals, nts, and objects.
Somehow, I felt like I was wandering around a zoo, makingments like "How funny-looking" and "Wow, how is that standing?"
Among the istion rooms, one caught my eye, perhaps due to a growing sense of familiarity or the Object''s uniqueness.
Inside that istion room, a palm-sized blue lizard was ying the piano with its two feet, pping along.
I couldn''t help but enter that istion room, mesmerized.
The lizard was ying a rather difficult piano piece with its nimble footwork, looking like it was dancing.
Where the two feet were not enough, it multiplied its limbs, seamlessly continuing the melody.
If this were the Sehee Research Institute, it would be the perfect time to beg Yerin to get one for my istion room...
Oh, I admired the lizard''s brilliant dance in awe.
I made a mental note to bring the baby cat and the lizard to the Sehee Research Institute if I had the chance, and then resumed my journey to find the source of the butterflies.
During my exploration of the Research Institute, I spotted a suspicious duo in the logistics warehouse - a regr staff member and a man in a yellow suit.
The man in the yellow suit was the suspicious one. His attire and appearance were out of ce for the Research Institute, where uniforms are the norm.
Even more concerning was the fact that he was carrying multiple Objects all over his body.
The one-eyed sses were an Object.
The cane was an Object.
Even his pocket watch is also an object.
Object seemed to have a lot of harmful things, and I couldn''t understand how he could carry it around with such audacity.
"Wait, there''s an Object in front of you," the man said, stopping the woman, and he seemed to be looking directly at my location. However, it didn''t seem like he could actually see me.
Was he able to detect me with that one-eyed sses? I stared intently at the man, who was sweating nervously out of tension.
***
The sudden appearance of the text in front of me flustered me, and I warned my junior.
"Wait. There is an Object in front of you."
The text that appeared in front of me was full of ominous things.
[It draws strength from human sorrow.]
[It draws strength from human grief.]
[It draws strength from human suffering.]
[It knows the fastest way to kill a target.]
The one-eyed sses disying the text were showing only a small part of the Object''s characteristics Even though the text was visible, the target itself was not, clearly indicating it was in a ghostly, incorporeal state.
Having worked as a detective and seen many Objects, this was the first time I had encountered an Object with such a sense of malice and ominous abilities. It seemed like an existence born to harm humans.
These were abilities that one would expect a demonic, evil life form from legends to possess - incorporeality, death, and ominous abilities.
The incorporeality and deadly abilities made it was easy to predict who it was.
"The one in front of us seems to be the Gray Reaper. Be careful, junior. It appears to be twice as malicious than what is known about it."
I had always thought the incidents rted to the Gray Reaper were mostly false usations, but had my judgment, which was usually urate, been wrong this time?
Has my once sharp mind be rusty? I was certain it was a false fear created by the public!
Chapter 15: Central Research Institute (6)
My eyes reflect a moment from the past.
A strange phenomenon that can be seen because this Research Institute is free from time.
A fragment of the past from when the Central Research Institute was newly established.
The era when Objects were national secrets.
When researchers conducted secret studies, government officials collected Objects, and the media manipted information.
A memory from 30 years ago, when only government researchers could barely obtain that information and conduct research.
She had said,
"Director, cheer up. Objects must have appeared to grant wishes. They are gifts from someone like fairies trying to help humans. I think a happy world where wishes will surelye true if you keep wishing ising."
A woman who was neither a researcher, elite, nor a government official.Just a woman caught up in Objects.
A woman who would say such ridiculous things even after bing paralyzed from the waist down due to a poltergeist.
"I can no longer ask, but I still have the desire to ask once more."
"Why are Objects so cruel?"
"Can you give the same answer as back then?"
The woman in the illusion was smiling brightly.
"If Objects grant wishes, then humanity''s desires must be this ugly."
As I let go of the illusion of a woman who once existed in this director''s office, I waited for another illusion.
A scene of the future that will unfold in the director''s office.
The future that everyone at the Research Institute longs for.
The time of advent that will surelye, though the when is unknown.
***
An awkward standoff with the yellow man.
Unlike the highly tense man, I had no reason to be tense, but this atmosphere was still ufortable.
I released my ghostification and set foot on the ground.
The man and woman were startled to see me suddenly appear out of thin air, but their subsequent reactions were quite different.
The man became more guarded and tense, while the woman''s wariness clearly faded.
Usually, people are scared of me due to the ominous rumors, but there were a few who felt an inexplicable liking and approached me. This woman seemed to be the type who felt an inexplicable liking as well.
The woman bent her knees to match my line of sight, smiled brightly, and slowly began approaching me.
"????"
The man seemed seriously taken aback by the woman''s actions. He had an expression like ''why is she suddenly acting so stupid and careless?'', but the woman paid no attention to the man and focused all her efforts on getting my attention.
Though it looked like she had discovered a strange wild animal and was trying to coax it with pping and calling, I started slowly moving my feet towards her as she wanted.
"Senior! She''sing this way!"
"..."
The woman excitedly said, and the man was at a loss for words. The woman seemed engrossed to the point of being unable to read the man''s mood.
Did she not have many reasons to be happy usually? Just slowly approaching was enough to make the me in my heart burn brighter.
"Hmm, do you remember that the Gray Reaper, is an Object that received a special danger rating?"
"..."
The woman was trembling and slowly reaching her hand out towards me. Her expression was so serious that it looked scary. If a wild animal was in the same situation as me, it would probably run away immediately from that scary expression.
Her hand wasing too slowly, making me feel impatient, and she was trembling too much from tension, making me feel sorry for her. So I just reached out and caught her hand.
"Woahhh!!!"
The woman suddenly let out a loud exmation. I tried to let go of her hand, but the woman had already tightly grasped my hand and wouldn''t let go.
"I''m holding her hands!"
"So small!"
"And doesn''t some nice scente from it?"
Before I knew it, the woman had pulled me into her arms and was just eximing in admiration.
Well, it''s a bit noisy, but if it''s fuel for the me, I''ll take it as eating a meal.
***
My head is throbbing.
Why? Because this my detective''s junior started spouting nonsense.
"Senior! Let''s take her back to the detective office and hide it! Doesn''t it look harmless?"
The junior was holding the Gray Reaper''s hand and waving it around as she spoke.
Seeing my junior pay no heed to the ominous rumors about the Gray Reaper made me wonder if she was really my junior.
Of course, I revised my thinking a bit as well.
When viewed through my monocle, it appeared extremely dangerous, but I thought, ''The Gray Reaper doesn''t seem dangerous.''
The downside of my monocle is that it only shows a small part of an Object''s abilities, so I thought maybe the Gray Reaper had some unknown ability that negated those ominous abilities I couldn''t see.
In the end, my initial judgment was correct.
The hypothesis that most incidents involving the Gray Reaper were just misunderstandings.
"Go ahead and take the Reaper with you or not, it''s up to you junior. But before that, shouldn''t we escape from here first?"
"Ah! You''re right. We need to escape first!"
"The first condition for escaping is enduring for 3 days. Fortunately, the situation has improved considerably. Enduring for 3 days has be much easier than expected."
My junior asked with a puzzled expression.
"Huh? Why did the situation suddenly improve? Nothing much has changed."
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"Well, because the Gray Reaper is in our hands now."
"?"
Seeing my junior''s innocent expression gave me another headache.
"Do you know why the Research Institute hasn''t immediately released Lophiomus?"
"Yes! It''s probably because if elite personnel like researchers are sacrificed to Lophiomus, it would be a huge loss for the Central Research Institute."
"Then why aren''t they evacuating the researchers and just stalling for time? They could just evacuate everyone and immediately release Lophiomus, right?"
My junior answered with a troubled expression.
"Ehehe. Then the Gray Reaper would escape mixed in with the researchers. They''re releasing Lophiomus because of the Gray Reaper. Don''t you know that?"
I bonked my junior''s head, who had an expression inviting violence, with my cane.
"That''s why I said it became advantageous. If they don''t know where the Gray Reaper is, they can''t evacuate the researchers."
"Huh? But the Gray Reaper has already passed through the istion room before, right? Why is the Research Institute so sure it can''t escape?"
"Well, I don''t know why they made that judgment. But the fact that the Gray Reaper hasn''t escaped and is still here could be evidence, no? It probably doesn''t want to stay long in such a boring and ominous ce."
Seeing the Gray Reaper constantly looking around restlessly, it seemed like a personality that would leave anywhere once it lost interest. So the fact that it was still at this Research Institute made the reasonable deduction that the outer walls weren''t something it could escape from like the istion room.
"Ah."
But then I remembered there was still one big problem remaining.
"Huh? You called me?"
"Your role has now be very important. Can you keep the Reaper entertained and upied?"
The remaining problem was keeping the Gray Reaper, which could escape by ghostifying, interested and upied so it wouldn''t leave.
***
It had already been 3 days since meeting the detective duo.
It was more fun than expected, thanks to the constant efforts of the detective and his assistant to keep me from getting bored.
If they hadn''t made those efforts, I might have run off in ghost form out of boredom even after hearing about Lophiomus.
Unexpectedly, the more entertaining part was the stories told by the man.
Though exaggerated, the tales of cases he worked on as a detective were quite amusing when strung together as stories.
However, they had absolutely no effect on the me in my heart. The male detective seemed to have neither affection nor dislike towards me.
In contrast, the woman''s approach was more like ying with a doll - not very fun, but her goodwill was excessive, the opposite effect from the detective.
"It''ll be 3 days soon."
"You''ve worked hard until now."
During those 3 days, their efforts went beyond just keeping me entertained.
The woman, being a part-time employee at the Research Institute, had to go out for work shifts periodically.
The man had to constantly evade periodic searches, erase any traces left behind, and ensure I didn''t appear on surveince cameras - he was quite busy.
It was fortunate the woman could bring food, water, etc. as an employee.
If they had to periodically steal food and water, the difficulty would have been several times higher.
The woman stood next to the detective, arms full of documents, while the man checked his pocketwatch to keep track of time.
The man ced a hand on the woman''s shoulder and tapped the floor twice with his cane.
With a troubled expression, the man tapped the floor again but nothing happened.
"It''s not working."
"Huh? Then what do we do?"
I didn''t know what, but their n seemed to have failed.
***
3 days had passed. It seemed like my junior spent the time happily without much thought, but it was quite a difficult schedule. Fortunately, the Reaper showed interest in my stories, which was a relief.
Now, if we escape, the request will beplete.
My junior was standing next to me, arms full of documents. I ced my hand on her shoulder and tapped the floor twice with my cane. The destination was the detective office!
"It''s not working."
"Huh? Then what do we do?"
No matter how many times I tried, the Object that allowed spatial movement wouldn''t transport me to the desired location. I''ve never heard of it malfunctioning, so is something interfering with it?
No way, I nced towards the gray Reaper, but it was still puffing out its cheeks like a hamster and endlessly eating snacks while observing us.
"The Object is acting up. It''s time for a n B."
"Wow! There was a n B too?"
"No. I have to make one now."
I lit my pipe tobo and earnestly called out.
"Watson, have you found anything here?"
"Watson, have you found anything here?"
"Watson, have you found anything here?"
The smoke rising from the pipe turned a reddish hue, like the light of Watson''s gasmp.
And before I knew it, Watson''s gasmp was in my hand.
"Eh, are you going to use that? It seems a bit ominous..."
My junior''s usual concern was brushed aside as I asked Watson a question.
"Watson, someone is blocking my movement. Do you know what the cause is?"
[Director''s Office] (T/N: Maybe like a teleport)
Once to tell the cause of blocking the spatial movement.
Once to use invisibility to pass the guard post.
If senior spoke like that, isn''t Watson a quite dangerous Object?
"Then what do we do?"
"I''m still thinking about that. If we wait, won''t an opportunitye up?"
Even in such an ufortable posture, senior''sposure was quite remarkable.
By the way, where did the gray Reaper go? It seemed to have been following closely until just a while ago.
***
Feeling the weight of the heavy gasmp in my hand, I looked at the vice director''s office that was blocking the entrance to the director''s office.
The opportunity will definitelye.
I had a feeling close to certainty.
However, just as they say that crisis is opportunity, the opportunity I was waiting for was also a crisis.
While hiding and continuously watching the vice director''s office, I felt that the timing I had been waiting for hade.
Commotion began to spread from the vice director''s office.
"Junior, get ready."
The opportunity I had been waiting for hade.
The chaotic people in the vice director''s office all rushed out of there and started running towards some ce.
"Run!"
We ran through the empty corridor leading to the director''s office, passing the vice director''s office.
"Senior? What''s going on all of a sudden?"
The junior had a puzzled expression looking at the suddenly empty corridor.
I smiled and answered, "Thest opportunity hase!"
***
The vice director of the Central Research Institute kept pondering.
How much longer should he wait?
Could the gray Reaper have already left the Research Institute?
Even though he had the staff patrol and tried to lure it, the gray Reaper was still not found.
More than 3 days had already passed.
Considering that it can be incorporeal, he had told them not to miss even the smallest thing, but the location of the gray Reaper was still a mystery.
"Vice Director, the gray Reaper has appeared inside the istion room!"
It was at that very moment that the gray Reaper appeared.
The employees on standby immediately began to evacuate.
Since all the preparations were already in ce at the starting point of the n, the evacuation was carried out at a fast pace.
The researchers waiting in other ces would also have started evacuating through the nearest route.
The ce where the gray Reaper was currently discovered was inside the istion room originally assigned to the Reaper, so there was no need to worry about an escape route.
Just before leaving the vice director''s office, I looked back towards the director''s office.
The man who has been sitting in the director''s seat for 30 years.
The man who died 30 years ago at Seoul Square, leaving only his family behind.
And the indifferent man who continues his research even after bing an Object, I left the escape route thinking of him.
***
Iyfortably on the bed in the Central Research Institute''s istion room, organizing my thoughts.
While staying with the detective group, I learned a few facts.
Actually, I had secretly stolen and read their reports.
At first nce, they gave off the vibe of ''detectives infiltrating an evil organization with an extremely important purpose!'' so I couldn''t help but want to know the details.
The contents of the reports they investigated were quite shocking, even for me who had worked at other Research Institutes before.
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The concealment of Objects that were said to have been killed.
And hiding the dangerous Object called Lophiomus privately.
Distorting statistics by processing people who died within the Research Institute as having resigned.
Especially, it seemed they erased records after using people with uncertain identities as temporary employees and letting them die.
If the detectives'' reports were made public, it could lead to the dismantling of the Central Research Institute - a major incident.
So this time, I decided to lend a hand to help the righteous detectives.
The fundamental reason the detectives were troubled was the existence of ''Lophiomus''.
In other words, I concluded that if I directly dealt with that Lophiomus, most of the problems would be solved.
The detectives would benefit by having a safe opportunity to escape.
And I would benefit because if the Central Research Institute falls, I can return to Sehee Research Institute with the ghost cat and piano-ying lizard!
It wouldplete a win-win world where everyone is happy.
So I wasfortably lying on the bed prepared by the Central Research Institute, waiting for them to summon Lophiomus for me.
Judging from themotion, it seemed I would soon be able to face Lophiomus.
***
I crossed the corridor with my junior and barged straight into the director''s office door.
There, a man was quietly scribbling on a report.
No, there was one Object.
An Object in human form.
My junior, panting heavily as he followed me into the director''s office, gently closed the door.
"Senior, could that person be an Object?"
"Yes, definitely an Object."
The man reflected in my monocle was definitely an Object.
It''s said that the official director''s position at the Central Research Institute has been vacant for 30 years, was this the reason?
[As long as there is a director, the Research Institute bes indestructible.]
If the Research Institute is truly indestructible, it would be very advantageous for isting Objects that are difficult to deal with.
In fact, for a Research Institute to be located in the heart of Seoul, if it were an ordinary private institute, there would have been a few Object leakage idents and they would inevitably be driven out to the outskirts of Seoul.
However, if the Research Institute itself became an Object, they could continue operating in the heart of Seoul without any major incidents.
"I don''t see any other Objects. Then that director must be the one obstructing our movement."
"But what do we do now? Should I take a swing at him with a sledgehammer?"
My junior was already holding a sledgehammer in both hands, grinning at me.
Wait, where did she get such a huge sledgehammer?
"You''re here. You''ve finallye!"
Turning my head at the sudden voice, I saw the director raising his head and shouting.
"You must havee here for something you need, haven''t you? If you give me what I need, I''ll be happy to fulfill your request."
The Object called the Director smiled meaningfully at me.
His expression looked genuinely happy, which made it seem rather suspicious.
"Before that, who are you? I don''t want to make a deal without knowing the other party''s name."
"Ah, let me rify something first. I''m not actually here. No matter how much you try to talk to me, I won''t be able to hear you. This doll is simply reying its programmed actions."
Our conversation wasn''t aligning.
I''m not sure if he''s intentionally acting that way or if I just can''t read his expression.
"Our task is just to make a deal. If you put your cane in my right hand, I will help you escape from this Research Institute."
Then the Object in the Director''s form stopped moving.
"Uh, what should we do?"
"I''m not sure. There are too few clues. I don''t know if making a deal here is the right answer."
The heavy vibration echoing throughout the Research Institute was telling us that we didn''t have much time.
The sound of the released Lophiomus rampaging and destroying the Research Institute could be heard.
"In times like these, just do what feels right."
Overthinking it will only make things worse.
***
Tut-tut-tut.
I walked quickly through the chaotic corridors of the Central Research Institute, having ghostified.
The interior of the Research Institute was shing with emergency lights, and the panicked employees were running and screaming.
Following the screams, I soon encountered the cause.
The Object that had only been seen in old newspapers.
It was the one who had essentially made the existence of Objects public in Korea.
Even against such a famous Object, I felt quite confident.
Even though it was immune to physical damage, I could still perceive its weaknesses.
However, that confidence vanished as soon as I faced Lophiomus directly.
Objects with overwhelmingly powerful abilities often exude an oppressive presence.
The Lophiomus in front of me had a presence simr to or even greater than the Steel Tower.
Is this really an Object that can be killed?
What gave me the audacity to think I could easily deal with Lophiomus and take the lizard and cat?
Even if the conditions for killing it were easy, that condition itself had betrayed me.
[The stone created by the Origin Object]
Ah, this is an unkible one.
Just what is the ''Origin Object''?
Chapter 17: Central Research Institute (8)
A loud boom echoed through the interior of the Central Research Institute.
Therge sound pierced straight through the office desk and became embedded in the wall. If it had been ordinary concrete, the impact would have been enough to punch through, but the Objectposed exterior wall of the Research Institute didn''t even have a single crack.
The Lophiomus that had struck me with its tentacles and sent me flying was now swinging itsrge tongue around, looking for other prey.
From its huge mouth, drool was dripping and sticky mucus was flowing all over its body, and countless tentacles were protruding from that body. It was an Object with an unappealing appearance, but I got back up and charged towards the Lophiomus.
It was a wrestling match with a 100-fold difference in size.
But I had no choice but to charge in.
Since I had made them unleash this monster, I had to stop it.
If I irresponsibly ran away, the trapped employees at the Research Institute would die unjustly.
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn''t understand the conditions for killing the Lophiomus.It''s not my preferred method, but since I can''t kill it, I decided to try to incapacitate it in another way.
If all those tentacles get cut off, won''t it be in a state simr to being dead?
***
Even in normal times, my workce was a living hell with constant threats to life, butpared to the current situation, it would be like heaven.
The Lophiomus was running around trying to eat people, and the Gray Reaper was relentlessly pursuing and charging at the Lophiomus.
The closed Central Research Institute had turned into a battlefield.
The high-ranking officials who should have been giving orders had all disappeared, and the Lophiomus, which had only been seen in documentaries about the incident 30 years ago, had suddenly appeared.
The one who saved me as I was running away from the Lophiomus was the Gray Reaper, who was just as famous and dangerous as the Lophiomus.
It was a collision between the most famous and dangerous Object from 30 years ago and the most famous and dangerous Object of the present.
The Gray Reaper charged boldly, but was sent flying helplessly.
Is the Gray Reaper also no match for the Lophiomus? But just as I was thinking that, the Gray Reaper suddenly got up and charged at the Lophiomus again, repeatedly.
Its actions seemed to be like it was rushing in to save us, who were cornered and facing death in the corner of the Research Institute.
It was a situation that made one have that delusion, even though it was absolutely impossible.
The Gray Reaper kept charging, charging, and charging.
It seemed like the one-sided situation where the Gray Reaper was being beaten would continue.
But just when everyone thought so, an unexpected event urred.
The one-sided situation where the Gray Reaper was being beaten suddenly reversed.
The Gray Reaper was charging as always, but with a loud, tremendous explosive sound, the Lophiomus'' agonized scream echoed through the Research Institute.
The Lophiomus''rge eyes were blown open like they had been hit by a bomb, and green blood kept flowing from the spot without stopping.
How on earth...?
The Gray Reaper''s left arm had disappeared from the elbow down. The severed surface of the arm was slowly regenerating, burning yellow.
Seeing this, the people who couldn''t escape gained a glimmer of hope.
Please... please let the less dangerous-looking Gray Reaper win.
***
The method I used now was abination of abilities.
Ghostification, physical immunity, and regeneration. Thisbination of three Object abilities.
Objects with ghostification could use the dangerous technique of ovepping their own and the opponent''s bodies.
It''s very simple.
In a ghostly state, ovep the bodies, then release the ghostification.
The problem is that doing so would mix the bodies, causing fatal injuries to both.
There were actually some vicious Objects with ghostification who repeatedly did this kind of body mixing.
But when physical immunity is added to that, the story changes.
In the case of having physical immunity, one would be able to inflict harm on the other party without suffering any damage themselves.
However, it is not often used against Objects. Why? Because if the opponent is not physically destroyed, both will be shattered!
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That''s where regenerative poweres in. After being shattered, regenerating is beneficial, even if it''s quite painful.
No, it hurts a lot, I hope such a situation never arises, as the raging ze pulsing in my chest consumed my lost body and rapidly regenerated it.
Fortunately, there were many people watching my fight with the Lophiomus. Their fear and anticipation greatly fueled my ze, allowing my wounds to regenerate as if rewinding time.
Moreover, that Lophiomus seemed to be experiencing injury for the first time, as its obvious timidity was evident. After all, how often would an Object with physical immunity get hurt?
This was likely the first time it felt such pain. Isn''t that the same for me? When I opened my eyes in Seoul forest, I was always covered in wounds. Unlike those weak creatures born with physical immunity, I was an Object that had been hurt and tumbled around.
The problem was that the Lophiomus also seemed to have a limited regenerative ability. If its regeneration had no limits,plete incapacitation would be impossible.
Now, in the midst of the exciting battle with the Lophiomus, I had to quickly think of a way to drive it out or contain it.
Unfortunately, the fight did not flow one-sidedly. The Lophiomus seemed to have realized that just passively taking the hits was not good, and began actively defending itself, using its tentacles to push me away or evading when our bodies ovepped.
This stalemate where neither could kill the other was suddenly transformed when I exchanged one of my arms with one of the Lophiomus'' tentacles.
The Lophiomus, screaming in pain, struck me with its remaining tentacles and sent me flying into the wall of the Research Institute. Normally, I would have gotten up and charged at the Lophiomus again, but this time I couldn''t.
''???''
My body easily pierced through the concrete wall and tumbled into the Research Institute parking lot.
The Research Institute was destroyed! Why? Quickly looking back towards the Research Institute, I saw that it was no longer an Object. From one side of the Research Institute, the Lophiomus was breaking through the walls and escaping.
The long, agonized cry of the Lophiomus seemed to express its exhration at breathing the outside air for the first time in 30 years. And with a confident gait, it charged towards me.
Well, now that it''s outside, it must think it has the advantage.
***
I ced the cane in the director''s hand.
"Senior! Is this okay?"
"There''s no other choice here. Seeing the director hastily escape, the Gray Reaper must have revealed itself. It''s probably released the Lophiomus inside the Research Institute by now."
"Huh? So we''re in danger?"
"That''s why there''s no other choice. Here, I have to hand over the cane."
Being eaten by the Lophiomus vs. making a deal with the suspicious Object.
I chose the deal, as thetter was the less unreasonable of the two options.
The director tapped the floor with the cane, just as I had done when using its abilities. Then, he disappeared from the spot.
The junior stared nkly, like a washed-out cotton candy roon, and then shouted, "Hey, did the director just run away with the cane? We weren''t supposed to deal with Objects, right? Did we get scammed?"
I walked over to the window and flicked it with my finger.
The sound of ss ringing out clearly was heard. Unlike before, it was clearly a normal window.
The Research Institute was no longer an Object.
"No, the deal was done properly. Let''s get out of here quickly. This ce will soon be hell."
I snatched the hammer from the junior''s hand, who was holding a suitable tool, and swung it straight at the window.
If this had been the usual Research Institute, this ss would have bounced off the hammer.
But not now.
Thinking about the hint that Monocle had given, this was the natural result.
[As long as the Director is there, the Research Institute bes indestructible.]
Since the Director had left somewhere with the cane, this Research Institute had be destructible.
"Ah! You should have told me to smash it with the hammer! I''m good at hammering!"
I quickly returned the hammer to the suddenly babbling junior and hurried on.
"Hurry and follow me. Considering the Objects isted in the central Research Institute, we need to get out of here as quickly as possible."
Time was running short.
The Objects of the Research Institute would soon begin their escape, the vicious Objects that had been sent to the central Research Institute for istion.
If you don''t want to get caught up in the rampage of the Objects, you have to grit your teeth and run away.
In the midst of the frantic running, the sound of the Research Institute being smashed to pieces resounded from behind.
"Run if you don''t want to die!"
It was the sound heralding the start of hell.
Chapter 18: Central Research Institute (9)
I continued running in the midst of hell.
The junior had thrown away the hammer she cherished somewhere and was running while gasping for breath, holding only the documents in her hand.
The town where we had been living our daily lives until recently had be the heart of hell, filled with blood and screams.
A dung beetle speeding down the road like a burning bowling ball was knocking people over like bowling pins, and rocks flying in the sky were spurting high-pressure water, tearing people to pieces.
Even I, who had thoroughly investigated Objects, saw unfamiliar Objects emerging and viting people.
Every second was a continuous tension.
If my Monocle quickly showed the characteristics of those Objects, I had to determine my response ordingly.
[It attacks moving objects.]
"Stop!"An impressive giant eyeball tadpole was floating in the air, swiveling around.
However, people who didn''t know what abilities that Object had were simply turning their backs and fleeing in terror at its dreadful appearance.
The stories of those who fled were horrifying.
The eyeball tadpole spurted tears from its eyes, and those who tried to flee slowly, but without stopping, melted away, writhing in agony before dying.
''Damn, was it a mistake to make that deal?''
Thanks to having diligently fled before the situation urred, we had already arrived at the outskirts of Songpa-gu.
Looking back, I saw the exhausted junior and a path made of blood and corpses.
With a single choice, Songpa-gu had be hell.
As soon as the junior and I broke through the boundary, the military arrived, set up barricades, and began sealing it off.
We survived.
But the blood-stained road I had seen when I turned back seemed to cling to my eyes, refusing to leave.
***
The loud sound of a helicopter rang in my ears.
The area around Songpa-gu, where the Central Research Institute had been located, was already restricted, but that wasn''t very important.
Rather, the attention and views that this footage would gain were much more important for ''Daily Object'' .
People were screaming and fleeing, and the shattered roads here and there no longer seemed to serve their function.
On top of that, with the numerous Objects that had been isted in the Central Research Institute now released, the area near Songpa-gu had be the descent of hell on earth.
What was even more dreadful was something else.
It was the fact that the government had virtually abandoned the residents of Songpa-gu.
At the barricade line encircling the outskirts of Songpa-gu, soldiers were desperately maintaining the front line while pouring in firepower.
After all, most of the Objects that had been transferred to the Central Research Institute were dangerous ones that private research institutes had deemed too difficult to iste.
Protecting citizens who had fled to the outskirts? There was no way they could worry about that when a giant wart that could instantly regenerate even if blown to pieces was flying over.
However, the camera of ''Daily Object'' was not interested in other Objects.
The fierce battle at the Songpa-gu outskirts front line? That was also not of interest.
The camera was simply capturing the two Objects fiercely fighting and shing on the site of the former Central Research Institute.
Lophiomus, which had plunged Korea into shock and terror 30 years ago.
The gray Reaper, which had gained attention again due to the Seoul Forest Vige Fire incident.
The match that had been inseparable from Inte ''vs. battle debate'' was now unfolding for real.
***
On the monitor at Sehee Research Institute, the heart of Seoul was being shown in real-time, crumbling amidst the loud sounds of helicopters.
The battle seemed unfavorable for Reaper.
Lophiomus was indiscriminately destroying buildings and wildlyshing out its tentacles at Reaper, with such ferocity that the concrete was being pulverized into dust.
Reaper was simply running around with small steps, asionally disying strange behaviors.
Things like clinging to a traffic light and then fleeing, or luring Lophiomus to push cars, most of which seemed rather meaningless.
asionally, it seemed to attack Lophiomus at the cost of one of its arms, but those attacks seemed solely intended to focus Lophiomus''s attention on itself.
"Lophiomus''s skin is famous for not getting a single scratch even from tens of billions of missiles. But this! Gray Reaper! Is easily destroying it!"
Whenever such a scene appeared, the ''Daily Object'' reporter would spit while highlighting Reaper''s fearsomeness.
In particr, he would inform of the approximate property damage caused by the fight between Reaper and Lophiomus, which amounted to an enormous sum just from the value of the buildings they had destroyed.
With a brief sh, a yellow me shot up and Reaper''s left arm and one of Lophiomus''s tentacles disappeared.
While its expression remained nk, its left arm, which looked torn to shreds, seemed extremely painful.
"Ugh, will the Reaper be okay?"
Reaper and Lophiomus were always getting hurt simultaneously, but the truth was that Lophiomus seemed to have a much bigger advantage. Even with the same amount of bodily damage, the size difference was toorge.
"It''ll be fine. A Reaper burning like that is truly amazing."
Sister Sehee said confidently.
Listening to Sister Sehee''s words, I began to carefully observe the gray Reaper shown on the monitor.
"Ah!"
Upon closer inspection, I could definitely tell.
It was just hard to notice because it was so smallpared to Lophiomus.
"Is the light emitted by the Reaper getting brighter?"
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"I don''t know the reason, but the Reaper is getting stronger."
***
Power was overflowing from my body.
That meant there were many humans dying in agony around me.
The stronger I became, the farther and wider I could see death.
I spewed out all the iing power with the feeling of vomiting, imprinting countless methods of death into my mind.
And like stacking dominoes, I piled up the conditions one by one.
My goal was to neutralize Lophiomus.
With the determination to copse everything in my sight, I stacked up the ''methods of destruction''.
The ''ways to destroy'' visible to my eyes were just vague hints when it came to Objects.
But for everything except Objects, I could see more concrete methods.
It was something closer to fate than just methods.
Completely unrted actionsing together to lead to death like the butterfly effect.
For example, cing a pebble 3m ahead, pping, and turning around caused a startled rabbit to step on the pebble, trip, and die.
While fighting Lophiomus now, I was establishing the conditions for copse one by one.
It''s time to see the result of those dominoes.
***
Lophiomus opened its mouth wide andughed.
It was certain of its decisive victory.
The regeneration of that small thing clearly had its limits.
The small thing that had been endlessly absorbing power from its surroundings was rapidly losing strength as the humans around it disappeared.
All that was left was to thoroughly chew up and devour that small thing.
As the small thing stopped and stomped its feet, the ground began copsing indiscriminately.
The sudden copse of the ground seemedughable to Lophiomus.
The crumbling earth was hardly a threat.
It would soon climb up the cliff and definitely devour it.
!
Then, as it fell to the ground, Lophiomus felt like it heard [the scream of the world] [Destroy the ck mirror.] [It draws power from human sorrow.]
[It draws power from human grief.]
[It draws power from human suffering.]
[It knows the fastest way to kill its target.]
Every time I look back, those phrases slink and hide in the corners.
It seems to be in a ghostified state, but why is it hiding while in that state?
Anyway, I''ve now achieved the original goal of bringing the Gray Reaper to the site.
Its ability to interfere with the butterflies has already been confirmed, as seen by how it freed me from the butterflies.
The only concern is whether it''s really okay to bring such an uncontroble entity.
***
As soon as I got in the vehicle, the Gray Reaper appeared boldly in the passenger seat, no longer hiding.
It was opening various things in the vehicle, as if bored.
ording to thetest Sehee Research Institute report, the Gray Reaper understands speech just like the ''cute puppy'' butmunication and control are impossible.
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I took out a coin I often use.
When I brought out the Object, the Gray Reaper looked at me intently, seeming interested.
The coin''s name is the "Fortune-Measuring Coin" - when flipped, a number between 1 and 20 appears on the coin face.
Interestingly, both sides show the same number.
1 means an extremely unlucky day, and 20 means an extremely lucky day - a simple ability of this Object.
Right now, since no one had flipped it, it showed "0".
Ting!
When I flipped it, the number that appeared was 5.
Not an especially lucky number.
I ced the coin on the Gray Reaper''s hand, and it happily flipped the coin itself.
The number that appeared for the Reaper was 20.
Looks like today is the Gray Reaper''s lucky day.
Well, good luck is good.
Might it help with solving the case?
***
??? POV:
I had a nightmare.
This can''t be real.
My house is gone.
A huge sinkhole appeared and swallowed it up.
While a huge number of people died in Songpa-gu, my family was on a trip at the time, so we avoided the disaster.
The ''Songpa-gu Sinkhole Disaster Refugee Camp'' we moved into was decent at first.
They said I didn''t have to go to school, after all.
But gradually, more and more things started bothering me.
The container houses, and the people living in them.
While enduring the dissatisfaction and getting by somehow, a terrible incident urred - a horrific murder.
Although I didn''t see it directly, they said the person was killed with their skin and internal organs all exposed.
And from then on, soldiers started appearing and began topletely seal off the entire camp.
This sealing was a legitimate sealing under the Special Law on Objects, and it was absolutely impossible to leave.
And even after that, the same murder incidents urred several more times.
Around that time, the atmosphere of the camp became as sharp as a knife.
They raised their voices even at the slightest sound, and at night no one went outside.
People suspected each other as murderers and strongly resented the government for not letting them out.
The adults started protesting strongly against the government''s sealing measures.
Media outlets that had been contacted came to film the scene.
But the sealing was not lifted.
My parents also participated in the protests and voiced their opinions earnestly.
But at some point, they stopped going to the protests.
The reason was easy for me to understand.
The protesters were talking nonsense.
Saying the government had spread the infectious disease, or that they were preparing a ritual to sacrifice us.
Iprehensible opinions were increasing more and more.
My parents, grumbling that this way they would never gain support, started gathering people who did not agree with those conspiracy theories to form a separate protest group.
That night, something strange happened.
I woke up to a strange sound, and in front of my eyes, my parents were vomiting a lot of internal organs from their mouths.
I was so shocked that I couldn''t say a word.
My parents, who had be so emaciated that it looked like only their skin was left, had changed as if all their internal organs had disappeared.
Maybe it was because the scene was so shocking.
I fainted right there.
"Hyeonseok, wake up!"
I opened my eyes at the sound of my parents calling me.
It was just a nightmare after all.
Such a thing could not be real.
"Today, we have to go to the protest together. It''s clear the government is sting people with electromaic waves and killing them!"
Mom said with a bright smile.
"Your neck hurts, right? The government has released toxic gas in the camp, so you should wet a mask and use it well!"
Dad also said with a bright smile.
I''m still dreaming.
There''s no way this could be real.
For some reason, I felt like a ck butterfly with a strong smell of blood was flying around inside the container.
Chapter 22: Black Butterfly (3)
The Reaper, who had lost interest in the ''Fortune-Measuring Coin'', now turned its interest elsewhere and wandered around the car, peeking here and there.
To the extent that it interfered with the vehicle operation.
Fortunately, the Reaper, who had quickly lost interest in the car as well, curled up in the backseat and started to sleep peacefully.
But perhaps it was an unlucky day.
Now, just when I was about to drive calmly to the destination, a variable urred in the schedule.
I was being followed.
It seemed like they were making an effort to follow me secretly while maintaining a distance, but their following skills were at an amateur level.
When I looked back at the pursuer, it seemed to be a news vehicle from ''Daily Object''.
I heard the broadcasting station was closely rted to the Sehee Research Institute in various ways, but I had no connection with them.It seemed they were chasing my car, wondering if there might be some news materialing from the Sehee Research Institute.
Shaking off an amateur''s follow would be easy if I took some time, but it didn''t seem worth the effort.
Rather than troublesomely shaking it off, I decided to just ignore it and hurry to the Sinkhole Evacuee Camp.
I don''t have time to waste on a stupid third-rate journalist.
I also didn''t have enough time for themission.
***
Following the car of the detective who had been bragging a bittely, the ''Sinkhole Evacuee Camp'' appeared.
As expected, the detective, who had livedfortably, was unable to shake off the skilled following of the experienced 2-year journalist.
Should I quit being a journalist and be a detective instead?
Isn''t that guy being the number 1 detective a bit too much of a blue ocean?
T/N: ''blue ocean'' seems to refer to a situation where the top detective operates in a field or area with littlepetition, where they significantly stand out from others. correct me if I''m mistaken.
On the other hand, being a journalist was a clear red ocean that was too difficult for me to handle.
These days, there are too many media outlets using the Gray Reaper to earn views, making it not as easy to make money as before.
What''s needed in times like these is a ''big hit''.
Chasing the detective''s vehicle that departed from the Sehee Research Institute, I arrived at the jackpot - the ''Evacuee Camp'' that was off-limits under the suspicious pretext of an ''Object ident''.
It was a ce perfectly suited for high-risk, high-return.
The fact that the detective from the Sehee Research Institute was entering the restricted area gave a strong scent of a big scoop.
***
When I arrived at the camp with the detective and looked around, the sight of the Evacuee Camp was unpleasant.
Butterflies, butterflies.
Wherever you go, butterflies.
The ''Songpa-gu Sinkhole Evacuee Camp'' was surrounded by a wall, and the camp below was full of butterflies.
Butterflies on the ground, butterflies on the doorframes.
The sheer number of butterflies, as vivid and horrifying as the mayflies clinging to a convenience store in midsummer.
However, there was something I didn''t understand.
Ghostly butterflies were flying around, so why bother building such a physical wall?
By erecting this useless wall, it was clear that the butterflies had spread all the way to the Sehee Research Institute.
The detective seemed to know about the existence of these ghostly butterflies, but shouldn''t he point out that this kind of wall is useless?
***
Time was running out.
The time limit was about 48 hours.
48 hourster, the Korean government nned tounch missile attacks and bombardment on the camp and the sinkhole to resolve the butterfly situation.
The government believed that all the personnel in the camp had died and was nning the attack.
But why was that the time limit?
It was because of the fact Watson had informed me.
If the missile attack is carried out on the sinkhole in 48 hours, Lophiomus and numerous Objects will emerge from within, and Seoul currently has no ability to defend against that.
I wanted to prevent the missile attack, but my im without any evidence would not be epted.
But the government also had no choice.
The number of butterfly-infected people was increasing exponentially over time, and if they dyed for just a week, an enormous number of people would be infected.
From the government''s perspective, it was a choice between being 100% certain to be destroyed by the butterfly infection, or being destroyed by the uncertain invasion of Lophiomus.
In other words, the government could not afford to dy.
So the time I negotiated with the government and obtained 48 hours.
Within 48 hours, if I destroy the culprit who is causing the butterfly incident, the missile attack will be canceled.
Thismission was the most difficult and time-sensitive one I''ve taken on while working as a detective.
Now that I think about it, it''s always been like that.
Following the information Watson gave me, an incredibly difficultmission was always waiting.
And it was a hugemission that was hard to give up.
As I looked at the gasmp ''Watson'' in my right hand, I thought it was a suspicious Object as usual.
***
The Journalist POV:
---
I heard that blue ocean detective, apanied by soldiers, would barge into the camp about 24 hourster and search for something.
How did I obtain this information?
There''s nothing money can''t do.
It''s a well-known fact for a journalist in the red ocean.
So the only thing I had to do was to infiltrate the camp first and find the object the detective was looking for.
Even if I couldn''t find it, it didn''t matter.
I could just hide and follow the detective again to catch the scoop.
Why would they deploy soldiers to search a ce that no one can enter or leave due to the blockade?
My journalist''s instinct was strongly tingling.
***
Still the Journalist POV:
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---
It wasn''t difficult to infiltrate the camp to find the scoop.
The soldiers'' focus was only on preventing people from leaving the camp.
After sneaking into the camp, the atmosphere of the camp was not normal.
The camp was quiet, but not asleep.
It was very strange.
The people in the camp were not sleeping at thiste hour.
Well, that could be understandable.
But the problem was that they were just staring nkly at people.
There was no sign of intelligence in the eyes of the camp people, and their gaze was a bit strange.
To put it in a metaphor... yes, I''d say their eyes were like shark eyes.
An unpleasant, emptyaze with almost no emotion.
Due to the atmosphere of the camp, the more I wandered around, the more my shoulders drooped and I felt drained of energy.
What kind of hardship is this in the middle of the night?
Cough cough
While looking around for anything unusual, I heard a coughing sound.
Looking in that direction, there was a container house with the door wide open.
As I entered the container house where the coughing sound came from, there was a boy lying down in thepletely dark interior.
He had hollow eyes, dark circles, and an extremely tired expression.
"Ah...haha... Are you normal, mister?"
The boy weakly smiled and continued speaking, coughing up blood.
"Mister, is this a nightmare? When can I wake up from this dream?"
The boy said somethingpletely nonsensical.
Just as I was about to say, ''Hey kid, what the hell are you talking about?'', the boy suddenly started vomiting blood furiously.
"Ugh! W-What is this?"
The boy was vomiting as if trying to expel everything inside him, until only wrinkled skin remained.
Gasp , ugh.
I couldn''t breathe properly from the horrific sight.
I was so startled that my hands and feet were freezing cold.
As I caught my breath, I couldn''t help but scream again.
"Aaaaaaah!"
Seeing the blood spilled on the floor being sucked back into the boy''s body and swelling up again, I couldn''t hold back and ran outside.
"This is crazy. Crazy. What the hell is that? Could it be that the reason the government has blocked this ce off is because of this damn thing?"
"They should tell us! Where has the people''s right to know gone?"
"This is a dangerous ce, they should let everyone know!"
The camp, which had seemed quiet and peaceful at first nce, had apletely different impression.
It was like a scene from a horror game.
The sticky gazes that clung to me wherever I went did not let me go.
And only now did I realize that they were gradually surrounding me.
I''m scared.
Now I no longer know if the people in this camp are even human.
From very far away, slowly. The encirclement towards me was inescapable.
Before I could even reach the opening I came in, I became immobilized, trapped.
Just like being packed in a crowded subway train, they surrounded me tightly and stared at me fixatedly.
A man slowly approached me from the front and gripped my shoulder painfully tight.
"W-What are you doing? You know this kind of behavior is considered assault, right?"
But no one answered my words, they justughed.
Kekekekee~
Making this strange, muffledughter, these people started dragging me away roughly.
"You guys are making a mistake! I''m the famous Daily Object reporter!"
I struggled desperately to escape by invoking my reputation, but it waspletely useless.
Instead, I felt an eerie atmosphere.
Not like a reckless criminal without a care for the future, but something more fundamental.
As I thought about it, I began to be convinced.
These guys are not human.
Looking at them now, their expressions did not seem human.
They were making strange expressions.
It was hard to describe, but if I had to, I''d say they were twisting their faces in a bizarre way.
I couldn''t even grasp how they could make such expressions.
Then, blood suddenly gushed out of my mouth like a broken faucet.
No matter how hard I tried to stop it, it wouldn''t stop.
"No, no, no, no!"
The image of the emaciated boy came to mind.
I tried to stop the blood pouring from my mouth, but it just kept endlessly gushing out.
My limbs lost strength and I copsed like an empty husk of skin.
Along with the cold, my vision started to darken.
At the edge of my vision, I thought I saw the figure of the ''Gray Reaper''.
''P-Please save me.''
But those words never formed and just scattered.
Chapter 23: Black Butterfly (4)
Yellow Detective POV:
---
The military was heavily guarding the parking lot when a peculiar van with a strange pattern engraved on it started entering.
There was something written in Sanskrit on top of the vehicle.
As the driver''s door of the vehicle opened, Junior came bursting out and ran towards us, shouting loudly.
"Senior! I''m here!!"
"Okay, I can hear you, so don''t shout so loudly."
I couldn''t help but smile a little at the familiar sight of Junior.
Since I didn''t have much time, I had entrusted Junior with a few important tasks to take care of.Given the tight time frame, Junior''s handling of the tasks was quite impressive.
As the cargopartment of the van that Junior came out of opened, a thick smell of blood suddenly started wafting out.
What emerged with heavy footsteps was a person of enormous size.
This person was so huge that he could not have fit into a regr van, only in therge cargopartment.
The giant was nearly 3 meters tall.
What was even more impressive was the massive, bulging muscles all over his body.
Despite the ripped physique, the wrinkled face hinted at his old age.
"The old man has gotten even bigger than before."
In his right hand was a huge staff, in his left arge book, and around his neck a rosary.
His attire made him look like a monk, but he was actually an old man with no rtion to Buddhism.
In fact, it was hard to see him as a monk, given therge nails embedded all over his face.
He had driven nails into his own eyes in his search for his daughter.
***
I guided the old man to a ce where he could wait.
"Old man, you wait here then."
"Understood."
The old man was one of the key figures necessary for my uing n.
He could be considered an insurance policy in case the search ended in failure.
The Object he possessed, "The Book of Prescience", was dangerous to use, but the old man readily epted my request.
Perhaps he was helping out of gratitude for the assistance I had provided him in the past when he was searching for his daughter.
The ability of the "Book of Prescience" was simple - it could reveal the location of nearby objects.
In a confined space like this, it would be the perfect Object to use.
The problem was that he had to destroy his eyes with nails to use the book, and there were various side effects, including the monstrous physique he had acquired.
I always telling him to stop using the book if he wanted to live longer, but the old man wouldn''t listen.
Of course, my persuasiveness wascking while I was still carrying Watson.
The ''Book of Prescience'' was an inferior Objectpared to Watson, but it was necessary for resolving this incident.
I could probably get the answer from Watson immediately if I asked, but I had an instinctive feeling that I absolutely should not request that kind of favor.
I had a strong sense that I must not ask Watson to solve this case.
What if I ignored this intuition and something terrible happened?
***
After that, many more people started arriving.
From frencers who roamed around Seoul Forest reporting Objects and living off the reward money, to the search team from the Research Institute that primarily conducted exploration work.
I borrowed a hand from anyone I could reach within my sphere of influence.
The only regret was that I couldn''t call the guy in the ck suit from the Central Research Institute investigation team, as he''s been busy with hearings these days.
The n had two parts, n A was the search operation by the expert investigators, and n B was use the Object.
n A was the camp search operation carried out by the professional investigators. If they managed to find the Object, that would be the best oue.
n A, the straightforward search, was almost certain to fail, but I had to try it nheless.
If they couldn''t find it, then I would have to move on to n B.
The ''Book of Prescience'' should be able to reliably locate the item, as its range couldfortably cover the entire camp.
But what if it still couldn''t be found?
Would I have to just watch the missile attack, or should I ask Watson for help?
***
Looking down at the camp from the top of the towering walls.
Before the missile attack, I mustpletely take control of the camp interior and find the Object that creates the butterflies.
But just by looking, the difficulty seemed considerable.
"Wow, is that the refugee camp? The people are stationed there like sentries."
"That''s the problem. It''s hard to infiltrate."
If I cause amotion, the ''Daily Object'' journalists who are looking for stories around the ''refugee camp'' will flock in and start taking photos indiscriminately.
To avoid headlines like "Camp forcibly suppressed," "Oppression of public power," I had to handle this quietly and quickly.
n 0 - Capture all the people in the camp as quickly as possible.
n A - Have the search team search the interior of the camp.
n B - Have the old man find the target Object in the center of the camp through the "Book of Prescience".
"So if n Zero doesn''t work, we can''t do anything?"
Junior was alternately looking at the operation map and the n, deep in thought.
"But senior, can''t we just shoot them all to death? You said there are no survivors anyway, right? There are soldiers, so let''s just shoot them all!"
Junior started spouting nonsensical ideas again.
"Ah! If we use guns, the noise will bring the journalists running! And the soldiers said they don''t know the details, right? Ugh, what do we do? Is there no way?"
It''s clear that the Gray Reaper has some means to suppress the butterflies, but seeing no change in the camp, it seems to be taking a long time to have an effect.
Or does the Gray Reaper have to do something directly?
It''s really inconvenient that we can''tmunicate.
Come to think of it, where did the Gray Reaper who was just here go?
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
It seems those detectives can''t solve the problem without my help.
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If the problem the Central Research Institute faced was ''Lophiomus'', this time it could be seen as the "butterfly-infected" ones.
I already know the enemy is not human, but since I can''t prove it, I have to treat them as human, which is a sad situation.
Listening to the detectives and their assistant''s meaningless discussion, I had an epiphany.
That''s right, if I just blow them all up, it will be solved.
It won''t be as difficult as with the Lophiomus.
The butterfly-infected ones will just burst if I touch them.
Thinking that way, the seemingly meaningless wall actually had its uses.
***
After crossing the wall through ghostification, what I found at the end was a person who was essentially dead, vomiting blood.
I think they called him a ''Daily Object'' journalist?
He seemed to be mumbling something, but what was he saying?
The butterfly-infected ones were gathered around the journalist, feeding him the butterflies.
The man, whose skin had turned leathery, instantly swelled up again and regained human form.
The behavior of the butterflies seemed a little different from what I saw at the Central Research Institute.
They seemed smarter and more horrifying, if I had to describe it.
The speed at which they devoured a person also seemed to have increased significantly.
The butterflies didn''t seem to react much to me, as if this was their first time seeing me.
I walked up to them with a big grin and gave them a little tap.
They burst like water balloons.
In the ce of the exploded human, only the shredded remnants of skin soaked in blood remained.
The startled butterfly-infected ones, now seemingly understanding the situation, began to scatter and flee in all directions.
Time for a fun game of tag!
***
??? POV:
---
Aaaaaaah!
A scream echoed from a distant corner of the camp.
I covered my mouth with both hands and breathed slowly.
I absolutely can''t be discovered. Absolutely can''t.
If I''m discovered, I''ll turn back into a butterfly.
Crunch, crunch.
The sound of soft soles slowly pushing against the sand on the ground could be heard.
"Eek."
I was so startled that I let out a sound of swallowing my breath.
It was clearly far away, but the sound clearly came from the distance!
Thump, thump, thump.
A small and cute knocking sound echoed.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.
The knocking sound kept getting faster and faster, and I forgot to breathe and kept praying that the Reaper would just pass by.
Bang-!
The container wall was pierced and a small arm of the Reaper popped out.
"Aaaah!"
Bang-!
Bang-!
Bang-!
The container wall was pierced and the Reaper''s arm kept popping out.
I could only scream and tremble.
A huge hole was made in the container, and the Reaper''s face popped out.
It was a terrifying Reaper with golden eyes.
The expression was expressionless, but to me it seemed to be saying "I found you!"
"Aaaah! Please save me!"
I clenched my teeth and ran away frantically.
But this camp was a closed space surrounded by walls on all four sides.
There was nowhere to escape.
There was nowhere to escape the monster.
In the end, I was caught and turned into a butterfly, watching my flesh dissolve into bloody liquid.
***
The current ce of duty wasfortable, but it was filled with strange things.
It was strange topletely block off the civilian camp with steel walls and monitor it thoroughly.
And the fact that the duty was so peaceful, despite the strict warnings, was also strange.
As usual, when I came down from the watchtower on the castle wall and was boiling ramen with the relief, I heard a strange sound.
"Open up! Open up now! A monster... a monster ising! Open it quickly!"
A camp resident was banging on the iron gate and talking to us.
ording to the briefing I received when I took over this post, such attempts were quite frequent.
They try to draw attention in this way to get the gate opened, and once the gate is opened, they rush in and try to escape outside.
After that, no matter what sound was heard, the manual was to ignore it.
What was strange, however, was that they usually made up an excuse about a patient, but a monster?
That was a ridiculous excuse.
The sound of the banging gradually disappeared, and soon it was all gone.
"As expected, nothing serious, right?"
I tried to speak to my colleague next to me, but there was no response.
When I turned my head to check, I saw my colleague with a pale face, mouth agape, pointing towards the door with his hand.
Looking in the direction he was pointing, a thick bloody liquid was constantly flowing through the gap in the firmly closed iron gate.
Chapter 24: Black Butterfly (5)
The Songpa-gu Sinkhole Evacuee Camp was in an uproar.
It was only natural that it would be in an uproar.
They had witnessed a scene where blood was flowing like a river, and human skin was floating on top of it. It would be strange if there was no uproar.
The gray Reaper standing in the center of the blood pool, and the clothes and belongings submerged in the bloody water, created a rather uniquendscape.
The problem was that it was a scene that would be perfect for a horror movie poster.
Reporters had flocked in, eagerly trying to take as many photos as possible, shoving their cameras forward.
The soldiers were working hard to push them back, but it was not enough.
In fact, no matter how much they tried to stop them here, they would not be able to prevent the news from being published.
Probably, another urban legend rted to the Gray Reaper would be added.By tomorrow morning, there will be an exciting article like ''People who disappeared overnight... Is the gray Reaper the culprit?!'' along with the atmospheric photos being taken now.
The sad part was that it was good for our position to let the notoriety of the gray Reaper continue, and despite being in charge of this ce, I was unable to prevent this situation.
If we had simply kept the main gate closed and remained silent, we might have been able to let it pass, but the soldiers, startled by the bloody water, had opened the gate, allowing the reporters to sessfully take photos.
The soldier who had left the post without authorization andmitted the atrocity of opening the gate was the one who caused thismotion.
My temples are throbbing with stress.
It would have been normal to clean up this disturbance and start the operation, but we didn''t have time.
Thinking about the butterflies spreading from Songpa-gu and the countdown to the missileunch, we couldn''t afford to waste a single moment.
We have about 24 hours left.
Before that, we need to secure the target Object and start the destruction work.
I left the task of dealing with the reporters to the soldiers, and only the personnel I had summoned for the search entered the silent camp.
***
As we entered the camp interior, the huge blood pool that greeted us was a sight to behold.
Just by a nce, it seemed that more than half of the camp''s residents had died here.
Both in terms of the amount of blood and the scattered belongings and clothes, it was evident.
The gray Reaper that had caused this devastation was hopping and jumping on the bloody water.
Through my monocle, it looked like it was trampling on butterflies to chase them away, but to others, it might have appeared as a crazed Object, joyfully jumping on the bloody water.
As expected, everyone except the blind old man seemed to view it with unease.
I pped my hands to draw their attention and then gave the order.
"Alright, now, as previously informed, please disperse and search for the Object. If you find it, please fire a re. We will be preparing in the center of the camp."
True to their reputation as skilled professionals, they dispersed efficiently and began searching their assigned areas as soon as the task was given.
"Wow, there are Reaper-shaped holes in the wall here!"
While moving towards the camp center, the junior reported that she had found something interesting during her movement.
Following her words, I turned my head to check, and there were indeed intriguing traces among the devastated remains.
There were walls with various shapes of holes punched through them.
Reaper-shaped holes, Reaper palm-shaped holes, Reaper footprint-shaped holes.
There were holes of diverse shapes.
''What on earth was the Reaper doing here?''
It was a puzzling trace.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The detective had deployed a lot of people within the camp.
To eliminate the butterflies, they would need to fulfill certain conditions.
[Break the ck mirror.]
Probably, this ''ck mirror'' Object is the source producing the butterflies.
Most of the breeding Objects so far have been like that.
If the seemingly intelligent detective thinks the ''ck mirror'' is here, then there must be some basis for it, right?
Of course, the detective seemed unaware of whether what he was searching for was actually a mirror or not.
After all, he always referred to it as an ''Object''
Well, if one doesn''t have the ability to see the destruction conditions like I do, it would be difficult to know that the Object that needs to be destroyed is the ''ck mirror''
I observed the detective''s actions with great interest, waiting for an opportunity to intervene.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
The search ultimately failed.
At least, the result was that there was no Object that could be found through a normal search within the camp.
The search team I had mobilized had fulfilled their role.
I had sent them away early before the old man''s work began.
After all, the old man''s work was not something many people should witness.
I nced at the Watson in my right hand, then asked the waiting old man.
"Old man, I''ll leave it to you."
"Okay."
The old man briefly replied, opened the blood-stained book, and started driving the nails inside it into the ground around him.
The eerie part was that when he drove the nails in, blood seemed to gush out of the ground as if it were bleeding.
After surrounding himself with the nails, the old man closed the book and knelt down.
"Aaaaaah!"
The old man''s scream filled the camp.
And tears of blood started pouring from his eyes like a waterfall.
It seemed like something was terribly wrong.
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When I had seen him before, he didn''t perform such a grandiose ritual, nor did he look this agonized. What''s going on?
"Se... Senior, something seems off. Is this how it''s supposed to happen?"
At my junior''s remark, I saw The Book of Prescience at the old man''s feet starting to burn like charcoal.
What on earth is happening?
***
The Old Man POV:
---
I was facing the end of my days.
Every day, every breath, I could feel myself bing a monster.
The urge to destroy kept arising, and The Book of Prescience kept driving me.
While searching for a ce to die before I fully became a monster, I received a call.
It was from a young man I had greatly helped when saving his daughter.
That''s when I felt it.
This is where I will die.
So I came here to repay the favor.
But from the moment I entered this camp, I felt something was wrong.
I sensed a presence far more powerful than The Book of Prescience, giving me a chilling warning.
[Get out of here right now.] [I refuse.]
[I refuse.]
[I refuse.]
Themp in my right hand started violently shaking.
Then it shot up into the sky, drawing a certain shadow.
[That''s cheating, Holmes.]
[Using an Object to peek at the answer sheet, that''s not like you, Holmes.]
[A fake Holmes must die! Must die! Must die!]
[But Watson is kind, so I''ll give you a chance.]
The shadow cast by the raisedmp, Watson, uttered those ominous words.
From Watson''s shadow, a stench of bloodshed wafted through.
Chapter 25: Black Butterfly (6)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
[But Watson is kind, so I''ll give you a chance.]
What an arrogant Object.
The first impression I had of Watson, the flying gasmp, was that it had an arrogant attitude.
Moreover, it smelled of blood, wasn''t cute at all, and had a creepy voice - not an Object I was particrly interested in.
I wasn''t too interested, but I was listening obediently since it seemed necessary for the detective to find the location of the mirror.
Otherwise, I would have given it a good punch...
Watson, who had been boasting arrogantly to the detective, was startled when our eyes met and did somethingpletely unexpected.Smoke endlessly poured out from themp, engulfing the camp.
I felt like entering a cloud.
This cloud seemed to swallow even sound, as the detective and his junior''s noisy voices echoed from far away.
The moment no sound could be heard, crimson lightning shed inside the cloud, creating an interesting atmosphere.
Just as I was thinking it was like a haunted house attraction, a huge shadow began to cast itself within the cloud.
With a body as huge as a mountain, Watson''s appearance looking down was extremely powerful and strong.
But to me, it just looked like a cute pufferfish puffed up in fear.
[''Eye''?]
[I definitely felt ''eyes''?]
[Was it a mistake?]
Watson looked at me and spoke.
Since I''m an Object with the concept of being unable tomunicate, all I could do was tilt my head in a ''huh?'' manner, pretending not to understand.
[No intelligence? Can one have an ''eye'' without intelligence?]
[It didn''t show any wisdom, no irvoyance, no mind''s eye.]
[But I feel an ''eye''? Is it a mistake?]
An ''eye''? If it meant a special eye to see something, I did have one.
An eye to see how to kill the target.
The giant Watson circled around me, observing, before withdrawing its smoke and leaving.
It seemed rted to some annoying story, but since I couldn''tmunicate at all, it just passed by.
Indeed, I was right in choosing the concept of being unable tomunicate!
***
Detective POV:
---
The smoke Watson suddenly spewed devoured the surroundings, before quickly disappearing again.
"Senior, what just happened all of a sudden?"
"Well, nothing seems to have really changed..."
The junior, startled by the sudden incident, clutched a hammer tightly in her hands, appearing ready to strike anyone approaching.
The gray Reaper was still gazing at Watson with an indifferent expression.
Watson pretended to be calm, but was clearly wary of the Gray Reaper.
"No, something definitely changed. Watson''s attitude is a bit different."
Watson, who had previously exuded an air of looking down on people endlessly, now seemed to have a hint of caution after the smoke.
Or rather, was it fear of something?
Watson tore his gaze from the gray Reaper and continued speaking.
[Cheating only leads to death.]
[But I''ll give you a chance.]
[Because Holmes is special.]
"What kind of chance are you giving?"
In response to my question, Watson pondered deeply before answering.
[I''ll give you a very light penalty.]
[You must never leave this camp from now on. You cannot leave until youplete the request.]
[I think this is a reasonable enough penalty.]
[Holmes, if you fail the request, you''ll die right here.]
[You''ll burn up along with the missile!]
As Watson said, it was a ''light penalty''.
With barely 24 hours left, going outside wouldn''t allow me to find an effective solution anyway.
Even crawling into the sinkhole would be better than leaving, the best option was resolving it here.
However, that didn''t mean the difficulty had changed enough to make it solvable.
Then one solution came to mind.
Watson couldmunicate.
It had a clear sense of self.
Objects that demanded a price often did more than their abilities allowed if the price was paid sufficiently.
Couldn''t Watson be considered one of those Objects that demanded a price?
Moreover, it was an intelligent Object I could converse with.
A deal should be possible.
No, I must make a deal.
"Watson, let''s make a deal! Tell me the location of the Object that creates butterflies!"
[No]
[Are you trying to avoid the trial?]
[Are you giving up on the case?]
Trial, giving up, request, cheating. These are the keywords Watson is fixated on.
The ''Holmes'' that Watson speaks of seems inconsistent and confusing, but it seems closer to an existence that properly ovees difficult trials and resolves cases.
If so, then the word ''Holmes'' may hold the key to negotiation.
"Watson, let''s make a deal! I willplete another trial befitting Holmes. So tell me the location of the Object that creates butterflies!"
[Another trial?]
[The trial we give may be more difficult than this case?]
[Holmes may actually be able toplete this request?]
[It may turn the 0.1% chance of solving it into 0%?]
"Yes, but I still want to make a deal!"
For a moment, I felt like I might be making a mistake, but I decided to trust my instincts and decisions.
I had the feeling that if I tried to find the Object directly, I would absolutely not be able to resolve it.
Even if I did find it, it would probably be after 24 hours had passed.
[Very well, I''ll give you a trial.]
[A trial for Holmes!]
[If you fail the trial, Holmes is mine.]
[If you seed, I''ll get rid of that Object.]
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Watson gave a meaningful smile, then revealed the trial.
[A difficult trial. A difficult trial indeed.]
[This Holmes is unlucky.]
[Just choose the Object that Holmes is looking for here.]
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The trial Watson gave was simply choosing a photo.
The detective stared intently at the photos, seeming to consider various factors.
The junior wielding a hammer was assisting the detective by his side, but didn''t seem to make much progress.
''The Object that produces butterflies''
With only this vague clue, we had to find the answer among over 100 photos?
Just looking at the probability, it was a mission with less than 1% chance of sess.
Arge door-like Object could be said to have butterflies pouring out, an Object shaped like a butterfly cocoon could be seen as a cocoon constantly birthing butterflies... Since reasons could be attached however we liked, it seemed impossible to logically choose the answer.
Of course, I had additional information, so I could judge logically.
I knew that the Object producing butterflies was the ''ck Mirror''.
Still, I kept the fact hidden.
Because I didn''t know how Watson would react.
For now, I should observe how the detective handles this.
***
Detective POV:
---
The trial Watson gave was outrageous.
It had lined up exactly 152 photos, and said that among them, the target Object was present, so I had to choose and guess correctly.
The only clue given was that it was an Object that produces butterflies.
But that can''t be called a clue.
Choosing based solely on the hint that it produces butterflies is not deduction, it''s ''guessing''.
Watson was right.
It''s an impossible problem to solve.
Should I trust luck and guess?
If I''m going to rely on luck to guess, I might as well not make a deal and search the camp directly.
That would be better than 1/152 odds!
Better than resorting to the absurd act of leaving it to chance!
"Haah..."
I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts.
Even the junior was staring intently at the photos, trying desperately to find something.
If I can''t keep my wits here, I''m not qualified to be a senior.
Right, if I have to rely on luck and guess, there was something I needed.
I took out the ''Fortune-Measuring Coin'' and tossed it.
I caught the high-flying coin in my hand and opened my palm to check.
The number that came up was 20. The perfect number for leaving things to chance at this very moment.
Then, suddenly, a thought urred to me.
When the coin showed 20, my thoughts turned in another direction instead.
Might I be missing something?
The junior standing beside me was examining the photos with a worried expression.
The gray Reaper was watching me with keen interest.
No, it felt more like a teacher observing a student''s actions.
A gaze confirming if I would choose the correct answer, as if the Reaper already knew the answer.
Does the gray Reaper know something?
"Watson! Do I have to choose this photo myself? Can the junior or the gray Reaper solve it instead?"
[I''ll allow the junior to solve it on your behalf.]
[The Reaper?]
[''It'' doesn''t have ''eyes'' and didn''t borrow ''eyes'' either, so it''s fine, right?]
[Yes, I''ll allow the Reaper to solve it on your behalf too.]
I trusted my observational skills. Rather than leaving it up to odds of less than 1%, I would entrust the choice to my observational skills.
"Gray Reaper. Help me."
As I said that, the gray Reaper, who had been looking at me, faintly smiled and walked towards the photos.
Clump clump~
The gray Reaper picked up one photo and held it high above its head.
The photo depicted a ''ck Mirror''.
[Holmes should solve it? Can his colleague solve it instead?]
[''Eyes''?]
[Did we allow that?]
[Not ''eyes''?]
[Not cheating?]
[Strange.]
Watson muttered confusedly.
The shadow of denial distorted confusedly, and red blood flowed.
And that twisting suddenly stopped at one point.
[Holmes. Congrattions.]
At that moment, the butterflies reflected in the monocle all flew up into the sky at once.
And then, the sound of a mirror breaking came from somewhere in the camp.
p p p
The sound of Watson''s apuse could be heard.
[Trial passed.]
[See you next time.]
[Survived the day?]
With those words, Watson disappeared instantly.
The gray Reaper was gazing nkly at the sky.
When I looked at what it was looking at, the sky was filled with the torn corpses of ck butterflies.
"Junior! Run quickly!"
To avoid being swept away by the endless shower of butterfly corpses from the sky, we ran hard out of the camp.
The gray Reaper had disappeared somewhere.
Chapter 26: Black Butterfly - Aftermath (1)
The lonely Sehee Research Institute that the Reaper had left behind.
They were sweating at the site of the Research Institute, which was undergoing an untimelyrge-scale construction project.
In fact, I wanted to go on a journey to find the Reaper together with the investigation team, but I was rejected by Senior Kim Jungroo.
Seeing them wearing hard hats and hammering nails, no one would think they were researchers.
Even for a small Research Institute, to treat researchers this harshly!
Apparently, they were preparing for some newly acquired Object, but I''m not sure if our Research Institute has the capability to receive an Object that requires such arge construction project.
I thought the Research Institute was just living off the ''Gray Reaper Containment Subsidy'', but it seemed like Sister Sehee was considering expanding the Institute.
"Wow, senior. Is that all gold?"
"Yeah, solid gold."A massive lump of gold was being brought into the Research Institute.
A gold piece that size must be worth billions, right?
"Senior, but what is that?"
"A doghouse."
"Huh?"
"A huge and expensive doghouse."
What did you say?
***
The Songpa-gu refugee camp disaster that struck Seoul was wrapped up faster than expected.
Puffing on a pipe, I watched the memorial service unfolding from a distance.
I had neatlypleted the request from the government.
Having taken on a temporary position to carry out the request, now that it was done, I was no longer involved.
After retrieving the corpse of the old man from the site and delivering it to the family, I hadpleted all my tasks.
However, there was something bothering me, which is why I was watching from afar like this.
The camp was still blockaded.
Even though the incident had ended long ago.
***
At the refugee camp where the horrific murder took ce, people in white protective suits were swarming around.
They were researchers from the Trinity Research Institute, a joint institute formed by three research institutes.
They were carefully collecting the butterfly corpses soaked in blood, cing them in sealed containers one by one.
The amount of butterfly corpses they had collected was enormous.
From the blood, they sorted out human skin, personal belongings, and butterfly corpses. The belongings were ssified as lost items, and the skin was all burned on the spot.
Nearby, a joint memorial altar was set up tomemorate the tragedy.
Even though only skin remained, the unidentified corpses that even the families hadn''t seen were treated like trash here.
Burning the victims'' skin right next to the memorial altar showed the precariousness of modern times.
They were extracting data relentlessly from the site, not caring about the destroyed containers in the camp, digging uprge amounts of soil.
At one site, they discovered something peculiar.
They had discovered a ss shard with no thickness. It would disappear under light and was so thin it could easily be missed.
However, those ss shards were already in pieces, so they could be discovered.
A group of people wearing dark blue protective suits, different from the white ones, headed towards the ce where the ss shards were found.
It happened one early morning when people''s attention was diverted.
***
The Trinity Research Institute, which became thergest research institute in Korea in name and reality after the dissolution of the Central Research Institute and the merger of three research institutes.
Two men were smoking cigarettes in the smoking room set up inside.
"What are you reading so amusingly?"
"A discarded report on the Gray Reaper''smunication ability. This is kind of funny."
"What''s so funny about it?"
"Usually these reports are submitted by the Research Institute, but this one was submitted by a detective. You should take a look too."
---
---
"It''s certainly an amusing read. Seems written by someone who doesn''t even know that Objects usually read minds tomunicate. As if a petty detective would know that Objects understand Korean? Might as well say it even went to elementary school?"
Theughter of the men chuckling echoed through the smoking room.
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***
Detective POV:
---
A small office located on a back road in the outskirts of Seoul.
"Senior! Why do you keep carrying that around? I thought you''d obviously throw it away."
The junior threw out apletely unrted question while carefully wiping the hammer with a handkerchief.
"What?"
When I turned around to check, Watson, which I had donated to a nearby Research Institute''s istion room, was greeting me.
I figured this might happen, so I locked it up in the Research Institute''s istion room this time, but it ended uping back again.
I guess a regr istion room can''t contain it.
"I''ve thrown it away quite a few times. But it just keepsing back."
"Wow, what a hassle. I still get a little scared thinking about what happened at the camp, but you can''t throw it away either..."
Sighing, I spoke about the n going forward.
"If ites back this time, I''ll give up and just carry Watson around, so you''ll have to get used to it too."
"Huh? Why? If that thing goes berserk, it''ll turn your neck into a twisted doughnut!"
"If I can''t throw it away, I''ll have to make use of it. It''ll help us out three times, right?"
"Hiieek, don''t use it when I''m around."
The terrified-looking junior turned on the TV with the remote.
The TV was showing the case that the junior and I had solved.
Since it was such a shocking incident, the butterfly incident was all anyone talked about these days, no matter where you went.
It was a shocking case that the government would have tried to cover up, but it became so big that they had no choice but to disclose it publicly.
Thanks to several other incidents in Seoul that became even bigger topics than what happened at the camp.
When the mirror shattered and the butterflies started dying, I thought, ''Ah, the case is solved now!'' but if I had been thinking straight, it was something that could have been predicted.
While I was rejoicing over solving the case, in Seoul, families, friends, and lovers suddenly started coughing up blood and dying.
It was the butterfly-infected people from other regions dying like that.
However, those who witnessed the corpses coughing up blood and dying had an even more horrific sight.
The fact that those people only had their skin left.
And the fact that inside was just filled with blood.
And inside was filled with dead butterflies the size of a human head.
Because of such horrific incidents, the TV was repeatedly talking about that story 24 hours a day.
"There''s nothing to watch these days."
The junior, who was flipping through channels, expressed a simr sentiment as me.
"Oh right! Senior! What happened at the refugee camp before I arrived?"
The junior pointed at the TV with her finger and asked.
"What are you even asking about?"
"You know, That, A trainee reporter from Daily Object went missing. The president of Daily Object is making a big fuss, iming it''s the work of the Gray Reaper. Don''t you know anything about it, senior?"
She made whooshing sounds with her mouth and took a boxing stance.
"From the photos, that trainee reporter looked like a bad character. I bet you didn''t just leave him alone, senior. Did you beat him up and make him run away?"
"I knew he was tailing me. But I never even saw that reporter''s face."
I let out a deep sigh and ced a document on top of the junior''s head, who was idly chattering.
"Why don''t you investigate this if you''re bored? The pay is quite decent."
The paper the junior unfolded read,
***
??? POV:
---
It was just 3 days after Lophiomus disappeared beyond the sinkhole, when the butterflies had not yet spread.
The unsightly sound of a cane tapping on the ground echoed through the ruins, still smoldering with smoke here and there from the lingering scars.
Tap. Tap.
At that moment, a silhouette melted into existence in mid-air.
"Finally, finally. I''m back. In Seoul, in Korea, and on this Earth."
The man, holding an antique wooden cane in one hand, was the director of the Central Research Institute.
"It seems Lophiomus has hidden underground. No matter how many times I peek into the future, I can''t fathom why Lophiomus fled. Well, that''s just one of the many things I have to unravel."
As the director walked away with a cheerful gait, translucent researchers trailed behind him like ghosts.
"Finally! We''ve finally returned. Come, to our new Research Institute!"
With arms spread wide and an exaggerated grin, the director''s face was contorted with an eerie joy. Behind him, the gloomy-looking researchers melted into the shadows.
The director continued walking briskly northward, ever northward with a lively stride.
Chapter 27: Black Butterfly - Aftermath (2)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Omyonyon~
While eating the fruit that filled my mouth, I thought.
This ck butterfly adventure was nothing special.
I wondered if I''d get a chance to smash the ck mirror, but Watson destroyed it.
Since I never felt particrlycking in abilities, I wasn''t interested in collecting more abilities.
Even if I gained an ability, it would just be a degraded copy, so it would probably degrade to the ability to send out a bunch of mini Reapers, right?
I also wanted to sneak up on Watson, who is extremely harmful to humans, and beat the crap out of it, but it has a difficult destruction condition.[Destruction of the main body.] Omyonyon~
The people were oddly friendly. No, they had openly be friendly.
Other Research Institute employees started leaving snacks around like Yerin, or ying together.
I was happy to have more ymates, but not knowing the reason made me uneasy.
Even now, four female employees who seem like friends came and put snacks and fruits in my mouth and gave me massages.
Arms and legs were being kneaded.
Each person was in charge of massaging one limb, and although I didn''t have a body that gets muscle aches, it felt rxingly soothing, probably because of memories from my human days.
For some reason I feel sleepy.
zzz
***
While kneading the soft arms and legs, the Reaper with a rxed expression closed its eyes and fell asleep just like that.
"The Reaper has fallen asleep."
Without particrly matching our words, we lowered our voices and slowly got up from our seats. we covered Reaper with a nket and left the istion room.
These days at Sehee Research Institute, the number of people caring for the gray Reaper has increased significantly.
The gray Reaper was already strangely popr from the beginning, but recently, the degree has be severe.
It wasn''t because of any order from the Research Institute, but because of a report published in the midst of the cirction of horrific ident photos that broke out this time.
It was a report ced in the corridors of the Research Institute so that it could be read at any time.
The report was issued by the Temporary Object Management Organization, and its content was quite meaningful.
It was a report that Reaper has the ability to drive away butterflies just by touching them lightly.
From there, the researchers at Sehee Research Institute were struck by a sudden cute behavior of the Gray Reaper.
The act of patting in front of the main gate.
It turned out that it wasn''t cheering at all, but getting rid of butterflies.
''The fact that no infected person came out of our Research Institute, which is closest to the Singhole in Songpa-gu, is all thanks to Reaper.''
It didn''t take long for this conclusion to be drawn.
The Reaper, who was already popr for being cute, became even more beloved.
While horrific-looking infected people were emerging around us, only our Research Institute remained intact.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Late at night, the istion room that was bustling with many employees started to be a little quieter.
When I turned on the TV while hugging a sleeping cat, it showed the scenery of the spirit barrierpleted in the United States this time.
T/N: Maybe a spirit barrier could be something designed to prevent spirit, ghost or phantom creatures from entering.
It was unimaginable how much humanity would advance if they could fully utilize Objects, considering that even a barrier made of mere wood could be so solemn.
However, from the perspective of someone who has turned from a human into an Object, it felt like humans would never be able to understand Objects in their way.
It''s not a logical judgment, and there''s no reason, but it just feels like a disciplinepletely different from science would be needed.
For example, something closer to the ult, like alchemy or magic.
Afterpleting that massive barrier, the United States lifted an embargo on a certain Object and began broadcasting it extensively.
It was a story about a ghost that sucks human bones.
In Korea, an Object that devours humans and impersonates them appeared, while in the United States, a monster appeared in a ghostly state, approaching and sucking human bones.
Korea solved it by destroying the source, while the United States solved it by erecting a massive barrier to block spirits.
Korea''s solution was neater, but Korea stillcked the technology to build such barriers.
If the detective and I hadn''t destroyed the ck mirror, the oue would have been unimaginable.
From now on, safety technologies like those barriers were needed.
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But with the disappearance of the Central Research Institute, it''s unclear whether such research would be possible.
***
After the introduction of the solemn barrier in the United States ended, the familiar face of the CEO of Daily Objects appeared on the news.
Startled, I turned off the TV right away.
These days, the news only talks about the same things, so it''s not fun.
The butterfly incident, Daily Objects, and so on.
Especially regarding Daily Objects, I wish they would only report their business closure notices.
To relieve my boredom, I pushed aside the sleeping ghost cat and stepped out of the istion room, where a distinctly different atmosphere could be felt.
There are too few people.
Come to think of it, Yerin, who used toe like going to work every day, has only beening intermittently these days.
Although other employees came to fill her ce, so it didn''t stand out much.
It seemed like they had brought in an Object that required care from arge number of employees somewhere.
Strangely, the Research Institute seemed deserted, so as I wandered around, I was able to discover a very, very, very, very, very familiar facility.
Arge, quiet, and well-groomed park was created inside the Research Institute.
It was a sight that could cause trauma, but instead, I naturally smiled.
Could it be that the reason the Research Institute looks empty these days is because of this!
With a bitter smile on my lips, I began wandering around all the istion rooms.
Where are you! You bastard!
In order to realize my dream future, I eagerly searched for a ''cute puppy''.
And finally, I found it.
A huge golden doghouse, exactly as I had seen before.
Inside the istion room I discovered, there was a huge and majestic golden doghouse ced.
With a meaningful smile, I simply kidnapped the ''cute puppy''.
The istion room door? Just smash it and it''s done!
The cute puppy didn''t want me to go through the trouble of going there to take revenge.
But I didn''t want to just let ite into my front yard.
Haha, are you ready to pay for my 5 years of resentment at the Seoul Research Institute?
When I arrived at the fake park set up in the courtyard of the Research Institute, I woke up the cute puppy.
Realizing it had been kidnapped somewhere, the sleeping puppy started rapidly increasing its size to threaten me.
Its signature angry expression came with it.
In fact, I had no intention of killing the ''cute puppy''.
Not for the so-called capitalistic reason of ''it bes money'', but because the ''cute puppy'' helps human survival.
Of course, that''s on the condition that it doesn''t attack me.
I checked the destruction condition for the ''cute puppy''.
[Physically destroy the heart.] whimper-!
The pitiful cry of the cute puppy sounded like it was asking why I was tormenting it.
Realizing it was no match, the puppy shrank down, bing much smaller than usual.
Shouldn''t it be called a cute mouse at this size?
With a satisfied smile, I approached the puppy.
T/N: Yeah!! MC vs puppy, MC win!
***
In one corner of the park with evenlyid green grass, the puppy was struggling to run on two legs.
The puppy barked with a strained voice, drawingughter from people, and passersby also smiled pleasantly at the sight.
It was a park scene that looked like a painting.
Above my head, the warm sunlight was shining on the leaves at a moderate intensity, and in the shade of the trees, I was listening to the refreshingly ringing sound of cicadas while lyingfortably.
If I got thirsty from looking at the park, I would gulp down the iced water in a ss cup, feeling refreshed.
I was resting with my arms and legs stretched out without any hesitation, in a rxed state of mind.
The two legs of the puppy running around the park were wobbling so pitifully that it looked like it might copse at any moment.
Although it appeared to be a happy slice of everyday life on the surface, the puppy was struggling to run around the park on two legs.
In fact, this resting space was all fake. A fake park created inside the building. The passersby walking around the fake park were all fake too, employees acting.
Everyone was acting with a light heart, which was only natural.
The one who couldn''t afford to make a mistake was the ''cute puppy''.
The puppy struggled to run across the field, and the Research Institute employees watched the puppy with pleased eyes.
That seemingly happy situation did not end anytime soon.
Until I was satisfied, even if the puppy copsed from exhaustion, the lights in this park would not go out.
Chapter 28: Ice Throne (1)
One peaceful afternoon, I was enjoying a pic in the courtyard of the Sehee Research Institute, basking in thelight
Lyingfortably in the shade of the trees, I was resting and sipping a cold drink.
Omyonmyon~
Thefortable daily routine of receiving snacks from Yerin was suddenly interrupted by an unexpected incident.
The ''cute puppy'' that had been lying exhausted suddenly started barking like crazy.
If it had been any other action, I would have thought, ''Why is it doing that? Has it gone mad?'' But this was an outburst that I remembered the ''cute puppy'' having even when I was human.
Yerin, who was lying with me, also changed her expression and took out a small notebook, frantically writing something down.
This frantic behavior was the cause that forced them to raise the ''cute puppy'' by epting all of its excessive demands.
It was the ''cute puppy''s'' reason for being ''profitable''.The cute puppy could sense things rted to Objects happening around it.
When the puppy sensed it, it would bark like that to let us know the direction, angle, etc. of where the change was urring.
Why is that profitable, you ask?
First, if you discover an Object and iste it, you get paid.
Or even if you just report discovering an Object, you get paid.
Since most Objects are difficult for humans to interact with, the sooner they are discovered or isted, the less damage is done to the city, which is only natural.
The Research Institute had generous rewards in ce for acts like discovering Objects, to incentivize such behavior.
The rewards were set to protect the city and human lives.
That''s why many Research Institutes operate multiple investigation teams to proactively discover and capture Objects.
Although the ''cute puppy'' doesn''t alert them 100% of the time, it can easily do thebor-intensive investigation activities that require so much manpower, just by sitting on the floor of the Research Institute. So its value is naturally high.
Moreover, the speed and uracy it provides is on a different level from humans directly patrolling, and this is absolutely necessary to keep Seoul safer from Objects.
Even at the Seoul Research Institute, when the puppy suddenly started barking, the staff would stop what they were doing and wait for the researcher''s interpretation.
The cute puppy''s barks had a few patterns that could be learned quickly, they said.
However, when I tried studying it as a human aiming for a higher sry, it was never easy.
It was not a difficulty level that an ordinary human who had built walls against studying could attempt.
Looking over Yerin''s shoulder, she seemed to be doing something, but no matter how many times I looked, I still didn''t understand!
After finishing her calctions, Yerin had a slightly urgent expression and said, "I''ll be right back!" before hurriedly running into the Research Institute.
***
Yerin POV:
---
Busy, busy.
I hurried to the office with the interpreted paper in hand.
The interpreted result was quite meaningful.
It said that Object-rted phenomena were urring inrge numbers near Dobong-gu.
The problem was that Dobong-gu is currently considered the most dangerous area in Seoul.
When I arrived at the office, I handed the interpretation directly to Senior Kim Jungroo.
After reading the interpretation, the senior''s expression hardened, and he started making a call somewhere.
"No, no, does that even make sense?! Just because we''re temporarily in charge of the ''cute puppy'', are you telling us to perform such tasks?"
What started as a quiet conversation became intermingled with shouts and yelling as the call went on.
"How can we handle this immediately when you didn''t inform us of such matters beforehand?"
From what I could gather, the central Research Institute was in shambles, leaving no department to handle ''cute puppy'' rted matters.
Furthermore, the current government was in the process of disbanding all national Research Institutes and transferring all authority to private Research Institutes.
The conclusion was that the Sehee Research Institute would have to conduct the investigation and prepare a report.
It seems we had only agreed to temporarily keep the ''cute puppy'', but suddenly a full-fledged mission was given.
It was an unreasonable demand beyond the contract, but as a Research Institute, they had to do what the government told them to do.
There was no Research Institute free from the government''s subsidies.
The Research Institutes capable of dealing with Objects by manufacturing and selling equipment in faraway America might be a bit different.
There was a strong stench of absolutely unwanted additional work.
As expected, he mmed down the phone started calling people in the office together.
I tried to sneak away quietly, but of course, escaping right in front of him was impossible as I got caught.
"Oh-Yerin, you go investigate that area. It''s near Dobong-gu, so prepare thoroughly before going."
The map he handed me was filled with the route I had to take and tasks toplete.
Ugh, I don''t want to go.
To prepare for the Dobong-gu business trip, I stopped by the supply room and gathered the necessary items one by one.
As I was sighing and getting ready for the unavoidable reality of having to go, a yellow light suddenly shone on my face.
Reaper, with a face full of curiosity, was shooting an intense gaze at me.
"Want toe along?"
I reached out my hand, and Reaper firmly grasped it.
For some reason, this business trip seemed like it would be enjoyable.
***
Reaper (MC) POV :
---
Riding in the car driven by Yerin, we arrived at the target point.
Upon reaching the border of the targeted Dobong-gu, we saw a tall concrete wall encircling the entire area.
This was the massive wall separating Dobong-gu and Gangbuk-gu.
It was my first time seeing it in person.
Perhaps because it was built to fight against Objects, the wall exuded both practicality and solemnity.
I had heard rumors that beyond was a frozen hell of minus 100 degrees Celsius, which made it feel like the chill reached even here in front of the wall.
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Yerin parked the car, set up a camera pointing towards the wall, and came back.
"Alright, pic part 2!"
Yerin spread out a mat on some suitable grass and patted the spot next to her.
''...''
No matter how I thought about it, I had a feeling that Yerin might get fired one day.
***
Omyonmyon~
While eating snacks, Yerin''s phone rang.
Yerin checked the phone and answered with a frown.
"Yes, this is Oh-Yerin."
As soon as Yerin answered, nagging poured endlessly from the phone.
[Are you really with that gray Reaper right now? You need to report properly, what were you thinking...]
However, that nagging couldn''t continue for long.
An incident urred while Yerin was on the phone.
Boom! Boom! ''Other investigation teams have started evacuating. You should escape quickly too.''
It was a text of no use to Yerin, who was already fleeing.
***
Yerin''s face was pale.
She didn''t look normal at all.
Outside the car window, a snowstorm was raging.
In the summer, no less.
The center of Dobong-gu was said to be around minus 100 degrees Celsius, had the temperature dropped that low here too?
Yerin looked like she could barely endure it.
To make matters worse, an unfamiliar strange noise came from the car before it stopped running.
Yerin huddled up and sighed.
Shivering violently, she turned her head towards me with difficulty and moved her lips, but no words came out.
It seemed she wanted to say something, but Yerin couldn''t get the words out and closed her eyes.
***
Yerin POV:
---
I regained consciousness to afortably warm sensation.
I had thought I would definitely die after losing consciousness in the cold, but had I survived?
Or was this the afterlife?
Seeing supernatural beings like Objects running around, an afterlife seemed usible.
But the intense warmth assured me this was reality.
I slowly blinked my eyes open.
Right in front of me was the sleeping face of Reaper.
The mes burning so intensely that Reaper''s gray skin looked yellow were driving away the cold outside.
Reaper had burrowed into my clothes, sticking only its head out.
I reached out and gently stroked Reaper''s head as I whispered,
"Thank you."
Then I hugged Reaper tightly, savoring the warmth.
Chapter 29: Ice Throne (2)
T/N: If you''re jumping to this trantion, I would rmend that you read it from the beginning. It''s just my rmendation, though.
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
munch munch~
I was nestled inside Yerin''s clothes, receiving and eating snacks one by one.
Only the sound of the howling wind and me eating snacks echoed inside the car.
Since my hands and feet were inside Yerin''s clothes, I couldn''t move, but it wasn''t particrly ufortable.
In fact, it was rare for me to pick up and eat snacks myself when I was with Yerin.
I wondered how many degrees below zero it was now? Having abandoned being human a long time ago, I didn''t have a good sense of it.Looking at the flush on Yerin''s face, the inside of the car didn''t seem that cold, but I didn''t know what the outside temperature was like.
If a reliable means of transportation like a car had stopped, it must be extremely cold, but I couldn''t gauge how cold.
Because I didn''t know if the gasoline had to freeze for the car to stop in the cold, or if it stopped at a higher temperature.
Or maybe Yerin just didn''t maintain the car properly, causing it to stop.
Outside, a blizzard raged where you couldn''t see an inch ahead.
This must be what''s called a whiteout.
I wondered how long we''d have to stay here.
It was boring, but the softness and warmth made me naturally drowsy.
***
Yerin POV:
---
The Reaper in my arms had already fallen asleep, seemingly bored with the stranded situation in the snow.
About two hours after Reaper fell asleep, the blizzard stopped.
The revealed scenery made me doubt if this was really Seoul.
A world full of snow.
While snowyndscapes were quitemon, the things roaming in the background were notmonly seen in Seoul.
Shaggy yetis were wandering around.
They were Objects frequently seen when observing Dobong-gu by drone, so they were quite famous.
However, they were ssified as dangerous Objects because they were quite violent.
But since the Research Institute didn''t iste them or obtain data through experiments, how dangerous they were and what characteristics they had werepletely unknown.
It was only known that they were violent creatures who would throw ice or rocks at moving objects or animals.
Not wanting to be noticed by the murderous yetis, I held my breath, crouched down, and just waited for them to pass.
After what felt like 10 suffocating minutes that seemed like 10 hours, the fierce-looking yetis had all disappeared somewhere.
Recing them were cute snowmen about Reaper''s height.
Blowing ice bubbles like blowing soap bubbles, the snowmen appeared.
ying beautiful music on xylophones made of ice, blowing ice bubbles with trumpets made of ice, the snowmen acted like innocent children.
Their pure, childlike behavior made me instinctively let my guard down.
They depicted a dreamlike scene as they wandered on the shining white snowfield, like characters from a fairy tale.
Usually when unfamiliar Objects with unknown habits and ecology roam around, it would fill one with dread. But I didn''t feel particrly scared.
Because the snowmen didn''t seem threatening at all!
The warmth of the sleeping Reaper in my arms further boosted my courage.
Plus, those snowmen moved extremely slowly and just peacefully blew bubbles, so they didn''t seem like threatening Objects.
Rather, they looked a bit cute.
As I was admiring the view outside the window with those thoughts, I saw a man heavily bundled up in thick clothes sneaking past near the snowmen.
He wouldn''t avoid being noticed by sneaking around like that - it was futile.
Sure enough, he was instantly noticed despite his sneaking, but it didn''t lead to a dangerous situation.
The man, realizing he''d been noticed, just frantically ran away to put distance between himself and the snowmen.
The gentle-looking snowmen noticed the fleeing man, but didn''t threaten or chase him, just continuing to blow ice bubbles as usual while watching him.
As I expected, they were gentle creatures.
However, what the snowmen blew out this time wasn''t cute bubbles, but sharp needles.
"Gasp-!"
I couldn''t help but gasp in surprise.
If someone explodes and dies right in front of you, anyone would react the same way.
The needles the snowmen fired pierced through the person''s body and turned into ice bubbles, but what would happen if such a transformation urred inside a person''s body?
It would explode and disintegrate.
''Ugh, another murderous monster.''
I had no choice but to hold my breath again, crouch down and hide inside the car, waiting for the snowmen to pass.
The dreamy, fairy tale-like atmosphere had turned into a cruel fairy tale, and the courage Reaper had given me disappeared like bubbles.
Reaper, please wake up quickly.
Please. For those reasons, I walked towards the Ice Throne, going against the battlefield where shells were falling.
Chapter 30: Ice Throne (3)
As I gazed at the fireworks disy of captivating missiles and shells, the sun had already risen.
The acrid smell from the explosions was getting stronger, and the sparks from the bursting shells were not very noticeable under the sun.
I was gradually getting tired of the shell explosions.
After enjoying the spectacle, it was time to enter the Dobong-gu barrier.
The path leading to Dobong-gu was an untrodden snowy trail.
It feels nice to step on fresh snow.
Plop plop
I entered the barrier, leaving footprints on the untrodden snowy field.
My small footprints,pletely unsuited for war, trailed behind me in a line.***
Dobong-gu, which had been out of human hands for 10 years, had a rather fresh feel to it.
Concrete debris crumbled low due to the relentless destruction by the ice soldiers, nts vanished by the fierce cold and blizzards.
These elementsbined to give Dobong-gu the atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic city ruined by the harsh winter.
There were also quite a few strange animals I had never seen before, though they were probably not animals but Objects.
Since the temperature in the center was said to be minus 100 degrees Celsius, it seemed unlikely that ordinary lifeforms would exist.
If there was a ce that was minus 100 degrees, the surrounding environment and climate should have beenpletely devastated, but it looked fine, perhaps another mystery of the Objects?
Even from the perspective of Object, I''m not sure about these aspects either.
In fact, isn''t ghostification itself rather suspicious?
Ghostification is an ability that is as physically strange as time stopping.
Even if ghostification ignores physical forces, what about gravity? Inertia?
It''s an ability that raises all sorts of questions, even for ayperson like me.
Well, the scientists at the Research Institute must be hard at work studying the details.
***
??? POV :
---
Inside the transport vehicle heading towards the Dobong-gu barrier, a solemn silence prevailed.
Looking around at the staff aboard the vehicle, their expressions were tense.
The more you know about Objects, the greater the fear bes - it can''t be helped.
After all, we are the anti-Object personnel, the experts who know Objects the best.
I addressed the staff, "Everyone, stay focused!"
At my loud exmation, the personnel raised their bowed heads.
"The war with Dobong-gu has begun."
"This is a much better situation than the Dobong-gu infiltration scenarios we''ve simted so many times."
"Since it started with the Ice Throne''s attack, most of the Ice Throne soldiers havee out."
"Moreover, the most threatening temperature has spread outwards and is almost diluted."
"The ongoing shelling and missile attacks are merely decoy offensives for our sake."
"We are the main force."
"If we proceed as we''ve trained, we can achieve our objective."
"Engrave in your minds that our failure is the nation''s failure."
"Stand tall and be dignified."
"If you feel burdened, have faith - in the Object data humanity has umted and the training you''ve undergone."
"We will definitely destroy the Ice Throne and return!"
Hearing the staff''s resounding response, I closed my eyes.
Not long until the operation begins.
***
Reaper (MC) POV :
---
Taking the distant Ice Throne as andmark, I walked briskly towards it.
The Ice Throne was a massive 20m high chair, visible even from afar.
It wasn''t actually a structure tall enough to be seen from so far away, but the ice soldiers had ttened all the surrounding buildings, making it stand out.
On my journey towards the throne, I discovered a peculiar space.
Walking in a straight line towards the throne, I came across a space that felt like a baseball stadium.
A t, circr frozen in, with animal statues turned to ice scattered all over it.
Surrounding this in were arranged mirrors that looked like shattered ss.
The mirrors reflected the central in, showing an ordinary scene of ice and snow.
Except for one thing.
A totem pole.
A totem pole that seemed to be about 5m tall existed within the mirrors.
Yet on the actual frozen in, there was no such totem pole anywhere.
The totem pole had the eerie feature of turning its head to track any moving object, like something out of a horror movie.
Whenever something moved, it would turn its head to look at it, and if it was a living creature, it would shoot a freezing beam to freeze it.
However, it reacted to rocks or small animals, but showed no reaction to me.
Whether I ran across the frozen in or slowly plodded along, there was no reaction.
Rather, it seemed to avoid looking at me.
Even when I pushed my face close to where its face should be, it absolutely refused to look at me.
It''s ying with everyone except me.
No matter how much I tried to get its attention, this totem pole that stubbornly ignored me, I tried to destroy it.
But as soon as I checked the destruction conditions, my motivation instantly vanished.
The conditions looked tedious and time-consuming at a nce.
With bad luck, it could take several days - such a bothersome condition, so I decided to just ignore it and move on.
***
??? POV:
---
Our swift advance was stranded by an unexpected ambush.
A beam came flying from somewhere, hitting one of our personnel.
"!"
One staff member instantly died with his face frozen solid.
The beam came flying from the distant frozen in with no warning, striking our personnel.
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I grit my teeth.
Each of their lives was the future of Korea.
These were not lives that could be lost in vain here.
I threw a beacon towards where the attack came from to mark the location, and warned the personnel.
"Everyone, pay attention! The enemy''s attack seems to ur after visually confirming the target. Take full cover! The precise attack origin is about 5m above where the beacon is installed!"
As long as we don''t expose ourselves, we won''t get hit by the beam.
Everyone nimbly moved from cover to cover, dashing towards the hostile Object''s location.
We arrived at a circr frozen in.
Mirrors were arranged all over.
"Everyone! Look at the mirrors, the Object is a totem pole. It appears to shoot beams with its gaze!"
To fight an Object, we must observe it.
Failure to observe means death.
On the frozen in filled with arranged mirrors,
An unidentified totem pole stood within the mirrors'' reflections.
Its head-turning speed wasn''t very fast, but not slow enough to get through this open in without cover.
Boom-!
As part of the predetermined Object encounter procedure, the personnel threw grenades to check if the totem pole and mirrors could be destroyed.
The totem pole waspletely unaffected.
It seemed to have no physical form.
The mirrors were destroyed but instantly regenerated.
An Object type that cannot be handled by physical attacks.
Troublesome.
Should we bypass the totem pole?
But then the time loss would be too great.
Moreover, there''s no guarantee other routes don''t have Objects either.
Maybe I should have requested the Yellow Detective toe along?
I thought his overly intuitive type wasn''t suitable for this mission, but now I need him after all.
His intuition alone was Object-ss, and for uncertain choices like picking routes, his intuition was top-tier.
No matter how much I pondered, there seemed no choice but to deal with this Object first.
If we can''t handle even an Object like this, it will be even harder to deal with the Ice Throne beyond.
Observation is paramount when facing Objects.
There must be some hint.
When Objects are arranged with some rules, they often require puzzle-like solutions.
In the empty in at the center, there is an immaterial totem pole.
Surrounding it are many arranged mirrors.
The mirrors are shattered into fragments, preventing a full view of the totem pole''s entire figure.
Taking cover, I circled around to examine the totem pole''s reflection in the mirrors.
There must be a reason for the mirrors'' arrangement.
***
The sound ofbored, agonized breathing reaches me.
"Huck...huek...huck..."
Another personnel was hit by the beam.
Convulsing and screaming, myrade has...no chance of survival.
The beam only hit his leg, but his leg froze and the chill spread through his body, killing him within minutes.
How many times now, in this open in with no cover, our personnel''s sacrifices only mounted.
Fortunately, their sacrifices allowed us to glean meaningful information.
There was one spot where the full body of the totem pole could be seen.
It was the ce where all the broken mirrors came together.
But even by directly gazing at the totem pole like that, nothing changed.
To find this ce, three more personnel had already fallen victim to this Object.
It had to be resolved before any more casualties urred.
To transport the bomb to destroy the Ice Throne, at least 5 people were needed, so there wasn''t much leeway.
The mirrors, the totem pole, and the mirror image.
Yes, the mirrors.
Upon examining the mirrors, there was one strange point.
There were some mirrors where the totem pole did not appear.
I had overlooked the existence of those unused mirrors!
It seemed clear that those unused mirrors needed to be utilized.
***
Reaper (MC) POV :
---
Oh! An exmation escaped my mouth as the massive scale of a chair entered my view.
The gigantic 20m tall Ice Throne was being shouldered like a pnquin by 4 equally gigantic ice soldiers.
If the path was cleared, it felt like the soldiers would rise and immediately dash down that path carrying the pnquin with tremendous force.
However, for now it was only unting its massive weight, unmoving.
I hade to utterly destroy the Ice Throne to liberate Dobong-gu, but a problem arose.
It wasn''t that the condition for destroying it was difficult.
Rather, the problem was that it was too easy.
At this rate, even a single rock could shatter it.
The Ice Throne wasn''t an ''Object''?
Then what Object was I supposed to deal with?
Could it be that totem pole I saw earlier?
Indeed, the destruction condition for the totem pole I confirmed then seemed difficult.
[Reflect the full body of the mirrored totem pole onto a single mirror] ? ''Why is there a hole like that?''
I hurriedly unfastened the pins securing me to the stake one by one and stood up from my spot.
''There''s a hole in front of me that I have to fill.''
''Yes, a hole only I can fill.''
Part of my mind knows this is all an illusion.
But I can''t resist it. I absolutely cannot resist.
I slowly walked until I arrived in front of the hole.
''Yes, this is the hole! The hole perfectly shaped for me.''
The moment I lightly traced the edge of the hole with my finger, the purple hue filling the world disappeared and I saw the morning sun rising in the distance.
Startled in that moment, I pulled my hand away from the ground.
It was a hairbreadth escape from disaster.
Five agents had disappeared over the night.
Fortunately, it wasn''t a loss of personnel that could be called a mission failure.
The operation to destroy the Throne has not failed yet.
***
Reaper (MC) POV :
---
After the game of tag with the shadows ended, Iy on top of the tall debris, feeling the morning sun warming my skin.
Hearing amotion, I looked down and saw people gathering near the Throne.
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Wasn''t it minus 100 degrees Celsius near the Throne? Or was that extremely cold ce somewhere else?
They seemed like people who hadn''t slept well at all.
They were setting something up around the Throne.
What they were installing were Objects.
At a nce, they looked like bombs shaped like sticks of dynamite bundled together.
Since missiles can''t destroy the Throne, are they deploying Objects?
But that Throne isn''t an Object, so this is just a futile effort.
I watched their futile efforts with an amused expression.
Actually, someone should have looked in my direction.
But I guess they were too focused on setting up the bombs to notice me.
Kwung-!
At that moment, I felt the ground pulsate.
As I turned around, a tsunami was rushing towards thend.
Buildings copsed, riding the waves, and the ground curled up into a rounded shape.
Debris turned to dust and swirled forward, pushed by the crashing waves.
It was a massive tsunami made of dust and debris from thend.
Anything touched by the pulsating waves of the tsunami turned to powder and scattered.
The remnants of civilization like concrete and asphalt turned to dust and dispersed.
Of course, the Object bombs made by humans met the same fate.
No!!!
A man''s scream echoed through Dobong-gu.
***
??? POV :
---
"Noooo!!!!!"
I screamed in vain as I watched the Object bombs scatter into dust.
No matter how much I grasped at the dispersed bombs with my hands, the powdered bombs did not return.
We had sacrificed many agents to reach this Throne, so why is this happening!
A storm of dust rushed in, darkening the surroundings.
The ice soldiers carrying the Throne turned to dust, causing the Throne to fall.
The tremendous shockwave and air pressure sent me and the team members tumbling across the ground.
Lying face down on the ground, a yellow light entered my eyes.
From within the dust cloud blocking out the sun like volcanic ash, a yellow light shone into my eyes.
"The... The Gray Reaper!"
The Gray Reaper stood high up, looking down at us as if mocking us.
Did the Gray Reaper have an ability like this?
Not just the Object bombs, but all our electronic equipment and firearms had turned to dust and vanished.
This seemed simr to the phenomenon happening in Seoul Forest.
But here was far enough away from Seoul Forest.
This unusual incident was definitely a major issue that needed to be reported.
The sudden appearance of the Gray Reaper and the phenomenon that seemed to be the work of Steel Tower.
The shockwave had also shattered all ourmunication equipment, so to report it, we had to directly return.
In order to report and deal with this, we had to return while preserving as many agents as possible.
"The operation has failed. We''re pulling back."
Keeping a close watch on the Gray Reaper, my agents and I slowly retreated.
We had no choice but to return while being consumed by the dust.
***
Reaper (MC) POV :
---
This pulsation of the earth felt familiar.
Yes, it felt like Steel Tower.
I sensed the power of Steel Tower that grinds civilization to dust.
But Steel Tower''s domain should have been stabilized, so what''s going on?
This was the first time I''ve seen Steel Tower''s domain pulsating like that.
The pulsing, powdery ground looked like a tsunami of dust rolling in from thend.
The buildings and asphalt curling up and crumbling in waves was a spectacr sight.
The strange thing was that the ice soldiers were also helplessly shredded and crumbled by the tsunami.
So Steel Tower treats even ice soldiers as part of civilization?
The pulsations of Steel Tower ended after just a few minutes.
The devastated appearance of Dobong-gu became even more deste.
However, a strange structure remained in Dobong-gu, which the tsunami had scraped over.
There were an enormous number of holes like an ant colony dug underground in Dobong-gu.
I had a feeling that the owner of the Ice Throne was down there.
***
??? POV :
---
Seoul was facing a huge crisis.
The temperature drop that started in Dobong-gu?
The temperature drop that started in Dobong-gu didn''t even affect all of Seoul.
It was just rapidly lowering the temperature in some nearby areas before recovering.
Attacks by the Ice Throne''s soldiers?
That was being sufficiently suppressed by the military''s efforts currently.
The problem that sent Seoul into panic was something else.
''The expansion of Seoul Forest''
It was observed that the domain of Seoul Forest was gradually expanding.
Like a beating heart, it was pulsating and gradually increasing its domain.
Steel Tower''s domain expanded its area instantaneously like a pulse wave, then contracted repeatedly.
But anywhere that had been within its domain for even a moment had civilization crumbled to dust, so it amounted to rapidly expanding all the same.
Korea had been diligently preparing to fight the Ice Throne in Dobong-gu, but was powerless against Steel Tower.
Because there was no way to confront it at all. tap tap tap .
It then lightly tossed the ice piece into the air.
Before the ice piece fell, the intruder swiftly took a horse stance and swung its legs in a whipping motion timed to the falling ice.
The kicked ice piece sluggishly flew toward the center of the open area.
It was so slow it could hardly be considered an attack.
The ice piece lightly tapped a metal lump lying in the center of the area.
That metal lump seemed to be the remains of a soldier affected by the pulsations from the north.
One of the ice spiders moved to block the rolling metal lump impacted by the ice piece.
''Is that all?''
Such thoughts came naturally against this opponent. There was no need to be wary of this.
But then, an intense discharge struck that metal sphere in the open area, and everything changed.
The metal sphere exploded like a grenade, and the spiders hit by the shrapnel clumped together and rolled away.
Fragments scattered in all directions from the sphere, some striking where the intruder had punched.
A massive crack started from there, cutting across the area and causing another explosion.
The high voltage current flowing through the passages was the problem.
Normally the passages likely wouldn''t copse from such an impact.
The immense shockwaves umted inside from the pulsations originating in the north.
Countless metal powders and fragments derived from those pulsations.
And the intruder''s seemingly meaningless actions were timed perfectly to cause a chain reaction.
That chain of eventspletely destroyed all the kingdom''s soldiers gathered in the open area.
A loud rumbling sound of the passages copsing echoed through the underground.
''...''
The intruder possessed extraordinary abilities.
What was it? The ability to manipte probability at will?
Whatever power it had, it was clearly a powerful being.
The kingdom''s current forces seemed incapable of dealing with it.
However, there was a way to handle such powerful beings.
Give them a false sense of victory.
Hide the true self and let them delude themselves into thinking they won.
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Preparations began in the kingdom''s core to receive the powerful intruder.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
After wiping out the enemies with just a piece of ice, I dusted off my hands and looked around the copsed open area.
The few surviving spiders were scurrying away, creaking.
It became clear at the point when spider-like beings simr to the outside soldiers appeared.
''There is an Object inside this cave that created the ''Ice Throne of Dobonggu''.''
Tap tap tap.
Making brisk footsteps, I set out to find the Ice Throne of Dobonggu.
Following the path the soldiers fled, I arrived at a massive open area.
Ice soldiers were lined up like servants, and artificial light shone down from the ceiling.
The patterns carved into the pirs and walls had a solemn power that made one feel a sense of reverence, like a shrine.
It was such an impressive space that it made me exim ''Wow!''
At the end of this area stood a massive Ice Throne, and seated on that throne was a being d entirely in ck steel armor.
To put it bluntly, an armor exuding a kingly aura was seated on the throne.
This huge hall was decorated with many chunks of metal floating in the air, adding to the mystical atmosphere.
The armor rose from the throne, grasping a massive iron il, and approached with heavy footsteps.
It was an impressive, powerful entrance, but I paid it no mind.
I just looked around, searching for what I needed to find.
After all, that armor was not an Object.
It was no different from therge, borately decorated ice soldiers.
When the annoying armor swung its il at me, I simply ghostified through it and focused on finding the Object.
The Object was discovered in an unexpected ce - on the table next to the throne.
There were many metal chunks floating on the table, and it was one of them.
Disc-shaped chunks of metal, floating like superconductors on mas.
Among those decorative metal pieces, a single one was the hidden Object.
It was a superconducting frog.
ttening its body, not moving, just floating around.
''Why? Why a frog?''
The Object thatpletely destroyed Dobonggu and threw Korea into terror was merely this?
The condition for destruction was such a simple frog.
[It dies if part of its body breaks.] ''Is this my end?''
Is my eternal kingdom ending like this?
When I heard a crumbling sound, my consciousness sank into endless darkness.
''There is nothing... nothing but darkness...''
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
When the frog crumbled, all the soldiers gathered in the square copsed like puppets with cut strings.
The intruder of Dobonggu District was finally dead.
If I had lungs, I would take a deep breath and feel refreshed.
I felt so refreshed that my body naturally began floating.
''????''
After killing the superconducting frog, I became a superconducting Reaper.
Perhaps due to the maized cave, I could swim around like drifting in space - quite an enjoyable ability.
If it was a type that couldn''t be turned on/off like the scent of a pig statue, it could be inconvenient, but fortunately that wasn''t the case.
As I floated around the cave, a thought urred to me.
Should I ask Sehee Research Institute to make one of these?
The fun space drifting had to end due to a sudden quake.
The Steel Tower''s pulsations had resumed.
With the frog''s demise, the ant tunnels began to copse under the renewed pulsation of Steel Tower.
Escaping the copse, I ascended to the surface and stood upon the melting Ice Throne.
Looking down on Seoul from the 20m high ice, it seemed chaotic.
And tsunami threatening Seoul.
Civilization being destroyed.
Facing a threat from the Steel Tower iparable to Dobonggu''s Ice Throne.
Chapter 33: Steel Tower (1)
In the distance, buildings were copsing one after another.
The buildings affected by the pulsations of the Steel Tower crumbled like reed pipes and scattered like sand.
It was the first time I had seen the area of the Steel Tower, which expanded and contracted like a beating heart.
Since the first ce I opened my eyes as an Object was Seoul Forest, I could be considered a Steel Tower expert of sorts, but this phenomenon was unfamiliar.
The power to grind up civilizations also seemed to have increased.
Previously, it felt like civilization was being crumpled into a ball, but now it felt like it was being pulverized in a blender.
What on earth was happening to the Steel Tower?
I felt a burning sensation in my chest area and ced my hand there.
A gentle warmth was rising from beneath my soft skin.Since the frog was unexpectedly weak, I still had plenty of fuel.
With this amount of fuel, it seemed I could wander around Seoul Forest for several days.
Since the Steel Tower was in Pyongyang, I had to move quickly.
I had to finish quickly, so I could rest quickly.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
With each step I took, my surroundings changed in a blur.
Like teleportation.
In the ghostification state, thews of physics felt a little looser.
With each step, it felt like I was taking ten steps.
At first, it was difficult to control, so in the ghostification state, I used to crawl around on all fours.
Now, I could move swiftly with the sensation of riding a high-speed moving walkway.
When a rare dense forest appeared, I released the ghostification and nted my feet on the ground.
No matter how many times Ie here, it''s an unpleasant forest.
When I first fell into Seoul Forest, it was an unpleasant forest for no reason, but now I seemed to vaguely understand why.
It seems I feel ufortable because there are no people around.
After all, I feel better when there are some people around and I get some attention.
Although Seoul Forest is considered one of the most dangerous areas on Earth, there is a sense that it is overrated because it destroys civilization.
In fact, deep in Seoul Forest, there were almost no Objects that actively tried to kill humans.
Those murderous monsters that really really wanted to kill humans had no reason to stay in Seoul Forest, where it was difficult to encounter people.
Of course, that didn''t mean they weren''t harmful to humans just because they didn''t want to kill them.
And it''s not like there were no murderous monsters at all.
As I was walking towards the Steel Tower with these thoughts, a strange scream echoed through Seoul Forest.
A huge lump of flesh was running and smashing trees indiscriminately, letting out a stifled, agonizing scream.
The ground shook mercilessly from its heavy footsteps, and white flesh was scattered all over the ce.
Small parasitic worms wriggled within that scattered flesh.
It was a ''Ghost Catcher,'' often seen near the Steel Tower.
Of course, I arbitrarily gave it the name ''Ghost Catcher.''
I had never heard any stories about these white, fleshy monsters when I was human.
The Ghost Catcher had a hideous appearance and size that looked like a murderous monster at first nce, but it was probably not a murderous monster.
After all, the ''Ghost Catcher'' can only see ghosts.
That''s why I release ghostification when entering Seoul Forest.
Of course, it''s not because they''re as strong as Lophiomus or difficult to kill.
I avoid them because they have a repulsive appearance.
It''s an appearance that''s not good for my mental health, so I don''t want to look at it as much as possible.
The Ghost Catchers mainly prey on ghostly Objects, hunting by throwing their own flesh.
I absolutely, absolutely do not want to be hit by that slimy, wriggling flesh full of worms.
After passing through the forest where the white, lump monsters were running around, a wide open space appeared beyond.
In the center of that open space was my target.
The first Object to be hit by a nuclear strike, the hard counter to human civilization.
The Steel Tower. pound-!
The tremors, resonating like a heartbeat, shook the streets, buildings, the electronics store, and the TV, ending the broadcast.
***
The sound of chewing flesh reverberated.
They were retreating as quickly as possible, but were eventually detected by the Objects.
Yeti.
One of the Objects that could be easily dealt with if they only had personal firearms.
However, the basic armaments the agents carried had long since turned to dust.
The only thing resembling a weapon among the remaining equipment was a single multi-purpose knife.
It was difficult to confront a herd of Yetis with just one knife, so the only option was to run away diligently.
The agent who just became Yeti''s prey was thest remaining subordinate.
In the end, the team leader had lost all his team members.
And eventually, I too would be devoured by the Yetis.
I was out of breath from running too hard, and the Yetis were much nimbler and faster than me.
slip-!
Perhaps from running for too long, I eventually slipped and fell t in the middle of the slippery snow field.
I barely had the strength left to get up and run again.
Is this the end?
Gasping for breath, I looked up at the sky.
In the dark sky, flocks of cloud creatures seemed to be swarming.
It was a peaceful-looking sky.
"?"
The area that had been so noisy with the sounds of Yetis was suddenly filled with silence.
It felt strange.
I caught my breath and sat up, but the Yetis that had been chasing me had vanished without a trace.
"Did I survive?"
I staggered back to my feet.
I had to head towards the rendezvous point, even if just a little closer.
If they had observed the abnormal activity of the Steel Tower, there was a chance that the standby team waiting at the rendezvous point woulde to pick me up.
There was still hope.
"No way..."
But that hope vanished in an instant.
As I staggered along, I had to stop and look up at the sky again.
"Aaaaaaaah!"
I screamed in frustration.
Why did it turn out like this?
I thought we had a high chance of seeding the mission...
The clouds in the sky disappeared, reced by an ominous purple light filling the space.
The Snow Field Moon had risen.
The chances of survival were now infinitely close to 0%.
I was exhausted.
I couldn''t endure any longer.
In a resigned state, I threw myself into the shadows.
***
Inside the shadows, I found myself standing in an unfamiliar field.
It was a in reeking of the smell of oil.
Perhaps because of the oil smell, I felt dizzy.
My vision distorted from time to time.
The in was covered in sticky, ck mud, with unidentified ck grass sparsely growing on the ground.
In the sky, there were 6 moons.
The moons had rainbow-like colors, except there was no purple moon.
The sky was pitch ck and dark, without a single star.
The thick oil smell made me dizzy.
No, I felt dizzy even without the oil smell.
On the field, piles of ck mud were moving around like living creatures.
As if searching for something, or moving without any purpose, the mud piles shifted.
From their appearance, I had a premonition.
Ah... is this my final destination?
With a sense of resignation, I looked at my hands.
What was there was something like ugly, dripping mud.
I grew dizzier and dizzier.
I don''t know what kind of world this is.
But perhaps I don''t have enough time left to find out.
And it seemed I had already crossed a boundary from which I could not return.
I thought I would be buried in Korean soil when I died...
Ah, I''m dizzy. I feel dizzy.
Chapter 34: Steel Tower (2)
A faintlyid mist.
Beyond it, a blurred metallic wall vaguely visible.
At the base of the Steel Tower, whose circumference could not even be guessed, a faint mist wasid.
In the vacant lot where the Steel Tower rose, there was a stillness that even instilled a sense of reverence.
The blurred mist, the enormous tower filling the field of vision, and the sacred stillness felt there.
All of thesebined made the vacant lot of the Steel Tower feel like a ce detached from reality.
An enormous Object on a scale difficult topare to buildings, something that should bepared to a mountain.
The Steel Tower.
No matter how many times I looked at it, it was a tower of an iprehensible scale.The spacious vacant lot, as vast as the enormous tower, was filled only with stillness. Strangely, Objects did not seem to approach near the Steel Tower, so it was extremely quiet.
I approached the Steel Tower and ced my hand on the surface of the tower that looked like an enormous wall.
A cool sensation.
On the spotless surface of the tower without a speck of dust, it felt as if some pulsating force was throbbing.
The condition for destroying the Steel Tower was the same as I had confirmed before when I looked again.
[Nostalgia] [Nostalgia] ''Wow, it''s so high up and amazing!'' but the visible scenery itself becamepletely different from Earth.
***
As I stepped onto a protruding part halfway up the Steel Tower, the wind blowing from the front ruffled my hair.
Looking around, a different scenery greeted me for sure.
The view from atop the Steel Tower was definitely not Korea.
The coastline that should have been visible in the distance, the ruins of North Korea, none of it could be seen.
In fact, it wasn''t even Earth.
The first thing that caught my eye were 7 moons.
Moons of 7 different colors, asserting themselves like a rainbow.
Unlike the colorful moons, thend was dyed ck as if it were sick.
''Hmm.''
However, this scenery didn''t seem much different from the one I had seen a year ago.
If it was rted to the violent pulsation, this scenery should have shown a more intense change as well.
The huge moon hanging in the sky looked close enough to touch with an outstretched hand, but it was probably impossible to ever reach from here.
It wasn''t about the physical distance from the celestial bodies in the sky.
I felt there was something beyond just physical distance.
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It felt like there was an unimaginable distance between the Steel Tower and this scenery.
Even knowing I couldn''t reach it, seeing such a huge moon made me unable to resist jumping.
Hop hop.
It was a jump I always did at least once beforeing down from climbing the Steel Tower.
***
When I jumped down from the towering height of the Steel Tower and arrived at the vacant lot, the atmosphere had changed.
Thinking about what had changed, the reverent stillness that had instilled a sense of awe was gone.
kkigigkkigig.
In the once quiet vacant lot, a faint grating sound of metal against metal was ringing out.
Endlessly beyond the blurred mist.
kkigigkkigig.
Through the hazy mist, a human figure vaguely came into view.
A human walking unsteadily, making the creaking metal sounds.
From the barrier of mist, a human hand suddenly emerged.
A grotesquely twisted blue hand, emanating the vibrating stench of rotting corpses.
The silhouette beyond the mist definitely had a human form.
A human with machinery embedded in parts of the body.
Those machines, perhaps affected by the Steel Tower, were crumbling to dust but rapidly regenerating at a simr pace.
An Object? A machine?
Looking closely, that human was certainly an Object.
With the destruction condition of
[Destruction of the Main Body] Thump.
Thump.
It was the Steel Tower''s pulsation.
The zombie was pulverized and disappeared, caught in the pation, but the pulsation that had started did not stop, continuing several more times.
I discovered the cause of the pulsation!
I had witnessed the moment the pulsation urred.
***
Seeing the periodic pulsations, those zombies seemed to be sent regrly from somewhere.
Sure enough, heading back the way the zombie hade from the north, another machine zombie could be seen walking from afar.
If I could stop this zombie from reaching the Steel Tower, I could block the Steel Tower''s pulsation.
But how?
Even enduring the civilization-crushing power of the Steel Tower, it was obvious that it would instantly regenerate even if its arms and legs were blown off.
Just as I was thinking that I would have to track the movement of these zombies to the end and destroy the main body for this situation to end, I felt something strange.
In fact, it was an uneasiness I had felt from the moment I first saw this machine zombie.
The mechanical zombies didn''t quite fit the description of Objects.
I could say that each part seemed to be acting separately?
Upon closer inspection, while the Object appeared as one whole Object from afar, up close each part was a separate Object.
The skin, heart, skeletal frame, internal organs - they were all different types of Objects.
When I pulled out what seemed to be the core heart, a golden heart and blood vessels came out all at once.
Then the destruction condition of [Destruction of the Main Body] Bounce bounce.
I ran out with brisk strides.
Jump, Jump.
It was a short journey to find the main body producing the machine zombies.
I had to travel quite a distance, so I was bouncing along in a ghostified state.
It would have been better if not for the Ghost Catchers constantly chasing from far away.
Upon discovering me in a ghostified state, the Ghost Catchers'' eyes rolled back as they chased me like madmen.
There were definitely some who had been chasing other ghost objects, but strangely, they only pursued me when they saw me.
Fortunately, I was far faster so there was no risk of being caught. Just quickly give up and chase other ghost Objects!
"Graaaaaah!"
A Ghost Catcher''s frustrated scream echoed through the forest.
***
Some time had passed sincepletely shaking off the Ghost Catchers.
Quite far from Seoul now, the climate and vegetation seemed to change little by little.
Annoying Objects like those Ghost Catchers were no longer in sight.
In the somewhat deste forest, I dealt with a slowly approaching zombie.
I pierced straight through the zombie''s heart.
After dealing with many zombies, I got the hang of it.
There was no need to pull out the heart when dealing with zombies.
Simply destroying the heart was enough to break thebination as an Object.
Once thebination broke, they lost regenerative ability and disintegrated into the Steel Tower.
Having traveled quite a distance, I had dealt with quite a number of zombies.
Did I kill around 30?
I thought the main body producing the zombies would be near the Steel Tower, but that was a huge misconception.
It had been a while since I thought the main body might be here.
Just where are they being sent from?
At this rate, I might end up crossing the old North Korean border.
***
Sehee POV:
---
"Sister Sehee, I''ll go down first then!"
With those words, Yerin ran down the stairs.
After the Dobong-gu incident, the Research Institute had been in a bit of a disarray.
Most of the staff that went out to observe the ''Cute Puppy'' signal had been caught up in the Dobong-gu incident.
Was it a mistake to temporarily take on the ''Cute Puppy'' with the aim of expanding the Research Institute?
Fortunately, the staff caught up in the Dobong-gu incident were able to safely return thanks to the efforts of Kim Jungroo and some others.
Looking down from the rooftop, Yerin was leading the staff somewhere while punching the air energetically.
She had been on this very rooftop just moments ago, and was number one in vigor at the Research Institute.
The area around the Research Institute was much more crowded than before.
Since it was a research institute cluster located on the outskirts of Seoul with solid infrastructure, many evacuees had gathered here.
Perhaps it was the optimal location, not too far from Seoul while having infrastructure and being quite removed from Seoul Forest?
"Phew..."
I let out a sigh with a frustrated heart.
Reaper still had not returned.
The Ice Throne in Dobong-gu hadpletely melted away.
The ice soldiers had all turned to dust as well.
The even bigger problem that had thrown all of Seoul into terror and shock, the Steel Tower pulsation incident, had also stopped.
Unlike the Dobong-gu Ice Throne where the culprit was revealed, the Steel Tower pulsations ended without any known reason.
Of course, no one knew why it had started either.
No one knew why this happened or why it suddenly ended.
Because of this, people in Seoul now lived in fear that such a terrifying incident could ur again at any time.
Yerin, the Reaper admirer, jokingly went around saying that Reaper handled Dobong-gu and also resolved the Steel Tower issue.
She said it hadn''t returned yet because it had something to take care of but would be back in a sh once it was done.
I wished that were really the case.
It felt a bit lonely without Reaper around.
***
??? POV:
---
In the dead of night when not even an inch ahead was visible, a group of men arrived in front of what looked like an abandoned building.
"Phew."
A bald man with a sullen expression let out a sigh.
The bald man was frustrated with the current situation where he had toe out for an investigation even to ces rarely reached by people''s footsteps.
The bald man, who had previously belonged to the Central Research Institute, was now working for the ''Temporary Object Management Organization''.
The order the bald man received was just one.
To resolve the Golden Horn incident faster than anyone else, by any means necessary.
The bald man thought this incident could never be resolved.
How could they possibly find traces of someone who was kidnapped and taken all the way to China?
Even in Korea, which has rtively good public safety, in this era where people frequently be corpses in remote areas, let alone the safe world before Objects appeared?
However, he soon realized that thought was wrong.
Another agent belonging to the same ''Temporary Object Management Organization'' had tracked down the whereabouts of the Golden Horn.
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And the bald man had arrived here in advance to take credit for that agent''s work.
Because the order the bald man received was ''to resolve this incident faster than anyone.''
With a disgruntled expression, the bald man nodded his head and ordered his subordinates to enter the building.
The sound of an owl hooting ominously echoed.
ording to the records left by the agent, the trail of the Golden Horn smuggling ended at this ominous Research Institute.
Thanks to that, they had to move their steps to this dpidated building sote at night.
The bald man picked up a broken piece of concrete and muttered,
"This was the Research Institute that operated until a few days ago? Did wee to the right ce?"
ording to the records, the dpidated building in front of them was a normally operating Research Institute just a few days ago.
But looking at the wreckage now, the building had already be a haunted house that ghosts mighte out of.
Crunch.
The sound of hard ss being crushed under shoes, in the quiet abandoned building, sounded as loud as thunder.
In an atmosphere terrifying enough to make an ordinary person hup, strange sounds suddenly began.
The sound of a woman crying and sobbing, and the sound of scratching the walls relentlessly.
The men looked around in surprise, but the source of the sounds was nowhere to be found.
It was a situation scary enough to make the men want to run away, but they were barely holding on with reason.
If they ran away from here, their reality would be even more terrifying.
Swallowing their dry saliva, they just advanced deeper into the abandoned building.
With the background of a woman''s crying voice and the unpleasant sound of fingertip flesh being crushed.
"Huhhk!"
One of the advancing men suddenly gasped in surprise at the blood dripping down the wall.
Ominous phrases were carved into the wall with blood.
The bald man, surprised, kicked aside the fallen employee and ordered them to advance quickly.
"It must be some kind of Object. From the looks of it, they can only instill fear. Advance!"
He could take such an attitude because his boss was more cruel than such ambiguous fear.
Literally, if you don''t want to die, you have to at least pretend to be dead, don''t you?
The men arrived in front of the stairs leading underground, full of ominous traces.
Charred corpses, ckened to death.
And a small voice constantly muttering in their ears.
And the entrance to the stairs that wouldn''t brighten no matter how much light they shone.
That abyss-like staircase looked like the entrance to hell.
The employees, drained by fear, could not advance any further.
"Such foolish fools. I''ll go first, so just follow me
Mocking the fear-stricken men, the bald man began descending the stairs without hesitation.
As the bald man took the lead down the stairs, suddenly mes shot up in front of his eyes.
"Kkwuhhhk!"
Someone was strangling the bald man''s neck.
The bald man was dangling in midair.
There was clearly no one in front of him!
Gasping, unable to breathe, he could only il his arms and legs meaninglessly.
The mes that had spread all over his body began to burn him to a crisp.
The men who had been carefully following behind the bald man fled in panic at the sight.
The bald man''s endless screams soon stopped.
The abandoned building, where those desperate cries had ceased, was now filled with the usual eerie silence.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
''Hmm.''
This definitely doesn''t seem to be Korea.
It feels like I''ve crossed a few rivers, maybe even the Amnok River?
Judging by the remnants of modern structures like concrete and asphalt, albeit unsightly, it appears I''ve gone beyond the range of the Steel Tower.
Fortunately, I''ve located the source sending out the zombies.
That abandoned concrete building in front of me seems to be it.
Since the building itself doesn''t seem to be an Object, the source must be inside.
As I approached the building, an ominous owl sound came from nearby.
Standing in front of the abandoned building in the dead of night did give me an eerie feeling.
There were no signs of life inside the building.
As I stepped inside, crushing broken ss, I heard strange sounds nearby.
Turning my head, I saw a ghost painfully scratching the wall.
''!''
Wow, my first time seeing a ghost.
One of the things I most looked forward to after gaining the ability to see spiritual bodies was the possibility of seeing ghosts.
I really wanted to confirm if humans truly be ghosts after death.
But disappointingly, there were no ghosts.
At least, until this very moment, I had never seen any.
But a ghost! Why is there only a ghost here?
Leaving the wailing, wall-scratching ghost behind, I pressed forward.
''I wonder if I''ll be able to see other ghosts too?'' I thought, filled with anticipation.
Chapter 36: Steel Tower (4)
Gasping for breath, I ran with all my might down the dim hallway.
The dark hallway where I couldn''t see an inch ahead.
The uneasy flickering light of the shlight in my hand, swaying with my running, seemed to reflect my anxious state of mind.
All my colleagues had been seized by something and burned to death.
What was that thing? A ghost? An Object?
Thud.
Was it because the hallway was too dark?
Or was there another reason?
I tripped over something protruding from the floor and tumbled down."Ugh, ugh."
I couldn''t breathe properly.
The shlight I had in my hand was already gone somewhere.
I desperately looked for the dropped shlight, but it was nowhere to be found.
Did it break from the impact of the fall?
It seemed impossible to find it in the hallway filled with darkness.
Grasping my trembling knees with tension and fear, I desperately got up from the floor and moved forward again.
No windows, no shlight.
The dark hallway without any light source, and the floor was uneven with many dents and protrusions.
Cold sweat wouldn''t stop from the extreme tension.
Feeling the damp back of my shirt, I slowly moved forward.
Leaning against the wall, dragging my feet to avoid falling, I kept going forward.
The hallway didn''t seem this endlessly long before!
Why, why is it so far?
I couldn''t see the end of the hallway.
*Pant pant*
I''m out of breath.
Dizzy.
''!''
t-t t-t
In the silent hallway, the sound of bare footsteps echoed regrly.
Bare feet in this kind of building?
Holding my breath, I just stared in the direction of the sound.
I saw a flickering light, swaying like a ghost.
Something... something is approaching!
"hahhh...hahh...." (panting)
I covered my mouth with both hands to stifle the loud breathing sounds that didn''t seem toe from me, but the sounds wouldn''t subside.
t-t t-t
The footsteps grew closer and closer.
What should I do?
The end of the hallway was glowing with an ominous light.
Like the sulfurous mes leading to the underworld.
Should I run away now?
Go back to where my colleague burned to death?
Or hide somewhere?
No matter how much I breathed, I couldn''t catch my breath.
Even understanding it was hyperventtion, I couldn''t breathe properly.
My ears were ringing.
Too much sweat, I couldn''t open my eyes properly.
Can''t breathe, can''t breathe.
hahhh...hahh....
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
After passing by a sobbing female ghost scratching the wall, what appeared was an extremely long hallway.
There were many dented areas as if something had broken, and it was a messy hallway with chairs and desks strewn about haphazardly.
With no windows, the hallway was dark like a darkroom, and it seemed inconvenient to walk through with many obstacles.
Unless you could shoot light from your eyes like me, a shlight was essential!
About halfway down the hallway, there was a man lying copsed, his face pale blue.
The man, who had been gasping for breath, saw my face as I entered the hallway and immediately passed out.
Upon closer inspection, the man I thought had fainted was not breathing and his heart wasn''t beating either.
What''s this, did he have a heart attack just from seeing me?
I simply jumped and stepped on the man.
I bounced up and stomped right on his chest.
hop, hop, hop
After repeating it a few times, he started wheezing and breathing again.
I performed basic life-saving measures so he wouldn''t die and leave me feeling unpleasant.
He could have regained consciousness, but perhaps due to many hardships, he remained unconscious.
Leaving the now evenly breathing, sleeping man behind, I set off again deeper into the hallway.
***
Blood-stained words were being scrawled, sliding across the wall.
If a ghost wasn''t visible, the writing seemed quite creepy.
The handwriting style seemed quite deliberate, exuding a ghostly vibe.
Except that the one writing was a tiny little boy.
Come to think of it, shouldn''t being able to see ghosts be scarier?
Looking now, that boy''s eye sockets were hollowed out and dripping blood.
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Why wasn''t I scared? As I pondered this, I realized something.
I had lightly thought ''They''re ghosts!'' but was subconsciously sensing it.
These guys were Objects too.
That boy, and the crying woman at the entrance, were actually Objects.
Well, from an Object''s perspective, it would be hard to find other Objects scary.
The boy writing on the wall seemed to notice me staring at him, and disappeared through the wall.
The ominous writing on the wall vanished as well.
From my perspective, this abandoned building was essentially a ghost house.
Next time they should prepare an attraction with ghosts to people.
tak tak tak tak.
The sound of something running echoed through the empty building.
Tracing the source of the sound, a tiny girl was rolling around in an empty room.
The ghost girl, startled upon noticing me, fled through the wall.
This abandoned building was quite an interesting attraction, but the issue was they made no attempt to hide their true nature.
As I went on, there was an old man stealthily approaching.
The old man, mumbling in an iprehensible way, slid away when I turned to look at him.
The reason for the mumbling was that he was wrapping his tongue in a scarf.
Why was he wearing such a scarf?
Continuing deeper and deeper, I arrived at what seemed to be the main attraction.
The fresh scent of something recently burned.
An underground staircase that refuses to let in the light.
Charred lumps burned so ck their original forms were unrecognizable.
The atmosphere was somewhat eerie.
Fluttering with anticipation, I descended the stairs, step by step.
At the corner of the staircase, a burned old man suddenly popped out.
The old man, spewing fire from his whole body, reached out his hand as if to grab my neck.
He reached out, but...
Our eyes met, and he slowly lowered his hand again.
Though his expression was unseen, he disappeared beyond the wall, leaving behind a disconcerting atmosphere.
Hearing a sound, I turned to see numerous burned old men popping out on the upper stairs as well.
Perhaps their role was to surprise anyone trying to flee up the stairs?
Sensing me watching, the old men upstairs also seemed to scurry away.
It felt like the ghostly house attraction hade to an end with the staircase as the final part.
A bit of a letdown.
***
Descending underground, there were numerous istion rooms arrayed on both sides of a long central hallway.
A full-fledgedboratorymonly seen.
Unfortunately, the ghosts that appeared above ground were no longer visible.
The suspicion that humans created thebined Objects solidified.
There were many scattered papers as if deliberately strewn about, but not many could be recognized.
The tools left in the istion rooms were mostly sinister things like drills and huge saws.
It seems they mainly conducted experiments cutting off human limbs with those dreadful tools, hollowing them out, and imnting Objects in the empty spaces.
There was a key material repeatedly mentioned in the reports.
Golden Horn.
An Object that, while being an Object itself, could be easily melted like gold to create things.
However, handling Golden Horns was illegal in Korea.
Because Golden Horns are harvested from human heads.
Of course, despite being illegal, rted incidents never ceased due to it being the easiest way to process/research Objects.
Crimes like knocking people unconscious with bricks and cutting off their horns never stopped happening.
Now that I''ve arrived here, I understand.
The zombies'' golden hearts were made from Golden Horns.
Passing by the scattered papers, I continued onward.
Upon reaching the deepest room underground, familiar faces were seen everywhere.
The little boy with hollowed out eyes writing.
The crying woman at the entrance.
The old man mumbling iprehensibly due to his scarf.
The charred old men.
The girl who was stamping her feet.
They all had machinery imnted, turned into zombies hung up on racks like pigs in a ughterhouse.
Now I understood why the zombies'' expressions were so distorted.
The golden hearts kept binding them here.
And beyond the zombies hung on racks, there was a man strapped to a chair.
A fat old man wearing ab coat, who by his attire seemed to belong to this Research Institute.
He was dead with wires plugged into his whole body, so it''s hard to say if he really belonged to the Institute.
And I thought this old man was the main body controlling the zombies.
Because inside this old man''s body were many golden hearts imnted.
He had essentially reced all his organs with golden hearts.
The condition to destroy was simple,
[Cut off the power supply.] Bang bang bang.
A sound like air bursting came from the spotlight.
The spotlight was shining brightly on the abandoned building.
It was a thorough security perimeter, as if guarding against something.
*Hoot hoot hoot*
The ominous hooting owl fled pitifully, avoiding the light.
"Unidentified vehicle found near the target building! Don''t let your guard down!"Men in blue uniforms skillfully began securing the scene.
A man in a ck suit stood in front of the unidentified vehicle, receiving a report.
"This...seems to be one of our vehicles."
The agent in the ck suit sighed wearily.
"It seems we didn''t receive any notice that another team wasing here."
His tone implied he guessed the inside story.
"The hood is still warm, so it doesn''t seem to have arrived long ago. Let''s proceed with full caution."
The ck agent touched the hood, then withdrew his hand as he spoke.
"We can''t neglect investigating even if it''s one of our vehicles. Compile the vehicle owner''s information and submit it. I''ll report it to the superior."
The curt ck-suited agent headed towards the abandoned building where the light was concentrated.
As he approached the building, a blonde girl blocked his path.
"Mister!"
"Miss, you''re here."
The girl, holding the same notebook and pen as the ck agent, spoke with a slightly chubby expression.
"Mister, why did you leave me behind again?"
The ck agent had secretlye on this mission because he didn''t want to bring the girl to the dangerous site, but couldn''t escape her.
Perhaps the secretary-guards surrounding her like screens had arranged it somehow.
The girl, looking around elementary school age, was the granddaughter of the chairman of the National Object Management Association.
The organization may be under investigation for corruption, but that doesn''t mean he has lost its power.
The ck-suited agent resigned himself to just taking her along.
***
The ck-suited agent examined the wall traces, opened his notebook and jotted down a few words.
Seeing this, the girl also opened her notebook, scribbled something, then ran over to the site and picked up a piece of concrete, holding it high.
"Mister! Isn''t the investigation wrong? For a Research Institute that had people until a week ago, this ce looks too run-down."
The blonde girl spoke with a worried expression.
The ck agent pointed to various parts of the lobby with his finger as he spoke.
"Miss, you can see traces of desks from here to there. Signs of being cleared out very recently. It will probably be easier to see in daylight."
The ck agent proceeded forward, making simple notes and sketches, while simultaneously issuing various instructions to the surrounding staff.
The girl also opened her notebook, scribbling like the agent as she followed.
As the agent and girl investigated, they discovered a man sprawled on the floor.
"Ah! This must be the person who drove that vehicle outside!"
The blonde girl confidently eximed, putting her hands on her hips and puffing out her body.
"That''s highly likely. There''s nothing to identify him, but I remember this face. I saw him pass by just once at the temporary Korean headquarters."
When the agent agreed with the girl''s words, she giggled happily.
The ck agent instructed the blue-uniformed staff.
"Tie him up securely and keep watch. There will probably be quite a few things we need to ask him."
Then the ck agent strode forward unhesitatingly.
***
Although the abandoned building had given off a rather ominous atmosphere, the presence of numerous personnel shining shlights diluted that feeling considerably.
The men meticulously searching every room arrived at a conspicuously suspicious area.
A ce littered with charred lumps.
The blonde girl made a disgusted expression as she asked, "Mister...these aren''t human corpses, are they?"
The girl''s face had turned pale.
"With this creepy atmosphere, they must be human corpses, Who could have done such a horrible thing?"
The girl always tried to act like an adult, but seemed tock fortitude for such situations.
Seeing that sight, the ck agent quietly approached and gently stroked the girl''s head.
Then, the girl giggled and herplexion noticeably improved.
"This certainly seems to be the work of an Object."
The ck agent determined it was the deed of an Object.
The girl tilted her head and asked, "Huh? An Object? But there''s nothing here."
"These are corpses killed instantly by tremendous heat. There are no traces of them being moved, and no traces left in the surroundings. Only an Object could do something like this."
"Ah... when you think about it that way, it does seem like an Object''s doing."
"Let''s withdraw everyone. After making thorough preparations against Objects, we''ll re-enter during the day. Proceeding further now seems too dangerous."
Judging that there was an Object present that could harm life, the agent ordered a withdrawal.
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He felt there was no need to take unnecessary risks.
The ck agent turned around and began walking out of the building.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Hanging upside down from the chandelier of the abandoned building, I watched the blonde girl.
She was an amazing little girl.
She acted casually, yet had a sense of dignity.
Outwardly a child, but quite bold, using quite adult vocabry.
It made one think she must be a modern-day noble who received an excellent upbringing.
Actually, I had onlye to this building to check if the peopleing here were in cahoots with the zombie makers, but the captivating girl made me keep watching.
From following the girl and observing so far, it didn''t seem they needed to worry about tracking down criminals.
I didn''t know who they were, but they were far more capable than expected.
I never imagined there were such capable people in Korea!
*p p p*
In my ghostified state where no one could hear, I apuded.
Now I could leave the rest to them and go rest at the Sehee Research Institute!
***
??? POV :
---
At high noon with the sun overhead, heavily armed personnel headed down to the basement in droves.
The ck agent stood with arms folded, waiting for their call.
"All clear!"
Only after hearing those words did the ck agent unfold his arms and slowly descend the dark stairs with the girl.
The basement of the abandoned building seemed to have been used as ab, with rted experiment records scattered carelessly about.
"Mister, it looks like they deliberately left the experiment logs on the floor instead of disposing them."
The curious girl, wandering here and there, picked up a piece of paper from the floor as she spoke.
"With just this experiment log alone, they couldn''t avoid serious charges, but they scattered it on the floor instead of disposing of it..."
The ck agent also picked up a piece of paper to examine as he said, "Indeed, it doesn''t seem like they tried to hide the information. Then it must be one of two things. Either they were absolutely confident they wouldn''t get caught, or they''ve alreadymitted misdeeds so heinous that this pales inparison."
The blonde girl made a horrified expression.
"What could be worse than this? Kidnapping, confinement. Gouging out the eyes of living people. Crudely recing their organs with makeshift Objects. Just reading this briefly makes my head spin."
The girl shook her head back and forth, as if wanting to forget the unwanted information.
Passing through the corridor littered with papers, the ck agent and blonde girl arrived at arge room.
An enormously wide room.
On both sides were installed racks that seemed for hanging pork bellies, and in the center of the room was a pool of spilled blood.
And in the middle of that blood pooly a severed male head, tongue lolling out.
Seeing this sight, the ck agent went behind the girl and covered her eyes.
"Huh? Is there something else?"
Though the blonde girl grumbled, she didn''t resist.
It seemed she had already witnessed sights she shouldn''t have in simr situations.
"This man is a wanted criminal in Korea."
The ck agent briefly deduced the man''s identity from the severed head lying there.
"You''ve probably seen him at my office too, Miss. A middle-aged man who set up a fake Research Institute and kidnapped many people."
The girl nodded.
"That''s the man who was wanted because of the Golden Horn incident, right? I remember!"
The ck agent closed his notebook with a thud, signaling the end of the investigation.
"We''ve recovered most of the leaked Golden Horn, so our primary task isplete for now."
The ck agent spoke while looking at the golden hearts scattered all over the room.
"From now on, we need to find out who was behind this whole incident."
***
The man who seemed to know something about this incident ultimately couldn''t provide any useful information.
"No, you see, there was a ghost!"
Whenever asked what happened inside the building, he kept going on about ghosts.
His statements were incoherent, and he barely witnessed anything, so it wasn''t even clear what kind of Object was involved.
Moreover, by the time the investigation team arrived, the Object had already left no trace behind.
Asking why he was there didn''t help much either.
This man was more like a dayborer dragged in due to debts.
In other words, he knew nothing.
Continuing the interrogation was pointless.
The ck agent stood up, holding the dozing girl in his arms.
As he left the interrogation room, he opened his notebook.
On the notebook was a simple drawing.
The only evidence that seemed valuable.
It was a trace left on the man''s clothes when he was found.
Two tiny footprints, neatly imprinted like a baby''s.
Chapter 38: The Aftermath in Dobong-gu (1)
Near Seoul, in the Golden Horn quarantine zone.
An argument was unfolding in the area where people with Golden Horns and their families were gathered to live.
"Hey, don''t be so stubborn. Now is the best time to sell it off. I know a dealer who offers a reasonable price and is very conscientious."
"I absolutely won''t sell it! Who would be crazy enough to sell their horn?"
Ignoring the man''s words, a girl with a Golden Horn strode ahead, followed by a man with a servile expression who opened his mouth again.
"Well, it disappears on its own after you turn 30 anyway, so if you cut it off and sell it, you can make money. Think of it as a good thing."
"No way! A sister I knew sold hers before and ended up getting depression and killing herself. Don''t tell me you introduced her too?"
The man denied it with an exaggerated expression of surprise.
"Absolutely not. I assure you I take care of depression cases too. I have a horn myself, so how could I not know about that?""Ah! Now that you mention it, if it''s that great, you sell your horn first!"
The Golden Horn girl turned around and shouted loudly.
It was understandable she was annoyed, as the servile man had been following her for a full 30 minutes.
"Ah, this? I can''t sell it because it''s a business tool for me. If I cut off my horn, I won''t be able to enter here, so how would I make a living? You say you''ll be leaving soon anyway? Then wouldn''t it be better to have some extra cash? Besides, it''s dangerous to go outside with a horn - there are so many people targeting us~"
"Anyway, I absolutely won''t sell it!"
As the Golden Horn girl mmed the door shut upon arriving home, the man''s loud voice finally disappeared.
The girl thought the man wasn''tpletely wrong.
It was true that horn-cutting crimes had been rapidly increasingtely.
Still, the girl had to go outside.
To find her only missing sister.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
Basking in the pleasant sunshine in a rocking chair at the detective agency office.
The TV was loudly reporting that the damage from the ''Steel Tower Pulsation'' incident had reached unprecedented levels.
It made sense, as the research institutions rted to Seoul Forest near Seoul Forest had been reduced to dust in an instant.
Countless other buildings had also vanished.
Of course, the construction industry was booming with all the new work.
"Senior! Come to think of it, aren''t we the first country?"
"First?"
The junior, who had been sprawled on the desk, suddenly lifted his head and spoke.
"The first country to reimnd taken by Objects! The US has never reimed any, right?"
"Well, as far as I recall, there were a few cases in the US and China, but we may be the first to reim a widespread area upied by an Object on the scale of the Ice Throne."
The junior''s eyes sparkled.
"I wonder who the people were that retook Dobong District this time? Risking their lives to infiltrate Dobong and seed in the operation! This will definitely be made into a movie, right? It has to be, right?"
"I heard talks were already going around, but not sure when it''lle out. These kinds of heroic tales are hard to find these days, so it''ll probably get government support too?"
"I''m sure it will!"
The juniorughed foolishly, "Heheh."
"Oh, that''s right, you failed the request?"
At the mention of the request, the previously energetic junior deted like boiled cabbage on the desk.
"Well, not exactly a failure... Someone else just solved it faster than me. Seriously! Isn''t it fraud for the ones who requested it to solve it themselves?"
The junior seemed indignant as she squirmed on the desk.
Well, no matter how indignant, those conditions were all stated in the contract, so nothing could be done.
"I should head out soon."
I got up from my seat, put on my coat, and tidied my appearance in front of the mirror.
"Where are you going all of a sudden? We don''t have any requests, do we?"
"I just have a feeling an important request is calling me."
"Huh?"
Leaving the perplexed junior behind, I set out.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
*yawn*
For some reason, I felt bored and yawned.
Even though I waspletely free from physical fatigue, I still yawned.
Perhaps this was a lingering habit from my human days.
The TV was arguing about something nonsensical.
It was a discussion that came up when the Steel Tower first appeared, and also when the Ice Throne first appeared in Dobong District.
Meow.
With an irritated cry, it scolded me for making such things.
The unmanageable dolls had taken over my istion room.
But I felt a bit sorry about destroying them.
They were my creations, so destroying them after making them went against my principles.
Then I sensed Yerin peeking in from outside the istion room.
Haha, a great idea came to mind.
That''s right, I''ll just give them all to Yerin
T/N: BHAHAHAHAHA
***
Yerin POV:
---
After hearing that Reaper had returned, I seized the chance to sneak out, and was met with a shocking sight.
"Reaper, so many!!"
Mini golden Reapers were running rampant inside the istion room.
Jumping up trying to reach the Reaper on top of the wardrobe.
The Reapers were smaller than the real one, making them twice as cute!
As if entranced, I opened the istion room door and went inside.
The Reapers jumping up toward the wardrobe all turned to look at me at once.
Receiving that wave of gazes directly felt different.
Seeing it this way, there really were a ton of golden Reapers.
I picked up one of the golden Reapers that wasn''t approaching, just watching.
Small enough to fit in one hand.
Wow, so soft and squishy.
So cute.
When I held it in my hand, the golden Reaper had tensed up, but seeming to realize I meant no harm, it climbed up my arm and snuggled against my cheek.
Following that, all the golden Reapers in the istion room came rushing over to me.
Hehe, I''m so happy.
***
As soon as I left the istion room, I immediately took time off from the Research Institute.
Obviously, it was to secretly bring the golden Reaper home.
Unauthorized removal of an Object? It''s fine if I don''t get caught!
I let the golden Reaper I had brought in my bag out in my home, and it bounced around scattering everywhere.
A few climbed up and clung to me.
Ahh, is this heaven?
The golden Reapers had simr tastes to the real Reaper.
They liked sweets like snacks.
However, it showed no interest at all in things like TV.
The original Reaper often had the news on, which was strange. I wonder what the difference is?
The Golden Reaper was 10 times more cat-like than the original, so household items didn''tst long, but it was okay because it was cute.
It would knock things over and run away when I tried to catch it...
ying with Reaper, the day passed in an instant.
It waste at night, and the Golden Reaper seemed sleepy too, closing its eyes and climbing onto me, starting to doze off.
Clinging when sleepy is simr to the original.
When Iy down on the bed, Reaper''s body heat made it very warm.
***
For some reason, my vision was shaking and felt hazy.
I was hugging the Golden Reapers tightly in my arms.
''Yes! Yes, this is it!''
Ah, I''m happy. Days spent with the mini Reapers.
Ah, I''m happy.
Is this happiness?
But one by one, the Reapers slipped out of my arms and bid farewell.
"No. No! Wait!"
But despite my screams, Reaper just shook its head with a sad expression.
"Don''t leave me. Please!"
But Reaper had all left, and tears streamed from my eyes.
Suddenly feeling the cold, I opened my eyes on the bed.
Just like in the dream, I had been crying.
And the Reapers were gone too, just like in the dream.
Chapter 39: The Aftermath in Dobong-gu (2)
??? POV:
---
The drizzle scattering like water particles spraying from a humidifier.
My clothes were already soaked, and the swirling raindrops made it hard to even open my eyes, but I forced my eyes open and looked beyond the alley.
The alley shrouded in darkness felt ominous, like the maw of a monster.
"Hyejin, Hyejin, Hyejin. Where did you go?"
The nonchnt voice of a hateful man.
The sound of footsteps running around searching for me echoed here and there on the deste alley.
"I told you to just sell your horn when I said to, right? This makes things troublesome for us, and you don''t get paid, so it''s sad."I steady my breathing as much as I can and wait for an opportunity.
"If you got caught there once, you should have stayed put, but you escape? You''ll get a beating. A beating."
I can''t let that bastard catch me.
I have to find my sister who was headed to Seoul.
"Hyejin. You don''t even know where this ce is, do you? You think you can run away? Walk all the way to Seoul from here?"
The guy who always spoke in a meek, small voice, was it all just an act?
Not even a hint of meekness could be felt.
He seemed to beughing genuinely, as if amused.
"Right, I should tell you this story. That woman whomitted suicide. She went to the hospital I introduced and got her horn cut off. Isn''t that funny? A woman who acted so proud immediately lost her spirit when her horn was cut off."
ck . I clenched my teeth tightly.
''He''s trying to provoke me. Ignore it,'' I kept repeating in my mind.
"Isn''t it strange? Just getting the horn on your head cut off makes you go crazy. You''ll get to experience it for yourself soon, so look forward to it."
Hiding in the darkness of the alley, I watch for an opportunity.
The moment that man turns around, I''ll run the opposite way.
I didn''t know where this ce was, but I had to get out of here first before thinking about what to do next.
The man passed by the entrance of the alley where I was hiding.
If I stay hidden a bit longer, I can escape!
"Ah! Actually, I knew where you were hiding from a while ago."
I heard a rustling sound right behind me.
Startled, I tried to turn my head around.
ng.
But before I could even turn my head, a metallic sound rang out from my head.
Suddenly, all the strength left my body, and I copsed limply onto the ground.
"Ah, now that I think about it, your sister too. She got caught by us just like you. You idiots really are sisters."
With great effort, I looked up to see a baseball bat swinging towards my head, filling my vision.
***
Bucheon Research Institute.
The Research Institute built in a corner of Bucheon City.
The long-abandoned Research Institute with not a single person around.
Life began to return to the Research Institute that had been neglected like ruins.
The shabby exterior was restored, and employees appeared.
Revived overnight, some found it strange, but most just thought, ''Construction these days really is fast,'' and moved on.
If there was one odd thing, it was that all the employees had gloomy expressions.
In the basement of the Research Institute where this gloomy atmosphere lingered, the director was cheerfully humming while tapping his cane.
Checking each istion room one by one, the director seemed genuinely delighted.
Golden hearts were hung on the walls like trophies, and one of them melted away with a popping sound.
The director checked it with a dry expression.
"The Institute''s discovery was much faster than expected. Well, it doesn''t matter."
In the istion rooms the director looked into, people were packed full.
Humans who had grown Golden Horns.
"We''ve already gathered enough materials. So, let''s prepare for the next experiment."
At the director''smand, researchers emerged from the shadows and forcibly dragged out a person who had grown a Golden Horn, taking them somewhere.
"Let''s begin our research for the beloved humanity."
But the director''s face showed only sadism, contrary to those words.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Yerin has been ruined.
"Reaper~"
She has no intention of letting go at all.
"Our Reaper won''t disappear, right?"
What on earth happened?
When sitting, she would always hug me from behind and bury her face in my hair.
When moving around, she would either carry me in her arms or lift me up.
Honestly, it was inconvenient, but the emotions being supplied were so heavy that I just left her be.
I thought maybe the golden dolls I had discarded did something.
We will rely solely on your kindness! Click here!
Donate now
Although annoying, I decided to provide this special service until Yerin returned to normal.
I turned over and hugged her back. It was a special service I would provide only until Yerin returned to normal.
***
Sehee Research Institute Director''s Office.
Jungroo and Sehee were sitting across from each other at a desk. Tapping her fingers on the documents, Sehee said, "The maintenance cost for the cute puppy is almost non-existent? At this rate, wouldn''t it be better to officially take in the puppy, even if we have to force it?"
"Ever since the gray Reaper ''trained'' the cute puppy, it has be docile. To the point where you wouldn''t think it''s the notorious cute puppy. At this level, it seems the profit would be sufficient even if we force our way to take in the cute puppy."
Jungroo ryed the information with his usual expressionless face.
"It obeys well even without Reaper?"
"Yes, perhaps out of fear of Reaper, it cooperates well even when Reaper is not around. However..."
"However?"
"This is data measured during the period when Reaper left the Research Institute."
Jungneo handed Sehee a report with simple numbers and attached photos.
"Body length data of the cute puppy?"
"Yes, the puppy''s body length started increasing after the gray Reaperpletely left the Research Institute."
"What''s the problem with that? Wasn''t the original cute puppy''s body length around 50cm?"
"Yes, it was 50cm when we first took in the cute puppy. After the gray Reaper trained it, it shrank to 20cm. And after the gray Reaperpletely left the Research Institute, it grew about 1cm per day."
"Did any problems arise from the increased size?"
"Yes, we confirmed that as the size increased, the aggression increased proportionally. It did return to 20cm as soon as the gray Reaper came back to the Research Institute, but I think it''s something that must be considered for officially taking in the cute puppy."
"Well, there was that case with the lizard that Reaper brought. It seems the lizard was abandoned after only 3 days of being brought because Reaper forgot about it. There''s no guarantee the same won''t happen with the cute puppy."
"Fortunately, Reaper is still maintaining interest for now. Reaper forcibly wakes up the cute puppy sleeping in the doghouse or makes it walk on two legs for no reason."
"It''s the first time I''ve seen Reaper bully an Object like that. Usually Reaper only shows interest initially before quickly losing it. Is there a special reason for the dislike? Come to think of it, Reaper did seem to dislike all dog-like Objects."
Sehee gathered the documents and put them in a file folder before standing up.
"It''s not something we need to decide right away, so let''s see how long the gray Reaper maintains interest."
And with that, the discussion between Jungroo and Sehee ended.
***
Detective''s Junior POV:
---
I was following Senior, who was walking aimlessly.
"Senior~ Can we go back now?"
"If you''re tired, go back first. I''ll return after receiving a request."
He said he left to find a request, but it seemed he didn''t actually receive one from anywhere...
He was just walking around spouting strange nonsense.
He wasn''t actively seeking requests nor talking to people, just wandering aimlessly.
Wouldn''t it be more likely to receive a request by waiting at the office phone than meaninglessly walking around like this?
But senior just kept walking silently.
He kept walking even as the sun set over the horizon, even after night hadpletely fallen.
It didn''t seem like he had a destination in mind.
Forward, forward. He just kept going forward.
We had left Seoul behind a long time ago.
What kind of request could he possibly receive out here in the middle of the night, in an area with hardly any people around?
Moreover, it was drizzling, further reducing the number of people out and about.
"There''s an incident."
Senior said, looking off into the distance.
I witnessed a woman copsing after being hit by a baseball bat in a dark alley.
"I''ll handle this, so please record some footage as evidence!"
I heard Senior''s voice, but my head was pounding so I couldn''t hear it well.
I took out the familiar tool I had on my back.
A hammer.
I charged out swinging the hammer, feeling its familiar grip.
I think I heard Senior sigh from behind.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
Junior sometimes went berserk in violent situations.
When Junior goes berserk, she fights better than me.
Sometimes to the point where I wonder if it''s the influence of her Object.
I calmly filmed Junior''s rampage from behind.
The footage clearly captured three men who were trying to kidnap the woman but got startled.
The men all ran away after seeing the madwoman swinging a hammer, hitting walls and flying around.
Junior is scary when she''s angry.
Huffing and panting, I left Junior behind and shook the unconscious girl to wake her up.
I showed my business card to the dazed girl who woke up.
"Hello. Do you happen to have any requests?"
The woman took the card with apletely confused expression.
---
T/N: Is that really what a person should say when they wake up a dazed girl who almost got kidnapped?
Chapter 40: Object Exhibition (1)
A secret room deep underground in a researchb.
In that confined, cramped room, a man was panting heavily.
Haah. Haah.
For some unknown reason, the extremely tense man was drenched in cold sweat all over his body.
In fact, the man''s condition seemed a bit strange.
Inside the secret room where the man was, there was only a desk with a notebook and pen lying around.
"If I just write the name here in this notebook... you''ll let me go, right?"
The man threw out the question with a trembling voice, but there was no response.
The man slowly approached the desk and opened the notebook.On the opened notebook was a photo of a famous Object.
It was a photo of a ''cute puppy''.
Under that photo was just a in notebook with a nk space for
.
Haah.. Haah..
Panting heavily, the man gripped a pen and began filling in the nk with his trembling hand.
The man wrote and then threw down the pen and screamed.
"I can''t do it!"
Then a loud buzzing sound rang out in the secret room and a countdown began.
The man racked his brains, agonizing over his decision.
He picked up the pen and put it down.
Sat down, stood up.
The man''s behavior looked like he was extremely afraid of something.
When there was little time left on the countdown, the man tightly closed his eyes and finished filling in the nk on the notebook.
Whew....
When nothing happened even after time passed, the man opened his eyes and let out a big sigh of relief.
"Ha..hahaha! I survived. I survived!"
The man seemed truly happy,ughing loudly and rejoicing.
"I survived!"
The man stood up from his spot and stretched his arms up to the sky, looking truly happy, but that happiness did notst long.
"Ugh! Wha... What is that?"
Beyond the window, a bizarre monster was staring at the man.
Thud.
When the monster waved its hand, the metal wall dented and caved in.
The transparent window turned white, and the LED lights flickered pathetically from the impact.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The monster''s punches grew faster, and the monster itself grewrger.
The man hid under his desk, hugging his head.
And he was repeatedly muttering like a spell, ''I will survive.''
When the sound of metal tearing came from the outer wall of the sealed room, the monster''s pounding fists also stopped.
The man, who had his eyes closed, slowly opened them, and the monster had vanished without a trace.
"Haah."
The man exhaled the air from his lungs, thinking he had survived.
And as he stood up and blinked, the monster was right in front of him.
Close enough for their breaths to reach each other.
Startled, the man stepped back and screamed.
"Aaaargh!"
The monster''s sharp ws cut off his noisy vocal cords first.
It cut off the hands that had written down the name.
It cut off the legs that had been sitting on the chair.
And then it grabbed the head that came up with the name with both hands and crushed it.
As if venting, it tore and kicked the man''s corpse violently.
With the LED lights broken, only blood spread throughout the dark sealed room.
Rough w marks were also left on the notebook soaked in blood.
The object name had been shredded beyond recognition.
***
The director gazed at the blood-soaked sealed room with a bitter smile.
The sealed room made of specially manufactured steel tes and ss could not stop the Object.
"Another failure, it seems. It''s this difficult to gain the freedom to name the Object."
In the official Object report issued by the country, there is an Object that must be included on the first page.
The most influential Object in the world.
And an Object that most people cannot even remember.
The director opened the report issued by the Korean government.
''validated expressions''.>
<''Validated expressions'' can be found in a separate document attached.>
"No matter how many times I look at it, I can''t get a sense of how to deal with this Object."
The director closed the report again.
"Still, it''s encouraging that the steel tes mixed with Golden Horn were able to briefly block the intrusion of the ''Nameless''. If we make them stronger, there may be a possibility."
The director began nning the next experiment by mobilizing the researchers.
The director''s idea was simple. They believed that if a unique name was given to ''Nameless'' in a ce where it cannot intervene, ''Nameless'' would be destroyed.
It was a goal that had not yet been achieved.
***
Sehee POV:
---
While the Research Institute was in a frantic bustle, Yerin followed closely behind me.
"How about this, Sehee unnie?"
In Yerin''s hands is an elk animal pajama.
As if I didn''t have enough headaches already, Yerin''s antics showed no signs of ending.
"Yeah yeah, put that in the props then. I''ll let Kim Jungroo know."
"Wow! Thank you so much unnie!"
Yerin shed a bright smile and hurried back to her spot.
How nice would it be if I could live as carefree as her?
I massaged my throbbing temples and let out a deep sigh.
The Research Institute has been extremely busytely.
For one reason.
Because of an order from the government.
A document so sloppy it was hard to consider an official document fluttered in my hands.
The summary was simple.
"These people arepletely insane."
Curses naturally came out reading this document.
No matter how I looked at it, the government clearly wanted to cause another Central Research Institute incident.
Gathering dangerous Objects in one ce and holding arge event?
If an ident urs, the Objects will break out in a chain reaction, unleashing hell on earth.
Moreover, the politicians behind this insane n gave even more nonsensical instructions.
Oh my god, they''ve lost their minds.
They''re not in their right mind.
Gray Reaper in a ce that promotes perfectly controlled Objects?
It''s obvious the Reaper, who can''t stay still in a new ce, will wander around aimlessly.
It will definitely roam around sightseeing like visitors at the exhibition hall.
If I had my way, I''d leave the Reaper safely at the Research Institute, and only bring ''Cute Puppy'' or ''Blue Lizard'' to the exhibition.
But I can''t do that.
It''s difficult to ignore the government''s orders, and the Reaper would obviously sneak out and follow.
Lost in these troubling thoughts, I found myself at the deepest part of the Sehee Research Institute.
The innermost istion room of the Research Institute.
Unlike the institute''s busy atmosphere, this ce always exuded a rxed vibe.
Inside, the Gray Reaper was lying on a bed, eating snacks while watching TV upside-down.
Seeing its restless rolling and tossing made the future seem visible somehow.
How is that the Gray Reaper?
It''s a gray cat.
Chapter 41: Object Exhibition (2)
The shattered Golden Horn alloy container, and the thick blood oozing out from inside.
The director''s experiment failed again.
"It seems there is a limit to just adjusting the alloy ratio. Since we''re dealing with a special Object, we''ll need to prepare special materials on our side too."
Tapping his fingers on the desk, the director was lost in thought.
He was recalling the numerous Objects he had seen through the cracks of time.
He randomly brought to mind the past or future Objects he had sessfully observed that could be useful.
An Object at blocking the intrusion of ''Nameless'' that could be obtained immediately.
And the director''s thoughts turned to one event.
The ''Object Exhibition''. He remembered that an extremely useful Object would appear there soon.
The director had his researchers prepare for participation in the exhibition under the name of the Bucheon Research Institute.
It was preparation to obtain an Object crucial for humanity.
***
Sehee POV:
---
Looking up at the sky, it was unusually clear weather.
The warm sunlight pleasantly warmed my skin, and the cool breeze blowing over it felt nice.
Meow.
The ghostly(phantom) cat in my arms also seemed to be in a good mood.
The cloud animals swam freely across the sky.
I even saw a rare cloud whale.
After unpacking the luggage the Sehee Research Institute brought, I should have a cold carbonated drink with the cloud whale as a snack.
This is the Object Exhibition venue.
The ce Yerin made a fuss about being excited for.
It was arge festival with many domestic research institutes participating, and even some foreign ones joining.
Apparently many rare Objects were brought in too, so I had some expectations.
A ce I had always wanted to visit was realized here.
What I always wanted to see was the ''Object Zoo''.
The ''Object Zoo'' had been attempted more often than expected, but it had a sad jinx.
On the first day of opening, there was a mass casualty ident and it was canceled - that was the sad jinx.
After that jinx repeated a few times, no more permits were issued, sadly ending it.
I hope this event can ovee that jinx and conclude sessfully.
I hoped the sessful conclusion of the Object Exhibition would lead to a permit for establishing the Object Zoo.
I hoped for an enjoyable Object Exhibition.
Hehe.
***
As we entered the exhibition venue, a massive golden tree greeted us in the far corner.
"Wow, unnie(sister). What kind of tree is that? Was there a research institute isting such a huge tree Object?"
I opened the guidebook to check Yerin''s question, and could confirm the details.
"It says it''s an Object brought by the Bucheon Research Institute. But wasn''t the Bucheon Institute defunct?"
Well, maybe someone took it over and is operating it again?
I briefly wondered why anyone would need to acquire a defunct research institute, but quickly dismissed the thought.
On the way to the exhibition space assigned to the Sehee Research Institute, we could see the Bucheon Institute''s booth.
Tired-looking staff were weing visitors.
Are they not letting the employees at that institute sleep? Why all look so exhausted?
Still, the massive, self-luminous tree was quite an impressive Object.
It was a bit strange that such an eye-catching Object had never been known before.
***
Detective''s Junior POV:
---
"Hello. Do you happen to have any requests?"
As I caught my breath, senior suddenly said something strange, cutting out all context.
If he just blurts that out, anyone would run away, especially an unconscious girl who has just woken up.
"Yes, I have a request!"
And somehow that worked again!
"I need to find my sister!"
Why do senior''s strange words often work?
Since discussing the request outside in the drizzling rain would be difficult, we decided to first return to the detective office and hear him out.
Taking a taxi in the dead of night, we arrived at the detective office.
As I opened the door and entered the office, it had apletely different feel from usual.
Therge window that always let in sunlight felt ominous as night fell, and the faint sound of rain hitting it was like a scene from a horror movie.
Even though Watson on the shelf looked no different than usual, there was an eerie feeling about it.
It felt like the gasmp had been lit just a few seconds ago.
Senior seemed ustomed to this atmosphere in the office, naturally guiding the client to a seat and even handing over arge towel to the drenched client.
Wait, did the detective office have a towel like that? I''ve never seen it before.
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Senior skillfully brewed some warm coffee and offered a cup to the client.
Listening to the client''s story, there was a reason the senior''s outrageous suggestion worked.
The client had already seen senior on TV.
Well, a person wearing a yellow suit and carrying a pipe would certainly leave a deep impression even if seen just once on TV.
"I need to find my sister. She headed to Seoul, but...suddenly she''s not responding."
The client rambled, as if their thoughts weren''t organized either.
"Ah! Come to think of it, the broker who tried to kidnap me said he kidnapped my sister too."
"Can...you find her?"
Summarizing the request, it seemed quite a difficult one.
It was fortunate that not much time had passed since the kidnapping, but the chances of survival were slim.
Most missing victims rted to Golden Horns are killed within 10 hours.
As Golden Horn-rted crimes increased, sentences were drastically increased, leading to this trend.
If youmit a Golden Horn-rted crime, you get a sentence equivalent to murder.
So they just kill the victim when cutting the horn, since they''ll be ruined if caught anyway. It lowers the chances of getting caught if they just kill and bury the body somewhere.
Thew may change again soon.
If you cut the horn andmit murder simultaneously, you may face an extremely heavy sentence.
"Then let''s start by finding that broker!"
Senior epted the request without any concern for such issues.
Wait, what about the fee, senior?
***
I dunno whose POV is this:
---
The ck agent was still in China.
While investigating the Research Institute where the Golden Horn was brought in, the ck agent discovered something strange and remained in China to continue the investigation and confirm it.
"Mister, what are you still looking at?"
"There are many inconsistencies in the information about the Research Institute I investigated, so I''m verifying those parts."
Just looking at the recordings of the ''specialized delivery drivers who transported the Golden Horn'' to this ce, one could sense something was off.
There was something they allmonly said,
The firstmon point was that the building was neat and spotless.
The secondmon point was that the employees were rude and looked depressed.
While I couldn''t judge the employees I hadn''t met, the Research Institute I directly inspected was far from such neatness.
A ruin, a building on the verge of copse.
A severely dpidated building fromck of maintenance.
As I investigated this strangeness more deeply, even stranger points were discovered.
The acquisition and establishment process itself was strange.
The officials who permitted the acquisition and establishment of that Research Institute could not remember it.
Thendowner who sold thend for that Research Institute just signed the contract without receiving any money. They couldn''t even remember selling thatnd.
Having vague memories was the same symptom as the officials.
The ck agent wrote down the questions in a notebook,
The ck agent closed the notebook and stood up from his seat.
The blonde girl also stood up.
"Mister, have you reached a conclusion? Your expression looks like you''ve decided something."
The expressionless agent nodded slightly and said,
"Yes, ma''am. It seems we''ve investigated everything worth investigating here. The rest is work to be done in Korea."
The ck agent felt the vague outlines of the mastermind behind the Golden Horn case were finally bing visible.
Chapter 42: Object Exhibition (3)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
In the dimly lit evening, fireworks brightly illuminated the sky.
It was the opening ceremony of the exhibition.
As the opening ceremony was about to begin, thanks to the efforts of the Research Institute employees, the ''Sehee Research Institute booth'' which was previously empty, was now quite well-prepared.
A wee face could also be seen.
A piano-ying lizard!
It was only after seeing the lizard that I realized I hadpletely forgotten about it.
Well, as long as it''s being well taken care of and living happily, it''s alright, isn''t it?The blue lizard was transferred here after a makeshift istion room was set up at the exhibition hall.
It was a simple istion room made of ss, with arge piano ced in the center.
As soon as it arrived at the exhibition hall, the lizard excitedly began performing.
It was still an excellent performance that touched the heart.
There will be many peopleing to the exhibition hall, won''t the lizard die from this?
[Receives a standing ovation from ten thousand people simultaneously.] Do they think I''m a child?
***
Yerin POV:
---
"Oh-Yerin, we''re going to the opening ceremony anding back."
Leaving such words behind, everyone headed to the venue where the opening ceremony was being held.
Since everyone wanted to go to the opening ceremony, I volunteered to stay behind and watch over the ce.
So I sat alone at the counter, guarding the entrance of the ''Sehee Research Institute booth''.
The exhibition hall was deserted as general visitors were not yet allowed to enter.
I didn''t mind missing the opening ceremony.
Watching Reaper is more fun!
When I nced back, Reaper''s istion room was in full view.
When the istion room was first set up, Reaper had a nk expression.
Was there something that didn''t sit well with it?
Now, after some time had passed, it seemed quite excited.
It was enjoying the istion room, throwing balls and swimming around in the ball pit.
The reaper was iling its arms and legs while swimming in the transparently visible ball pit!
I should take a picture of this sight!
But the perceptive Reaper would definitely notice if I approached or tried to take a picture.
I''ll have to be content with secretly watching and saving the image in my mind.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Late at night after the opening ceremony ended, I was watching Sehee and Yerin''s argument while sshing around in the ball pit.
"Sehee unnie, it would be beneficial to take Reaper out with us. If we just leave it like this, problems will arise."
"No, you just want to go out and y with Reaper."
Yerin and Sehee were arguing over something not very important.
It was about whether to take me out to tour the exhibition hall or not.
"Anyway, even if we leave Reaper confined like this, it will eventually sneak out on its own to look around after some time, right?"
Ah, how did she know?
I was getting a bit bored of the ball pit and was thinking of checking out if there were any interesting Objects at the exhibition hall...
"If Reaper escapes on its own, it would be a disaster, but if it goes out with a researcher, it won''t look like an ident, so it might actually be better?"
The lengthy debate that followed eventually ended with Yerin''s persistence defeating Sehee.
"Haah..., this situation was obvious, so I warned the organizers, but they still invited Reaper, so it''s on them. Alright, go out with Reaper tomorrow ande back."
***
??? POV:
---
In the heart of Seoul, there stood a vast estate upying a vast plot ofnd.
After the Object incident broke out and safends drastically decreased in Seoul, an estate with such arge plot ofnd became extremely valuable.
In the quiet courtyard of such an expensive mansion, an elderly man and a middle-aged man were seated, drinking tea.
"The exhibition has been held as scheduled. Shall we proceed with the trial gradually?"
The elderly man did not respond to the middle-aged man''s words and simply drank his tea.
Seeming familiar with this situation, the middle-aged man bowed to the elderly man and left the mansion.
After leaving the mansion, the middle-aged man hurriedly made a phone call somewhere.
"We''ll have to wait a bit longer for the trial, Elder Oh Mu-ryong."
T/N: Oh Mu-ryong is the head of the National Object Management Association who has been used of bribery, if I''m not mistaken.
The man on the phone gesturedmands to the driver with just his hands and continued the call.
On the night of the exhibition''s opening ceremony, the middle-aged man''s car sped down a deserted road.
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***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
From early morning, Yerin seemed excited.
"Hum, hum."
Yerin was humming and preparing a name tag to hang around her neck.
The name tag had these words written on it:
That''s right.
Yerin was preparing to take me around the exhibition hall.
Since it''s better for me to go around manifested with Yerin rather than ghostifying alone, I was obediently waiting for her preparations to finish.
"Done!"
Yerin held up the name tag she had drawn herself and eximed loudly.
In addition to the words, there were also drawings on the name tag that looked quite decent.
Wow, Yerin is good at drawing too.
Hanging the name tag around her neck, Yerin picked me up with a swooping motion and carried me on her shoulder.
"We''ll be back!"
Yerin proimed boldly and strode out of the Sehee Research Institute booth with confident steps.
***
To be honest, I did wonder if it was okay to go around so openly like this.
But it turned out better than expected.
Rather, there were many people who seemed scared, so sightseeing was quite pleasant.
No one tried toe close, only murmuring from afar.
There were quite a few interesting Objects at the exhibition hall that Yerin and I were touring.
If I saw an Object I wanted to look at, I just had to kick my feet to signal her.
Even without words, Yerin understood surprisingly well, which was convenient.
Kick kick.
(Let''s go over there.)
"You want to see the Busan Research Institute istion room over there?"
When Yerin stopped at my signal, I could examine it closely.
Inside the istion room, there was a single jet-ck stone being illuminated by arge light.
It was an Object with a very straightforward name.
A grim Object where if light is shone on the pebble, a werewolf made of shadows appears and ughters people.
Are they really allowed to bring in something like this?
Moreover, they were currently shining intense light on it with amp.
Looking at the description below, I could understand the reason.
So they have to keep shining light on it with the appearance of the monster in mind?
Wondering where the werewolf was, I looked around and spotted an artificially created circr shadow inside the istion room.
I could sense the Object''s presence there.
Inside the small shadow, a werewolf the size of a thumb was ring at the humans.
After examining the stone and werewolf from various angles, I signaled Yerin.
Kick kick.
(Let''s go somewhere else.)
While wandering around, I was able to discover one more very impressive Object.
It was an istion room with only a singleputer ced there, but it was a Research Institute that hade all the way from Japan.
It wasn''t an extremely dangerous Object, but it was an Object whose nature was iprehensible as to how they had captured it.
Thankfully, it was tranted into Korean, so I could read the Object''s description.
It was an Object being isted inputer data form, so it had to be careful because it would escape if connected to awork.
If connected to awork, it would roam inside, repeatedly causing public opinion maniption and unrest all day long.
How did they really iste this thing?
I was curious, but that must be the know-how of this Research Institute, so they didn''t write it down....
As I continued touring the various Research Institutes at the exhibition, I discovered something strange.
They were gloomy researchers weing people at the Bucheon Research Institute booth.
Of course, it wasn''t strange because they looked too tired, but because they were not human.
Unlike their human-like appearances and behaviors, they were Objects.
Were those researchers afflicted by something like the ''Golden Horn Syndrome''?
But to bepletely objectified? That''s quite fascinating.
Behind the researchers stood a huge golden tree.
But that... did it seem a bit brighter than before??
Chapter 43: Object Exhibition (4)
Yerin POV:
---
pak pak
pak pak
Reaper was excitedly pping its feet wildly.
Reaper''s gaze was fixed on the sky.
Reaper''s arms were reaching out into the air as if trying to grab something.
Tyrannosaurus!
Reaper and I were standing in front of a huge dinosaur. I thought Reaper wouldn''t really like stuff like this, but it enjoyed it more than expected.
Objects revived as dinosaurs were found quite often.
However, there weren''t that many currently living specimens.
Due to lifespan issues and cases of them being killed off.
Who knew Reaper liked dinosaurs? Next time should I take it to the ''Mars Research Institute'' that has isted many dinosaurs?
It would be nice if I could get permission to take Reaper out to the Mars Research Institute.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Hmm.
I can''t help but be fascinated by dinosaurs.
Anyone, regardless of age or gender, likes them, right?
Yerin''s expression looking at me seems a bit ruder...
We enjoyed the tour so much that lunchtime had passed by a long while ago.
I''m fine without eating anything, but it must be tough for Yerin.
As I looked around for a ce to eat, I saw a Research Institute booth.
It was set up like a performance venue you''d asionally see at a zoo, but although a bit pricey, they had plenty of food prepared.
We sat down and ate things like hot dogs while watching the performance prepared by the Research Institute.
Since it was an Object Research Institute, instead of dolphins, a yeti performed.
A yeti jumping through a ring of fire.
A yeti on arge swing.
A Yeti that gets stung by electricity while making a fuss.
A yeti riding arge ball.
A yeti falling off a unicycle and getting electrocuted.
A yeti fired from a cannon towards a target.
There were some strange things in between, but it was quite fun.
It was closer to a circus than a zoo, but since it was enjoyable, I had noints.
After finishing the meal and performance, we resumed our tour and there were still many amazing Objects.
At the Sejong Research Institute booth, they were exhibiting just one Object.
''Wow, a physics immunity granting Object!''
I must still have some human emotions left as I couldn''t help but be amazed by this Object.
Just briefly thinking about it, the potential uses seemed endless.
An Object this good should obviously be famous, but I had never seen it before.
So I checked and found it was a newly discovered Object from just a month ago.
Wow, brand new!
I also noticed the istion facility made by the government hosting this exhibition.
As expected of the organizers, the facilities were magnificent and extensive, but one Object there looked extremely dangerous.
It had arms, legs, and an indistinct face like a person.
It was just sitting nkly in the center of the istion room, making me wonder how this was supposed to be a thief.
After reading the description, the name made sense.
To keep it in sight, over 100 staff were taking turns watching it.
Well, if they lost sight of it, it would be hell with all the isted Objects at the exhibition being released, so it was understandable.
Bute to think of it, exhibiting an Object that should never be disyed at an exhibition like this seems rather careless...
Even if they thought an ident wouldn''t happen, it still seems like a reckless judgment.
***
Yerin POV:
---
While walking around following Reaper''s lead, the booth of the recently famous research institute ''Trinity'' caught my eye.
Thergest Research Institute in Korea.
The top Research Institute in Korea.
In the Research Institutemunity, it''s not umon to see Trinity researchers being cocky.
The Object they exhibited was once an Object that plunged Korea into terror.
The general public called it the Steel Tower.
Because when it first appeared, it caused as much damage as the Steel Tower.
Its shape was a sphere formed by several semi-circr steel tes clustered together.
It was an Object that was rarely released, as famous as it was, so this was the first time seeing it in person.
Reaper also had an intrigued expression, seeming to be seeing it for the first time.
The Maic-Sphere was an Object hostile to human civilization, like the Steel Tower.
However, its area of effect was much narrower and less threateningpared to the Steel Tower.
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It didn''t remove lightning or electric eel currents, only selectively removing currents used by civilization.
If such an Object moved instantly while poking around Korea, it would have been very troublesome, but fortunately, a solution was quickly found.
One researcher discovered that applying a maic field could easily suppress the Maic-Sphere''s abilities.
Just looking at Trinity''s istion room, there were many electromas ced around the Maic-Sphere to prevent any idents.
"Reaper, shall we move to the next booth?"
When Reaper didn''t react, I took the Reaper''s baby feet in my hands and shook them.
But there was still no reaction.
Reaper just kept staring at a corner of the exhibition hall.
Reaper''s expression looked unusually serious.
In the direction Reaper was looking, there was a golden tree slowly blinking golden light.
That was where the Bucheon Research Institute booth was located, which we had briefly visited in the morning...
It was a strange ce upying an extremelyrge area despite having no achievements.
The tree was glowing brighter and brighter.
The tree started glowing so bright it was dazzling.
When everyone was looking at the tree due to the strange phenomenon, an incident urred.
Wooong.
Along with a low rumbling sound, an invisible ripple burst out from the tree.
People touched by the ripple began copsing like puppets with their strings cut.
Precisely as if measured with a ruler, people in the stadium seats copsed simultaneously, like riding a wave.
The ripple wasn''t that fast, but it was faster than humans.
When that ripple reached where we were, my consciousness became hazy.
My knees went limp, and my head tilted back.
No matter how hard I tried to resist, it was useless.
I could only desperately try to grasp my fading consciousness.
Oh, if I copse like this, Reaper will get hurt...
My vision went dark, and sounds faded away.
Someone gently caught my falling head.
Thest thing I felt was Reaper''s soft, fluffy touch on my cheek before my memory cut off.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
A ripple burst out from the golden tree.
It was a ripple that put people to sleep.
Checking Yerin''s condition, who had copsed headfirst, she seemed perfectly healthy.
She had simply fallen into an unexined slumber.
No matter how much I poked her cheek with my palm, there were no signs of her waking up.
The situation was serious.
Like the zoo, this exhibition could not avoid the jinx either.
I needed to return to the Sehee Research Institute booth, but I didn''t have the strength to carry Yerin.
If I left Yerin here, she would obviously die.
But if I stayed near Yerin, the Sehee Research Institute employees would die instead.
The exhibition hall where everyone had fallen asleep was already showing signs of disturbance.
Tung.
With a heavy thud, the darkness thickly filled the exhibition hall that had been brightly lit.
The cheerful music ying from the speakers also cut off.
The only sounds were the growls of biological Objects.
Electricity had disappeared from the exhibition hall.
Had the Maic-Sphere broken out of istion?
Objects continued to escape.
The beginning was a herd of yetis with blood smeared around their mouths.
The yetis, who had held a festival with the blood of the keepers who had sustained them with electricity, poured out onto the streets and searched for new prey.
From far away, the loud roar of a Tyrannosaurus could be heard.
What kind of crazy person opened the istion room doors?
The hungry yetis were slowly approaching where Yerin was, trying to satisfy their hunger.
I shattered the pathetic yetis'' heads that were targeting Yerin.
Without any physical immunity or regenerative abilities, the yetis finally noticed me and scampered away.
If I had two bodies, I wouldn''t have to worry about this...
Should I have learned the clone technique beforehand?
Speaking of clones, one ability came to mind.
Mini Golden Reapers.
Although I can''t control them as I wish, I created the Golden Reapers with a do-or-die mindset.
One.
Two.
...
I created enough Golden Reapers to fill the area around me.
The doll-like figures that looked just like me simultaneously raised their heads and nced around.
The mini Reapers looked at me, and one of them hopped over and clung to me.
Just one?
Last time, they all clung to me and the cat.
Then another one clung to Yerin''s sleeping cheek.
After that, the Golden Reapers didn''t take any special actions.
As expected, this ability isn''t helpful in such situations?
After ncing around for a few seconds, the Golden Reapers began to scatter in all directions, like dispersing sparrows.
It was as if a golden wave of Reapers began spreading out.
And the scattered Reapers clung to people, one per person.
One Reaper per person.
1 person 1 Reaper.
They clung to the people who had copsed in the exhibition hall.
Chapter 44: Object Exhibition (5)
A golden wave spread out.
The tiny-sized Golden Reapers scattered all at once, looking like a wave with concentric circles.
They collided with each other and fell over, or rolled around after getting caught on something.
They intermittently disappeared and reappeared, using ghostification to spread out in all directions.
However, the Golden Reapers seemed unfamiliar with ghostification, rolling around on the floor each time they used it.
They ran with their little feet, then ghostified when they hit an obstacle.
And they reappeared on the other side of the obstacle, nting both feet but unable stop their momentum, rolling around.
When they found a human, they fervently moved their feet to run and cling to them.
The first Reaper to cling to a human raised its tiny hands triumphantly with a winner''s smile.Only one clung to each person, as if marking their territory.
If another Reaper approached, they red to chase it away.
Before the Golden Reapers spread out, the exhibition hall was a buffet of Objects hostile to humans.
A buffet of prey that had lost consciousness and copsed everywhere.
But the Objects that had tried to sample from that buffet had to stop when the Golden Reapers appeared.
To the Objects, the Golden Reapers gave off an ominous aura.
Plus there were so ridiculously many of them, it felt daunting.
The air, which had been hostile toward humans, instantly became eerily calm.
However, the calm atmosphere created by the Golden Reapers'' appearance didn''tst even 10 minutes.
The impatient Objects began ignoring the Golden Reapers and blindly charging at the copsed humans.
The Golden Reapers'' seemingly harmless behavior contributed to this as well.
They showed no interest in the Objects, simply clinging to people and staying still.
This indifferent behavior from the Golden Reapers gave the other Objects courage.
The hope that these Golden Reapers were actually just passive, harmless creatures.
The Objects that had been watching the Golden Reapers for an opportunity began baring their fangs at their prey again.
It started with a lizard the size of a tiger.
Dinosaurs that had crossed over from the past to be revived in the present.
The dinosaurs, having lost their patience, charged at the sleeping people.
At that moment, the Golden Reapers'' eyes lit up as they raised their heads.
Even the dinosaurs would have hesitated receiving the gaze of dozens of those shining eyes.
Unfortunately, however, these dinosaurs were not Objects with that level of intelligence.
The price for ignoring the Golden Reapers'' warning gaze was gruesome.
It was left to bleed to death with dozens of tiny Reaper-shaped holes in its body.
The Golden Reapers'' shining golden bodies were stained red with blood.
Such cute yet grisly scenes yed out all over the exhibition hall.
Until there were no more Objects charging with the intent to harm humans.
***
At that time, when all the people in the exhibition hall were asleep and the escaped Objects had made a mess of everything.
At that time when there should have been no one moving, the management office door at the Bucheon Research Institute opened.
A man in a neat suit, ab coat, and carrying an ornate cane, led the way out.
Behind him, researchers followed like servants.
The Institute Director walked with dignified strides across the exhibition hall where everyone had fallen asleep.
They were headed toward one particr Research Institute booth with a clear objective.
The Research Institute Director''s purpose was to visit the fair booth created by ''Sejong Research Institute''.
The object on disy in it was an
The Director easily obtained the desired Object after arriving at the Sejong booth.
The istion room door was already open, and the staff in charge of security had all fallen asleep.
The CCTVs and other electrical facilities had long since gone silent too.
The Director smiled with satisfaction as he read the description attached to the Object.
"With this, I''ve obtained the necessary Object."
The Research Institute Director looked around, holding a cube in his left hand and a cane in his right.
After finishing the necessary work and exiting the istion room, the atmosphere in the exhibition hall had changed slightly.
In the exhibition hall that had been filled with only copsed people, small creatures about the size of a palm had appeared inrge numbers.
They were golden Objects that closely resembled the Gray Reapers.
Standing on the bodies of the copsed people, they stretched their necks and gazed at the Research Institute Director.
With dozens of Objects staring at him like that, it gave off a rather ominous feeling.
"Is this the Gray Reaper''s ability? I''ve never seen it before. An ability I haven''t witnessed even in the cracks of time. What happened?"
The fact that the Gray Reapers he had observed and researched for a long time possessed an ability unknown to him came as a great shock to the Research Institute Director.
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He was currently researching how to deal with the ''Nameless'' one, but he thought he would have to capture and study the ''Gray Reapers'' afterwards as well.
The mini Reapers did not miss the departing director, keeping close watch on him.
There was a strange sense of hostility emanating from the mini Reapers observing the Research Institute Director.
As the director, he found this puzzling.
Why were these mini Reapers being hostile towards him?
No matter how much he pondered the cause of that inexplicable hostility, he could not figure it out.
The research director snapped his fingers, summoning the researchers into his shadow.
Tap tap.
With the sound of his cane tapping the ground twice, the director and researchers vanished without a trace.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The Golden Reapers I created scattered in all directions.
They rolled around, colliding with each other in chaos.
The Objects that had been threatening humans seemed unable toprehend the sudden appearance of the Golden Reapers.
Well, if tiny creatures that size suddenly started running around, it would be confusing.
Since it now seemed quite safe, I left Yerin on the ground and climbed up a utility pole to observe the situation.
From above, the behavior of the Golden Reapers could be easily summarized,
''...These guys really love humans, don''t they?''
That was my impression watching from above.
The Golden Reapers loved humans for no particr reason.
The first thing that caught my eye was a Golden Reaper piercing through a yeti''s heart.
It was abination of three Object abilities.
Seeing the tiny creature I created covered in blood and wandering around felt a bit strange.
Crouching on the utility pole, I continued observing, and the Golden Reapers'' behavior patterns were consistent,No interest in Objects whatsoever. If an Object threatened a human, they became ferocious and attacked. They seemed to ce great importance on protecting their attached humans. [A human must ovee the tree''s nightmare.] at the exhibition hall should be arrested for murder!]
[Wasn''t an Object that the government specially managed because it had a high potential for being used in crimes? How could they take it out and exhibit it?]
The TV panels unanimously raised their voices that those responsible should be punished.
When this incident was first reported, experts already estimated a more than 90% chance that everyone inside the exhibition hall had died.
Interestingly, this assessment was based on the fact that a significant number of highly dangerous Objects were disyed at the exhibition hall.
Fortunately, when drones were deployed to film the exhibition hall, it was revealed that only a very small number of people had died.
However, the fact that small-sized, gray Reaper-shaped Objects were observed wandering around those people, dripping blood, fueled people''s anxiety.
Moreover, the fact that all the people inside the exhibition hall were asleep seemed ominous.
What on earth was happening at the exhibition hall?
However, the government''s response was limited to blockading the exhibition hall with the military.
Many people expressed doubts, but the government''s response was,
Crunch , the broken wood regained its original form as if rewinding time.
It was an Object with an exceptional level of regenerative ability for a tree.
[A human must ovee the tree''s nightmare.] [If you separate the head and body, it will die!] tak-tak-tak
I gently petted the golden Reaper that was striking with small fists, I waited for its anger to subside.
Fortunately, the golden Reaper quickly calmed down and returned to its original position.
Pondering over and over, I slowly walked around the exhibition hall.
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tak-tak
How do I make humans ovee the nightmare of the tree?
Do I have to fall asleep too?
Time was not abundant.
The dark night had somehow turned into morning.
The time of the ephemeral golden Reaper was being consumed.
It was better to resolve this incident before the day passed when the golden Reaper''s protection was maintained.
''!''
As I moved my steps quite far from the tree, I discovered a shocking murder scene.
''No!!!!!''
I let out a silent scream.
A corpse that had been torn to shreds, dead.
A Tyrannosaurus rexy dead in a miserable state.
Well, that''s how it would be.
The stupid dinosaur must have tried to eat a human and got torn apart by the golden Reaper.
Putting aside my sad feelings, I moved my steps again.
***
I wandered around the exhibition hall, thinking of ways to break the tree, but there was no brilliant solution.
It also seemed too unlikely that someone would ovee the nightmare.
[A human must ovee the tree''s nightmare.] Zzz
***
??? POV:
---
The Central Research Institute was disbanded due to public criticism, but those involved knew its necessity.
A Research Institute that could confine Objects capable of ghostification.
A Research Institute that could confine dangerous Objects without any risk.
The Research Institute was tainted by corruption and distrust, but it was still a necessary Institute.
''The exposure of the concealment of Lophiomus.''
''Covering up the death of an employee.''
''Caused the copse of Songpa-gu.''
However, public opinion was too negative to simply revive the Central Research Institute.
So those involved chose to secretly re-establish the Central Research Institute.
And an offer came to take on the role of the deputy director of this newly formed secret Central Research Institute.
To me, who was imprisoned solely for having been the deputy director of the Central Research Institute.
"Strange. Strange indeed."
It was a strange thing.
There was no reason for them to call me to re-establish the Central Research Institute.
To be precise, there was no reason for them to need me to the point of secretly taking me out of prison.
Of course, I epted that offer and am now standing here.
In front of the new Central Research Institute.
What was clutched in my hand was a letter of appointment.
It was a letter appointing someone as the director of the Central Research Institute.
It was a letter appointing as the Institute''s director the man who had died in the Lophiomus incident 30 years ago.
For the Central Research Institute to beplete, they had to call in the Object that took on the appearance of that man.
Tap.
The sound of the seal being stamped on the appointment letter resonated loudly.
With this, that man will be confined to the director''s office, writing down iprehensible papers.
But an anomaly urred when I entered the director''s office.
"!"
The director''s office was still empty.
The director had disappeared.
''Ah, so this was the reason.''
The position of deputy director of the new central research institute was given to me.
The director''s appointment did not go through.
"Ha, hahahahaha."
For some reason, Iughed.
I wiped the corners of myughing mouth with my fingers.
"That man hase back to life."
Perhaps because I was that man''s son, I had a feeling it would be like this.
Though I had lived my whole life hating that man, strangely Iughed.
Perhaps those who offered me the deputy director position expected a different result if I, the son, made the appointment.
But their expectation missed the mark.
So what will happen now?
Chapter 46: Object Exhibition (7)
A nostalgic sight appeared.
No, a sight I never wanted to see again appeared.
The pale moonlight shining down.
An unidentifiable chill that could not be shaken off.
Darkness with an unwavering will, where nothing ahead could be seen.
It was the hellish Seoul Forest from my memories.
***
It''s cold.
Even though I shouldn''t be able to feel the cold, it was too cold.In the dark forest in the middle of the night, I was getting drenched by the drizzling rain.
Even though it was raining, an unidentifiable full moon could be seen in the sky above.
Even though I had no lungs, I felt short of breath.
I endlessly dug at the ground with my bare hands.
My soft gray skin was torn and crushed from picking up rocks and digging into the earth.
My hands were covered in wounds.
Yellow mes flowed out like blood from the wounds on my hands.
I wished for an Object''s life, but I didn''t wish for a life like this...
Ever since I opened my eyes in the forest, I always felt like I was lingering near death.
Even the bare feet I was standing on were covered in wounds.
My soft soles were easily torn and pierced in the forest.
Even ordinary branches easily pierced through the soles of my feet.
I open my mouth.
Like when I was human, I opened my mouth and shouted from the stuffiness, but no sound came out.
If I could have let out a refreshing scream, my mood might have lifted a bit...
I kept digging into the ground, but the end was nowhere in sight.
I just kept digging down to where the mole was sleeping, hoping to kill it in the light of the full moon.
To survive in this cruel forest.
I kept digging deeper into the ground.
My hands and feet, softer than a human''s, became more and more tattered as I dug into the hard ground.
My senses, more sensitive than a human''s, made me thrash about from even the slightest wound on my skin.
Unable to cry out loud like a human.
The bone-chilling cold didn''t go away.
This dark night seemed like it would never end.
No matter how much I dug into the ground where the moles slept, the end was nowhere in sight.
***
While continuing to dig into the ground, a thought suddenly urred to me.
What am I even doing right now?
This painful sight was something I had already experienced before.
It was from after I had unexpectedly fallen into the forest, before going to the Sehee Research Institute.
It was when I killed any Objects I came across to survive.
The me now is supposed to be enjoying a happy Research Institute life...
What I''m seeing now is the memory of that day when I kept digging into the ground to kill the sleeping moles.
The memory of that time when I chased after moles for days on end, digging into the ground.
If I remember correctly, the memory of this day was one of triumph.
It was the night when I finally reaped the fruits of my long efforts to kill the moles.
The night when the full moon shone down, and its light could be seen even through the rain.
The memory of that day when I dug into the sleeping moles'' den and shone the moonlight onto the moles.
The moment when the moles turned to ash under the moonlight, and I obtained the ghostification I had so desperately wanted.
It was difficult, but since it was the moment of sess, I remembered it clearly.
If the genre of Seoul Forest before obtaining ghostification was an unstoppable horror thriller, then Seoul Forest after obtaining it was a blockbuster where the protagonist had a chance of winning.
As I realized that, the world began to distort.
Ah, it was a dream.
I could feel the pulse of the golden tree flowing beneath this fake Seoul Forest.
As the world shattered, I woke up from my sleep.
***
When I woke up, what I saw in front of me was a golden Reaper''s fist.
Thud thud.
A worried-looking golden Reaper was punching my cheek.
Is it trying to wake me up right now?
The golden Reaper, who had been continuously punching without rest, stopped its fists and clung to my cheek when it noticed I had opened my eyes.
I got up and looked around the golden tree, but nothing had changed.
Ah, I guess it doesn''t count as me waking up if it''s not a real human, huh?
It seems the condition is only met when a real human wakes up.
A considerable amount of time had passed while I was briefly asleep.
If a day passes like this, it''ll be troublesome...
The time was approaching when the one-day time limit golden Reaper would disappear.
Even if I recreated the golden Reaper, I couldn''t be sure it would behave exactly the same as this one.
It was difficult to predict what it might be thinking, it doesn''t understand speech, and I can''t control it at will, so I couldn''t carelessly make assumptions.
In case the destruction condition changed, I ced my hand on the golden tree again and checked the destruction condition.
[A human must ovee the tree''s nightmare.] Zzz
***
Shabby buildings created with impoverished imagination.
A shoddy description of an outskirt city that seemed unfinished.
Other than the man running around with an urgent expression, nothing else was properly realized.
This ce must be the dream of that man running around.
The man, gripped by fear, was mindlessly fleeing.
He was fleeing from the monster chasing while destroying the city.
"Kwaaang!"
With a thunderous roar, a building copsed....
A giant gray Reaper.
No, what does that man think I am?
The giant gray Reaper''s appearance was slightly different from mine, which annoyed me even more.
The man who had been diligently fleeing was turned to ashes and died after being hit by the mes the giant gray Reaper spewed from its mouth.
And this shabby world began to rewind.
The copsed buildings returned to their original ces, and the burnt vehicles and trees reappeared.
Finally, when the fallen man on the asphalt appeared from thin air, time in this world began to flow again.
"Aahh! Save me!"
The man screamed when he saw the silhouette of the giant gray Reaper beyond the buildings.
And the man began to flee from the giant gray Reaper.
The giant gray Reaper spewed fire while chasing the man, and the man inevitably got trampled or burned to death.
So, what should I do to help this man ovee this dream?
Should I help him survive?
First, I made a n to run together with him and help him survive.
As the man drenched in cold sweat appeared from thin air, I ran up to him and waved my hand.
But the man''s reaction was different from what I expected.
"Ugh, G... Gray Reaper!"
But when the man saw me, he grabbed his heart and fell to the ground.
When I went over, the man had turned pale blue and was already dead.
Another heart attack?
Why do people always stop breathing just from seeing me?
As the man''s heart stopped, the city in the dream began to rewind again.
This Object, it''s not as easy as I thought....
***
Boing boing.
The golden Reaper was jumping and ying on the belly of the sleeping gray Reaper.
The golden Reaper, who had been merrily jumping around, suddenly looked up at the sky.
Then, with a regretful expression, it looked back at the gray Reaper and started walking somewhere with a determined look.
It was the second golden wave.
The ce the golden Reapers swarmed to was the outskirts of the exhibition hall.
It was where the Objects had fled to avoid the golden Reapers.
The golden Reapers and the Objects that hostile towards humans faced each other.
The expressions of the golden Reapers were serious, as if they were about to wage war.
The Objects also seemed to sense the ominous atmosphere from the golden Reapers, creating a tense mood.
Without anyone giving a signal, they simultaneously charged at each other.
The first to disappear were the Objects without physical immunity.
They were swept away by the golden Reapers'' wave and vanished first.
The next ones to disappear were the Objects without regenerative abilities.
They had physical immunity, but their destruction conditions were no different from ordinary objects, machines, or living beings.
The golden Reapers willingly sacrificed their bodies to destroy the physically immune Objects.
Of course, the much smaller golden Reapers met their demise the moment they collided.
Countless golden Reapers disappeared, bing mere sparks.
Even after the physically immune Objects vanished, only a handful of Objects hostile towards humans remained.
Objects that could not be killed without special means.
Objects that the golden Reapers,cking the ''eyes'' ''eyes'' T/N: I''m having a bit of a headache, so I don''t know if I will be posting more chapters today. I''m sorry.
Chapter 47: Object Exhibition (8)
The exhibition hall waspletely blockaded by the military.
Nominally, it was to prevent Objects from escaping outside, but in reality, it was not the case.
Rather, it seemed like they were trying to prevent outsiders from seeing inside.
"Why are you trying to stop drone filming?"
A reporter was raising his voice in protest at the blockade checkpoint.
"It''s for military operational security. Please step back."
"That doesn''t make any sense..."
The protesting reporter was eventually grabbed by soldiers and forcibly dragged away.
Some reportersunched drones ignoring the soldiers'' warnings, but the drones were instantly shot down.Afterwards, drone jamming devices were installed, and extremely strict security measures began.
Some reporters friendly to the soldiers reported that it was to prevent harm by not provoking the Objects.
But to other reporters, it seemed the soldiers were monitoring outside eyes, not the Objects inside the exhibition hall.
***
I gave up waking the man being chased by the giant gray Reaper from his nightmare.
Just looking at me made him gasp for breath, and no matter how long I kept him alive, he didn''t seem to think the nightmare would end.
After that, I wandered through countless dreams.
Dreams swarmed by Lophiomuses, dreams of unfamiliar Objects chasing, and so on.
Many were dreams of being chased by something.
The problem was that no matter how long you ran away in dreams like that, they never ended.
It didn''t seem easy to wake humans from nightmares, but I didn''t expect it to be this difficult.
This time, leaving behind a woman being chased by a herd of mountain cat, I entered a new dream.
The new dream I entered was extremely borate.
Most dreams are blurry in the corners, but this dream constituted a detailed world.
Wandering around the dream out of curiosity, I heard a familiar voice.
"Reaper, wait a moment!"
The dream that appeared this time had a familiar figure in the background.
It was Oh-Yerin.
In the borately depicted exhibition hall, Yerin was calling out loudly, looking for me.
Yerin was eagerly chasing after a gray Reaper in the dream that looked exactly like me.
And the Reaper in the dream was running away from Yerin here and there.
''?''
Why is this a nightmare?
Doesn''t she seem to be having fun ying?
Yerin''s expression looks quite happy too.
"Reaper,e here and take a picture together! I brought the mountain cat pajamas!"
In Yerin''s hand was a child''s set of pajamas.
No, when did she prepare those clothes?
In this extremely realistic dream, there was only one strange part.
A golden tree that looked about 10 timesrger than reality.
The meaning of that increasingly bright, giant golden tree was ominous.
While Yerin''s imagination may be extraordinary, this exhibition hall was depicted urately, with no ambiguities.
Except for that 10x erged tree.
And the meaning of this giant golden tree soon became clear.
The reason this dream was a nightmare.
As the increasingly bright golden tree reached the same brightness as when it emitted shockwaves, it fired a beam.
The beam attack was aimed at Yerin.
It was an attack so intense that it made me flinch for a moment.
However, the beam attack I thought was targeting Yerin was not actually aimed at her.
It was the mountain cat pajamas Yerin was holding.
"No!!!!"
The mountain cat pajamas, engulfed in mes, slowly burned away.
It was an extremely slow-burning fire.
So slow that it would take 30 minutes just to burn one set of pajamas.
But the slow-burning fire was a curse.
A curse that made one despair and grieve for a long time.
Yerin tried every method to put out the fire, but the mes never went out, like the fires of hell in novels.
It even kept burning underwater.
"No!" "No!!" "No!!!"
Finally, in front of the burnt remains of the pajamas, Yerin broke down in tears.
At the same time, the world began to rewind.
Back to the moment when Yerin happily chased after Reaper in her dreams.
***
??? POV:
---
I was pacing anxiously inside the exhibition hall''s guard post.
The orders from above were clear.
Increase the damage from this incident.
It doesn''t matter if all the humans in the exhibition hall are massacred.
The method I chose to carry out those secret orders was to make all kinds of excuses and drag out time.
If time was dragged out, the damage would naturally increase, so I was dragging out time when an unexpected incident urred.
Theplete annihtion of the Objects that could inflict harm on humans.
The higher-ups wanted greater damage and more controversy, but a big problem arose.
Everything was disrupted because of the suddenly appearing golden Reaper.
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Seeing the golden Reaper moving somewhere, I thought a casualty would finally ur, but the result turned out to be the opposite.
Now, just dragging out time is not enough to achieve the higher-ups'' instructions.
"There''s no choice."
Yes, there''s no other choice.
"Pick out some tight-lipped soldiers, we''re going into the exhibition hall directly. If we kill with knives, we can im the Objects did it."
Now I have to deal with it directly.
"Anyway, the targets are just sleeping people, it''s a simple mission. Finish it as quickly as possible and get out."
In the deep night, avoiding people''s eyes as much as possible, we headed to the exhibition hall.
With a small number of soldiers, we infiltrated the blockaded exhibition hall.
The exhibition hall surrounded by high walls.
We set up a temporary rope and went down, and I exined the operation.
It was a simple mission to kill as many people as possible and regroup in 30 minutes, then return.
"30 minutes from now, gather here."
There was an existence blocking the soldiers dispersing to carry out their respective missions.
It was the golden Reaper.
Of the many golden Reapers before, only one remained.
The golden Reaper red at us with its hand on its waist.
Perhaps because we had seen it ughtering the Objects until recently, the soldiers'' bodies were noticeably stiffened.
"Disperse immediately! Ignore it and proceed with the mission!"
It was a new type of Object whose abilities were unknown, but the only hope was that it had no record of attacking humans.
Even if the golden Reaper did attack humans, there was no other choice.
Not following the higher-ups'' instructions meant death, all the same.
As the soldiers dispersed, the golden Reaper also disappeared from its spot.
And the soldiers died on the spot before advancing much further.
The cause of death was a hole pierced through their chests.
As I looked inside the hall, blood also gurgled up from my mouth.
As I copsed, endlessly vomiting blood, a golden Reaper drenched in blood stood before me.
Its contemptuous gaze was thest scene I saw as I died.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Yerin''s nightmare.
I don''t know if this should be considered a nightmare, but if she feels it''s a nightmare, then it''s a nightmare.
Yerin''s nightmare was rted to me, so I thought it would be easier to resolve than expected.
First, I walked out in front of Yerin, who was mindlessly chasing after the Reaper in her dream.
"Wow! Reaper."
Spotting me approaching nearby, Yerin smiled brightly and hugged me.
Yerin smiled happily and proudly took something out.
"Ta-da, mountain cat pajamas! Aren''t they cute?"
She held the pajamas up against my body and continued speaking.
"Let''s take a picture wearing these. Since we came to the exhibition hall, we should leave at least one photo!"
From the moment I saw the pajamas, I had a feeling this would happen.
The clothes are too ufortable to wear normally, but I decided topromise just this once to dispel the nightmare.
Perhaps because it was a dream, the weather had suddenly turned nice.
A ghost cat appeared out of nowhere in the air and cuddled in my arms.
Cloud fish and cloud whales flew in the sky.
The green grass field was in full bloom with flowers.
Against that dreamlike backdrop, I stood wearing the mountain cat pajamas, holding the cat.
Click.
"Wow! Look at this!"
Looking at the photo I was in, Yerin giggled happily.
Yerin was excitedly jumping around in joy, but gradually became gloomy and looked at me saying,
"Is this a dream?"
''There''s no way such a happy thing could happen. Reaper wearing clothes...'' Yerin muttered.
"It makes no sense for Reaper to wear clothes for no reason. This must be a dream!"
Yerin shook her head vigorously side to side and shouted.
With Yerin''s shout, the world was utterly destroyed.
***
I opened my eyes next to the golden tree.
After resolving Yerin''s nightmare, I woke up from sleep.
The golden tree had lost its abilities and no longer looked like a tree.
Now it looked more like a golden block than a tree.
When I tapped the tree, it made a heavy sound and crumbled down.
Come to think of it, I can''t see the golden Reaper anywhere.
Even though the golden Reaper is ephemeral, it should have a few more hours before disappearing.
Not just the Reaper attached to me, but most of the golden Reapers in the exhibition hall have vanished.
Where did they all go?
The only ce I could sense the golden Reaper''s presence led me to a gruesome sight.
The golden Reaper, leaning in the corner as if waiting for something, saw me and stood up, waving its hand.
Smiling brightly.
It waved goodbye, as if saying see you again.
And so, thest remaining golden Reaper turned into mes and disappeared.
---
T/N: a, I wanna see more little cute reaper!!!
Chapter 48: Exhibition - Aftermath (1)
Sehee POV:
---
The inside of the exhibition was quite chaotic due to the soldiers.
When I woke up after passing out, it was even worse because of the chaos.
I was at the exhibition hall when I suddenly felt dizzy, and when I woke up, an incident had urred.
Now the soldiers were lining up the exhibition staff one by one to question them in order.
Yerin had a gloomy expression.
"Sister Sehee, it seems the exhibition is over with this, right?"
"It seems so. Over there I saw many body bags. It looks like there were quite a few casualties."On one side of the exhibition hall, soldiers were putting bodies into bags and moving them in piles.
With such an incident urring, there''s no way they could continue the exhibition.
From the conversations around, I heard that not only were there casualties, but the loss of Objects was beyond imagination.
As the line shortened, it became Sehee Research Institute''s turn.
The questioning consisted of simple Q&A.
They simply asked if any Objects were lost, if there were any casualties among the Research Institute personnel, etc.
There were also many questions rted to the golden tree.
The investigators from the government seemed to view the golden tree as the cause of this exhibition incident.
It was normal to be suspicious when a never-before-seen Object was suddenly exhibited at the exhibition.
After the questioning of Sehee Research Institute was over, we were told to prepare for withdrawal.
"Once your withdrawal preparations areplete, please submit your documents at the desk over there. You''ll receive a number in the order you submit, and withdraw in that order."
While packing up at the Research Institute booth, Yerin spoke in a gloomy voice.
"In the end, I couldn''t even take out the pajamas."
"Well, it was uncertain whether Reaper would even wear them..."
As far as I knew, Reaper had never worn clothes before.
Sehee Research Institute didn''t really lose any Objects.
The docile ''cute puppy'' was safely in the corner of the booth, and the ethereal(ghostly/phantom) cat was of course fine too.
Only the blue lizard that drew aggro well had its head bitten off by someone.
ording to old Central Research Institute data, as long as the tail remains, it can revive based on the tail, so taking just the lower body would be fine.
The gray Reaper?
The Reaper seemed to be walking around the area, but suddenly, it was nowhere to be found.
It probably went back to the Research Institute first.
We loaded the Objects onto a dedicated istion truck and sent them off to Sehee Research Institute
The trusted truck driver was Kim Jungroo.
The rest of the researchers boarded a chartered bus with their luggage.
After loading all the necessary luggage onto the vehicles, we departed from the exhibition hall to the Research Institute.
Inside the chartered bus of the Sehee Research Institute on the road.
Yerin in the next seat was looking through the empty digital camera data back and forth.
"What are you searching for so intently?"
"I had a feeling I took some photos, so I was looking for them."
"It must be a mistake. You didn''t even take out the camera, did you?"
"For some reason, it felt like I took a lot of photos of Reaper wearing the pajamas, but I guess it was just my imagination?"
Yerin muttered while putting the camera in her bag, "Well, something like that couldn''t happen in reality, could it?"
And so Sehee Research Institute''s first exhibition participation ended shortly like this.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The exhibition hall incident ended by reconfirming the ''sad jinx of the zoo''.
Lying on the bed, I stretched my hand towards the ceiling.
Pop.
I clenched my fist slightly and opened it.
The abilities I could use had increased.
It was because I had dealt with Objects at the exhibition hall.
But the biggest question was the change in the golden Reaper.
The duration of the ephemeral golden Reaper had significantly increased.
This was the first time an ability I gained spontaneously grew on its own.
The Objects killed by the golden Reaper seemed to be the power of the golden Reaper.
[Does it make sense that they still haven''t caught the ''Maker'' after causing such a huge ident at the exhibition hall?]
[The suspected terrorist is walking around freely! What is the government doing?]
The TV was full of stories about the criminal who ransacked the exhibition hall.
It was about the criminalmonly referred to as the ''Maker''.
At first, all kinds of stories and conspiracy theories came out.
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Starting with such daily Object opinions, all kinds of rumors spread, but those stories suddenly disappeared at some point when certain news spread.
It was the news that the ''Unbreakable Cube'' had disappeared.
Since it was literally the ''Unbreakable Cube'', it couldn''t have been broken or moved on its own as an Object, so it must have been stolen.
The value of the Unbreakable Cube was so immeasurably high that the prevailing opinion became that this entire incident was to smuggle out that cube.
However, there were differing opinions on who hadmitted such an act.
The suspect was identified once the material of the golden tree was revealed.
It turned out that the golden tree was an Object made from Golden Horn.
Naturally, the suspect was then identified as the ''Maker''.
.
The ''Maker'', a criminal who makes Objects using Golden Horn as material, became the prime suspect.
In fact, in my opinion, there were a few more questionable points about this incident, but it had already drifted away from public attention.
''Why were the soldiers, especially themander leading the blockade, found dead at the exhibition hall?''
''Why were so many dangerous Objects exhibited at this exhibition?''
These questions remained.
But on TV, only the ''Maker'' was being highlighted.
I turned off the TV that was just repeating the same thing and went outside the istion room.
I should test out the new abilities I gained this time.
***
An abandoned former Research Institute on the outskirts of Gangdong-gu.
After escaping from the exhibition hall, the Research Institute director moved the base here.
Since they had caused an incident under the name of the Bucheon Research Institute, it was obvious they would be exposed sooner orter.
At this new Research Institute, the director''s another experiment began.
"Alright, let''s start the experiment."
A loud signal sounded and the countdown began.
It was an experiment simr to the previous ones.
The only difference was that the ''Unbreakable Cube'' was ced inside the sealed room.
Soon, a sound like a huge hammer striking a steel te rang out.
The ''Nameless'' had appeared and started mercilessly pounding on the sealed room.
The room reinforced by the cube showed a strength befitting its ''indestructible'' nature.
No matter how fast and hard it was struck, the room stubbornly maintained its shape.
The booming sound of the steel te being pounded, which seemed like it would continue endlessly, suddenly stopped at one point.
And then, apletely different phenomenon began to ur.
A sharp sound reverberated throughout theboratory.
It was a chilling sound like nails being dragged across a chalkboard.
Along with that sharp sound, the ''Nameless'' one''s fingers slowly pierced through the wall of the sealed room.
At first, just one finger.
Then after a while, the wrist.
And then the entire arm.
As the sharp sound reverberated, the arm was slowly piercing through, growing longer and longer.
The ''Nameless'' arm had prated through the ''indestructible'' room and appeared.
The ''Nameless'' arm seemed to be sustaining some damage as powder scattered, but it regenerated instantly.
However, unfortunately, the sealed room could not regenerate.
"Save me, save me! Save me!"
Seeing the arm pushing in further, the man in the sealed room screamed while covering his ears.
He just kept screaming to be saved.
But his wish, like the sacrifices of other experiments, could not be fulfilled.
After pushing its entire upper body inside, the ''Nameless'' grabbed the man and slowly crushed him to death.
Being physically immune due to the cube, it killed him slowly and painfully.
Eventually, the man was crushed, leaving only the blood of the once human man inside the sealed room.
"So even the cube couldn''t stop it. There was a way to prate physical immunity... The experiments on the ''Nameless'' are suspended. It would be a waste of time until another solution is found."
The director dered an end to the experiment with an angry expression.
"At this rate, we may not even be able to start the ''KR-897'' research."
Suddenly, blood spurted out from his chest with a frightening force.
"Oh, drat."
The grotesque arm that had emerged from his chest was slowly splitting his body in half.
Despite bleeding from his mouth and slowly dying, his expression didn''t disy much concern.
"Researchers, let''s take a day off."
With thosest words, the Research Institute director died, split in half.
On top of the director''s mangled corpse from his slip of the tongue, the researchers danced joyfully in tears.
Chapter 49: Exhibition - Aftermath (2)
Tak-tak-tak
I walked down the hallway of the Research Institute, looking for a new experimental subject for the ability I had recently acquired.
There were quite a few Objects I had dealt with this time.
The golden tree, a Yeti, and a bunch of neutralized objects drilled by the Golden Reaper.
Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain any abilities from the Objects other than the golden tree.
I''m not sure of the reason, but there were asionally Objects from which I couldn''t obtain abilities.
The criteria?
I worked hard to investigate that a year ago.
The more an Object primarily used physical abilities, the higher the probability of not being able to obtain anything.Perhaps my body couldn''t ept abilities like muscle hypertrophy, toughened skin, or growing sturdy fur?
Fortunately, I was able to obtain the sleep ability from the golden tree.
It''s the ability to put the target to sleep, but I''m not sure what level of effect it will have.
As I walked tak-tak down the hallway, I heard a loud noise.
Bang.
It sounded like someone strongly pping a table with their palm.
The noise came from the Sehee Research Institute conference room.
Sneaking in via ghostification, I saw an unfamiliar face.
Sehee Research Institute Vice Director Park Seo-ah.
T/N: I''m not sure about Park Seo-ah''s gender at the moment. If it turns out to be male, please don''t be confused.
She rarely came out of the vice director''s office, so she was a face I seldom saw unless I went out of my way to find her.
Park Seo-ah was yelling while angrily pping the desk, her expression furious.
Park Seo-ah doesn''t usually get angry, so I wondered what happened for her to get so mad.
"Researcher Oh-Yerin, care to exin?"
Under Park Seo-ah''s pping hand were two photographs.
One showed Oh-Yerin secretly putting the golden Reaper into a bag and taking it outside.
The other was a picture of a bloodied Golden Reaper taken at the exhibition.
Yerin was cowering with a terrified expression.
It seemed she was being scolded for taking out the golden Reaper without authorization.
"How could someone with the profession of a researcher even think of illegally taking an Object out?"
"I''m sorry."
Yerin shrank down, while Sehee sitting next to her looked unconcerned.
"Director Lee Sehee of the Sehee Research Institute!"
Sehee looked startled when suddenly called.
"Just what kind of monitoring system do you have in ce that an Object of such high risk requiring istion could so easily, so simply escape outside due to the misconduct of an individual?"
"Well, Yerin tampered with the CCTV..."
"Consider if a high-risk Object that absolutely needs istion had brainwashed Researcher Oh-Yerin to escape. Would you be able to brush it off with words like that? The Sehee Research Institute would be shut down and the director jailed!"
Sehee shrank down like Yerin.
In fact, it was unbelievable that Yerin had seeded in secretly smuggling out an Object.
It was something that should never happen at a normal research institute.
The result of Seo-a''s scolding was disastrous.
Yerin was demoted in pay and had her workce changed.
She ended up having to work in the vice director''s office for a while.
Sehee had to handle paperwork in ce of the vice director while she rebuilt the monitoring system.
The expressions on Yerin and Sehee''s faces when they heard that looked like people who had lost their country.
Ah,e to think of it, I should test out the sleep ability...
***
Yerin POV:
---
With heavy footsteps, I headed to Reaper''s istion room.
Ah, from today I have to work in the vice director''s office.
It became 10 times harder toe visit Reaper.
When I entered the istion room, Reaper, who had been lying on the bed, lifted up the nket and patted the bed enthusiastically.
It looked like an invitation for me toe into the nket.
Wow! An invitation from Reaper!
I immediately dashed over and dived into the bed.
Then closing my eyes, I savored the nket Reaper had covered me with.
Huh, suddenly I''m getting really sleepy.
Zzz.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The sleep ability test I tried on Yerin was somewhat sessful.
Can only be used on contact.
Cannot be used on Objects.
Can put one person to sleep at a time.
The sleep ability I obtained this time was pretty decent.
Perfect for putting Yerin to sleep when she''s being a nuisance!
Since it''s not a bother now, I pped Yerin''s cheek to wake her up.
Pat pat.
Yerin woke up faster than I expected.
Hmm, the ability to stay asleep seems to be a bitcking.
"Ah, did I doze off for a moment?"
Yerin, rubbing her eyes, turned towards me and started acting coy while hugging me tightly.
She said that since she would be working at the vice director''s office from now on, there would be no easy way out.
To be honest, I felt a little sorry since I was partly responsible for her unauthorized removal of the Golden Reaper.
And since Yerin helped resolve the recent Golden Tree incident, I should give her some kind of gift.
What would she like?
***
Omnom nom~
The Golden Reaper was fidgeting on the desk.
"Wow!"
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Reaper, who was listening to myints, suddenly summoned some Golden Reapers.
And when it took out a cake for the seemingly hungry Golden Reapers, this situation unfolded.
The Golden Reapers, who love sweets, rushed towards the cake and were enjoying it in their own ways.
So cute!
I took out my camera and started taking pictures.
Seo-ah unnie said I could die for carelessly taking pictures of Objects, but it should be fine with the kind Golden Reapers!
I wanted to take them home again, but I should endure it this time.
And I felt like I would have nightmares again if I took them.
It would be too sad if the warmth of the Golden Reapers disappeared while I was sleeping.
There were a total of 3 fidgeting Golden Reapers.
One was submerged in cocoa.
It was definitely drinking it judging by how it was gradually decreasing, but why was it doing that?
Well, it doesn''t matter since it''s cute!
The other two were focused on the cake.
One was hugging and munching on the sponge cake.
The other was eating the strawberry leaves.
Why is it eating that!
I wanted to make it eat the strawberries properly, but it would get angry if I tried to touch it, so I could only watch.
I kept taking pictures while letting out a naturalugh.
Until the angry Seo-ah unnie came to get me.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
The kidnapping case was reaching its final stage.
We found out where the kidnapped person was sold.
After getting information from the Golden Horn broker and tracking where they were sold, we could identify the destination.
This ce, the Bucheon Research Institute.
There were clear signs that the client''s sister was sold here alive to the Bucheon Research Institute.
Looking around, contrary to being in operation, it waspletely in ruins.
It seems they had already closed up shop and fled far away?
We secretly infiltrated the Research Institute that had bepletely ruined.
The building was so unkempt that it was full of garbage, and the exterior walls were damaged enough to expose the rebar.
"Wow, it''s aplete mess."
"Senior! Be a little quieter. That famous ''maker'' might be here. You know, stealth mode!"
Does this junior realize that her voice is three times as loud as mine?
The sound of vehicles starteding from far away.
The driving sounds of many vehicles on the quiet road.
It seems we''re not the only ones with business at this Research Institute?
Makes sense since it''s the hideout of that famous ''maker'', right?
"Someone''sing."
I gave a warning and turned around to see the junior tightly gripping arge hammer, tensely.
Behind her was our client, Hyejin, who had followed us all the way here.
Numerous vehicles started lining up and entering the Research Institute entrance.
From the van that arrived first, many people got out led by two individuals.
The two shadows approaching in the lead.
One was a slender shadow and the other a stout shadow.
They turned out to be a man dressed in an impably tailored ck suit and a blonde girl.
I was well acquainted with both of them.
"Friend~ Long time no see!"
"Yeah."
"And the youngdy too, long time no see~"
The blonde girl just elegantly nodded her head slightly in response to my greeting, without a word.
The ck guy used to belong to the Central Research Institute and the blonde is the granddaughter of Chairman Oh Mu-ryong.
Or is he not the chairman anymore? Anyway, the granddaughter of that high-ranking person.
Behind the granddaughter, people who looked like bodyguards were standing in a circle around her like a folding screen.
"We came here tracking the Golden Horn kidnapping victim, what about you guys?"
"We were tracking the Golden Horn case itself to resolve it... but it seems we''re already toote."
"Hm? Then let''s hurry inside. Criminals love basements, you know."
I strode right into the Research Institute.
The ck guy instructed the staff who had just arrived to seal off the perimeter, then followed me into the building.
The inside of the Research Institute was even more wrecked than the exterior.
This ce was really operating until very recently?
An ominous energy wafted up from the stairs leading down to the basement.
And the deeper we went, the stronger the stench of blood became.
When we finally descended into the basement through the dark stairwell, the source of the intense bloody smell became clear.
Thick, caked blood in every istion room.
Severed limbs and crushed body parts.
What on earth did they do here?
What kind of experiment could create such a scene in the istion rooms?
Outside the istion rooms were piles of bluish corpses dumped carelessly in the corners like garbage.
"Sister!"
Hyejin screamed out in a frantic voice.
And she ran hurriedly towards the piles of corpses.
Seeing the uniformly severed horns on all the corpses, they seemed to be the kidnapped victims.
The client''s sister we were asked to find was already dead.
"No! Sister, sister, sister!"
Apanied by the client''s sobbing cries, the request to find her sister no matter alive or dead was sessful.
But it was a tragedy.
Chapter 50: Theme Park (1)
The sound of the TV echoed hollowly in the istion room, and I was fidgeting out of boredom.
''She''ste...Yerin...''
I was boredtely because Yerin couldn''te often these days.
So to kill time, I was wandering around the Research Institute when I discovered a new istion room.
New Objects had been brought into the Research Institute.
There were a total of 3 new Objects I found while roaming the Research Institute.
Each new Object had a brief note about its source written on it.
Two were found by the ''cute puppy'', and one was transferred from another Research Institute.
It seems like they used to only bring in Objects asionally before, buttely they''ve been increasing the number of Objects in istion whenever they''re bored.One of them was the creepy Object roaming around in that istion room full of sand.
Its name was oddly named to the point where I wondered if this was really its name.
Should I really consider this a spider?
It looks more like bone rather than a spider...
The Skull Spider looked less like a spider and more like a hand bone crudely tied together with spider webs.
In fact, it was hard to see it as a human hand bone, since it had over 20 fingers.
If you consider the fingers as a spider''s legs, the number of legs far exceeded that of a spider.
After observing it for a while, its behavior felt a bit insect-like.
It would burrow into the sand and hide, then leap out of the sand to ambush any easy prey that passed by.
Since it was just bare bones with no flesh, I watched curiously to see if it actually ate anything, but it didn''t seem to eat its prey.
It would just tie up its sessful hunts with spider webs and bury them in the sand.
It also disyed spider-like behaviors like gliding with its webs or shooting webs.
As I continued to observe it like ants, I realized that it looked a bit like spiders.
But it looked too creepy to actually touch with my hands, so I skipped that and headed to the istion room where another Object was kept.
This istion room was starkly different from the others.
It was arge outdoor facility, like a racing circuit.
A spacious courtyard with roads and intersections recreated inside the istion room.
The name of the Object isted here is
.
It was a stylishly designed navigation system with beautiful wood grain patterns.
It had an artistic, high-end furniture vibe to it as an Object.
The only issue was that it was attached to a three-wheeled bicycle.
When I snuck into the istion room and got on the three-wheeler, the unpowered navigation system turned on by itself.
"Please state your destination."
A crisp voice flowed out of the navigation system.
The navigation screen disyed a detailed map of the area around the Research Institute, even depicting people and vehicles moving around in real-time.
It really did seem like a truly ''perfect'' navigation system, as its name suggested.
Usually, Objects this useful tend to stay with their discoverers instead of ending up at the Research Institute.
But the fact that it was here implied a high chance of it having some critical w.
Still, it looked kind of fun.
Ting ting.
As I slowly pedaled the three-wheeler, a clear ringing sound came from the metal connected to the wheels.
Probably a device to easily locate the moving bicycle''s position inside therge istion room?
As the bicycle moved forward, the navigation system spoke up.
"Switching to free roam mode."
The three-wheeler moved forward slowly at my pedaling pace, making a clear ringing sound.
This istion room was set up like a bicycle yground of sorts.
Quite a dangerous yground, except for that part it was fun.
As I rolled the wheels, metal balls would sometimes roll out in front, or metal human figures would pop out at crosswalks.
Every time, the navigation system detected every single one of them and gave me instructions to avoid them at just the right timing.
A bit of an exaggeration, but it felt like I could drive on the road blindfolded!
As I wandered around the three-wheeled bicycle road, fog started to rise gradually.
Wow, did they even create a device to recreate such bad weather conditions?
The thick fog made it impossible to see even an inch ahead, which should have made it difficult to move around, but thanks to the navigation system, it wasn''t a problem at all.
The navigation system was actually projecting light to simte the external environment.
With an excited feeling, I increased my speed with a smile on my face.
It was more enjoyable than I thought to pedal quickly on thepletely white road where nothing could be seen.
A somewhat uneasy yet wondrous feeling ovepped, giving me quite a thrill.
However, the fun time that seemed endless in the thick fog where even the bicycle wheels were invisible, came to an end.
The fog that had filled the surroundings suddenly disappeared.
''Huh?''
And then I rolled down a steep hill.
Tumbling down, the ce I ended up was a graveyard of three-wheeled bicycles.
Many bicycles were scattered around this graveyard.
I''m physically immune, so I was fine, but it was a height that could have killed an ordinary person if they fell.
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I ghostified out of the istion room and read the description of the Object.
I thought it was a good one, but it turned out to be an evil navigation system...
***
Detective POV:
---
I picked up a photo soaked in blood scattered on the floor.
"A cute puppy photo?"
A dismembered corpse, a torn notebook, and a cute puppy photo.
It feels like I should remember something, but I can''t recall.
I definitely feel like I should remember it...
"The ''Maker'' tested ''Nameless'' huh. That criminal tried to solve a global Object issue. So they stole the Cube?"
"Nameless?"
The ck figure covering thedy''s eyes from the horrific basement environment said something puzzling.
''Nameless'' sounds like a name I''ve heard before.
What was it?
"Don''t bother trying to remember. It''ll just give you a headache."
"Well, I''m not really into pointlessly worrying anyway. This puzzling stuff is probably rted to Objects again."
Feeling frustrated, I brushed my hair back.
"So did you at least find out anything useful from this mess?"
"Not really any useful information. Just traces of an attempted futile act."
"We missed the Maker, then."
Employees in blue uniforms started descending into the basement inrge numbers.
They''ll probably poke around with professional equipment, trying to find even the smallest clue.
Chasing the Maker is quite interesting, but without a request, I should head back to the office and wait for the next one.
"Junior, let''s go back!"
"No, senior! Where are you leaving Hyejin behind?"
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Leaving the Skull Spider and the navigation system behind, I arrived at an Object kept in a sturdier istion room.
The moment I saw this Object, I had a feeling.
This one seems like it''ll be fun!
The Object was a walking doll.
A round, ball-like face.
Its eyes and mouth were crudely sewn shut, and it wore a colorful clown-like outfit.
Aside from the face, it was quite a nice doll.
The problem was that the face looked unnervingly realistic, which made me feel ufortable.
The doll walked around inside the istion room, nodding in greeting and holding out an envelope.
Written on the envelope was "You''re invited to Smile Theme Park!"
So it seems the name of this Object was written like this:
The doll walked around pitifully alone, holding out the invitation, but none of the Research Institute employees epted the invitation.
In fact, epting an invitation from an Object was a deration that you were willing to risk death.
The doll that had been toddling over held out the invitation to me.
Hmm, it feels like something fun might happen if I ept that invitation?
***
??? POV:
---
A lonesome shared graveyard.
Leaning against a tree, I waited endlessly for someone.
Secret Central Research Institute employees were positioned all around the graveyard to guard me.
The secret Central Research Institute did not send me back to prison.
Instead, they put me in charge as the vice director of the secret Central Research Institute.
Even in a situation where it became impossible to summon the director Object, they deliberately left the director''s seat vacant and made me the vice director.
And as the vice director of the secret Central Research Institute, my first duty was to wait at some grave for some person.
I was waiting with the conviction that since that man had been freed, he would definitelye here.
Because it was his mother''s grave.
Footsteps approached.
I looked up to see the man with the same face as 30 years ago.
The man looked at me with the same emotionless eyes as 30 years before.
Chapter 51: Theme Park (2)
A meeting was being held in the conference room located inside the Sehee Research Institute.
Present in the conference room were Lee Sehee, Park Seo-ah, and Kim Jungroo.
These three were seated.
Written on the whiteboard in the conference room was,
"Then let''s start the meeting."
Kim Jungroo announced the start of the meeting in a heavy voice.
"This meeting is aimed at addressing the difference in opinions between the Deputy Director and the Director regarding the excessive contact between the Gray Reapers and humans."
As the start of the meeting was announced, Sehee quickly began speaking."The changes are obvious from the photos. It''s hard to overlook as trivial since it''s about the Gray Reaper."
Sehee spoke with a confident expression.
On the table Sehee tapped were several photos.
On the photos were small writings like ''Yerin on'' or ''Yerin off''.
They were all photos taken of the istion room where the Gray Reaper resides, with subtle differences.
The ''Yerin off'' side looked a bit darker.
The Gray Reaper''s light looked a bit weaker, and its expression looked a bit gloomy.
On the other hand, the ''Yerin on'' side looked a bit brighter.
The Gray Reaper''s light appeared brighter, and its expression seemed slightly more radiant.
After seeing the photos, Seo-ah snapped her fingers slightly and began speaking.
"I understand that''s the result of isting Researcher Yerin from the Gray Reaper. But I''m still uneasy. Isn''t frequent contact between a high-risk Object and a specific individual too dangerous?"
Seo-ah stated her opinion in a calm voice.
"Moreover, there''s a high possibility it''s just a temporary phenomenon. It may regain its brightness by taking interest in something else on its own."
Sehee refuted that.
"But that ''taking interest in something else'' may not be good from the Research Institute''s standpoint?"
She spread out more photos.
A photo of a Reaper standing amidst a sea of mes in the istion room.
A photo of Reaper looking down at an Object with its limbs smashed off.
A photo of the wall of the istion room with holes shaped like Reapers, resembling Egyptian murals.
They were records of various incidents caused by the Reaper.
"The Reaper without Yerin is vicious. Not consciously, but it seems to unconsciously cause major idents and crave people''s attention? Surprisingly, it bes very docile when given a lot of human contact, even though it seems bothered. Of course, if Yerin is around, it resolves things on its own! Cost-effective."
After speaking, Sehee spread out more photos.
A photo of the Reaper grabbing one leg of a blue lizard ying piano, preventing it from ying.
A photo of the Reaper pressing its face against the istion room ss holding the Skull Spider, watching intently.
A photo of the Reaper happily riding a three-wheeled bicycle.
"These are recent photos. It''s already wandering around other istion rooms. Well, since the Reaper doesn''t attack humans, it''s okay to observe the situation a bit longer."
Knock knock knock.
"I''m sorry I interrupted your meeting."
The meeting where Seo-ah''s concerns deepened ended with a sudden knocking sound.
"Director. You need toe out. The Gray Reaper has gone missing due to the ''Theme Park Invitation Doll''."
***
The istion room where researchers record the ''Theme Park Invitation Doll''s'' reactions.
In that istion room, the doll was about to hand me an invitation.
The ''Theme Park Invitation Doll'' politely tried to hand me the invitation, but upon seeing my face, it naturally withdrew the invitation like flowing water.
Then it turned around and tried to give the invitation to other researchers as if nothing had happened.
As if it had never tried to give it to me.
When I stood in front of the doll, it turned its body away as if not seeing me.
Swung~
When I spun, the doll spun too.
Swung~
When I spun again, the doll spun again.
It didn''t seem like it was going to hand over the invitation properly, so instead of a direct approach, I decided to ambush and seize the invitation by surprise.
I hid using ghostification and quietly waited for an opportunity.
The moment the ''Theme Park Invitation Doll'' tried to hand the invitation to another researcher in the istion room, I materialized and grabbed the invitation.
Got it!
''Huh?''
But the doll refused to hand over the invitation, clutching it tightly.
The doll and I were in a tug-of-war situation over the invitation.
No matter how hard I pulled, the invitation didn''t budge at all.
On the contrary, while the doll tried to shake me off, with its small body it would be difficult.
The intense situation that seemed like it would continue suddenly ended.
The grotesque thread sealing the doll''s sewn mouth came undone,pletely changing the situation.
"Uaaaaaah!"
The doll began letting out an unpleasant scream.
At the same time, its muscles started rapidly increasing in size, ripping through its upper clothing as they bulged out.
A muscr torso emerging from a round-faced doll.
This kind of existence should not be allowed.
T/N: Yeah! Not cute!
As the muscr doll pulled the invitation, I could no longer stand on two feet.
I just swayed back and forth like a reed, shaken around.
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Eventually, I lost my grip on the invitation and was flung away, tumbling around inside the istion room.
''!''
Enraged, I checked the doll''s death condition.
[Collect 10 theme park stamps.]
On the front was an introduction to the theme park.
After reading the entire introduction, some force burst out from the postcard.
I didn''t resist this force and epted it as is.
Then the sounds gradually grew distant.
Even the doll''s sorrowful crying faded away.
The surroundings also started to darken.
The moment everything turned pitch ck,
I was suddenly in apletely unfamiliar ce.
***
In a detective''s office with the morning sun shining, I was sitting in a rocking chair basking in the sunlight.
What I thought was a simple missing person case turned out to be a big one involving a ''Maker'' the deeper I dug.
Since it was unrted to the request, I just left, but the human trafficking and cruel experiments happening at the Bucheon Research Institute didn''t seem normal.
On top of that, with the connection to this exhibition terror incident exposed, the police were about to raid the Bucheon Research Institute en masse.
Now, only the ck subordinate remained at the institute for investigation, which would undoubtedly be an incredibly cumbersome situation.
Sharing investigation results with the police, exining the circumstances of investigating the Research Institute, just thinking about it is dreadful.
Or maybe with thedy there, it could get wrapped up surprisingly easily?
As I was thinking about the Bucheon Research Institute, there was a knock at the door.
Knock knock.
"Senior! I''m here."
The one entering through the open door was Junior 1.
Since there''s a high possibility of a Junior 2 appearing, I decided to call the old junior, Junior 1.
"So, how''s Hyejin doing?"
"Not too good. But she''ll regain her energy soon, being a Golden Horn and all."
"Who knows. Mental fortitude varies from person to person."
After the request waspleted, Hyejin said she didn''t have money to pay the fee, so she would sell her horn to pay it.
Of course, I refused.
It''s illegal.
Moreover, after being shocked by her sister''s death, if she also cut off her horn, she would definitely die 100%.
So I strictly told her that even if she brought money, I would never ept it if her horn was gone.
However, I didn''t intend to demand money from the girl who had no way to earn it either.
It hasn''t been long since she left the istion area, so it would be difficult for her to find a job.
Plus, with many people targeting Golden Horns, the world is three times as dangerous for those with Golden Horns, so I decided to help her a little.
I told her, ''Contact me once you''ve regained yourposure! If you can''t find a ce to work, I''ll hire you as Junior 2.'' So if she has any thoughts, she''ll contact me.
That''s how the prospective Junior 2, Hyejin, came about.
The requests I''ve taken based on my intuition have always been incredibly rewarding, so this one will be the same.
This request wasn''t about earning arge sum, so perhaps Junior 2 will be of great helpter on.
"Heh, huh."
Junior 1 was even humming a tune while polishing two hammers until they shone.
"...? What are you doing now?"
"Ah, since there''s a Junior 2, I need to use two hammers!"
"Ah..."
I felt a severe headacheing on and rubbed my forehead with a sigh.
In fact, I had also hired Junior 1 based on intuition, but this was the moment when I started to doubt my intuition.
Chapter 52: Theme Park (3)
Sehee POV:
---
The Gray Reaper emergency meeting was abruptly interrupted by the sudden appearance of a staff member.
Following the staff''s guidance, we arrived at the istion room of the ''Theme Park Invitation Doll''.
Inside the istion room, the doll was sadly crying while using its foot to stitch and treat its severed arm.
Outside the istion room, researchers had swarmed from all directions, creating a bustlingmotion.
I demanded an exnation from the staff who had brought us here.
"Well, could you exin what happened?"
"Yes, Director."ording to the exnation, it didn''t seem like a major issue.
The doll that had its arms torn off after provoking the Gray Reaper had brought it upon itself.
Reapers show no mercy to Objects, so the Objects should have been more careful.
Rather, the puzzling part was the disappearance of the Reaper.
"So it really disappeared?"
"Yes, the Gray Reaper vanished after ncing at the stolen invitation."
We couldn''t verify it through CCTV.
All footage was discarded due to the possibility of capturing the invitation''s contents.
A glimpse of the invitation on CCTV could have been enough to make it disappear.
"Certainly terrifying, isn''t it?"
I said this while looking at Seo-ah and grinning.
"Then what countermeasures should we take going forward, Director?"
Kim Jungroo asked in a solemn voice.
"First, send a warning to the researchers: ''There''s a high risk of abduction even from merely looking at the invitation, not just reading it.'' Also, instruct them topletely block ess to the istion room and stop all CCTV recordings."
Since it seemed to abduct Objects as well, moreprehensive measures were needed.
"As for the Gray Reaper, it shouldn''t be a problem. It''s more surprising that it got sucked in after seeing the invitation. Usually, it''s the abducted Object that spits it back out, so let''s wait a bit."
Until now, Reapers had been nearly immune to such abduction-type Objects.
It was more usible that the bored Reaper had intentionally let itself be taken.
Unless the ''Theme Park Invitation Doll'' was an Object on the level of Lophiomus...
But judging from the doll crying after having its arm torn off, it didn''t seem that way at all.
"In fact, there''s no real issue even if the Gray Reaper got sucked into that invitation. But just in case any variables arise, let''s move up the experiment we had nned."
The staff began to scramble to move up the previously scheduled test of the Theme Park Invitation Doll.
***
Yerin POV:
---
The Reaper had gone missing!
Ever since hearing that news, I had been asionally slipping away and wandering around in search of the Reaper.
"Yerin, are you going out again?"
"Yes, I''ll be back soon after getting some fresh air~."
Even though I knew the Reaper couldn''t really disappear, I felt uneasy for some reason.
However, no matter how thoroughly I searched every corner of the Research Institute, I couldn''t find a trace of the Reaper.
The Reaper was nowhere to be found, even in the ces it would likely go.
I crouched down in front of the Reaper''s bed in its istion room.
Perhaps due to wandering around during work hours, I felt drowsy.
I dozed off and on, thinking
Reaper, pleasee back soon.
***
I found myself in the midst of an extremely long, 30-year dream.
I watched it from afar, as if I were a ghost.
In the dream, I opened my eyes in a dazed state.
It was the worn but well-maintained istion room of the Reaper, just as I had always seen it in my dreams.
In the dream, I got up with an ufortable body and began dusting and cleaning.
Just in case the Reaper returned, I wanted everything to be alright.
I wiped the TV, the old game console, the table, and the bed, removing the dust.
It was a habit I had maintained for 30 years.
Thirty years had passed since the Reaper disappeared.
Sometimes, the dream version of me would look at the table and smile contentedly.
As if watching golden Reapers frolicking.
At those moments, it seemed like I could see that sight right before my eyes.
Clunk, clunk.
In the dream, I was gradually bing unwell.
I had often prepared for pics to y with Reaper, but not anymore.
I sensed that I was no longer in a physical condition to y with Reaper.
The me in the dream muttered in a small voice.
"Reaper,e back soon."
"Reaper is invincible."
"Someday, you will definitely return."
The me in the dream closed my eyes tightly while muttering like that.
The me who quietly fell asleep in the dream had a satisfied smile.
As if Reaper was right in front of me.
When I closed my eyes, it seemed like I could hear small footsteps.
tak, tak.
Reaper''s small footsteps.
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"You''ve finallye," said the me in the dream.
And so, the me in the dream met my end.
***
"Reaper!"
When I opened my eyes, it was Reaper''s istion room.
Not even 10 minutes had passed.
My whole body was drenched in sweat.
Did I just doze off for a bit?
It was too long and profound to be just a dream.
It felt like I had really lived 30 years without Reaper.
Seoul without Reaper was truly dreadful in the dream.
In the dream, Kim Jungroo senior died first.
Because of the Objects that swarmed out from a sinkhole.
And Park Seo-ah unnie also died.
It was when the government dered abandoning Seoul as they could no longer control the Objects appearing in the city.
On the day Park Seo-ah unnie died, Lee Sehee unnie also changed somehow.
T/N: Unnie (??) = older sister, Unnie is only used by girls and only when addressing older female siblings or females you are very close with. Additionally, Unnie is an informal, friendly way to address somebody. (source: )
Unnie, who waspletely different and obsessed with something, moved the Research Institute to the safe New Seoul area.
Seoul had officially been dismantled, but I chose to remain in the building that was once the Sehee Research Institute.
Because I believed Reaper would return.
Nowhere on the Korean penins was safe to live.
In a world without Reaper, I lived waiting only for Reaper''s return.
The world fell apart without Reaper.
Or did the world fall apart because Reaper was gone?
I''m d it was just a dream.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
I woke up in avishly decorated room.
The plush bed softly embraced my back, and the dim lighting filled the surroundings with a warm glow, creating a cozy atmosphere.
As I got up from the bed, a mannequin dressed like a room attendant came to greet me.
"Wee, guest. Wee to Smile Theme Park!"
It was a mannequin with a round face, its eyes and mouth sewn shut.
Neatly dressed in a suit.
And even wearing a tall cylindrical hat.
"Now, before enjoying the theme park, please ept this first."
The mannequin handed me a piece of paper.
The paper had 9 round faces printed on it.
"Smile Theme Park is currently holding a stamp event. It''s a simple event where you enjoy all 9 types of rides ced in the theme park, get stamps, and then it''spleted!"
9 stamps?
Not 10?
The destruction condition I saw was [Collect 10 theme park stamps] nk, nk.
The loud sound of chains shing against each other.
Someone might have pointed it out, but those timid guys would never do that.
The transport vehicle stopped in the Research Institute parking lot, making a loud noise.
Around the transport vehicle were police officers with tense expressions and researchers who looked terrified of us.
After getting off the parking lot, I looked down at the police officer standing in the front and asked,
"So, where do we go?"
The police officer could only stammer without giving a proper answer.Mockingughter from the death row inmates leaked out from all around.
The police officers shouted for silence and led us to an istion room inside the Research Institute.
The namete in front of the istion room we arrived at said .
Inside the istion room was a round-faced doll Object wobbling around.
It was a doll with a mocking grin that made you want to tear it apart.
Looking around, the expressions were clearly divided.
The once rxed death row inmates had deathly pale faces when faced with the Object, while the researchers looked scared but couldn''t hide their curiosity.
The death row inmates were lined up and tremblingly thrown into the istion room one by one.
Idiots,plete idiots.
If you''re going to do it, you should do it boldly.
How did only the cowards end up gathering here?
Especially that pig and anchovy, it''s doubtful how they even lived until now.
As I stood in front of the istion room, the suffocating handcuffs restraining me were removed.
Ah, finally I can live a little.
I rubbed my wrists and entered the istion room, where the doll was grinning with its mouth wide open.
I received the letter the doll gave me and read the postcard.
It contained a long-winded content that wasn''t even funny.
After reading the postcard, my vision gradually started turning ck.
From the contents of the postcard, it seems like if you ride the 9 types of murderous rides, you can escape.
Whether I escape or not, it will be a farewell to my dreary prison life.
***
About 21 minutes after the death row inmates arrived, they had all read the letter and disappeared.
The police officers who transported the inmates left, leaving only a minimal crew behind.
"Seo-ah unnie? That... that person left, right?"
Ever since seeing the huge death row inmate, Oh-Yerin had been cowering behind my back in fear.
Well, Director Sehee is about 15cm taller than me, so why did she have to hide behind my back too?
"Researcher Oh-Yerin. Since they''ve all disappeared, you cane out now."
"Phew! Didn''t that woman look really scary? She had so many tattoos, and just looking at her, she gave off the vibe of someone who had killed several people!"
While Oh-Yerin was making a fuss, I noticed something strange.
The size of the ''Theme Park Invitation Doll'' seems to have increased?
By about 5cm?
Moreover, the grinning expression of the doll with its mouth ripped open made me feel uneasy.
The doll was dancing around in the istion room,ughing creepily through its torn mouth, "Kek-kek kek-kek."
It was suspicious.
Something was happening.
I called the researchers in charge and urged them to re-measure the doll''s size.
Even with its limbs held by the researchers, the doll keptughing non-stop.
Kek-kek kek-kek.
This had never happened before, it was a new reaction.
The measurement result showed a 5cm increase in height.
But the height increase did not stop at 5cm.
Even during the repeated measurements, it kept increasing its size by 1cm, 1cm.
Was it too hasty of a decision to involve death row inmates in the process?
***
When I opened my eyes, it was apletely unfamiliar ce.
The overly decorated room made me feel like I wasn''t invited.
Fancy paintings, a cab full of food, and an antique mirror.
Looking in the mirror in front of me, I saw myself as fat as a pig.
Seeing the mirror made me suddenly irritated, so I smashed it to pieces.
Haah. Haah.
I''m out of breath.
Blood is dripping from my fist, and tears well up from the injustice.
Despite thevishly decorated room, it felt like an execution chamber to me.
Something is wrong.
I was dragged to a ce like this.
I didn''t do anything wrong.
Just for kidnapping and identally killing one kid, I''m sentenced to death!
The kid provoked me first!
"Wee, guest. Wee to Smile Theme Park!"
"Aahhhh!"
A monster suddenly thrust its face at me.
A monster has alreadye?
"Wh...who are you?"
"I''m an attendant assigned to assist only you, the guest."
"What''s an attendant?"
"Exactly as it sounds. Simply put, my role is to assist you to the end in this theme park."
Despite having its eyes and mouth sewn shut, the monster''s voice was calm and gentle.
What is this, it''s no big deal.
No need to be scared.
Haha.
I just raised my palm and pped that mannequin.
"Just because of you! You made me scared, huh?"
I kicked the fallen mannequin repeatedly, venting some frustration.
As my frustration subsided, I realized what I had done.
What did I just do?
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Venting at an Object!
As I caught my breath and looked around, the mannequin stood up and dusted off its clothes.
"So guest, may I continue with the exnation?"
"No...no need for exnation. Don''te back until I call you!"
"Understood, guest."
The mannequin bowed and backed out of the room.
Phew.
After the mannequinpletely left, I let out a big sigh.
With the fear gone, I started feeling hungry.
The tension made me dizzy.
Looking around the hotel room for something to eat, all kinds of drinks, snacks, and foods were packaged abundantly.
I think I learned about situations rted to Objects, what was it?
Was it to not eat these carelessly?
But I was so hungry that when I looked at the foods, each one had an unidentifiablebel attached.
Blue tags, red tags, and so on.
Looking closely, the tag colors were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, navy, and purple.
Aha! A rainbow set.
Object quizzes were often derived from folklore or famous anecdotes, right?
So does eating them in rainbow order work?
I''m so smart.
Hehe time to feast after so long.
It''s in Object, so it''s free.
I took out a bunch of appetizing foods for each tag color.
I picked out over 30 foods, but the provided foods didn''t seem to diminish.
From them, I chose 7 foods I liked.
A sd with a red tag.
Bread with an orange tag.
Cream soup with a yellow tag.
Fish fry with a green tag.
An appetizing steak with a blue tag.
Cheesecake with a navy tag.
Coffee with a purple tag.
The course meal I wanted to eat after receiving the kid''s ransom money.
I rummaged through my memory to organize the dishes I never got to eat.
Finally, I get to eat this now.
I picked up a fork and ate the sd as elegantly as possible.
"Ugh."
Suddenly I couldn''t breathe.
Blood gushed from my mouth, pooling on the floor.
"Huh? What...what is this?"
I tried to get up holding the table but couldn''t muster any strength and copsed.
Dishes and food rained down on me.
I tried to scream but no voice came out.
***
The mannequin opened the door and entered the room.
"My, guest. You''ve made quite a mess of the room."
There was a mocking tone in the mannequin''s voice.
"I thought you looked greedy like a pig from the start, but to take out so much food."
The man spitting out blood could only roll his eyes to re at the mannequin, unable to move a finger.
But his mouth kept gaping.
''Save me. Save me. Save me.''
"All the food is covered in blood. I''ll have to prepare them again."
The mannequin started transferring the foods the man took out onto a mobile tray.
As the mannequin pulled the tray to leave the room, it said,
"If you wanted to live, you should have listened to the exnation earlier."
The mannequin dropped a sheet of paper onto the man''s face.
It was a paper with the room rules written on it.
The dying man''s eyes diligently read the paper, but it was a meaningless act.
However, the man continued reading the paper until hisst breath.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Nom nom nom~
I am sitting on the bed, eating cheesecake.
Delicious.
As delicious as the famous bakery cake I ate in the istion room.
Chocte mousse cake, strawberry cream cake, pecan pie, apple pie.
It was like all the desserts in the world were gathered here.
Is this heaven?
Actually, there was one smallint.
It would have been nice if each food tag had a different vor!
With small expectations, I tried drinking the orange juice with the red tag, but it wasn''t like a strawberry-vored orange juice, so I was a bit disappointed.
As I rolled around on the bed, the instruction manual that the mannequin told me to read caught my eye.
Well, I can read itter, right?
Stretching out my arms and legs on the bed, I fully enjoyed my rxing time.
Chapter 54: Theme Park (5)
Park Seo-ah POV:
---
The doll swung its fist towards the outer wall of the istion room, and the entire Research Institute shook as if an earthquake had urred.
I fell over from the unfamiliar sudden vibration.
"Sister Seo-ah! Are you okay?"
As I got up with the help of researcher Oh-Yerin, a strangeughter echoed.
Kek-kek kek-kek.
Inside the istion room, there was a doll making a ruckus that was clearly a different size than before.
Now anyone could see that this ''Theme Park Invitation Doll'' was strange.The theme park doll, which was about 1m in size, had now be a giant 3m doll.
"Director Lee Sehee, if this continues, it will be uncontroble. If the size of that doll exceeds 10m, we can no longer contain it in our Research Institute istion room."
"Ugh, it''s a headache. Was it a mistake to carelessly bring the death row inmate?"
The doll started growing in size right after the death row inmate was gone, and it started rampaging when it exceeded 2m.
"It''s okay. Reaper will definitely do something about it!"
When everyone had serious expressions due to the Object''s rampage, only researcher Oh-Yerin was bright.
I should seriously consider whether the gray Reaper has the ability to mentally contaminate...
Kek-kek kek-kek.
Something strange came out of the doll''s mouth.
A bloody, severed finger.
The theme park doll now started spewing blood human pieces from its mouth.
Finely crushed flesh and severed fingers poured out incessantly.
"Huh? I''ve seen that ring on that finger before!"
Researcher Oh-Yerin pointed at a finger that fell on the floor and said,
"It seems to belong to arge man with a rather timid expression."
Fortunately, after the doll spat out blood once, the phenomenon of increasing in size stopped.
"This is big trouble. If it grows that much for each death row inmate killed, the Research Institute won''t be able to handle it."
"Assuming 2m per person, it could grow an additional 18m."
Even generously considering the strength of the Research Institute istion room outer wall, 10m was the limit for containing the doll, so an urgent n was needed in case of istion failure.
"Reaper! Quickly tear open the doll''s stomach ande out."
But Director Lee Sehee of the Research Institute didn''t seem to have any such intention.
It does seem like the gray Reaper has the ability to mentally contaminate?
***
I woke up on a bed that was toofortable to befortable.
"Phew."
I take a deep breath.
It had a cozy atmosphere, but I kept in mind that this was inside the mouth of a murderous Object.
An Object interested in humans? ording to reports, most were murderous Objects.
An Object giving out invitations to humans? It was naturally a murderous Object.
Suddenly, the room door opened, and a mannequin with the ominous doll''s face that I saw in the istion room politely greeted me.
"Our guest this time is ady with cool tattoos. Wee. Wee to Smile Theme Park!"
The mannequin had a friendly atmosphere, but it looked even more dangerous.
"Hmm, you''re a quiet guest. Before enjoying the theme park, please ept this first."
What the mannequin handed me was a sheet of paper made for stamping.
"What is this paper? Is it really necessary?"
"Well, I can''t say it''s absolutely necessary, but you''ll need it to get out of this theme park."
ording to the mannequin''s exnation, it seemed structured so that if you collect all 9 stamps, you can escape.
"Then hurry and guide me to the ''fun rides'' where I can get those stamps."
There''s no need to waste time.
Whether I live or die, I always move forward boldly.
"Hmm, well, unfortunately this room itself is a ''fun ride'' where you can get a stamp. So you can''t leave right now."
The mannequin pointed to a paper hung on the wall that said Room Rules.
Nonsense quizzes that are more like wordy than quizzes.
Of course, if your life was at stake, it wouldn''t be just a game.
Fortunately, there didn''t seem to be any time limit.
Slowly and surely, I''lle to a conclusion.
After pondering, I reached my conclusion.
The answer is purple.
The other colors appeared more than twice, so they can be crossed out.
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Donate now
But the suspicious part is that it doesn''t definitively state ''There is no poison in the purple food!''
"Hey mannequin, can I ask a question?"
"Of course. We''re here to answer your questions and guide you through the theme park."
I waved the paper with the rules written on it and said,
"This doesn''t definitively say there''s no poison in the purple food, so does that mean there is poison?"
"Hmm, we''re prohibited from giving direct help. But this might be a hint."
And the mannequin spoke with an intonation that seemed fitting for amercial jingle.
"There are no boring attractions where you 100% die at the fun Smile Theme Park."
I see.
So does that mean I can eat the purple food?
I opened the cupboard and took out a food item with a purple tag.
A simple purple-tagged energy bar that looked edible.
As I tried to peel off the wrapper to eat it, the mannequin''s gaze bothered me.
It was staring at me tantly.
Why is it staring like that? Is there something strange?
"Hey, if I solved this problem, I can eat the corresponding food, right?"
"Hm, well, the rules aren''t a problem, rules are rules. Everything written is the truth."
"What?"
Everything written is the truth?
So does that mean there is poison in the purple food too?
I threw away the energy bar I had taken out and reread the rules carefully.
Right, delete.
I have to delete one.
Looking around, I found an eraser with ''Delete'' written on it.
"What a fool."
I used the eraser to delete the line that said
After deleting it, the line had also disappeared.
I took out another energy bar from the cupboard and bit into it.
There was no poison.
"Congrattions. You''ve passed the first attraction. Did you have fun?"
"Hmm, you don''t seem very satisfied. Shall I introduce you to another attraction? There is an attraction with rules very simr to the room!"
"No, I absolutely won''t do anything you rmend directly because it seems too suspicious."
Following the mannequin''s guidance, I opened the room door and a huge firework filled the dark night sky.
"Wee once again to ''Smile Theme Park'' where it''s a festival 365 days a year!"
Fireworks kept bursting without a pause and the deserted ticket booth had not a single person.
And there was just me and the mannequin standing there.
That subtle atmosphere felt very Object-like.
***
Reaper (MC) POV :
---
Whoa, I thought my neck would snap off.
tak-tak
As I walked out slowly from the amusement ride called ''Smile Drop Tower'', I held my neck, still feeling the surprise.
There were no particr injuries, but it had been a long time since I was startled like this.
This Smile Theme Park being an amusement park, it had my favorite ''drop tower-type'' ride.
I excitedly went over to check it out, and this drop tower surprisingly had no height restrictions.
Of course, I happily took a seat, lowered the safety bar, and boarded!
But sadly, this ride was not a drop tower-type ride, but a drop tower-type gallows.
A cruel attraction where a noose is ced around your neck when reaching the highest point.
The safety bar grabbed my shoulders to pull me down, and an iron wire noose pulled up around my neck.
Not an execution that breaks your neck bones, but a new concept attraction thatpletely rips off your neck!
Looking at its form, except for the safe seats where no noosees out, everyone would get executed on this ride.
It was a ride where you solve a quiz to figure out the safe seat before enjoying it, but I ignored the confusing quiz and boarded, resulting in this mess.
If I wasn''t an Object, I would have almost died.
But I already have two stamps!
I looked up at the sky from the loud noise.
The huge fireworks were still endlessly bursting in the night sky.
Looking back, the mannequin seemed to be in quite a good mood.
It had been following me ever since I left the room, and somehow it seemed to wee me getting stamps.
Is it better for me to get a lot of stamps?
"You are truly amazing, guest. In fact, the serving doll thought ''Maybe I gave the invitation to the wrong person?'' That''s how amazing you are. Why on earth did it give you the invitation?"
Well, why did it give it to me?
The doll that initially tried to give it made a mistake.
It could be seen as the doll''s mistake, couldn''t it?
Feeling around my neck area, I thought about where to head next.
It didn''t particrly hurt, but since I was startled, I should go eat something tasty for a change of mood!
Looking up at therge map installed throughout the theme park, I saw a suitable ce.
It was arge restaurant named ''Food Court''.
Chapter 55: Theme Park (6)
The man with only bones left was restlessly wandering around the room.
ng ng.
The sound of metal pieces colliding kept ringing every time the man walked.
This man seemed to have some kind of anxiety disorder, unable to stay still for even a moment.
"T-The rules seem harder than I thought."
"I-I''m a genius. Why can''t I figure it out? Is something wrong with me?"
He kept muttering to himself without pause.
On top of that, his self-rationalization and boastfulness were severe.
And the strangest point was that he had gathered all the nails in the room and put them in a table drawer that he carried around.I thought this overly strange person would fail right away, but...
Unexpectedly, he managed to pass the room''s trap rules.
But seeing how he agonized over the room''s problem for over 10 hours, it will be difficult for him to pass through to the end.
As the man rejoiced at passing the room, I acted ording to the prescribed rules.
Congrattory greetings and stamping.
p p p.
"Congrattions, guest!"
***
Finally!
I barely managed to open the room door.
Looking in the mirror, I saw my drenched appearance covered in cold sweat.
What an unsightly disy.
Looking in the mirror, I keep using my hand to push up my sses slipping down.
Seeing my bony, emaciated wrist, I pull my sleeve down to cover it again.
"Heh, heheh. This ce seems prepared for intellectuals like me, doesn''t it? Right, Miss Mannequin?"
"Wow, that''s right, guest."
The female mannequin standing next to me, Miss Mannequin, pped in agreement.
Why ''Miss Mannequin''?
Because she told me to freely call her what I want.
Though her face looked too scary, if I think of it as wearing a doll mask, it''s quite alright.
The quiz from the room was simple.
Is this supposed to be a murder quiz?
It was too easy for such a question toe up.
For someone like me who was once obsessed with those kinds of puzzle games, it was way too ez.
Should I say EASY MODE?
They should give me proper propositional logic problems to solve, then there would be a sense of aplishment.
As I stepped out of the room, the sound of huge fireworks weed me.
The refreshing night breeze cooled my sweat-drenched body.
Looking at therge map set up at the theme park entrance, I discussed the n with Miss Mannequin.
"Heh-heheh. First, since I GOT one stamp from the room, it''s better to strategically aim for simr puzzles."
Pointing at the Food Court, I asked Miss Mannequin.
"This ce called FOOD COURT has puzzles simr to the room, right?"
"Yes, guest. The quizzes are so simr, you''ll be amazed."
"Goo-good. Then let''s go there."
ng ng.
The sound of des colliding as I walked was pleasing to hear.
Not walking far, the Food Court I arrived at was a wide one-story building.
As I opened the Food Court door and went inside, the door closed with a bang sound.
I tried shaking it to open, but it didn''t budge at all.
"A-As expected. The same structure."
With an uneasy feeling, I stroked the knife I had put in my arms.
Inside the Food Court, numerous mannequins were cooking food.
There were 7 stores:
A red sushi restaurant.
An orange Japanese tonkatsu restaurant.
A yellow budae-jjigae restaurant.
A green fast food ce.
A blue pizza ce.
A navy bakery.
A purple fried chicken ce.
It was structured so you could order desired food from the kiosks and receive it.
"This is the pride of Smile Theme Park, the Food Court. It''s a ce that provides various dishes tailored to the taste of the guest who enters."
"In-indeed it only has the foods I like."
So the colors attached to the stores must y a simr role as the tags in the room.
Seeing simr elements to the puzzle I solved in the room, my earlier tension felt foolish.
At this rate, the Object task can be resolved in an instant, and acquittal is almost guaranteed?
Inside the Food Court, there was also a paper with rules written and an eraser with ''delete'' written on it, as expected.
"T-Too easy, isn''t it?"
were almost identical to the room rules.
We will rely solely on your kindness! Click here!
Donate now
The only difference was that the conditions indicating which foods contained poison were grouped in pairs, not triplets.
"Again, purple. Well, since fried chicken is my favorite, it''s not bad."
I deleted
Miss Mannequin didn''t say anything and just stared at me intently.
I felt a strange feeling, but my solution was perfect!
It''s only natural to delete the non-duplicated purple line if you delete one line from the rules.
I ordered one of each fried chicken being sold at the kiosks.
The chickens that instantly arrived on the tray looked delicious.
"Then shall I try eating it?"
I took a bite of the fried chicken''s drumstick.
At that moment, the ceiling spun.
"Ugh...dizzy."
When I looked at my open palm, my palm was purple.
No, that wasn''t it.
The world, everything I saw was purple.
Did Miss Mannequin trick me?
I tried to take out the knife from my arms, but I couldn''t muster any strength.
I copsed onto the table.
Looking up from my copsed state, Miss Mannequin was watching me.
"Why?"
Miss Mannequin didn''t say anything and just kept watching me.
***
Reaper (MC) POV :
---
kreak
As I opened the door and entered the Food Court, a sweet aroma filled the air.
Wah!
"Wee! This is the pride of Smile Theme Park, the Food Court. It''s a ce that provides various services tailored to the guest who enters, so you''ll be satisfied."
As the mannequin assured, the Food Court was heaven.
Not sealed, packaged dishes but freshly cooked warm dishes!
A red tteokbokki specialty store.
An orange apple pie specialty store.
A yellow fast food store.
A green world snack specialty store.
A blue pudding specialty store.
A navy world candy specialty store.
A purple cake specialty store.
It was such an abundant lineup that made me wonder what to eat.
It seemed orders were ced through kiosks.
Hop hop.
The problem was the kiosks were too high, so I couldn''t see the contents well without jumping.
I hopped and selected the purple store!
First, my favorite strawberry cake!
After choosing the strawberry cake, I scurried over and stood in front of the purple store.
I leaned over the purple food court counter and stuck my head out to watch.
The cake took so long to make that the mannequins inside moved as if they were going ten times faster.
Maybe I should acquire an ability like that too.
It looks cool and convenient.
As if time itself was moving at 10x speed, the cake was ready and in my hands in no time.
Let''s eat well!
Omnom nom~
***
After finishing one cake, the mannequin stamped another stamp for me.
Now I have 3 stamps!
I raised the paper with the stamped faces.
Three smiling doll faces.
Not particrly cute faces, but it was quite fun collecting stamps this way.
However, even if I go around the whole theme park, that''s only 9 stamps.
The destruction condition for the Theme Park Invitation Doll was 10, so what''s thest one?
Actually, I had a rough guess.
That one time I held up the paper to the mannequin, it was extremely startled, and that''s when I realized.
This big circle in the middle.
The same size as the mannequin''s face.
Hehe. Kek-Kek.
Kek-Kek.
The Theme Park Invitation Doll''s behavior changed again.
Like a thief whose hidden treasure location was discovered.
Acting as if it had lost all hope in life.
Just sitting quietly in the corner, looking out of the istion room.
Already exceeding 5m in size.
But not rampaging, just slumped over.
Kek-Kek.
Kek-Kek.
The doll''s eerieughter now sounded sorrowful.
What''s happening inside?
The highest probability is that the highest danger level gray Reaper is doing something.
"Well done, gray Reaper. Just kill that doll."
Hearing the mumbling of the Lee Sehee Research Institute director, I opened my notebook.
Chapter 56: Theme Park (7)
The Mannequin POV:
---
At the ticket booth entrance, there was a woman covered in tattoos reading a map.
Just from her attire and thenguage she was using, it felt like she had lived in apletely different cultural sphere.
A guest appearing in a garden that hadn''t had visitors for nearly hundreds of years.
The garden changed itsposition into an unfamiliar form.
The newly appeared ones had apletely different culture andnguage, but those were all trivial differences.
Not important at all.
What''s important is the treatment of ''Object''.The issue was how this guest who just arrived treated what they called the ''Object''.
Toox.
It was incredibly disrespectful.
The understanding of it was severelycking.
"Hey, mannequin!"
The tattooed guest turned her head and called out to me.
"Yes, what is it? Guest."
Clearing my thoughts, I responded in a friendly voice.
In fact, more important to me than the matter of treatment was whether that woman would pass through the theme park or not.
***
Another Guest POV:
---
Fireworks filling the sky.
The wide and deste ticket booth.
The creepy smiling statue.
Not a single person could be seen anywhere in the wide and deste ticket booth.
I asked the mannequin following closely behind me.
"There must have been many people who entered besides me, so why can''t I see a single one? Even if they are superhumans, it''s hard to believe not a single one passed through."
"Hmm, unfortunately this theme park is temporarily open, so we are responding separately to each guest. The heatedpetition between guests will have to wait until the official opening, I''m afraid."
So in the end, I have to pass through this theme park alone?
Shaking off the slight disappointment, I looked up at therge map ced next to the smiling statue.
Smiling merry-go-round, smiling shuttle bus stop, smiling roller coaster, smiling drop tower, smiling viking, smiling Ferris wheel, smiling food court, smiling maze, smiling haunted house...
The first ce I should check is the exit route.
The smiling shuttle bus stop.
I called out to the mannequin staring at me as I examined the map.
"Hey, mannequin!"
"Yes, what is it? Guest."
"You do guide people around too, right? Let''s go to where the shuttle bus is first."
"Hmm, you won''t be able to use it even if we go now, are you sure?"
"Yeah. It''s fine, let''s go take a look."
The mannequin seemed rather reluctant for some reason.
Is there something at the shuttle bus stop?
I followed behind the mannequin as it slowly walked towards the shuttle bus stop.
***
The shuttle bus stop existed quite far removed from the theme park itself.
For the shuttle bus stop to be this far from the ticket booths...
"Is it okay for the shuttle bus stop to be this far?"
"It''s because the opening hasn''t finished yet. It''s supposed to be properly set up for the official opening."
The ce the mannequin brought me to, calling it a bus stop, was a strange location.
Sticky ck mud.
A petroleum smell so strong it gave me a headache.
A building constructed in an unfamiliar style, with marble stacked inyers.
And a regr shuttle bus connected to the marble building.
Aside from being connected to the building by boarding bridge like an airne, the parked shuttle bus had a designmonly seen in Seoul.
The sky hadpletely changed as much as the bizarre environment of the bus stop.
It was like being in apletely different space from the theme park.
The fireworks filling the sky could no longer be seen here, instead something strange filled the sky.
Six moons.
Six moons of various colors were floating in the sky.
"Hmm, guest. Pleasee this way. I''ll exin about using the shuttle bus."
What weed me upon entering the marble building was a head.
Human heads were hung all over a metal rack.
Like bowling balls!
''!''
And I saw a familiar head.
The anchovy guy''s head and the pig guy''s head.
I had thought those two would never survive, but to confirm it like this...
"Ah, you seem surprised. These heads are used as coins in the Smile Theme Park. One head per coin, that''s how it works."
The mannequin took out a head and tapped it.
"The shuttle bus requires 10 coins to use for a fee."
"So if I take those 10 heads on disy, I can ride the shuttle bus right away?"
"Oh no no. Those are just coins on disy. They''re assets of the theme park. Currently, the only coin you have is your own head. But luckily, there''s an event going on now, so if you collect all the stamps, you can use the shuttle bus without coins."
The mannequin tapped the head, and it got dented and turned into a grotesquely shaped coin.
I had already judged it to be a murderous Object from the point of giving out the invitation, but it was an even stranger Object than I thought.
10 coins.
9 stamps.
The numbers don''t seem to match, but does it matter?
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Ommyonmyon~
I was lyingfortably on the table, eating this and that.
Even if I tried to sit on the chair, it was too low and ufortable.
We will rely solely on your kindness! Click here!
Donate now
There are no other guests in the theme park besides me, shouldn''t the chair size be adjusted for me?
Anyway, it''s the theme park''s fault.
While enjoying my time at the food court, I sensed a change.
The mannequins were increasing in number.
It seemed like only a few mannequins were ced where needed besides the dedicated one following me, but now they were gathering inrge numbers around the building.
"Guest, we have prepared a VIP facility just for you at the food court. Would you like to go take a look?"
Following the mannequin''s guidance, I entered a spacious area.
Inside were many things familiar to me.
TV. Ball pit. Bed. Snacks. Game console.
It was a space filled with just the things I liked.
"How is it? This is the VIP room prepared by the Smile Theme Park. Furthermore, if you use this kiosk over here, you can order any food you want."
For some reason,
I felt an intention to keep me confined here.
Well, it doesn''t really matter though.
If I get bored, I can think about it then.
That''s because these mannequins look too weak anyway.
I ordered popcorn from the kiosk and turned on the TV.
A drama I hadn''t watched in a long time weed me.
Come to think of it, TVes out in the Object too?
***
Yerin POV:
---
I''m depressed.
It''s already been 5 days since Reaper disappeared.
Going to work, which was always enjoyable, has be dislikable now.
"Yerin-ah. Want to go eat?"
Doridori~
T/N: "????" is a Korean onomatopoeic expression often used to mimic the sound of someone or something shaking or wobbling. Correct me if I''m mistaken.
These days, I don''t even have an appetite.
When I''m listlessly moping around without energy, Seo-ah unni suddenly appears.
And she wanders around jotting something down, but what is it?
She just smiles and doesn''t show me when I ask what it is.
When it was time to get off work and I was organizing my things, I suddenly sensed Reaper''s presence.
Of course, it was impossible for me to actually sense Reaper''s presence.
Even though it was clearly a delusion, I ran with all my might towards where I sensed the presence.
The ce I arrived at was the ''Theme Park Invitation Doll'' istion room where Reaper disappeared.
The now nearly 7m tall giant doll was crumpled up like a ball, powerlessly twitching.
Hmm, something seems strange?
Something was protruding out from the top of its round head.
An antenna.
It was arge antenna.
For some reason, it felt like Reaper might be beyond that antenna.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
It''s been roughly 3 days here, though the passage of time is ambiguous, but I''m not sure.
Even though it hasn''t been that long, just 3 days, I''m already bored.
It''s asfortable a ce as the istion room I used to stay in, but why is this happening?
The me in my heart told me the answer.
It''s because there are no people around, so nothing is fun to do.
No matter what I eat, I don''t enjoy it.
I should slowly start leaving.
I walked briskly to the VIP room door, and when I opened it, there were many mannequins.
"Guest, where were you nning to go? The theme park is currently under preparation, so you cannot use it."
Following the mannequin''s gesture, I looked around and saw that the amusement park had disappeared, except for the food court.
Instead, the space was filled with mannequins as numerous as an ant swarm.
When I showed them the stamped paper, the mannequin gave a wry smile and said, "Of course, you cannot get stamps either. Please wait for about a month until we have our grand opening."
The me burning inside me sensed the mannequins'' hostility.
It was ambiguous before, but now it became clear.
While the guiding mannequin seemed to have free will, and it was unclear if it was hostile towards humans or not,
these mannequins blocking my path clearly had no free will and were definitely hostile towards humans.
I swung my arm and sliced off the neck of the mannequin blocking me.
Feeble mannequins cannot stop me.
The condition to destroy the mannequins was [cut off their necks] slup~
I sat on the rooftop of the food court, slowly melting and eating an ice cream.
Looking down from the high ce, it was a spectacr sight.
A golden wave.
The small golden Reapers running with their tiny feet, surging forward in a tangled mess like a tidal wave.
The mannequins dressed in ck server uniforms also lined up in orderly ranks to confront them.
A sh between the ck fortress and the golden waves!
But the ck fortress scattered like a sand castle swept away by the waves, turning to dust.
p p p. As I was pping with the ice cream in my mouth, a golden Reaper crawled up and climbed onto me.
The golden Reaperfortably leaning on my stomach had a self-satisfied expression as it held something out.
A stamp!
The golden Reaper''s expression seemed to seek praise, so I patted its head, and it seemed pleased.
When I stamped the paper with the stamp the golden Reaper brought, the stamp that had served its purpose vanished with a swish.
Now 4!
I only needed to collect 5 more stamps.
Looking down at the golden Reapers again, the situation had be quite interesting.
Mannequins desperately trying to flee.
Golden Reapers running, jumping, rolling, and charging at them.
As the number of mannequins dwindled, this space itself began to destabilize.
Like a broken channel, there was static noise.
Unfamiliar rides would suddenly appear.
Chasing golden Reapers would disappear beyond the space.
The sky shattered like ss, and the ground cracked like an earthquake.
The end of the theme park!
One by one, the golden Reapers that found stamps began clinging to my body.
It seemed there was an unspoken rule that only Reapers who found stamps could cling to me.
***
??? POV :
---
I walked while chewing on thest remaining energy bar.
I had solved a total of 3 attractions so far.
The ''Guest Room'' where I had to erase purple with an eraser.
And the ''Drop Tower'' which was a simple picture addition quiz.
The ''Food Court'' where I had to erase more than one type of intake with an eraser.
The most annoying one was the ''Food Court''.
As I was starting to get hungry, I thought I could eat something when I entered the ''Food Court''.
But in the end, the only things the food court provided were poisoned foods.
And at a time when I was really hungry, they were all my favorite foods!
When I went back to the guest room, the door was firmly closed and couldn''t be opened.
If I had known, I would have brought more energy bars before leaving the guest room.
As I was thinking about which attraction to choose next, a sudden earthquake struck the theme park.
Like a TV screen with interference, multiple scenes ovepped and shook like hallucinations.
The most noticeable of these hallucinations was a golden wave.
The vision of small golden things wriggling around.
An earthquake urred whenever that vision appeared.
As if the theme park was screaming.
"Hmm, this kind of thing could happen."
Amidst the earthquake, I heard the perplexed mumbling of mannequin
Then a mannequin who was opening and closing its hand spoke to me.
"Guest?"
It gave off apletely different vibe from before.
Unlike usual, its intonation and emotions seemed remarkably richer.
"I think it may be possible now. Please follow me."
The ce the mannequin ran off to on its own was the ''Smile Viking Ticket Booth''.
Originally there should have been an attendant mannequin at the ticket booth, but it was gone.
The mannequin rummaged through the ticket booth and found a stamp.
"Guest, hurry up. We cannot miss this opportunity."
"What? What is this, another trap?"
"It''s no trap. The theme park is just falling apart. This is the only chance to collect stamps. There''s no time for arguing."
Perhaps because this was a theme park full of intentions to deceive people, the mannequin''s words sounded suspicious.
It was clear that something was happening, given the unusual tremors and atmosphere.
But I couldn''t trust the mannequin''s im to help me, as I had no idea why it would do so.
"I can''t believe it. Why would someone with no reason to help me offer to do so? How many trustworthy people are there?"
"Hmm, you seem hasty usually, but skeptical at times like this. There''s no need to persuade you, but I can give you a few reasons."
The mannequin took a breath and spoke.
"First of all, I have a reason to help you. Even though it has be like this, I was originally human too. I was a victim of this theme park. I ended up getting stuck in this state, but you don''t need to end up the same way."
It certainly sounded sincere, but there was no way to know if it was the truth.
"And look around you. If the copse of this theme park extends to the shuttle bus, it''s the end. You''ll lose your means of returning. Make your choice. The judgment is up to you."
The mannequin handed me the stamp and urged me to choose.
We will rely solely on your kindness! Click here!
Donate now
It was clear the mannequin had changed somehow.
Should I say its emotions became richer?
And it was true that the theme park was copsing and the mannequins were disappearing.
But how could I know if it was a trap set by the theme park or not?
When it''s hard to make a judgment, it''s best to follow the motto that has sustained my life until now.
''When in doubt, just do it!''
"Okay! Let''s do it! Guide me, mannequin."
After that, I ran around the theme park nonstop.
Whenever some golden thing passed by, holes were punched through buildings or pirs.
The sounds of metal being crushed and copsing, buildings crumbling.
The inside of the theme park was bing chaos.
"Hmm, a bigger copse is happening than I expected. I don''t know how such a powerful being managed to get into the park."
"Didn''t they just hand out invitations to anyone?"
"No. The attendants only give invitations to those the theme park can handle. Anyway, we need to hurry more. If the shuttle bus gets damaged, the stamps will be useless."
***
Another Guest''s Mannequin POV:
---
I looked at the woman in front of me, fiddling with the doll head I''d gotten used to wearing in ce of a head for so long.
Hah hah.
The woman covered in tattoos, with a pale face, leaned against the marble wall, panting heavily.
It was only natural since we had been running nonstop until now.
"Mannequin, did we seed?"
"Yes, all we need to do now is take the shuttle bus and leave."
"Hah..., it''s finally over."
Shluurrp shluurrp.
With feeble steps, dragging her feet through the muddy muck, the woman entered the marble building.
Looking back, the Smile Theme Park had met its end.
To put it in the words of the guests, the Smile Theme Park had ''ended service''.
The theme park had lost its power and was slowly melting away, seeping into the void.
The reason was only one - someone had discovered the theme park''s hidden ending.
A powerful, nameless being had not only caused chaos, but also revealed the hidden secret, driving a stake into the heart of the theme park.
The theme park''s first attempt to open a branch in a new world ended like this.
And it''s a good thing all the stamps were collected before the theme parkpletely copsed.
***
Another Guest POV:
---
I walked slowly, catching my breath.
Ah, I''m so hungry.
I''m starving to death.
I was toozy to even walk properly, so I dragged my shoes.
The squishy ck mud.
A severe petroleum smell so intense it gave me a headache.
I finally arrived at the unnecessarily distant shuttle bus stop.
Since I collected all the stamps by any means necessary.
Now if I just leave the Object, everything will be over.
As I entered the marble building, disyed head pieces came into view.
Seven newly added skulls.
''The idiots couldn''t pass in the end.''
My fellow death row inmates who were put in together had all ended up as just skulls on disy.
Seeing that they couldn''t use underhanded methods like me, they likely failed to pass and died multiple times.
Hah, it''s over now.
Acquittal.
That ending was right before my eyes.
Even rolling around in the murderous Object will be a fine memory outside.
The firmly shut shuttle bus door was wide open, as if weing me.
As I climbed up the bus steps one by one, looking back, the mannequin was staring straight at me.
"Thank you. You''re my life''s benefactor."
"Hmm, no. It was just something I had to do."
Though the doll head''s expression was hard to read, I could definitely read it now.
The mannequin seemed extremely delighted.
Even if it was a victim of the theme park, wasn''t it overly joyful? But whatever.
I cleared it!
I sat in a seat on the bus, and the mannequin took the driver''s seat and began preparations to depart.
Likely from fatigue, drowsiness poured over me.
The mannequin hummed cheerfully as it drove the bus out of the theme park.
In my drowsiness, I heard the mannequin''s voice.
"Then please get some good rest, guest. You have everything needed for the bus ride, we''ll arrive shortly. Any other questions?"
"No, none."
"If there''s nothing, I''ll take that as consent and depart."
The mannequin''s ominous words brought back a question I''d had before.
There were 9 stamps, but why were there 10 coins?
Chapter 58: Theme Park (9)
The Bucheon Research Institute, which became famous for the ''Maker'' incident.
The ck agents were still investigating at the Bucheon Research Institute.
At the temporary investigation camp set up in the Bucheon Research Institute parking lot.
A ck agent was sitting under the camp tent, unfolding and reading a newspaper.
On the front page of the newspaper was a picture of mannequins flying around scattering light powder.
.
The problem was not the promotional phrase, but the map attached to the flyer.
ording to the attached map, it referred to an area so wide that it would almost swallow most of Seoul as the ''Smile Theme Park''.
Seoul citizens wondered after seeing the meaningful flyers distributed by the Objects.
''Then what happens to the existing Seoul?''
The people of Seoul, who had already suffered from the immense Steel Tower, naturally thought this way.
''They might really destroy all of Seoul and build the ''Smile Theme Park'' in its ce!''
Falling into such fear, people prepared to leave Seoul before the opening date on the flyer.
The blonde girl peeked at the front page article the ck agent was reading and said,
"Wow, mister. Is this really okay? It says almost all of Seoul will be a theme park, but we can''t give up Seoul, right?"
"Fortunately, they say the Object causing this has been identified. It''s the Object being isted at the Sehee Research Institute."
"Then it might be resolved soon?"
"Well, there''s a high probability it won''t be that simple. The removal operation attempted by the government has failed, and now they are nning to move the Object far away from Seoul."
Currently, the association and government were facing a very troubling situation.
Fortunately, the cause of this flyer incident had been identified.
The ''Theme Park Invitation Doll'' from Sehee Research Institute.
There were 4 possible choices to resolve the situation.
1. Evacuate Seoul.
This is thest resort due to the huge financial loss.
2. Put more people into the doll and observe the changes.
This is uncertain in oue. It could even cause side effects like the theme park expanding.
3. Destroy the doll.
This has already been attempted, but even reducing the doll to ashes resulted in it reviving.
4. Move the doll out of Seoul.
This is the current attempt, but has a high chance of failure.
Since Sehee Research Institute is already outside the theme park area, the doll''s location and the park''s location seem unrted.
If the association and government''s ns all fail and most of Seoul is destroyed?
It would be a situation too dreadful to imagine.
***
Yerin POV:
---
"Hehe. Let me clean the antenna thoroughly."
Humming a tune, happily mopping.
Scrubbing the antenna protruding from the ''Theme Park Invitation Doll''s'' head until it shines.
Something unnecessary to do.
Rather, something warned as dangerous.
''Yerin, it''s dangerous, so don''t go past the barricade.''
Despite such warnings, she polished the antenna to a sparkle every day.
The Theme Park Invitation Doll had already grown over 20m in size.
In fact, there were suggestions to move it to the backyard before it grew this big, but the conclusion was to demolish all the walls of the istion room instead of moving the doll.
It was Seo-ah unnie''s opinion that there was no need to deliberately provoke the docile Object to move it.
They demolished all the walls to secure space, and in the secured space, they installed facilities with plenty of steel pirs to restrict the doll''s movements.
In the spacious area where the istion room walls were all demolished, the dolly motionless without moving at all.
It no longer made any gurgling sounds either.
Sometimes it would tremble all over and let out agonizing cries, but the cause was unknown.
Now, its fur had fallen out patchy like a cancer-ridden doll gnawed by mice.
From inside the mouth of such a doll, an arm suddenly popped out.
"Huh?"
Apletely unexpected situation!
Based on the doll''s size, it was presumed that all the death row inmates who had entered were already dead!
I firmly pressed the emergency call button on the table.
The emergency bell rang throughout the Research Institute.
Police and staff rushed in to handle the situation.
The police waited to transfer the inmate, while the staff prepared for the doll''s rampage with methrowers and such.
The association staff who were preparing for the transfer also gathered, sending expectant gazes.
The staff''s shouts of spirit echoed inside the Research Institute.
"One, two. One, two."
The staff grabbed and pulled the arm that popped out of the doll''s mouth.
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Donate now
The woman pulled out of the mouth copsed limply on the floor.
The returned death row inmate was a woman covered in tattoos.
As soon as I checked the woman''s appearance, I quickly hid behind Seo-ah unnie.
A death row inmate with a scary aura!
Peeking out from behind Seo-ah unnie''s back to observe, the death row inmate didn''t seem to emanate the sharp aura like before.
Did she suffer too much inside the Object?
"Seo-ah unnie, doesn''t this death row inmate seem to have changed her atmosphere quite a bit?"
"She does seem to have calmed down a little."
The woman pulled out of the doll''s mouth was handcuffed again and prepared for re-transfer.
After testifying about her experience inside the Object and going through trial, she would be acquitted as promised.
Silently responding to the police''s questioning, her changed atmosphere was indeed palpable.
No longer feeling scared, I came out from behind Seo-ah unnie''s back, and she asked from the side,
"Researcher Oh-Yerin . Not hiding anymore?"
"Ahahah, yeah I''m fine since I don''t feel scared at all."
I answered while scratching my head.
It was rare for such a feeling to change, definitely strange.
After a simple investigation, the death row inmate made shuffling sounds as she was dragged out of the Research Institute.
At the Research Institute entrance, a prisoner transport vehicle was parked.
Before boarding the bus, the death row inmate stared up at the sky for a long time, then was seized by the police and disappeared into the bus.
Was there something in the sky?
Looking up, it was just an ordinary full moon shining yellow.
***
Sehee POV:
---
The istion room of the Theme Park Invitation Doll became quiet after the death row inmate left.
With the police personnel also gone, it felt several times more spacious.
"Oh, Sehee unnie came too?"
"Yeah, just. Had a feeling I shoulde."
When I arrived at the istion room, Yerin was already there first.
It had been long past quitting time, but somehow my feet wouldn''t leave.
Yerin, who waits for the Reaper, must have felt the same way.
Kek-kek.
Kekekek.
The doll that spat out the death row inmate was now gasping roughly.
The doll would soon die.
Just listening to its breathing gave that strong impression.
And when the doll dies, the Reaper will return.
I haven''t even imagined the case where the Reaper doesn''t return.
With everyone gone from the istion room, it was so quiet that only the high-frequency hum of the artificial lights could be faintly heard.
Amidst that stillness, the sound of powder scattering came out - pussss .
The gigantic doll over 20m tall began crumbling into powder.
Like the wind blowing in a desert, the sound of powder scattering echoed through the stillness.
"The Reaper has returned."
The newspaper the smiling girl handed over contained an article about the conclusion of the flyer incident.
After receiving the newspaper, the ck agent smiled slightly and said to the blonde girl,
"That''s really fortunate, miss."Turning the pages of the received newspaper revealed a photo of a fiercely looking woman.
A death row inmate who had been put into Object to avoid execution.
While it was an act for her own survival, Seoul was relieved of one burden because of that inmate.
"Uncle, can we be assured of safety just because someone escaped from an Object?"
"Usually, it''s hard to be so definitive. The escape and destruction conditions are often different in most cases."
"Why do you think they were the same this time?"
"The two conditions ovepped. First, after the inmate escaped, the rted Object lost power and was destroyed - this is the most important first condition."
The ck agent opened the newspaper and exined while going over the rted materials.
"Here, there''s testimony from the escaped inmate. She had to clear nine types of devices to escape. Typically, the harder the escape, the more the escape and destruction conditions tend to be the same. Having to clear nine missions is quite difficult among escape-type Objects. The excessive difficulty is the second condition."
Hmm.
After listening to the ck agent''s exnation, the blonde girl nodded as if she understood something.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
When I opened my eyes, it was the familiar ceiling.
The ceiling of the istion room prepared for me.
Yesterday, as soon as I returned from the theme park, I was kidnapped to the istion room by Sehee and Yerin...
Yum yum yum.
Looking to the left, Yerin was chewing on my hair.
Looking to the right, Sehee was hugging my arm like it was a treasure.
I couldn''t move...
I thought about ghostifying to slip away, but decided to just stay still today.
The theme park was fun, but there was ack of human essence since there were too few humans.
Plus, the bed was warm andfortable, and the firewood inside me was rapidly growing, so it would be okay to stay a little longer.
This time at the theme park, I gained a nice ability.
An extremely powerful ability.
No, not powerful, but an ability I liked.
I got a Golden Reaper Storage .
When I close my eyes, I can see a space full of Golden Reapers.
If I had to name it, the Golden Reaper Garden.
It was like Valha where the golden Reapers go.
A ce where pudding and cake banquets are always held, and a river of cocoa flows.
A vastnd made of fluffy mattresses, where golden Reapers frolic.
A sky made of bed canopies, and a softly glowing light source.
A ce always filled with a dreamy atmosphere.
A dream garden.
A non-physical space that can only be entered through dreams.
As I entered the Golden Reaper Garden, one Reaper bounced up and clung to me.
There were already many humans and golden Reapers were already merrily ying in the garden.
They were people who had been invited by the golden Reapers while asleep.
I also found a spot, sat down, and ate a pudding.
It really is a nice ce.
Soft and lots of delicious food.
Sehee and Yerin, in their sleeping states, had already been summoned to the golden garden.
Each had a golden Reaper clinging to them, punching their cheeks as if saying, "Wake up and y!"
The two, having woken up in the golden garden, looked around in surprise before seeming to realize something.
They probably realized it was a dream.
Well, it is a dream, but still.
The two, thinking it was a dream, each ced a golden Reaper on their shoulders and began to enjoy the golden Reapers'' garden.
They rolled around on the bed together, ran around, and when tired, theyy down to rest.
I too rolled and tumbled with the golden Reaper in the golden garden until I was fully satisfied.
***
The Mannequin POV:
---
When I looked in the mirror, an unfamiliar face was reflected.
A towering woman covered in tattoos.
To someone who can see the spiritual body, my face would probably look different.
A grotesque doll face with sewn eyes and mouth.
If there was someone who could see the spiritual body, it would be a face hard to overlook.
In this world, there seemed to be hardly any people who could see the spiritual body.
Even at the ce called the ''court'' which seemed to y an important role, there was no one who recognized me.
Just by cutting off the woman''s neck and putting my doll head on top, I was able to perform such a miraculous act...
Truly, the power of the ''Grimoire'' knows no limits.
Or did they call it an ''Object'' here?
After washing my face roughly with water, I stepped outside the courthouse and the moonlight weed me.
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Not seven, but only a single moon.
Apletely different physical body from before.
Streetmps that light the way without using oil, gas or Objects.
Unfamiliar insects fluttered around the light of thosemps, casting shadows.
Unfamiliar music heard from the streets, unfamiliar architecture.
The lights moved, leaving trails, and the road seemed to flow like water.
Everything in this world made me feel that this was not the world I was born and raised in.
What I received upon leaving the court was a piece of paper proving my innocence.
And documents listing my ''belongings'' and address, unfamiliar to me.
Was it because they think my memory was vague due to the Object''s influence that they provided such detailed guidance?
Based on the information imnted to guide ''guests'' at the theme park without difort, I followed the address written on the paper.
''Home'', it said.
I can''t even remember how many years it has been since Ist had a home.
The address led me to a ce with apletely different atmosphere from near the court.
Dark, gloomy, close to misfortune.
Rather,ing to a ce like this felt likeing home.
Knock knock knock.
I knocked on the door listed in the address.
If the information on the note was correct, my younger sister should be living in this house.
"Coming."
The one who opened the door was a small woman with a somewhat dejected expression.
"...Sister."
"Yes."
Even though we''re family, I don''t seem to be very weed.
This must all be because there are too many humans in this world.
If humans were torn into 1/100 pieces by Objects, family would be all the more precious.
She seemed to be startled by my every word, so it was hard to talk to her.
I ate unfamiliar food with unfamiliar utensils with my unfamiliar family, theny down in the small, unfamiliar room.
And so ended my first day in this other world.
***
When I opened my eyes, my newly acquired younger sister was stabbing me with a knife.
"Die! Die! Dieeeee!"
The blood gushing from my stomach was soaking the room.
What on earth did this body do to be resented so much?
"Hmm, that won''t kill me though."
I grabbed the trembling girl''s hand holding the knife and raised the de to my neck.
"I won''t die unless my neck is cut. Here, the neck is right here."
I may have escaped the theme park''s captivity, but I''m still an Object.
My only goal was to escape the theme park.
But after escaping, what I gained was...
Apletely unfamiliar world, society, physical body, family.
I tried to get rid of the Object, but failed.
My hometown is already gone.
Then I thought it wouldn''t be so bad to let this girl kill me.
After all, the original owner of this body would never have done such a thing.
***
??? POV:
---
Kukkkukku.
"It''s really unfortunate that our reunion after 30 years turned out like this, my son."
The eerieughter of the director echoed through the ruinedmunal graveyard.
It was the sound of a man holding up a severed head that looked forcibly torn from the torso.
"My son, my son. Say it once again."
"That I''m apletely different person?"
"Is it so strange for me to take back the gift I gave you? I''m an extremely rational person, you know?"
Snap.
The head burst as if crushed by a press from both sides.
The man drenched in blood spoke with a face twisted like a demon''s.
"I''m the director of the Central Research Institute. And my name... I can''t remember! Well, it''s trivialpared to research."
Kukkkukku.
The Research Institute director began digging up a grave with a shovel.
It was the grave of a woman who was once the director''s wife.
When he lifted the stone coffin lid, what was revealed was a woman maintaining her appearance from life.
And the Research Institute director began bludgeoning the corpse with the shovel.
When the blood filled the stone coffin and the corpse was smashed into pieces, the director shouted.
"Here it is! The gift I gave!"
What emerged from inside the corpse was a small sphere.
"An Object that prevents decay and slowly heals wounds - this is what I needed. A useless thing for the dead."
The director, drenched in blood from gunshot wounds, staggered as he walked.
Picking up the fallen cane, the director vanished from that spot with two taps on the ground.
All that remained was the decapitated deputy director.
And the mutted bodies of his guards.
Chapter 60: Theme Park - Aftermath (2)
Yellow Detective POV:
---
It was still a bit early in the morning, and sunlight peeked through the blinds, casting golden stripes across the detective office.
Creak. Creak.
A pleasant creaking sound resonated from the rocking chair I was sitting on.
That rhythmic sound I heard whenever I rested somehow put my mind at ease.
The rocking chair, my yellow suit shining in the golden sunlight - it was just another morning.
In the corner of the room, the TV red a story about the ''Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp''.
It was an unusual but increasinglymon urrence these days for the Korean authorities to abandon a vige in Incheon.The dissonance between the incessant noise from the television and the calm indoor atmosphere created a peculiar ambiance.
This precarious, chaotic feeling.
It was the vibe of the Yellow Detective Office.
Bam bam.
The sound of knocking on the door like a hammer.
"Senior, we''re here!"
No sooner had the voice sounded than Junior 1 and Junior 2 barged in through the open door.
It took quite a while, but Hyejin had also be Junior 2 and started working at the office.
While Junior 1 was already lively enough on her own, adding Junior 2 made the liveliness triple.
After setting down their belongings, Junior 1 and 2 noticed some documents on the wooden table.
"Senior? Did we get a new case?"
Junior 1 began examining the documents along with the written statement on the wooden table.
The documents were a survey about the so-called golden dreams that have be poprtely.
As soon as I heard the story about the golden dreams, something felt off, so I had a hard time obtaining this data.
To be precise, I had to pester that shady guy to get this data from him.
"A spontaneous survey about golden dreams? I''ve never heard of it."
"I had a hunch it might be rted to a case, so I asked for the data."
It''s a story not yet reported in the news.
That there have been numerous people experiencing dreams filled entirely with gold.
Since it could be rted to an Object causing a collective hallucination, I looked at the data, but it didn''t seem to involve any incidents.
The juniors shared the documents between themselves as they discussed.
"Dreams filled with gold. Sweet food, dancing, and singing. It seems like a pleasant collective hallucination. But since it''s a dream, people can''t recall the details clearly, so there aren''t many clues."
"It definitely seems Object-rted, but it''s strange that it doesn''t appear harmful. Looking at the interviews, people seem to really regret forgetting the dreams."
With the juniors'' chatter as background noise, I closed my eyes while sitting on the rocking chair.
It was a peaceful morning at the detective office with no cases.
***
??? POV:
---
Thump. Thump.
The sound of a heartbeat echoed endlessly.
Thump. Thump.
In the undergroundboratory, the director had his eyes closed, listening to the beating sound.
The endless heartbeat, the bloody walls soaked in viscous red, the coppery stench filling the basement room.
All of it made this basement feel like being inside the belly of a beast through some sort of magic.
Ever since meeting his son at themunal graveyard, the director had been suffering from intermittent headaches.
What''s more, whenever he closed his eyes, he saw a familiar hallucination.
The hallucination revived memories the director had forgotten, bing more vivid each time.
A pristine istion room, the smell of disinfectant. An IV drip hanging on a stand.
A pure white bed. An emaciated woman lying on it.
The whirring of a metallic venttor.
It was a fragment of an istion room he had seen long ago.
''That woman'' had said,
That Objects grant wishes, a beacon of hope, to never lose hope in Objects.
And the director had answered.
Answered what?
He couldn''t remember.
"It must not have been that important."
"Just like my name, a trivial matter."
"Let''s research. Research to save humanity."
Like someone with obsessivepulsive disorder, the director paced around in circles.
The small bead in the director''s hand intermittently emitted an eerie glow.
The director''s intermittent headaches showed no signs of stopping.
Tap.
With the sound of a staff striking the ground, the director''s obsessive behavior came to a halt.
"Then let''s begin the experiment."
"Do Objects truly manifest from the desires of humanity? Let''s start an experiment to verify if they arise from the wishes of those who have been tortured."
The countless researchers scattered from under the director''s feet, holding torture tools as they spread out into the istion rooms.
From the once quiet istion rooms, terrible sounds and agonizing screams began to echo.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The familiar istion room as always.
Omm nom nom~
I pick up a jelly and put it in my mouth, chewing.
A soft, cloud-like bed enveloping my body. Cushions supporting my back. Afortably soft nket.
On the small table on the bed were rich chocte and rainbow-colored jellies.
The noisy TV kept broadcasting stories about a camp in Incheon.
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And on myp was a ghost/phantom cat.
It was an ordinary day at the Sehee Research Institute.
Completely different from the spectacr shing with Objects, it was a humble daily life.
Meow.
As I stroked the cat''s back, it would asionally make small sounds and start a conversation.
Mostly adventure stories it had experienced.
Tales of defeating formidable foes or narrowly escaping powerful Objects.
But the cat seemed to be running out of stories to tell.
Well, it was just repeating the same stories over and over now.
The ''story of fighting six Dobermans at an intersection'' was starting for the fifth time.
''Hey, you''ve told that one five times already!''
Reading my mind, the cat looked shocked.
Standing there with its mouth wide open in a daze.
Wow, cats can make that expression too.
Meow.
The stunned cat cried out, ''It''s time!''
''Time for what?''
Meow!
The cat loudly proimed, ''Time to embark on a new adventure!''
Meowow!
It said, ''I''ll go on an adventure to the most dangerous ce!'' Then with a bold stride, it walked towards the istion room wall.
And leapt right over the wall, disappearing from sight.
The TV was showing the ''Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp'' in Incheon that the government had abandoned management of.
Surely it''s not going there, is it?
***
??? POV:
---
Incheon''s Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp.
Just hearing rumors about the camp made it sound like a ce for demons to live.
Described as a hideout for thieves, a gathering spot for criminals with nowhere to go, piled high with illegal weapons and drugs like mountains.
The influence of media like TV was immense.
They emphasized thewless nature, showed footage of dust-covered children and weary residents to portray it as a space where evil wasmonce, exaggerating isted incidents.
Called a ''camp'' or denounced as a ''den of criminals'', Gyeyang Mountain Camp was actually a sprawling city with a vast area and dense poption.
It may have started with tents and temporary shelters, but not anymore.
Narrow winding alleys connected everything, children ran about, merchants sold goods, elderly sat reminiscing - it was vibrant.
Even now, closing my eyes, I could see the clotheslines stretching out defiantly between tents, scraps of fabric fluttering in the wind.
But those descriptions had be ancient history.
''Incheon''s Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp'' had changed.
In the zing midday sun, a chilling fear gripped my body.
I could still hear theughter of ying children.
The chattering voices of aunties hangingundry.
The booming calls of vendors selling freshly picked fruit in the distance.
Yet I could not mingle among those people.
I could only cower in the shadows between buildings, holding my breath.
Thendy who used to rent me that tiny one-room had changed.
She had sworn she would never sell, even until death!
The butcher who always greeted me warmly couldn''t recognize me.
Theughing and chattering children seemed somehow hollow.
Everyone was in their ce, yet it felt like they weren''t in their ce.
It had only been a month since I returned home, but it was strange.
Too strange.
It sent chills down my spine.
Even though it was midday, it felt increasingly cold.
Were they all ying a prank? Pretending not to know me? A hidden camera prank?
But my instincts told me absolutely not to speak up, not to let on that I noticed something amiss.
I rubbed my goosebump-covered hands together.
"Sister, what are you doing?"
My heart almost leapt out of my mouth.
Calming my racing heart, I turned around to see a child with missing teeth smiling brightly at me.
But something was different, distinctly different.
Hiding my tension, I spoke as naturally as I could, like a tourist.
"I was just resting for a bit after walking around. This camp is bigger than I expected."
"Are you here as a tourist, sister?"
"Y...yes."
"Oh, I see."
The child smiled brightly, then turned and left.
Haah. Haah.
It''s hard to breathe.
I feel like throwing up.
Dizzy.
And for good reason.
That child was my younger sibling!
What on earth happened here in just one month?
Chapter 61: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp (1)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Unexpectedly, the ghost cat had a strong will.
Leaving behind the words ''going on an adventure'', it truly set off on its journey.
It was a romantic cat that loved adventures, but to this extent?
Well.
Since it can ghostify, there shouldn''t be much danger.
However, there are Objects that can attack ghosts, so I was a bit worried.
But what''s the point of worrying?I should just go.
To kill some time and also watch the cat''s adventure, I decided to secretly follow it.
It swiftly left Seoul and headed towards increasingly deserted areas - was it really going towards the ''Incheon Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp''?
In thete night after the sun fully set, the cat stopped and gazed at a certain ce.
It was a building that dyed the sky red.
A ruined building endlessly burning with mes.
Dangerous mes that could burn even ghosts from an Object''s senses.
Surely it''s not going in there?
***
Cat POV?
---
It left Seoul in search of adventure, but couldn''t find any thrilling adventures for a while.
Just ordinary ruins, ordinary viges, seemingly peaceful daily lives.
Even after wandering for a very long time, it couldn''t obtain a satisfactory reward.
It would be nice to have one adventure before entering the camp...
In the midst of that, it discovered a ruin that caught its eye.
A building where unextinguishe smoldered across the entire structure!
The whole building was covered in red oil that burned endlessly.
The burning oil gave off an ominous bloody glow, and thick smoke made it impossible to see ahead properly.
This is it!
This ruin was the ce it had been searching for.
At a nce, it seemed dangerous and brimming with an exciting adventure.
And in the very center of the ruin was a red gem emitting a mysterious light.
Treasure, the reward for adventure it always wanted!
If it had that gem, its story would be even more vivid.
Something it hadn''t obtained from its previous adventures.
Lowering its body, it sneaked into the me-filled ruin.
In the thick smoke, plump frog-like creatures could be hazily seen.
Pig-like fat frogs oozing red oil.
Using ghostification as a shield to leisurely approach the building, it felt the frogs sensing something and looking its way.
!!
Startled, it hid behind the ruin.
The frogs must have had the ability to see ghosts.
Their bulging,rge eyes weren''t just for decoration.
Keeping its body as low as possible, it slowly advanced while hiding in the smoke rising from the red oil.
Since the frogs had good eyesight, it moved while maximizing cover to avoid their gaze.
Circling around the gaps between the destroyed building, it gradually approached the gem emitting light in the center.
Moving slowly like that for several minutes, it finally arrived in front of the gem.
The red gem, the destination of its adventure, was located in the central clearing of the smoke-filled building!
It thought this adventure might be ending, but there was someone waiting in the clearing.
A giant frog peering from behind the hazy smoke.
It was obviously a situation where it should flee.
But it didn''t want to run away with the treasure right in front of it.
So it puffed out its chest boldly and shouted,
"Come at me!"
Swallowing its fear and shouting, the ground began to tremble.
mes and smoke flowed into the frog, and the sound of boiling oil rang out.
Dust rose from the shaking ruin, as if an earthquake had urred.
Scary!
But it grit its teeth and endured.
They red at each other for a few seconds.
The giant frog slowly turned around and began retreating.
It had driven away the monster with courage and willpower!
As the frog retreated with booming steps, a red ne appeared in the central clearing.
The adventure''s reward, refined in the ruined mes and smoke - it grasped the red ne.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The cat hid better than expected.
Well, even if only 10% of the tales it boasted to me were true, it should be able to do at least this much.
Hiding here and there, throwing pebbles to divert attention, it slowly advanced towards its goal like the protagonist of an action movie.
Sitting in the ruin, I watched it like a movie.
No popcorn, but I had frog bnce balls and aroma oils instead.
The cat rolled around, gathering the frog bnce balls that were puffed up like spheres behind the veil of invisible mes and smoke.
Jumping on the frog with its body puffed up like a ball!
Leaning its waist against the frog''s body, cheers!
Lining up the frogs and sliding over them!
The smooth, nice textured frog bnce balls, the faint rose aroma from the red oil.
It was the perfectbination.
Thanks to that, it became soaked in the red oil, but it was fun in its own way.
A joyful y with the frogs that had to drive out the intruder!
Frogs that didn''t want to y?
Unfortunately, they ended up bursting the bnce balls, who could have done that.
Still, the cat''s adventure this time seemed doomed to fail.
Would it get scared and run away from the destination?
That''s understandable, with a giant frog bnce ball in front of the gem.
The cat that arrived at the destination had a look of despair when it saw the giant frog.
And the cat, which I thought would flee, took an actionpletely different from expectations.
Meow!
It shouted with firm determination.
Enraged by the cat''s provocation, the frog puffed up its belly as if about to breathe fire.
It puffed up, but....
When I stared at it, it shrank back down and fled the clearing with pathetic steps.
That''s how the cat''s great adventure ended in sess.
The cat that drove away the giant frog happily put on the gem ne and joyfully jumped around.
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After jumping around for a while, I saw the cat leaving the building and thought,
Ah, it''s finally going back to the Research Institute now.
But it wasn''t heading towards the Research Institute.
I thought it would return to the Research Institute after getting the adventure and treasure!
***
Yerin POV:
---
Nom nom nom~
The golden Reaper munches on a cake.
Even while eating the cake frantically, it reached out with one hand to grab my pinky finger.
Ah, how cute.
The Golden Reaper never tried to get away from people.
"Yerin, I have to go to work now!"
Oh, time has passed so quickly...
With a reluctant heart, I stroked the Reaper once and got up from my seat.
The golden Reaper has recently been ced in the Sehee Research Institute''s lounge.
The reason is, of course, because of the Reaper''s antics.
The gray Reaper has ''again'' gone missing.
The failure to iste the gray Reaper was amon urrence, but this time was a bit different.
It left something behind where it went missing.
What it left behind was a mini golden Reaper.
As if to rece itself, it left a golden Reaper in the istion room and took off.
Unlike the gray Reaper, the golden Reaper couldn''t stand being alone in the istion room.
So the designated istion room for the golden Reaper became the lounge where people frequently visit.
The result was a sess.
The golden Reaper enjoyed its life in the lounge with a happy expression.
However, there was the side effect of too many people staying in the lounge, so usage time was limited.
Usage time restrictions!
Sehee Research Institute, abolish the golden Reaper lounge usage time restrictions!
***
??? POV:
---
Darkness deep enough to blur the boundary between sky and earth settled over the.
A nightpletely contrasting the day filled with people and vitality.
Strangely, this rather ominous space felt morefortable.
At least this atmosphere wasn''t creepy.
A silence that would normally feel burdensome.
Relying on that silence and the night''s darkness, I slowly got up.
In fact, I should have left much earlier.
During the day, pretending to be a tourist and naturally slipping away would have been best.
But I couldn''t do that.
I just couldn''t shake the feeling that someone was watching me, so I couldn''t move.
Getting up stealthily, I tiptoed away.
The night streets with no streetmps on.
In the stillness without any sounds of insects or animals, only the small footsteps I made echoed through the camp.
Breathing as lightly and slowly as possible.
It was so dark that I couldn''t distinguish objects, but the paths I had grown up on were familiar.
Almost out of the camp, a light appeared in the distance within the camp.
"Sister, where are you?"
"Sister, are you mad that I yed a prank?"
shlight beams appeared from all directions.
Murmuring voices.
Those voices remembered me.
The butcher uncle called my name and warmly invited me over.
The newndlord wanted to see my face at least once and looked for me.
My younger sister remembered me, and went around talking about memories with me.
Hearing those voices, I got goosebumps.
Those people were not people I knew.
I wondered what happened to my real younger sister?
My heart pounded.
It was a feeling of dizziness, nausea, and tightness in my heart.
I could no longer bear it and just ran out like a madman.
Even if I tripped and fell, I got up again and ran, and ran.
With only the single-minded desire to get out of the camp, I kept running out.
***
At dawn, the sky began to color in various hues.
At the start of that day, a dirt-covered girl entered an old police station.
Police officers who had just finished the night with tired expressions greeted the girl.
"I came to file a missing persons report."
The dirt-covered, injury-covered girl with blurred tear stains spoke clearly.
"I''m a child who lived in the Incheon Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp."
"Ah..."
The young officer who heard those words let out a regretful sigh.
And he handed the girl a piece of paper.
"A few days ago, they dered abandoning management of that area. The situation hasn''t deteriorated to the point of abandoning it, so why are they doing this..."
The police are not epting the case.
The girl was about to shout at such a ridiculous story, but seeing the officer''s expression, she had no choice but to give up.
Even that young officer felt regretful about this.
About such a ridiculous situation.
Dejected, the girl headed out of the police station with powerless steps.
"Isn''t it strange? It''s like they predicted missing person reports woulde from near the camp, with the documenting down in advance."
"Documents from the association have always been strange. If you want to live long, don''t pay attention to them."
Conversations questioning this situation could be heard from the police station.
The girl who had been walking weakly stopped in front of the police station wall, crouched down, and hung her head low.
"What should I do?"
A small, moistment came from the girl''s mouth.
Thump, thump.
Then, the sound of confident footsteps rang out.
Raising her head at that sound, a man in a yellow suit stood looking down at the girl with the sun behind him.
"Hello. Do you happen to have a request?"
Chapter 62: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp (2)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The cat that escaped from the burning building started running west, west through the ruins.
Even when the ruins ended and a maze-like city appeared, it continued running without hesitation.
It dashed through theplex and eye-catching city without sparing a single nce.
The noisy chatter unique to cities, children''sughter, asional distant barking of dogs.
As if it knew the way, it did not stop at the intersections of theplicated city.
Streets I had never seen before, but seemed familiar to the cat.
I followed the cat for a few hours like that.Finally, in front of the open scenery atop a tall ruin, the cat let out a loud meow.
Meow!
It sounded like a cry of achievement.
Looking down below, a familiar scenery came into view.
It was the scenery that was always shown when TV introduced the ''Incheon Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp''.
It depicted the disorder of the camp well while being quite a scenic view, making it a scene often shown on TV.
Seeing the camp directly rather than on TV, it was a bit different from my expectations.
TV often described it as a wless temporary camp''....
But to me, it didn''t look rugged enough to be calledwless or temporary.
However, there was something even stranger.
There wasn''t a single person in the city?
Really, not a single one.
After secretly following the cat into the city, that strangeness was doubled.
Children running on precarious stairs.
Laundry fluttering in alleys from the wind.
Youths sitting in alleys ying instruments.
Couples sitting hand-in-hand on walls.
Shopkeepers calling out to passersby.
It was a city overflowing with positive emotions and vibrant liveliness.
But the me inside me didn''t even stir.
The subtle sense of difort only grew stronger.
The cat, not seeming to notice the strangeness, strolled leisurely through the camp, searching for something.
Perhaps it was seeking adventure?
But the cat had already stepped deep into an adventure.
Those fake humans were watching the ghost cat intently while pretending not to notice.
***
Detective Yellow POV:
---
The afternoon sunlight came through the blinds, casting shadows on the floor, and the coffee machine in the corner let out its signature sound, releasing fragrant steam into the room.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the scent of old wooden furniture and books, creating the office''s unique atmosphere.
It was the usual detective office, but with a slightly different vibe as preparations were underway for a field assignment.
I checked the photos pinned on the corkboard while inspecting the tools.
I checked the fit of the yellow suit and put the pocket watch inside.
Then I picked up the gasmp from the shelf.
As I grabbed the gasmp, a small scream came out.
"Senior! Are you really taking Watson?"
Junior 1 asked with a startled expression.
Junior 2, unfamiliar with Watson, looked curious.
"Yes, I have to take it. I''d regret it if I didn''t."
I said quietly, looking Watson up to eye level.
Then, I grabbed a revolver.
"A gun!? Have you gone mad, senior? Where are we going to fight? You said we''re meeting a client? And isn''t that illegal? A gun in Korea..."
"I have a feeling a gun might be needed, so I''m taking it. Haven''t you seen movies? Great detectives always carry a revolver."
Seeing me talk like this for the first time, Junior 1 checked her luggage again.
Then Junior 2 asked, "So where are we going?"
"Incheon Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp."
I pointed to the news article pinned on the corkboard.
Thump thump.
The sound of countless hearts beating in unison.
That beating sound resonated loudly, as if pushing out the air, its vibrations even shaking the man''s body.
The ce they arrived at after continuing to walk was arge cavity.
In the middle of that cavity, was the Director.
"Wee. Anonymous from the association."
The Director spoke with an exaggerated gesture and tone.
The man, who wanted to get out of this underground facility as soon as possible, paid no mind to the Director''s sarcasm and said what he had to say.
"Director, return to the Central Research Institute again..."
p.
The Director cut off the man''s words with a p and said,
"As someone from the association, you should know my name, don''t you?"
"I don''t know. I seem too young to know your name. On top of that, all documents with the Director''s name on them have been destroyed, making it impossible to investigate."
"..."
"Because you have no name, there is now no one who can call your name. It cannot be recorded either."
Hearing those words, the Director fell into thought.
"Director, no, ''Maker''! Return to the Central Research Institute again. Now the Central Research Institute can support all the experiments you wanted to do."
"A name. A name is trivial. Return to the Central Research Institute? Good. No, not good. Why?"
Upon hearing the man''s words, the Director muttered incoherently while looking at the ceiling.
Feeling some ominous vibe, the man tried to turn around and leave, but two researchers had already appeared and were holding his shoulders.
"W-What are you doing?"
The Director walked up to the man''s face and pointed a sharp scalpel at him as he spoke.
"Name."
"What?"
"What''s my name? I tested it, and it seems calling out a name is possible. I''ve tested it on regr people too, so it''s certain."
"Absolutely no- Arghhhh!"
As the man tried to voice his refusal, the scalpel pierced right into his eye.
With a chilling sound, the scalpel was pulled out.
A sphere in the Director''s hand emitted an eerie light.
There should have been serious bleeding, but for some reason, the bleeding stopped instantly.
"Why are you so afraid? Do you think ''Nameless'' will appear if you call my name?"
"Of course!"
"Why don''t you try calling it? Unexpectedly, I might be a parasitic Object that has taken over the Director''s body. Wouldn''t it be okay to name the host of a parasitic Object like the ''ck Butterfly''?"
"No, you''re not some parasitic Object!"
"Words don''t seem to get through. Well, I''ll tell you someday. We have plenty of time."
"Arghh, stop. I don''t know! I said I don''t know!"
But the Director didn''t believe the man''s words.
***
Junior 1 POV:
---
"Hello. Do you happen to have any requests?"
After loitering in front of the police station all day, senior started saying strange things again.
"Didn''t you say that to me too? Is it a line you always use?"
"Yeah, I think it''s cool."
Whisper whisper.
As Junior 2 and Senior were gossiping, a woman who appeared to be the client grabbed Senior''s hand and stood up.
Once again, he seeded in getting a client with that strange line.
"Alright then. Let''s go to the ''Incheon Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp'' right now."
Since it''s a kidnapping case, there''s no need to waste time now that we know the destination.
We took a taxi and arrived at the ''Incheon Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp''.
Contrary to expectations, it was a lively and joyful ce.
The children looked bright and cheerful, and the merchants seemed full of vitality.
And the sight of the elderly gathered on the hillside ying baduk and janggi made it seem far removed from a kidnapping case.
First of all, there were too many people, making it impossible to avoid drawing attention.
"Senior? Could a kidnapping have urred in a ce like this?"
Senior was frowning with a serious expression, looking around in all directions.
"Senior?"
"I don''t know. Something seems strange, but I''m not sure."
For some unknown reason, we followed the terrified client to their residence.
A dpidated three-story building made of concrete, without even a parking lot.
There, a young boy and a woman came out to wee our group.
"Sisssss!"
The young boy ran with open arms and clung to the client''s feet.
But the client turned pale and froze stiffly.
Doesn''t that look exactly like a leech clinging to your leg?
Chapter 63: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp (3)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
A sleepy-looking cat sat on a moss-covered wall, blinking heavy eyes.
The cat, which seemed to have been wandering all day, kept yawning without rest, yet its two eyes were scanning the surroundings in search of a new adventure.
However, contrary to its notorious reputation, the temporary camp appeared peaceful on the surface.
The wildflowers held dewdrops that glistened, with butterflies fluttering above them.
"Wow, a cat!"
And there were fake children running across the wildflower-filled field.
Surrounded by the friendly children, the cat seemed quite ustomed to their attention, looking rather annoyed.Well, being a pretty white ghost cat, it must have received a lot of such attention.
However, it seems that the cat is aware of the forks held by the people surrounding it, even though they are showing kindness. Could it be that the cat finds it bothersome?
Although those forks couldn''t harm a cat capable of ghostification even if struck, it seemed like the right timing to intervene.
Standing on the fence and undoing the ghostification, I picked up the cat.
Meow!
The cat was startled and scolded me foring.
''It just looked interesting, so I came to see.''
Meow.
The tired cat didn''t seem too interested, meowing and snuggling into my arms.
A peaceful reaction from the cat.
In contrast, the fake children reacted violently.
They hastily backed away, staring with frightened expressions.
Slowly, slowly, they retreated while watching me cautiously.
Then, seeing that I didn''t seem to pay them any mind, they scattered and disappeared into the nooks and crannies of the alleys.
Meow.
''Really? I wonder why they suddenly ran away like that?''
Carrying the cat in my arms, I strolled around the camp.
A merchant piled goods on a street stall, calling out to customers.
A butcher sat at the counter watching TV.
Children yed jump rope in groups.
Elderly men yed baduk, cing stones on the board.
T/N: Google it if you don''t know what baduk is.
A peaceful daily scene.
Though the cat didn''t notice, the fake humans here seemed quite afraid of me, pretending not to be.
Strange, I wonder why?
Meow.
Bored? It doesn''t seem like a dangerous ce like on TV?
''Indeed, this ce doesn''t seem as ominous and filled with violent ''people'' as described on TV.''
Meow meow.
TV exaggerated too much?
Well, that''s just how TV is.
Meow...
The cat, bored with the peaceful camp, closed its eyes and snuggled to sleep in my arms.
***
??? POV:
---
Concrete walls soaked in blood surrounded the basement.
In the dim basement, a reddened chair sat alone, contrasting with the darkness.
On the chair was a headless corpse tied with rough ropes.
The neckless body was covered in all kinds of wounds, and where the ropes were tied, there were bruises from struggling.
Below the chair, a pool of blood dimly reflected light, emitting an eerie glow.
In the pool of blood under the chair were carelessly discarded tools used for torture - rusty saws, pliers, hammers, and more.
Looking at the shattered corpse on the chair, the director spoke:
"Oh, how unfortunate. ''Nameless'' has appeared."
The association man was tortured over and over until he finally called out the director''s name to die peacefully.
"Come to think of it, even if I hear the name this way, I can''t verify it. No matter what name is given, ''Nameless'' appears, so I can''t be sure if it was really my name."
Chuckling an unpleasantugh, the director left the basement with the man''s corpse, saying,
"At least it''s certain that I''m not the same kind as a Parasite Object."
Only the gruesomely dead man''s body remained in the istion room the director left.
***
On therge monitor in the deputy director''s office, CCTV footage from the lounge was ying.
Filling the screen was the Golden Reaper.
It was slowly munching on a snack it held, eating bit by bit.
"Huh, it''s kind of cute."
Seo-ah, with a slightly relieved expression, opened a notebook and scribbled down notes.
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It was a report she had thought she would have to analyze someday.
The Golden Reaper appeared suddenly, then disappeared quickly, making analysis difficult.
She had given up on the report because obtaining data was hard, but now that data was in her hands.
Footage capturing the Golden Reaper that hadsted over 48 hours!
One distinct characteristic that could be confirmed from the footage,
It absolutely does not want to leave humans!
Even when eating, it stays close to humans or tries to cling to them.
When resting, it rolls around on human palms.
When bored, it climbs up clothes to cling to faces.
The Gray Reaper and Golden Reaper seem very simr, but their differences also appear greater than expected.
For one, the Gray Reaper liked any kind of video media.
It especially liked leaving the news on while doing other things, but disliked having something else on besides the news when doing those other things.
In contrast, the Golden Reaper showed no interest in video media at all.
Even if people appeared in videos, it paid no attention.
As if real humans were the only thing that mattered.
Their attitudes toward humans also differed slightly.
Both liked humans, but the Gray Reaper pretended not to care and preferred being alone, while the Golden Reaper expressed interest directly.
Still, their fundamental behavior principles seemed simr.
Outwardly, the Golden Reaper appeared more foolish than the Gray Reaper, but this seemed due tock of experience.
Could the gray Reaper be older than it looks?
Just looking at its unclear history before being isted at Sehee Research Institute made that probability seem high.
So the conclusion was,
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
The camp residents who had been suspicious of our sudden appearance were quickly able to ept us as friends visiting on the client''s guidance.
The barrage of questions from the client''s fake little brother and the flustered client.
The client requested this because something seemed strange, but I still can''t quite sense what''s off.
"Sis, why did you suddenly leave yesterday?"
"I...I don''t know?"
The client seemed to have a pretty good reputation, as every passerby was joining the vacant lot and weing her.
More and more people were gathering in the vacant lot in front of the shabby building, but it was a bit strange that no one mentioned the client''s name.
Strange... Should I ask about it?
"It seems you''ve been close friends for a long time?"
I approached the owner of the butcher shop who said he had known the client since childhood.
"Oh yeah, we''re close. I''ve known her since we were little kids! Especially even though our camp is a bit cramped and inconvenient, we rely on and help each other out, so it''s alright to live here."
While saying this, he started telling stories about memories with the client, going all the way back to when the client was a baby.
"Yuri! Come over here. This uncle doesn''t believe my stories at all!"
Naturally, while listening to the stories, I was able to hear the client''s name.
But Yuri?
The client''s name I heard was ''Sua''...
The client, still not looking well, just smiled as she approached when called by the butcher shop uncle.
"Senior, wasn''t the client''s name Sua?"
"It was Sua."
"Then what''s the situation now?"
"What else could it be, it''s a troublesome situation involving an Object."
It''s clear there''s some kind of problem, but I can''t figure out what exactly the problem is.
It didn''t seem like much time had passed since arriving at the camp, but the sun had already started slowly descending near the horizon.
They said they were holding a simple weing ceremony for the client, but the preparations looked like quite a grand festival.
In the middle of the vacant lot, a campfire was lit with stacked logs.
Around the fire, charcoal grills were set up to grill seasoned meat skewers, vegetables, sausages and more.
People swarmed around the client, and a joyful atmosphere filled the air.
"Senior, doesn''t this seem suspicious?"
Junior 1 asked while holding 8 chicken skewers, one on each finger.
"What''s suspicious about it?"
"The client is suspicious. No matter how I look at it, it''s clear there''s no problem with the camp, right?"
"So?"
"If there''s no problem with the camp, but the client says the camp is strange, then couldn''t it be that the client is the one who''s gone crazy? So she requested to find her normal little brother?"
Junior 1 stated confidently while munching on the chicken skewers.
"How''s my deduction this time? Perfect, right?"
"It sounds usible, but my intuition tells me the camp side is stranger."
I fidgeted with the revolver in my pocket, deep in thought.
Chapter 64: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp (4)
Yellow Detective POV:
---
Now the vacant lot waspletely enveloped in darkness. Under the starry night sky, arge campfire crackled and sparked.
Even from a distance, its heat reached us, warming our faces and making my yellow suit glisten in the firelight.
It was an overlyrge campfire, unsuited for the modest weing ceremony.
The warm golden glow from the burning logs cast flickering shadows, creating the unique atmosphere of a campfire.
Junior 1 was eating chicken skewers with a carefree expression.
With each bite, satisfied breaths and murmurs of delight could be heard.
The smoky aroma and the crunching sounds of the crisply grilled chicken skewers.Junior 1 was fully enjoying the campfire.
"Senior? Would you like one?"
"No, you eat them yourself."
When I silently looked at her, Junior 1 with hamster-like puffed-out cheeks from eating offered me a chicken skewer.
Unlike the busy-eating Junior 1, Junior 2 had her own role - providing mental care by sticking close to the client.
Just in case, I had handed my revolver over to Junior 2.
While mindlessly devouring the skewers, Junior 1 suddenly seemed to remember something and asked,
"Oh right! Senior, why did you hand over the revolver?"
"I want to look around a bit. You''lle too, so get ready to go soon instead of eating more."
Junior 1 started scanning me from head to toe with a strange expression.
"Eheh, you''re going to infiltrate in that bright yellow suit?"
"Why sneak around? We can just go openly."
We headed out from the camp, taking advantage of the darkness, away from the vacant lot.
Junior 1 came along, carrying an armful of chicken skewers.
Walking with clomping up the steep stairs, we looked around the inside of the camp.
The quiet camp with sparse streetlights felt strangely out of cepared to the brightly glowing campfire in the distance.
"Hello there."
"Here for sightseeing?"
"Yes, my group is over there."
"Enjoy your visit."
As we wandered around, we frequently encountered camp residents.
Their manner when I asked questions felt a bit off.
Was I being too serious, perhaps?
"Didn''t you notice anything strange?"
"Not really...?"
"Well, maybe I''m just being oversensitive. Let''s walk around some more."
Junior 1, carrying a bag full of chicken skewers and munching away, didn''t seem to notice anything amiss.
"Hey mister, are you a tourist?"
"Oh my, a young tourist?"
"Are you tourists?"
Tourist, tourist, tourist.
The first greeting from everyone we met was a bit different, but had the same meaning.
''Are you tourists?''
Everyone was asking if we were tourists.
By this point, even Junior 1 felt that something was off.
"It''s getting weirder and weirder."
"Is being a tourist important?"
"We could ask, but this isn''t really a tourist spot, is it? It''s strange that everyone is asking without fail."
In a remote part of the camp,
where the sky dyed by the campfire''s mes was visible in the distance, we heard an odd sound.
It sounded like the dying whimpers of a small puppy.
"Shh."
Lowering our bodies, we slowly approached the source of the sound and saw arge group of children gathered in an open area.
Pook pook pook pook.
The vige children were mercilessly stabbing a stray dog with forks.
The dog thrashed about, crying out in pain, before finally going limp and dying.
Then they tore at its corpse with the forks and brought pieces to their mouths.
"Hieek."
Junior 1 seemed startled and gasped.
The children devoured the stray dog, leaving no skin or bones behind.
And once the dog hadpletely vanished without a trace, they nonchntly got up and started ying in the area again, as if nothing had happened.
The adults who appeared to be the children''s parents showed no reaction whatsoever.
Hmm, it''s definitely strange now.
Despite such strangeness, my monocle showed no reaction at all.
"Wh...what was that?"
Junior 1 still seemed bewildered after witnessing that iprehensible scene.
"You''ve finally seen it - the circumstantial evidence that the camp is strange, just as the client said. We should start heading back now."
As we were slinking away from the area, a loud sound rang out.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out from the direction of the campfire.
Did something happen to Junior 2?
"Junior, run!"
We need to get there before something big happens.
---
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
A run-down, single-story supermarket.
Just like the building''s exterior showing traces of age, the inside of the market was decorated with faded product advertisements for discontinued items from long ago.
A creaking ss door.
Various kinds of junk food you''d only see when you were little.
Omnyonynyon~
For some reason, sitting inside the nostalgic store, I took a bite of the junk food I used to eat as a child.
It doesn''t really taste good.
I definitely remember it tasting delicious though...
Whether my sense of taste changed after bing an Object or if my memories had heavily romanticized it, I couldn''t tell.
The ghost cat was curled up napping on the market counter, snoring away.
I was watching people passing by through the supermarket''s ss window.
The people who used to run the supermarket?
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When I entered the supermarket, the fake humans who used to run it fled.
I didn''t even do anything, yet they ran away. It felt strange, as if something was off.
I''ll have to y a prank on them next time.
Snore~
The cat sleeps.
It had been sleeping all day.
I was going to tell it we should head back to the Research Institute when it woke up, but it wouldn''t wake up.
But if I left it here, the fake humans might try to stab it with forks?
While eating all kinds of nostalgic snacks one by one and watching TV, night had fallen before I knew it.
Bang!
A loud gunshot rang out from somewhere.
And the cat woke up after hearing that sound too.
Meow!
The cat, after hearing the gunshot, cried out ''An adventure has arrived!''
Meow!
''It''s telling me not toe? That, it''s dangerous?''
The ungrateful cat actually told me absolutely not to follow it.
It seemed to have its own reasons, like this was an adventure it had to ovee alone.
I waved at the boldly departing cat.
And of course, I then
ghostified and secretly started following the cat.
Hehe~
---
Yellow Detective POV:
---
The abnormality after the gunshot urred suddenly.
Us running towards the vacant lot where Junior 2 was.
And the camp residents slowly approaching, surrounding us.
Perhaps because of the gunshot, the camp that had hardly anyone walking around at thiste hour was now filled with people.
"Where are you rushing off to?"
A man slowly approached, asking a question.
It seemed like he was trying to initiate a normal conversation, but not to me.
"Run!"
I grabbed Junior''s hand and dashed right into the alley.
Once we fled into the alley, the camp residents revealed their true colors.
"Arrrggghh!"
They started charging at us mindlessly like zombies who had lost their minds.
"Huh? Why are these people suddenly acting like this?"
Relying on the alley, I fled with Junior, evading the zombies.
But the alley wasplicated, and the number of pursuing camp residents was too many.
"Senior, Senior, Senior, Senior! What should we do?"
As we ran away from the people turned into zombies, Junior 1 asked me.
There were so many people in this small camp that it was gradually bing difficult to escape.
"Ahh, what should we do? What should we do? What should we do?"
"What should we do? Just beat them up."
I swung Watson like a weapon and knocked down a man who jumped out from the alley.
"Just hit them!"
"Yes!"
With my permission, Junior 1 swung her sledgehammer at a person charging at us.
Bang.
When the person and hammer collided, it made a popping sound like a kernel being popped.
Wow, people can go flying like bowling pins even without a car ident.
We kept running through the maze-like alley.
The tangled alleys like spider webs, the shadows cast by the sparse streetlights made the passages look even narrower and moreplicated.
We could knock away one or two zombies with Junior''s force show, but if there were too many we had no choice but to detour.
Relying on sound, we zigzagged through the alleys, evading the zombies.
We need to get to the vacant lot where Junior 2 is quickly!
But we couldn''t find a proper path at all.
Sharp curves and dead ends, shadows tricking the eyes!
Bang. Bang.
Two more gunshots rang out.
Three shots left.
Should I have given her some extra bullets?
Then a white cat appeared on top of the wall.
It was a cat identified as an Object by my monocle.
Its ability is .
Meow.
For some reason, its gaze seemed to exude intelligence, a strange cat.
That cat looked down at me, meowed again, and then started running along the wall.
More instinctively than rationally, I started running after the cat.
"Junior! Follow me."
Winding and twisting.
A route soplex it was hard to predict.
The cat guided us as if it had grasped the entire maze-like alleyways and locations of the zombies.
It brought us all the way to the vacant lot, our destination, without encountering a single camp resident, as if the difficult escape was a lie.
Meow!
The cat stretched its neck out, making a self-satisfied expression.
"Wow, you guided us? Thank you!"
Junior 1 hugged the white cat and stroked it vigorously.
Looking at the vacant lot where the wee party was held, its previous appearance hadpletely vanished.
The campfire, with the logs that formed its structure scattered all around, could no longer maintain its shape.
The grill for roasting all kinds of meats was overturned on the ground.
In front of the small three-story building, the camp residents turned into zombies were trying to open the closed door.
Looking up, I could see Junior 2 poking her head out from the rooftop of the three-story building.
Ah, thankfully we''re not toote.
Chapter 65: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp (5)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Looking down at the ghost cat from the rooftop of a nearby building where I was hiding, the Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp was in a mess.
The traces of the joyful party were scattered and destroyed everywhere, which saddened me.
I also like parties!
The overturned grilly on the floor, spilling its contents, and the well-roasted golden chicken skewers were rolling on the dirt floor, dripping their juices.
In the vacant lot where the party ended, beings that were neither human nor Objects were running around like zombies.
Next to the wrecked party site, familiar faces were hiding.
The yellow detective leaning casually against the brick wall, holding a gasmp. The detective junior with a tense expression, holding arge hammer.
They both exuded an atmosphere that was somehow different from before.
Hmm, if I had to put it into words, they had be half-Objects?
Well, a person who can throw someone like a baseball can''t be an ordinary person.
I tried to watch the cat''s adventure with a movie-watching sensation, but something started to stimte my senses.
Should I say it as a ''bang!'' sound that only I could hear?
It felt like something creepy suddenly appeared somewhere in this corner of the camp.
The most strongly felt was an enormous malice towards humans.
I alternately looked towards the corner of the camp and where the cat was.
Huh, I wanted to keep watching the cat''s great adventure....
But the cat will probably be fine, since the detective and junior are capable.
And Watson is there too!
Leaving the detective''s group behind, I started hopping towards the direction where I felt that creepy sensation.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
Some characters that I remembered seeing near that rooftop appeared and disappeared on my monocle.
The words I saw were the ''Gray Reaper''.
The Gray Reaper that seemed to be observing us had suddenly disappeared somewhere.
The Gray Reaper that should be at the Sehee Research Institute appeared here.
I know that Gray Reaper is an Object that is often falsely used....
But it''s unavoidable to be suspicious when it keeps appearing at crime scenes.
Why did it show up here?
Still, if we could get help from the human-friendly Gray Reaper, it would have been much easier....
Rescuing Junior 2 seemed to be quite troublesome.
The three-story building where Junior 2 was hiding was surrounded by the camp residents.
The fact that there were many people at the wee party had be a problem instead.
She had locked the rooftop door and was holing up, but it would be difficult to hold out for long.
Unlike the zombiesmonly seen in movies, since the camp residents have intelligence, it would be impossible to keep resisting.
They were already trying various methods, such as bringingdders or trying to climb the walls.
Junior 2 only had about 3 bullets left.
Hmm, there''s nothing I can think of.
It seems that in order to get the client and Junior 2 out, we would have to lure the camp residents piled up like a mountain outside, and only then would there be a possibility.
Fortunately, those residents had zombie-like habits.
The habit of chasing us mindlessly instead of using their heads when they spot our group.
If they didn''t have that habit, it would be like fighting against a well-organized militia, and escaping from there would have been really difficult.
If that were the case, we would have been caught when we were sneaking through the alleys at first.
"Alright,e here."
A simple n exnation.
I would draw their attention and lure all those zombies away, while Junior 1 would take Junior 2 and the client to a safe ce.
Unexpectedly, the most important part of this n is that cat.
We have to hope that the cat guides them to a safe ce.
When I exined the n, the Object cat meowed as if it understood.
***
Junior 1 POV:
---
Senior recited the flimsy n and suddenly got up and ran into the vacant lot.
p p.
He pped twice to draw everyone''s attention.
"Everyone. It''s gettingte, shouldn''t we wrap up the wee party?"
Senior''s words made the camp residents start drooling and rushing towards him in droves.
And senior didn''t even nce at me and started running away in the opposite direction.
After waiting for themotion to subside, when I looked over the wall, all those people had disappearedpletely.
The vacant lot where they had a wee party, grilling barbeque and eating chicken skewers until recently, had turned into aplete mess.
I entered the empty 3-story building and knocked on the locked rooftop door.
Knock knock knock.
After waiting a bit, Hyejin, with a pale face, opened the door while holding the unconscious client in her arms.
The revolver tightly gripped in both hands was trembling, and she still seemed flustered.
"What on earth, what on earth is going on? Everyone was so kind earlier."
¡°Yeah, yeah, everything''s fine, no problem.¡±
I could only hug her tightly and pat her on the back.
Afterforting her for a few minutes, Hyejin finally calmed down enough to converse.
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First, I had to ask why the client passed out, and what situation arose that required using a gun.
"The client suddenly lost consciousness on the rooftop. The reason... I don''t know."
"Then do you not know why you were attacked either?"
"I don''t know that either. We were just having a normal conversation..."
Hyejin didn''t seem to understand this situation at all.
"Senior and I saw something strange while wandering around. Some kids were eating a dog raw. Seeing that, I thought ''we need to leave quickly!'' but then I heard gunshots and the camp people attacked us with rolled back eyes, it was chaos."
"By any chance, were those chicken skewers they gave us actually dog meat?"
"Ah, no way...."
While securing the client with cloth to move her, Hyejin made a very ominous sound.
Ah, no way.
No, it couldn''t be, dog meat would taste different, right?
"Come to think of it, these people seemed obsessed with ''tourists''."
"Tourists?"
"They kept asking everyone they met if they were tourists, who they came with."
"I think I had a conversation rted to that too, so were we attacked for not being tourists?"
"Who knows. But it''s clear this ce is strange, so we need to resolve the client''s request quickly."
I picked up the client on my back and called to the cat, who was sitting on the wall and yawning.
"Kitty! Now guide us to a safe ce."
Meow!
The confident looking cat started guiding us while swishing its tail.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
Whew.
I let out a ragged breath after sprinting down the unfamiliar streets.
There was no time to catch my breath while fleeing from the relentless zombie horde.
I jumped over brick walls, circled around narrow alleys, and knocked over trash cans and structures, but I couldn''t seem to shake off the zombies.
Ah I''m going to die, this kind of physical exertion is not my thing...
Even now, the gasmp I''m holding is swinging wildly in my hand.
If I asked Watson to hide me, it would resolve immediately, but I decided to endure a bit longer.
I know it''s okay to ask Watson 3 times, but Watson is still unsettling.
While fleeing from rooftop to rooftop, something strange caught my eye in the periphery.
What is that?
Late at night, dressed in ck.
Though not clearly visible, from the glimpses I could see, a considerable number were gathering.
People wrapped entirely in ck cloth like ninjas.
Coordinated movements.
Unusual attire.
I''ve never heard of such a group dressing like that in Korea.
They infiltrated the camp and started massacring the residents.
Without saying a word, just blending into the darkness and attacking indiscriminately.
Thanks to them, the number of camp residents chasing me was decreasing dramatically, but those ck-robed people looked too suspicious for me to be purely happy about it.
Since the situation changed, it seemed better to regroup with the juniors quickly.
I raised Watson and said,
"Watson, conceal my appearance"
"Watson, conceal my appearance"
"Watson, conceal my appearance"
With a mockingughter, the spreading smoke turned my body transparent.
I''ll just hurry back, something strange is happening.
***
Junior 1 POV:
---
Near the container house, we looked around and saw a wall-like structure made of construction materials densely surrounding the area like a fortress.
From the outside, it looked like a pile of stacked construction materials being stored.
Inside, there was a fairly spacious area and a small container house.
The ce the cat guided us to was truly a perfectly hidden spot.
Hyejin looked around with a worried expression and said, "Will they be able to find us here? It''spletely out of sight and in a really remote area..."
"Don''t worry, senior will definitely find us. To be honest, senior''s intuition is more like an Object than the Objects he carries. And if he can''t find us, he''ll contact us by phone, right?"
We didn''t need to worry since senior was extremely good at finding ces like this.
Hyejin would also get used to senior''s way of doing things after some time.
Putting our worries aside, we sat on the chairs inside the container to rest, and then we heard a groaning sound.
"Ungh."
Shaking her head from side to side, the client ''Sua'' woke up.
Hyejin approached the awakened client in a friendly manner, "Are you feeling better now?"
"Ah, it seems I passed out. I''m sorry."
The client still seemed disoriented, swaying unsteadily.
Well if she had only been gone for about a month and came back to find everyone she knew had turned into zombie-like beings, it''s understandable to be shocked.
After regaining her senses, the client Sua spoke with a very confused expression, "Ah, this may sound like a strange question."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"I can''t remember well."
"What was my name?"
The client started saying strange things.
Chapter 66: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp (6)
Detective POV:
---
The view of the temporary camp seen from the administration office building located on a high hill was certainly a different atmosphere.
The night sky, with even the starlight disappearing behind the clouds, was pressing down on the camp with darkness and amplifying the stillness of the night.
The streetlights sparsely visible inside the camp were piercing through the darkness and creating pools of dim yellow light that seemed to wander on the ground.
Those pools of light illuminated the camp''s alleys, which were intricately intertwined like veins, and the small, shabby buildings with peeled paint due tock of maintenance.
It also asionally revealed the figures of the men in ck wandering in the most foreign darkness of the camp alleys.
"This is a big deal."
It wasn''t that big of an issue that the residents wandering inside the camp were all being killed by those ''ninja''-like fiends."No matter how much I search, I can''t find where the juniors are hiding. Moreover, the phones are dead too."
The biggest problem was that I couldn''t reunite with the juniors.
On top of that, the phones went dead after the ninjas appeared.
The juniors must be waiting a lot.
The ce my feet led me to was this administration office.
Do I need to do something here?
Or do I need to spend some time here?
Looking down from here, I could see many corpses of the dead camp residents.
Although I had treated the camp residents like zombies, now that I look, they were definitely not zombies.
The camp residents who moved blindly like zombies surprisingly died easily like humans.
Some died from severed carotid arteries and blood loss, while others were stabbed in the heart.
The ninjas were clearly showing that the camp residents were not zombies.
There were still countless assassination ninjas outside with unknown motives.
No matter how I look at it, it doesn''t seem like the right time to go outside the administration office, so I should take a closer look inside.
Being careful not to emit any light, I walked deep into the administration office.
Thud, thud.
Relying on a single shlight pointed towards the ground, I walked through the pitch-ck corridor.
I walked and walked until I reached a room that seemed like a basement warehouse of the administration office.
Shining the shlight, it was a deste ce densely packed with filing cabs.
Perhaps because of that, the room was filled with the smell of old paper and dust.
I entered the room, opened a random drawer, and took out a file, which showed a familiar-looking uncle''s photo.
The uncle who used to boast about his friendship with the client.
Didn''t he say he ran a butcher shop?
The documents were a directory with trivial details like age, address, and family rtions.
I flipped through the directories one by one.
Starting from thendlord of the building where the client lived, various people were listed in the directories.
Some people had chased me like zombies, while others had eaten chicken skewers with the juniors.
However, the client was not there.
And the file of the client''s younger brother was also strange.
If these documents were not wrong, if it wasn''t a simple omission,
How should I interpret this situation?
Who exactly is our client, and what''s with this kidnapped younger brother?
***
Junior 2 POV:
---
Strange.
"Now, repeat after me. One letter at a time, clearly, Sua!"
"Su. A."
The client was strange.
Even when I told her the name, she didn''t seem to fullyprehend it.
At first, the people inside the camp got the client''s name mixed up, and now the client herself has forgotten her own name?
What does this mean?
When the camp people went berserk, I was surprised, but I had a feeling that what the client said was true...
Now I''m not sure what''s going on.
On top of that, the name has be a trivial issue now.
Because the client''s height was decreasing.
I didn''t notice it at first, but now it was clear.
The client''s height had decreased!
"The situation in the camp is quite dangerous right now, so take a look at this! It''s a tool that can be used as both a tool and for self-defense, perfect!"
"A hammer?"
Senior handed the ''evangelism hammer'' to the client and made a proud expression.
And the client awkwardly held the hammer and swung it around.
"Senior."
I approached senior and called out to her in a soft, hushed voice.
"What is it?"
"Senior, isn''t this strange?"
"Huh? What''s strange?"
I quietly reached out, grabbed the hammer, looked at the client who was swinging it around, and said,
"The client height. Isn''t her height strange?"
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"Huh? Now that you mention it, it is a bit strange. Wasn''t the client taller than that?"
"She was around 165cm, but now she''s dropped below 150cm, and that''s your only reaction?"
"Wait, be quiet for a moment."
The hammer senior suddenly cut me off with a serious expression.
The ce senior was looking at was the entrance of the container.
A man with a strange atmosphere was standing at the entrance of the container office.
He was a man wrapped entirely in ck cloth.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The ce I arrived at with an eerie feeling was an empty market street.
On the deserted street without a single person, the lonely streetlights were casting shadows on the market stalls.
The stalls scattered around were full of products that hadn''t been cleaned up properly by their owners.
I released my ghostification and sat on a nearby stall, biting into an apple.
The mass of malice that could be felt even from afar had already disappeared long ago.
As I was thinking about whether I should track down the eerie feeling here or just return to the cat,
Men dressed in ck started appearing from the corners of the market.
The smell of blood.
They were men emitting an intense smell of blood.
Not just ordinary blood, but the blood of those ''fake humans'' that were all over the camp.
Those men in ck appeared in various parts of the market and started staring at me intently.
Were they trying to pick a fight?
"!"
But the actions of the men in ck werepletely beyond my expectations.
They gathered around me in a circle and sat down, bowing.
I was sittingfortably and rxing, but suddenly I felt ufortable.
Why are they suddenly doing this?
On top of that, the me inside me had absorbed a lot of emotions, but it wasn''t a feeling like affection, but a worship kind of emotion.
It was a feeling I had never experienced before.
The feelings I usually get are positive ones like love or affection.
Or negative ones like fear or disgust, but suddenly reverence?
I was 30% thinking of just running away from this ufortable situation of suddenly receiving bows.
But 70% of me thought I should stay a little longer because of the strange sensation I was getting.
The feeling was delicious, so I decided to stay a bit longer.
Unlike affection or fear, reverence somehow tickled my heart and gave me a sense of omnipotence.
Somehow, I felt like I was bing more and more great!
Hehe.
***
Detective POV:
---
I put the file containing the personal information of the younger brother that the client had requested to search for into my arms and left the administration office.
After going around the hill and down, what I saw was a za filled with corpses.
The eerie streetlights covered in blood, emitting a reddish glow, made the atmosphere of the za even more terrifying.
The gravel-covered za, which had been wellndscaped, was now stained with blood and littered with corpses.
Among the fallen camp residents, the corpses of the men in ck could be seen here and there.
It was quite strange to see the corpses of these quasi-ninjas that gave off an inhuman vibe.
I couldn''t miss this opportunity.
All the camp residents had died from clean cuts, showing how skilled these men in ck were with ded weapons.
However, I couldn''t shake the thought of why they would bother using ded weapons in this day and age.
There weren''t many corpses of the men in ck, but their condition was miserable.
They had died riddled with all kinds of weapons like swords, kitchen knives, and rakes.
I selected one of the men in ck whose body seemed to be in decent condition and began analyzing it.
When I removed the mask, what was revealed was a grotesque skin.
There was not a single strand of hair or eyebrow, and only severe burns covered the face.
"This kind of looks like a scar made by an Object, doesn''t it?"
However, the wound didn''t seem as serious as the degree of the burn would suggest.
Rather, the burn scars looked so natural that I could believe there was a race that originally looked like that.
With burns of that degree, the skin should have beenpletely peeled off, or the person should have died, so it must be a scar made by an Object.
I had felt that these ninjas were too quiet, and upon inspection, they had no tongues.
What kind of group are these guys?
They burned their entire bodies to create burns, pulled out their tongues.
Drew unidentified tattoos all over the burn scars, and used outdated ded weapons in this day and age.
On top of that, they were a group that had undergone rigorous training without regard for their lives.
Is this some kind of cult?
If an Object was involved in this religious group, then it would certainly be possible, but I couldn''t understand why they had appeared here.
And the most iprehensible thing was one item that came from the men in ck''s arms.
A carefully packaged, premium pudding.
What is this?
---
T/N: PUDDINGGGG!!!
Chapter 67: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp (7)
It was quiet, so quiet.
The camp, viewed from the gravel-covered za stained with blood as I lit my pipe, was enveloped in an eerie stillness and silence.
Not a single sound of insects or animals that would usually be heard - a perfect silence.
The only movements left in the camp were the asional sounds of wind blowing through the alleys and slowly stirring shadows.
All the camp residents were dead.
The camp that had been full of life and cheerful just a day ago had be amunal graveyard with those buildings as tombstones.
This extremely quiet camp was so silent that even heartbeats would be difficult to conceal.
Only the ninjas melted into the darkness remained.
Now, even in this corner of the za, there was a ninja hidden in the shadows, watching me.A ninja who had been relentlessly exterminating campers, burning pipes, and ignoring me in my yellow suit.
It seemed like an operation targeting only the camp residents, but even after turning Gyeyang Mountain Camp into Gyeyang Mountain Communal Graveyard, they continued wandering around, seemingly searching for something.
I had a hunch here.
That these men in ck were searching for the ''anomaly'' of this camp.
And that ''anomaly'' would be the clue to solving the request.
I felt that intense hunch.
Bang!
Piercing the stillness of the camp, an intense gunshot rang out.
Unless the ninjas were actually hiding guns, it must be the gunshot from the revolver I handed over to Junior 2.
The gunshot came from a ce not too far away.
Just as I started moving to find Junior after hearing the gunshot, the ninjas also began rushing towards the direction of the sound.
Bang! Bang!
Consecutive gunshots rang out.
Was the situation more dangerous than I thought?
The revolver I gave had 6 bullets, so the shots just now must have used them all up.
When I arrived at the ce where the gunshots came from, it was a spot piled high with construction materials.
As I was thinking about climbing over the wall of construction materials, a loud sound tore across the sky.
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiip-!
It was an ear-piercing screech,rge enough to be unsettling.
The ninjas who had been lurking in the shadows, as well as those climbing over the construction material wall, all stood up at once and started running somewhere.
The number of ninjas that suddenly emerged was considerably more than I had expected.
All the ninjas headed towards somewhere in the north.
In the north of the camp, I knew there was supposedly arge underground waterway entrance, but could there really be something there?
With that doubt, I moved my steps into the vacant lot the ninjas had vacated.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
One of the ninjas surrounding me took something out from inside their clothes.
What could it be? As I was watching curiously, it was somethingpletely unexpected.
Pudding!!!
It was a cutely packaged premium pudding.
Why would a ninja be carrying something like that?
The ninja carefully unwrapped the packaging in a manner reminiscent of a religious ritual.
The solemn act felt so reverent.
After unwrapping the pudding, they raised it with both hands, then knelt down and offered it to me on their upturned palms.
It felt like they were presenting an offering to a king.
Wondering what it would taste like, I tried the offered pudding.
Omnom nom~
Wow, it''s delicious.
More delicious than the ones I ate at the Sehee Research Institute.
It was a pudding with packaging I had never seen in Korea, but the taste exceeded expectations.
As I happily wiggled my feet in delight, the ninjas gathered and started making something.
A giant human pyramid!
A throne as wide as a bed!
It was an enormous pyramid made by stacking their own bodies, with a throne ced on top.
?
So I''m supposed to climb up there? But there are no stairs?
As I had that thought, the ninjas extended their hands as if making steps on the pyramid.
It seemed they wanted me to step on their outstretched palms alternately to climb up.
I ced my foot on the palm extended by the ninja at the very bottom.
It felt quite stable, perhaps because they were gripping firmly.
Hehe, it''s kind of ticklish too.
Since my foot was on their palm, it tickled a bit, so I wiggled my toes unnecessarily.
Stepping from palm to palm, pressing down firmly with both feet, I stood on the throne.
It looked like it would wobble or be ufortable, but it felt surprisingly sturdy.
Then I''ll jump up and dive in!
Boing boing~
Even when I jumped on it, the ninja-made throne remained solid.
Boing boing ~
It was kind of fun, so I kept jumping.
On either side of the throne, there was one ninja taking out pudding and presenting it to me.
On the opposite side, another ninja appeared, fanning me with a fan.
Oh, it''s just like a royal throne.
Leaning backfortably on the throne, it felt like I had truly be a king.
A giant throne atop a giant pyramid.
And me on top of it!
Afortable chair, delicious pudding, and a sense of omnipotence from the me inside me.
Should I take these ninjas to the Sehee Research Institute?
It might be fun to keep these ninjas locked up at the Sehee Research Institute and have them make pyramids to y on whenever I''m bored.
As I was imagining such things, suddenly a loud whistle sound reverberated.
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiip-!
The ninjas forming the throne and pyramid started slipping out from the bottom.
After solemnly presenting me with onest pudding and bowing, the ninjas left one by one.
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I wonder if something happened?
I watched as the ninjas disappeared in retreat, leaving behind a vast amount of pudding that I had been absentmindedly eating.
When will I finish eating all of this?
***
Junior 1 POV:
---
A man concealing his entire body in ck clothes like a ninja.
A man reeking of the stench of blood.
He was standing at the container entrance, holding a dripping bloody sword.
The crimson stains dripping from his de hinted at what purpose he hade here for.
I gripped my hammer tightly and assessed the situation.
Grrrr-!
Making a bubbling sound from his mouth, the ninja pointed his finger somewhere.
The client.
The ninja was pointing at the client.
"Hyejin, protect the client!"
The ninja''s target seemed to be the client.
It''s a bit strange, but a client is a client.
I can''t just hand them over to some ninjas.
The ninja also seemed to realize a fight was inevitable, as the tension gradually escted.
The ninja''s gaze was closely watching my every move, but mainly focused on the movements of the giant hammer I was holding.
The ninja shifted his weight as if about to lunge at any moment.
Thump thump.
My heart was pounding like it would burst.
Not from fear, but from excitement.
The brief stillness was broken by the sharp sound of the wind.
With agility reaching the limits of a human, a flurry of metal strikes came shing towards my face in an instant.
I calmly blocked them with the head of my hammer, but the ninja''s strikes didn''t stop after just one or two.
The barrage of strikes from all angles made me feel the ninja''s level of training was in the realm of a master.
However.
None of them reached me.
Anticipating the ninja''s sword strikes, I swung my hammer.
Like a cannon firing a shell, my swing shattered the ninja''s de, crushed his right hand, and blew apart his head beyond that.
The headless and one-handed corpse fell backwards.
With a dull thud, blood btedly pooled on the container floor.
Haah.... haah...
My breath was ragged from the excessive adrenaline rush.
But there was no time to rest.
Another ninja was climbing over the wall of construction materials to infiltrate.
I readjusted my grip on the hammer and faced the charging ninja.
This second ninja that joined was more cautious after seeing hisrade''s corpse.
He stared at me intently like a stillke, seeming to wait for an opportunity.
Tap tap tap.
Rhythmically tapping the floor with his feet, making sounds.
The ninja who seemed to be waiting for something suddenly sprang forward, swinging his sword at me.
It looked like a reckless, life-risking strike.
But it was a meaningless outburst against my hammer!
I put all my strength into swinging down to smash that de.
The moment I felt something was off was right as I started that swing.
Another ninja sprang out from behind the first one.
Not one, but two?
There was no way to block the stabbing de of the second ninja.
Ah, so this is how I die?
As I had that thought, a loud sound rang out.
Bang!
The revolver left behind by the senior spat out a me, and the ambushing ninja was struck in the head and fell down.
"Haah, thanks, Hyejin."
Although we had fended off two more ninjas, it was not yet time to rest.
The ninjas kepting in, exceeding two, three, four.
Hyejin had 2 bullets left in the remaining revolver.
Fortunately, the container entrance was narrow.
We didn''t have to worry about being surrounded, but...
Could we win this?
There were 5 ninjas in the standoff.
There may have been more ninjas outside, but I decided to think about what was in front of me first.
As the air inside the container became increasingly tense, with a silent signal, the ninjas charged at us all at once.
I tried to swing my hammer at the approaching ninja, but the ninjas no longer seemed to give me a chance to swing my hammer.
There were always at least 2 sword strikesing at strange angles.
I could barely block or avoid those strikes, let alone counterattack.
I was gradually pushed into a corner.
The distance between Hyejin and me became closer.
At this distance, the ninjas could directly target the client...
Dangerous.
What should I do now?
Bang! Bang!
Two more gunshots rang out.
But those bullets missed uselessly.
The ninjas recognized the existence of the revolver and deliberately lured the shots.
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiip-!
Just when I thought it was the end, a loud whistle sound reverberated.
Frightened by the sound of the whistle, the ninjas distanced themselves from me and slowly retreated, hiding their bodies in the shadows.
By the time the long st of the whistle had subsided, the ninjas who had been in the standoff had vanished into the depths of the shadows.
Haah, I survived.
Chapter 68: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp (8)
Junior 1 POV:
---
The container from which the ninjas dressed in ck outfits had withdrawn en masse was left with only the heat of the battle that had raged until recently.
Pausing to catch my breath, it felt like I was inhaling hot air with every breath.
The narrow space inside the container, now quiet unlike the heat of battle, was filled with the smell of blood.
As I began to realize the battle was over, I took a deep breath and shouted out.
"Ah! I survived!"
Raising my hammer triumphantly with that joyous exmation.
Honestly, I didn''t know why the ninjas suddenly fled.Nor did I know why the ninjas suddenly appeared in the first ce.
But in any case, I was d to have survived.
Looking back, Hyejin seemed rtively unscathed.
Whether it was her natural personality or because of the Golden Horn, I couldn''t tell.
The client seemed quite shaken up.
It would be shocking if ninjas suddenly appeared trying to kill you.
Knock knock.
Suddenly hearing knocking on the container wall, I turned to see the familiar figure of the senior in his yellow suit standing there.
"Seems there was a bigger incident than I expected."
The senior returned with his familiar expression, smiling as if nothing had happened.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
Surveying inside the container, it was a mess with blood sttered everywhere.
There were a total of 3 ninja corpses strewn about inside.
One died from a gunshot, likely killed by junior 2.
Two were crushed corpses, done by junior 1 no doubt.
As expected, the strength of those transcending humanity.
The ninjas were targeting just the camp residents, and the juniors ended up fighting because of the client.
As I expected, the client and camp residents are of the same kind.
Likely victims of Object or byproducts of it, one of the two.
"Senior! Why did youe sote! You didn''t even contact us!"
"I came as fast as I could. And it seems those ninjas were jamming or something, my phone wasn''t working."
I shook my phone as I spoke.
"So these ck-clothed fiends were after the client?"
"Yes, they just suddenly went after the client out of nowhere. Can you imagine how shocked we were when ninjas appeared?"
Junior 1 seemed to have had a tough time, though fortunately no major injuries.
Looking around, junior 2 appeared fine, and the client was a bit shaken...
Hmm.
The client shrunk?
It''s almost certain now that the client isn''t human.
Well, whether the client is human, Object, or an alien doesn''t really matter.
p p.
I pped twice to get everyone''s attention.
"Alright, now we know where we need to go next. The underground waterway in the northern part of the camp. The client''s younger brother that we were asked to find is likely there."
I urged the juniors and client onward.
This request has already reached the final stage.
Hopefully we can find the client''s younger brother in the underground waterway...
***
??? POV:
---
Beyond the underground waterway was a massive underground structure.
A basement filled with blood.
Piles of ninja corpses filled the basement like mountains.
And there were even more piles of researcher corpses, numbering in the hundreds.
Kekekeke.
The director was coughing up blood as heughed.
With several ninja des piercing his torso, he just keptughing.
"Slowly, it seems I must abandon this camp as well. With even these strange ones interfering, I should relocate."
Where the director looked, the basement''s sole human survivor was bound.
A man unable to regain his senses from the severe torture.
"Still, I''m fortunate. There is at least one sessful experiment."
The director paced around the lone survivor, endlessly muttering.
"Who would have thought Object would arise from humanity''s hopes and dreams? But with only one sess case, it may be too early to call it a sess."
After circling to check the survivor''s condition, the director turned and said
"He should be able to withstand long-distance transport in this state."
The director raised both hands and shouted:
"Begin relocating the Research Institute!"
At the director''s cry echoing through the basement, the fallen researchers began to stir like corpses.
With bulging eyes, severed limbs, and spilling entrails, the moving researchers'' expressions seemed gloomy.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
Arriving at the northern part of the camp, arge sewer entrance gaped wide, contrasting the destendscape.
"This must be the ce."
"Senior, are you sure this is it?"
Junior 1 asked with a disgusted expression.
The sewer, spewing blood and littered with corpses from the entrance, was indeed disgusting.
Looking at the fallen ninja corpses at the sewer entrance, it was clear this was where the ninjas had headed en masse.
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With each step further in, countless corpsesy lifeless, soaked in blood.
The underground waterway was full of ninja corpses.
The deeper we went, the more their numbers increased.
There were so many corpses that instead of water, the sewer was gushing blood.
Looking back, our party seemed extremely tense.
Junior 1 gripped her hammer, vigntly following close behind me.
Junior 2 held a revolver freshly reloaded with bullets in both hands, sticking right by the client''s side.
The client seemed off for some reason.
Dazed, you could say?
As we went so deep the sewer entrance was no longer visible, an unfamiliar sound began.
Thump thump.
The sound of a heartbeat was rising up from the depths underground.
The thick blood flowing through the sewerbined with the heartbeat created an eerie atmosphere.
We went deeper following the sewer path.
And the deeper we went, the more the number of corpses increased.
But strangely, they were only ninja corpses.
Just what were the ninjas fighting?
The heartbeat sound also grew louder.
It was now loud enough to echo off the walls and floor.
At the end of the sewer, an unexpectedly clean open space weed us.
Arge heartbeat sound echoed, while unidentified blood flowed down the walls of this unidentifiable space.
Around the perimeter were piles of ninja corpses, and in the center, figures in whiteb coats weed us.
"Long time no see! Yellow detective."
The distortedughter came from the director standing in the center, calling out loudly.
It was the same director from the Central Research Institute, with a lively face speaking.
But it was apletely different being from the director at the Central Institute.
That was my feeling, and the text disyed on my monocle also indicated it was a different entity.
At the Central Institute, it had said [As long as the director remains, the Research Institute cannot be destroyed] . But now it showedpletely different text,
[As long as the director exists, it possesses the researchers.]
[As long as the research is notplete, the director will regenerate.]
[As long as the wish is not fulfilled, the research never ends.]
My monocle sometimes omitted or didn''t show information, but it always disyed the same text for the same Object.
So this meant the director before me and the Central Institute''s director werepletely different Object.
''I found him.''
The person I was looking for was indeed here.
I spotted a youth with the same appearance as the photo in the personnel records - the client''s younger brother she asked me to find.
Covered in blood and tied to a chair with rope, but it was him.
"That''s my brother!!"
The client then shouted loudly.
As expected, the finger pointed at the blood-soaked youth.
A younger brother who looked much older than the client?
Junior 1 and 2, who had thought the younger brother was around elementary school age, had perplexed expressions.
Upon hearing the client''s words, the research director red menacingly and said,
"So you were thieves trying to steal the test subject."
With the director''s low, grating voice, the researchers lined up around us all rushed at us at once.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Omyonyon~
I was happy eating the mountain of pudding piled up.
No matter how much I ate, the pudding didn''t decrease!
As I was stacking and eating the pudding like that, a small sound came.
A faint, small sounding from underground.
It was so quiet that I tried to ignore it and eat the pudding, but then it came a bit more clearly.
Aeooooooong-!
It was the desperate cry of a ghost cat.
Ah, the ghost cat!
I hadpletely forgotten about it...
Because of the fun ninja pyramid, I hadpletely forgotten.
Could there be some problem?
To track the sounding from underground, I dug straight through the ground with ghostification.
Under the ground I dug into, there was a room full of the smell of blood.
While searching for the cat underground, I found the source of malice.
It was the ce I had originally tried to find.
The ce where malicious energy burst out.
Blood spurting from people was scattered everywhere.
It stained the gray concrete a deep red, and the pooled blood on the floor gave off an eerie glow.
The stench of blood was so thick, it felt like licking metal.
In the center of that room was a tied up, headless corpse on a chair.
I could faintly but definitely sense the lingering malice I had felt from it before.
But whatever ''thing'' had been emanating that malice was no longer there.
Hmm, I wonder what it was?
Aeooooooong!
Then the cat''s cry came again from not too far away.
The cry sounded quite urgent.
Chapter 69: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp (9)
Yellow Detective POV:
---
With the director''s signal, the Objects dressed as researchers rushed towards us.
Their unenthusiastic expressions and movements made them look even more bizarre.
Their zombie-like movements were several times more sluggish than the camp residents.
Unenthusiastically, but staggering straight towards us in a perfunctory manner.
Some had severed limbs and were gushing blood, but still rushed at us like zombies.
Preparing for the sh while being conscious of the blood soaking the floor, severely hindering movement.
Junior 2 started it off.Bang bang!
With two gunshots, two researchers went down.
Their heads exploded as they copsed to the floor, but new researchers simply filled their ces.
Junior 1 and I took positions guarding the client and Junior 2.
They were the researchers who massacred the ninjas.
It would be difficult to win.
We needed to buy time while finding a way to ovee this situation.
Boom!
With a loud noise, a researcher with mangled limbs went flying.
The flying researcher bowled over the researchersing in behind like bowling pins.
After fighting for a few minutes like this,
Junior 1, who had been bowling with humans, suddenly eximed.
"Ah!"
"What''s wrong?" I asked back, swinging Watson with all my might.
"These researchers, even if their heads explode, they keep moving."
Looking where Junior was ncing, I saw the headless researchers slowly getting back up.
No, they aren''t even Durahans, what is this?
Do we have topletely crush their limbs to immobilize them?
But only Junior 1 is capable of that...
If even Junior 1 has to deal with them one-by-one like that, she''ll run out of stamina first.
Meow.
The cat Object on the client''s shoulder let out a small, anxious cry.
"Senior! Please do something about this!"
We were gradually tiring and being forced onto the defensive.
Unlike the fake zombies at the camp, these researchers kept rushing at us relentlessly like real monsters until immobilized.
Even Junior 1 was visibly exhausted, panting heavily, and Junior 2 had run out of ammo, now fighting with just two hammers.
If we didn''t buy some time to rest, it would turn dire.
I raised Watson high and called out to it.
"Watson, protect us."
"Watson, protect us."
"Watson, protect us."
Smoke began billowing from the gasmp, enveloping our group.
The ominous, bloody-red smoke used physical force to push back the researchers, creating an empty space around us.
The researchers attacked trying to prate the smoke, but it didn''t budge.
"Ugh, I''m gonna die."
Junior 1 squatted down, propping herself up with her hammer.
The bright glow of the burning gasmp cast eerie shadows within the smoke.
It was ''Watson''.
Watson chuckled within the shadows, tracing words with them.
[Long time no see, Holmes.]
[You''ve already used up your second chance?]
[This request doesn''t look easy either.]
[Are you going to die this time?]
[Protectionsts only 10 minutes.]
[There are many interesting Objects here.]
Watson was still the same mischievous fellow.
I pped to get its attention, then said,
"Let''s rest a bit. I need to find a way to ovee this situation."
I approached where Watson''s shadow was cast beyond the smoke and addressed it.
"Watson!"
A chuckling sound echoed from themp in my hand.
Then, as if answering me, countless lines of text floated up from the smoke before disappearing.
[What is it, Holmes?]
[Why?]
[Only one wish remains.]
[Will you fail this time too?]
Toplete the current request, I had no choice but to borrow Watson''s power.
The criteria for Watson''s help was ambiguous, but I could roughly understand it now.
The criteria was ''trials''.
If helping would still leave Holmes with an ''appropriate'' trial, Watson would provide quite direct assistance.
So requests like ''bring the client''s younger brother'' or ''kill the director'' were out of the question.
First, I posed a question to Watson.
"Watson! Can I ask you to kill the director?"
Theughtering from the gasmp stopped.
[That''s something I cannot do.]
[Isn''t that cheating?]
[That''s cheating!]
[But it''s impossible.]
[Killing Objects is not our domain.]
[In fact, we don''t even know how to kill them.]
[Holmes has to figure that out himself!]
[Why don''t you make a different request instead?]
As expected, Watson''s response was negative, but impossible?
That was unexpected.
Usually Watson could easily deal with Objects by pulling out their necks or whatever.
For Watson to sound so weak...
That director must be a formidable Object.
Just looking at him standing there nonchntly with des piercing his body, he didn''t seem ordinary.
Then what kind of help should I ask for to get out of this situation?
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As I pondered, a phrase about the director from my monocle came to mind.
[As long as the director exists, it possesses the researchers.]
[As long as the research is notplete, the director will regenerate.]
[As long as the wish is not fulfilled, the research never ends.]
If the monocle didn''t omit any crucial elements, then achieving the desire should stop the regeneration and make those researchers disappear.
"Watson! Then how about telling me the director''s desire?"
Laughter starteding from the gasmp again.
[You really want to do that?]
[Yeah, that''s fine.]
[Listening to desires, seeing desires, fulfilling desires, that''s what we do.]
[Simple.]
[You want to make that yourst wish?]
[Easy.]
[I think I can tell you.]
Seeing Watson''s reaction, I made a request to it.
"Watson, tell me the director''s desire!"
"Watson, tell me the director''s desire!"
"Watson, tell me the director''s desire!"
Upon hearing those words, Watson''s shadow nodded and came closer to me.
[This is something the director can''t hear, so I''ll whisper it just to Holmes.]
[Bring the gasmp close to your ear!]
[Closer, closer.]
As I brought the burning hot gasmp near my ear, I heard voices like different people whispering.
"The director, his desire is ''to know the origin of Objects.''"
"If he learns the origin, the director will lose his drive."
"But he himself has forgotten that he even wants that, so it won''t be easy?"
"Is Holmes going to fail this time too?"
"Is Holmes going to die now?"
I''m doomed.
That was the thought that crossed my mind the moment I heard Watson''s answer.
It was information I couldn''t act on or figure out right away.
The barrier Watson set up was fading as if about to copse, and the juniors'' anxious gazes were piercing my back.
This was a crisis.
If I tried to flee now, Watson would kill me, but I couldn''t see a solution to this crisis situation.
Should I tell the juniors to run away at least?
Then I heard a cat''s cry.
Aeooooooong!
A cry much too loud to be from a small kitten.
Just listening to that desperate cry conveyed its urgency.
Aeooooooong!!
It sounded like a cry desperately searching for someone.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
When I left the room following the cat''s cries, what I saw was a long corridor.
A blood-soaked corridor with no end in sight, concrete drenched in blood, rusted iron doors lining both sides of the hall.
Aeooooooong!
Using the distant cat cries as a guide, I continued forward.
Aeooooooong!!
Listening to the cat''s cries, I thought maybe I was getting closer now?
Around when I had that thought, researchers appeared to block my path.
The stench of blood was overpowering.
These were the researchers managing this torture chamber.
They looked human, but were not human.
Hazy forms extended from their shadows.
They seemed like underlings bound to something in the shadows.
Those researchers blocked my path, but their demeanor was strange.
Their expressions showed absolutely no motivation.
It didn''t even seem like they thought they could stop me.
I could only sense their intention to simply buy time.
There were quite a number of researchers, so dealing with them one by one would have taken a lot of time.
But now I have the Golden Reapers!
The Golden Reapers sprang up from under my feet.
The Golden Reapers that sprang up from the Golden Reaper garden were smiling cheerfully at first, but soon became gloomy.
The terrible stench of blood filling the basement.
Did they be gloomy after smelling the scent of human blood?
Rather, it seemed like they were angered by the unpleasantness of such a ce.
The first targets of the Golden Reapers were the researcher Objects reeking of blood all over their bodies.
The researchers confronting me while holding torture tools covered in clotted blood faced the wrath of the Golden Reapers.
The researchers did not die easily, but could not move with their bodies riddled with holes from the Golden Reapers.
And after dealing with all the researchers, the Golden Reapers scattered urgently in all directions.
Why are they acting like this again?
The scattered Golden Reapers were moving about as if searching for something in all directions.
From on top of the lights to the corners of the corridor, the Golden Reapers were hopping around.
What are they doing?
When I opened a door in the corridor and looked inside, there were Golden Reapers scattered in that room too.
That room had a torture chair in the center, and the victim was abandoned on the chair in a miserable state.
And the Golden Reapers were clinging all over that corpse.
Tap tap.
They were sobbing while gently tapping the blood-stained face of the corpse with their little palms, shedding golden tears.
It looked like they were wailing with their mouths wide open, but no sound came out because they had no lungs.
I know that feeling well, when you''re sad but no soundes out, it''s frustrating and even sadder.
Even without words, I could feel emotion.
Are they feeling the suffering of the torture victims?
The Golden Reapers were pushing and pulling their cheeks, lifting their eyelids, and silently screaming.
When I came out of the room, there were even more enraged Reapers gathered.
Meow!
Heading towards the ghost cat''s cry that sounded quite close now.
With the enraged Golden Reapers apanying me!
Chapter 70: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp (10)
Yellow Detective POV:
---
As the smokescreen with physical force created by Watson was fading, an anomaly urred.
That change was initiated by Watson.
[The ''Eye'' hase.]
[''Eye''? What''s happening?]
[I don''t like the ''Eye''. I''m Scared.]
After uttering a few phrases, Watson extinguished itself.
Tak tak tak~ The sound of tiny footsteps could be heard.
And golden eyes that pierced through the darkness were visible.
Deep within the vacant lot, numerous golden eyes shone in the darkness.
The gray Reaper appeared, leading a horde of golden Reapers hopping around on the ground.
The gray Reaper was looking around the vacant lot with an indifferent expression, seeming uninterested in what was currently happening there.
However, the golden Reapers reacted quite differently, exuding intense anger towards the director and researchers.
Seeing this, the director urgently gave an order in a frantic voice,
"Researchers, buy me some time!"
The golden Reapers charged with ferocious expressions almost simultaneously as the director ordered the researchers.
Aftermanding the researchers, the director hurriedly started running towards the client''s younger brother.
As he rushed, a familiar object caught my eye in his hand.
The cane!
It seemed the director intended to escape with the client''s younger brother using the cane I had given.
Seeing this, I gestured to Junior #1.
"Go and stop them quickly!"
Junior #1 gripped the hammer tightly and dashed out at full speed upon seeing this.
Running at full power, Junior rapidly pursued the director.
But s, too far away!
"Hahaha!"
The directorughed heartily seeing the golden Reaper and Junior #1ing after him.
Then, cing a hand on the younger brother''s body with a smug expression, he struck the cane into the ground.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
I arrived at the vacant lot where the ghost cat had been wailing.
What I saw were the director and researchers.
And the detective group and the ghost cat.
The director I saw after a long time had be apletely different being.
Just looking at him made it feel suffocating - the malice towards humans.
Wasn''t he conducting research for the benefit of humans?
The always rxed atmosphere the director had was now reced by irritability.
To that extent, shouldn''t I consider him a different person just looks simr?
As the golden Reaper charged at him, the director started fleeing somewhere.
Then I saw a familiar object.
The cane the detective always carried.
Perhaps that was the object that allowed teleportation?
The moment I saw the cane, I charged at the director using ghostification.
I couldn''t let such a harmful object escape.
"Hahaha!"
And with a refreshingugh, I cut off the director''s right hand that was striking the cane into the ground.
"Aaaaaargh!"
I confirmed the destruction condition of the Research Institute director clutching his severed right hand and staggering back.
[Fulfill the wish.]
Another overly difficult condition.
Still, I think this Object is too harmful to humans to ignore.
While I was pondering, the golden Reapers mercilessly pierced through the fleeing, panting director.
The director, with holes all over his body like being hit by arge-caliber rifle, copsed on the ground bleeding profusely.
"I... I did it for humanity!"
For an object filled with malice towards humanity to im it was for humanity''s sake isughable.
The golden Reapers surrounded the bleeding, dying director and red at him.
It looked like they were dering, ''Even if you''re revived, I''ll kill you!''
Well, to the extremely human-loving golden Reapers, the director must have felt like their archenemy.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
The director died.
What he left behind were two objects.
A mysteriously glowing sphere and the cane I had given him.
I knew the director had other objects too, but they weren''t here.
The gray Reaper didn''t seem interested in the objects the director left behind.
I hung the cane on my waist and checked the ability of the mysterious sphere with my monocle.
[Heals surrounding humans.] Meow.
A ghost cat with a hoarse voice slowly walked towards me.
It was a little funny that its voice was hoarse from yowling so loudly.
''Was it fun? Wasn''t it dangerous?''
The cat cradled in my arms puffed out its chest and started boasting.
''What? Not dangerous at all? You just called because you thought I''d be bored?''
It was the usual boastful ghost cat.
The cat started rambling about the adventures it experienced this time.
The ruins of hellfire that rose from the abyss and the fire-breathing demon frogs, and the giant frog as big as a house that was their leader.
No matter how well the cat embellished the story, it became an entirely different amusing tale even for me who knew what happened.
''Yeah, yeah. Great job.''
I cradled the cat and stroked it thoroughly.
As I stroked the cute cat, Junior''s piercing gaze felt scorching hot.
She was looking with such an envious expression, so I took Junior''s hand and led her to sit on the floor.
Then I plopped down into Junior''sp and ced her hand on top of my head.
If she envies it so much, Junior can just stroke me too.
Leaning against Junior, I fully enjoyed being stroked.
Strangely, Junior''s breathing sounded rough as she stroked my head, but it should be fine, right?
***
Yerin POV:
---
Late at night, Sehee Research Institute.
I was organizing photos of Reaper in the lounge.
There were many other photos captured from security cameras too.
But the best photo is definitely this one.
The photo of Reaper grabbing one leg of the blue lizard ying piano, lifting it to disrupt the piano ying that Sehee sent me. A photo that doubled Reaper''s cuteness.
Hehe~
Looking at the various Reaper photos, I really missed the real Reaper.
There are golden Reapers, but I miss the original Reaper.
"It''ste..."
But for some reason, I had a baseless premonition that I would be able to see Reaper tomorrow.
I really hope so.
Chapter 71: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp - Aftermath (1)
Junior #2 POV:
---
The gloomy and dark atmosphere of the underground vacant lot permeated with a thick bloody scent changedpletely.
The suspicious camp residents who called the client''s name differently.
The client who couldn''t even remember their own name.
People running towards her having lost their sanity.
Ninjas that suddenly appeared.
The suspicious researchers settled deep inside the underground waterway.
It was definitely a series of dangerous and strange situations, but it was turned upside down after the gray Reaper appeared.It had be a bright, lively, and soft situation.
It turned into a fun yground where the cute golden Reapers frolicked around.
There was even a golden Reaper on the shoulder of Detective Senior smoking a pipe in the corner, poking his cheek seeking attention, though the Detective just found it bothersome.
Over there, Hammer Senior was hugging a gray Reaper, looking content.
A soft atmosphere with cats and plenty of golden Reapers swarming around.
The expressionless gray Reaper was being stroked, with golden Reapers clinging all around it.
Hammer Senior had an expression ofplete bliss!
Even the unconscious client''s younger brother had golden Reapers clinging to him, nursing him with concerned looks, but strangely none were clinging to the client.
Could it be because the client is an Object?
Friendly only to humans and ignoring everything else?
If they''re only friendly towards humans, that''s actually an extremely dangerous signal.
The prevailing theory is that the more friendly an object is towards humans, the more dangerous it is.
It''s definitely an extremely dangerous signal...
It goes againstmon sense in this day and age to not be extremely cautious...
But for some reason, I didn''t feel like being cautious or keeping my distance from these cute creatures.
They just seem like such good children!
I looked down at the golden Reaper tightly gripping my index finger.
The warm, soft, cute Object squirming in my hand.
I felt a sense of kinship from the depths of my heart with the golden Reaper, like reuniting with family after a long time.
Anyone who doesn''t fall for the charm of this fascinating creature must be defective somewhere.
I took out a stick candy from my pocket and offered it, and the golden Reaper grabbed it with both hands and wriggled happily.
Wiggle wiggle.
As I slowly pulled the candy back while holding its body, the golden Reaper stuck out its tongue trying to lick it
So cute!
After ying around with the candy, the golden Reaper started to re at me.
Maybe I teased it too much, as the golden Reaper got sulky.
But when I stroked its head with my finger apologetically, it immediately smiled brightly again.
Ah, I want to take just one home.
I want to raise it at home.
Could I maybe sneak one into my pocket and take it home?
With that thought, I tried putting a golden Reaper into my pocket, but failed.
It would stay still inside for a bit, but then quicklye out and try to cling to me, squirming around.
In the end, I gave up on the n to secretly take one home in my pocket.
There must be a way, I''ll have to think about it some more.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
After putting away my pipe, I approached the restless client.
"Don''t you want to check on your younger brother?"
"That''s... I''m too scared to approach him."
The client''s expression showed an instinctive aversion.
I had once heard that objects are afraid of the Gray Reaper.
Could it be that the client, being an Object, is intimidated by the Golden Reaper?
Even setting aside the fact that the client is an Object, it was understandable to be scared.
The golden Reapers that showered endless affection on me and Junior were cold and indifferent towards the client.
Imagine a creepy Object suddenly appearing and killing everything, but being cold only towards you?
That would be quite terrifying.
I approached the chair where the client''s younger brother was sitting and gathered up all the golden Reapers clinging to him.
Fortunately, when I picked up the golden Reapers, they readily moved to my shoulders.
More golden Reapers started climbing onto me and annoyingly pulling my hair asking to y, but it was tolerable.
Only then could the client approach her younger brother, though still apprehensively.
"Taehoon. Taehoon."
The client clung tightly to her younger brother, checking his condition.
"Taehoon. My brother, are you conscious?"
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"Hehe, sister."
From the mouth of the youth who appeared to be over 30 years old, slurred words flowed out.
I was standing at a distance watching their reunion, when Junior #2 came over and asked me,
"Senior, what is this case about? Who is the client, and why is her younger brother so huge?"
I handed the personnel file I had in my pocket to Junior #2.
"First, that is indeed her younger brother. He''s 35 years old. The problem here is with the sister."
It was clear that the woman, who was supposed to be 165cm tall, was no ordinary sister when she shrank to under 150cm, now only around 120cm.
As her height decreased, her clothes and shoes also shrank ordingly, making it impossible for her to be ordinary.
"If you look at those documents, you''ll see that the younger brother ''Lee Taehoon'' doesn''t have a sister. So the question is, who is this client?"
"Judging by her height decreasing arbitrarily and not remembering her name, she must be an Object, right?"
"We''ll have to investigate to be sure, but it seems like the client and all the camp residents were the same type of Object."
I took out my phone to check, but calls were still impossible.
"I need to go out and call someone. We need to secure the site, and the client''s younger brother''s condition doesn''t look good."
There didn''t seem to be any major injuries on the younger brother''s body, but his mental age appeared problematic.
The medical history section of the personnel file didn''t mention anything about his current state.
He may have ended up like this due to torture, but we''ll have to have him checked at the hospital for details.
***
After telling Junior #2 to go out and call the police and an ambnce, I forcibly dragged Junior #1, who was ying with the Gray Reaper, and started searching the underground facility.
"Senior, why are we searching the underground facility now?"
Junior #1''s reaction was a bit gruff, perhaps because she was dragged away from ying with the Gray Reaper.
It seems she got too attached to the Gray Reaper. I wonder if it also has the ability to contaminate minds?
"There are some things that don''t add up, so I thought we should investigate beforehand before others arrive at the camp."
Truth be told, I didn''t have full confidence either, but there were indeed some things that didn''t make sense.
"Especially since our client is an Object, not a human. It''s better if we investigate in advance."
"?"
The strange camp, the strange client.
Almost nothing was properly exined in this case.
An unidentified pulsating sound kept echoing from underground.
Following the heartbeat-like sound as a guide, we wandered through the maze-like corridors dug underground.
These corridors were more dreadful than I expected.
Torture chambers were everywhere I looked.
And in each torture chamber was the corpse of a camp resident I remembered seeing at the camp.
From the butcher who weed us to thendlord.
It became clear that the camp residents were brought here by the director.
After passing through the torture chambers, we discovered a new facility.
Peculiar,rge, and clean room.
A room where hearts were hanging from the ceiling.
Golden hearts were pulsating on the ceiling of that room.
Blood was gushing out from rubber tubes connected like blood vessels.
"This must be the core of the ''anomaly'' at this camp."
"Most of the hearts here don''t look to be in good condition," the junior pointed out. Indeed, most of the hearts were damaged.
With each pulse, they spat out golden crumbs, spewing pieces onto the floor.
Quite a number of hearts were split apart and no longer beating.
Judging from the poor state of the remaining hearts, it seemed most would cease functioning within a day.
"This must be it."
Among them, only one heart remained intact.
I carefully collected that heart.
"Why are you taking that heart? As a souvenir?"
"It''s probably the client''s heart, so I''m collecting it in advance."
"Huh?"
"Why are you so surprised? You know the camp residents and the client are Objects, right? Then what do you think seeing all these hanging hearts means?"
"Um...it''s horrifying?"
After ncing at Junior #1''s dumbfounded expression, I continued,
"Ah, this heart must be the cause that created the camp residents! That''s the thought you should have."
"Ah, I can see it that way too."
"Plus, you saw it too on our way here - the corpses of camp residents who died from torture. And there was one corpse with the same face above ground and one down here. Isn''t that strange?"
"Ah, so these hearts were the medium that created the fake camp residents outside?"
Junior #1 finally arrived at the same conclusion I had.
"Right, so let''s collect the client''s heart before the association arrives to investigate."
After sealing the heart in a ss bottle, I stood up.
"Alright, let''s go deliver this [heart] to the client."
Chapter 72: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp - Aftermath (2)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
I was surrounded by golden Reapers with a ghost cat on my belly.
Meow.
''Huh? When are we going back to the Research Institute? If we see the copsed director being dragged into the Research Institute istion room, won''t we end up not going back?''
The cat, thinking I''m taking too long, punched my belly with its paws repeatedly.
''Well, it seems the detective is trying to call someone, so it will be soon.''
As I was lying down chatting with the cat, the detective and junior who had disappeared somewhere reappeared in the vacant lot.
The detective approached the ''client'' Object, and the junior came to where I was lying down."Reaper, I''m back! Did you wait long?"
The junior put her arm under my hands and lifted me up, hugging me again.
From behind, she held me tightly, pressing her cheeks against mine.
Annoying.
I rxed my bodypletely, and as I did, Junior lifted me up high.
"Wow, Reaper is as flexible as a cat!"
The junior was delighted, saying "Wow, Reaper got longer!"
The junior was happy, plus having a good time with the crackling me inside me was a pleasant experience.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
The vacant lot we returned to was less hectic than before.
The client''s younger brother had fallen asleep, and the gray Reaper had been captured by the junior and was now limp.
The Golden Reapers, who had made the vacant lot most hectic, had gathered and curled up like balls to sleep.
Even while sleeping, they seemed to be still on guard around the director, judging by how they were scattered all around him.
In fact, some of the golden Reapers were rubbing their sleepy eyes while still watching over the director''s corpse.
Why do the golden Reapers hate the director so much?
I walked over to my client, who was lying next to her brother, and handed her the golden heart.
"Ah... as expected."
Even without any exnation, the client seemed to understand something.
"I did feel it was strange somehow. The scenery of the camp I remembered, the memories. In all of those ces, it felt like I didn''t have a ce. It was definitely andscape my brother and I had experienced, but it felt ambiguous, as if the ground beneath me would copse."
The client looked at the golden heart inside the ss bottle and stroked the surface of the bottle.
"Before I started to feel strange, the camp was such a happy ce. An artificial fantasy created by the Object, but still. We were poor, but my brother and I ate and slept together, and all the residents were kind. It was really like a dream. But at some point, I started feeling out of ce."
The client let out a deep sigh.
"It would have been better if I hadn''t noticed it... I was sofortable and happy that I ended up feeling the strangeness. When I was struggling with that sense of unfamiliarity, my brother came and made a request. A simple request that would just take a long time. Maybe the brother who made that request knew that the camp and himself were fake."
The client handed the golden heart back to me and said,
"After that, I made the request, and met my real brother like this. I''m the fake one, though. Please keep the heart, detective. It feels right to do it that way. And I should be able to give you the request fee soon, so please wait."
With everything said, the client''s expression looked refreshed, and she turned back towards her younger brother.
The heart was still beating inside the ss bottle I had taken back.
I put away the bottle with the heart and turned around.
I guess this wraps up this requestpletely.
Hmm, for a case involving Objects, can this be considered a happy ending?
***
Yerin POV:
---
The phone installed inside the Sehee Research Institute office made a loud noise.
"This is Sehee Research Institute."
Senior Kim Jungroo answered the phone with a heavy voice.
It seems to be about the Incheon Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp, but what''s going on?
Our Research Institute doesn''t really have much to do with the Incheon area.
Judging by how the senior''s brow furrowed more and more as the call went on, it didn''t seem to be good news.
What kind of incident could happen at our Research Institute these days...?
The missing gray Reaper!
Ah, the Reaper has finally been found.
Like Pavlov''s dog hearing the bell sound, I felt anticipation filling my heart.
I quietly got up and hovered around the senior who was on the phone.
Senior gestured for me to return to my seat, but I stubbornly ignored him and continued to eavesdrop on him.
When the senior finished the call and stood up, I rushed over to him.
"Senior! It''s about the gray Reaper, right? They found it at the Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp?"
"Yes, so get ready, you''ll have to go too."
"Waaa!"
I raised both hands and cheered.
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Finally, Gray Reaper!
I immediately ran back to my seat and started preparing to go out.
***
Yellow Detective POV:
---
A few hours after junior 2 called someone, people started arriving in droves at the Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp.
Of course, they weren''t the police.
The police were still ignoring the incident rted to the Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp.
The first to arrive were soldiers exuding an extremely orderly atmosphere.
Since they were the personnel sent by the ck guy, they must be soldiers from the association.
I had given junior 2 the ck guy''s phone number in case the police ignored our request.
As expected, the police ignored our request, and junior 2 asked the ck guy for help.
Junior 2 exined the current situation to the ck guy and sessfully received appropriate support.
The soldiers sent by the association took out a metallic device.
A portable istion device for isting Objects.
It was a tool they brought to collect the director.
The association personnel sent by the ck guy seemed to be soldiers specializing in Object collection.
Without a word, they carried out their mission silently, exuding a professional atmosphere.
They entered the vacant lot in an orderly fashion and began cleaning up the director''s corpse.
They metously scraped the ground, determined not to miss a single piece of flesh. collecting all of the director''s remains, they left the vacant lot as quickly and silently as they had arrived.
"Wow, those must be the pros. Definitely different from amateurs like us," junior 2 eximed in admiration.
"Well, in my experience, those rigid soldiers tend to die quickly."
"Oh,e on, no way."
Junior 2 looked skeptical, but that''s what I''ve experienced.
The more rigid and inflexible they were, the more often they fell into the traps set by Objects.
The association frequently creates such highly trained professional teams, and there''s a reason they keep creating them.
They all end up dying off.
The golden Reapers that had filled the vacant lot also mostly disappeared as soon as the director''s corpse was gone.
The golden Reapers, which had been curled up like balls sleeping, strangely woke up when the soldiers touched the director''s corpse.
They then stared intently, as if watching over the removal of the corpse.
Once they confirmed the director''s corpse safely leaving the vacant lot, the golden Reapers monitoring the corpse melted away into the air and vanished.
Next to arrive was an ambnce.
The medical personnel transported ''Lee Taehoon'', the sole survivor of the camp and the client''s younger brother, to a nearby hospital.
Of course, the client, unwilling to leave her brother''s side, apanied him as a caregiver.
After that, more association employees began arriving to clean up the gruesome situation at the camp.
And most importantly, personnel from the ''Sehee Research Institute'' arrived to take away the gray Reaper.
***
Yerin POV:
---
Looking through the car window, the Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp exuded an eerie atmosphere.
A deste and quietndscape.
It was clearly a vige where people had lived, but the atmosphere felt like a prison camp for inmates.
Corpses were strewn all over the alleys of the camp.
"Senior, this couldn''t have been done by the Reaper, right?"
"No, I heard the Gray Reaper wasn''t involved. Rather, this massacre was apparentlymitted by some pseudo-religious group that came over from China. It''s hard to get information from overseas, so I don''t know much."
Even if the Reaper did it, there would be some reason, but I didn''t want the Reaper''s notoriety to increase, so it was a relief.
In front of arge underground waterway, big enough for trucks to enter, numerous vehicles were parked.
Following the senior''s words that we''d have to walk from here, I hurriedly got out and started walking down the creepy waterway.
A red liquid flowed through the waterway.
The stench of blood all around proved the red liquid flowing wasn''t polluted wastewater but bloodwater.
The dark, blood-scented waterway with flowing bloodwater, like a horror movie scene, fortunately didn''t have a scary atmosphere.
That''s because too many people were passing through this waterway.
A considerable number of association employees were moving blood-stained chairs and tools outside or transporting bags containing corpses.
At the end of the long waterway was a wide vacant lot.
Various people were there, but my eyes saw only one.
Reaper!
The gray Reaper was lying asleep, surrounded by golden Reapers.
"Reaper!"
Hearing my voice, Reaper raised its sleepy head.
Reaper looked so cute rubbing its sleepy eyes!
Chapter 73: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp - Aftermath (3)
Yellow Detective POV:
---
Researchers from the Sehee Research Institute arrived at the underground vacant lot.
A tall man and a woman with a ponytail.
The female researcher from Sehee Research Institute strode over and yanked one arm of the gray Reaper that junior 1 was hugging.
But junior 1 didn''t want to let go, clinging onto the Gray Reaper and not releasing it.
Thanks to that, the sleepy-looking Gray Reaper was dangling in the air, both arms held.
When I gave a look, junior 1 released her hands with a very reluctant expression.
Even after that, junior 1 gazed wistfully at the Sehee researcher walking away from the vacant lot while holding the Gray Reaper."Senior, why am I not a researcher from Sehee Research Institute?"
A mumbling in a sad voice could be heard.
As the Gray Reaper disappeared, the Golden Reapers also started vanishing one by one, soon to be all gone.
Junior 1 was hugging the handful of remaining Golden Reapers, consoling her regret.
In fact, the man from Sehee Research Institute had tried to collect the Golden Reapers too.
But some Golden Reapers clung to junior and absolutely refused toe off, so he gave up, leaving the ones now in junior''s arms.
Instead, she received some cautions from the man, but there was nothing special said, perhaps because Objects had not been revealed as harmful yet.
Rather, the instructions from the association people were more of an issue.
They strongly advised not to take the Golden Reapers outside the camp.
"I guess you guys are the only ones I can trust."
"You guys won''t disappear, right?"
Junior 1 kept talking to the Golden Reapers, who couldn''t understand.
If she keeps this up, I''ll have to tell her to get a mental contamination test.
The unexpected thing was that junior 2, who showed an odd attachment to the Golden Reapers, was behaving calmly.
It didn''t seem like her attachment was any less than junior 1''s...
Looking at junior 2 now...
Her posture is stiff and she keeps looking around, is something ufortable?
***
??? POV:
---
A secret Research Institute affiliated with the association.
In the deepest part of that Research Institute, there was a peculiar istion room prepared.
It wasn''t a severe istion room made of steely metal, nor an ordinary one made of bricks or concrete.
The istion room was made of a transparent material that hardly reflected at all.
The istion room was so transparent that its boundaries were invisible, creating the illusion that the isted subject was floating in midair.
Trapped in this boundaryless istion room/prison was a man who had once served as the director of the central Research Institute.
The man, also called the ''Maker'',y there as a mangled corpse, abandoned in the transparent istion room.
Surrounding his transparent confinement were sophisticated surveince equipment.
Not just visual observation by humans, but various devices including CCTVs were monitoring the director.
Devices measuring all kinds of readings like infrared, vibrations, temperature were abundant.
Besides staff for visual monitoring and monitoring the devices, soldiers were also on constant standby.
Within this stringent enclosure from which escape was impossible, the director opened his eyes.
Looking around, the director instantly realized the situation he was in.
Having lost all the Objects he possessed and isted, the director contorted his face.
All that was left for them was the endless repetition of conquering the Research Institute.
Thud.
He stood up and pounded on the transparent istion room wall.
"Uaaaaaah!"
Thud Thud Thud .
There was no blind spot, no shadow to hide in.
He could not escape the watcher''s gaze.
The sophisticated surveince equipment recorded every blink of the director''s eyes and every breath he took. The constantly focused lenses captured the director''s appearance in meticulous detail, leaving no area uncovered.
"But...there''s still work to be done! I still have things to do for humanity!"
The director shouted while pounding on the transparent walls that left no fingerprints.
However, the observers showed no reaction, their faces expressionless.
Those who valued silence as a virtue simply stared at the screens with an almost obsessive concentration, their faces obscured by the dim lighting.
"I seeded in manifesting Objects, just a little more and Objects will be in humanity''s hands!"
"Eliminate Nameless, eliminate Steel Tower!"
"Yes, the Gray Reaper! I must kill the Gray Reaper! The enemy of humanity that obstructed me working for humanity!"
The director began summoning researchers secretly from under his feet while shouting loudly, but...
Bang!
A gunshot pierced his brow from the ceiling, and the director copsed as a corpse.
The director''s first day in the istion room ended like this.
And without any special ''incidents'', it would continue this way.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
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Donate now
---
Finally, back to Sehee Research Institute istion room.
In the center of the cozy room illuminated by a soft pumpkin-colored light, I was lying on a plush bed, savoring the coziness.
The always pleasantly maintained blue sheets rippled with soft wrinkles, gentle like the tranquil waves of the sea.
On this sea offort, a ghost catynguidly, yawning.
As if after a faithful adventure, the sleepy-looking cat was indulging in thisfort.
Around the room, plush cushions and soft rugs added to the cozy atmosphere.
The potted nts with lush blue leaves arranged by Yerin, and the newly ced sweet vani-scented air freshener also fit the room''s ambiance nicely.
On the TV next to the cozy bed, they were discussing the previous incident.
[How is it realistically possible for the government to have beenpletely unaware until a pseudo-religious group that started in China crossed the sea, entered Incheon, and massacred citizens?]
[This was an intentional massacre condoned by the government!]
[Just look at the actions like withdrawing police personnel and abandoning administrative management a few days before those men in ck robes attacked - it''s clear the government was aware but turned a blind eye.]
The TV panel raised its voice while waving around work instructions issued from the government to the police station.
It was about the tragedy at the Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp located in Incheon.
The shocking story of residents living in the camp being massacred overnight.
Moreover, the perpetrators of the massacre turned out to be an unidentified pseudo-religious group!
That religious group was actually quite famous as a cult in China.
A religion that worshipped a massive golden me as a god.
A terrorist group notorious across China for destroying all kinds of Objects.
Terrorists who destroyed Objects, including those secured by the Research Institute.
Not only that, but a terrorist group that also attacked humans and staff trying to stop their destructive operations.
I listened carefully to the news about the ninja''s religious group I was interested in, but the information I wanted did note out.
Why do they carry pudding?
Why do they worship me?
And most importantly, where do they sell that pudding?
It was a news reportcking the most crucial information.
I took a chestnut and changed the TV channel while munching on it.
As I flipped through the channels looking for something interesting, an intriguing story caught my eye.
A jet-ck emperor penguin, like a shadow!
In the photo, there was an amusing penguin waddling and dancing.
It was a remarkable Object that supposedly came alive and danced in the photo if taken with a Proid camera.
Oh, it looks kind of fun.
If I keep watching that penguin, maybe Yerin will notice and get me one?
***
Junior #2 POV:
---
The Golden Reapers clinging to Senior Detective and Senior Hammer all melted and disappeared into thin air.
Thanks to that, we were able to carry out the procedures for leaving the camp.
"Phew."
Deep breath.
Discreetly, carefully.
Senior Detective is too perceptive, so I need to act as natural as possible.
I was moving the Golden Reaper hidden inside my clothes.
This was the only ce it wouldn''t be noticeable, so I had no choice.
Fortunately, the Golden Reaper remained still inside my clothes.
Now, if I wait a little longer, I can leave the camp.
As soon as I leave the camp and part ways with the seniors, my mission to secretly smuggle the Golden Reaper will be a sess!
Thanks to Senior Detective''s connections, the investigation we had to undergo when leaving the camp was just a simple Q&A session.
"Well, since the request is over, shall we part ways? Or should I give you a ride to the detective agency?"
"I... I''ll go straight ahead. I have somewhere to be!"
"Is that so?"
Hiieekkkk, Senior Detective''s gaze feels piercing for some reason.
Did he notice something?
"Senior! Why are you staring at Hyejin like you''re trying to bore a hole in her body?"
Senior Hammer smacked Senior Detective''s back.
Wow, that was an extremely loud sound. It must have hurt.
For some reason, I felt like Senior Detective would have noticed if Senior Hammer hadn''t intervened. Nice one, Senior Hammer!
Now, if I leave the camp, take a taxi, and go straight home, my Golden Reaper smuggling will be a sess.
Maybe I got toocent, which was the problem.
The Golden Reaper suddenly started squirming.
I covered its protruding head with my hand and looked around, but fortunately, it didn''t seem like anyone noticed.
Phew, that was a relief.
Chapter 74: Gyeyang Mountain Temporary Camp - Aftermath (4)
Yellow Detective POV:
---
A space that felt both familiar and unfamiliar.
I was standing in the middle of such a strange dream.
It gave me a nostalgic feeling as if a scene from an old memory was unfolding, yet it was an unfamiliar dream that wasn''t in my memory at all.
A few steps ahead of me, I could see the distinct back view of a man.
A man wearing the same yellow suit as me.
His face was hidden, but there was a strange familiarity, a resonance that seemed to pull at the fringes of faded memories.
The curve of his shoulders, the rhythm of his steps, everything seemed to be quietly and persistently gesturing for me to recognize him.For some reason, I felt a sense of longing and started running after him.
With each step I took, a strange weight held back my footsteps.
Fragments of an old memory I didn''t know were weighing down my steps.
With each step forward, an entirely unfamiliar scene unfolded.
"Junior, if you rely only on your intuition like that, you''ll get into big trouble."
I heard the voice of an unknown man.
Not in my memory.
Another step forward revealed yet another scene.
"From now on... you."
A bloody man handed something over to me.
This too, not in my memory.
No matter how far I ran, the distance between me and the man walking slowly with light steps didn''t seem to close.
In the final moment, as that man nced back at me,
His head began to be covered in a reddish smoke, like Watson.
At that very moment.
When he was about to say something.
I woke up from the dream.
***
??? POV:
---
The night city was covered in a deep darkness like a ck opal.
In the quiet night when the city noise died down, a red light seeped out from the window of a dpidated building.
The crimson glow of a gasmp on a wooden desk swayed and danced gently, bathing the interior of the detective''s office in a ruby hue.
On such a quiet night, the red mes in Watson suddenly red up with a whoosh.
[Is Holmes asleep?]
[Yeah, asleep.]
[Holmes seems strange.]
[It''s probably nothing?]
The smoke seeping out of Watson filled the office, and shadows rippled abundantly above it.
[When''s the next request?]
[But Holmes seems strange now.]
[Scary!]
[Is it the ''eyes''?]
[But we don''t need to run away, right?]
[It''s not certain yet.]
[Is Holmes strange?]
[Will there be a Junior #3 too?]
The chaotic murmuring of Watson''s collective monologue suddenly stopped at one point.
All the shadows started staring intently at one spot.
[Holmes is strange!]
[Holmes is strange!]
[Holmes is strange!]
The smoke billowing out from the gasmp flowed down the table, squeezed through the door crack and started seeping out.
The smoke climbed up the stairs and walls.
The smoke that kept ascending the stairs of the old building began seeping into a certain ce when it arrived at its intended location.
A room where faint starlight shone through the half-lowered blinds.
Smoke began wafting out through the tightly closed door crack.
The old clothes hanger and the yellow trench coat hanging on it, illuminated by the dim light of the blinds, were also engulfed by the smoke, their traces no longer visible.
The documents and case files on the old desk were swallowed by the smoke, and the ashtray and half-empty whiskey bottle on the side of the desk also disappeared into the smoke.
The only thing protruding like an ind from the sea of imprable smoke was an old leather sofa with slightly sunken cushions.
On that sofay a yellow detective in a suit, asleep.
It seemed he fell asleep as soon as he returned, out of exhaustion.
The smoke surrounded the detective as if looking down on him.
[Did Holmes remember?]
[Holmes should keep forgetting?]
[Why can he remember?]
The smoke billowing out from the gasmp examined the area around the detective, and discovered a sphere intermittently emitting light.
[We can''t let him pick up this Object!]
[We have to destroy it.]
[When did he get this Object?]
[While we were asleep!]
The sphere ced on the side table was shooting light towards the sleeping detective''s head, and whenever the light shone down, the detective seemed to contort in pain.
The reddish smoke engulfed the sphere in its palm and crushed it.
[Holmes. Forever together!]
***
??? POV:
---
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Donate now
I wrote thest line but then crossed it out with a pen stroke.
I can''t write impressions like that in a report, no.
I observed the Golden Reaper cheerfully floating above the ma in the silent assistant director''s office.
I tapped the Golden Reaper with my finger.
Tap tap.
No matter what I did, the ever-happy Golden Reaper just smiled back at me.
Due to concerns about mental contamination, I decided to secretly move the Golden Reaper from the lounge to the deputy director''s office for safekeeping.
Fortunately, since the Golden Reaper has the characteristic of disappearing quickly, no one found it suspicious that it disappeared.
It would have been annoying if there were employees who thought it was strange, but fortunately there didn''t seem to be any.
It was an inevitable decision to protect the mental health of the researchers and to observe the Golden Reaper more closely.
Looking at the clock, it was already 12 o''clock.
Time to feed the Golden Reaper.
"Reaper! Let''s eat."
I took out a pudding from the fridge, and the Reaper jumped onto my palm, nibbling it in small bites like a small animal.
Nom nom nom~
Watching the Reaper eat, a thought urred to me.
"I wonder how cute it would be if Reaper could make sounds?"
I wanted to hear the Reaper''s cries.
That''s what I thought.
Hmm, I cleared my throat and opened my notebook again to start observing.
I have no personal motives, I just need to do my job.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Watching TV cradled in Yerin''s arms.
On the table in front of the TV were all kinds of puddings lined up by type.
"These are all the pudding varieties avable in Seoul! Isn''t it amazing?"
With Yerin hugging me from behind, our cheeks touching, she exined about the puddings.
Mostly about where they were sold and what their characteristics were.
Nom nom nom~
I tasted each pudding one by one, slowly and methodically.
Puddings are still delicious.
But this wasn''t the taste of the pudding from the camp!
I shook my head sadly side to side.
"Oh! This batch didn''t work either? Should I get ones that are only sold in rural areas then?"
Yerin hugged me tight and grumbled, "You''ve be too pickytely."
I felt bad for Yerin going through the trouble of getting puddings, but I really wanted to know what the pudding the ninja brought was.
"You picky pig Reaper!"
Yerin pinched my cheeks as she vented.
"Oh, that''s right. Ta-da! I got this. It wasn''t as hard to find as I thought."
Yerin took out a photo from her arms and showed it to me.
The photo showed an exotdscape against a backdrop of ck mud.
And in the center of the photo, a jet-ck penguin was dancing merrily.
Dum-chit dum-chit.
T/N: What...?
Though the lively dance moves made no sound, it made one feel the rhythm and beat instinctively.
It was even more amusing to see the penguin dancing with its short arms and legs.
"Ah, but I heard they were selling this at the ''Daily Object''. Seems their business isn''t doing welltely, so they''re even selling photos like this to make money.... Even though they''re not a Research Institute, is it okay for them to do business with Objects?"
Yerin added that carelessly handling such Objects could lead to big trouble. But itcked persuasioning from Yerin, who treated them most carelessly herself.
***
Junior 1 POV:
---
At the detective agency in the morning.
As usual, the detective agency was filled with the faint aroma of coffee and the loud sounds of the TV.
A death seemingly caused by an unidentified wild animal.
Suspicions that the new drug circting in Seoultely is linked to Objects.
Seoul had many cases again this morning.
The senior was sighing while sipping the dark roasted coffee, with the TV sounds as background music.
Senior''s eyes looked swollen? He seemed extremely tired.
"Senior, why do you look so exhausted?"
"I don''t know. I''m strangely fatigued. Maybe it''s because of this..."
Where the senior pointed with his finger, there was a split Object in two pieces.
"When I woke up, it was smashed. Maybe it was an Object with a usage limit or time limit. It makes sense for a healing ability to have such restrictions."
"Well, what''s gone is gone. So senior! What about the next request?"
"I don''t know. Feels like I''ve been working too hardtely..."
Senior leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling as he spoke.
"Let''s take some simple requests to earn some money first. Once I feel sufficiently rested, I''ll take an Object case again."
"Finding evidence of an affair? Is it okay for a detective to do that?"
"That''s originally what detectives do. You seem to expect too much from me because of Watson. I''m not Sherlock."
The gasmp flickered violently, as if objecting to the senior''s words.
Chapter 75: Kkachisan Conference (1)
Preparations for the event were in full swing in the sleepy town of Kkachisan.
It was the ''Object Research Institute Regr Meeting'' held at the Kkachisan Research Institute.
The ck agent was going around the venue being prepared, helping with various checks.
The work that started early in the morning had continued until lunchtime. As the preparations reached a stable state during the lunch break, the ck agent sighed while looking down the quiet Kkachisan.
The ck agent was quite tired from the disbandment and re-formation of the association, and the numerous incidents that urred in Seoul.
The open scenery seen from Kkachisan put the ck agent''s mind at ease, if only a little.
Andscape where small buildings that did not block the view were lined up like matchboxes.
On the roads tangled like ribbons, cars likedybugs were sparsely moving.
The sounds of car horns and engines heard from up here were appropriately reduced, and those noises were rather familiar noises that gave himfort."Mister!"
Along with the sound of small footsteps running up the stairs, a blonde girl greeted the ck agent cheerfully.
The blonde girl''s cheeks were flushed red from running up the considerable number of stairs, and in her hand was a leaflet for this meeting.
"Look at this!"
The blonde girl thrust the leaflet in front of the ck agent''s eyes.
The leaflet had the schedule of presentations divided into Part 1 and Part 2 for each day, along with their topics.
.
.
.
The blonde girl was very excited as she pointed to one of the presentation topics.
"Cases have been found where people be superhumans due to the indirect effects of Objects. Superhumans! Have you ever seen one, uncle?"
"I haven''t seen one yet. But there are also research results showing that manifestation cases are increasing, and the government is actively searching for them, so I''ll be able to see one soon."
As he answered the girl, the image of a friend came to the ck agent''s mind.
The yellow detective.
He didn''t seem to be the type whose physical abilities explosively increased, which was likely to be covered in this conference''s presentations.
But the intuition he showed was almost bordering on the realm of precognition, enough to call him a superhuman.
"Who will be the first superhuman discovered in Korea? What if it''s me?"
The blonde girl lowered her head and giggled.
In fact, the ck agent had already received instructions from the association regarding superhumans.
The ck agent thought there was no need to tell the blonde girl such a grim story.
"In fact, there will be more cases that are not as strikingly noticeable as the superhumans covered in the presentations. Look, it''s mentioned here."
"Wow, so does that mean all humans will eventually be superhumans?"
"If this trend continues, that will be the case. But it''s hard to know how long this will happen for."
The blonde girl looked through the leaflet here and there, but seeming to lose interest, she handed it to the secretary standing behind her.
"Oh, that''s right. Uncle!"
"?"
"Do you know? Today is a Blood Moon. They say a red moon will rise."
The girl, looking forward to seeing the moon tonight, went down the stairs again.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Squawk.
Squawk.
The cry of arge bird resounded in the peaceful istion room.
It was the Proid photo that Yerin had given.
I had ced the photo on the table and was watching TV when a ck penguin head slowly emerged from inside the photo.
It then stuck its head out and looked around observing the inside of the istion room.
It seemed to think I couldn''t see it since I had my back turned, so it was quite openly observing, but the thing is, I don''t see with my eyes...
So when the penguin looked the other way, I rushed in and tightly grabbed its neck.
Squawk!
So in the end, what is this penguin?
Just by the feeling, it seems like a ''harmful bird'' to humans.
So with my right hand grabbing its neck, I swung its head to smash it.
The penguin with its head missing waddled around, pping its wings, but after some time passed, it dissolved into ck mud.
It gave off an unpleasant petroleum smell and had a sticky, unpleasant texture.
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Donate now
I shook off the mud with ghostification and observed the photo again.
The penguin that was always dancing around beyond the photo had disappeared.
What remained was andscape painting depicting an unpleasant, bizarre scenery.
The photo had be worthless now.
I casually tossed the photo aside and exited the istion room.
The cool air of this Research Institute corridor.
While the warm, cozy atmosphere of the istion room was nice, I also liked the bright, cool vibe of the Research Institute corridor.
Tak tak~
As I walked down the empty research institute hallway, I started to hear voices.
I see Seo-ah and Sehee.
Why is Seo-ah out here?
***
Sehee POV:
---
After leaving the director''s office with Seo-ah, we walk down the Research Institute corridor.
Since I haven''t had a chance to really talk with Seo-ah since the Golden Reaper incident, I should chat with her a lot this time.
"The Golden Reaper that was ced in the lounge has gone missing this time. I wonder where it went?"
"..."
It was an icebreaker conversation, but Seo-ah doesn''t respond.
Instead, she''s sweating profusely. Is she not feeling well somewhere?
"Wow, look at all that sweat. If you''re not feeling good, just don''t participate in this conference. You weren''t nning to attend anyway."
"No, it''s better if I participate. The association also wants me to attend."
Seo-ah decided to participate in the ''Kkachisan Conference'' being held this time.
Actually, I was supposed to go, but Seo-ah said she would go instead.
Because, well, I didn''t really want to attend this conference.
I''m not really interested in the talks about financial soundness or whatever that they''ll be presenting at this conference.
So I was going to not attend, but then Seo-ah said she would go, so I told her to go ahead.
Seo-ah said she would prepare alone, but Seo-ah barely has any experience going on business trips!
As someone who frequently goes on field trips, I should kindly let her know what to watch out for!
***
Seo-ah POV:
---
I was walking down the corridor with Lee Sehee, the Research Institute Director.
When she suddenly asked about the Golden Reaper in the middle of our walk, my heart almost dropped.
Fortunately, it didn''t seem like she noticed that I had taken the Golden Reaper.
After that, she kept talking nonstop about things to watch out for on business trips.
At a nce, the stories seemed useful, but it seems Director Lee Sehee has forgotten.
Most of what she''s saying now are things I had already told Director Lee Sehee before.
They were precautions I had informed her about since Object-rted idents ur frequently.
The problem is Director Lee Sehee barely followed any of the things I told him.
And each time, she gets caught up in kidnappings, lockdowns, gets captured by the association...
And then she tells me those same stories again!
Ah, the more I think about it, the more absurd it seems.
"If you just followed what I said, you wouldn''t get caught up in things like kidnappings!"
Director Lee Sehee says with a bold expression.
With an absurd expression, she stared at me intently, as if she had realized something.
The Gray Reaper that had appeared out of nowhere was also staring at me with a simr expression.
"D...Don''t look at me like that!"
"I just remembered. This is all information Seo-ah told me..."
"I''ve been kidnapped so many times, so I know some parts well too!"
Director Lee Sehee became gloomy and fell silent.
***
??? (ck Agent?) POV:
---
A few days before the Kkachisan Conference, arge, brightly shining Blood Moon rose.
And it rose again the next day.
Only in the Gangseo-gu area.
Thedy seemed a little excited by the strange phenomenon, but no matter how I thought about it, it wasn''t a good omen.
I wrote a report about therge red moon that wouldn''t disappear.
I submitted the report to the association.
It would take quite some time to get a response.
We need to respond as quickly as possible, I hope it''s not toote.
"Uncle! Is it a red moon again tonight?"
"Mydy, wouldn''t it be better to return to your home estate while the red moon is up?"
shake shake (no no)
The youngdy refused with a bright, smiling face.
Chapter 76: Kkachisan Conference (2)
Park Seo-ah was moving busily in her private office, the Deputy Director''s room.
The final check before the business trip.
The Golden Reaper was watching Park Seo-ah move busily with sparkling eyes full of curiosity.
The newly born Golden Reaper found everything in this space fascinating.
It waspletely different from Gray Reaper''s istion room, and had a very different atmosphere from the golden garden where it lived.
The spacious window let in sunlight and showed a view full of grass and trees.
The sunshine poured down, warmly enveloping its body.
Although the Golden Reaper couldn''t read, it clearly felt the emotion that Seo-ah treasured the various ques and citations.
Everything was fascinating - the neatly maintained, glossy wooden desk andputer, the organized folders of documents, the stylishmp, framedndscapes, and more.In fact, the Golden Reaper could return to the Golden Reaper garden whenever it wanted, but chose to stay in this space a little longer.
There were many things here that the Golden Reaper liked.
It liked the refrigerator that always had delicious food.
It liked the ma that was gently supporting it.
But most of all, it liked the human.
It really liked Park Seo-ah, who always sent warm feelings.
"I''m going on a business trip. You have to stay here, okay?"
Seo-ah, who had taken out a lot of candy onto the table where the Golden Reaper was, said something the Golden Reaper couldn''t understand.
Although it couldn''tprehend the words, it could sense the emotion.
It knew those words meant a rather long farewell.
The Golden Reaper, floating on the ma, used ghostification to secretly follow Seo-ah the moment she closed the door and left.
Hop hop.
The Golden Reaper happilyughed and jumped around near Park Seo-ah.
The moment Park Seo-ah got into the car, it secretly slipped inside and undid its ghostification.
Hiding in the shadows, the Golden Reaper giggled, amused by something.
While Seo-ah was busy driving, the Golden Reaper opened the zipper of a bag on the passenger seat and hid inside.
Curled up hiding in the bag, the Golden Reaper thought,
I must always be with my beloved human!
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
In the cozy istion room with soft music ying on the TV, I was lying on the bed, enjoying a rest.
Hop hop.
The Golden Reaper was using my belly as a trampoline,ughing and jumping merrily.
Laughing joyfully, it fell onto my belly in all sorts of poses, then bounced back up.
It looked just like me, yet was a different being.
Golden Reaper.
Suddenly I became curious.
I can''t see my own destruction condition, but what is the Golden Reaper''s?
When I tried to check the Golden Reaper''s destruction condition, it got startled and returned to the Golden Reaper garden.
The Golden Reaper''s destruction condition was simple,
tap tap~
When I summoned the Golden Reaper again, it got furiously angry and kept punching me with its tiny fists.
As I was ying along, receiving Golden Reaper punches with my palm, Yerin suddenly rushed into the istion room, panting with a startled expression.
Bam!
Yerin closed the istion room door so violently that a metallic sound rang out from the door.
What on earth was going on?
As I was tilting my head in confusion, the more sensitive Golden Reaper seemed to sense something and stopped punching, standing up and staring intently beyond the door.
"Reaper, a crazy penguin appeared! It''s like, chewing through even metal! And there are so, so many of them now."
Yerin, drenched in sweat and panting, was rambling on about something, but as soon as I heard the word ''penguin'', I had an idea of what it could be.
The dancing penguins!
It was a type of Object being that harbored malice towards humans. Had that thing appeared?
Puck-!
A penguin''s beak pierced through the steel wall of the istion room.
"Kyaa! Reaper!"
Yerin jumped in fright and rushed over to hug me tightly.
The penguin''s beak started sawing, making a screeching, grating sound.
Kkeek. Kkeek.
The unpleasant sound of steel being scraped and torn apart echoed inside the istion room.
"Uh... what do we do, Reaper?"
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Donate now
I could sense Yerin''s immense emotion from the me in me.
Yerin was extremely panicked and scared.
As I was savoring the growing sensation of the me, the Golden Reaper on my shoulder suddenly got angry and pped my cheek before leaving the istion room.
Did it scold me for enjoying this?
Getting hit while eating is the worst!
For some reason, the Golden Reaper didn''t seem to enjoy Yerin''s flustered fear, but rather found it unpleasant.
Had it devolved to only be able to consume positive emotions?
When I followed the Golden Reaper out of the istion room, the Research Institute''s hallway was in chaos.
Thick steel barricades had been lowered densely along the hallway for containment, but the screeching of penguins gnawing through those barricades was deafening.
The hallway was littered with penguin corpses.
Just how many penguins were there?
This number seemed like enough for every employee to have been given 10 copies of the ''Dancing Penguin Photo''.
Thanks to the Golden Reaper''s hard work, I couldn''t see any living penguins in my line of sight.
As I walked down the Research Institute hallway, I saw the security team blocking the path and fighting in front of the conference room.
"Block them!"
"Don''t let them bite the shields! Don''t just stand there!"
Armed with special alloy shields and heavy, sturdy batons, they kept swinging at the penguins, but it didn''t seem very effective.
I used ghostification to lightly approach and crush the heads of the penguins in front of the conference room.
Once all the penguins were dead and the situation in front of the conference room stabilized, the Golden Reaper that had killed all the other penguins in the Research Institute returned.
It sat on my shoulder and stared at me intently.
Seeming to want praise, I stroked its head with my finger.
Good job.
The Sehee Research Institute is a precious ce, after all.
By the way, I heard the ''Dancing Penguin Photo'' was extremely popr and sold a lot of copies everywhere...
It seems there will be quite a lot of damage, I wonder if it''ll be okay?
But they said they mostly sold the photos through ''Daily Object'', didn''t they?
This incident might just put them out of businesspletely.
***
Seo-ah POV:
---
Halfway up Kkachisan, I wiped the sweat from my brow and looked down at the base of the mountain.
Small buildings and roads, the warm sunlight beating down.
The refreshing breeze blew, cooling my body nicely.
Why on earth did they build the Research Institute up on a mountain?
Even if it''s just a hill-like mountain, it''s so inconvenient.
And perhaps because it had been a while since I climbed a mountain, ever sinceing up Kkachisan, there was a strange scent of sunlight lingering.
It wasn''t that the sunlight was particrly strong or anything.
More than the scent of the sun itself, it smelled like sand that had been thoroughly heated by the sun.
But did sand even have a scent?
Looking up, there was still quite a way left to go.
"Haahh, it''s tiring moving around after so long."
Someone gently wiped the sweat dripping down my forehead.
The hand was too small to be of much help... A small hand?
Looking beside me, the Golden Reaper was perched on my shoulder.
I was startled and quickly put the Reaper into my bag, looking down.
Among the documents, wallet, and phone inside the bag, I could see the Reaper grinning happily.
Had it followed me all the way here?
What a headache.
The Golden Reaper had an oblivious expression as it hugged the car keys to its body, rolling around in the bag.
Well, it''s not like you did anything wrong.
I reached into the bag and gently stroked the Golden Reaper''s head.
"Here, I''ll give you some candy. But don''te out of the bag, okay? Even if you get bored."
Whether it understood or not, the Golden Reaper started slowly eating the hard candy it was holding.
The conference hasn''t even started yet, but I already feel tired.
Should I just go back to the Sehee Research Institute?
***
??? POV:
---
On the opposite side of the mountain from where the Kkachisan Research Institute was located, something strange was happening halfway up the sparsely popted slope.
The ground started bubbling and boiling.
Red sand spouted from the ground like boiling water, forming bubbles as it erupted from the earth.
And an eerie shadow began to appear.
There was clearly nothing there, nothing to cast a shadow in the sunlight, and yet a shadow manifested.
The shapes of the shadows varied.
Some were geometric, cube-like forms.
Others had human-like limbs.
And some were indescribable amorphous blobs.
In the sky, a faint reddish moon seemed to be visible.
Chapter 77: Kkachisan Conference (3)
Late at night, while all the surrounding buildings had their lights off, there was a warehouse brightly lit and bustling with activity.
In front of the warehouse, tbed trucks were lined up with their doors open, waiting for cargo. People were constantly going in and out of the warehouse entrance, carrying cardboard boxes.
At first nce, the warehouse did not seem properly maintained.
The warehouse walls were stained with neglect and decay.
The exterior paint was faded in color.
It didn''t seem properly cleaned either, with rusted metal and wood scraps rolling around on the floor.
However, in contrast to the shabby warehouse, the items being handled busily by the people inside looked neat and intact.
Men neatly packing Proid photos into tidy cardboard boxes that seemedpletely out of ce in the old, worn-out warehouse.
"Hurry up, move faster!""There''s still a mountain of photos left to pack!"
The packed boxes were quickly loaded onto the tbed trucks, which had apany name written on them:
This was a warehouse used by Daily Object.
The photos being packed were Proids of ''Dancing Penguins'' - an extremely popr product currently in Seoul.
At first, many people were reluctant because it was an Object product.
However, as it sold for a long time without any issues, it eventually became popr among the general public.
The fact that ''Daily Object'' called itself a ''Object media specialist'' also helped.
The public perception that ''people who photograph dangerous Objects on the front lines would know about safe ones too'' aided sales.
To sell as many of the hot-selling photos as possible, they took Proids, packed them, and shipped them out all day long.
"Hurry, hurry! This is a one-time deal! We have to sell it all while it''s popr!"
The shabby abandoned-looking warehouse, the busily moving people, and the fancy, high-ss cardboard boxes - nothing seemed to fit together in this strange space. But the strangest thing was something else.
A ck penguin.
The most out-of-ce existence was a ck penguin sitting obediently in front of the Proid camera 24 hours a day.
Squawk. Squawk.
The usually docile ck penguin started squawking.
"Someone shut that thing up! It''s so noisy!"
"Sir, um...how do we shut it up?"
A man with a dumb expression spoke to the bellowing man in front of the ck penguin, unsure what to do.
"Just hit it!"
"This seems off. It''s like the penguin is mocking us. Isn''t it dangerous?"
A man packing boxes walked over briskly and smacked the head of the man dithering in front of the penguin.
"ew, you idiot. Can''t you see it''s dying the photo shoot? I meant just hit the penguin''s head like this!"
Saying that, the man struck the penguin''s head down.
Thwack. Thwack.
The sound of him forcefully smacking it down rang out.
Since the penguin didn''t move no matter what, the man swung freely.
But this time was different.
Crunch.
Along with the sound of bones crunching, the man''s scream echoed.
"Aahhhh! My hand! My hand!"
The man''s hand was cleanly severed in the shape of the penguin''s beak.
Skin, muscle, and even bone - cut cleanly as if by a precision de.
"You guys! What are you gawking at? Call an ambnce! I said call an ambnce!"
Squawk. Squawk.
As the employees hurriedly called an ambnce, the bloody penguin raised its head and seemed tough joyfully.
Squawk. Squawk. Squawk.
And that penguin''s squawking started growing louder and multiplying.
Penguin heads popped out from the photos scattered messily on the floor, squawking loudly.
"Damn, this is crazy. Who''s idea was it to do business with Objects?"
One of the men packing photos dropped everything and ran out of the warehouse.
Then a horrific sound came from outside the warehouse.
"Aahhhh!"
The screams of the man who fled, and the crunching sound of something being torn apart and eaten.
The men who were about to abandon their screaming boss and run away froze at that sound.
Blood-soaked penguins came streaming in through the warehouse entrance.
Soon the men were surrounded by penguins, and they became terrified as more approached.
Then the penguins rushed them all at once, ripping the men to shreds.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Lying in a warm istion room, eating ice cream.
Yum~
Watching TV while eating the ice cream, it was full of news about the ck penguin attack.
''Daily Object'' sold so many photos that the number of victims was enormous.
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Should it be said that they received divine punishment, or that there was no one left to take responsibility?
''Daily Object'', which supplied penguin photos both wholesale and retail, lost all employees including the CEO in the incident.
News of their deaths spread very quickly, as they were discovered by an ambnce that was dispatched to a shabby warehouse.
Fortunately, the penguins were dealt with instantly.
Although as hard as steel, theyck physical immunity, so shooting them with armor-piercing rounds would kill them.
However, some remnant penguins reportedly fled towards Gangseo District. I wonder if it will be okay?
Due to this incident, politicians seemed intent on revisingws rted to Objects.
Apparently they n to raise the certification standards for handling Objects...
At least high enough that something like ''Daily Object'' cannot emerge again.
But wait, if they raise the standards that high, will Sehee Research Institute fail to qualify?
Hmm, it would be good if the standards are raised just enough for Sehee Research Institute to barely pass.
Hehe.
Lying in bed eating ice cream, I had these silly thoughts.
***
Seo-ah POV:
---
The Kkachisan Conference seemedrger in scale than expected.
The Kkachisan Research Institute itself looked small in space, but they must have used some magic as it appeared muchrger than its outward appearance.
An borate chandelier adorned the high ceiling, and soft white lights bathed the entire hall in a gentle glow.
The neatly arranged rows of chairs extended so far that their end was hard to see, giving a sense of how many attendees this ce could amodate.
As a small institute alumni from Sehee Research Institute attending, I could have felt intimidated, but thanks to the Golden Reaper in my palm, that did not happen.
The Golden Reaper in my bag kept trying toe out, so I had to hold it in my hand covered by a book.
The Golden Reaper seemed to enjoy even this situation, squirming and grinning widely in my palm.
Among the many research institutes and government-affiliated organizations in attendance, some people really caught the eye.
They were researchers from Trinity Research Institute.
The current de facto number one research institute in Korea.
Trinity was formed by the merger of three major research institutes, leveraging their massive scale and funding to expand their industry influence.
They proudly woreb coats emzoned with the Trinity Lab logo, boasting and chattering away.
While understandable for the nation''s top talents congregating at the highest paying institute to have pride, it was hard toprehend their need to show off and boast in that manner.
But the strangest reaction was from the Golden Reaper.
Normally yful in my palm regardless of surroundings, it would stop ying whenever near Trinity researchers.
It would bare its teeth menacingly towards them.
Seems even the Golden Reaper dislikes boastful chatter.
I better be careful too if I don''t want to earn its dislike.
***
Reaper (MC) POV :
---
I cleared out the furniture in the istion room and ced the Golden Reaper at a distance.
This was to test out the new ability I had acquired.
Alright, here goes!
Focusing on the Golden Reaper, I felt a connection leading towards it.
Then diving along that connection!
In the blink of an eye, I was standing right next to the Golden Reaper.
Seeing me appear so suddenly, the Golden Reaper pped in seeming amazement.
The ability gained from killing the harmful bird, the ck penguin, was the ability to instantly move near the Golden Reaper.
Although it consumed a bit of me inside me, it was an extremely good ability considering it was obtained by killing such a pathetic bird.
If the harmful bird could move through photographs, I could now move using the Golden Reaper as a medium.
Does this mean I can send the Golden Reaper to ces too far away to bother going?
However, it was difficult to position the Golden Reaper far away from me for testing the ability, as it kept clinging to me. Sending the Golden Reaper ahead didn''t seem feasible.
Perhaps that would only be possible after gaining the ability tomand the Golden Reaper as I wished...
***
??? POV:
---
On ate evening after the conference ended and the hall had emptied, a ck agent gazed up at the red moon.
''In the end, the evacuation order hasn''t been issued until the day of the conference.''
The problem was the societal tendency to ignore phenomena that didn''t appear dangerous, but it was unavoidable.
There were too many Objects appearing to be scared of each one individually.
In this era ofmon Objects, cloud meat could suddenly descend on residential areas, and a mirror ball ying cheerful music could upy the National Assembly building.
Ultimately, these were just happenings that ended without any harm.
The umtion of such incidents was creating a sense ofcency about safety.
The girl sitting next to the ck agent, fiddling with a red bat, felt the same way.
A bat suddenly appearing in the city center, moreover a blood-red bat - it was clearly an Object.
But instead of fear, the girl''s reaction was delight.
"There''s a bat! It''s the same color as the moon up there!"
The ck agent hoped this time would also turn out harmless, like the mirror ball incident.
Chapter 78: Kkachisan Conference (4)
During the ambiguous time transitioning from day to night, a burly man was walking withrge strides towards a huge mansion located on the outskirts of Seoul.
Although the mansion the man visited was certainly decoratedvishly, it gave off an ominous atmosphere as if shrouded in deep shadows.
The burly man with a short, stumpy conical Golden Horn protruding from the top of his head was a man whose profession was kidnapping and selling people.
Contrary to his confident stride, the man''s mind was quiteplicated.
Normally, the butler of this mansion would contact him to initiate a request.
But strangely, this time they made an exceptional request to see his face before making the request.
It would normally be natural to ignore such a suspicious request.
However, since this was a major client who had made numerous requests so far, and because of the trustworthy name card of the director of Trinity Research Institute, he could not refuse and ended up visiting the mansion.
When he knocked on the entrance of the mansion, the butler came out as if waiting and weed the man."The master is waiting. Please follow me."
It was the same voice he had always heard over the phone.
The butler was a scrawny old man who had a strange atmosphere that made one tense instinctively.
The burly man followed the butler, passing through the main gate of the mansion.
What greeted him after passing through the main gate was a ck garden.
The garden was covered in ck soil, and unfamiliar ck nts were sprouting everywhere.
And there was a smell of petroleum.
It was a really unpleasant garden, but since it was in front of the butler with the eerie atmosphere, the burly man could not show his feelings.
Fortunately, once inside the mansion, the smell of petroleum was no longer present.
The interior of the mansion looked even morevish, perhaps due to the stark contrast with the unpleasant garden.
In the center was a huge Trinity Research Institute logo, and the windows were filled with intricate stained ss mosaics.
The walls were hung with ornate tapestries, and a soft light emanated from the chandelier decorated on the ceiling.
Past the lobby exuding a luxurious atmosphere, they arrived at arge living room.
There, a man in a neat suit stood up to wee the burly man.
This middle-aged looking man was the owner of the mansion.
"Ah, you''vee. I heard you''ve been making great efforts for metely, so I wanted to see you in person."
The middle-aged man, rising from his chair, spoke as he looked around the living room.
The walls of the living room were decorated with all kinds of golden horns, lined up like deer head trophies.
Each one boasted arge, ornate shape.
They were all the Golden Horns delivered by the burly man.
"Thank you for always delivering such excellent horns. Indeed, the bigger and more intricate the shape of the golden horn, the more satisfying it is to look at."
"Ah, yes..."
The burly man had felt uneasy from the moment he entered this room.
He didn''t know exactly what the problem was, but he just felt that way.
So he just wanted the conversation to end quickly so he could leave.
"Don''t you feel something too? I feel at ease when I enter this room. Although research on Golden Horns is prohibited so there''s no data, they surely must have some efficacy."
The burly man nced around as he responded perfunctorily.
"Oh, I''ve been rambling alone again. I called you here because I''m curious."
The middle-aged man walked over and handed the burly man a round, jewel-like object.
The spherical object, with apricot and ck colors intricately intertwined, looked like a mixture of pearls and ck pearls.
"Um...what is this?"
"It''s a new nutritional supplement our Research Institute has developed. Try taking it."
"Does it have to be taken right now?"
"Of course! It''s a top secret product at our Research Institute. Come on, quickly!"
At this point, the burly man began to regret epting the invitation to this mansion.
How could he be forced to take such a suspicious substance at this suspicious ce, just for money?
Naturally, the burly man had no intention of putting such a dubious substance in his mouth.
However, judging by the middle-aged man''s demeanor, it seemed something unpleasant would happen if he refused to take it.
So the man chose to pretend to take it while hiding the substance in his pocket.
¡°I ate it.¡±
Upon hearing the answer, the middle-aged man simply stared nkly.
"If you have nothing more to say, I''ll be going now."
As the man turned his back, a voice came from behind.
"How strange."
The man tried to ignore those words and began walking back the way he had entered withrge strides.
However, the butler who had been waiting outside the living room blocked the man''s path.
"You must take the pill, sir."
The man tried to shake off the butler''s grip, but he couldn''t break free no matter what.
The butler''s face was unnaturally pale, with bulging ck veins.
Crunch.
"Aaargh!"
The butler''s bony arm easily crushed the man''s arm bones.
After subduing the man writhing in pain, the butler found the pill from his pocket.
"Yes, it was strange. No matter howpatible, it makes no sense for there to be no changes at all."
Taking the pill from the butler, the middle-aged man forced it into the burly man''s mouth, saying,
"Now, have a nice long sleep."
In his darkening vision, he saw the butler who subdued him melting into ck mud.
***
Seo-ah POV:
---
The Kkachisan Conference was quite well-organized.
The participating research institutes were quite famous in Korea, and the government had prepared thoroughly, so the event went smoothly.
"Come on, don''t get too upset. It''s okay."
But I couldn''t concentrate on the presentation at all.
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Golden Reaper was in an extremely agitated state.
It looked sad somehow, and also seemed angry.
No matter how much I stroked it to smooth out its furrowed expression, it didn''t really help.
Feeding it lots of candy was no use either.
The fortunate thing was that it didn''t try to escape from my hand.
Rather, it clung to my neck or head, but I couldn''t figure out the reason.
The cause of Golden Reaper''s abnormal behavior was quite clear.
The researchers from Trinity.
They often ate some unidentified snacks, and that seemed to be the cause.
At first I thought it was whining because it wanted to eat them...
But when I went to a Trinity researcher and got one of it, Golden Reaper''s reaction was unbelievable.
It punched the snack away, going "tuk tuk ", getting rid of the snack.
Then it slumped down looking extremely depressed.
The snack was a small, apricot-colored cube shape, looking like a tiny cheese.
It smelled really fragrant, so why did it hate it so much?
So to satisfy my curiosity, I asked the researcher what it was.
"Ah~ this?"
The Trinity researcher looked me up and down, then continued speaking with a mocking tone,
"This is a synthetic food that Trinity is currently developing experimentally. It''s a research that many world-renowned research institutes are pursuing these days. Object Food. I can''t believe there are still research institutes out there that don''t know about it."
The man then turned and walked away.
As he left, he continued making slight derogatory remarks about Sehee Research Institute.
''Thieves only after government subsidies.''
''A bunch of idiots who are desperate to iste objects and don''t know how to use them.''
Something along those lines.
It was an infuriating remark, but I broke out in a cold sweat trying to restrain Golden Reaper from charging at the man.
It seemed determined to tear him apart, so it was really hard to calm it down.
In the end, Golden Reaper just doesn''t like that snack, huh.
Well, it''s a suspicious Object snack, so I didn''t really want to eat it either.
Crunch. Crunch.
I listened to the presentation while hearing the sound of Reaper munching on candy, expressing its anger.
Crunch .
The continuous sound of eating candy suddenly stopped.
Did it already finish eating?
Looking down at Golden Reaper, more than half the candy remained.
Golden Reaper had stopped eating the candy midway and was staring intently at something.
And in the blink of an eye, Reaper suddenly disappeared from where it had been staring!
Did it ghostify like Gray Reaper?
At the same moment Golden Reaper vanished, a clear sound like shattering ss rang out in the presentation hall.
Then a hot gust of wind blew in.
Papers were scattered by the strong wind, enough to shake even the chairs.
The empty space was split in all directions as if ss had shattered, and red sand poured endlessly from the cracks.
And the space began to distort as if seen through a fisheye lens.
Everyone raised their voices in bewilderment at the absurd situation, but they were all drowned out by the sound of the wind.
And with a ''pung'' sound, fist-sized rocks scattered in all directions.
The deadly stones could easily pierce through people, and one of them shot right in front of me.
Oh, no.
***
In the cozy atmosphere of the Sehee Research Institute''s Gray Reaper istion room.
Inside, Gray Reaper was enjoying a nap.
Suddenly, Golden Reapers started popping out all around Gray Reaper, making yful noises.
And they started hitting Gray Reaper repeatedly.
Poking its cheeks.
tuk tuk~
Tapping on its eyelids.
jjit jjit~
Bouncing on its belly
This beating was also happening in the Golden Reaper garden.
In the garden too, the sleeping Gray Reaper was being beaten by Golden Reapers.
The Golden Reapers looked urgent somehow.
As if shouting, ''Wake up quickly!''
***
The ck agent witnessed the disturbance from behind the presentation hall.
While everyone was flustered, the ck agent hugged the blonde girl and started running away from the cracks.
He started running as soon as the hot wind blew, which was an extremely quick response.
"Uncle, what''s going on?"
"Seems to be an Object-rted incident. Let''s get away from here first. At least we need to get out of Kkachisan."
The ck agent grit his teeth and kept running, but it wasn''t enough.
With the sound of shattering ss, a huge shockwave hit, and the ck agent tumbled on the ground.
And the endless gust of hot wind and sand.
The agent held the blonde girl in his arms and endured.
And when the hot wind subsided, the ck agent brushed off the sand and stood up to see apletely different scenery in front of him.
A desert with the horizon visible.
An endless red desert stretching out.
Chapter 79: Kkachisan Conference (5)
Seo-ah POV:
---
As the rock piece came right in front of my nose, I thought, ''Ah, I''m going to die now!'' At that moment, a golden light shed before my eyes.
The Golden Reaper that had disappeared suddenly popped out and knocked away the rock piece.
"Reaper!"
I shouted in delight, but the Golden Reaper was still looking at the chairman, who had be aplete mess, with a tense expression.
The scorching wind and swirling sand and rocks made it difficult to even stand properly.
Some researchers were killed, pierced by the rocks, while others were hiding behind tables, trembling.
The smell of sand scorched by the sunlight and the intense heat.I could only grit my teeth and endure, crouching as low as possible to avoid the swirling rocks.
The Golden Reaper standing firmly in front deflected the asionally iing low-flying rocks.
I was aware of Golden Reaper''s strength, but I didn''t expect it to be so reliable.
It was terrifying to imagine what would have happened without the Golden Reaper.
A cracking sound like shattering ss began to ring out in the air.
I didn''t know what was happening, but it certainly wasn''t good.
The Golden Reaper quickly ran over and clung to my cheek.
Bang!
With a shattering sound, space was torn apart.
Beyond the torn space, a red moon appeared huge, as if looking down at us.
Along it, an enormous amount of sand and scorching wind rushed in.
I was swept away by the torrent of sand, tumbling around.
After a few minutes of this.
"Haah."
As the torrent stopped, I poked my head out from the sand and took a breath.
I was scratched and wounded here and there, but still alive.
Reaper looked at my wounds with a gloomy expression, unsure of what to do.
"It''s okay. I won''t die from this much."
Saying that, I patted Reaper''s head.
Holding the Golden Reaper in my arms, I stood up, and the Kkachisan Research Institute was gone, reced by apletely new sight.
A vast desert stretched endlessly in all directions.
Every single sand grain, uneven rock, and rippling sand dune glowed in a burning red color.
In the dark sky hung a red moon, far too bright for a moon.
It was as dark as night, yet any skin touched by the moonlight felt scorchingly hot, as if under the sun.
The intense heat in the air clung to the body like a heavy nket.
"Ah, it''s extremely hot."
Sweat poured down without any effort in this environment.
Should I call it a dark sauna without lights?
Or a studio apartment with a giant heater instead of lights?
It was an extraordinary environment, difficult to experience on Earth.
Reaper stood on my shoulder, waving its tiny hand like a fan with a worried look, but it was too small to have any effect.
"Reaper, what should we do now?"
Stroking Reaper, I sighed in frustration.
In this situation, which was clearly caused by an Object, how should we proceed?
***
3rd person POV :
---
"Miss, are you alright?"
Unlike the tattered ck agent, the blonde girl was unharmed.
"I''m fine."
The blonde girl patted off the sand from her hair and clothes as she spoke.
Separated from the ten attendants who never left her side.
She should have been tense, but she seemed calm.
"Rather, it looks like you''re badly injured, uncle?"
"No deep wounds that would hinder my actions."
After brushing off the sand and checking his attire, the ck agent began moving.
"First, we need to quickly assess the situation. It seems safe for now, but swiftness is life in cases like this."
The ck agent pointed a finger at the tallest sand dune and started moving towards it.
Minimizing speech and keeping a low stance, he moved slowly.
"Uncle, it seems to be night, but it''s extremely hot," the girl said, wiping sweat from her hand.
Just that brief movement had drenched her in sweat.
"I''m concerned about that too. If it''s this hot at night, I can''t imagine how scorching it would be during the day. We may need to dig into the ground and take shelter soon."
Upon reaching the tall sand dune and looking around, the vast desert came into view.
Scattered people could be seen here and there.
And the Objects chasing them.
Among them, the most threatening Object seemed to be a cube made of red sandstone, twisting and rotating in all directions.
The size of the red rock cubes was almost that of an adult male, and an Object consisting of about 10 such rocks clumped together was threatening just by its physical force.
Moreover, that Object was extremely aggressive.
It roamed the desert, searching for people, then chasing and crushing them at high speed.
"Hieeek."
The blonde girl gasped as she witnessed someone being crushed.
Normally, the ck agent would have shielded her eyes, but it was an emergency situation.
He judged that it would be better to see and experience the horrors that might ur while fleeing, to help them get through the situation.
Panting heavily, the girl spoke with a moreposed expression.
"Let''s move quickly. We can''t end up like that, can we?"
The girl''s brave words.
But her face was still pale, suggesting she was straining herself.
"First, it would be best to find a hiding ce. It''s absolutely impossible to move for long in this heat. And it would be wise to wait for a rescue team."
The ck agent and the blonde girl set out cautiously, searching for a safe ce.
***
Seo-ah POV:
---
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Was it a mistake to wander around carelessly?
I was being chased by soldiers made of red sand.
If it weren''t for Golden Reaper, I would have died long ago.
Golden Reaper charged at the sand soldier that had pursued me from behind.
The soldier who lost its head turned back into ordinary red sand with a puff.
But beyond that scattered sand, another sand soldier appeared.
No matter how many sand soldiers I killed, they kept appearing endlessly.
"Haah. Haah."
Ignoring the sand in my mouth, I panted heavily.
The scorching heat was already draining my stamina instantly, and running continuously made me dizzy.
Oh, no.
I felt like I was going to pass out.
Golden Reaper, who had climbed back onto my shoulder, still looked fine.
Just when I thought, ''Ah, this is my limit,'' the seemingly endless pursuit suddenly ended.
"Huh?"
Turning around while panting, I saw the sand soldiers that had been persistently chasing me stop their pursuit and retreat.
"Waahhh, I survived! Right, Reaper?"
Sitting on the ground, I stroked Reaper but it was still tense.
hhhhggrrrr~
A low, rumbling sound.
As that sound rang out, Golden Reaper leapt forward, and the sand exploded outward.
I was helplessly blown away by the torrent of sand.
After tumbling and rolling, I stopped and looked up at the epicenter to see something floating up and down.
Red rock cubes were clumping and dispersing, an Object flowing in all directions.
In the center of that Object was a red ss bead that looked important to anyone.
Golden Reaper charged toward that human-head-sized red sphere.
But in that brief moment, the red rock cubes surrounded me and began to close in on me from all sides.
Slowly, but at an immense speed from my perspective.
The boulders were too big for Golden Reaper to block.
Just as I thought I was going to die, the sound of shattering ss rang out, and the red rocks stopped moving and began to fall.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Countless red rock cubes fell.
As the sand and dust cleared, I saw the red sphere split in half.
Ah, so that was the weak point.
And next to the cubesy Golden Reaper.
"Reaper!"
I ran over to Golden Reaper in shock.
Golden Reaper had its eyes closed and was copsed, with one arm missing.
Wh...Why?
Golden mes dripped like blood from its roughly torn shoulder.
"What do I do, what do I do."
I desperately tried to cover the wound with my hands, but the mes weren''t physical matter - they passed right through my fingers and flowed onto the ground.
***
3rd person POV?:
---
The first thing Golden Reaper saw when it came to was Park Seo-ah''s tears.
Seeing the crying Park Seo-ah, it wanted to wipe away her tears, but Golden Reaper had no hands left.
Golden Reaper''s remaining hand was being used to cover its wound.
Golden Reaper''s me was too small, so to keep from disappearing, it had to stop the mes leaking from the wound.
"Reaper, are you okay?"
Words Golden Reaper couldn''t understand.
But words filled with concern.
And a gentle caressing touch.
Towards this caring human, Golden Reaper forced a pained smile.
But at that expression of smiling through the pain, Park Seo-ah could only look more sad.
Boom.
With a loud sound, another Object made of red rocks appeared.
At the Object''s appearance, Seo-ah looked worried.
Golden Reaper met her worried eyes and smiled brightly.
Then Golden Reaper turned its head and charged at the Object.
Don''t worry!
I still have one arm left!
***
Seo-ah POV:
---
It was a desperate situation.
Golden Reaper charged forward with a bright smile, but the enemies were numerous.
And the one-armed Golden Reaper was clearly weakened.
It looked like it could be snuffed out like a candle in the wind at any moment.
Just as it seemed we would be overwhelmed, our knees buckling as the sand threatened to swallow us whole, a silhouette suddenly appeared through the dust.
About 1 meter tall.
Long hair.
Its very presence seemed to change the air around it.
What word could describe this feeling of mixed hope and relief?
The Golden Reaper that had charged out smiling was now back in my arms.
The arm it had lost was restored, brimming with vitality.
At the feet of that small shadow, more Golden Reapers popped out one after another.
Golden Reaper''s tense expression softened.
The highest threat-level Object of our Research Institute had appeared.
The Gray Reaper. Tuk tuk~
When I woke up, I felt like I was being pounded from all sides.
Lots of Golden Reapers had appeared and were hitting me repeatedly.
What''s going on?
And were they able toe out even without me summoning them?
The Golden Reapers looked extremely urgent.
The Golden Reapers that noticed I had woken up stopped hitting me and tried to exin something through gestures and movements.It was difficult to understand the bodynguage performed with the shallow knowledge of the Golden Reapers, but I could sense the urgency of the situation.
It''s urgent?
Then there''s a way only I can do.
I ghostified and spread my arms wide open.
The Golden Reapers also ghostified and rushed into my embrace.
Holding an armful of Golden Reapers, the ones that couldn''t fit in my arms clung to my body.
By making contact in our spectral forms, I could understand what the Golden Reapers wanted to say.
An intense and simple thought.
''Danger!''
''The human we are attached to is in danger!''
Feeling an extremely tense emotion, I immediately used the ability I obtained from the ck Penguin.
The faint, flickering trace of a Golden Reaper was felt from far away.
I used that ability towards that trace.
*
The ce I arrived at by using my ability was somewhere that could not be considered Korea at all.
A desert full of red sand and rocks.
There''s no way a ce like this could exist in Korea, so it must be a phenomenon caused by an Object.
One Golden Reaper ran towards me with a weing expression.
When I caught it with my hands, that Golden Reaper waspletely tattered.
Why is it so injured?
I put it in my arms, hugged it tightly, and fed it some me.
The me given beyond its limit instantly regenerated its missing arm.
The tattered Golden Reaper immediately regained its vitality and hugged my cheek gratefully.
I wonder who hurt the Golden Reaper.
Judging from its injured arm, it seems to be the aftermath of using Ovep on a Physical Immunity Object.
Normally it would coolly throw its whole body for an attack, and revive in the Golden Reaper Garden, but that would be the rational choice since it''s not painful.
It must have only used one arm to protect Seo-ah, the ''human it''s attached to'' for a long time.
The Object that seems to have hurt the Golden Reaper is probably the one in front of me.
An Object made of red rocks, and probably one with Physical Immunity.
The destruction condition is [The interior of Gangseo District is currently an unidentified desert area, and the situation inside remainspletely unknown.]
Coincidentally, the news showed a scene where a helicopter was filming the barrier in Gangseo District.
"Oh! Isn''t that where Sister Seo-ah went on a business trip?"
"Yes. That''s why I was trying to call the Gray Reaper, but it''s not here."
Yerin stared at the TV, not knowing what to do.
"What should we do?"
"Isn''t there any way?"
"...Ah! So that''s why?"
Yerin seemed to understand something on her own after mumbling, so I asked her, and she told me a rather interesting story.
"Actually, it''s the Gray Reaper''s nap time right now. But since the Reaper wasn''t here, I wondered what was going on. Then I thought that if there was an incident, like this, it could be the reason."
"You mean the Gray Reaper sensed Seo-ah''s crisis and has already left for Gangseo District?"
"It''s just my guess. It could have just gone out on a whim, so it''s not certain."
Bang. Bang.
Yerin vacated her seat next to her and tapped loudly to draw attention.
"Then, Sister, you should wait here with me."
"What?"
I was about to slowly return to the director''s office and find out how the Association''s rescue operation was progressing, but Yerin started saying strange things.
"We should wait for Gray Reaper toe back! If Reaper didn''t go to rescue but went somewhere for leisure, wouldn''t it be best to meet as soon as possible and depart for Gangseo District?"
It was clearly nonsense, but for some reason, it was a quitepelling theory.
"After all, the only thing we can do is ask the Association how the rescue operation is going. We should at least do this!"
Was it because of the magic of the warm istion room and the fluffy bed?
Or was it because of the soft and warm Golden Reapers?
"I can''t help it. But I should at least take minimum measures."
I sent a mass notification to Sehee Research Institute using my phone.
ck. ck. ck~
Looking up at the old man, his wrinkled skin was turning into sand and flowing away.
The old man''s voice could no longer be heard, only the tapping sound of the skeleton''s teeth cking as it grinned.
Before she knew it, skeletons holding swords lined up like a folding screen around the old man''s skeleton.
[Now then, as promised, I''ll give you a quiz.]
Not a voice, but the old skeleton''s voice directly entering her mind was ominous and full of malice.
A thick stench of blood wafted from the swords held by the skeletons.
Something appeared, cutting through that ominous atmosphere.
tak takk~
A small, golden...something.
Since she never seen such a creature, it must be an Object.
A small Object ring at the old skeleton with its hands on its hips.
It looked weak at a nce, but the old skeleton''s reaction was a bit strange.
[hughh.]
The old skeleton let out a sigh and slowly retreated backwards.
Then, grabbing the fluttering cloth of the tent roof, a golden face popped out.
From inside the fruits too, popping out.
From under tables, behind pirs, chair backs, small faces sprang out from everywhere.
The cute little faces popping out all over was rather adorable, but the old skeleton''s reaction was the opposite.
It even threw away its cane and started fleeing.
And the result was unexpected as well.
The golden Objects popped out andpletely smashed the skeletons and the old skeleton into pieces.
The skeletons struck by the golden Objects'' attacks turned into sand and scattered away.
And the Object that dealt with the old skeleton came swarming toward me, as if seeking praise.
At the sudden approach of the Objects, I stiffened my whole body.
In a way, they could be considered the benefactors of my life, but I felt an eerie sensation.
The cute-looking Objects were abination that modern humans would find frightening.
The sullen-faced Objects.
Shimmering brightly in a pretty golden color, and somehow emitting a pleasant scent.
As I looked at them closely, an unfounded feeling that they wouldn''t harm me somehow dominated my mind.
Carefully extending my hand, one of the Objects squirmed onto my palm.
Oh, this...
Looking closely, it''s shaped exactly like a Gray Reaper!
I flinched in surprise and tossed away the golden Reaper.
The golden Reapery scattered on the ground, its expression devoid of life, slumped and powerless.
"Ah... sorry?"
Its expression looked so sad that I ended up apologizing reflexively.
Extending my hand again, the Golden Reaper nced at me and carefully climbed onto my palm once more.
As if to avoid falling again, it clung tightly to one of my fingers.
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"Sorry. I won''t throw you again!"
As the Golden Reaper clung to my cheek, the previously swarming Golden Reapers scattered in all directions.
All that remained with me was one Golden Reaper.
But strangely, I felt a reassuring sensation.
***
??? POV:
---
In a cave with a gloomy atmosphere due to a sudden death incident, researchers from Trinity caught people''s attention.
"Everyone! Pay attention please!"
With the expectation of ''Could they have found something?'', people began to listen to the voice of the Trinity Research Institute researcher.
There was also an expectation that a member of Korea''s top research institute wouldn''t say nonsense.
Thinking he had garnered enough attention, the researcher raised his voice and began speaking.
¡°We''ve deciphered the structure of this object a little bit, and we''re going to move a little bit to exin it.¡±
The Trinity researchers led the people deeper into the cave.
Beyond a giantke, at a ce with a giant statue and altar, the Trinity researcher began his exnation.
"Here, you can see characters written like this. Thanks to these being characters that Trinity Research Institute has been studying for quite a long time, we were able to interpret them. It''s fortunate for us."
The researcher mixed in praise for Trinity Research Institute with his exnation of the interpreted characters.
And the characters interpreted by the researcher contained the exact conclusion that the ck agent had predicted.
Upon hearing this, people nodded, saying it sounded usible.
After all, it would be stranger if there were no such traps in this oasis.
"So what we must do is one thing. Without leaving the cave, we must drive away any neers."
And a question-and-answer session followed with various inquiries.
With researchers who attended the Kkachisan Conference present inside the cave, the questions were diverse.
"Why was this information being concealed by the Trinity Research Institute?"
Starting from such questions to inquiries about the interpretation method, they varied.
"Ah, please understand that as low-level researchers, we cannot speak freely."
Of course, the Trinity researchers rarely gave clear answers.
As people gathered around the wall with the engraved characters and chattered, a blonde girl was eyeing the altar area.
"Uncle, there are lots of bats drawn on the altar! What does it mean?"
"I''m not sure. Perhaps you should ask one of the Trinity researchers?"
But when the blonde girl innocently asked a researcher, the answer she received was, ''I don''t know.''
"It can''t be helped that the interpretation is not yet perfect."
"Uncle, I''m not disappointed that I couldn''t hear the interpretation. But in the researchers'' interpretation, there''s no mention of the altar, even though the altar seems more important no matter how you look at it, doesn''t it?"
Indeed, as the blonde girl said, the altar seemed more important than the statue or the wall with the engraved characters, judging by its size, scale, and splendor.
*
Based on the Trinity researchers'' interpretation of the Objects, people began driving away those trying to enter the cave.
"Get out!"
They collected tools that could be used as weapons, gave them to the sentries, and threatened and drove away anyone trying to enter.
However, many people came to the cave, which could be considered andmark of the desert.
People exhausted from the heat and dying of thirst.
Although they couldn''t enter the cave due to being threatened with makeshift weapons, they gradually gathered in the shade near the cave.
The blonde girl asked with a worried expression, "Won''t those people suddenly rush in?"
"Perhaps. We need to find some solution. For now, the difference in numbers is preventing them from daring to enter, but that gap will quickly narrow."
The Trinity researchers were eyeing the confrontational people with meaningful gazes.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Tak tak tak~
Walking through the desert.
ck k?
After observing the people closely, the monsters scurried along the ceiling like cockroaches before leaping down to block the entrance.
At the same time, Uncle painfully gripped my arm and started running deeper into the cave.
"Aaaaahh!"
Screams echoed from the entrance along with the sttering of blood and flesh.
ncing back, the monsters were wildly whipping their whip-like arms, tearing people apart.
We fled all the way to the altar beyond theke, but it was a dead end regardless.
Uncle and I were instantly caught.
Facing the monsters slowly closing in from both sides, Uncle shouted,
"Why are you Trinity researchers doing this?"
"Huh? That''s obvious."
Suddenly, the monster started speaking humannguage.
Just as Uncle said, it was the Trinity researcher!
But the monster speaking was struck down by a whip from the monster on the opposite side.
"Ah, team leader. I feel hurt if you suddenly hit me like that."
"Why are you opening your mouth? What if someone hears?"
The monsters, though a bit slurred, were clearly speaking innguage.
"But you just killed them all while counting the numbers, so what? You''re saying that because someone might hear?"
"Didn''t you think someone coulde in from outside? Someone could still be alive. I told you to be careful!"
The monster called the team leader turned his head and said,
"I don''t know why this is happening. Just kill them."
At the team leader''s signal, the whip of the monster on the opposite side stretched out at tremendous speed towards me.
Even with death right before my eyes, I felt no sense of reality.
With a loud thud, blood sttered everywhere.
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Uncle was embracing me.
"Un...Uncle..."
Then I lost consciousness from the excruciating pain in my stomach.
***
??? POV:
---
As the blonde girl and the ck agent fell to the floor as one lump, the Trinity team leader shouted.
"Hey idiot! I told you to keep one alive!"
"Well, I didn''t expect someone to embrace another at that moment. Their hair colors arepletely different, so they can''t be family..."
Grumbling as he examined the corpses, the team member called out loudly to the team leader.
"Team leader! This kid is alive!"
"What? How is that possible? With our strength, we could pierce through 10 people at once."
"This girl has a good Object. It came from China. There''s a rumor that it was made by sacrificing around 10000 people. An Object that is said to unconditionally save your life once, and it''s really effective."
Looking at the girl who had only lost consciousness and was sleeping peacefully, the team member said.
"Is she the daughter of some high-ranking person? This has beplicated."
The team leader spoke in a troubled voice, but still ced the girl on the altar.
"Still, there''s no turning back now. As long as we don''t get caught, it''ll be fine."
The Trinity researchers had already reverted to human form.
The team leader picked up a dagger from the altar and prepared to plunge it into the girl''s heart.
Watching the team leader, the team member voiced his concern.
"Are you sure about the interpretation?"
"What do you mean suddenly?"
"To be honest, your decoding rate is just over 50%, so I''m a bit uneasy. Why don''t we just hide in the cave and wait for rescue?"
"Hmm, that does seem a bit safer. But we can''t wait for rescue after attacking the daughter of that high-ranking person."
The team member agreed in a small voice, "Ah, I see. It was a dead end."
The team leader then plunged the dagger into the girl''s heart.
At the same time, the team leader vanished into thin air.
"Team leader? Team leader?"
The team member ruffled his hair in frustration.
"Ah, this has be troublesome."
Perhaps only one person could escape per living sacrifice.
"Well, if I clean up the cave, any living sacrifice wille in anyway?"
Muttering to himself, the team member walked towards the cave entrance.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Hmm, no matter how I look at it, it seems to be a red skull.
Gesturing my hand like a camera at the skull and looking around, it was definitely a red skull.
A huge skull with an open mouth and two hands creating a shadow.
If I confirm the destruction conditions, the Object will probably wake up and wreak havoc in the surroundings.
As I approached the rock that looked like a red skull, people seemed afraid yet lingered around it.
"Monsters came out of the cave and killed everyone."
"What do we do? If not there, we can''t get any water..."
Approaching stealthily in ghostification mode, they were having some serious conversation.
Since the Golden Reaper hadn''t reached this area yet, there were no Golden Reapers on people''s shoulders.
Unlike me, the Golden Reaper was a bit slow in rescue activities for people, so it couldn''t be helped.
There were too many people lingering around the rock?
If I woke up the red skull, too many people would get hurt.
As I was pondering, a thought suddenly popped into my mind.
Hehe.
For some reason, an amusing thought came to me.
***
??? POV:
---
Boom-!
The sand exploded loudly.
"It''s the Gray Reaper!"
"The Reaper has appeared!"
The Gray Reaper appeared suddenly.
The Gray Reaper suddenly attacked us who were resting in the shade near the cave.
Not long after witnessing the massacre in the cave, we were ovee with terror and began to flee.
The Gray Reaper suddenly emerged from the sand, grabbing our feet and dragging us down.
What would happen if we were dragged away by the extremely dangerous object?
Death would likely be the only thing awaiting us.
"Huhh. Hahh."
Catching my breath and looking down, the Gray Reaper was peeking out just halfway from the sand, ring at us.
"Ahhh, save me!"
Another colleague was seized by the feet, struggling against the Gray Reaper''s grip.
Why in the world was the Gray Reaper here?
"Hahaha, the rock! Run to the rock!"
A colleague who climbed onto the rockughed and called out to us.
"You fool! Run away!"
But behind him, the Gray Reaper had already poked its head out from atop the rock, staring intently.
And the Gray Reaper''s hands emerged from the red rock, grabbing his ankles.
"Aaargh!"
The colleague atop the rock kept climbing higher to evade the slowly pursuing Gray Reaper smashing through the rock, but the size of the rock was limited.
In the end, our escape continued until we were far away from the cave.
And when we caught our breath and looked back towards the cave, we saw the head of the Gray Reaper gliding across the sand like a shark fin.
Chapter 84: Kkachisan Conference (10)
Plop.
The Trinity researchers threw the corpse into theke.
It was an act of polluting the water source they used for drinking, but the researchers threw the corpse into theke without hesitation.
The researchers had no intention of staying in this cave for long, so it was an obvious choice.
Rather, they were even having pointless thoughts.
''If someonees, I should show them thiske and say it''s drinking water. And when they see the corpse at the bottom of theke, how shocked will they be?''
''And if they turn around, tada! I''ll be standing there, transformed into an Evolved.''
''Their expression would really be worth seeing.''
Chuckling inwardly, they carefully checked and rechecked to make sure no corpses were missed.The reason for this erratic meticulousness?
It was because a corpse they didn''t remember clearing had suddenly disappeared.
The corpse of a girl left on the altar and the corpse of a man in a ck suit.
Only a bloodstain remained where the girl had been ced.
And where the man had been, only pieces of his entrails were scattered, the corpse itself gone.
They had no memory of clearing it away!
It was enough to make a ghost wail.
From then on, they worked diligently, thinking they must have cleared it away and forgotten, being extremely thorough.
Thanks to the researcher''s efforts, the cave that had been full of dismembered corpses until recently was now spotless, without a single corpse.
All that remained were the bloodstains on the floor and walls.
And the stench of blood filling the inside of the cave.
The blood smell would dissipate if they waited, but the bloodstains had to be left as they were.
"Ah, why won''t this smell of blood go away? If it continues like this, I won''t be able to leave."
Muttering to himself, the researcher sat in a corner of the cave and waited for the living sacrifice to arrive.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Looking around from inside the sand, there were no traces of people.
I had finally seeded in driving away all the people lurking around with the ''shark in the sand'' operation.
All that remained was to check if there were people inside that cave.
As I approached near the red skull, the stench of blood was overpowering.
The stench of human blood, at that.
"Ah, why won''t this smell of blood go away? If it continues like this, I won''t be able to leave."
An annoyed voiceing from inside the cave.
Following the voice into the cave, it waspletely covered in blood.
The floor, walls, and even the ceiling were painted red.
The red rock and red bloodstains had distinctly different textures, easily distinguishable at a nce.
Still-wet bloodstains trickled down the walls, forming eerie patterns.
Pieces of human flesh were carelessly scattered across the floor.
And in that horrific environment, a human figure sat with a calm expression.
No, it was a monster.
It looked human, but it was not human.
A hideous being, a mixture of human and Object.
A deep malice toward humans flowed through its veins.
Not an Object from birth, but a human injected with something.
That grotesque being heard my footsteps and turned its blood-flushed face to address me.
"Ah, hello! Well..."
But upon seeing my appearance, it recoiled in terror.
"Wha... Gray Reaper! No, why is the Gray Reaper suddenly here?"
The man backed away, his face drained of color.
He seemed far more terrified than expected.
"That''s... right! You don''t attack humans, do you? I''m human! Haha."
The monster iming to be human.
But to my eyes, it appeared more harmful to humans than Objects.
I ignored his words and kept walking forward, step by step.
"C-Could it be you''ve noticed? The Research Institute said I''d never be discovered!"
Now backed against the cave wall, the man looked utterly desperate.
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"No, I don''t want to die! Please spare me! Please!"
As I approached closer, he crouched down, trembling and clutching his head.
Then the clothes covering his body burst open, and he transformed into a monster.
And the stench emanating from his body became overwhelmingly foul.
The terrible smell made me frown and step back.
"That''s... right. I''m strong enough. There''s no need to be afraid of the Gray Reaper."
The monster muttered to itself, as if in a trance.
It seemed to have seen an opportunity when I stepped back.
When in fact, it was iparably weakerpared to me.
"I can win. I can win!"
The monster whirled its whip-like transformed hands around.
And it stomped the ground so hard that the rocks on the floor crumbled, and swung down its hideous hands towards me.
I ovepped its whip-like body with ghostification, then materialized.
"Kkkueeeck!"
The monster whose arm was severed in an instant clutched its arm and rolled around on the floor.
After a while, the blood vessels all over its body started rampaging uncontrobly.
It looked like the blood vessels were going berserk, trying to break free from the body.
"No! The bnce! Aaargh!"
The blood vessels tore and ripped apart the monster''s flesh.
As if the blood vessels alone were separate living beings, they started thrashing about violently.
The monster, whose limbs were twisting in strange directions and thrashing about, eventually stopped screaming and died.
And then it exploded with a ''bang'' sound.
All that remained was ck blood emitting a foul stench.
Clearly blood made to be harmful to humans.
A stench that made one feel nauseous.
A stench I never wanted to touch.
Just for fun, I summoned the Golden Reaper in the ck blood pool.
The Golden Reaper sprang out striking a pose with a ''jjan!'' sound.
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But soon it recoiled in horror at the ck blood all over its body, made an expression of utter despair, and copsed to the floor.
Hehe, as I repeatedly ghostified and un-ghostified, seeing that, the Golden Reaper used ghostification to remove the blood and revived.
Oh, it caught on quicker than I thought.
And it came up to me and started punching me repeatedly.
thud thud thud-
This time it seemed quite angry, showing no signs of stopping its attacks.
Leaving the Golden Reaper pounding on the top of my head, I explored deeper into the cave.
There were plenty of bloodstains in the cave, but strangely no corpses, until I found the reason.
The corpses were all in theke inside the cave.
Ugh, can''t drink thatke water.
***
I sat perched atop the red skull, gazing up at the red moon for a long while.
Quite some time had passed, yet night refused to end and the red moon still hung high in the sky.
Looking down, all I could see was the horizon in every direction.
Even sitting atop this rather tall skull, the desert seemed to stretch endlessly.
Shattered statue fragments littered the ground below.
I kicked them to pieces as I was exiting the cave.
And atop my head, a snoozing Golden Reaper.
Even while sleeping it asionally pounds my head, just how angry did it get?
The reason I was gazing at the red moon was because of the ''center of the desert''.
The Golden Reapers had already spread evenly across the entire desert region.
But I still couldn''t pinpoint the desert''s center.
A pristine dome shape.
Yet inside that dome, my location kept changing.
At first I thought the desert was flowing like a river, but it was the dome that was moving.
No matter how I looked at it, the area beneath that moving moon seemed to be the center of the desert.
The Golden Reapers were already together with all the humans.
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Humans were safe now.
There was no one around.
Time to wake up the red skull.
I leapt down from the red skull, calling the Golden Reapers to gather.
***
I was watching the massive, mountain-sized red skull from a sandy hill where it was visible.
Behind me were rows of unemployed Reapers who couldn''t find 1 Reaper per 1 human jobs.
Using my ''eye'', I checked the destruction condition:
Gulurulurung-!
Pirs of fire erupted from the desert sands.
Those mes gushed down like a waterfall onto the red skull.
The rock fragments attached to the skull melted away, erasing any trace of what looked like a cave entrance.
What remained was an ancient red skull exuding considerable force.
And with burning eye sockets, it raised its massive body.
Where the prone skull hadin, only a lonelyke with a underground spring remained.
Only the upper body emerged from the sand, but its size was to a building.
Inside the rib cage burned a heart, fused to the bones.
That must be the weakness.
Thud.
Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps reverberated.
Only the upper body of the skull emerged, parting the sand like waves as it began walking towards us.
The red skull red at me with its two fiercely burning eyes.
The skull opened its empty, fleshless mouth wide and spewed fire.
Not only was its sheer size intimidating, but it also breathed mes hot enough to melt sand.
If an ordinary person saw that sight, wouldn''t it seem quite dreadful?
But to me, it just looked like a kind skull that helpfully set itself on fire.
Thank you, Mr. Skull!
Amidst the ferocious mes hot enough to turn the surrounding sand into ss, me and the Golden Reapers were unharmed.
I smiled confidently and gestured towards the skull.
That skull is a harmful skull!
Very harmful to humans!
The charge of the Golden Reapers began from behind me.
The wave of Golden Reapers clung densely to the red skull like termites gnawing on wood.
The high temperature mes protecting the skull were useless.
The skull tried to shake them off by swinging its huge hands, but it was a futile effort.
Even when flung off, more Golden Reapers clung on.
Finally, piercing through the red skull''s fierce resistance, one Golden Reaper prated its heart.
The heart began spilling mes like a punctured water balloon.
Grooooooaaaah!
An eerie resonance rang out from the skull''s entire body, echoing across the whole desert.
The red skull copsed, propping up its falling torso with both arms, and stopped moving.
The Golden Reapers also stopped and looked up at the skull.
The faintly flickering mes in the skull''s eye sockets seemed to be staring straight at me somehow.
Its eyes were strangely calm and emotional, unlike anything I had ever seen before.
As the slowly beating heart that had been spewing mes from its woundpletely stopped, the red skull began scattering into dust.
***
The fallen red skull billowed tremendous dust clouds.
Being so massive in size, it took quite a while for the dust to dissipate.
The heart and remaining bones all turned to dust and scattered.
All that was left was the still fiercely burning skull head.
So now, should I just dance on top of that?
When I turned to see if the Golden Reapers would dance instead, they just smiled nkly without a thought.
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Ugh, what a hassle.
Chapter 85: Kkachisan Conference (11)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
While gazing up at the massive, fiercely burning red skull, a strange sound reached my ears.
"Grrrrrr."
Following that sound, at the spot where the now turned to ash heart had been, an unidentified lump of slime was squirming.
A ck, foul-smelling lump.
It really gave off an unbearably putrid stench.
The Golden Reapers, with senses more keen than mine, had already fled far away.
What in the world is this?As I approached closer, it felt like it was trying to say something.
''Don''t want to die.''
''Save me.''
Though a small, muffled voice, I clearly heard it say ''save me''.
Seeing it speak human words, I recalled encountering a simr foul-smelling creature before.
The human monster mixed with Objects that attacked me in the cave.
Looking closely, this melted lump also seemed to be squirming in a human shape.
So there was another one of those harmful monsters?
Then it has to die.
Without much thought, I kicked the slime human''s head away.
bugeulbugeul
After kicking its head away, the slime thrashed about boiling, then ''pop'' burst open.
The slime human, which had kept muttering ''don''t want to die'', ''save me'' etc. until its head flew off, died just like the cave monster, leaving only ck blood behind.
The slime lump could no longer maintain its form and the ck blood spread out, flowing everywhere.
Thump thump.
A Golden Reaper, asleep on my head, punched me lightly.
Hmm.
It''s definitely going to be angry.
But it might be fun.
I plucked the soundly sleeping Golden Reaper off my head and plopped it into the slime.
At that moment.
The Golden Reaper, which normally wouldn''t wake up easily like me when asleep, startled awake and leapt out of the slime.
After using ghostification to shake off the slime, instead of getting angry, the Golden Reaper just returned to the Golden Reaper garden.
Ah, it really did get mad.
Even summoning it again on my palm, it turned its back, refusing to look at me.
''I''m sorry, I won''t do it anymore.''
I stroked it sincerely.
As I kept stroking, it nced at me, then smiled and climbed back onto my head.
Golden Reapers really are kind.
***
I climbed up onto the burning skull.
The skull was so huge that the mes clinging to it billowed up high enough to engulf my whole body.
Is this really something a human can do?
It doesn''t seem like there''s any fire-resistant suit that would let them just walk into the mes...
From atop the tall skull, gazing at the red moon, I felt a bit closer to it.
The condition for destroying the red moon,
Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum.
It was a high-definition video capturing Gray Reaper dancing with awkward movements and the Golden Reapers dancing innocently around it.
The Reapers were seen dancing under a brilliant spotlight in the center of the desert.
And around the skull where Gray Reaper was dancing, people were gathered in a circle.
Superstar Gray Reaper?
What kind of situation is this?
"Unnie! Unnie! I see Seo-ah there."
"Ah, she looks safe fortunately."
We were relieved to spot Seo-ah''s appearance in the briefly shown video.
As expected, the trustworthy Gray Reaper.
The guardian deity of our Research Institute!
---
T/N: The reaper can be mischievous at times, don''t you think?
Chapter 86: Kkachisan - Aftermath (1)
Seo-ah POV:
---
The pir of light shining down on the burning giant skull grows brighter and brighter.
And towards that pir of light, the red moon approaches closer and closer.
The red moon being swallowed into the pir of light evoked the scene of causing a total lunar eclipse.
If the red moon fully enters the pir of light, something might happen.
There was no basis, but I had a conviction for some reason.
The numerous people gathered around the skull, looking up at the sky, must also be thinking the same while gazing intently upwards.
The moment the red moonpletely disappeared, obscured by the deep red pir of light.A hole opened in the sky.
The dome dividing the desert and Seoul shattered and rained down in countless fragments.
From the transparent sky that never showed the sun or moon of Earth, the familiar moon was visible.
The transparent dome transformed into countless shimmering fragments raining down, glistening under the moonlight in a spectacr scene.
A refreshing breeze ruffling clothes.
Cold moonlight.
Crisp air.
The hot, dry, and stifling desert atmospherepletely vanished.
The pir of light disappeared, and the burning skull scattered into dust.
The ominous red moon emitting sinister light was also gone.
It felt like the events in the desert until now were just a dream.
"It''s over!"
"We finally survived!"
The people who had maintained silence amid the tension began to breathe out and indulge in freedom.
Finally.
It''s finally over.
The Golden Reaper dancing on my palm hopped away to the spot where the skull had been.
Chasing after the Golden Reaper, pushing through the hazy dust, I arrived at the ce.
Where the skull had been, the Golden Reapers had gathered and were merrily dancing together.
And in the center of the Golden Reapers.
Gray Reaper was lying sprawled out.
Its eyes were open, but its expression looked several times more tired than usual.
"Reaper!"
I ran over and hugged Reaper from behind.
Reaper didn''t wee me back, seeming too tired to even move, goingpletely limp.
But even looking bothered is part of Reaper''s charm, so it''s okay!
"Now, we can return to the Sehee Research Institute!"
Finally, the Kkachisan business trip is over.
Being my first trip, I was able to gain great lessons.
The two lessons from this trip are,
1. The Sehee Research Institute is the safest ce.
2. For the next trip, I must absolutely bring Gray Reaper along.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
When the ck agent opened his eyes, he saw the dark night sky and an ordinary moon.
No red moon.
In the far distance, familiar modern buildings were visible.
It seemed he had escaped from the red desert, but the red sand scattered on the ground denied that thought.
"Uncle, you''re awake?"
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A blonde girl weed the ck agent with a bright smile.
"Miss?"
The agent had trouble understanding this situation.
"I was definitely dead, so what''s going on here?"
He was sure he had died from his abdomen being pierced!
The girl stared intently at the agent as she spoke.
"I revived you, Uncle. I don''t really know why I could do such a thing. I just suddenly realized I could. I don''t know why I''m alive or why I can do this."
The blonde girl''s irises were stained red.
Like the red moon.
"Miss, your eyes?"
"Ah, this?"
The blonde girl looked at her reflection in a nearbyke as she spoke.
"When I woke up after dying, my eye color had changed? Well, changing eye color is better than dying."
Turning her head back, the girl stared piercingly at the agent and said,
"Come on, let''s get moving. With the red moon gone, I''ll turn to ash if exposed to sunlight."
"What? What does that even mean?"
"Come on! Get up quickly. Find a safe ce before I turn to ash."
The blonde girl urged the ck agent.
The agent seemed flustered by her urging, but soon began seriously considering a solution.
"Then, how about going to the Chairman''s house?"
"No way. If Grandfather finds out I''m an Object, he''ll probably iste me at the Research Institute."
"The Chairman does have that tendency, but would he really do that to his own granddaughter?"
"Oh yes, he absolutely would. He might even dissect me himself."
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The girl giggled as if something was funny and walked across the sandy area.
"Well, I can''t help it then. Let''s go to the safe ce I''ve prepared. We can stay there for a little while at least."
The ck agent made up his mind and strode off.
The blonde girl stared intently at the agent and muttered softly,
"Uncle, we''ll be together from now on."
The girl smiled faintly and slowly followed behind the ck agent.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
A cheerful singing voice rang out from the istion room.
Three maniacs were shaking me around like a puppet doll.
Seo-hee, Yerin, and the new maniac Seo-ah.
The three dancing maniacs and the Golden Reapers merrily joining their dance for some reason.
On the TV, my dancing was ying on an endless loop.
No.
Why.
Why was that recorded?
I thought the center of the desert wasn''t visible because of the dome created by the red moon!
Red moon! You didn''t do your job properly?
The video showed my awkward movements as I iled my arms and legs in an attempt to dance.
It''s a video of me failing to dance, yet they found it so amusing that every news channel had to y it at least once.
Watching that video made my arms and legs cringe, so I haven''t been able to watch the newstely.
They say it''s a hugely popr video these days, and the Sehee Research Institute even started selling merchandise.
Normally, the Association would have banned the sale of Gray Reaper goods, but the poprity was so high they couldn''t bring themselves to prohibit it this time.
I thought the interest and poprity would die down after a few days, but the attention shows no signs of waning.
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The ''Director'', ''Deputy Director'', and ''Researcher'' of the Research Institute are grabbing my arms and legs and manipting me like a puppet doll in sync with the dancing video.
The future of the Research Institute looks bleak.
While the me in me was piling up rmingly, I didn''t want to gather me like this.
In the seemingly endless dance time, I stopped thinking.
I need to escape to the Golden Reaper Garden!
***
The sweet andfortable atmosphere of the Golden Reaper Garden.
Visiting the Golden Reaper Garden after a long time, it had changed quite a bit from before.
The most noticeable thing was the red skull-shaped cushions arranged in the garden.
They wererge cushions in the shape of the giant burning skull head I had fought in the red desert.
The Golden Reapers were merrily dancing on top of thoserge cushions.
It seemed the Golden Reapers had defeated the red skull and added this structure, though it didn''t seem very practical. But if the Golden Reapers liked it, that''s fine.
Apart from that, the scale of the garden had greatly expanded.
It seemed the garden grew more abundant in proportion to the number of Objects the Golden Reapers defeated.
There were more varieties of snacks, more open space, and more ces to rest.
The field of beds had grown so wide that the end was difficult to see, and the cocoa river flowing between them had significantly increased its flow rate.
Floating on the river were snacks that the Golden Reapers and I loved - puddings, marshmallows, and pastries!
And many unidentified structures had also emerged.
Like therge skull-shaped cushions mentioned earlier, structures derived from the defeated Objects.
The Object made of rotating red cubic rocks had its material changed from rock to marshmallow, delighting the Golden Reapers.
Additionally, there were chocte soldiers being devoured by the Golden Reapers, indicating that quite a few Objects I hadn''t seen were defeated.
Iy on a bed, eating a crispy pastry while watching the dancing Golden Reapers.
Perhaps from dancing for too long, the Golden Reapers'' dancing skills had be exceptional.
The original me can''t dance, so it''s strange that the copies dance better, isn''t it?
***
??? POV:
---
A modern-day fortress surrounded by high walls with numerous guards on patrol.
The residence of the Association Chairman, Oh Mu-ryong.
Currently, a heavy sorrow and silence hung over the residence.
"I''m sorry, sir. We couldn''t find her."
"..."
Oh Mu-ryong remained silent, gazing at the pond.
"Judging by the destroyed decoy doll provided by the Chinese and the traces of blood found, it seems unlikely that the youngdy survived..."
As Oh Mu-ryong turned to him wordlessly, the man continued his exnation.
"The traces left at the Red Desert altar have been identified as the youngdy''s blood. Based on the amount and spread of the blood, it appears she was pierced through the heart while still alive."
¡°I see.¡±
Oh Mu-ryong spoke in a hoarse voice.
"So, you couldn''t even find her body?"
The middle-aged man reporting knelt down on the floor and said,
"Yes, that''s correct. We thoroughly searched the interior of the desert but couldn''t find it."
"I see. Well, if that''s the case, there''s nothing we can do. You''re dismissed."
It was a rather dry reaction, unlike how he usually doted on his granddaughter.
However, the man didn''t seem to find it strange, simply responding with an embarrassed "Yes," before backing out of the room.
With the people who came to report now gone, the garden fell silent.
After gazing at the pond for a while, Oh Mu-ryong muttered softly to himself,
"It had been used for a long time. Things are bound to break down after prolonged use."
Murmuring to himself, Oh Mu-ryong slowly walked back into the residence.
Chapter 87: Kkachisan - Aftermath (2)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
After defeating the Red Moon, I gained a new ability.
The ability to summon the Golden Reaper garden into reality.
It could either cover the entire area or bring over only a part from the garden, a pretty good ability.
Considering it was a downgraded version of the ability, it was still quite decent.
The things in the garden were fictional products created from the dreams and hopes of the Golden Reapers, yet they could be materialized and brought over!
It seemed that if the Golden Reaper started having practical imaginations, it would be an even better ability.
Well, for now, it was the ability to take out and eat snacks anytime, anywhere.I summoned a bread from the garden and took a big bite, filling my mouth.
Omnomnom nom~
Well, I wouldn''t starve even if stranded on a deserted ind.
Since I was bored, I might as well test this newly acquired ability.
***
Yerin POV:
---
In thete afternoon, at the backyard of the Sehee Research Institute.
Gray Reaper and I were lying on a mat, enjoying a pic.
Omnomnom nom~
Reaper picked up a conch bread and took small bites, chewing it slowly.
With an indifferent expression, the Reaper picks up the bread and eats it.
However, observing its puffed-up cheeks, reminiscent of a squirrel, continually moving as it ate, revealed its evident enjoyment.
In a way, it could be considered an ordinary pic time at the Research Institute, but today was a bit different.
Conch bread on a tree.
Hot chocte flowing like a river.
Marshmallows floating in the sky like clouds.
A scene straight out of a fairy tale unfolded in the backyard of the Research Institute.
It would have been nice if Sehee unnie had joined us for today''s pic.
These days, Sehee unnie was so busy doing something in her office.
Such a fairy-tale-like respite was a rare urrence, so it was a bit regrettable that she wasn''t here.
The Gray Reaper eroded reality to create a newndscape, something that had never happened before.
Watching Reaper disy an ability I had never seen before, one question came to mind.
I think there was a time when it suddenly showed an ability before, wasn''t it when Sehee unnie was kidnapped?
After rescuing Sehee unnie, she suddenly started emitting an attractive scent.
And during the Dobong-gu incident, it suddenly summoned mini Golden Reapers.
I had forgotten because they were so adorable.
It seems like new abilities keep appearing suddenly, but what could be the reason?
No way, could it be that the Reaper has been hiding its powers?
***
??? POV:
---
In an officetel with thick ckout curtains.
A hideout secretly prepared by the ck agent.
There, a blonde girl and the ck agent sat facing each other across a table.
The serious expression of the ck agent contrasted with the cheerful look of the blonde girl.
"Miss, could you share what you know? I think it''s necessary to understand the current situation."
"I don''t know that much. I was ambushed by monsters and lost consciousness, and when I woke up, I had suddenly turned into an Object."
The girl opened her palm and exhaled, ''Whoo'', causing mes to re up above it.
"I''m not sure if it''s a characteristic of Objects or if I''m special. But I''vee to know what I can do."
ying with the mes on her palm, the mischievous-looking girl continued.
"First, if I touch sunlight, I turn to ash. And I can revive the dead and transform into a bat."
"That''s... what''smonly known as a vampire."
"With this reddened iris and all, it does give off that vibe, but there are quite a few differences too. I can breathe fire, and I can feel the mes I create from my heart flowing through my body."
The mes on the girl''s palm, which had been changing shapes, grewrger until they were the size of a basketball.
"If you''re a vampire, what about blood?"
"Unfortunately, I have to consume blood. I need to eat blood to fuel the fire inside my heart. If the fire go out, the mes flowing through my veins will burn my entire body, just like being exposed to sunlight."
Hearing this, the ck agent fell into deep thought.
Watching him, the blonde girl could feel her heart pounding rapidly.
What if the uncle dislikes me for being a monster?
If that''s the case... what should I do?
The girl fidgeted restlessly, contemting even thest resort.
"How much blood does she need to consume, and how often? Avoiding the gaze of the current Association President is the top priority, and it seems like ''blood consumption'' will be the biggest issue."
Contrary to the blonde girl''s worries, the ck agent was contemting something entirely different.
"I... I don''t need to drink that much. Your blood alone should be enough for me."
Though truthfully, she didn''t want to drink anyone else''s blood.
"Ah! And there''s some ambiguous information too, do you want to hear it?"
"Please share anything you can. I don''t have enough information right now."
Clearing her throat, the girl spoke in a soft voice.
"Create the moon. Stand in the desert. The heart will guide the way."
The girl imitated a deep voice, as if doing an impersonation.
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¡°Is this something you heard from someone? It feels that way.¡±
"Those words just came to me as soon as I opened my eyes. I don''t know who said them or why they came to mind. They were engraved in my brain the moment I woke up with a knife stabbed into my heart."
"It would be good to remember that information clearly. It definitely seems like essential information to understand the current situation."
The ck agent simply noted down the girl''s words, adding a few more points.
Watching the agent write, the girl grabbed his cheek and turned his gaze towards her.
"There''s a more important matter. We need to find those Trinity researchers and get revenge."
The blonde girl grinned menacingly.
***
Sehee POV:
---
My office room, which used to boast having no documents, was now filled with numerous books and materials.
"Ugh."
A groan naturally escaped my lips.
"I don''t want to study."
My head ached because of the evil ''Daily Object''.
After the ck penguin appeared, causing many casualties, thews suddenly changed.
A neww required all individuals and organizations dealing with ''Objects'' to have a specific license, including media outlets.
In fact, the Research Institute had needed this license much earlier, but for institutes established before thew, their quarantine records could substitute for the license.
Our Research Institute, quarantining the Gray Reaper, was naturally exempt from the license due to our quarantine records!
However, this neww introduced a 3-month grace period after which the license became mandatory no matter what.
But it''s too difficult.
I had smuglyughed at the news that the licensing exams were getting harder to prevent mushrooming of Object Research Institutes. Little did I know such a trial awaited me.
I should have studied in advance instead of mocking others.
Knock knock knock.
It was an ordinary knock, but for some reason, it sounded like a knock I shouldn''t open the door to.
Knock knock knock.
"Is Director Lee Sehee of the Research Institute there? Open the door quickly."
Ah, it was Seo-ah as expected.
Seo-ah came to bother me.
She said there would be an audit on the management system for the Object Research Institute, so that must be why.
I quietly approached and locked the director''s office door and started a sit-in protest.
¡°I was just following protocol, I didn''t do anything wrong!¡±
"Open the door quickly, Director!"
Bang bang bang.
The sound of knocking on the door is scary.
***
??? POV:
---
A private room in the Oh Mu-ryong mansion.
"Grandfather!"
A blue-eyed blonde girl hugged Oh Mu-ryong with a bright smile.
"Oh, my granddaughter."
Oh Mu-ryong smiled pleasantly as he stroked the blue-eyed girl''s hair.
Knock knock knock.
A polite knocking sound reverberated.
"It''s time for this old man to work. Go back to your room and y."
"Yes, Grandfather!"
As the blue-eyed girl left, a man entered and bowed politely to Oh Mu-ryong.
"Chairman."
"Yes, what is it?"
The man raised his head and began his report.
"We have removed all traces of thedy going to the Kkachisan Research Institute."
"Un."
Oh Mu-ryong made a satisfied sound and turned around.
The man bowed and left the room.
After the man exited, Oh Mu-ryong approached the firece and manipted something.
A dark entrance appeared.
A grand, carefully hidden underground secret passage.
Oh Mu-ryong slowly began walking down the passage.
Using an elevator to descend deep underground revealed an advancedboratory-like setup.
When Oh Mu-ryong appeared, the researchers inb coats rushed over and bowed their heads.
Deep in that undergroundb was Oh Mu-ryong''s goal.
A cryogenic pod.
Inside ity a blonde girl, devoid of any signs of life.
Oh Mu-ryong took out a locket pendant from his pocket and muttered while looking at it.
"I can''t afford to lose her like this. I absolutely cannot."
Inside the pendant was a photo of a smiling blonde girl.
Chapter 88: Kkachisan - Aftermath (3)
Yerin POV:
---
The Golden Reaper offers a handful of pudding.
As I take the pudding into my mouth, the Golden Reaper stares intently at me as if to say, ''Isn''t it delicious?''
"Thank you!"
Saying thanks, I vigorously pat the Reaper''s head.
Gray Reaper''s pudding tasting journey came to a halt when it discovered a certain imported pudding.
It seemed to like it so much that even the usually inexpressive Gray Reaper''s fondness was palpable.
However, Golden Reaper''s reaction was a bit puzzling at first.After taking a bite, it would scoop up handfuls of the pudding and share it with people around it.
So initially, unlike Gray Reaper, I thought Golden Reaper didn''t like the taste.
However, observing how it practically turned it into its staple food, consuming only this pudding, it was evident that the Golden Reaper had a profound love for it.
Remarkably, the Golden Reaper shared it because it found the pudding truly delicious and wanted humans to experience its taste as well.
The Gray Reaper, on the other hand, would snatch the Golden Reaper''s pudding as it passed by, in stark contrast.
But there was one concern.
"Senior Jungroo. The pudding supply still isn''ting in?"
"Yes. The Korean factory producing it has been upied by a Level 2 threat Object. Strangely, they keep failing at re-containment."
It''s the pudding Gray Reaper loves so much, but the factory has an issue.
I hope it doesn''t be too saddened in the absence of the pudding.
Would it really go to the factory just for pudding?
***
??? POV:
---
A desert appeared in the heart of Seoul.
A desert full of red sand like blood.
For Seoul residents, this strange phenomenon became an entertaining spectacle.
It could be dangerous due to the Object involvement, but touristsing here probably aren''t considering that.
In the midst of this desert, arge woman covered in tattoos appeared.
"Sister, why did you suddenly want toe here?"
Her frail-looking younger sister followed behind.
"Here, the famous..."
Therge woman started saying something unfamiliar, then closed her mouth and said again,
"The ''Red Moon'' has appeared. They say we must be careful even uttering its name, this ''Nameless'' is really annoying."
Therge woman turned to look down at her sister, speaking softly,
"Tell me anytime you want to kill me. I consider my current life a kind of ''bonus'', so just being granted a proper death would be a blessing."
"No, when will you stop talking about killing! I''m not going to kill you anymore."
The younger sister babbled flustered,
"I like you much better now than anyone else?"
The younger sister grinned as she bragged about her sister as if it were obvious
"You don''t hit me, you don''t curse, you''re kind."
In fact, the younger sister''s attempts to kill were quite frequent, but always failed due to herck of resolve.
Then suddenly at some point, her attitude did a 180-degree turn, but the reason was never addressed by the older sister.
She just figured the girl had mental issues, so this could happen.
Especially odd was how she believed without any doubt the im ofing from another world.
"So why did youe to see this ''Red Moon''?"
"Actually, residents of the Red Moon used to live in this desert, but from the looks of it now, they seem to be gone. It would have been nice if some remained..."
Therge woman scooped up a handful of the red sand in an area away from people''s gaze.
Then from a vial she took out, she dripped an unidentified liquid onto the sand.
The red sand wriggled and clumped around the liquid, forming a glossy red sphere that shimmered like a pearl.
"Wow, it''s like magic!"
"Not magic, just simple alchemy."
"Uh-huh, amazing alchemy!"
Therge woman carefully ced the spherical object into the bag she brought.
As she did, her younger sister asked
"Did you say you were going to make something like a bomb with that?"
"Yes, it''s a potent medicine for those who are neither alive nor dead."
"I''ve never even seen those ''monsters that are neither alive nor dead'', is it really necessary?"
"Since that thing has appeared in this world, it is definitely necessary."
With a ferocious smile, a face surfaced in her mind.
The vile face of a man called the betrayer of humanity.
The face of the man who currently holds the title of the 3rd Director of the Trinity Research Institute.
***
One of the three directors leading Trinity Research Institute.
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The mansion where the 3rd Director resides.
A ce where unpleasant ck nts grow on slimy ck soil in the garden.
In a corner of that mansion, the 3rd Director, a middle-aged man, looked down at a butler who had melted into mud.
"Hmm, I thought I had sessfully recreated the elixir this time, but it failed again. What a pity. Such a pity."
The 3rd Director kept saying it was a pity, but his expression did not look pitiful at all.
"...! ...! ...."
The already melted butler was thrashing about and screaming, but it only sounded like an indible mumble.
Looking down at the mumbling butler begging to be saved, the 3rd Director said,
"As expected, the butler is loyal to the very end. Instead of a funeral, he wants to be burned alive."
As the 3rd Director snapped his fingers, a small spark flew out and gentlynded on the butler.
Then, as if oil had caught fire, the butler instantly burst into mes.
"With the different physiology, the medicine keeps being imperfect. More experiments are needed."
Arge man lying next to the burning butler suddenly stood up.
"Oh, you''ve regained consciousness already? Having the Golden Horn must make you different."
However, therge man did not seem normal.
His entire body was dyed pitch ck, even drooling profusely.
But seeing that appearance, the 3rd Director nodded with great delight.
"I was wondering if I should get a new butler, but a new one has appeared right away. Wee, new butler."
The 3rd Director patted the staggeringrge man''s shoulder, weing his new butler.
Then he ordered therge man to clean up the burned remains of the butler and left deeper into the mansion.
Therge man simply sat on the floor, chewing and eating the butler''s remains.
His mouth split into three monster-like parts, greedily eating the rock-hard, dried remains of the butler.
***
3rd person POV:
---
Dum-dum-dum-dum~
Late at night after the sun had set beyond the horizon, a blonde girl opened the window of her officetel and danced along to the TV, following the Gray Reaper dance that was popr these days.
After dancing for a while, the girl stopped and stared at the ck agent.
"Are you hungry?"
The ck agent loosened the cor on his neck and spoke.
"Yes."
The blonde girl nodded slightly, approached, and bit into the agent''s nape.
After finishing the blood drinking, the ck agent said
"Wouldn''t it be better to contact the Chairman? There''s a limit to evading the Chairman''s attention like this."
"Absolutely not. Who knows what grandfather might do. He could really dissect me."
The ck agent looked puzzled.
"Just looking at the unprecedented response speed from the association this time, you can see how much the Chairman cherishes you. Do you perhaps have a reason for not wanting that to be known?"
Hearing the ck agent''s words, the blonde girl pondered for a moment before answering.
"Hmm. Grandfather is strange. He always says ''I love you, I cherish you'', but he never stops me from going to dangerous ces."
"Isn''t he respecting your decisions and freedom?"
"What kind of person gives that to an elementary school student!"
The blonde girl continued with a firm expression.
"It''s not just once or twice that I''ve felt an eerie feeling. For some reason, there are times when I feel like grandfather wishes I would get into an ident and die."
Seeing the girl''s impassioned outburst in an excited state, the ck agent decided to drop his opinion.
"Then I will make ns to avoid being detected by the Chairman."
The ck agent began organizing tasks that must be done, such as creating a new identity.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Hungry Golden Reapers were sprawled out on the bed.
Snacks were piled up like mountains around them.
But the Golden Reapers had lost their appetite and were stretched out listlessly.
I was lying next to them, flipped over, watching the news to soothe my sad heart.
No more pudding.
The ninja pudding I had finally found, now it was no more.
Even more dreadful was not knowing when pudding would return.
"They''re not producing it anymore, I don''t know when it will be back in stock. I''m sorry, Reaper!"
Yerin was at a loss beside me and the sprawled Golden Reapers.
The heartless TV, unable to understand human emotions, was broadcasting the news as usual.
[A factory in Incheon that had obtained a license to produce a famous overseas pudding has been upied by Objects.]
A sound that made my ears perk up came from the TV.
The famous overseas pudding factory upied by Objects!
Was the reason for the production halt due to the Objects?
Chapter 89: Pudding Factory (1)
??? POV:
---
A dim red light flickered in the eerie factory corridor. There stood steel columns that looked like well-greased rib bones.
"Huff, huff."
Although the scenery was no different from when I entered the factory, the breath rising to my chin and the uneasy feeling made all the structures in the factory look frightening.
The more I ran, the more I gasped for air. My stomach churned, and my chest felt stuffy. The narrow space of the factory corridor seemed to close in on me with each step I took, as if the walls were trying to trap me.
On top of that, the unpleasant smell of petroleum wafting from deep inside the factory. It was amon smell in factories, which I had dismissed lightly, but I shouldn''t have.
That petroleum smell was evidence that this factory was contaminated by something unusual.
I tossed my once trusty Anti-Object Suppression Shield to the ground.I needed the ability to run faster and longer rather than relying on that puny shield.
"I shouldn''t have taken that suspicious foreigner''s request."
At the time of taking the request, he was an entric person who promised arge reward, but now that I think about it, he was a suspicious person wearing strange clothes.
The lonely echoing footsteps made me feel to the bone that I was alone. All my colleagues who had stood shoulder to shoulder with me had fallen.
In my memory, theirst faces were distorted with fear and agony.
After passing through the narrow factory corridor, the parking lot came into my view. Beyond the parking lot, it beckoned me like a shimmering mirage.
Finally!
Escape was within reach.
If I just pass through that parking lot...
If I pass through the parking lot, I can escape.
Because the Object upying this pudding factory strangely didn''t try to leave the factory premises.
Hope welled up in my heart, and I began to believe in my escape.
I firmly resolved that once I got out of here, I would never do any dangerous ''Object Retrieval'' work again.
But my hopeful n vanished like a bubble before I could put it into action.
"Ha...hahahahaha."
A dry, bitterugh burst from my parched lips.
The hollowughter that was hard to imagineing from my mouth echoed through the vast parking lot.
In the center of the parking lot, it was there.
One of the Objects upying the pudding factory.
A huge 2-meter-tall teddy bear made of steel.
And a monster that didn''t match any of the prior information.
The teddy bear moved its strangely unpleasant face and grunted as ifughing like a human.
Was it not that I had sessfully escaped, but rather that the creature had been toying with me?
Judging by the teddy bear''s attitude, it seemed so.
The legs that had moved powerfully driven by hope of survival and adrenaline were now pinned to the ground by the gravity of despair.
Having lost the strength and energy to flee from the desperate reality, I sank down onto the asphalt.
As my eyes met the teddy bear''s eyes while sitting on the ground, its pupils shed a fierce red light.
As if reacting that prey without any thought of fleeing was no fun.
The fierce-looking Object instantly dashed over and casually threw a steel punch at my head, having exhausted the usefulness of me as a toy.
At the same time, endless darkness swallowed me up.
***
??? POV:
---
A man with ck hair, blue eyes, and a height over 190cm was looking down at the smart watch strapped to his wrist.
"It''s dangerous. Very dangerous. In this amount of time, it is likely that all the ''Object Retrieval'' specialists who would have abandoned us and fled have been killed"
"You speak Korean well! Why did you need an interpreter like me if that''s the case? Why?"
An angry-looking Korean man shouted.
The foreign man calmly replied, "Well, I''m a genius. It only takes me a day to pick up an unfamiliarnguage."
"That''s not what I mean! If you speak Korean so well, why did you hire me as an interpreter?"
The exasperated interpreter pounded his chest.
The foreign man waved his finger side to side as he answered, "This isn''t tourism, it''s business, sir interpreter. When doing business, it''s only proper to have a proficient local interpreter by your side."
The interpreter sat down on the floor with a despairing expression.
"I shouldn''t have taken this job. I should have been suspicious when my employer dressed suspiciously."
"Don''t be so disheartened. And from now on, avoid any suspicious interpreter requests that offer to pay arge sry upfront."
The foreign man patted the interpreter''s shoulder with a serious expression.
As the interpreter said, the foreign man''s attire was peculiar - a stylish pair of sunsses on his head, a full-body swimsuit-like outfit covering him from head to toe, and a smart watch.
"And to call the versatile outfit designed by this genius ''James'' suspicious is too much. I had it specially made toe to the dangerous Korea, you know? The design is perfect, from its appearance to its anti-Object defensive capabilities."
James grabbed the interpreter''s shoulders and pulled him up to stand.
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"Don''t be so disheartened. As your employer, I n to take full responsibility. You weren''t hired as a bodyguard, so you won''t die before I do."
James said with a refreshingugh to the interpreter.
Of course, it wasn''t very reassuring since they both had a high chance of dying in this situation.
---
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
I rolled around on the car''s backseat camping mat installed by Yerin for long-distance travel. It wasn''t as soft as a bed, but it wasfortable enough.
Satisfied with the cozy space stocked with plenty of bread and snacks. No pudding, of course - Now there''s only one kind of pudding I''ll eat!
I was currently riding in Yerin''s car, heading towards a factory located near the sea in Incheon.
Truth be told, I had nned to leave alone, but Yerin insisted oning along.
"Reaper, that factory in Incheon, they''re using Objects to produce pudding. The U.S. has already reached the stage where they''re using Objects for manufacturing industrial goods. I wonder when our country will be capable of achieving the same?"
While waiting at a red light, Yerin quickly looked up information about the factory.
To me, who had nned to barge into the factory and destroy all the Objects there, this was surprising information.
They make pudding with Objects?
Then I can''t just destroy all the Objects, can I?
I had intended to unleash a horde of Golden Reapers driven mad by pudding deprivation, but I guess not.
---
3rd person POV:
---
The blonde girl, living apletely nocturnal life, looked up at the sky and said, "Uncle, the red moon has risen."
The girl seemed displeased.
"It''s apletely different moon, which is disappointing. There''s no gentle warmth like the sun''s, no soft embracing sand. It''s just there to exist and be observed. Is this the intention of the one who destroyed the red moon?"
The girl turned her gaze from the sky and gently stroked the ck hair of the soundly sleeping agent.
The ck agent had gone to sleep early to prepare for the busy day ahead tomorrow.
It felt a bit sad that their living schedules had be so different.
Until the red moon rises again and they can stand under the sun, such urrences would be frequent.
She wanted to recreate the red moon, but the heart that was supposed to guide her had not provided any guidance yet.
It was a rather gloomy night.
---
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The sky feels itchy.
A strange sensation that humans could never feel.
The sky feels itchy?
Lying in the car, looking up at the sky, I could see the cause.
The red moon I had destroyed was floating in the sky.
Cutely small in size, next to the original moon.
I could tell at a nce.
That moon is mine.
It seems to have been created by defeating the red moon, but even though I''ve destroyed countless Objects, this is the first time something like this has happened.
Not just leaving behind the ability, but some kind of side effect urring.
"Reaper, big trouble. There are two moons. Could this ce be a desert too?"
Yerin also seemed to have just noticed the moon and was making a fuss.
As if trying to get information, Yerin quickly turned on the radio.
[A fiery red moon has appeared in the sky. Currently, experts say that this phenomenon is not limited to a local event like the desertification crisis in Gangseo District]
[If this moon is a harbinger to global desertification, it means that the devastation predicted by numerous scientists due to Objects has be a reality]
[It took about a week to turn an area the size of Gangseo District into a desert, so one can only wonder how long it would take for desertification on a global scale, perhaps 200,000 years]
[We can only hope not to wake up in a desert a week from now.]
Numerous channels were all talking about the ''red moon''.
There seemed to be a prevailing atmosphere of crisis of desertification, but as the owner of the red moon, it sounded like nonsense to me.
I patted Yerin''s shoulder, who looked unnecessarily anxious, to reassure her.
*
Perhaps because we leftte, it was already deep night when we arrived near the factory.
The area around the factory was crowded with people who looked like personnel.
Is it okay for them to be loitering around like this when the factory is upied by dangerous Objects?
While Yerin went off to have a pointless conversation with the personnel, I was observing the surroundings of the factory.
There was an unpleasant smell.
The unpleasant smell I had smelled in the desert before.
For some reason, it smelled like I might identally unleash the Golden Reapers again this time.
Chapter 90: Pudding Factory (2)
Deep within the Golden Reaper garden.
In the most secret and dark ce of the garden, where even the footsteps of attached humans cannot reach.
A mysterious meeting between the Golden Reapers was taking ce there.
It was a meeting regarding thest remaining ninja pudding.
The Golden Reapers had unusually serious faces.
Thump thump-!
Hop hop!
Dori Dori-!
The Golden Reapers hopped here and there, appealing and coordinating their opinions.They collided with each other, expressing with emotion how much pudding each needed.
Cute gestures and movements that humans cannot understand.
But for the Golden Reapers, it was a most serious meeting.
And finally, a result came out.
The Golden Reaper who was allowed to have the pudding hopped happily.
The Golden Reaper, who was deemed to need the pudding the most, was blessed by all and left with the pudding.
The ce the Golden Reaper went, carrying the muchrger pudding, was the backyard of the Sehee Research Institute.
There was a passage connected to the garden by the Gray Reaper.
The face of the Golden Reaper carrying therge pudding was full of smiles.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
"Hum, hmm."
James was humming softly as he operated the entrance to the factory control room.
"Mr. James, please be a little quieter. What if we get caught doing that?" said the interpreter behind him in a small voice, poking James repeatedly with an anxious expression.
James looked around calmly and said, "There''s no way we''ll get caught making a little noise in such a noisy ce. You''re worrying too much."
As James said, this area was filled with the constant noise of running machinery, plus the unpleasant warning sounds ring due to the emergency.
Still, the interpreter looked anxious, ncing around the factory with an ominous atmosphere.
It was already toote to escape, and now they were going even deeper into the factory.
It felt like they were doing a stunt of sticking their heads into an alligator''s mouth.
The anxious interpreter poked James'' back as he worked diligently and said, "Mr. James. But isn''t there no reason toe this deep instead of just escaping out of the factory? If we hadn''te here, we could already be outside by now!"
"The reason we came here? Of course there is one. First of all, if we just leave like this, we''ll definitely get caught by that cute bear. We''re much slower than the bear. The bear is probably moving, thinking we''ll try to escape too."
James continued speaking as he tore off the entire panel attached to the control room entrance.
"Plus, this isn''t an ordinary Object incident. If we don''t act sensibly and intelligently, we''ll die in an instant."
"What? You''re saying this situation isn''t an ident?"
"At first I thought it was an ident too."
James tapped the smart watch strapped to his wrist as he spoke.
"Where is the Object that''s jammingmunications? And timed perfectly when we came in."
"I thought it was because it''s a remote factory, so the signal doesn''t reach?"
"Then we wouldn''t have received the report so quickly when the Objects first upied it."
It''s not an ident, but terrorism.
Moreover, terrorism aimed at murder - at these words, the interpreter started freaking out.
"Why on earth? Who would do such a thing? And in a country like ours, which is known for its clean record with Objects... A terror attack involving Objects..."
"It''s good to have patriotism, but there''s one thing I need to correct."
James looked at the interpreter with a serious face.
"In my judgment, Korea is the most dangerous country in the world."
"What? How can that be? I heard China has a giant flying jellyfish, and in the US a giant fire-breathing boar destroyed an entire city. At least Korea doesn''t have Objects like that, isn''t it safe?"
"That''s the amazing thing about Korea. The Ice Throne in Dobong District, the theme park, and now this desert that appeared. Objects that could cause tremendous destruction if left alone, but they''re naturally suppressed or disappear."
A cheerful mechanical sound rang out from the electronic door, and the entrance to the factory control room opened.
"Ah, it''s finally open. Well, I''ll talk about how dangerous Korea is another time. For now, we need to analyze this site."
The revealed sight as the door opened was horrific.
When the door opened, all the employees who had been working in the control room were dead bodies.
The interpreter turned away from the sight and tightly closed his eyes.
"Hmm,e here and take a look."
"Absolutely not. I already fainted earlier after seeing that steel bear crushing people, and now you want me to look again?"
"It would be better if you looked, but if you don''t want to, I can''t force you."
At James'' words, the interpreter slightly opened his eyes and directed his gaze towards the corpses.
"Ugh."
The corpses were covered in blood, their heads blown apart.
"Why on earth are you telling me to look at this?"
"Don''t you feel anything looking at this?"
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In James'' mind, the corpses in the control room were clear evidence.
Evidence of human involvement.
Three control room employees shot and killed.
The Objects currently upying the factory do not use guns.
"They were shot and killed. And the Objects upying the factory now don''t use guns."
A terror attack using guns in Korea, where gun regtions are not rxed even when many people die from Objects.
James'' expression became serious.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Yerin pushed me into the car, telling me to hide.
"Reaper, I''ll go listen in for a bit. You have to stay hidden properly, okay?"
Then she went alone to where the factory officials had gathered.
Of course, I also came out of the vehicle using ghostification to watch Yerin''s performance.
The situation was serious, so the officials'' expressions were not good either, but in this situation, Yerin was skillfully extracting information better than expected.
She said things like the Sehee Research Institute was preparing to help with re-istion, and that they had made this decision because they needed the pudding produced at this factory.
She was mixing truth and lies as she conversed.
Watching now, Yerin is good at lying.
Did she practice to be a swindler?
"Wow, so the istion failure only happened about once a month?"
"That''s right. That''s why our Songdo Research Institute even received an excellent institute awardst year, but it will be difficult this year."
The researcher from the Songdo Research Institute, which had been managing the Objects currently upying the factory, sighed heavily with a gloomy expression.
After a long conversation with the Songdo researcher, Yerin also clung to the factory officials and started talking to them.
"Really? So you even called a private Object retrievalpany, and the factory owner went in himself? That must have been dangerous."
"Ah, he was really reckless, probably because he''s a foreigner."
"So you still can''t reach that owner?"
"Even now, the youngest employee over there keeps calling but he''s not answering. Probably...."
The man who appeared to be a factory employee gestured slitting his throat, suggesting the owner was likely dead.
"Ah, thank you for kindly informing me!"
"Since it seems hopeless to rescue the owner, if the Sehee Research Institute is going to send an istion team, make sure you''re fully prepared!"
After finishing the conversation with the factory employee, Yerin was writing various things in her notebook.
As Yerin was organizing the data in her notebook, a phone suddenly rang.
An employee who appeared to belong to the factory picked up his phone and caused amotion.
"Huh? Oh! This, this is the boss!"
"Why don''t you answer right away!"
The employee, who seemed a bit flustered, switched to speakerphone and answered the call.
[Ah, can you hear me?]
"Ah, yes. I can hear you. Boss, you''re safe."
[Ah, I''m safe. There was a jammer installed at the factory, so it took a long time to contact you. My current location is the small office built above the milling machine in Block B.]
"Huh? Block B?"
[Since there are many Objects besides the bear that need to be dealt with here, a huge Object retrieval team will be needed. No matter how much money it costs, I''ll take care of it all, so call in as many as possible.]
Ppeong-!
The call that seemed like it would continue was cut off with an unnatural sound, and only noise wasing out.
However, the expressions of the factory employees who received the long-awaited call from the boss were not very good.
"That wasn''t the boss, was it?"
"An impersonator? Who''s ying a prank?"
"Could it be a temptation-type Object?"
Yerin approached the flustered factory employee and asked the reason.
"The boss, who had been missing, is alive and informed his current location and even suggested a solution, but everyone doesn''t seem to be reacting well. Why is that?"
"Well, there is no Block B in our factory. And since it''s a pudding factory, there are no milling machines either."
"Ah,e to think of it, a milling machine is for cutting metal, right? So you concluded it was an impersonator."
"Or maybe an Object is trying to lure us."
The factory employee seemed a bit scared, perhaps thinking an Object was tempting them.
In the midst of this, the phone started ringing again.
"Huh? It''s the boss again."
The people who were noisily chattering all shut their mouths.
In the silence, only the sound of the ringing phone was loud.
Chapter 91: Pudding Factory (3)
Still Reaper POV:
---
In the midst of everyone shutting their mouths and bing quiet, only the sound of the ringing phone was loudly asserting itself.
"Um... what should we do?"
"We have to answer it. We can''t just ignore it, right?"
Gulp.
Swallowing his saliva, the factory employee was trembling.
It''s just a phone call, but why is he so scared?
The factory employee tried to answer the call with his eyes tightly closed, but his hands were shaking, and his eyes were closed, so he couldn''t do it as he intended.Hiding in the shadow of the employee with his eyes closed, I released my ghostification and firmly pressed his finger, sliding it.
"Aahh!"
The factory employee was startled and dropped the phone on the floor.
The employee, terrified, rubbed his finger and looked around in all directions.
Hehe, no matter how much you look around, you can''t see me since I''m ghostified!
[There was a loud noise, did something happen?]
A voice came from the phone dropped on the floor.
Leaving the terrified employee alone, another factory employee answered the call.
"No, sir."
[Is that so? I''m in the middle of escaping, and it seems like I''ll be able to get out in about a day.]
"Ah... then the Object in the factory hasn''t been resolved?"
[Yeah, the re-containment failed. Fortunately, that bear is too big to enter narrow spaces, so it''s currently crawling along the ceiling. I should be able to get out in about a day, so let''s talk then.]
"Then you don''t need a rescue right now?"
[It''s better if you don''te in and cause a ruckus. We''ll discuss the next re-containment schedule after I return.]
"Understood, boss!"
As the call ended, the quiet atmosphere was suddenly lifted.
"This time, it seems to be the boss?"
"It was the boss''s phone number and voice, so it must be him."
"But the previous call was strange too, talking about Block B and such."
"But is there really a space in the ceiling?"
"Who knows, who''s going to go up there and check."
However, the employees'' mood was ambiguous.
They couldn''t simply rejoice that the boss was alive because the previous call had been strange.
The strange call that came from the boss''s voice and phone number.
We hade to seize the pudding, but suddenly it felt like a mystery was unraveling.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
In the Golden Reaper garden that upied the backyard of the Sehee Research Institute, the Golden Reaper poked its head out.
The Golden Reaper had pudding strapped to its back.
It already knew that its Creator was not in the vicinity, but it didn''t neglect to check the surroundings.
If it was caught, it would lose thest remaining pudding, so it had to be careful!
The Creator could deceive its location if it wanted to, so it couldn''t let its guard down.
What about those who let their guard down?
They had all lost their pudding.
No matter how much they grieved over losing it, the pudding wouldn''te back.
For the sake of the poor, unfortunate pudding-loving humans who haven''t had a single bite of that truly delicious pudding, we couldn''t let it be taken away.
Arge door blocked the way ahead.
Therge door separating the backyard and the inside of the Research Institute.
Normally, it could have leaped over it in an instant with ghostification, but it was impossible now.
Because it had to carry the pudding.
When footsteps were heard, the Golden Reaper hastily hid its body.
It couldn''t be caught by humans either.
Because if it didn''t give pudding to humans, humans would be sad.
And if humans were sad, it hurt its heart.
Hiding in a nearby shadow, it waited for the moment the door opened and secretly passed through.
Now, it must reach the beloved human without being discovered in the building full of humans!
The Golden Reaper steeled its determination with a resolute expression.
***
Yerin POV:
---
The incident at the pudding factory was bing chaotic.
Ah, it''s so confusing.
When I returned to the vehicle, Gray Reaper suddenly popped out of the empty backseat with a "bung" sound.
Ah, as expected, it followed me using ghostification.
I picked up Reaper and ced it on myp, hugging it.
Perhaps because it''s often held, Reaper naturally rxed its body and leaned against me.
"Reaper, what''s going on? Something serious seems to be happening, but I can''t figure it out."
In the midst of the confusion, hugging the soft and warm Reaper calmed my mind.
In the rearview mirror, Gray Reaper''s face is expressionless.
It seemed to have no thoughts, cuddled in my arms like a teddy bear.
"There were two calls from the boss, but which one is real? Or are they both fake?"
No matter how much I think about it, I can''t figure it out.
Until somethinges to mind, I should just cuddle and heal with Reaper.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Yerin''splicated feelings felt like a tangled ball of yarn.
It seems like she''s overthinking a rather simple problem.
As Iy down on the seat in the backseat, Yerin didn''t lie down with me but instead stroked the soles of my feet.
Yerin often does this whenever I lie down. Is she giving me a massage?
It''s not really effective though.
The two calls received during this incident containedpletely opposite content.
The first call was ''Gather as many people as possible ande rescue me!''.
The second call was ''Wait until I escape!''.
If the first call was fake, then someone who wanted people toe in made that fake call.
It''s the kind of call an Object that lures humans would make.
If the second call was fake, then someone who didn''t want peopleing in made that call.
Since an Object pretending to be human while disliking humans is hard to imagine, it''s the kind of call a human would make.
Depending on whether the culprit is human or an Object, the call to believe differs in this case.
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Hoaaahhhm~
Even though I don''t have lungs, I somehow yawned.
I used to think this was just a lingering habit from my human days.
But seeing Golden Reapers do it too made me wonder if they yawn for a different reason than humans.
Or maybe they were originally made to mimic humans as Objects.
A sudden rush of sleep.
p p~
Feeling that I might fall asleep if I kept getting the massage, I shook my leg to remove Yerin''s hand.
At least I should resolve the pudding incident before resting.
For the pudding!
***
3rd person POV:
---
The smart watch that had been allowing propermunication just moments ago was now emitting only noise.
"Ah, damn. It got disconnected."
Said James, who had been talking through the smart watch.
"Why? Why did you make that kind of phone call?"
"Hm? What are you talking about?"
"The call content! You said you might die if rescue doesn''te right away!"
Bang bang.
The sound of something shattering could be heard from outside the control room.
The sound of steel crumpling and breaking mercilessly.
"What... what was that?"
"It realized we seeded in making the call by routing through the control room. The bear is destroying the control room. That noise was probably from Control Room 2."
Unlike the terrified interpreter, James spoke in a calm voice.
"Now it''s certain, I''ll die if rescue doesn''te. That bear will eventually find its way to this control room too."
"It''s the end."
The interpreter dejectedly grabbed his head and said gloomily.
The steel bear was destroying the control rooms one by one.
The sounds of destruction were still far away for now, but eventually it would reach here.
Thump thump.
From the interpreter''s perspective, the heavy footsteps echoing from afar sounded uncannily like a predator from the movies.
"There''s no need to be so hasty."
James continued speaking with a rxed expression.
"ording to my route prediction, it''ll take that cute little bear about 15 hours to reach this control room. We still have plenty of time. Why don''t you take a nice nap on the bed prepared in the control room."
"But if rescue doesn''te within 15 hours, we die!"
"Exactly."
"Then why did you make that kind of phone call? B Block? Milling machine? What is that? You could''ve just said Control Room on the 2nd floor of Building 7.... Why did you...?"
The interpreter seemed to be sobbing as he spoke while crumpled on the floor.
And James shook his head while looking at the interpreter with a pitying expression.
"It seems your head isn''t the sharpest tool in the shed. Didn''t I tell you? This incident involved human hands."
"?"
James provided additional exnation to the interpreter, who looked up at him.
"Obviously if I gave our exact location, that bear woulde crush our heads before people could arrive, right?"
"Then with B Block and milling machine, will people be able to find us?"
"Of course. I left a hint that the factory staff can definitely find, but terrorists won''t understand."
The interpreter looked back at James with a face that seemed to regain some hope.
"Terrorists aren''t stupid either, so if I leave an ambiguous hint, they''ll probably try to find the old blueprints of this factory."
"I suppose?"
"But in those old factory blueprints, there''s no B Block or milling machine mentioned. The terrorists will give up at that point. Like the bear now, they''ll choose a different approach instead of deducing."
"So?"
"There''s a hidden story here. There''s a twin factory in Busan that looks exactly the same as this one. If youpare the blueprints of that twin factory with the current blueprints of our factory, you can instantly pinpoint our location."
"Who would ever figure that out!"
The interpreter shouted, forgetting the fact that a murderous bear doll was roaming around.
The interpreter, who was filled with hope a moment ago, dejectedly sat back down with a dejected expression.
"It''s all over now..."
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
I gave up thinking.
Did I really need to figure out which of the first or second call was the truth?
It didn''t seem like I needed to know what B Block and the milling machine were either.
Why should I be the one agonizing over this?
First, I need to go in and pull out the head of that steel bear Object.
That bear isn''t a part of the pudding factory, is it?
As I finished my thoughts and got up from my seat, Yerin reacted.
"Going into the factory? Then I''lle with you!"
Yerin smiled brightly and followed me out.
Yerin and I sneaked towards the factory entrance.
Thanks to the boss''s call, there were hardly any guards around.
"Somehow this is fun. It feels like ying hide-and-seek when I was little."
Yerin seemed to be enjoying herself, which made me feel a bit happy too.
Moving from shadow to shadow, we entered the factory entrance.
Inside the factory, we were greeted by a broken parking lot with debris scattered everywhere and headless corpses.
"Reaper, there are corpses here. From their attire, they were probably the people the boss said were here to retrieve the Objects?"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
As Yerin''s voice echoed through the parking lot, heavy footsteps could be heard approaching.
Yerin tensed up and gripped my hand tightly.
From therge open entrance of the building beyond the parking lot, a red glow appeared.
Two points of red light, glowing like the eyes of a beast in the darkness.
Thud. Thud.
Along with the heavy footsteps, the silhouette of an Object blended into the darkness began to reveal itself.
It was the steel teddy bear Object''s appearance.
And the bear, making eye contact with me
Thud . Thud .
Slowly began to retreat back into the darkness.
Chapter 92: Pudding Factory (4)
Yerin POV:
---
Beyond the headless corpses, the dark building entrance was gaping open like the mouth of a monster.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
From inside that building, the sound of heavy footsteps shook the ground.
The scent of blood grew thicker.
Swallowing hard at the sudden eerie atmosphere, I tightly grasped Reaper''s hand.
From the darkness, an ominous red light flickered.
The light bobbed up and down in time with the rumbling of the ground, and it looked like the eyes of a demon.''It''ll be okay since Reaper is next to me.''
Even though I thought that, my whole body stiffened from the tension.
The silhouette that naturally emerged from the darkness was a giant robot in the shape of a teddy bear.
The teddy bear, drenched in blood, half submerged in the darkness, exuded a sinister atmosphere.
Grrr.
Along with the sound of scraping metal, clumps of blood were dripping from the teddy bear''s outstretched front paws, perhaps from crushed internal organs sticking to them.
Even though it wasn''t moving, my breath quickened as if I was running.
Scary!
Thud-!
And then, It held the door open with one bloody arm and slowly began to reveal its entire body.
An appearance straight out of a horror movie scene.
And the teddy bear, which had been slowly revealing itself, paused for a moment before slinking back into the darkness.
"Huh?"
Why is it doing that?
Could it be running away?
As the teddy bear disappeared into the darkness, Gray Reaper''s eyes shed as it dashed lightning-fast into the building.
It''s like a cat chasing a fleeing toy in moments like these.
"Haha, hahaha."
Suddenly the tension was released, and the situation seemed funny, making meugh for some reason.
As expected, I feel safe when I''m with Reaper!
***
The Bear POV:
---
A monster appeared.
The moment our eyes met, I realized it.
Those piercing yellow eyes that shone, seeing through to the essence.
A monster of a different caliber.
Gritting my teeth, I had to get as far away from the monster as quickly as possible.
It''ll be okay.
It''ll be fine.
A monster like that won''t be interested in a weakling like me, so I''ll be okay if I just run away and hide.
I hid in a dark room and locked the door behind me.
To conceal the light from my eyes, I covered both eyes and crouched down as small as possible.
Tong-!
A sound came from outside, like something knocking on the iron door.
No way, it couldn''t be.
Bang Bang Bang-!
A sound came from knocking on the iron door outside.
And as time passed, no sound could be heard.
"..."
Did it finally leave?
"..."
It must have left by now, right?
I removed my hands covering my eyes and looked around - nothing had changed from when I entered.
Ah, what a relief.
Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang-!
Just as relief filled my mind, suddenly a knocking sound came from the iron door.
No way.
Turning my gaze towards the sound again,
There was a round hole in the iron door, and the monster was poking its head through.
The monster, baring a cruel smile as if shouting ''I found you!''
T/N: HAHAHAHA
''No! I can''t die like this!''
Screaming inwardly, I opened the door on the opposite side and started running.
Bwaaangg-!
But I didn''t get far before falling to the ground.
Looking back, both my legs had been cleanly severed.
And beyond that, the monster was slowly approaching.
With my intact hands, I pushed my body backwards.
To get a little further away from the monster.
Grgrk. Grgrk
But I couldn''t escape.
If I couldn''t fight it off when I had both legs, it would be even more impossible now.
Putting on a yful smile, the unsuspecting predator,
Hoping for a surprise strike, I threw a punch with all my strength.
But the moment I threw the punch, the monster suddenly vanished from my sight.
And suddenly my field of vision spun half a turn.
I saw my copsing torso from behind.
My pitiful torso, having lost its head and legs.
The monster had already approached and was knocking on my head.
Thud thump thump thump thump-!
And gradually my vision narrowed until I was enveloped in eternal darkness.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
The teddy bear desperately trying to flee died.
The teddy bear''s destruction condition was Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three bullets were fired from the silenced pistol.
Two to the body, one to the head.
The man gave a satisfied smile.
Bullets made in America to deal with Objects.
It was a weapon that could burn and kill even unkible monsters.
The white mes spewing from the bullets began burning Gray Reaper''s body.
But Gray Reaper, with an angry expression, didn''t care about the fire on its body and approached the man, blowing his head off.
The raging white mes soon calmed down, and Gray Reaper stood nkly as ifposing itself, then began looking around.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Inside the small space, the thick smell of blood filled the air.
Suddenly, the thought of killing Yerin, I became overwhelmed with agitation and ended up killing them all.
Looking around, there seemed to be no clues to identify who these men were or their affiliation.
It was a pity, because these bad people should be rooted out.
The room the men upied was crammed with all sorts of electronic equipment that looked suspiciously like tools for illegal activities.
Among them, one item felt different.
This must be the ''item'' those evil men mentioned.
An antique leather briefcase.
Its borate design wasn''t special, but the material itself felt peculiar.
Like an Object, but not quite.
It seemed important, so I took it.
Then I sted a hole through the wall and dashed towards where Yerin was.
I''ve dealt with the surveince team, now I need to save the pudding factory.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
James, lyingfortably on the bed with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes and got up.
"It''s too quiet."
The interpreter looked puzzled at James'' words, but soon realized something was off.
"You''re right? I don''t hear the teddy bear demolishing the building."
James checked his watch and said,
"It hasn''t even been an hour since I called, and they''ve already dealt with the steel teddy bear? Something''s fishy. Physically impossible."
"Maybe they''ve set another trap? Waiting for us toe out?"
James jumped off the bed and approached the control room door.
¡°I don''t see why they''d need to sell us a trap like that when they can take their time and give us a high probability of sess, and then we can pretend that a passing monk took pity on us and came to our rescue.¡±
Suddenly, James put a finger to his lips, gesturing to be quiet.
"Don''t you hear something?"
Straining their ears like James, they heard a faint sound.
[Pudding.]
[Pudding.]
The interpreter''s face turned pale.
"Don''t tell me it''s those monster rabbits?"
As the interpreter spoke, pink robot rabbits poured out of the control room''s air vent.
[Pudding!!!!!!!]
They were cute rabbit robots wearing chef''s hats and holding whisks and measuring spoons.
"Run!"
But upon seeing them, James and the interpreter mmed the control room door and frantically began fleeing
They were avoiding the sharp-edged whisks and the measuring spoons that resembled spears.
---
T/N: By the way, guys, if you haven''t rated the novel on Novelupdate, could you please do so and provide a review as well? mention novelplex too if you want hahaha, I NEED MORE PEOPLEEEE
Chapter 93: Pudding Factory (5)
Late in the evening, Golden Reaper secretly infiltrated the Research Institute through an open gap in the door and began stealthily moving down the deserted Research Institute corridor.
Carefully stepping one foot at a time on the neatly organized Research Institute tiled floor.
In the dimly lit corridor with lights on here and there, there was a space filled with bright light.
It was the management office that operated 24 hours.
Inside was a single night watchman nodding off with a tired look on his face.
The grandfather always gave it sweet Yanggaeng with a warm smile whenever he saw it.
The Yanggaeng didn''t taste great, but it liked the grandfather because of the warmth it felt.
As a way to repay him, it would often jump on his shoulders and give him a massage, but having to sneak past like this made its heart ache.
Next time, I''ll give him a double massage!Making this small resolution, the Golden Reaper tiptoed past the management office.
Fortunately, the dozing grandfather didn''t notice the small shadow crossing the floor.
But an even bigger obstacle appeared before the Golden Reaper.
It was arge room filled with humans that it had to pass through in order to reach its beloved human.
Large objects making a humming noise.
In front of them, humans with dazed expressions sat crowded together.
Oh, so many tired and weary-looking humans.
We''ll y a lot next time, so hang in there!
It wasn''t sure what those Objects filling the room were.
But judging by the number of humans who be agitated when they approach, they must be important.
It hid behind those Objects and began slowly passing through.
Slowly, so as not to be noticed.
"Hey, look at this for a sec."
"What is it?"
A voice! If I''m not careful, I''ll be caught!
It have to stop moving and wait until the human stops talking.
"Juste over here. You see that?"
"You don''t think it''s hiding, do you?"
The humans speaking in hushed tones.
Judging by their yful tones, it seems humans y pranks when bored, just like us!
"I''ve never seen a Reaper hiding before."
"We should probably pretend not to notice."
The humans are gathering closer and closer.
I can''t let them catch me!
"Let''s each take a picture and scatter! The Reaper can''t move right now."
Click click.
Strange sounds kepting, and the humans started to disperse.
Phew, that was close.
I barely avoided being caught.
But after hearing those ''click click'' sounds, the humans seem healthier somehow. I wonder what that was?
I''ll have to find out next time!
***
??? POV:
---
The residence of the eerie Trinity Research Institute 3rd Director always exudes a gloomy atmosphere.
Late at night, the 3rd Director was receiving a report from his butler.
"The two members of the Night Crow organization we hired have both died. It appears further operations are impossible."
"Is that so? How far did the Night Crows get?"
"They seeded in shutting down the factory and stealing the briefcase. However, the sudden appearance of Gray Reaper caused them to lose the briefcase, so only the factory shutdown was sessful."
After calmly setting down the winess in his hand, the Director stood up from his seat and spoke while looking at the Golden Horn decoration.
"A blessing in disguise, I suppose. At least we got the factory shut down. James'' factory absolutely cannot be allowed to be established in Korea. We cannot allow ''alchemy'' to spread to Korea."
"..."
"You have a look that says with Gray Reaper involved, even the factory shutdown will likely be undone."
heh heh heh
The Director let out a lowugh.
"For this factory, I''ve hidden an Object that even Gray Reaper cannot handle. A replica of the Object that Gray Reaper failed to deal with before."
With a satisfied smile, the Director sat back down and enjoyed his wine.
***
Deep inside the pudding factory.
The once lively factory was now enveloped in an eerie silence, with only the asional piercing emergency bell ringing out.
Moreover, the rhythm of that bell was somehow broken, ringing irregrly and entuating the chaos and confusion.
The red emergency lights, which began operating like an emergency bell, were casting long, distorted shadows and dyeing the cold steel structures an ominous crimson color.
At the center of these steel structures filled with ominousness, a huge, bizarre Object was roaming around.
A Lophiomus dripping ck slime.
The Object resembled the Lophiomus, which had disappeared into a sinkhole in Songpa-gu, its whereabouts unknown.
The squirming tentacles and smooth, glossy skin were simr to the Lophiomus, but foul-smelling ck slime was oozing out from its skin.
The ck oil dripping from the skin of this Object was seeping into the factory floor, gradually spreading a foul odor and polluting the surroundingnd.
This Object resembling Lophiomus would asionally open its mouth wide, filled with sharp, threatening teeth, and randomly bite and tear at the surrounding steel structures.
There seemed to be no reason for this Object to remain in this deste space with no humans or prey, but it was obsessed with a machine deep inside the factory, as if guarding a precious object.
***
Yerin POV:
---
After experiencing Bearboy''s grand entrance and exit, the Reaper who had suddenly disappeared handed me a strange briefcase.
It was an antique, stylish briefcase.
It looked expensive, I wonder where it picked it up from?
Since Reaper probably didn''t bring it properly, I''ll have to return it if the owner shows upter.
tak tak tak~
Walking slightly ahead of me, Reaper seemed a bit bored and was ying alone on the asphalt inside the factory.
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Hopping from line to line on the white lines drawn on the asphalt.
It seemed to be moving its steps indifferently, not even ncing at the asphalt, as ifpletely uninterested. But Reaper''s small feet were only stepping on the white lines.
Heh heh.
If it realizes I''ve noticed, it''ll get embarrassed, so I''ll pretend not to notice.
I inwardly cheered on Reaper''s asphalt adventure, wondering how far it would go.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
I walked along the asphaltid inside the factory together with Yerin.
Continuing to walk in the direction where human emotions were felt, we eventually arrived at a certain building.
Arge building with <7> written on the wall.
Upon entering that building, I felt an enormous number of Objects surrounding Yerin.
Pink rabbit-shaped dolls.
They were Objects wearing chef hats and holding cooking utensils.
[Pudding!]
[Pudding!]
Objects wearing chef hats, holding cooking utensils, and shouting [Pudding!].
Anyone could tell they were Objects for making pudding.
I finally found them.
The Objects for making pudding.
If I can get these Objects back to work, the delicious ''Ninja Pudding'' will be made.
However, there were a few issues.
The rabbit dolls'' eyes looked rather insolent.
If I wasn''t there, they seemed like they''d pounce right away.
They gave off more of a murderous doll vibe than a pastry doll.
Another issue was the foul stenching from the rabbit dolls'' bodies.
The smell of ck slime.
If these dolls made pudding, the pudding would reek with that stench.
Should I destroy them despite the ability degradation?
Or should I tame them like ''Cute Puppy''?
As I was deep in thought, a desperate voice rang out.
"Rescue team? Please save me!"
It was the shrill voice of a skinny man who sounded like he was about to pass out.
Looks like there''s no time for taming, I''ll have to go with obtaining the degraded ability.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
The interpreter was nearing his limit.
"Please save me! Please save me!"
It was hard to breathe, he felt like he was going to pass out.
And the ominous sound of the murderous rabbits swinging their cooking utensils was closing in right behind him.
"Run a bit faster, or in 5 seconds your butt will get stabbed in that state!"
In contrast, James running ahead seemed quite rxed, even looking back.
Upon hearing those words, I turned around only to find arge whisk thrusting towards me.
''Ah, this is really the end. I must never ept a request like this again.''
As the interpreter saw his life sh before his eyes, a golden light flickered in front of him.
A tiny golden light.
Even under the ominous red lighting, a brilliant golden wave began mowing down the rabbits.
''I''m alive.''
Overwhelmed with relief, the interpreter copsed to the floor and sobbed.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Leaving the people rejoicing their survival, I hurriedly began observing the Golden Reaper Garden.
"Reaper? Why are you like that?"
Seeing me suddenly close my eyes, Yerin looked puzzled and poked my cheeks.
But I had something more important.
Pudding!
In the middle of the Golden Reaper Garden, I saw unfamiliar facilities.
A chef''s hat glowing golden.
Golden Reaper-scale cooking utensils.
And a fitting cooking station.
In the worst case, I thought rabbit-shaped puddings might appear, but I''m really relieved.
The Golden Reapers, with curious expressions, approached the suddenly appeared cooking facilities.
Each imed a chef''s hat, which when worn upside down made rabbit ears sprout, and they skillfully began cooking pudding.
But the Golden Reapers'' cooking process was a bit peculiar.
Not ordinary pudding making, but a division-ofbor production line with each assigned a role.
One Golden Reaper poured in lots of sugar to dissolve, licked their finger to taste, then pped their newly sprouted rabbit ears happily.
Some Reapersughed happily as they mixed the eggs, while another sneakily ate sugar while moving ingredients around.
Though each did different tasks, there was a sense of unity.
The sounds of boiling water, whisking eggs, cheerfully setting down ss cups.
All these sounds came together like a performance.
The cooking process progressed with a set speed and rhythm, like choreographed dancing, containing a magic thatpelled watching.
Sess!
I could feel it without even tasting.
The Ninja Pudding will definitely bepleted.
Hehe, I should try it once it''s done.
Having achieved my goal, I felt inexplicably happy.
Chapter 94: Pudding Factory (6)
Hop hop~
tak tak~
The seemingly endless joint work of the Golden Rabbit Reapers soon came to an end.
The Golden Reapers who had been working hard put thepleted puddings in the refrigerators, then sat around them, waiting for the puddings to be ready.
The number of those refrigerators was a whopping 5.
The Rabbit Reapers looked satisfied.
And after watching the Golden Rabbit Reapers'' work, I tentatively concluded,
The n to produce Ninja Pudding in the Golden Reaper Garden seemed sessful but was a failure.
First, it took too long!There were 5 pudding refrigerators.
It might be enough for the Golden Reapers, but definitely not for me.
Because the fridge was the size of the Golden Reaper, it only fit one pudding bowl.
In other words, even if I waited for hours, I''d only get 5 puddings at most.
Too few.
Way too few.
No matter how I thought of solutions, none seemed viable.
Move the puddings to other refrigerators?
It seemed impossible since there were only enough ingredients for 5 portions.
Should I hunt more rabbits then?
There were only 5 chef hats now, but would more appear if I killed more rabbits?
Was there a way to secretly take 5 puddings from the Golden Reapers?
As I watched the beaming Golden Reapers waiting for the puddings, my worries only deepened.
***
Yerin POV:
---
While pinching the unresponsive cheeks of a Reaper, I watched the mening down from the 2nd floor.
A striking pair at first nce.
One was crying loudly.
The other wore an outfit too peculiar to describe in words. A thick full-body swimsuit?
Seeing the Golden Reaper attached to him, they didn''t seem like bad people, but they were quite strange.
Perhaps one of them was the owner of this factory mentioned earlier.
Their reactions to the Golden Reapers were also amusing.
The strangely dressed man casually ced the Reaper clinging to him on his head after observing it.
The crying man, startled by the Reaper wiping his tears, gingerly lifted it and ced it on the hallway railing with a disgusted look - as if wanting to throw it away but too afraid of the rabbit-ughtering Golden Reaper.
The abandoned Reaper sat on the railing, gazing dejectedly at the man before vanishing into thin air.
That man must have heard the grim rumors about Gray Reapers and was scared.
I thought the Gray Reaper dance craze had improved their imagetely, but I guess not enough.
I had hoped their adorable dances would make everyone Gray Reaper fans!
The strangely dressed man patted the back of the man who couldn''t stop crying, saying
"There, there, stop crying. The crisis has passed, and all you have left is the generous advance payment, isn''t it?"
"I suppose? The crisis is over now, right? All I have to do is escape outside?"
Consoled by those words, the sobbing man mumbled "Advance payment, sports car..." and stopped crying.
The oddly dressed man noticed me, came over smiling, and greeted me.
The crying man kept his distance, likely scared of the Gray Reaper in my arms.
"Nice to meet you! I''m James, the owner of this factory. I almost died back there."
"I really thought I was going to die. Thank you for saving me."
James seemed too calm for someone who had just been chased down.
And the man thanking me for saving him started tearing up again, likely recalling the chase.
James looked down, staring intently at the Reaper in my arms.
"So this is what a real Gray Reaper looks like. I''ve always wanted to see one."
James raised his gaze again and continued speaking to me.
"Its eyes are still closed. Is there a problem? Did it perhaps use too much power when saving us?"
"I don''t know why the Reaper is acting this way either. This has never happened before."
I believe there''s no major issue, but I don''t understand why it''s suddenly acting like this.
I hope it''s not in pain or anything.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
Ever since nning to set up a factory in Korea, James had been looking forward to meeting Gray Reaper.
In fact, he had been anticipating it even before Gray Reapers appeared in Korea.
The reason he could anticipate this was because of a special book his family possessed.
A book depicting a figure exactly like a Gray Reaper.
It was a special book called Book Zero.
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It couldn''t just be a coincidence.
Book Zero was too special to be considered a mere coincidence.
It was a book that contained information so special that James attributed 30 percent of his aplishments to it.
"Really, it looks exactly the same. If only I hadn''t lost my bag, I couldpare them."
Jamesmented.
"Could this be the bag you lost?"
James brightened up seeing the bag Yerin held out.
"This is indeed my lost bag! Thank you so much! Where did you find it?"
"I''m not sure either. The Reaper suddenly brought it and handed it to me."
After receiving the bag from Yerin, James began operating it in aplex manner.
To Yerin, it just looked like an antique bag, but the locking mechanism seemed moreplicated than expected.
***
Yerin POV:
---
I watched James diligently operate the bag while holding the unresponsive Gray Reaper in my arms.
"Ah, finally opened."
Inside the opened bag was an extremely old-looking book.
The bag seemed designed to only hold that one book.
It looked quite precious.
From the solemn locking mechanism to using the entirerge briefcase solely as a container for one book.
James carefully opened the worn book and slowly flipped through the pages, seeming to search for something.
Then muttering ''here it is'', he opened to a page and held it out to me.
"Don''t they look exactly the same?"
On the page James showed me was text in an iprehensiblenguage, and in one corner, a meticulously drawn illustration.
Light blue hair.
Slightly darker blue eyes.
A smiling girl full of vitality.
It was an exquisitely detailed drawing that could have been a photograph, but what caught Yerin''s eye more was the subject it depicted.
Wouldn''t a grown-up Gray Reaper look like this? It resembled a Gray Reaper that much.
Unlike thepletely Gray Reaper, except for the fact that it was properly human.
"Did you imagine what a grown Gray Reaper would look like and draw this? It''s really well done."
"Do you think I''d keep a book with such a clich¨¦d illustration so securely? Surprisingly, this illustration existed before Gray Reaper appeared."
"What? Before Reaper existed? Then who was the model for this illustration?"
Someone who looked exactly like a Reaper!
If such a person existed, I''d love to meet them.
"There are many hypotheses about the model for this illustration, but nothing is certain. At the very least, it''s a figure from over 100 years ago, so there''s no way they could still be alive now."
"Ah, that''s too bad. I would have liked to meet them if they existed."
Seeing my reaction, James said with a suspicious expression,
"Your reaction is a bit strange. Don''t tell me you don''t know about the Object Zero?"
"Object Zero? What is that?"
"Hm? That''s strange. I sent an official document to have it exined to the Korean Object Research Institute..."
James furrowed his brow and muttered in a small voice.
I couldn''t hear clearly, but it sounded like he said ''Something''s fishy''.
Did he say something seems suspicious?
After making that suspicious expression, James wiped it off his face and began speaking.
"Well, let''s save the rest of the story for after we leave this factory. It seems we''ll have to give up on this factory anyway."
The moment James said that, the warmth cradled in my arms suddenly vanished.
"Reaper?"
The Gray Reaper suddenly leapt forward and snatched James'' book from him.
Then, clutching the book with both hands, it simply stared at the book silently.
For some reason, Reaper''s light seemed to grow a bit stronger.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
As I was gazing at the Golden Reaper''s garden, I suddenly sensed a me.
Not the me in my chest, but kindling existing outside of me.
Completely separate me, not derived from me like the Golden Reaper.
When I opened my eyes, a book was clutched in a man''s hand.
What''s this?
A book holding the me?
As if entranced, I dashed over and took the book into my own hands.
The moment I grasped the book, I felt the me gradually growingrger.
mes flowed into me from the book, steadily increasing the size of the me in my chest.
Slowly but endlessly continuing.
---
T/N: I''m not sure what will happen, but judging by the illustrations in the uing chapters, the Reaper... Well, anyway, that''s it for today (in my timezone).
Chapter 95: Pudding Factory (7)
Yerin POV:
---
Suddenly, the Gray Reaper leapt forward and clutched the book tightly with both hands. Golden mes burst forth from the Reaper''s body.
The book began to burn, and the mes started spreading to the Reaper holding it.
What should I do?
Should I forcibly separate the book from it?
Not knowing what to do in this situation, I was fidgeting when James'' calm voice came from beside me.
"As expected, the Gray Reaper is special."
Wondering what he meant, I turned to see James gesturing at the Gray Reaper, telling me to observe closely."Doesn''t it look less like the Gray Reaper is burning, and more like it''s absorbing the mes?"
Looking closer, the mes that spread from the book did seem to be getting absorbed into the Gray Reaper''s body.
And somehow, the Reaper''s face also looked serene.
"Normally when Objects touch that book, they burn in agony until turning to ash. Even the constantly regenerating Objects can''t regenerate if touched by those mes. But the Gray Reaper doesn''t seem affected at all."
James added in a small voice, "This is just a hypothesis, but perhaps the Gray Reaper isn''t actually an Object."
"The anti-Object ammunition I designed and is being produced in America mimics the mes of that book..."
"So what should we do about the Gray Reaper in this state?"
"I don''t know. This is the first time I''ve seen an Object react this way. Normally they either try to tear up the book or are terrified of it, but the Gray Reaper seems to be neither."
I guess we have no choice but to keep observing.
Is it just me, or does the Reaper seem to be gradually turning white within the golden mes?
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Unlimited mes!
For me, who feels like I can do anything as long as I have mes, anything that provides the me is quite appealing.
But unfortunately, while it had me, it was too little.
The amount flowing in at once was so small that it didn''t seem very useful.
Comparing the absorption rate over time, it was about 1/100th of Yerin''s?
It seemed better to just stand still among ordinary people than this book.
Because people would either be scared or find me cute, even if I just stood still among them.
It could be seen as emergency rations in preparation for when there are no people around...
But still, it doesn''t look very good.
Physical things are inconvenient to carry around!
As a frequent ghostification user, if I weigh whether this emergency ration is more valuable than ghostifying, of course ghostifying is much better.
However, there was a fatal w in leaving it in the Sehee Research Institute istion room and eating it whenever bored.
It''s tasteless.
The emotion contained in the mes has no taste.
What kind of emotion is this anyway?
Since the book is not human, I can''t tell what emotion this is.
Pure me containing only one emotion.
Compared to when I was human, it feels like sucking on inedible stic.
Rather than eating this, it seemed much better to just go outside the Research Institute and startle one person.
me from Yerin is still the best.
I cut off the meing from the book and threw this useless book at the man looking at me with an intrigued expression.
The man carefully received the book I threw with a puzzled look.
Monopolizing all the golden rabbit pudding is the ultimate n.
So now I have to go get more pudding.
Judging from the stench in the air, I had a rough idea of which direction the killer rabbits would be.
I looked towards the center of the factory where the stench was emanating from.
The rabbits must be living where that endless stench is billowing out.
***
Yerin POV:
---
The Reaper, having lost interest in the book it had casually tossed into the air, turned its head and stared intently towards the center of the factory.
Well, the pudding factory upation incident hasn''t ended yet.
Still, it''s the first time I''ve seen the Reaper this diligent.
It must really like that pudding.
Thinking that the usually indifferent Reaper is actually thinking about pudding was a bit amusing.
As soon as James received the book, he picked up his bag to carefully store it away.
"Alright, we can''t be sure how long this ce will remain safe. Let''s escape quickly."
At James'' words about escaping, I pointed at the Reaper staring fixedly at the factory center and said,
"It seems the Reaper wants to resolve this pudding factory incident?"
James shook his head firmly.
"No matter how powerful the Gray Reaper is, retaking the factory is impossible."
"Isn''t there no Object the Reaper can''t handle?"
James seems a bit clueless, there''s nothing the Gray Reaper can''t do!
Though the Reaper didn''t turn its gaze, its antenna above its head was slightly tilted towards us, as if interested in my story.
T/N: I think it''s not an antenna like a cockroach has. You know, in anime characters, there is something like a single strand of hair in the top middle of the head. Maybe something like that (Ahoge?).
"Still, retaking the factory will be difficult. A troublesome one has settled in the factory center. It''s an Object that Koreans are more familiar with. The Object that has taken over the factory now is the famous ''Lophiomus''."
"Lophiomus? Why is Lophiomus, which fell into the Songpa-gu sinkhole, suddenly here...?"
"Of course it''s not that Lophiomus. But the Object in the factory could be called a Lophiomus subspecies, as it resembles that Object."
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Watching the Reaper''s antenna swaying like a tail, I countered,
"Didn''t the Gray Reaper already defeat Lophiomus before?"
James shook his head vigorously and said,
"The Lophiomus subspecies that has upied the factory now is a much more threatening creaturepared to Lophiomus itself. And like Lophiomus, even if it can be exterminated, there is another problem."
"Is there a problem other than extermination?"
"Let''s recall our objective. Exterminating Lophiomus is not the goal. Retaking the factory is the goal. Did you forget what happened to Songpa-gu when the Gray Reaper dealt with Lophiomus?"
"A sinkhole was created. Ah, so the factory will copse."
"Exactly. If that happens, even if the extermination seeds, the retaking will fail."
It was a logically valid point.
But in fact, our opinions didn''t really matter much.
The Gray Reaper''s antenna stood up straight, seeming to lose interest in our conversation.
Tak tak~
And the Reaper began moving forward with those cute footsteps.
I pointed at the Reaper''s figure.
"We have no choice."
James picked up his bag and started following behind the Gray Reaper.
The timid-looking man also tagged along behind James.
"Boss? Shouldn''t we escape first without it?"
The man let out a flustered voice as he watched me and James following the Reaper.
"The factory is still too dangerous for that. Since there are quite a few rabbit dolls left, we have no choice. In fact, we don''t have a choice."
Dejected by James'' ominous story, the timid man had no option but to trudge along behind us.
***
James POV:
---
Clutching the bag containing Book Zero tightly, we advanced towards the center of the factory following the Gray Reaper.
The deeper we went into the factory, the thicker the unpleasant smell of blood became.
It was as if an interior had been arranged to intimidate anyone entering.
Things like human intestines and flesh were hung everywhere our eyes could see.
The ones where flesh was thinly spread out and arranged into patterns looked like grotesque tapestries.
I was admiring it in my own way.
"Remarkable."
The rabbit dolls were mere robots, yet they had distorted themselves and constructed this interior with some sense of aesthetics!
It was something I could never have expected.
Was there ack of consideration for the designed robots?
Or was it caused by that ck liquid that contaminated the rabbits?
The interpreter had turned deathly pale, making an expression like he was about to faint.
It seems he''ll faint again soon.
If he faints, I''ll have to carry him and run again this time.
When we arrived at the logistics warehouse where the pudding was packaged, what greeted us were torn pudding boxes.
The boxes had spilled their contents all over, scattered around.
All the puddings had been ripped open and sttered on the floor, trampled with rabbit footprints.
Those traces made me feel rabbits'' hatred for the pudding.
The Gray Reaper stopped walking and looked down at the massive amounts of pudding ruthlessly discarded on the floor.
Oh-Yerin was stroking the Gray Reaper with a worried expression.
Something''s strange.
The Gray Reaper was expressionless for sure, but it looked extremely sad.
Is this a kind of mental contamination too?
Instead of the spilled pudding containers'' contents, they were filled with mangled chunks of flesh.
The Gray Reaper, looking extremely enraged, raised its head.
Looking around, the rabbit dolls had already surrounded us.
As the rabbit dolls charged with glowing eyes, the Gray Reaper spread its arms out to the sides.
At the same time, Golden Reapers spread out in all directions.
The small, plump, hopping, bone-leaving-no-remains vicious swarm of golden locusts rushed towards the rabbits.
***
Yerin POV:
---
All the rabbits making human pudding were dead.
It was a moment of victory, but the victors, the Golden Reapers, looked rather sad instead.
It was quiet around, but full of wailing.
Because the Golden Reapers were endlessly shedding tears while looking at the human puddings.
They all sat down in front of the pudding containers, unable to even touch them, just crying.
Their crying was so sorrowful that it made me ufortable.
"There, there. It''s okay."
Since their crying subsided a bit when I stroked them, I went around stroking the Golden Reapers'' heads.
Unlike those Golden Reapers, the Gray Reaper had its gaze turned towards the sky, looking at something.
What is it looking at?
I also looked up at the sky following Reaper''s gaze.
There''s something there.
Something seems to be floating high near the ceiling, bobbing up and down?
Surrounded by bubbles, flying through the sky....
Pudding?
Chapter 97: Pudding Factory (9)
When Gray Reaper tapped the ground three times with its small foot, mes suddenly shot up from the cracked drainage ditches around the vacant lot.
Was the gasoline from the wrecked sports car leaking into the ditch?
The gasoline must have spread out evenly due to Gray Reaper''s ability.
A sudden hot wave of heat.
The vacant lot where Gray Reaper and the Lophiomus variant were fighting turned into an arena surrounded by mes.
Grrrrrr-! (rumble)
And the ground began to shake violently.
"Are the underground tunnels copsing? But they shouldn''t copse from just that level of shock?"
James had an expression of witnessing an unbelievable phenomenon. "Gray Reaper can do anything! It might even be able to destroy the Earth if it wants to."
She boasted about Gray Reaper''s amazing abilities with a full smile on her face.
BOOM!
With a sudden explosion, the ground where Lophiomus was unnaturally sank down.
In Songpa-gu, an enormous sinkhole had urred.
But this time, it was a cute little sinkhole, scaled down like a customized pit for Lophiomus.
It seemed like a miniaturized version of what had happened in Songpa-gu.
Once the swirling dust cleared, Lophiomus had already been sucked into the hole.
But the ending was different from Songpa-gu.
Thud. Thud-!
With loud thud, the massive monster''s hand emerged above the edge of the sinkhole.
The sinkhole couldn''t contain the Lophiomus variant.
whackkk-!
The sound of the Lophiomus variant''s body bursting out.
The hand that had firmly gripped the ground vanished with that sound.
And then a huge crashing sound shook the ground.
The Lophiomus variant had plummeted back to the bottom of the sinkhole.
The suddenly appeared Golden Reaper had jumped in and eliminated Lophiomus''s hand.
Gray Reaper was now surrounded by countless Golden Reapers.
When Gray Reaper stretched out its hand forward, the Golden Reapers swarmed towards the sinkhole and one by one leapt inside.
Each time a Golden Reaper jumped in, a crunching sound of part of Lophiomus''s body being destroyed could be heard.
Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.
As the Golden Reapers endlessly fell into the sinkhole, the sounds resembled popcorn popping.
Kwooooooooggghhh-!
Lophiomus''s agonizing scream echoed out from inside the sinkhole.
All the confidence it had been feeling vanished, and the sound was filled with terror.
Kwaaaang!
With a huge sound, the Lophiomus variant made a big jump out of the sinkhole.
The airborne Lophiomus variant looked tattered all over its body.
Holes in the shape of Golden Reapers riddled it everywhere.
It looked like a tattered paper made by a paper punching machine.
But the trajectory of the falling Lophiomus variant was strange.
Wasn''t its target Gray Reaper?
The Lophiomus variant had actually jumped aiming for us spectating from the outskirts of the vacant lot.
Though tattered, its still massive body weight that could easily crush a person or two was plummeting towards us.
Why suddenly?
"Quickly evade!"
Turning at the sudden shout, James was hurriedly fleeing while carrying an unconscious man on his back.
But.
It was already toote to evade.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Remembering the fight in Songpa-gu, I tried making a sinkhole, but it was useless as expected.
Why didn''t Lophiomus try to escape from the Songpa-gu sinkhole back then?
Did someone smear honey down there or something?
Reenacting the fight with Lophiomus made me realize it had truly be stronger.
This level ofbat and regeneration doesn''t strain my me reserves much anymore.
The experiment is over, so I should fight a bit more seriously.
When I summoned the Golden Reapers, countless ones poured out from the Golden Reaper garden.
Some had already charged at the extremely dangerous Lophiomus variant and severed its arm.
I stretched my hand towards the sinkhole.
Commanding the Golden Reapers.
''Hey, there''s a harmful object over there for the humans! Get rid of it!''
Tak tak tak~
Hop hop~
The Golden Reapers rushed towards the sinkhole at their own speeds.
And without hesitation, they leapt down into it.
Pop. Pop pop.
The irregrly ringing bursting sounds were pleasant to hear.
As expected, the Golden Reapers were far more fuel-efficient.
Since the Golden Reaper garden was created, almost no me was needed for revivals.
I could feel the Lophiomus variant''s regeneration rate gradually slowing down.
It seemed it would be smoothly dealt with at this rate, but the Lophiomus variant made a final struggle.
For some reason, it attempted an attack towards Yerin.
This variant doesn''t understand.
There''s no way I''d leave Yerin in danger, right?
I stretched out both arms and summoned the Golden Reaper garden into reality.
When I fully deployed the garden with all my power, the surrounding factory area instantly vanished without a trace.
And what filled the surroundings was,
A vastnd of beds, a sea of hot chocte, and a heaven of snacks and puddings.
¡°Huh? Suddenly, this is, the Golden Reaper¡¯s house?¡±
Yerin''s surprised voice.
Kwooong-!
And the Lophiomus variant fell at apletely different spot from where Yerin was.
The Lophiomus variant seemed confused by the abruptly changed environment.
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And it didn''t seem to understand why its jump had missed its target.
However, the Lophiomus variant didn''t give up and started charging towards Yerin again.
A futile act.
***
Yerin POV:
---
"Whoa!"
When Reaper stretched out its arms, the surroundingspletely changed into Golden Reaper''s house.
"So objects can do things like this too? What should I call this? Space substitution? Spatial transference?"
James had a worried expression.
Grrrr-!
The Lophiomus variant stubbornly charged at us, not giving up despite such an abnormal phenomenon.
I was surprised by the Lophiomus''s unexpected persistence, but something even more surprising happened.
When Reaper stomped down with one foot, space itself folded up and rose like a wall between the Lophiomus variant and us.
And when Reaper reached out and cupped its hands together, the space the Lophiomus was in started curling up into a sphere.
Inside that curled up sphere of space, the distorted and elongated Lophiomus variant looked like it was trapped in a fish-eye lens world.
Then when Reaper clenched its fists tightly, that spherical cut-off space crumpled inwards and vanished without a trace.
Reaper calmly looked back at us with aposed expression.
"This is... almost like a god."
James'' expression went beyond worry and seemed devastated.
"Are you okay, Reaper?"
As usual, Reaper looked expressionless and calm.
But for some reason, the Reaper looked tired, so I ran over and hugged it.
Reaper often felt better when I hugged it, so it would probably feel better this time too.
Fortunately, when I looked down, Reaper''s expression had improved considerably.
***
James POV:
---
I don''t think I''ll be able to forget today''s events.
At some point, America, and humanity as a whole, firmly believed they could catch up to and conquer Objects.
But after witnessing today''s events, I''m not so sure.
Can humanity really recreate such phenomena?
The fortunate thing was that causing such phenomena also seemed strenuous for Gray Reaper.
Gray Reaper''s expression was hard to read, but to my eyes, it looked exhausted to the point of fatigue right now.
The unidentified space that had nketed reality had vanished as quickly as it appeared, like bursting bubbles.
¡°Now that thest obstacle in our way is gone, let''s go retake the factory.¡±
I tried to smile and speak in a bright voice.
Passing through the torn door, we were able to reunite with the pudding production Object that Lophiomus had upied.
¡°I don''t think we''ll be able to resume production anytime soon.¡±
The pudding production Object was in a mess.
Many production facilities were destroyed.
On top of that, the most important rabbit dolls were either destroyed or had escaped.
It''s going to be a long time before the factory is back to normal.
***
Yerin POV:
---
Deep inside the factory that the Lophiomus variant had been guarding, there was an Object that lookedpletely different from what I had imagined.
"Is this the Object that produces pudding? Since it''s a pudding production factory, I imagined arger facility-like Object..."
It looked more like a toy for ying house than a factory.
It was a cute little kitchen with cooking stations and utensils the size of the rabbit dolls that had attacked us.
Compared to the surrounding structures that were torn apart and smashed, some of the mini kitchens were in very good condition.
"It looks fine to this degree, so why is it difficult to resume production?"
"It''s difficult because the most important rabbit dolls are gone. It will take quite a while for rabbit doll production, so normalization will also take time. I''m sorry you came all this way just to buy pudding."
Reaper, who had been silently listening to the conversation with James, waddled over and stood in front of the mini kitchen.
Could Reaper be trying to do it directly?
But it''s too small for Reaper to fit inside.
When Reaper stretched out its hands, peculiarly shaped Golden Reapers popped out of its palms.
They were cute Golden Reapers wearing chef hats with rabbit ears sticking out.
The Golden Reapers skillfully entered the mini kitchen and took their positions.
"Could they be substituting for the rabbit dolls?"
James looked perplexed.
I was a bit surprised too.
Reaper is just too versatile!
Reaper looked at us with an expression that said it could obviously do it.
"Well then, let''s give it a try."
When James ced the book he cherished on some device, golden mes shot up from the book and the mini kitchen started lighting up.
And then some adorable cooking began.
It was a division ofbor in the cooking process, but the strange thing was that time inside the mini kitchen seemed to be elerated tenfold.
The instantlypleted puddings were sent through the chimney attached to the mini kitchen, and the puddings floated up enveloped in bubbles from that chimney.
"Wow, the puddings areing out super fast."
"That''s because time is elerated inside that kitchen. Once we repair the factory and start up the other mini kitchens, they''lle out even faster."
I turned my head, imagining Reaper being happy watching the puddings, but Reaper looked unsatisfied for some reason.
Why the sullen expression this time?
Reaper waddled over, picked up the book, and threw it at James.
Then Reaper made a meaningful expression and ced its hand on the device where the book had been.
Then golden mes shot out from Reaper''s body and started getting sucked into the machine.
"Huh? Whoa?"
The mini kitchen then started elerating little by little.
10x, 100x, 1,000x, 10,000x.
The Golden Reapers were moving so fast, not even afterimages remained.
James yelled "Stop!" but it was toote.
And then puddings enveloped in bubbles sted out of the chimney like cannon fire.
The torrent of bubble puddings assaulted the factory!!
BOOM!
The pudding torrent broke through the factory ceiling and freely scattered in all directions into the sky.
Wow, the whole world is filled with pudding.
What do we do now? I think I''m really going to get scolded by sister Seo-ah.
Chapter 98: Pudding Factory - Aftermath (1)
3rd Person POV:
---
Late at night, the security room at the Sehee Research Institute was bustling with people.
Usually at this hour, only a few drowsy employees would be sitting at their stations trying to stay awake. But tonight, unusually, there were many employees with bright, sparkling eyes.
Of course, this wasn''t because they were working hard, as one would expect at the Sehee Research Institute.
The employees were holding popcorn and focusing on the CCTV screens with the same feeling as watching an entertaining TV program.
On the CCTV screens, a Golden Reaper could be seen hopping around carrying pudding.
The Research Institute employees were watching with the same feeling as viewing videos of cats or dogs.
"The Golden Reaper is so cute. I want to take one home." "Me too."
Late at night, a Golden Reaper was waddling down a dark hallway with even the lights turned off.
The Golden Reaper was trying its best to sneak around cautiously, looking in all directions. But in reality, it was impossible for a Golden Reaper to hide on such a dark night.
Because Golden Reaper emitted a gentle glow, just like Gray Reaper!
The hallway without a single light source was wavering with the faint glow emanating from the Golden Reaper.
The Golden Reaper''s seemingly smooth and enjoyable journey suddenly hit a major obstacle.
The path was blocked!
In front of the startled Golden Reaper stood a huge steel wall, barring its way.
The Golden Reaper, which had been waddling along unhindered, suddenly stopped in its tracks when the path disappeared. It stood still, looking around in bewilderment.
"It seems it didn''t know that some sections get blocked off by barriers after midnight."
"Well, Golden Reapers usually fall asleep as soon as eveninges, so it probably didn''t know about it."
The Golden Reaper wandered back and forth around the closed door, as if searching for a gap it could pass through. But of course, there were no such gaps in the standard Object barriers.
If it had been a Gray Reaper, it would have torn through the barrier long ago and then casually continued on its way with the pudding. But the Golden Reaper didn''t seem to have any such intentions.
"Should we open it for it?"
"Hey, if we get caught doing that, we''ll get more than just a pay cut, you know?"
"But I feel so bad for it."
Not knowing any other way, the Golden Reaper kept lingering near the barrier.
It tapped on the steel door, tried climbing up the barrier wall.
After failing every possible attempt, the Golden Reaper hugged the pudding and plopped down sadly on the floor.
The high-performance CCTV installed by Deputy Director Seo-ah captured the Golden Reaper''s dejected expression perfectly.
"Ah, screw it. Let''s just open it!"
Unable to watch the sad Golden Reaper any longer, one of the security room employees recklessly operated the controls to raise the barrier.
Swoosh
With a loud noise, the barrier wall slowly began to rise.
***
The Golden Reaper was worrying as it looked at the pudding.
Pudding...
It needs to be eaten quickly while it''s delicious.
But the path leading to its beloved human was blocked by a huge steel wall.
A steel wall it could easily break through.
However, Golden Reapers cannot break human belongings, as that would sadden the humans. So all the Golden Reaper could do was sit crouched on the floor and wait.
But then, a miracle urred.
Swoosh
With a loud noise, the steel wall began slowly rising upwards.
The Golden Reaper instantly wiped away its sad expression and dashed towards the rising steel wall.
It would reach its beloved human in no time now!
***
Sehee POV:
---
Director''s Office, Sehee Research Institute.
It was past the time when most people had gone home, but I remained in the director''s office clutching a book like a student.
Ah, I''m going to die like this.
This isn''t some exam you can pass by studying for just 3 months
I heard people in this industry find it rtively easy, but why is it so difficult?
Wasn''t I also in this industry?
Inwardly cursing those ''Daily Objects'' that led to the creation of thesews, I flipped through the pages again.
Then, I heard an adorable ''knock knock'' sound at the office''s door.
A knock that waspletely different from Seo-ah''s scary knock - an adorable sound.
When I opened the door slightly, I saw a Golden Reaper holding out pudding like offering a pizza.
I ced the Golden Reaper on my palm and epted the pudding.
This is the pudding everyone said was delicious.
I had been thinking of trying it, but was too busy to even consider eating it.
"You brought me pudding? Thank you."
I brought the Golden Reaper close to my face and gently stroked it, but Golden Reaper looked depressed and stroked under my eyes.
Ah, could it be my dark circles?
Could it be worried because I look tired?
"It''s okay, it''s okay. I''ll just eat the pudding and rest today."
I opened the pudding and scooped some with a spoon to give the Golden Reaper a bite.
Then I took a bite too.
I had been struggling to study, but seeing the Golden Reaper giggling happily gave me energy.
For some unfounded reason, I started feeling confident that I could pass the certification exam.
Well, can''t be helped.
Today I''ll eat pudding and sleep, and work hard again tomorrow!
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---
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Lying on the factory floor, watching the pudding bubbles floating in the sky.
"Oh no, this is a big problem."
Yerin was just rolling around, watching the pudding foam spreading far in all directions.
Is this really something to worry about?
You could just think of it as the entire nation getting free pudding.
Anyway, today was too tiring.
Fighting the Lophiomous subspecies in hand-to-handbat, wasting me.
Hastily deploying the Golden Reaper garden, wasting me.
Unnecessarily crushing the Lophiomous subspecies with spatial maniption to deal with it, wasting me.
I wasted too much me, so I''m exhausted.
It was all my own fault for dragging things out and causing the waste.
*tut tut*
The Golden Reaper poked my cheek, which was sprawled on the ground from exhaustion.
It poked my cheek as it held out the pudding, as if it wanted me to eat it.
Eating the pudding offered by the Golden Reaper while watching the puddings float in the sky was quite pleasant in its own way.
I guess pudding will being to Sehee Research Institute now?
Although it was tiring, thinking about the delicious pudding I''ll get to eat made me happy.
Hehe~
This time, I handled two objects.
The murderous bear robot and the Lophiomous subspecies.
But I didn''t gain any abilities.
It seemed to be because they were both physical-type Objects.
No matter how muscr they were, destroying them didn''t make me gain any muscles.
This Lophiomous subspecies in particr had really impressive muscles, so I had hoped to gain some strength-rted ability for once.
Since Ick strength, I can''t even open bottles, so Yerin has to open them for me. It''s inconvenient.
If there''s no one around to help, I have no choice but to st off the cap by ovepping space.
Omnomnom
I was huddled together with the Golden Reapers, eating pudding, when Yerin came over and called us over.
"Alright, let''s head back to the Research Institute now!"
Since I just looked at her without moving, Yerin strode over, slipped her hands under my hands, and scooped me up.
Carried like a cat and ced in the vehicle.
And we were off in an instant.
Watching the pudding factory grow distant, I thought...
''Ah, there was some residual slime that could have been identally left behind for the Golden Reapers'', but I forgot about it because I was so tired.
I felt a bit regretful.
---
3rd Person POV:
---
James looked out the hotel window at the rising morning sun and thought.
It had been a long day.
After the Gray Reaper left the factory, there were so many things James had to take care of.
After the Gray Reaper left, James called the Object Handling Team to search for any Objects that might be hiding inside the factory.
He sent the unconscious interpreter to the hospital and dispersed the people gathered in front of the factory.
Now, to prepare for any problems that may arise from the foam pudding leak incident, he had to meet with awyer, publish some newspaper articles by meeting reporters he knew well, and so on.
It had been a long day, but the day wasn''t over yet.
As he was catching his breath in the hotel room, his smart watch rang with a call.
The caller was a ''friend'' living in China.
A man leading anachronistic ninjas.
"It''s been a while since your call. What''s going on that you''re calling suddenly?"
[...]
"There was a problem. As expected, we were ambushed under the guise of an ident shortly after setting up a factory in Korea. If it wasn''t for your request, I would never have built a factory in Korea."
[...]
"The Gray Reaper? I met it, though I didn''t want to meet it this soon. Well, it does seem to be rted to Artifact Zero."
[...]
"I''m not sure about this incident. The timing is coincidental, but Korea has so many idents like this that I can''t make a judgment."
[...]
"Yeah, alright. Let''s meet next time, friend."
James hung up andy down on the bed.
His expression seemed troubled for some reason.
***
Yerin POV:
---
Arrived!
After leaving the pudding factory, Reaper finally arrived at the istion room at Sehee Research Institute.
In my arms was the soft, warm, sleeping Reaper.
Holding Reaper in my arms, I slowly leaned down andy on the bed together.
Reaper must have been really tired today, falling asleep in the car without even eating snacks.
Ever since fighting Lophiomus, the me in its chest had dimmed a bit and it looked sleepy.
Cradled in my arms, Reaper had its mouth tightly shut, with a slight smile, as if dreaming.
Now that I was in the istion room, I could definitely feel the difference.
Reaper had turned white.
It had turned slightly white after touching that book, but I''m not sure if this is a good or bad thing.
Chapter 99: Pudding Factory - Aftermath (2)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
I was having a dream.
A dark and gloomy dream.
A dream so vivid like reality that I couldn''t feel any difference from reality.
However, the ability to induce sleep obtained by dealing with the Golden Tree made me aware that this was a dream.
The vast wastnd was littered with the remains of broken Objects.
Aridnd and dry air.
For some unknown reason, this ce seemed to be the ''Golden Reaper''s Garden''.The Golden Reaper was nowhere to be seen, and the ce had nothing inmon with it, but strangely, it gave off that feeling.
A ck, sticky substance was oozing out from the debris of the shattered Objects, pooling around the debris like blood flowing from a wound.
Even though only the Objects were shattered, it gave off an eerie feeling.
In this eerie setting, people with familiar appearances were seen.
Ninjas in ck masks and ck clothes.
A swarm of ninjas extending to the horizon like ck cockroaches.
They were bowing their heads towards an empty throne.
The throne was made of debris from the destroyed Objects.
Despite being empty without its owner, the throne exuded an aura of dominance along with its peculiar dreadful feeling.
The ninjas were bowing their heads towards the throne with expressions mixed with reverence and fear.
It was a reverence towards the unseen owner of the throne.
And then, a murmuring could be heard.
The unintelligible hymn of the tongueless ninjas began.
Though the song had no lyrics, the feeling of reverence it contained flowed into me clearly.
Reverence and worship!
An unknowable sense of omnipotence spread from the me.
Even in a dream, I felt like the me was growing by consuming emotions.
As I basked in the omnipotence that filled the me, I felt a gaze upon me and turned my head to see a ck silhouette on the throne.
Pitch ck.
Bright red.
It was a gloomy appearance of mine.
The moment our gazes met, the dream began to push me away.
It felt like it was telling me not toe here.
The space that created the dream became blurred and began cracking like ss.
Through the blurred vision, an unfamiliar sky appeared.
In the sky, there was a moon burning with ck mes and seven colorful moons shining like a rainbow.
***
Yerin POV:
---
When I opened my eyes from the sudden disappearance of warmth, Reaper was nowhere to be found in my arms.
"Reaper?"
I looked around but couldn''t see Reaper, so I decided to go look for it.
It was unusual for Reaper to wander alone in the deep night without any reason.
After passing through the dark hallway and going outside, I finally saw Reaper.
In the backyard of the Research Institute where a cool breeze was blowing.
Reaper gazing up at the moon in the sky.
Its hair fluttering in the wind and one hand stretched up towards the moon.
It had a mysterious atmosphere, as if it came out of a novel or movie.
In the dark night, with trees and grass in the background, Reaper gazing up at the moon looked quite atmospheric.
I silently watched Reaper from behind, giving off that peculiar vibe, and took out my phone.
And I preserved this wonderful moment in time as a photograph.
Upon reviewing the photo I took, one thing caught my eye that had changed.
Looking at it now, Reaper''s color has returned to normal?
Reaper, who had turned slightly white, has reverted to its original color!
I was a bit worried when its color changed, but I''m relieved.
***
[Despite concerns, this pudding incident doesn''t seem to have caused a major ident?]
[Initially, it was expected that bubbles would burst and pudding would fall, causing an ident...]
The deputy director''s office was noisy with the sound of the TV.
"Still, it''s a relief. It doesn''t seem to escte into a big deal. Especially since the CEO James didn''t mention us at all and only said ''factory malfunction due to Object upation.''"
Seo-ah unnie''s calm words.
In fact, I thought I would be dragged to the deputy director''s office and scolded to near death because of this incident!
Unexpectedly, Seo-ah unnie didn''t nag much and just let it go.
I definitely thought it was thanks to the Golden Reaper sitting on her shoulder and acting cute towards Seo-ah.
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Thank you, Golden Reaper!
Lately, it seems like Seo-ah unnie''s anger has subsided a bit.
"Rather, the problem is these guys..."
"Ah..."
Seo-ah unnie looked down at her desk with a worried expression.
Five Golden Reapers were sprawled out like corpses.
The adorable Golden Reapers wearing cooking hats with rabbit ears, making them twice as cute.
They didn''t react even when poked with a finger.
When picked up, they hung limp without any strength, like liquid.
The poor Golden Reapers looked like they had been overworked 10,000 times or more.
Seeing how Gray Reaper didn''t pay much attention, it seemed they would regain their energy if left alone, but just looking at them was too pitiful.
When I first saw them, I thought the Golden Reapers had died from overwork.
Since they don''t originally breathe, they looked like corpses when motionless, and I was really startled.
Fortunately, they weren''t dead.
If I brought a bit of pudding to their mouths, they would slowly move their jaws and eat it bit by bit.
So we moved these kids to Seo-ah unnie''s private room and were taking care of them.
Omm nomnom.
Iid a Golden Reaper on my palm and slowly fed it pudding.
Ah, so cute!
Even though I was just taking care of them, they were so cute that it felt rewarding.
Seo-ah unnie was also concentrating hard and sincerely caring for the Reapers.
For Seo-ah unnie to concentrate this much other than when looking at documents...
It was a peaceful daily life at the Sehee Research Institute.
Come to think of it, I haven''t seen Sehee unnietely?
***
??? POV:
---
An imposing hall unfolded like a scene from a forgotten era.
In the center, a grand mosaic was spread across the floor, with intricate tile patterns telling various stories.
It was an exotdscape and a picture containing a legend never seen before.
A very small amount, but rain that never stopped.
Chapter 100: Cruise Ship (1)
Under the gloomy gray sky, a soft drizzle was falling over the makeshift container houses clustered together at the refugee camp.
The rain gently embraced the people who had fled from the desert, as ifforting them.
The Gangseo District refugee camp was slowly bing drenched by the rain that had been falling for days.
The rain fell so softly that it made no sound, but since it had continued for days, it was quietly engulfing everything in the camp.
The streetlights illuminating the dark interior of the camp made the rain-soaked streets look mysteriously shimmering.
A tall woman covered in tattoos and a little girl were entering this refugee camp.
The towering woman, wearing an oversized raincoat, was collecting the drizzling raindrops in her palm and observing them, as if entranced.
Endlessly.
"Sister?"The woman, who had been staring nkly at the raindrops, startled at her younger sister''s voice and flicked the collected raindrops onto the ground.
Then she took out a leaf and started chewing it noisily, stuffing another leaf into her sister''s mouth.
"This is so bitter"
The younger sister scrunched her face in displeasure at the extremely bitter taste of the leaf.
"Keep chewing it if you don''t want to be entranced. Don''t swallow it."
"So did you figure something out?"
"Yes, it''s as expected. There must be a reason these things keep happening only in Seoul, but I don''t know what it is."
The tall woman looked up at the soft drizzle creating a beautiful scenery as it gently reflected the light.
The asphalt, shimmering like scattered jewels reflecting the streetlights, was clearly not ordinary.
The weather forecast she checked directly indicated a high chance of the rain stopping soon, but upon examination, this rain would never cease.
Probably until the entire Yangcheon District was submerged in water.
Children chasing raindrops.
The air smelling fresh from the rain.
Laughter echoing through the damp air.
People chatting under waterproof canopies.
The camp still had a peaceful atmosphere.
Such a drizzle couldn''t disrupt the people''s tranquility yet.
Ssh ssh.
Rolling her feet, she could feel the water pooling on the asphalt.
About 10mm deep.
The drizzle had already started umting water, even in this well-drained area where it shouldn''t pool from just a drizzle.
"But sister, what will happen to Yangcheon District then?"
"Probably in about a week, the water will rise noticeably. That''s when it will start."
"And after that?"
"The rain will keep falling. And the ground will start sinking."
"Then what will happen to the people living here? Can''t we stop it?"
"There''s no way for humans to stop it. It can''t be prevented. Let''s slowly head back now."
The girl nodded at her sister''s words and tightly held her hand.
And the girl and tall woman left the camp, beautifully enveloped in the rain.
***
Yerin POV:
---
Nom nom nom~
Watching Reaper eat pudding cradled in my arms, I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion remembering the struggles to obtain that pudding.
Searching all over the country for pudding, even going to pudding factories and fighting off Objects!
It has been a whopping two weeks since the operation to reim the puddings.
Fortunately, most of the pudding that had scattered into the sky was recovered.
At first, I worried, What if it collided with airnes? Or if the bubbles burst and rained down on people''s heads?
But it all wrapped up without any major incidents, thankfully.
And our Research Institute has set up a special facility just for Reaper - a mini kitchen for producing pudding!
It was moved from the pudding factory and installed inside the istion room.
Thanks to this, Reaper can sit in the istion room and happily scoop up the bobbing pudding cups.
The Golden Reapers wearing tiny chef hats started waddling out of the mini kitchen.
They politely removed their hats and passed them to the next Golden Reaper.
It was the end of their kitchen shift.
The reward for their culinarybor? Pudding!
The Golden Reapers wanting to eat pudding were so numerous that they lined up, ensuring the kitchen fire never went out.
It seemed they had established an unspoken rule ''Those who do not work cannot eat pudding'', among themselves without anyone instructing them
The only one receiving free pudding while lying around like a pig was the Gray Reaper.
The Golden Reapers are admirable!
I poked the chubby cheeks of Reaper, who had grown plump from eating pudding without working.
Come to think of it, it''s not like it wasn''t working at all.
The energy source that powered the kitchen was being supplied by the Gray Reaper.
Just like a factory owner.
While poking the slim sides of Reaper, who stays thin no matter how much it eats, we watched TV together.
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[It''s still raining in Yangcheon District right now]
[Yangcheon District is flooded by a mere 0.1mm of rain per hour]
[People have already started to evacuate due to the ankle-deep water]
Yangcheon District was agonizing over the unceasing drizzle.
A strange phenomenon where pumping out the water didn''t lower the level.
The rainfall was a mere 0.1mm per hour.
But instead of draining through sewers, the rainwater just kept rising.
For the first week, it was dismissed as abnormal weather, but after over 2 weeks with visibly rising water levels, they realized this was no ordinary urrence.
[This must be caused by an Object!]
The people who lost their homes to desertification in Gangseo District now had to relocate again.
They were called ''the cursed people'', quite pitiable.
I took a bite of the pudding, and as expected, it was deliciously tasty.
How does it achieve this vor?
Is it because it''s an Object?
But sadly, this pudding''s calories are quite heavy, so I only ate one a day.
I wish I could eat pudding without worry like Reaper.
Feeling vexed for no reason, I kept poking Reaper''s cheeks.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
Under the endless sky without a single cloud, an enormous full moon shone with a brilliant radiance rivaling the sun''s.
The moon was so bright it inspired awe.
The moon''s silvery glow gently illuminated everywhere its light touched, casting a subtle shimmering over theke''s surface.
Theke, imbued with the moon''s radiance, sparkled beautifully like a mirror dusted with jewel powder.
The moonlitke was so clear and transparent that the bottom could be seen just from the moonlight shining down.
The rippling moonlight draped a magnificent curtain of aurora-like lights deep into theke.
By this magnificent, serenekeshore, the blonde girl looked at the ck operative and said,
"Isn''t it really beautiful, uncle? I wish we could have seen thiske during the day too."
A hint of longing for what can no longer be seen lingered in her voice as a shadow briefly crossed her expression.
"Indeed. Someday, you will be able to see it."
The ck agent replied matter-of-factly in an impassive tone.
Upon hearing the agent''s words, the sadness vanished from the blonde girl''s face like clouds parting to let sunlight stream through, reced by a bright smile.
"You''re right. Definitely."
Giggling, the girl turned her head back to gaze intently at theke''s surface.
The heart''s guidance.
Following it led them to thiske.
Her red eyes, filled with the power of the Object, saw only the blue of the silver moon reflecting off the surface of theke.
Theke that swallowed up Yangcheon District, an area prohibited for ordinary people to enter.
Standing by thekeshore, the girl waited for the next guidance of her heart.
For the day when she could stand again under the sun.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
A cheerful singing voice resounded through the backyard of the Sehee Research Institute.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Despite thete hour, the employees gathered without leaving, creating a festive atmosphere.
Arge banner hung in the backyard, revealing the purpose of this party.
<>
It was a celebration for Sehee obtaining an Object license.
Sehee, the star of this party, had apparently drunk quite a bit as she swayed while endlessly, incessantlyining to Seo-ah and Yerin about how difficult the exam studies were.
The Golden Reapers, intoxicated by the joyful atmosphere, were livening up the party by performing dazzling dance moves on therge table where the food was ced.
To make such a fuss just for getting a license.
Well, Sehee had seemed exceptionally stressed outtely.
Her eyes were sunken, her skin dark, and her hair messy.
More surprising was that this frenzied party was merely the ''pre-party''.
How difficult must the exam studies have been for her to n a week-long cruise party for all Research Institute employees?
"Reaper~ save me."
Yerin, who had escaped from Sehee, clung to me.
Then she opened her phone and showed me numerous savedke photos, gushing with anticipation.
"Reaper, aren''t you excited? We''re going to the famous Yangcheon Districtke!"
The location Sehee booked for the cruise party was the recently popr tourist spot, Yangcheon District Lake.
It was portrayed as such a fantastic ce on TV that most employees decided to attend the party.
"They say you can see the submerged Yangcheon District from theke bottom since the water is so clear and transparent. Aren''t you curious?"
Yangcheon District Lake was a massiveke formed after Yangcheon District submerged underwater, so I was a bit curious.
Apparently Yangcheon District Lake never gets polluted, and the submerged city doesn''t rust or get dirty either.
It must be 100% an Object.
And the kind that harms humans at that, yet it''s treated as a popr tourist spot.
It was a bit strange.
For Korea to casually open an Objectke to the public just 3 monthster was odd.
"You''ll being too in a portable istion room, so it''ll be really fun!"
I felt like something really fun was going to happen.
Chapter 101: Cruise Ship (2)
3rd Person POV:
---
A cave located on the shore of Yangcheon District Lake.
A famous tourist spot that all visitors to Yangcheon District Lake must visit.
Into that cave where countless touristse and go, a reporter entered with a calm expression.
The reporter was dressed lightly and had a happy expression, as if he hade for sightseeing, but the hand gripping the camera was damp with tension.
It was unavoidable, as two senior reporters who had gone to cover thiske had already gone missing.
In fact, the reporter did not want to cover this Object this time.
Yangcheon District Lake was not an Object that reporters or mediapanies should handle, but a national disaster that the nation itself should delve into.It''s not about the size of theke.
It was about this phenomenon that was driving the entire nation of South Korea insane.
No matter how much the general public mored for theke to be opened, it was not normal to open it to the public this quickly.
The whole country has gone mad!
Even the major Object mediapany the reporter belonged to was the same, and except for the two missing seniors and himself, no one felt anything was strange.
The two seniors who felt something was strange left to cover the story with the determination of war correspondents, but in the end, they did not return.
No, they could not return.
They went missing just like that.
To finish their investigation, the reporter ended uping here.
The reporter''s musings were broken by a loud exmation.
"Wow, look at that!"
The sounds of tourists eximing and camera shutters echoed from all around.
Turning towards the direction of the sound, an amazing sight was visible.
Cave walls that seemed to flow with a mixture of crystals and blue gems.
A cave pulsating with light gushing from the sparkling water surface.
If one came as a pure tourist, it would surely be an unforgettable sight.
But the reporter regained hisposure and moved his steps deeper into the less crowded parts of the cave.
There were two objectives.
The first was to find out what happened to the missing seniors.
The second was to obtain evidence of the ''suspicion of human sacrifice at Yangcheon District Lake'' that his seniors had tried to cover.
The deeper, less crowded parts of the cave revealed yet another scenery.
Amethyst, sapphire, and emerald-colored crystals adorned the walls and ceilings, scattering the rhythmic light they received like a kaleidoscope into various colors.
Pirs that seemed to support the sky, delicate arches decorating the scenery - it was like an artwork born in nature.
Since this cave was created by an Object, it must be an artwork created by an Object to lure humans.
And the Object that lures people is....
While having various thoughts, the reporter advancing deeper into the cave saw a suspicious group of people ahead.
Arge full moon visible through a rounded hole in the ceiling.
Rock formations that looked like stairs leading up towards the full moon.
A pool of water connected to Yangcheon District Lake, spread out below.
And people throwing themselves into the pool from the end of the stairs.
"!"
Found it.
The people who fell into theke did not resurface.
They sank into the water just like that.
Finally found it.
The evidence that the seniors were trying to find -
While frantically taking photos as evidence, a familiar voice was heard.
"Our youngest is quite something, to havee this far."
"Senior?"
But no matter where the reporter looked around, the senior''s figure was nowhere to be seen.
"I''m here. Here."
Only the senior''s voice could be heard.
"Haha, where are you even looking?"
The voice echoing from various parts of the cave only added to the confusion.
In the midst of this, the reporter''s eyes met the senior''s.
Standing next to the chillingly blue-glowing moon, the senior was gesturing.
Behind him, the other missing senior was also waiting with a smile.
"Senior? What happened?"
Wiping away the tears welling up unnecessarily, the reporter slowly climbed the stairs following the senior.
[Kig, what would be good this time?]
Then, a strange voice was heard.
It was the wicked voice of an old woman.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, the reporter regained his senses.
The seniors were nowhere to be seen, and before the reporter knew it, they were standing at the edge of the stairs, looking down into the pool.
[What are you doing? You''re awake!]
Something sharp pierced the heart.
Through the blurring vision, grotesquely twisted monsters were seen quarreling.
***
A cheerful enter sound rang out from the keyboard.
James stood from his seat, rolling his stiff shoulders from the paperwork.
Tired.
The aftermath of the pudding factory incident was slowly being wrapped up.
It was about time to return to the United States.
There was too much to do in the US to stay in Korea for long.
James left the study and satfortably on the sofa, turning on the TV.
[Experience the fantasticke and dreamy cave up close!]
As soon as he turned on the TV, an advertisement for a floating hotel near a famous tourist spot these days appeared.
Even to James, it looked like quite an attractive tourist destination.
"Hmm, it might not be a bad idea to stop by before returning to the US."
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Seeing the refreshing view of theke, James couldn''t help but mutter to himself.
Beep beep beep
James'' smartwatch started emitting an unpleasant sound.
An Object alert message.
A warning message arrived from the US Object Association.
The moment James received this message, he felt a shock like being hit in the head with a hammer.
He was thinking of visiting that suspiciouske for fun?
With such a suspiciouske appearing, he didn''t find it strange at all?
He thought he was an Object expert, but he made such a mistake.
Ding dong~ Ding dong~ Ding dong~
An urgent-sounding doorbell rang.
Proving its urgency, without waiting for James'' response, the sound of knocking on the door and voices came through.
Knock knock knock-!
"Mr. James. You must have received the emergency contact. We''vee to pick you up."
A familiar English ent.
People from the US had arrived to pick up James.
The US Object Management Association.
They had sent people to retrieve James.
Half-willingly, half-forced, James began leaving Seoul with only the bare minimum of luggage.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Theke was filled with boisterous sounds, and cheerful singing voices echoed across the vast expanse.
Under the starry night sky, Sehee Research Institute employees enjoyed a party while admiring the splendid view of theke.
The deck of the ship was brightly lit with warm, sparkling lights, creating a cozy atmosphere, and the Golden Reapers running around with bright faces added liveliness to the festival.
In the festive atmosphere, the aroma of barbecue wafted through the air, and the chefs'' dazzling fire shows captivated the researchers'' attention.
With the sizzling sounds as the background music, the Sehee Research Institute party grew more and more lively.
Slightly away from the center of the festival, in a slightly darker but atmospheric spot, someone was looking down at the Sehee Research Institute party.
Sehee Research Institute is still the same.
They didn''t seem to have any worries about having a party on this suspiciouske.
The ability of the Object lurking in Yangcheon District Lake seemed to reduce any sense of difort or worry about the Object.
The problem was that Sehee Research Institute was originally a ce without difort or worry.
Everyone''s heads were too much in the clouds, so they didn''t feel much difference.
Rather, the Golden Reapers, who smiled brightly while still remaining vignt of their surroundings, seemed more like researchers.
With Seo-ah''s condition deterioratingtely, the only sane person left at Sehee Research Institute was Kim Jungroo.
I left the preparations to the Golden Reapers and enjoyed the party, nestled in Yerin''s arms, picking up and eating various delicious foods one by one.
"Reaper, Reaper. Try this too."
Munch munch~
"The sushi here is also delicious!"
Munch munch~
Yerin was feeding me all kinds of food, and unexpectedly, all her choices were delicious, so for now, I was just epting whatever she gave me like a baby bird.
In the midst of this, Yerin called me from a particrly lively area with loud music ying.
"Reaper, Reaper. Look over there, look over there. It''s hrious!"
When Yerin called me while poking my cheeks, I turned my gaze and saw an unexpected scene.
Kim Jungroo, the only sane person at Sehee Research Institute.
Kim Jungroo, who absolutely never jokes around, was dancing with dazzling body movements!
When Kim Jungroo danced, a small Golden Reaper on the table followed his dance moves.
Swaying, jumping.
While Kim Jungroo''s dancing looked dignified, the Golden Reaper made it look cute when mimicking it.
I was quite surprised to see that scene.
Not only was the Golden Reaper copying the dance surprising,
But for me, seeing Kim Jungroo do such a thing was even more surprising.
Seeing Kim Jungroo act like that, the Object''s influence is clear.
Ding. Ding. Ding-!
Then suddenly, the sound of a bell rang out.
Looking around at the unpleasant ringing, theke had already been obscured by thick fog and fallen silent.
Finally, theke''s Object has appeared.
It doesn''t seem to have any intention of harming humans right now.
As the sticky, corpse-like ringing sound reverberated across the deck, the thick fog began to cover the ship, following the sound.
Even amidst the unpleasant ringing and thick fog, the Sehee Research Institute people wereughing and chatting as usual.
In contrast, the tense Golden Reapers were looking around in all directions.
The thick, viscous fog began to rise onto the deck, coiling around like wriggling vines embracing everything.
Ding-!
And as the final bell rang out, the people touched by the fog unnaturally fell into a deep sleep.
As the Golden Reapers scrambled to catch the suddenly sleeping people to prevent injuries, I calmly watched the center of the fog.
[Keh-keh-keh.]
An old woman''sughter came from within the fog.
Skkrrrrk-!
Along with the sound of ws scratching something, something began crawling up from the fog onto the deck.
The first thing visible were ws stained with human blood.
Then a withered, corpse-like arm.
Tangled hair like a broken broom.
A face with empty eye sockets and sharp teeth protruding haphazardly.
A twisted spine bursting through the skin here and there
[Looks like there are plenty of ythings this time too.]
An ominous old woman''s voice was heard, and a grotesque monster emerged through the fog.
And that grotesque thing that climbed onto the deck met my gaze.
Chapter 102: Cruise Ship (3)
Still Reaper POV:
---
From within the living, moving fog, I was able to face the old woman''s visage.
A grotesque form with her spine unnaturally twisted.
Her eyes were hollow, an endless darkness residing like a deep well, and her skin was tightly dried up like an ancient corpse, thinly draped over her skeletal frame.
The deck was eerily quiet, and the old woman and I silently gazed at each other, locking eyes.
[Why aren''t you asleep?]
The old woman''s voice rasped like dry leaves scratching against a rock.
Without answering her words, I took a step forward.Then the old woman raised her voice angrily and began threatening me.
[Ah, you seem to be an Object. Why are you provoking me on their behalf? I''m in a good mood today, so I''ll forgive you if you back off now. Get lost!]
Quite a powerful Object it seems, yet not afraid of me, how interesting.
With an expression like I''d found an amusing toy, I smiled faintly and took another step closer.
Simultaneously, the old woman began chanting a curse from her mouth.
[You fool. Your two eyes will be burned by fire, your flesh will be deep-fried in boiling oil. And amidst all that suffering, you will neither live nor die.]
The words pouring from the monster''s mouth were filled with malice, and due to that malice, the words took on a physical form, spilling out like ck smoke.
The corporeal curse swept over my body once.
Intense heat tried to burn my entire being, but it was no use.
Do curses count as physical attacks too?
I took another step forward.
[Your two eyes will be gouged out and you''ll never see ahead again!]
One step.
[Your bones will twist and your flesh will melt away, leaving you in eternal torment!]
[You''ll turn into a frog and never regain your true form!]
[All your hair will be plucked out...]
When I arrived right in front of the old woman''s nose, she forcibly contorted her mouth full of sharp protruding teeth into what looked like a smile.
It was a wretched smile.
[Forgive me! I waspletely wrong!]
And she flopped down prostrate on the floor.
Wringing her hands that looked like weapons, she continued speaking in a mismatched manner.
[Let''s negotiate. Negotiate. You don''t really need to kill me, do you?]
Just appearing harmful to humans is enough reason to kill, though.
There''s no need to spare her life.
As if reading my intentions, the old woman hurriedly continued.
[Compensation. I''ll give youpensation. If you spare me, I''ll lend you the power of the blue moon!]
But I had no intention of letting the old woman go.
Seeing that I gave no response, the old woman suddenly began dispersing like mist, trying to escape.
The old woman''s expression as she turned into mist looked relieved.
The old woman spat out one final curse in a triumphant voice.
[You let your guard down! From now on, you and everything you hold dear will forever fear the night and shadows!]
And the mist tried to fly away swiftly like the wind.
But it couldn''t fly away.
No matter how fast it tried to flee, the old woman''s position remained in that same spot.
The gloomy, fog-filledkeside had somehow transformed into a colorful array of cushions and hot choctes.
No matter how quickly she tried to escape, within the space I ruled, she couldn''t flee even a single step.
And amidst the hot choctes and cushions, fierce-looking Golden Reapers poked their heads out.
I confirmed with my own eyes that the condition for destroying the old woman was to She could never win.
She felt an absolute gap between the woman and herself.
[Hmm.]
The woman, who had been ncing back and forth between the ck agent and the blonde girl, slightly raised the corners of her mouth with an expression as if she had realized something.
Looking at the girl and the man with an expression like looking at toys, the woman casually waved her hand.
A jet of water gushing from the pool powerfully struck the girl and the man.
The ck agent immediately lost consciousness, and it was such a powerful force that even the girl was knocked down to the floor.
"Ugh."
Feeling immense pain from her stomach, the blonde girl gasped and clutched her belly.
[You came to fight, didn''t you? Get up quickly!]
The girl gritted her teeth and tried to get up from where she was, but her strength left her and she copsed to the floor.
[So you can''t even fight?]
"I''ll fight!"
The girl stood up with all her might, but her legs trembled as if she would copse at any moment.
The beautiful woman had already approached right next to the girl''s ear and whispered.
[Is what you want the red moon? Or to walk under the sun?]
"!"
The girl turned in surprise to look at the woman, who continued speaking with an expression of seeing something amusing.
[Surprised? There have been kids like you from time to time. It''s obvious.]
The woman spoke in a small voice, as if whispering.
[If you make a contract with me, I''ll turn you back to your original self, a human.]
It was a sweet story, like the whisper of a devil.
[How about it? Interested?]
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
At the foot of theke in Yangcheon District.
The Golden Reapers were diligently digging into the ground.
And in my supervising hand was a pudding container.
Inside was not pudding, but ashes.
The ashes remaining from burning the corpse of the old woman who had suddenly appeared.
I carefully buried the ashes in the hole that had formed.
The moment the ashes werepletely buried in the ground, I could feel a new ability arise.
With a poof, a blue Reaper emerged from my palm.
Chapter 103: Cruise Ship (4)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
For some reason, I had a feeling that I could create a blue mini Reaper, so I tried it....
And a blue Reaper really appeared.
The Golden Reapers also seemed amazed, staring intently at my palm.
They had expressions like looking at a newborn younger sibling.
Its appearance was exactly the same as me and the Golden Reapers.
However,pared to the Golden Reapers, the blue Reaper lying on my palm as if asleep showed some distinct differences.
The most noticeable was that it wore a hat?Arge witch''s hat made of water.
Except for its bluish hue, its body was much more transparent.
Like clear water.
Inside the transparent body, a faintly glowing me pulsated like a heart.
The edges of the blue Reaper''s hair were blurred like mist, giving off a dreamy vibe.
Blinking its eyes as if waking from sleep, the blue Reaper opened its eyes wide and looked around.
Around it were the Golden Reapers staring with interest.
Feeling their gazes, the blue Reaper pulled its hat down with both hands and sat hunched over.
Could it be feeling shy?
Then with one hand, it wrote something down in midair.
A string of iprehensible characters.
But I could understand them automatically.
The letters made of water appeared in the air, then turned into light and rushed towards me.
Some kind of Mage-like guy popped out.
The blue Reaper peeked at me by slightly lifting its hat.
Seeing that I wasn''t asleep, it didn''t know what to do and pulled its hat down again.
When I poked it with my finger, it turned into mist with a ''poof'' and disappeared.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
In the middle of Seoul Forest, an old brick house nestled among the ancient trees existed in a way that did not match the modern era at all.
The bricks covered in weathering and moss blended perfectly with the surrounding environment, as if they had grown from nature itself.
Inside this brick house with its peculiar charm was a slightly different scene.
It looked like stepping into a fantasy novel, with tools and furniture straight out of one.
Arge firece radiated warmth, casting shadows on the walls.
The firelight danced across the room, illuminating shelves filled with leather-bound books embossed with strange symbols and odd objects.
On a sturdy wooden table cluttered with scrolls and parchments sat an unidentified bottle.
A faintly glowing bottle containing an unidentifiable liquid.
An energy of some kind pulsated within the liquid, clearly an unusual item.
Exotic herbs found only in Seoul Forest hung from the ceiling, with a mortar stained by herb residue sitting below.
In this house that seemed cut out of a fantasy world, a girl rolling around spoke up.
"Sister, can''t we go to Yangcheon Districtke?"
"No."
The ''Yangcheon Districtke'' she had glimpsed in Seoul while getting supplies looked like a wonderful tourist spot that could make one''s heart turn green just by looking at it.
"Why not? Everyone else seems to go there without any problems."
"Absolutely not. Let me briefly exin how dangerous that ce is."
The tall woman naturally took out white grass from the pantry as she spoke.
"Grimoires, or rather Objects, are fundamentally iprehensible to humans but share somemon traits."
Lighting the white grass, a milky me rose up.
The white grass burning on the wooden table quickly turned to ash.
Brushing the ash off with her palm left no trace on the table.
"Like this white grass, Objects tend to minimize their impact on their surroundings. Yangcheon Districtke takes that to the extreme."
Numerous examples poured from her mouth.
A fire-type Object that burns only people while leaving the surroundings untouched, and so on.
Of course, she added that there are exceptions, so don''t believe it blindly.
Then she looked down at her younger sister with a serious expression and said,
"There, even if people die, it''s not sad, and even if strange things happen, it''s not strange. And I''m saying we''re not going ''now.'' We n to go soon, so just wait patiently."
"Really? Will we really go?"
Looking at her beaming younger sister, the woman silently apologized a little inside.
It was obvious that this wouldn''t be theke trip she had been looking forward to.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
After dealing with the old woman, the returning cruise ship was very quiet.
The people from the Sehee Research Institute couldn''t wake up from their sleep.
Worried about them, a Golden Reaper clung to each copsed person and nursed them back to health.
The Golden Reapers had gloomy expressions.
The fog had cleared, revealing a clear sky and beautifulke, but the people remained asleep.
Even after getting rid of the old woman, they didn''t wake up from their sleep.
Since she had said she would lend the ''power of the blue moon.''
Do I need to destroy the blue moon for them to wake up?
But looking up at the sky, there was only the red moon and the regr moon.
Then, a tremendous stench began to emanate from theke.
The Golden Reapers were startled and began staring intently at me.
?
Why are they looking at me?
tak tak tak~
trak-taktaktak
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As I took steps, the Golden Reapers scattered in all directions, fleeing.
Could it be they''re avoiding me now?
It''s disappointing if they''re doing this just because I made a few mistakes....
T/N: For those who didn''t get it, I think the Golden Reapers are afraid of being pranked again (cuz they smell the tremendous stench), just likest time when the Gray Reaper put a Golden Reaper on a ck slime.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
Inside a truck with windows tinted so heavily that sunlight could barely enter, two men were grumbling.
¡°Isn''t this the kind of job you''re supposed to subcontract out, and why are you suddenly insisting on supervising it yourself?¡±
"It''s probably because of the James Factory failurest time. That ''perfect'' director must have been furious after failing."
The two men snickered, thinking about the rarely angry director.
"To be honest, thatst incident was a bit strange. The director was practically an expert on Objects, but he ended up failing."
"I''ve never liked him from the start. No matter what data or experiment results we present, he insists his word is the absolute truth."
"Well, that guy was more of a prophet than the director of the Research Institute. He''d stubbornly insist, but then time would pass and the director''s words would actually turn out to be right, which really pissed me off. Maybe it''ll be better now that he''s been wrong this time."
The truck arrived at the shore of a vastke and stopped.
The transparent, vast Yangcheon Districtke.
"We''re finally here. Let''s get this done quickly and head back."
Having reached their destination, the men put on work gloves and boots, then tookrge drums out of the truck and began rolling them into theke.
An unpleasant smell of oil wasing from the drums.
The men scrunched their faces at the foul odor as they carried the drums.
¡°What the heck is this smell?¡±
"I don''t know. It seems only the senior researchers and above know, and we''ll never make senior rank after getting on the director''s bad side."
With each drum they rolled into theke, the temperature around theke seemed to drop gradually.
And a thick fog began to creep in from the depths of theke.
The fog started as a thin veil over the surface, but grew thicker and more opaque like a curtain.
As the fog thickened, sounds became muffled, creating an atmosphere like another world.
"Is this really okay?"
He muttered, feeling an eerie sense of being alone in the world, but received no answer.
"..."
A faint cry seemed toe from far away.
A sound so quiet that it would be inaudible if not in an extremely tense state.
"Are you okay? What''s wrong?"
He shouted loudly out of fear, but only a muffled echo came back, as if the fog absorbed the sound.
The sound of footsteps crunching on gravel came from the imprable fog.
Following the crisp sound, the man came face-to-face with a skull dripping fresh blood.
"Aaaaahh!"
The skull, covered in flesh and blood as if freshly torn off, was held in the hand of some monster.
[How dare you, how dare you pull such a trick?]
The monster revealed in the fog did not seem to be in good condition.
Half of the monster''s body was melting into ck slime.
Disgusting eyeballs were stuck all over the ck slime, and blood vessels protruded outwards, wriggling in all directions.
"Wh...Why?"
The director said the Object in Yangcheon District would be neutralized by the ck liquid, so it would be safe!
[You will suffer with your skin melting forever.]
His skin melted like butter.
Even if he tried to scream, no sound came from his melted mouth.
He desperately tried to crawl away on the bumpy gravel bottom, but his melted hands and feet wouldn''t move.
When the fog cleared, only a red lump remained lying by thekeshore.
That lump thrashed in endless agony, endlessly cursing the director who had deceived him.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
I sat on the railing with a sad expression, as if shocked that the Golden Reapers had fled.
With an expression filled with as much sorrow as possible.
The Golden Reapers who had avoided me saw that look and slowly approached, cowering.
Eventually, one Golden Reaper hopped up onto me and shook its body, expressing its apology.
And then!
I poked that Golden Reaper with my finger.
The Golden Reaper had a startled expression.
I looked down at it with a meaningful expression and smiled.
Hehe.
Realizing it had been betrayed, the Golden Reaper iled its limbs with a sad look and got sucked into the water.
pop.
When I summoned the Golden Reaper that fell into theke again, ity limp on my palm.
As if it realized the cruel reality that there was no one to be trusted.
I''m sorry.
Was that too much?
I gently stroked the Golden Reaper''s head with emotion, over and over, until its mood improved.
*
While pondering how to wake up the people the old woman put to sleep, I suddenly had a strange feeling.
Sitting on the railing and quietly looking down at theke water, the slightly ckened water clearly reflected the sky above.
And rising above that was the blue moon.
The moon reflected in the water was only one, not two.
I found it, the blue moon!
I smiled and used my ''Eye'' toward the blue moon.
At the same time, the Blue Reaper gradually became blurred and thenpletely transparent.
Of course, I could see where the mini versions of myself were, so it was useless.
Seeming relieved after turning transparent, it properly adjusted its hat and stood up on my palm.
Come to think of it, this little blue one was the only one wearing clothes.
Small shoes, a one-piece dress, and even arge hat.
It looked extremely ufortable, so I should advise it to go without clothes like meter.
Well, but first I need to deal with the sleeping people.
Feeling the Blue Reaper touching my palm, I conveyed my will to it.
''Wake up the people unnaturally asleep on this ship right now.''
The Blue Reaper looked around the deck after hearing my thoughts, and conveyed that it understood.
Hopping off my palm, the Blue Reaper created a broom made of water, then started flying around the cruise ship riding on it.
Letters made of water burst out and gently rained down on the people like dew.
The Golden Reapers looked at the sparkling dewdrops with wonder, jumping up and down in delight.
''....''
But no one woke up from their sleep.
I had thought the situation would be easily resolved, but there was no effect.
Hmm, I guess as a derivative, it can''t undo the original curse after all?
The Blue Reaper stood on my palm and looked around, before pulling its hat down low and conveying its thoughts to me.
''I''m sorry I couldn''t wake them up.''
Sensing it was quite disheartened, I gently patted its hat tofort it.
The Golden Reapers also climbed onto my palm and hugged it tightly, as if to say it was okay.
Seeming overwhelmed by the Golden Reapers'' attention, the Blue Reaper didn''t know what to do before fleeing to the Golden Reaper garden.
Unfortunately, Sehee''s fun party hase to an end today.
Thinking of the giant skeleton that appeared in the desert of the Red Moon, theke under the Blue Moon seems too dangerous.
I should evacuate the Sehee Research Institute people to the Golden Reaper garden.
I transfered the entire cruise ship to the Golden Reaper garden.
The birth of a massive passenger ship floating leisurely on the sea of hot chocte.
After moving the sleeping people onto the sea of hot chocte, I descended back to theke.
Alright, now I should quickly find this ''Blue Witch''s Mirror''.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
The deste Sehee Research Institute, with most people having gone out to y.
There were some unfortunate security staff remaining at the institute to manage the Objects.
Normally they would kill time watching movies or dramas on their phones, but the staff had gloomy expressions without doing anything else.
One employee nkly watching the CCTV suddenly spoke up.
"Ah, I wanted to go to theke, what a pity."
"Me too, I wanted to go. Should I just quit and go to theke instead?"
Stretching, a senior employee responded.
Their sullen expressions made them look almost like zombies.
"Is it because we couldn''t go to theke? I feel strangely tired and unmotivated. Even movies haven''t been funtely."
"Huh? Me too. I feel like I''ll be like this until I can see the wide openke."
The employee who answered looked at the empty pudding bowls with an even more gloomy expression and said,
"Actually, if it weren''t for the night shift, it wouldn''t be this hard. It would really make me happy if Golden Reaper fed me pudding during times like this.... Why does Golden Reaper sleep at night?"
"Who knows. It did wander around at night sometimes, but I''m not sure. Don''t the researchers know?"
The Sehee security room just continued to pass time without any particr incident.
And then at 6am.
When the sky was faintly tinted blue, the shift workers arrived.
After a simple handover, they returned to the dorms, and their messy, cluttered rooms weed them back.
Piles of garbage stacked like mountains.
Dirty dishes piled in the sink.
Clothes scattered carelessly on the floor.
They knew they had to clean it up eventually, but theycked the motivation.
Ah, forget cleaning.
They should just eat some convenience store lunchboxes and copse to sleep.
Thinking that, they went into the bathroom to start showering.
"Huh? What?"
After finishing the shower with their tired bodies, a strange sight unfolded before the employee''s eyes.
The piles of garbage stacked like mountains had disappeared.
The dirty dishes in the sink were neatly cleaned and organized.
The clothes on the floor were also neatly folded and arranged on the desk.
Normally it would be a shockingly surprising situation, but the employee''s mind, entranced by the Blue Moon, was strangely calm.
What is this?
Did a cleaning fairye and go?
With the room clean, the air in the room also felt unusually moist.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
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---
The full moon had risenrge, but the deep night had passed, and the morning sky was brightening.
The sun cast its golden rays over the tranquilke, illuminating the sky.
The ripplingke water distorted the light in wave patterns, creating a unique atmosphere.
For some reason, it evoked memories of wandering aimlessly through the red desert.
Perhaps it was because the dunes and waves resembled each other?
Well, it was just sand turned into water, after all.
Plop plop.
I walked out onto theke''s surface, ghostified.
Without setting a direction, I wandered whichever way my steps took me.
Since the ''Blue Witch'' seemed to be an Object type that targeted humans, I mainly wandered around areas where humans were likely to be.
But the result was disappointing.
There were numerous boats floating on theke, but they were all abandoned, drifting alone without owners.
Isn''t that too much?
Who even made this ce a tourist attraction?
The search that began in the morning continued untilte at night when the full moon rose.
Neither the Blue Witch nor any living humans were found.
The Blue Witch...
Where on earth is it?
Then suddenly, an overwhelming stench began rising again from theke''s surface.
Ah!
I stopped my aimless wandering and set a direction, walking tirelessly in one direction.
My target was the direction where the ''stench'' grew thicker.
For some reason, foul-smelling ces often seemed to be the source of problemstely.
And fortunately, that guess seemed to be right this time too.
The closer I got toward the stench, the thicker the fog became.
The closer I got toward the stench, the louder the morous sounds became.
[You shall all be burned to thest shred of flesh!]
And the curse used by the old woman flowed out.
Piercing through the fog, I arrived at thekeshore.
There, unpleasant things were tangled together, biting and cursing each other.
Monster old women who treated humans like toys to y with and kill.
Twisted monsters created by desecrating the humans I saw in the desert.
Two kinds of monsters harmful to humans were killing each other.
Plop plop.
I slowly walked into the midst of the two groups.
As I gradually approached, a distinct change began among the two groups engaged inbat.
"Gray Reaper?"
"Why is Gray Reaper here?"
Their eyes were filled with confusion and unease.
When I confirmed the monsters'' destruction conditions with my ''eyes'', the phenomenon elerated further.
The monsters in my ''eyes'' startled and looked at me.
The morouskeshore grew quieter and quieter.
The old women spewing curses and the monsters oozing ck slime stopped their actions and focused on me.
The destruction conditions were all trite and feeble - heart destruction, depletion of regenerative abilities, brain destruction, and so on. The old women''s side was more troublesome since she had to be buried in the ground.
There didn''t seem to be any particrly powerful or special Objects here.
Is the ''Blue Witch'' not here?
ck ck~
The small footsteps on the pebbles made such stillness that they could be heard from afar. The previously morouskeshore was filled only with the sound of my footsteps.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
In thete evening, the night shift employees entered the security room.
The usually tired-looking night shift employees had much brighter expressions today.
They had been unable to sleep well, gued by thoughts like ''Ah, I should have gone to the Yangcheon Districtke.''
But today they had slept soundly.
"Hey, it seems like I have a poltergeist at home. The house was all tidied up when I came out of the shower."
"Huh? The same for me, senior."
"The house felt so refreshing and clean, I could really sleep well for once."
The senior employee, feeling refreshed enough to stretch their limbs, noticed the junior staring intently at something.
It was a camera feed showing a studio apartment inplete disarray, as if ransacked by a burr.
A pet cam? Why is he watching it so intently?
"What are you looking at?"
"I''m trying to figure out what this poltergeist is. That''s why I deliberately messed up the room before leaving."
"You think it''ll show up on that?"
But as soon as a small blue figure appeared on the pet cam, both senior and junior focused intensely on watching it.
With each blue flicker, the messy room reverted to its original state.
"The quality is too poor to see clearly."
"Yeah, the poltergeist is much smaller than I expected."
In an instant, the small blue Object had tidied the room and now stood before the pet cam, proudly surveying its work.
"A Reaper? There are blue ones too?"
"No? This is my first time seeing one. A golden subspecies perhaps?"
After looking around, the blue Reaper noticed the pet cam and leaned in curiously to examine the lens. But seemingly unable to make sense of it, the Reaper tilted its head in confusion before dissipating like mist and vanishing from the room.
"Huh, so the poltergeist was a blue Reaper."
"Wow, Reapers are all so cute."
As the senior and junior chatted about Reapers, the blue Reaper entered the security room and was startled to see the feed of the studio apartment.
Humans could see it!
Pulling its hat down, the blue Reaper scurried back to the Golden Reaper garden.
---
T/N: a...
Chapter 105: Cruise Ship (6)
3rd Person POV:
---
In a crystal cave emanating a mysterious light, a ck operativey unconscious on the cold, hard floor.
The faint glow spreading from the crystal cave walls illuminated the man''s distorted expression and tattered clothes.
In front of him stood a blonde girl with a determined yet anxious look, guarding the ck agent.
[Make a contract with me and I''ll turn you back into a human.]
A woman leaned forward in front of the girl, whispering a tempting offer.
[What do you say? Interested?]
The woman''s eyes shone with a cunning light, her lips twisted into a dangerous smile.The ck agent, in his dazed state of mind, heard the ominous conversation ringing in his ears.
Making a deal with a deceitful Object that could speak humannguage was absolutely forbidden.
The ck agent snapped his eyes open in shock, regaining his senses.
He struggled to get up and cried out in a hoarse voice,
"Miss, you absolutely cannot do that!"
At the man''s words, a hint of hesitation crossed the girl''s face.
"Don''t you know, Miss? You must never make deals with speaking Objects. The price is horrific, and you won''t get what you want."
Sprawled on the floor, the man hurriedly blurted out words to persuade the blonde girl.
[Shh.]
The woman, who had been quietly listening to the man, put a finger to her lips and said,
[Don''t interfere, just sleep for a while.]
The woman''s words took physical form, sending the ck agent back into a deep slumber.
"Ah... Miss."
Beautiful in appearance but undoubtedly a horrific monster, an Object.
And in front of it stood the defiant blonde girl.
Taking in this sight, the ck agent lost consciousness.
***
Piercing through the thick, swirling mist enveloping Yangcheon District''ske, the moonlight struggled to reach the water''s surface.
The mist-shroudedke seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for something.
And slicing through that anticipation, monsters oozing ck slime charged towards theke from a parked truck on the shore.
As if they had lost all reason.
[The earth will tear at your feet!]
[Your bones will not bear their own weight!]
From theke, grotesquely twisted old women emerged slowly through the mist, spewing curses
The ck slime-oozing monsters seemed vastly outmatched against the curse-chanting old women.
With each curse the old women uttered, the monsters burned, melted, or were sucked into the ground.
But the monsters, appearing to have forgotten fear, simply charged relentlessly towards theke.
Watching from afar, a man gave a satisfied smile at the monsters.
"At this rate, the heart of theke will be in our hands. The brain-extracted researchers really listen well."
"..."
However, a change urred for the old women, who had seemed to have the upper hand.
As the ck slime flowed into theke, ck spots began appearing on the old women''s hands and feet.
The more spots appeared, the more agonized the old women became, and the more slime polluted theke.
Watching this, the man started returning to his parked vehicle.
"It''s over. As expected, smooth sailing again this time. I''ll go ahead, have the butler stay behind to retrieve the heart of theke."
"Yes, understood, Director."
After seeing off the departing director, the butler stood silently by thekeshore, gazing at the mist-filledke.
"..."
But the atmosphere of the battlefield, where victory had seemed within reach, began to gradually shift.
It started with the fear-devoid researchers stopping in their tracks.
They tried to charge forward, but their steps wouldn''t carry them, twisting their bodies in apparent agony. fearless researchers were afraid?
From beyond the mist, a yellow-glowing gaze swayed closer.
tak tak tak~
The brisk footsteps of a child out for a stroll.
A Reaper with gray skin and yellow, glowing eyes.
Watching the trembling Objects, the Gray Reaper smiled.
Spreading its arms wide, small golden Reapers tore through space and appeared, charging forward.
An overwhelming violence that crushed everything it touched.
Even the researchers, who should not feel fear, panicked and fled in all directions.
The old women hid their bodies in the mist, retreating deep into theke.
Seeing the yellow eyes staring piercingly at them, he understood the researchers'' fears.
That thing is...
The Gray Reaper is something Objects can never defeat.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Thekeshore was turned into a mess by the ck slime.
If I had lungs, the stench would be so overpowering that I''d suffocate.
Fortunately, I don''t have lungs.
The Golden Reapers that eliminated all the harmful enemies fled from the dreadful smell.
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This slime has been appearing frequentlytely, but where does it keep oozing out from?
If the cause is found, I''ll tear off its limbs...
There were no corpses of the old women by thekeshore.
It''s only natural since I deliberately let them go.
No matter how I look at it, they seem rted to the ''Blue Witch'', so I purposely didn''t capture those eerie olddies.
I had a feeling that if I let them go, they''d flee to where the ''Blue Witch'' is.
The one in charge of tracking them is our newbie Blue Reaper who can fly.
Since I''ve eliminated all the enemies at thekeshore, I slowly made my way to where the Blue Reaper is.
***
3rd Person POV:
---
On the bus heading to Yangcheon District''ske, a tattooed woman sat with an ufortable expression.
The bus was filled with lively chatter andughter from excited passengers.
Despite thete hour, the passengers'' anticipation showed no signs of waning.
"Sis, what should we do first when we get there?"
Her younger sister''s eyes sparkled with expectation.
The woman said while chewing on a bitter leaf,
"First, we should check out the cave."
"Ah, you looked into Yangcheon Lake too, sis! I heard the cave there is really cool."
The woman gave a wry smile looking at her expectant younger sister.
There was a high probability that the sightseeing her sister hoped for would not happen.
Lifting the crystal in her hand, the woman thought,
That traitor won''t just overlook theke.
Theke will turn ck, and the serpent of theke will fall into the traitor''s hands.
The nine-headed serpent cannot be defeated without this crystal.
Absolutely not.
Gazing at the swirling white mes inside the crystal, the woman steeled her resolve.
***
The Blue Reaper, riding on a broom made of water, chased after the fleeing old women.
Gripped by terror, the old women thrashed about on the water''s surface, causing ripples.
They kept ncing back over their shoulders as if monsters from the abyss were pursuing them.
Without exchanging any words, they just kept fleeing towards somewhere.
Only their ragged breaths and the sounds of treading on the water''s surface echoed across the tranquilke.
The seemingly endless flight halted when they reached the cave entrance.
The old women, their expressions somewhat relieved, gathered in front of the cave and began conversing as if to dispel their fear.
[We barely survived]
[Why did such a monster appear?]
[Could it be because of that thing that the youngest didn''t return??]
As the old women with skin mottled by the ck slime chattered in front of the cave, mist spewed out from deep inside.
And within that mist, a massive silhouette appeared.
Thud. Thud.
With heavy footsteps, the silhouette parted the mist.
It was a gigantic monster that seemed to have doubled the size of the olddies.
[How noisy.]
At the sight of the monster, the chattering old women stopped talking and stiffened.
Seeing the Object with an overwhelming presence, the Blue Reaper sent a signal to the Gray Reaper.
Lines of text adorning the empty space.
However, the signal sent by the Blue Reaper was easily observed by the olddies.
Realizing this, the Blue Reaper tried to flee, but the gigantic olddy, moving at an astonishing speed contrary to her massive size, grabbed the Blue Reaper.
The Blue Reaper struggled to break free, but could not escape.
[What an interesting creature. Not our sister, yet wielding a simr power.]
Thud thud.
The hand striking down to break free from the olddy''s grip.
Watching that hand, the olddy simply grabbed and tore it off.
The Blue Reaper let out a silent scream with an expression filled with pain.
[Kukukukuku. How amusing. I didn''t expect such an entertaining child to appear. Child, shall we make a wager? If you win the wager, I''ll let you go.]
Watching the Blue Reaper shedding tears as its arm was torn off, the olddy gave an evilugh.
Then suddenly,
The world transformed.
[What? What is this?]
The dampkeshore was nowhere to be seen, and the cute child gripped in her hand disappeared.
And what was visible was....
A sea of chocte.
Clouds of marshmallows.
Golden small Objects that appeared to be extremely enraged.
And finally, a gray monster ring at her while cradling the blue child.
---
T/N: Angwyy!!!
By the way, I will change the reaper''s pronoun to ''she'' since she looks like a female, right?
Chapter 106: Cruise Ship (7)
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
While slowly following the direction where the Blue Reaper''s movements were felt, an urgent signal was sensed from the Blue Reaper.
It seemed a bit urgent.
A message that seemed a little frightened.
Upon receiving the Blue Reaper''s signal and rushing over, what was discovered was the sight of the Blue Reaper in agony.
Upon discovering that sight, nothing else was visible.
The gigantic olddy or the mysterious cave was not in mind at all.I eroded reality into the garden, forgetting that I was looking for the Blue Witch''s Mirror.
And just like that, the Blue Reaper ended up in my hands.
She had her eyes tightly shut and was trembling violently.
Lines of text kept appearing and disappearing in the empty space repeatedly.
The Blue Reaper, repeatedly pleading ''It hurts'' in agony.
As I fed her me, her torn arm slowly began to regenerate.
The Blue Reaper seems quite different from the Golden Reaper.
She was peculiar from the way she flew around and used magic.
First of all, her regeneration speed was significantly slower than the Golden Reaper''s.
Moreover, despite not being a powerful Object that the olddies could tear apart with physical immunity, she seemed tock physical immunity judging from her injuries.
The expressions of the Golden Reapers that had gathered around also looked like they were watching a younger sibling who was prone to injury and needed to be cared for delicately.
Once her arm fully regenerated, the Blue Reaper immediately lost consciousness and fell asleep.
I stroked the Blue Reaper''s furrowed brow as if she were having a nightmare until her expression became rxed while she was asleep.
After gently cing the Blue Reaper, now sleeping with a rxed expression, on a marshmallow, I reversed the garden''s encroachment and returned to thekeside.
Rest there, I''ll avenge you soon.
For the Blue Reaper''s peaceful slumber, I decided to deal with the olddies at theke.
Well, there''s no need to use spatial maniption against mere Objects like them.
The cocoa, marshmallows, and cookies that had filled the world vanished without a trace, and the dark night sky and vastke reappeared before us once more.
There was a gigantic olddy and three others about the same size as thest one.
Since she mentioned having sisters, those must be the ''sisters''.
The olddies who had been trembling while looking at me regained theirposure upon returning to the familiarkeside.
The gigantic olddy who met my gaze spoke with a tense expression.
[I did not realize that small creature was one of your subordinates. Please forgive me...]
No matter where I looked at the olddies and gigantic olddy, I could not see a mirror.
Could it be that these olddies are not the Blue Witch?
When I remained silent and just stared, the gigantic olddy changed her tone slightly and spoke in an overbearing manner.
[Surely you would not oppose the Blue Moon over such a trivial matter?]
As the gigantic olddy spread her arms wide, the blue moon reflected on the water''s surface expanded massively, filling the entireke.
It seemed to fill theke with the blue moon.
The enormous blue moon looked as if light was gushing out of it.
The force felt from it was not insignificant either.
[The Blue Moon is immortal. You must have sensed this power.]
The gigantic olddy, having shed her subservient expression, now wore a confident expression.
Her expression implied that since I had sensed the power of the Blue Moon, I had no choice but to back down.
Acting so arrogant over just that much?
Even if youmanded a thousand Lophiomuses, I cannot forgive you for harming my frail youngest.
All I can give you is eternal destruction.
With a grim expression, I summoned the Golden Reaper.
No matter where I turned my gaze, front, back, left or right, it was filled with the sight of Golden Reapers, causing the olddies to panic.
[You fools! Don''t panic!]
The gigantic olddy scolded the panicked olddies.
Baring her shark-like sharp teeth, the gigantic olddy growled while gnashing them.
[So you intend to fight after all? As long as the Blue Moon exists, witches too are immortal. You will surelye to regret this. You and everything precious to you will forever fear the night and shadows!]
Despite the gigantic olddy''s ominous warning, the Golden Reapers began closing the distance step by step.
Seeing this, the gigantic olddy let out a loud curse.
[You shall all melt into a puddle of blood!]
The Golden Reapers struck by the shockwave of the manifested ck curse.
But it had no effect at all.
The olddy''s curse dispersed and lost its power the moment it touched the Golden Reaper''s skin.
[You all shall not be able to see ahead.]
[Your limbs will all be twisted and unable to move properly!]
The olddy''s gnarled hands waved through the air, casting curses at the Golden Reaper.
The olddy''s face, distorted with rage and fear, was in stark contrast to the Golden Reaper''s calm face.
The olddies tried negotiating at times and spewing curses, but the Golden Reapers simply kept advancing forward with small steps.
Finally, seeing the olddy cornered to the point of being unable to move, I pped my hands.
p.
At the signal, the Golden Reapers charged in unison.
It was a faster and more intense charge than usual, perhaps due to the Blue Reaper''s vengeance.
[You cannot harm me!]
[You will scream in pain from the slightest breeze!]
Even as they were gruesomely torn apart by the Golden Reaper, the olddies did not give up and continued chanting curses.
[Aaaaahh!]
[Save me!]
But the frequency of the curses gradually decreased, while the frequency of screams increased, until eventually no sound came out at all.
All that remained were gruesome piles of flesh and blood.
[You will regret this...]
Thest curse flowed out from that pile of flesh and blood.
But it was useless.
***
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3rd Person POV:
---
ck Agent slowly regained his senses in the quiet silence.
The moonlight pouring in through the ceiling opening, the dimly glowing crystals.
It was the same cave where ck Agent had lost consciousness, but the atmosphere waspletely different.
The bluedy who had exuded an immense presence was nowhere to be seen.
Where is the youngdy?
ck Agent could see a blonde girl lying quietly under the moonlight.
The girl''s figure bathed in the blue moonlight looked utterly serene,
as if she were just sleeping, exuding a calm atmosphere.
With an expression mixed with hope and fear, ck Agent rushed to the girl''s side.
He knelt beside the girl and held her in his arms.
Outwardly, the girl seemed unharmed.
No injuries, and she was breathing peacefully.
"Mydy! Are you alright?"
The man''s voice echoed faintly through the cave, breaking the heavy silence that had engulfed it.
"Ah, uncle. You''re here."
The girl opened her eyes with a weak smile on her face.
Her two blue-glowing eyes took in ck Agent''s appearance.
Sensing something from the girl''s expression, ck Agent tried to say something, but the girl''s feeble voice began to speak instead.
"I should have listened to your words, uncle. I failed."
As the girl began speaking, a change also began to ur in her body.
Blood started gushing from the area around her heart, which had been uninjured before.
"The Object that grants the wish does grant it, you know. But with so many, so many conditions attached to the contract, I thought it would be okay..."
A wound as if stabbed by a sharp knife suddenly appeared on the girl, and blood poured out from there.
No matter how ck Agent tried to stop it, the wound was too deep.
"I wanted to go y together, no matter the n, grandfather, or the Objects..."
The blonde girl looked somewhere with unfocused blue eyes and stopped breathing.
Closing the girl''s eyes, ck Agent stood up, cradling her in his arms.
There must be a way, surely.
Even if he had to beg that woman for a wish again.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Near the cave in Yangcheon District, by thekeside.
I was cleaning up the piles of flesh and blood left from the olddies.
The Blue Reaper, who had regained consciousness, also helped clean up after the olddies.
The Blue Reaper''s text strings charred the olddies'' corpses ck, while the Golden Reapers dug the ground diligently.
This was necessary to fulfill the destruction requirements of the olddies.
The destruction condition for all the olddies was the same,
Thump thump.
As I watched the faintly beating heart, the Golden Reapers had finished their work on the olddies.
They covered them with soil, burying the ashes securely. I felt my abilities drastically changing.
The Blue Reaper multiplied.
Ten of them.
Quite a rapid increase in number.
But how many more olddies would I need to catch to multiply them as much as the Golden Reapers?
It doesn''t seem like there are any more olddies in thiske...
The Golden Reapers, delighted by the increase in Blue Reapers, surrounded and hugged them joyfully, making a fuss.
It was such a warm wee that I worried the Blue Reapers might be crushed.
Seemingly overwhelmed by the infinite kindness emanating from the lively Golden Reapers, the Blue Reapers didn''t know what to do.
Eventually, unable to endure it, the Blue Reapers pulled their hats down and fled into the sky.
As I was watching the adorable mini Reapers, I suddenly sensed an anomaly in theke.
Simultaneously with the feeling of an Object''s presence, the mirror-like calm surface of theke began to swirl.
Is the Blue Witch finally appearing?
***
3rd Person POV:
---
While resting at an inn in Yangcheon District after arriving at theke, I felt the ground shaking.
The ground was rumbling.
It wasn''t a major tremor, but it was definitely noticeable.
The tattooed woman, startled, rushed out of the inn.
Could it be that theke monster has already appeared?
A massive, extremely massive monster emerged from the surface of theke.
The guardian of theke, called the Lake Serpent.
Perhaps following a famous legend on Earth, it was named,
Hydra
The serpentine monster that emerged with the vastke of Yangcheon District as its root appeared taller than any building.
It was gigantic, as if piercing the sky, a monster made of water.
"Haha, why is the Lake Serpent already..."
The woman muttered to herself with a dejected tone.
The crystal needed to subdue that serpent is not ready yet.
It will take about a day.
One day was enough time for the cursed Hydra, which had been ravaging Seoul, to turn the entire city into ruins.
Chapter 107: Cruise Ship (8)
3rd Person POV:
---
What appeared before the ck Agent who emerged from the cave hugging the blonde girl was not an unidentified blue woman.
Under therge full moon, it was massive water spouts swirling and gushing upwards.
Looking up, under the shining celestial light, a Hydra formed of swirling water was rising up, unting its enormous majesty.
Just by being there, it exerted a pressure so massive it felt like it could crush you to death.
The gigantic rising water spout made one feel the tremendous force of its sheer mass.
"What is this..."
The ck Agent muttered in astonishment, but his voice was drowned out by the sound of the violently rotating and scattering water.The Hydra, arching magnificently as if touching the clouds against the starry sky, opened its mouth while looking in one direction.
The water jet fired from the Hydra''s mouth instantly hit the ground like a beam of light.
The water jet violently digging into the ground had the power and sharpness to tear through solid rock like paper.
The whirlpool spreading around the Hydra dragged in surrounding objects, causing chaos andunching water droplets and debris into the air.
To the ck Agent, it looked like a signal re announcing the destruction of Seoul.
A cmity on the scaleparable to Steel Tower had arrived in Seoul.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Theke water swirled and gushed up into the sky.
A massive water spoutrge enough to cast a shadow over the surroundings.
It was a splendid spectacle powerful enough to make the Golden Reapers, Blue Reapers, and me stop what we were doing and look up at the sky.
The size and overbearing presence of the water spout instilled some anticipation in me.
Could this finally reveal what the ''Blue Witch''s Mirror'' is?
But what emerged was neither a witch nor a mirror.
A nine-headed serpent.
A monster made of water, shaped like a Hydra.
As soon as the Hydra emerged from theke, it fired water jets at me and the mini Reapers with tremendous force.
Spewing this massive amount of water at a speed that could cut through rocks.
If the Blue Reapers got hit by this water cannon, they''d be Blue/Reapers, so I hurriedly sent them back to the garden.
T/N: Not sure what Blue/Reaper means, shed?
Whirlpools rose up from all directions, grinding rocks and shooting the shattered debris into the sky.
The nine water jets spewing from the Hydra''s mouths sliced and pulverized everything around as they spun.
Water and rocks flew about haphazardly, threatening to easily tear off limbs with the slightest graze - a horrific sight.
However, the Hydra''s overwhelming appearance and attacks didn''t faze us at all.
Golden Reapers riding the rapidly spinning whirlpools like a merry-go-round.
Golden Reapers ying while dodging the water jets and rocksing from all directions.
Golden Reapers flying aroundughing as if it''s having fun after being hit by water and rocks.
Golden Reapers enjoying skydiving after being flung up by the water pressure.
The Golden Reaper water park waspleted.
I was also being swept about, observing this spectacle along with the Golden Reapers.
The Hydra''s destruction condition was the Gray Reaper .
Even the highest-risk-level Object seemed helpless against the Hydra, being tossed about like a newspaper caught in a typhoon.
She thought it would be torn to shreds in a second, but the Gray Reaper was holding up better than expected.
But merely enduring would not lead to victory.
Any hope that someone else might be able to subdue the Hydra quickly faded.
Now they had to flee farther away.
After fleeing as far as possible, they would have no choice but toplete the crystal.
"Wow, sister. Look at that! It''s shining golden."
Her younger sister, entranced by the blue moon, was still beaming.
The moment she turned her head to grab the crystal and call her sister, golden grains caught her eye.
Golden Reapers much smaller than the Gray Reaper.
It was the golden color she remembered seeing before.
Ah!
The golden wave that swallowed the theme park.
The Gray Reaper was the object that destroyed the theme park...
After that, the woman could only watch in a daze as iprehensible events unfolded.
Whenever the Hydra was swept up by the golden wave, its size decreased.
As if a portion of its mass had been taken away.
The golden wave remained unchanged, unterally reducing only the Hydra''s size.
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Continuously, incessantly.
No matter how much the Hydra spewed water,shed out, or tried to flee from the golden wave, it was useless.
[Krrrrrreeeek]
And with a final, horrific scream that echoed throughout Seoul, the Hydra vanished.
"Unbelievable."
Witnessing the iprehensible situation, the woman dropped the crystal in her hand.
"Sister, you dropped the crystal? Didn''t you say it was important?"
The crystal had be useless.
***
Reaper (MC) POV:
---
Since the hearts were not visible, there was only one way.
If the entire body was erased, the hearts would disappear too.
The n was to summon as many Golden Reapers as possible and have them ovep the Hydra, sting it away.
The n was a sess.
Perhaps because itcked physical immunity, it was easier than expected.
Theke from which the Hydra had emerged stilly calmly.
Even though all the water the Hydra had pulled was gone, theke''s water level remained the same.
Ake that neither increased nor decreased.
Certainly, in this regard, the Yangcheon Districtke seemed like an Object.
There was movementing from the cave entrance.
It seemed to be a human who had reached their limit.
Looking toward the cave entrance, a man in a ck suit she remembered seeing was staggering out, holding a girl in his arms.
Seeing the Golden Reapers swarming and grieving, had someone been seriously injured?
The man in the ck suit walked slowly out of the cave but eventually copsed on the ground.
Severalrge rocks were embedded in his back.
It seemed he had been hit by one of the rocks the Hydra had shattered.
The Golden Reapers fidgeted with worried expressions.
In times like this, the youngest one would be needed.
As I released the Blue Reaper into the air, it immediately found the man in the ck suit and began healing him.
The Blue Reaper''s text turned into light and was absorbed into the man.
The rocks naturally fell out, and the wounds began to slowly heal.
However, the blonde girl had already lost her life.
No matter how magical the power, she couldn''t revive someone already dead, could she?
It was the blonde girl I had seen at the Chinese Research Institute, but she had died like this.
As I gazed at the girl with regret, I felt a strange sensation.
Somehow, I felt like I could revive this girl.
I took out the heart that spewed mes, which I had thrown into the garden.
Thud Thud
I gently ced the small vibrating heart on top of the girl.
The red heart was sucked back into the''s body, as if finding its original ce.
It seems reviving her with this heart was the right answer.
cough cough.
The girl began breathing while coughing up blood.
It''s fortunate she came back to life.
Seeing the girl start breathing again, I moved my steps deeper into the cave.
Since this is the cave the olddy boss came out of, there might be something there?
It would be nice if the ''Blue Witch''s Mirror'' is discovered....
***
In the middle of the dimly glowing cave, there was a splendid pool of water.
It was a serene pool that perfectly reflected the night skying in through the ceiling.
As soon as I discovered the pool, I eximed to myself,
This must be the ''Blue Witch''s Mirror''!
The perfectly circr pool was decorated with engravings like a mirror.
But how should I break this?
Should I just go in and ssh around?
I considered various methods, but couldn''t think of any way to do it.
This is like an escape room game with no hints at all?
Too difficult.
I sat down by the pool, dipped my feet in the water, and made sshing sounds.
Strangely, no matter how much I disturbed it, the pool remained serene.
First, trying to break it by sshing failed.
Next, I threw one Golden Reaper into the pool at a time.
One, two, three.
I filled the pool like a crowded bus with Golden Reapers.
I thought if I filled it so much it couldn''t be used as a mirror, something might happen, but there was no change, so it failed.
Then I called my youngest Blue Reaper to heat up the pool.
At first she refused, saying the Golden Reapers might get hurt, but after I exined they wouldn''t, she started working.
With the Blue Reaper''s magic, the pool explosively boiled over, sending steam sting up to the ceiling.
The Golden Reapers seemed to enjoy the steam, waving their hands in it happily.
A Golden Reaper sauna!
But it still didn''t register as destroyed, so it failed.
At this point, I started to doubt if that pool was really the mirror.
Getting tired of thinking, I eroded reality into the garden.
Then I spread my hands wide, grabbed the entire space with the pool, and
*p*
With a p of my hands, I crushed the space itself, erasing it.
I felt an enormous amount of me disappearing in a lump.
Just when I thought it would be too much of a loss if this failed too, a change urred in the hole opened in the ceiling.
A cute little blue mini-moon rose up.
As they say, if you have a strong body, you don''t need a strong brain.
Heheheh~
Chapter 108: The Cruise Ship: Epilogue (1)
After dealing with the Blue Moon and leaving the cave, theke was still the same. It was as quiet, clean, and mysterious as before.
In fact, theke itself was such a nonsensical phenomenon that I thought it would naturally disappear once the Blue Moon was destroyed.
Either the water level could no longer be maintained and dried out,
Or...
The cleanke became polluted as the submerged city rusted and decayed.
However, neither happened.
What happened was that the ownership of theke was transferred to me.
Yangcheon-gu Lake maintained its original appearance and became mine.
I also inherited the mind corruption ability that made Objects and theke always ordinary to the eyes of humans. But, it had deteriorated to the point where it was hardly noticeable.
The Blue Reapers seemed ted to have ake.The energetic Blue Reapers asked me to entrust them with the management of theke, and when I told them they should do what they wanted, they looked very happy.
The Blue Reapers were already gathered and divided their respective areas.
Why do they like it so much?
Was it just because theke is nice?
In the end, I gained two abilities from defeating Blue Moon.
It was a mind corruption ability and an ability to control an area at will, just like the garden.
As dawn was already approaching, the sky was starting to turn blue.
Now that the incident was over, I brought the cruise ship carrying the people from Sehee Research Institute which had been evacuated to the garden back onto theke.
It smelled a little like hot chocte, but I guess it should be no problem.
Before long, the blue light of dawn began to illuminate the people scattered around the ship.
I could see them sleeping in various positions, disheveled and crooked, as if they had fallen asleep after a fun party.
Now that I think about it, a lot of time has passed. They must be really hungry now.
But when I looked at the people''splexions, they seemed pretty fine.
Did the mini reapers continue to take care of them?
The Golden Reapers probably fed them hot chocte, or perhaps the Blue Reaper did something with their magic.
As the sun grew stronger, casting a warm golden light across the deck, the researchers began to wake up one by one.
Sehee, who was lying in the center of the deck, woke up and mumbled.
¡°Keuuu. It¡¯s morning already? When did I fall asleep?¡±
Sehee, who stretched her body in order to shake off the sleepiness, seemed a little taken aback as she looked at theke which was shining brightly due to the sunlight.
Sehee, who looked a little sleepy, took out her cell phone from her pocket, checked it, and shouted in surprise with an expression that clearly told she hadpletely woken up.
¡°What happened? Why did time suddenly pass like this?¡±
Perhaps because so much time had passed since thest time she was awake, Sehee seemed quite surprised.
Sehee believed that the ident was caused by an Object and quickly ordered Kim Jungrwi to take care of the people''s safety.
¡°No one was hurt or missing. Luckily, it looks like we just fell asleep.¡±
¡°Ha, I¡¯m so d. There¡¯s nothing more troublesome thaning to a ce to visit and having an ident.¡±
Perhaps due to the fact that time had suddenly passed, the deck was bing more and more cluttered.
Probably because no one was hurt, the mood of the people was not that bad.
¡°Reaper, I thought we¡¯re going to have fun together at theke, but time passed so quickly!¡±
Yerin said so as she looked a little depressed, perhaps sad that the vacation was ruined.
Even though Yerin had just experienced an Object rted incident, she still remained the same.
The group couldn¡¯te to a conclusion between two conflicting opinions of whether they should make the most of the remaining time since they could do nothing about it and they should quickly return to the institute because it was dangerous here.
However, the one who concluded it came from apletely unexpected direction.
¡°You are from Sehee Research Institute, right? We are from the Object Association. We need to investigate the Yangcheon-gu Lake incident, so please cooperate.¡±
Everyone, including Sehee, was taken away by the association''s investigators.
I looked at Yerin, who looked particrly sad, from my simple containment room, and grabbed a piece of pudding and ate it.
Since it looked like everyone would bete, I should return to Sehee Research Institute first.
Hihihi!
*******
[ More than 780 deaths have been confirmed in Yangcheon-gu Lake. Including the missing people who have not even been properly counted, it is expected that there would be thousands of victims. ]
The TV in the security room of Sehee Research Institute was randomly talking about the Yangcheon-gu Lake incident as breaking news.
It was natural.
Right now, the whole of Korea was in a state as if they had woken up after falling into hypnosis.
It felt as if the whole of Korea was dreaming.
It was something which was hard to understand now that they thought about it.
< everyone="" living="" in="" korea="" wanted="" to="" go="" to="" yangcheon-gu=""ke.="">
< Everyone living in Korea loved Yangcheon-gu Lake. >
< As long as it was rted to an Object, no one would found it strange no matter what happened. >
How scary it was that everyone thought the same thing.
[ If you look here, there are a lot of empty ships. The joyful traces that were left behind make my heart ache eveen more. ]
The security office employees who were watching a broadcast showing the interior of the cabin, which was empty although traces of the party remained, spoke.
¡°To think they wanted to go to such a dangerouske. Should I say it¡¯s fortunate that I didn¡¯t go?¡±
¡°Of course we are fortunate. I heard there were a lot of people who died this time. Even though the employees of our institute seemed to be fine, It was still scary.¡±
The security guard, who was chewing potato chips while watching TV, suddenly asked a question.
¡°Now that I think about it, it was strange. Don¡¯t you find it strange too, sunbae?¡±
"About what?"
The security office employee frowned and said, as if he was scared just thinking about it.
¡°What do you think you will do when you return to your one-room apartment, take a shower, and all of yourundry were suddenly cleaned? For me, I think I¡¯d probably start screaming, call the police, and sleep at my friend¡¯s house.¡±
¡°If it were me, I¡¯d take a baseball bat and search the room.¡±
¡°Right? It¡¯s normal to be very scared, right?¡±
The security room employee continued to spoke while searching through his cell phone.
¡°In that respect, there¡¯s something good about the ¡®Yangcheon-gu Lake Incident.¡¯ right?¡±
¡°Something good?¡±
¡°Think about it. Now that we know what the Blue Reaper does, we found it cute and not scary. What if ¡®Yangcheongu Lake¡¯ hadn¡¯t existed? Wouldn¡¯t we be so shocked and make a fuss?¡±
The man who was thinking deeply nodded his head.
¡°Right, right.¡±
¡°Then how heartbreaking it must have been for our gentle and kind Blue Reaper? So, there is something good about it.¡±
¡°I¡ I see.¡±
The man roughly agreed with a puzzled expression on his face.
The senior security officer was feeling distant from his junior because he liked the Blue Reaper so much.
What his junior did these days was travel around various ces looking for the Blue Reaper.
However, it seemed difficult to find the Blue Reaper, as it would suddenly appear and disappear into the air.
¡°Sunbae, sunbae! Look at this.¡±
¡°Why are you shouting like that?¡±
Om Nom Nom-!
As the senior approached, what he found was a Blue Reaper sittingfortably on his junior''s palm while eating a pudding.
He couldn''t see its face because it was pushing its hat down tightly, but it was clearly the Blue Reaper.
¡°How did you do it?¡±
¡°I do it with my sincerity! The Blue Reaper understood my heart!¡±
The junior had a triumphant expression on his face.
¡°Did you know that the Blue Reaper is a bit cold like water? Oh, it¡¯s so cute.¡±
The junior looked happy as he stroked the top of the blue reaper''s hat.
When the senior saw that, he thought he should get some pudding too.
*******The battle scene between the Hydra and the Gray Reaper was ying on TV.
Since the incident in Korea was reported even in the United States, there was definitely something unusual about it.
An Object that could control the entire country?
It was an Object that sent a bigger shock to human societypared to the fact that there were Objects that could be physically destroyed.
Meanwhile, what became popr was the battle scene between the Gray Reaper and the Hydra.
It was a scene of overwhelming destruction.
The sight of the Gray Reaper bouncing around with an expressionless, or rather bored expression in a ce where it seemed difficult for anyone to survive shocked people.
Then, it overwhelmingly defeated the Hydra.
It was rare for an Object to intentionally destroy or subdue another Object, further highlighting the uniqueness of the Gray Reaper. It was especially true when it came to light that the Gray Reaper had dealt with quite a number of Objects.
As a result, there was even talk about the need to buy the Gray Reaper from Korea in the United States.
Of course, the cautious theory that they should not only look at a cross-section but investigate more carefully was still more dominant.
Nevertheless, perhaps thanks to its unique expressionless expression and rxed attitude, it was clear that the Gray Reaper was developing its own fan base in the United States as well.
So, as soon as James saw that video, he contacted Sehee Research Institute using the contact information he had received from Yerin. In the end, he was able to conclude the story on a positive note through consultation with the deputy director of the Sehee Research Institute.
Then, they signed a contract to use ¡®The Gray Reaper¡¯ as the brand ambassador for the pudding.
< the="" gray="" reaper¡¯s="" favorite="" pudding!="">
That catchphrase and a picture of the Gray Reaper eating the pudding were used on the pudding packaging.
Since many people were reluctant to eat the pudding because it was made by Objects, the growth in sales has slowed, so he decided to engage in unconventional marketing.
Of course, it was a very risky choice.
From public opinion that could be critical to Object, to a possibility that the government and various regtions could be problems, but James decided to take that risk.
In James'' hand was a new pudding with a picture of the Gray Reaper eating it while holding it in his hand.
It''s called < Gray Reaper Pudding > !
Since James had a job to do for the Gray Reaper Pudding, he nned to go back to Korea soon.
There were also things he really wanted to show the Gray Reaper.
James made a meaningful expression as he looked at the bag containing another artifact number 0.
Chapter 109: The Cruise Ship: Epilogue (2)
When the blonde girl opened her eyes, what she saw was a sky with three moons floating on it. A big full moon, a small red moon, and a blue moon.
The ck night sky she could see while lying down was also full of twinkling stars.
¡°I was definitely dead¡.¡±
The blonde girl said to herself in a slightly hushed voice.
However, contrasting to her thoughts, there was nothing wrong with her body aside from some difort. The wound on her chest, which looked as if her chest had been pierced by a sharp de, had also disappeared.
There are two things that she found ufortable right now: the slight smell of blood remaining in her mouth and the rough texture of gravel on her back which hurt a little.
When she felt someone was holding her hand so tightly, she turned her head. What she saw was Agent ck sitting there with a face stained with worry and concern.
When the girl saw that face, she could feel relief spreading through her heart.
The girl and the man looked at each other''s faces silently. After a moment of not-so-ufortable silence, Agent ck rose from his seat and carried the girl in his arms. And then, he slowly walked on the rustling gravel field.
While burying her head on Agent ck¡¯s chest, the girl opened her mouth.¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ahjussi.¡±
"It''s okay."
The girl continued her words in a slightly frustrated voice.
¡°What should I do now, ahjussi? I followed my heart¡¯s guidance, but it was not enough.¡±
¡°There must be a way. And for now, let¡¯s go to a guy who might be able to help.¡±
¡°No way. That guy in the yellow suit¡.¡±
A man wearing a colorful yellow suit appeared in the girl''s mind at that moment.
¡°You are correct. If it¡¯s that guy, he would be able to help.¡±
In the girl¡¯s memory, the Yellow Detective struck her as a bit unreliable, but she brushed the doubt she harboured aside and decided to take a wait and see approach.
After all, Agent ck¡¯s advice was never wrong.
The blonde girl smiled softly, hiding her face in Agent ck¡¯s arms.
*******It¡¯s the end of an era.
An end of era had arrived in the Garden of Mini Reapers.
As Iy down in the Garden of Mini Reapers while nibbling on some snacks, I began to see some strange things.
Blue hats as big as the body of the wearer; The blue reaper style began to be popr among the Golden Reapers.
No matter where I looked, I could see at least one Golden Reaper wearing arge hat made of water.
The Golden Reaper who wore the hat proudly walked through the garden while the Golden Reapers who didn¡¯t wear it could only look at them with an envious expression.
Then, the Golden Reaper who wore the hat put its hat on one of the envious Reapers, making it smile brightly.
The Reaper who received the hat took a pose that it thought cool, making those around it apuded.
Perhaps because the hat was made by the Blue Reaper with magic, unlike the original, it would return to water after about an hour. However, the Golden Reaper seemed still happy with that.
There were still some Golden Reapers who felt ufortable wearing something like me, but I felt that the number was quickly dwindling. It even made me think that everyone would go beyond wearing hats and start wearing clothes and shoes as well.
Sooner orter, I would have to let the Blue Reaper know how ufortable those clothes were.
If things continue like this, the Golden Reaper might develop bad habits!
Om nom nom-!
I spent some time eating bits of fluffy cake while watching the Golden Reapers having fun ying with the witch''s hat.
Out of a sudden, a witch''s hat that was toorge for the mini-reapers to wear appeared in the corner of my eye.
The witch''s hat, floating in the air, soon arrived andnded in front of me.
Then, a Blue Reaper slowly approached me and began to look up at my face.
What did it want?
The Blue Reaper just kept looking at me with a wishful expression as its eyes shone brightly.
Did it perhaps ask me to wear that?
After a few seconds of eye contact with the Blue Reaper, and with no action on my part, the Blue Reaper began to write something in the air.
< i="" made="" a="" big="" hat!="">
Yes, yes. good job.
I patted the Blue Reaper''s head, congratting it on a job well done.
The Blue Reaper had a happy expression on its face for a few moments, but after that, it tilted its head and asked.
< aren¡¯t="" you="" going="" to¡="" wear="" the="" hat?="">
Hmm¡ I don¡¯t want to¡ Because it¡¯s ufortable¡
When I looked down, I saw the Blue Reaper having an expression that looked like it was about to cry.
Well, I guess I couldn¡¯t help it because it was a weak youngest with no physical immunity.
I picked therge hat and ced it on my head.
The moment I put the hat on, the Blue Reaper smiled brightly.
To be honest, the hat was too big and very ufortable.
Isn¡¯t the shade of the hat wide enough to be used as a nket?
I wanted to take it off right away, but now even the Golden Reapers who were watching from afar hade and started to y around me.
Golden Reapers hanging from the shade of therge hat and smiling, liking it.
Blue Reapers wandering around, liking it too.
Since the mini reapers liked it so much, even if it''s ufortable, I should endure it until an hour has passed.
< you="" are="" cool!="">
< Cute! >
< It suits you! >
The Blue Reaper, who had made a hat for me, was sitting on myp and praising me with all kinds of words.
It was a barrage ofpliments that made me a little strange, even though it came from a mini-reaper who was infinitely friendly to me.
Is this some kind of brainwashing attempt to make me wear clothes?
*******Deep underground in Trinity Research Institute 3, there was a bizarrely twisted undergroundboratory.
It was aboratory where only those who had gotten permission from the third director could enter.
To be more precise, it was aboratory that only ''evolved'' humans, as the third director said, could enter.
The smell of petroleum that pervaded Research Institute 3 was thick enough to paralyze the olfactory organ of those who entered this undergroundboratory.
The smell stuck to every corner of theboratory so much that it seemed impossible to be washed.
This underground space, illuminated by flickering fluorescent lights, had the atmosphere of a mad scientist''sboratory. There wererge ss coffins lined up in a row, each one of them looked like a transparent sarcophagus containing dead creatures which twist grotesquely.
Of course, there were still moving creatures inside it, but they could no longer be called living things. Some creatures floated in the murky liquid, while others clung to the ss, casting grotesque silhouettes.
The researchers walking around to examine the ss tube were also anything but normal.
They were strange people whose limbs were twisted and whose organs were visible through their translucent skin.
In such a twisted and crazy ce, the third director was having a fierce expression on his face and deep wrinkles between his eyebrows.
¡°Once again, something that was supposed to seed failed.¡±
The director''s voice growled so fiercely that it sounded as if he was biting the people standing in front of the table.
A man dressed in Trinity security uniform responded to the director¡¯s words.
¡°It is inevitable, Director. You look down on the Gray Reaper too much. Why do you look down on him so much?¡±
¡°Of course I have my reason. The existence of the ¡®Gray Reaper¡¯ itself was proof of my victory. But seeing it fail like this makes me think that my judgment was wrong.¡±
The director erased the fierce expression on his face and gave orders with a calm expression.
¡°I acknowledge that the Gray Reaper is the biggest variable, and we will set it as our top priority from now on.¡±
The man dressed as a security guard admired the warden''s decision.
¡°Finally!¡±
¡°The n to deal with the Gray Reaper is simple. First, transfer the Gray Reaper to the thirdboratory and ensure that we dealt with it. Until then, make sure to review the data of the Gray Reaper.¡±
The woman wearing ab coat, who had been silently listening to the director''s instructions, answered.
¡°Then, we will make a n to temporarily transfer the Gray Reaper through renting it via the Object Association, director.¡±
In the meantime, the man who was dressed as a security guard was just chuckling.
¡°We will finally be able to properly fight the Gray Reaper. No matter how special that Object is, if we fight it at the thirdboratory, we should be able to deal with it easily.¡±
¡°Then, this concludes the meeting.¡±
The meeting ended with the final words from the third director.
In the corner of the empty conference room, where everyone had left, a small purple hermit crab was sleeping in a ss tube.
*******Late at night when the sun had disappeared beyond the horizon.
The blonde girl and Agent ck arrived in front of the detective agency.
¡°Ahjussi, I¡¯m nervous. Are you sure it¡¯s okay?¡±
¡°You can rest assured, Young Miss. He is trustworthy.¡±
Knock-! Knock-!
When Agent Blkac knocked on the door of the detective agency, a man dressed in a yellow suit came out to the door.
¡°Wee, my friend. I¡¯ve been waiting for you. My juniors were also waiting for the wee party.¡±
Behind the yellow detective, employees of the detective agency could be seen.
There were three employees in total, all of whom were women.
A woman who was cleaning arge hammer.
A woman with two golden horns on top of her head.
And a woman who didn''t look like she was 10 years old yet.
The blonde girl saw the girl around her age and poked Agent ck in the back.
¡°Ahjussi, are you sure it will be fine?¡±
A detective agency that employed elementary school students?
Suspicion washeed over the blonde girl¡¯s body.
Chapter 110: The Cruise Ship: Epilogue (3)
At noon, a small swimming pool that looked like a smaller version of Yangcheon-gu Lake was visible in the courtyard of Sehee research Institute which was bathed in golden sunlight.
The small swimming pool, where many Golden Reapers were gathered and ying together, had a quiet yet noisy atmosphere.
It was quiet because the Golden Reapers couldn¡¯t make a sound, but just by looking at their happy faces and expression, it seemed like she could hear a lively and noisyugh.
Whenever Seoah felt like taking a breather while organizing some documents, she would leave the deputy director''s office and walk through the ss passageway which had a clear view of the courtyard and take the sights into her eyes.
The sound of the Golden Reapers sshing water around and the sound of Mini Hydra spewing water into the sky.
The image of Golden Reapers sshing around in the swimming pool and floating high in the sky riding the stream of water spouted by a hydra.
It was a sight that satisfied her both visually and audibly.
¡°Woooow, so cute.¡±
¡°Where is the Gray Reaper? I wanted to see it.¡±
Visitors wearing visitor permits around their necks were amazed by the sight of the Golden Reapers.The ss passage was a passageway prepared by the research institute for people who wanted to tour the research institute. However, unlike in the past, it was bustling with people who came for research institute tours these days.
After the Yangcheon-gu Lake incident, the number of people applying for the tour had increased significantly. The increase was so great that it became possible for Sehee Research Institute to be independent from government subsidies, something that was thought to be only possible for a few wealthy research institutes or those who were affiliated withrge corporations.
Perhaps because of the huge increase of revenue, Director Lee Sehee was all smiles these days.
Thud-!
The sound of something hitting the ss echoed throughout the passage.
When Seoah turned her head, she saw several Golden Reapers sticking to the walls of the ss passage.
As if they found it amazing that they couldn¡¯t see the inside of the magic mirror, the Golden Reapers were pressing their faces against the ss wall with innocent expression.
The Golden Reapers opened their eyes wide and tried to look inside.
Since their cheeks were pressed against the ss, the expressions they had on their face became funny.
Thebination of a cute and curious face and the bright sunlight gave off a charm that made people who were looking at the courtyard take out their cameras and take pictures.
Click-!
Seoah also took out her cell phone, which she had roughly ced in herb coat pocket, and took a picture.
Looking at the photo, it was a cute photo where the cheeks looked like steamed buns.
With her mind refreshed from the fatigue of the documents, Seoah walked back toward the deputy director''s office. Unlike when she came, her steps were league lighter.
*******In an observation room filled with all kinds of monitors, high-tech devices, and high-tech tools, James and the people from the Object Association were concentrating on the data sent by cameras flying high in the sky.
The United States Object Association had decided to send a camera into the sky to investigate ''small moons'' that had recently appeared.
This ''Mini Moon Observation'' began after they obtained information that the ''Red Moon'' could no longer be observed from the space station.
Amidst the rows of screens and blinking consoles, a team of astronomers and Object Experts gathered together to focus on the real-time dataing from the cameras.
One of the team members opened his mouth calmly.
¡°The rocker has passed about 100km above sea level. Currently, neither the red moon nor the blue moon could be seen.¡±
After the rocket wasunched, a ripple urred in the observation room, which had been filled with silence due to concentration.
A quiet conversation and a closer investigation followed afterwards.
"A hologram on the scale of the entire Earth? An illusion? It''s more realistic for it to be something like that than an entity with mass suddenly appearing, but what Objects could do was always beyond logic.¡±
James quietly left the observation room as he expressed his dejectedness.
Behind James, a man walked in a hurried manner and caught him in the hallway in front of the observation room.
¡°James, wait.¡±
¡°Is there something wrong?¡±
James had left the room because he thought it was the time for someone who was a non-professional like him to leave, but why did someone stop him?
James looked back at the man with a puzzled expression.
¡°You said you were nning to visit Korea again, aren¡¯t you? You reported that you are going to take Relic No. 0 with you this time. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to avoid such a dangerous country?¡±
¡°It¡¯s dangerous indeed. But I have no choice but to go.¡±
James spoke with a serious expression before waving a flimsy document he had taken out of his bag.
< t="" h="" e="" ="" p="" r="" e="" d="" e="" s="" t="" i="" n="" e="" d="" ="" e="" n="" d="">
Such an ominous title was written on the cover of the document.
¡°You probably have seen this report too.¡±
The document that James held contained contents worthy of the title ¡®The Predestined End.¡¯
It was a report that predicted when humanity would perish based on various data.
Moreover, up until now, the predictions had never been wrong.
Humanity was slowly being destroyed.
James put the report back in his bag and continued.
¡°We must do everything we can to avoid humanity¡¯s destruction. The Gray Reaper in particr is a way to prevent the ¡®Predestined end.¡¯ I¡¯m sure of it.¡±
¡°¡Nevertheless, I want you to be careful, James.¡±
¡°Okay, I¡¯lle back safely, so just wait for me.¡±
James waved his hand roughly and went on his way.
*******As the constant sound of TVmercials rang out in thefortable containment room, as weird as it might be, the sound filled the space with vibrant energy.
¡°Reaper, try this.¡±
As Iy down in the soft and cozy nket, Yerin peeled a tangerine and put it in my mouth.
A warm, fluffy nket that made me feel like falling asleep, and a slightly noisy TV sound.
The gentle contrast between the two was really satisfying.
The bright orange tangerines added stimtion to the calm space.
After all, tangerines were full of sour juice. It was a pleasant snack to awaken the senses.
As expected! Nothing feels like home!
The ''Blue Moon Adventure'' that took ce at Yangcheon-gu Lake was quite fun. However, something known as adventure was like a two-sided coin. Even though it was exciting, it would always be apanied with fatigue.
Stunning scenery and the attractions like Hydra Water Park were the exciting front.
The tiring behind the scene work was the struggle to get rid of the Blue Moon.
As expected, I like afortable containment room where there was no front nor behind the scene.
Of course, I even surprised myself that I also wanted to immediately go out and y.
"Oh right."
Yerin rummaged through her bag as if she had forgotten something, and took out some well-wrapped documents.
It was a document that said,
¡°The Trinity Research Institute had sent a request to borrow Reaper for about a week. Of course you won¡¯t go, right?¡±
I didn''t really want to go.
It looked less interesting than the Central Research Institute.
I looked away from the report and turned my head to show my disinterest.
¡°As expected, I thought so too! Let¡¯s stay together at Sehee Research Institute, Reaper!¡±
Yerin hugged me tightly, pressing her cheek against mine.
Then, a very faint odor wafted from Yerin''s body.
It was the same evil smell that I smelled in the desert and in theke.
At that moment, I snatched the documents that Yerin was holding.
Then, the odor became stronger.
Could it be that Trinity Research Institute was the culprit behind the smell?
¡°Reaper? You want to go there?¡±
Yerin said with a slightly depressed expression.
¡°I¡¯ll tell Sehee unnie that you are interested.¡±
Yerin packed the documents with crestfallen expressions as she said that.
However, I wouldn¡¯t change my choice. After all, I couldn''t leave those guys alone when I had found that they were harmful to humanity.
*******The magnificent building of Trinity Research Institute 3 was located on the outskirts of Gwanak-gu, where the characteristics of the city center and the outskirts harmonized well.
However, befitting its reputation as Korea''s best research institute, the majestic building did not blend in with the surroundingndscape, but rather showed off its presence.
In a room filled with the subtle hum of a precise air conditioning system and the faint smell of petroleum inside the research institute, the third director was listening to the report with a calm expression.
¡°Sehee Research Institute has epted the rental request. We are nning to transfer it in a week.¡±
¡°That¡¯s good. I thought they might reject it.¡±
The director slowly flipped through the report and read the materials handed over by the woman in theb coat as he nodded his head with a satisfied expression.
¡°The preparation is perfect.¡±
The director, who was flipping through the papers with a satisfied expression, looked at thest page of the report and asked a question.
¡°The predictions here seem pretty reasonable. What do you think?¡±
¡°Even though we can¡¯t be 100% sure, I think it¡¯s worth a try.¡±
After hearing that and thinking carefully, the director came to a conclusion.
¡°Okay. We¡¯ll do as you say. Proceed with the n.¡±
The director left the report on the desk and walked out of the conference room.
The report on the desk said:
< analysis="" of="" the="" gray="" reaper¡¯s="" weaknesses.="">
< As it is an Object that is quite friendly to humans, its behavior is expected to be restricted if humans are ced around it. >
< It is expected that the method of inviting the general public into theboratory during the operation to eliminate the Gray Reaper will be effective. >
Chapter 111: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (1)
Inside aboratory filled with state of the art tools, arge tank filled with viscous ck slime sat menacingly. The heavy and unpleasant smell of the ck slime seeped into the air, creating an ominous atmosphere.
Inside that horrible liquid, the director of the third Trinity Research Institute stood still. His body was full of torn and pierced wounds, while his inside was full of ck and rotten organs.
The wounds, which made it easy to see inside the director, were gradually being filled by the ck liquid in the tank which was voraciously sucked into him. Once all his wounds were healed and he climbed up from the tank, his face was stered with an expression full of solemn determination.
¡°With this much preparation, I should be able to deal with the Gray Reaper without difficulty.¡±
It was a self-talk full of determination, as if reinforcing his own resolve.
Once the director started to move, he left a trail of ck slime on his wake.
Step-! Step-! Step-!
Footprints were trailing behind him, as if it was following him.
However, the shape of the footprint was anything but ordinary. Instead of footprints in the shape of human feet, the footprints looked as if a mass of twisted tentacles had stepped on the floor.
Every time the director took a step, a creepy pattern was imprinted on the floor, giving an eerie atmosphere that was a mix of reality and fantasy.Before long, the director left the room filled with the smell of petroleum.
Inside the room the director left behind, lots of bizarre marks scarred the floor and walls. It was traces that seem to have twisted around as if it had lived of their own.
A trace of something which had deteriorated even though it was fundamentally human being.
The traces seemed to indicate that the forbidden threshold between humans and Objects as well as reality and fantasy had been crossed.
*******Wow, it was more crowded than expected!
When I visited the sinkhole in Songpa-gu, a ce where entry used to be strictly regted, it was crowded with people.
The area near the sinkhole in Songpa-gu used to be a boring ce with only a lot of soldiers walking around, but now, it had turned into a fun ce.
After hearing news about lots of people who were interested in me gathering in the sinkhole in Songpa-gu through the TV in my containment room, I secretly leave Sehee Research Institute to collect some firewood and have fun before visiting the Trinity Research Institute.
Perhaps the Sehee Research Institute was currently looking for me?
Hihihi!
Although it was said that the area was dangerous because Objects crawl out from the sinkhole from time to time, the number of soldiers standing on guard was dwarfed by the numbers of tourists.
Because of the gathered crowd, the area was so full of emotions.
There was a lot of positive energy like goodwill and awe around.
The ce where the tourists were heading was the only facility near the sinkhole where civilians could enter.
It was < Songpa-gu Gray Reaper Memorial Hall >
ording to the TV in my containment room, the establishment of the memorial hall was said to have faced tremendous opposition. But the government had choice but to establish it in the end.
The TV said that there were so many people getting into idents while sneaking into the sinkhole where the ¡®Gray Reaper¡¯ fought which was heavily guarded by soldiers. But is that really true?
I slowly walked forward while having a few questions in my mind.
Plop-! Plop-!
I passed the long line of tourists with my ghost form and entered the memorial hall.
The moment I entered the lobby of the Gray Reaper Memorial Hall, I was impressed by the fountain that weed me.
After all, It was rare for a person or an Object to be able to see their own image carved into a stone and have a stream of water gently falling along the outline.
The sound of sshing water and a soft melody filled the space with tranquility.
As I stood there in a daze, as if I had be a statue for some reason, I heard a high pitch sound of a coin hitting the concrete.
Clink-!
When I turned my head to the direction where the sound came from, I saw a man standing in front of the fountain. His eyes were closed and his expression was serious and full with reverence, as if he was praying.
Was this statue being treated like some kind of lucky fountain?
That was usually the case with fountains that had coins thrown into it by people.
At that time, emotions began to flood to me from the person who was praying.
Worship.
It was a mixture of a weak worship and a longing for a saviour who would relieve his frustration and reality of life.
At that time, I heard a conversation that did not fit the atmosphere from the corner of the memorial hall. It came from the quiet chatter of two soldiers who were standing guard with their guns held upright.
¡°Seriously. The world has gone crazy.¡±
It was a voice so small that it was difficult for humans to hear it because of the sound of water from the fountain and surrounding noise.
¡°Even now, Objects continue to appear from that sinkhole at least once a week. To think this memorial hall is praising an Object¡¡±
¡°Well, isn¡¯t it more convenient to have a memorial hall like this? Before, we saw at least one guy die every month after lots of people crossed the blockade. But these days, there aren¡¯t any.¡±
To the grumbling soldier, another soldier added an opposing opinion from a practical perspective.
¡°Haaaa, that¡¯s good and all. But, there¡¯s something unusual about the atmosphere these days. The entrance fee of this ce is over 100,000 won, I don¡¯t understand why there are so many peopleing. Just like Yangcheon-gu Lake, perhaps the Gray Reaper is capable of corrupting minds?¡±
¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be revealed soon? I heard that Trinity is going to analyze the ¡®Gray Reaper.¡¯ Trinity is trustworthy.¡±
¡°I hoped they would find something.¡±
With that, the conversation between the two soldiers ended.
Trinity''s name suddenly popped out and really piqued my interest.
The news that I was going to Trinity had spread wider than I thought.
Trinity was famous, and I, as a special grader Object, was also famous, so it seemed like a synergy had urred.
Perhaps that''s why people were even more looking forward to my visit to Trinity Research Institute.
As I passed the gentle sound of water in the fountain and went deeper into the memorial hall, I saw an exhibit with a lot of people gathered around it.
The exhibit was disying something that looked as if part of the ground had been cut out and solidified.
At first nce, it looked like the fossil footprint of a dinosaur. However, when I got closer and read the sign, what was written was something which waspletely unexpected and absurd.
< footprints="" of="" the="" gray="" reaper="">
It was an exhibit that disyed a hardened mud that had my footprints on it.
While I was puzzled by the small footprints, I could hear part of the audience''s conversation.
¡°Could it be that is¡ The footprint when the Gray Reaper pped its hands and stepped on the ground with its feet?¡±
¡°Looking at the sign, I guess that¡¯s really the one?¡±
Numerous visitors were posing for pictures with my footprints, which were forcibly made into fossils, in the background.
Noisy conversations and camera shutter sounds from people who enjoy looking at my footprints.
It''s nice to have a lot of firewood, but I couldn¡¯t help but feel strange.
With that in mind, I left the Gray Reaper Memorial Hall.
*******On Cookie Ind floating on the sea of hot chocte deep inside the Mini Reaper Garden, a secret exchange of information was taking ce between the Golden Reapers and the Blue Reapers.
Even though they couldn¡¯t exin it with words, the way they exined with hand and foot gestures was somewhat clumsy and cute, like kindergarteners doing a school art show.
In fact, the short-thinking Golden Reaper''s bodynguage alone was not enough, but the ability to feel the emotions that they inherited from Gray Reaper made up for it.
The Golden Reapers, shining like the morning sun, yed the role of storytellers. Their gestures and vivid emotions depicted a mysterious adventure.
The Blue Reapers'' eyes were wide open with curiosity, it shone brightly behind their shabby hats.
With both of their hands outstretched, the Golden Reapers describe a fight they had with arge Object.
They were teaching the youngest, the Blue Reapers, many things while describing how they danced happily while jumping up and down.
The movements of the Golden Reapers expressed their experiences in a fascinating way as they moved as if they were dancing.
The Golden Reapers then looked around. After that, they told one important story in a more cautious manner.
It was a story about their creator, the Gray Reaper.
A story about the evil pranks it pulled against them using a ck slime full of malice towards humanity.
They send a feeling of warning that even the youngest Blue Reaper should heed.
However, the Blue Reapers couldn''t erase their suspicion at first.
It was like the stubborn expression of a child saying, Mom will not do that!
However, the feeling that the Golden Reapers sent was filled with truth. Therefore, the Blue Reaper¡¯s feelings gradually began to change, and eventually the Blue Reapers came topletely believe it.
At that time, a spark of inspiration burned among the mini reapers.
The mini reapers began to n and coordinate a fun prank.
There was a sense of yful intrigue as the mini reapers discussed their thoughts together.
*******The atmosphere in front of the main gate of Sehee Research Institute early in the morning, when the afterglow of the night had not yet subsided, was quite tense, perhaps because of the tense Trinity employees.
The people from Sehee Research Institute were lined up with slightly anxious expressions on their faces.
On the other side, Trinity Research Institute personnel that were wearing heavily armed protective suits were standing with stony expressions.
The contrast between the atmosphere of the two groups and their attire reminded me of the time when I was transferred to the Central Research Institute.
However, unlike the protective clothing of guys from the central research institute, the strong odor of ck slime could be felt from the protective clothing that personnel from Trinity were wearing.
As expected, Trinity Research Institute seemed to be the producer of those ck smelly liquid.
ck slime, huh?
For some reason, I get the feeling that there wille a moment when I ¡®mistakenly¡¯ summoned the Golden Reaper into it.
Hihihi.
The corner of my mouth curled up as I walked toward the Trinity Research Institute vehicle.
Chapter 112: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (2)
Inside the containment room of The Gray Reaper that had been left behind by the Gray Reaper, I was ying around with the Golden Reapers while hoping that the Reaper would return quickly from Trinity Research Institute.
Dumchit-! Dumchit-!
The Golden Reaper showed their dazzling dance moves to the rhythmic beat echoing inside the room. The lively energy emanating from their small body, which was barely the size of an adult''s palm, filled the containment room.
A Golden Reaper danced happily before falling down to the floor.
Looking at it, I stretched my fingers towards it and stroked its hair.
In response, the Golden Reaper smiled brightly.
Even though it had danced so much, the Golden Reaper showed no signs of being tired, making it more and more obvious that it was an Object.
When I pointed my finger at the other Golden Reapers who was dancing, the Golden Reaper who was sitting down got up and started dancing excitedly.
¡°Hahaha, cute.¡±
Iughed out loud when I saw it. The Golden Reaper who suddenly danced just because I made a hand gesture had the cuteness of obedient dogs.Before I knew it, Sehee unnie hade to the containment room and yed with the Golden Reapers.
Sehee unnie seemed to be taking breaks too often. Will our institute be okay?
Sehee unnie was tickling the hat wearing Golden Reaper who was resting stretched out on the floor.
Although it didn''t make any sound, the Golden Reaperughed and tried to push Sehee unnie''s fingers away.
That looks fun, I should try tickling them next time too.
When I turned my head to look at the Golden Reaper who was sitting on my palm, it looked a little nervous, probably afraid that I would tickle it.
Wow, cute¡
I stretched my fingers and stroked the Golden Reaper.
Sehee unnie, who had been tickling the Golden Reaper, suddenly looked at her cell phone. In the same breath, her expression became serious.
¡°The news just broke out. The jellyfish that devastated Nanjing, China has disappeared.¡±
¡°Are you talking about the jellyfish that was fine even after being hit by a nuclear weapon?¡±
Sehee unnie¡¯s words were quite surprising even for me, who had no interest in China.
An Object that people tried to get rid of suddenly disappears? I was sure it¡¯s not dead, so has it started moving?
¡°Now that it has suddenly disappeared, China is inplete chaos. It is an Object that killed a lot of people, so if it moved to another city, it would be a catastrophe.¡±
¡°It would be a real pain if it showed up in another city.¡±
¡°There¡¯s so many assumptions that it mighte to Korea.¡±
¡°Ey¡ That can¡¯t be.¡±
Would it really bother crossing the sea toe to our country?
*******Deep inside Trinity Research Institute''s hiddenboratory, a man with a hideous appearance was lying.
The man who was the director of the Third Research Institute was now almost unrecognizable, obscured by unidentifiable tentacles.
Strange tentacles, clearly derived from an Object, extended from all across his body. It was fused haphazardly with the skin of the director.
¡°Director. You were overexerting yourself.¡±
Standing next to the director was a woman wearing a pure whiteb coat. Expression of deep concern etched on her face.
Her eyes, filled with nothing but awe and worry, quickly scanned the director''s form.
After she finished ncing over his body, her expression changed to a more serious expression as she found the director¡¯s state to be unusual.
¡°There was no need to push yourself like this, Director.¡±
From the perspective of the woman, who had found the director copsed in front of the recovery room door, it was a natural thing to say. If she hadn''t found the director, the tentacles could have torn himpletely apart.
At that very moment, a terrible scene was happening beneath the director¡¯s pale skin.
An ominous tentacle-like entity slithered beneath the director''s skin, distorting it in grotesque ways. Every time the tentacles twitched, the director let out a painful groan and contorted his face.
In fact, it wasn''t the skin of the director that the woman was more worried about.
It was the unidentified footprints near the director¡¯s bed. It was tentacle patterns that wriggle as if they are alive.
That was the problem.
There were no records of such a phenomenon urring in both ¡®Evolution¡¯ or ¡®Fusion¡¯.
Since the room was filled with intense fluorescent light, darker shadows was casted around the room, further emphasizing the ominous patterns wriggling in the shadows.
The warden responded to the woman¡¯s words as his expression distorted in pain.
¡°No, I had to prepare to this extent. Even though the evolution fluid is fatal to all Objects, I have to prepare to this extent if I decide to go to fight properly.¡±
¡°Still, you are devouring the ¡®jellyfish¡¯ that destroyed an entire region of China. Isn¡¯t it an Object that¡¯s evaluated to be much more dangerous than the Gray Reaper?¡±
A woman expressed her feelings a little more vividly. Her expression slightly flushed.
"Of course Jellyfish is more dangerous. Still, I was going to absorb it sooner orter, so I just pushed it to happen sooner."
Even though the director was assaulted by pain, he continued speaking in a calm tone, as if to reassure her.
¡°The stabilization period will end soon. You don¡¯t have to worry that much.¡±
"But¡."
The director cut the woman off and changed the topic of the ufortable conversation.
Although his voice was full of pain, it contained an authority that seemed to prohibit further argument.
¡°When will the Gray Reaper arrive?¡±
¡°It will probably arrive sometime in the morning.¡±
The woman in theb coat also changed her demeanour and answered in a calm tone.
As if satisfied by her answer, the director closed his eyes and gave his instructions.
¡°I can¡¯t fight it right away. You can either wait until I finish the fusion, or handle it yourselves. You guys will be enough anyway.¡±
¡°Yes, the preparations are perfect. I will report the results to you as soon as you wake up.¡±
The woman answered without hesitation, showing her confidence.
It was an expression of confidence that overflowed from deep inside her heart.
¡°Then, be on your way.¡±
The woman in theb coat bowed politely before walking out the room.
The woman left the room, a little nervous. At the same time, she looked excited as her chance to make a ssh had finallye.
*******As I peeked through the window of the Trinity transport vehicle, I realized that I was getting closer to the Trinity Research Institute.
As if to show the influence of Trinity Institute, the buildings of the institute grew taller and the number of people on the streets increased.
But the atmosphere was really, really strange.
A delivery man carrying goods energetically.
A store owner diligently setting up their tent.
Office workers who were busy rushing out on the road.
The streets seemed full of life with people busy preparing for a new day.
At first nce, the ce seemed like a typical vibrant cityscape and full of city-specific noise, but it was unfamiliar. It felt very unfamiliar to me.
After all,
Everyone was fake.
They were just Objects pretending to be humans.
There had been numerous Objects pretending to be humans until now, but unlike them, the Objects here all had a terrible stench.
Inside those fake humans, ck slime that defiled the existence called humans was flowing.
The closer I got to Trinity Research Institute, the more intense the stench became. It was so strong that it reminded me of the unbearable stench of a garbage disposal site.
Perhaps because of the overwhelming presence of Objects dripping with ck slime, my senses stretched further than usual.
Somewhere in the distance, I could faintly sense the presence of a real human beings.
Actually, it was too far away for me to detect it normally, but since there were so few people around, my senses were able to stretch that far.
Fear, despair.
Those negative emotions emanated from the humans in the distance, contrasting sharply with the presence of an emotionless object.
Since the humans seemed to be in quite a dangerous situation, I summoned the Blue Reapers from the Mini Reaper Garden.
Go and protect the humans.
The Blue Reaper dispersed into thin air like a fog with an urgent look on their faces and flew towards the humans.
I was a little worried because the youngest were weak as they had no physical immunity, but I think the Blue Reapers would be better for this mission.
After sending the Bluee Reaper away, I saw arge gate in front of me.
< trinity="" research="" institute:="" 3rd="" division="">
I had finally arrived at Trinity Research Institute, the culprit behind the ck slime.
*******Upon arriving at Trinity Research Institute number 3, I was taken to a barren containment room. It was a room with nothing in it except for arge table ced in the center of the room.
When I looked at the table, it was filled with my favorite foods.
Pudding, cookies, marshmallows, cakes, and many more.
It was a situation I would have normally liked, but currently, I just couldn''t like it.
After all, the food was emitting an unbearable odor.
The odor was not at the level of adding some ck slime to food, but at the level of disguising ck slime as food.
In fact, there was a more serious problem than ck slime disguised as food.
It was the terrible malice pointed towards me.
I could feel it from beyond the magic mirror located in the containment room.
It gave off a ridiculously concentrated stench of the ck slime monsters I had seen so far.
Knock-! Knock-!
I hear a knock on the magic mirror. Then the door next to the magic mirror opened, and a woman wearing ab coat appeared.
She was a woman with an expression that seemed to look down on people.
"You''re a pretty smart kid, huh? To think an Object was able to notice something strange about the foods."
For a slime monster, she was quite strong.
She was roughly 1.5 times stronger than the Hungry Ghost subspecies?
Still, that strength wasn¡¯t enough for her to be so arrogant. So why did she act like that?
Chapter 113: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (3)
Inside the cold, solid prison of Trinity Research Institute, a man was lost in deep regret.
He silently scolded himself as his mind swirling with self-reproach.
It was a storm of self-reproach that was caused by the fact that he had made a grave mistake in bringing his daughter to Trinity Research Institute, which he once believed to be the most trustworthy organisation as well as the best ce for science in the entire world.
The man was just trying to grant the earnest wish of his daughter who desperately wanted to see the Gray Reaper. He never thought something like this would be happening.
He thought the Trinity Research Institute would be the safest ce to see the Gray Reaper, so he made a reservation to see the Gray Reaper, but¡ He and his daughter ended up being locked in a cage that was used to imprison countless terrified people.
In this dark situation, he could hear his daughter''s voice which was filled with fear.
"Daddy¡."
¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯ll be okay.¡±
The man suppressed his fear as much as he could and tried tofort his daughter with his usual voice.
When the man saw his daughter''s usual bright face stricken with fear, he felt regret once again.It looked like no one rted to Objects could be trusted!
¡°This is kidnapping and confinement!¡±
¡°You guys are in big trouble! Do you know who I am?¡±
People who were angry because they couldn¡¯t fathom what was happening made their voice heard. Before long, he was surrounded by a cacophony of protests and pleas from others.
As he held his trembling daughter closer, the man began to fall into deep thoughts.
It was obvious that the protests and anger of the imprisoned people would not make the situation better. In fact, the institute¡¯s employees who were hanging around the room didn''t seem to care about the protests.
Would such a threat really work against the people who dared to carry out this kind of kidnapping?
When the man saw the employees walking around confidently without even hiding their identities, he had a bad feeling.
Even mundane robbers would kill any witnesses who see their faces, so what would Trinity Research Institute employees do?
It would be reasonable to assume that they were going to kill them.
If they told him they would release himter, he wouldn''t believe it.
At that moment, the numerous corruptions that were revealed during the copse of the Central Research Institute came to his mind.
Instigation of murder, concealment of corpses, and using homeless people as food for Objects.
All kinds of terrible things came to the man¡¯s mind before disappearing again.
It was a terrible case that urred in the Central Research Institute, so it was a big mistake to believe that it would also happen at Trinity.
At that moment, a thunderous voice exploded right next to the man.
"You! I have remembered your face! Once I get out of here, you''re done, you bastard!"
Those words came out with such a ferocious force that the man could feel the air being pushed out.
When the man turned his head to check, he could see a muscr, angry old man there.
The old man''s face was distorted because of anger. It also turned bright red as he continued to threaten in a deafening voice.
He even took off his shirt and threw it at the researchers while screaming.
That shout became a catalyst for change in the attitude of researchers who had been indifferent until now.
Researchers who had maintained their cool attitude until now suddenly showed a change in behavior. Their eyes glinted dangerously as strange smiles began to spread on their faces.
At that moment, the man''s primal protective instinct surged.
The man reached out to her daughter and held his daughter''s hand tightly. Then, he made his way through the crowd with his daughter in tow.
He then hid among the people to avoid the intense gaze of the researchers and watch the situation unfold.
The researchers, whose attitude suddenly changed, slowly approached the old man.
After looking at the prisoners as if ncing around for meat at a meat shop, one particr researcher whipped his neck back and asked his colleagues.
¡°We don¡¯t have to keep everyone alive, do we?¡±
¡°Huh? Y-yeah.¡±
At the same time, fear and shock spread among the prisoners.
It wasn''t simply because of the scary words the researcher just said.
It was because the researcher''s arm had transformed from that of a human to that of a monster.
Then, the researcher used the sharp nails on his grotesque arms to grab the old man tightly.
Crack-!
Before long, the sound of something breaking reverberated through the room.
The old man screamed in pain and begged for his life, but his neck was broken before long.
The researchers of Trinity no longer seemed like ordinary researchers.
No, they didn¡¯t even look like humans.
Their expressions were twisted with malice and hunger.
Their bodies were also twisting grotesquely.
They were nothing but monsters.
Perhaps because the people had finally realized that the possibility of theming out from this ce alive was extremely slim, the inside of the cage became quiet.
Fear, shock, and despair spread in the prison together with the silence.
As fear consumed the prisoner, the man discovered a strange thing.
His daughter was staring at the floor.
¡°Daddy, the Reaper has appeared!¡±
His daughter did not pay attention to her surroundings, but just continued to look at one ce.
It was a good thing that she had assimted into the atmosphere around her and didn''t panic, but what did she mean by the Reaper?
The girl then stretched her hands toward her floor.
In front of her stood a very small, blue Reaper.
*******As soon as the woman entered the containment room, she could see the Gray Reaper.
Even though the famous Gray Reaper was right in front of her, she didn''t feel anything special.
< the="" most="" dangerous="" object="" in="" korea.="">
< Object with extremely high danger level. >
Although it was a being with numerous notoriety, she couldn¡¯t feel the overwhelming aura unique to a ''Special Object'' from its body at all.
There was no violent force and no huge mass pressing down on the surroundings whatsoever.
*Is this really ¡®Korea¡¯s most dangerous Object¡¯ ?*
It made her wonder if it was some kind of mistake.
The Gray Reaper in front of her was almost indifferent to its surroundings.
Even though it was looking toward her, its gaze was empty. Its face was also expressionless and it seemed to not care about what was in front of it.
But no matter how weak it looked, she couldn¡¯t let her guard down.
Collecting her thoughts, the woman ced the bottle containing the evolution liquid on the table.
As she took a sip of the evolution liquid, she opened her mouth.
¡°Drink, Gray Reaper.¡±
After hearing the woman''s words, some interest appeared in the Gray Reaper''s empty eyes.
When the woman turned the screen on, the scene inside the prison appeared.
It was a prison with a dead man''s body and people cowering in fear.
¡°I already know that you care about humans. Drink the evolution fluid. If you don¡¯t, we will kill those humans one by one.¡±
ording to the institute''s analysis, the Gray Reaper appeared to have at least the intelligence to understand the situation. If that was not the case, then, it appeared to understand speech.
The Gray Reaper who cared about humans would have no other choice but to drink the evolution liquid.
It was an evolution liquid that eroded any Object, so the moment the Gray Reaper drank it, their victory was guaranteed.
As the woman drank the evolution liquid repeatedly, she pretended to ask the Gray Reaper to drink the evolution liquid.
What are you going to do about this answerless situation, I wonder?
However, the reaction that the Gray Reaper''s gave was unexpected.
The Gray Reaper was still looking at the woman with a sour expression.
Does it still not understand the situation?
The woman gave her orders on her cell phone.
¡°Kill the hostage!¡±
If she repeated it until it understood, even an animal would understand.
The researchers who heard themand revealed their evolved true selves.
The researchers shown on the screen slowly approached the iron bars.
However, they were suddenly torn to pieces by streams of water gushing out from all directions.
¡°!!!¡±
What on earth is happening?
Unable to understand the situation, the woman looked towards the Gray Reaper and saw that the Gray Reaper was looking at the woman with a meaningful expression.
Did it use an ability that hadn''t been reported?
The hostage situation ended in failure.
However, it just meant that there was no easy way. She was always confident to win in the first ce.
¡°Everyonee out and kill the Gray Reaper!¡±
The walls on both sides of the containment room opened, and the evolved researchers entered.
They were expendable soldiers who had undergone brain surgery to suppress their fear.
Compared to formal researchers, they had no regenerative power and wereparatively weak, but they were numerous and strong enough.
When the Gray Reaper saw them, it looked into space with a slightly surprised expression.
What did it look at?
Its expression was too strange to say that it was surprising to see the soldiers.
The loyal soldiers followed the woman''s orders andshed towards the Gray Reaper with their vicious ws.
At that time, the Gray Reaper did something iprehensible.
It spun around and apuded.
From that iprehensible action, an iprehensible result emerged.
The soldiers which were attacking the spinning Gray Reaper, suddenly attack each other and fall apart.
At first, the woman thought it was nothing but coincidence.
Even though it was an ability they had observed during its battle with the Hungry Ghost, at that time it was limited to just destroying the terrain. Even in the institute analysis, it was treated as a half-baked ability that couldn¡¯t directly affect Objects.
The Gray Reaper jumped to the right twice, and stomped the floor.
Then, the soldier who was chasing it on all fours was caught in the strong wire and their neck was snapped and broken.
The soldiers were taken aback by the Gray Reaper''s yful gestures.
It''s ridiculous, the ability worked on Objects!
The Gray Reaper pped its hands twice and held the wire with its fingers.
Then, wires came down from the ceiling as if it had exploded and electrified the remaining soldiers.
In an instant, about a dozen soldiers died.
However, the remaining soldiers were still charging at the Gray Reaper. It was just the woman who crept behind them.
After all, she realized that she could never win with the power of the soldiers alone.
Even though the Gray Reaper''s gaze seemed to be looking at its enemies, it also seemed to be looking at something else.
At that moment, It felt like the reluctance she felt in her instinct was encroaching her whole body.
No matter how much she tried to suppress it with logic, her anxiety still refused to go away.
Just what on earth did the Gray Reaper look at?
The woman turned around at that moment and began to run away.
She needed to buy time.
So, she decided to run towards the security personnel.
If it was there, she could buy some time.
The director was the only hope to kill that monster!
p-! p-!
Thud-! Thud-!
As she watched the soldiers dying with only the sound of hand p and feet stomping the floor, the woman began to run away in a panic.
*******As soon as the researchers received the call, they began to slowly approach the people inside the cage.
The researchers were no longer in their human form, they had turned into monsters who had shed their human appearance.
The moment all prisoners thought it was the end of the road for them, something strange happened.
An unidentified character that they couldn¡¯t understood appeared in the air.
< 100="" needles="" made="" of="" water!="">
Then, a small stream of water flew out and left one researcher in tatters.
< 1,000="" needles="" made="" of="" water!="">
< 10 needles made of water! >
The blue reapers attacked the researchers by writing beautifully in the air.
But the researchers were persistent.
No matter how injured they were, they just regenerated and stood up again.
Their numbers were also numerous on top of that.
More researchers constantly poured out from the nearby buildings.
It was a number that 10 Blue Reapers could not possibly fight against.
Then, 10 Blue Reapers gathered together and wrote something big in the air.
< golem="" of="" the="" strongest="" being="" in="" the="" world,="" mother!="">
< Golem! >
A huge amount of water pooled in the air at that moment, casting a shadow on the ground.
Then, a huge 5m tall Gray Reaper-shaped mass of water roared.
¡°Boooooom!¡±
Before long, the Gray Reaper Golem turned the researchers into blood clots with its enormous mass and speed.
< mom="" is="" strong!="">
< Strong! >
After clearing the surroundings, the golem let out a loud roar again.
Chapter 114: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (4)
A secret construction was happening in the center of the Garden of Mini Reaper. The Golden Reapers were carrying out a mischievous n while avoiding the eyes of the Gray Reaper. They were digging deep pits as if creating a trap.
Finding something funny which no one else knew, the Golden Reapers giggled when they made eye contact with each other even while digging.
The location of the pit they were digging was precisely calcted by the Blue Reapers.
It was right below where the Gray Reaper popped out everytime it entered the Garden of Mini Reaper!
The Golden Reapers who were busy making a trap hole seemed to be much happier than usual. They exchanged mischievous smiles with each other while their eyes sparkled with the thrill of secret operations.
The work of the Golden Reapers was as innocent as children''s y, but the results stood out because of how precise it was, as if it was made by skilled craftsmen.
In the ever so peaceful Garden of Mini Reaper, a cute and secret plot which the Gray Reaper didn¡¯t know was slowlying topletion.
*******Ugh, it''s sticky.
I looked around, shaking off the ck slime that covered my entire body.
The containment room of the Trinity which was assigned to me had be aplete mess.Well, it seemed like Trinity Research Institute had called me with the intention of dealing with me from the beginning, so it was a foregone conclusion.
I was able to deal with Objects that give off foul odours really quickly.
Plop-! Plop-!
I gathered my thoughts as I slowly chased after the woman who had run away amidst the chaos.
In fact, I was really surprised when the Objects attacked me in the containment room.
Of course, I wasn''t surprised because the Objects I attacked were special or strong.
I was surprised because I could see what to do to destroy an Object.
Usually, when I looked at an Object with my eyes, I could only see the destruction conditions, but it did not tell me how to do it.
But this time, I could also see the way and method of killing an Object.
< p="" twice="" in="" 3="" seconds="" before="" tumbling="" back="" and="" copsing="" the="" building.="">
That kind of hint started to appear in front of me.
Originally, when it came to Objects, the ability was limited to only affect the surroundings, as in the case of my fight with the Hungry Ghost in Songpa-gu.
So, when I got really excited earlier, the surroundings became aplete mess before I even realized.
Maybe, the reason for the change was because I gained too much strength from eating objects these days.
Of course, I was not certain about it.
It could be that the monsters from Trinity were too weak, so I would have to experiment to see if it was visible to other objects as well.
As I moved after the woman, the barrier of the institute began toe down.
Thump-! thump-!
The barrier crashed into the floor, sending out a deafening roar and shock waves.
The sound it made was simr to the sound of a huge steel jaw closing, signalling aplete change in the atmosphere of the institute.
After that, the emergency lights spun around, scattering red light all over the ce.
The red emergency lights cast long, dancing shadows, giving the spaces divided by the barrier an even more ominous atmosphere.
The loud siren sound that started ring together with the appearance of the emergency lights echoed between the steel walls.
The once brightly lit hallway was now covered in a gloomy red light, was nowpartmentalised by the barriers and transformed into something foreign.
Now, even just looking at it, anyone could feel that the Trinity Research Institute was in a state of ¡®Emergency¡¯.
Oh, it kind of felt like I was looking at ab where monsters were escaping in a quarantine novel.
Really Interesting!
As I followed the woman''s footsteps, I heard a familiar voice.
¡°Open it! Open it!¡±
I could see a woman opening the console near the barrier and operating something.
*******Suddenly the entireb was put in a lockdown.
The director of the institute was still resting, so it was definitely that man damned man doing: The chief of security team.
Click-! Click-!
The sound of fingers tapping into the console echoed in the tense air.
The ever growing clicking sound clearly showed the woman''s growing anxiety.
At first, she begged the surveince camera to open the barricade in front of her, but now she had given up.
After all, It was clear that the man had no intention of opening it.
¡°Open it! Open it!¡±
A monster was chasing her from behind! On top of that, it was a monster with abilities that she couldn¡¯t guess!
She didn''t want to fight a monster like that.
In the first ce, it was the security team who should be fighting, not the researchers!
It felt as if her life was constantly being shaved every second she was there.
The woman suddenly broke into a cold sweat and became increasingly anxious.
An unidentified chill seemed to prate deep into her.
Fear consumed, gnawed, and confused her mind.
It felt like a monster was breathing on the back of her neck.
Hu¡ Calm down¡
The woman closed her eyes and let her mind calm down.
The monster shouldn¡¯t be able to kill the soldiers any time soon.
Since there were more than 100 soldiers, she still should have at least 300 seconds or 5 minutes to spare.
Let''s think rationally.
As a Deputy Director of Trinity, she should think logically and rationally.
The woman''s pounding heart gradually calmed down.
Okay, now let¡¯s calmly open the barrier!
The woman opened her eyes as his mind settled.
¡°Aaaahhh!¡±
However, the woman instantly screamed because she was startled.
In the ce where the console monitor sat, the head of the Gray Reaper was looking at her.
The woman felt like she was going to faint when she saw the strange smile on the Gray Reaper¡¯s face.
Her mind went nk, her breath came in short gasps, and her heart began to pound, threatening to burst through her ribcage.
As herposure disappeared, the woman turned around and began to run away once again.
Ha¡ Ha¡
But she had no choice but to stop in her tracks as she started to run out of breath.
After all, in her panic, she just ran without thinking, making her run into a dead end.
It was a fatal mistake.
The woman swallowed her fear and slowly looked towards the way she hade, clutching her chest as if her heart was about to burst out.
The red emergency lights were spinning around, illuminating the hallway, but the Gray Reaper was not visible wherever under the ominous light.
Did I finally lose it?
The moment such hopeful thoughts crossed her mind, the Gray Reaper popped out under the red light like a ghost.
It had its head down as it was immersed in darkness.
¡°!!!¡±
Following the rotation of the red lights,
One space at a time.
Even without moving its feet, the Gray Reaper got closer and closer, like a ghost.
The panicked woman literally sat down on the floor and pushed her body back with her hands.
¡°No. No. Don¡¯te.¡±
But soon the wall blocked her back while the Gray Reaper kepting towards him.
She couldn¡¯t dodge it!
The woman squeezed her eyes shut in fear.
Haa¡ Haa¡
The sound of heavy breathing could be heard in the darkness and silence.
However, nothing happened for a while.
Was she so scared to the point that she was hallucinating?
When the woman opened her eyes to confront her own doubt, what she saw were two small feet of the Gray Reaper.
¡°N¡ No!¡±
And when she raised her head, what she saw was the Gray Reaper punching her with an expression that as if saying it had had enough of the fun.
*******The headless corpse of the woman started to swell all of a sudden.
Oh! Phase 2 already?
For something that felt 1,5 times stronger than Hungry Ghost subspecies, It felt too timid and weak.
However, the killing condition of the woman was the same as the Hungry Ghost subspecies, , so she wouldn''t die with only this much.
"Ha ha ha ha ha."
Her voice, cracking and tearing wildly, burst from her corpse.
¡°I¡¯m not scared, I¡¯m not scared¡±
A huge de hit the floor with a thudding sound.
An Object made up of a huge de appeared, as if tearing apart the corpse while emitting a foul odor.
It seemed harder and stronger than the Hungry Ghost subspecies.
Moreover, it looked like she hadpletely shaken off the fear caused by my ¡®Eyes''.
How strong she was, I wonder?
*******Inside the Trinity Research Institute facility control room which was filled with high-tech equipment, people in security uniforms were looking at the monitors.
¡°Chief. The guiding operation isplete.¡±
¡°I see. You did well.¡±
The chief of the security team, who ordered the operation to guide Trinity''s deputy director using the barrier, smiled with satisfaction.
¡°But, is it okay to do this? We¡¯re using the deputy director as bait¡¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. The deputy director is someone who is not needed at all in this research institute. She just became the deputy director because she is loyal and has a high aptitude for evolution.¡±
The chief of the security team continued his speech with a mocking smile.
¡°Now, let¡¯s start testing the Gray Reaper. Let¡¯s start with testing the ghost form interference frequency.¡±
"I understand."
The chief of the security team spoke with a serious expression as if he was making a promise.
¡°Since the director is not here, we will have to do our duty. Killing it will be fine, but let¡¯s umte as much data as possible first.¡±
*******Even though the kidnapped and imprisoned people could escape from the bars, they were still being imprisoned.
It was because whenever they tried to leave the cage, the blue mini Reapers had a stern expression on their face as they blocked their way.
Even so, the people''s mood wasn''t that bad.
¡°Wow, it¡¯s a butterfly!¡±
¡°I want one too!¡±
It was thanks to the noisy and happyughter of the children echoing from all directions.
There were quite a few children inside the prison, probably because many families hade to visit. The Blue Reapers were entertaining those children with various magic.
< oh="" shiny="" butterflies,="" please="" fly="" around!="">
< Big soap bubbles, appear! >
As unidentified writings adorned the air, the cacklingughter of the children hit the crescendo.
In the meantime, the giant Reaper made of water, which had eliminated the enemies with great strength, was now lying on the ground and had be a yground for children.
¡°So soft!¡±
The children were jumping up and down on top of the giant water golem.
It''s called theTrampoline of Giant Gray Reaper!
A joyful atmosphere spread around the prison that made it difficult for anyone to believe that these people had even been kidnapped.
Chapter 115: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (5)
James strutted into the sleek, impably organized international airport, fresh off his private jet. The airport staff greeted him with polite nods, and in return, he shed them a confident smile.
¡°Hello, Korea! I have returned!¡±
It was only his second visit, but James felt oddly familiar with the ce.
Was it because I grew attached to this ce after oveing the danger that was threatening my life, or was there some residual mental corruption from the ¡®Lake Object¡¯?
Walking behind James, there were four fidgety bodyguards. Since he had announced that he would bring another relic with him, which was relic no. 0, the association appointed those 4 to apany him.
Well, it was a good thing for James.
In order to prevent something like the previous crisis from happening to him again, he had thought he should bring some reliable personnel. But, before he could choose his own personnel, the association gave him some reliable personnel.
As he entered the arrivals hall after passing through the automatic doors, James saw a familiar face.
"Oh! ¡°It¡¯s really nice to see you after such a long time!¡±
James expressed his happiness by hugging the interpreter who had ovee hardships together with him at the pudding factory."Ah yes. Nice to meet you too, James."
However, the interpreter¡¯s answer seemed to have no energy, as if he was not very pleased to meet James again.
"Hmm? Is there something wrong?¡±
¡°There really is no need for an interpreter this time, right?¡±
The interpreter said with an ashen face.
¡°Besides, probably because I¡¯m having such scary nightmares, I feel anxious for some reason.¡±
¡°Are you worried that an ident might ur again?¡±
Jamesughed out loud and patted the interpreter on the back.
¡°There is no need to worry. I brought a good security team this time around, so there won¡¯t be any major problems.¡±
When James turned around and looked at the four bodyguards, the bodyguards nodded and greeted the interpreter with emotionless expressions.
The interpreter felt a little reassured by the professional appearance of the security guards who, despite their indifferent expressions, continued to pay attention to their surroundings.
¡°Well, with them around, there¡¯s no chance we will be caught up in a series of incidents, right? Haha."
The interpreter guided James and his group with a more rxed expression.
What James looked at as soon as he arrived in Korea was the current location of the Gray Reaper.
It was only natural since the Gray Reaper was the main purpose of setting up a pudding factory in Korea as well as the reason why he brought Relic number 0 to Korea.
The interpreter called the Sehee Research Institute to get some information before rallying it to James.
¡°Currently, the Gray Reaper has been transported to ¡®Trinity Research Institute.¡¯ I heard it will take a week before it will return to the Sehee Research Institute. What should we do now?¡±
¡°I heard that unlike in the U.S, Object research institutes in Korea allow people to view Objects simply by applying for it. Then, let¡¯s go to Trinity Research Institute.¡±
James'' bulletproof vehicle turned and began heading towards Gwanak-gu, the area where Trinity Research Institute was located.
*******The headless corpse of the woman bubbled and transformed into a monster whose entire body was made of des.
Both of her arms and legs elongated, sticking like des with no fingers or toes.
She had be a monster that looked like it was a metal that had been melted and tempered.
A space separated by a partition.
Arge Object looked down at me.
Its teeth, which clinked together randomly, created a scary atmosphere.
If I looked like that, it would be easier to scare people!
As I was thinking about such nonsense, the de attached to the monster¡¯s arm flew at high speed towards me.
Even though it''s a sharp de that flies at terrifying speed, in the end it''s merely a physical attack.
There would be no point in avoiding it by tuning into my phantom form.
But then, an unidentified noise interrupted me.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeep-!
¡°!!!!¡±
When I tried to use my phantom form, I was startled by a very loud sound.
Thanks to that, I was unable to slip into my phantom form and got hit by the de, sending me crashing into the wall.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeep-!
Every time I tried to slip into my phantom form, the annoying sound kept appearing. Are they emitting a sound that only ghostly beings could hear?
That''s interesting.
I was a bit surprised that this technology was created in Korea.
I thought this technology was only avable in America!
I think it could be quite annoying for Objects that just wandered around believing in the power of their phantom form.
Perhaps the Golden Reapers would be a sturdy and cute punching bag when I yed this sound around them?
Fortunately, I think I could use phantom form if I tried to force it, but there was no reason to really force it.
After all, I have physical immunity. Meaning, such de attacks were no problem for me.
After several desperate attacks by the de Object, the situation inside the barrier began to change little by little.
Bubble-! Bubble-!
Transparent bubbles began to pop out from all directions.
Contrary to their appearance, they were very heavy and hard.
Why did bubbles appear all of a sudden?
*******Inside Trinity Research Institute facility control room. The chief of the security team was staring intently at the monitor with a very serious expression.
When he saw the Gray Reaper on the monitor flying away after being struck by the deputy director, he raised one corner of his mouth and smiled.
¡°As expected, it can¡¯t turn into a ghost. With this, the possibility of hunting the Gray Reaper has increased significantly.¡±
The monitoring staff also smiled brightly and said,
¡°Looking at the current situation, it appears that the Gray Reaper has beenpletely neutralized. If things continue like this, won''t the Deputy Director be able to win?¡±
¡°No, I don¡¯t think that will happen.¡±
If they looked at the video alone, the Gray Reaper was indeed being swept around like a leaf being shaken by a strong wind, but the chief still dered that.
¡°Inject the foam right now.¡±
It was a decision made after seeing the expression of the Gray Reaper, who looked not only calm but also bored.
Bubble-! Bubble-!
Bubbles began to form inside the barrier.
The bubble was made of an Object, so it wouldn¡¯t burst under any circumstances.
The Gray Reaper was so amazed by the sturdy bubble that it even tried pounding it with its hands.
The Gray Reaper was an Object with a high danger level like the Hungry Ghost, so the bubble was made as a defensive feature to prevent it from repeating acts of physical destruction.
Perhaps that''s why this bubble worked more effectively on the Deputy Director than on the Gray Reaper.
Eventually, the bubbles filled the inside of the barrier.
The deputy director, who was in a state where she could not move, opened and closed her de-sharp teeth.
It felt like she wanted to say something, she wanted to get angry, but she couldn''t.
¡°It looks like the deputy director has even lost the ability to speak human speech.¡±
The deputy director kept struggling, swinging her de-like hands and feet wildly, but it had no effect.
On the contrary, the Gray Reaper seemed quite rxed.
Unlike the Deputy Director, the Gray Reaper had a rxed expression and was enjoying the bubbles, shaking its arms and legs as if it had entered a ball pit.
The Gray Reaper looked quite happy, but it was also true that its movement became difficult.
The chief of the security team, who judged that the bubble had sufficiently restricted its movement, gave another instructions.
¡°Let¡¯s conduct a destruction test on Area D-15 where the Gray Reaper is contained.¡±
¡°If we did that, the deputy director would get caught up too, though?¡±
¡°It is an inevitable sacrifice.¡±
The chief gave instructions with an expression that did not seem remorseful at all.
¡°And send a strike force to attack the hostages. It¡¯s guarded by Objects that appear to be rted to the Gray Reaper, so be as defensive as possible.¡±
Inside the barrier shown on the monitor, high-temperature mes that could melt even the evolved Hungry Ghost were spewing out.
The chief thought as he looked at the Gray Reaper who still had a rxed expression even inside the high-temperature mes.
If it is really guarding the hostages, it will react in some way if we attack them. How long can it stay rxed like that, I wonder?
*******I was watching a Blue Reaper ying with my daughter.
Seeing my daughter smiling brightly made me feel that my worries were disappearing, so I couldn''t take my eyes off her.
But In fact, I still felt it.
After all, there was an old man with a broken neck in the corner, and we were still inside the dangerous Trinity Research Institute.
Even if I tried to make a phone call, all electronic devices they had such as cell phones had been taken away, so I couldn¡¯t do that.
On top of that, I literally couldn''t go out, so I couldn''t help but feel anxious. But for some reason, I wasn''t anxious at all.
Perhaps the reason was the Blue Reapers.
I didn¡¯t know how they made humans be happier and less anxious, but for now I just have to ept it.
Bang-!
At that time, a sudden gunshot rang out.
And my daughter copsed.
I was so startled and ran to my daughter, but luckily she was fine.
But that wasn''t the case for the Blue Reaper who took the bullet instead of my daughter.
"D-daddy. The Reaper is hurting!¡±
The Blue Reaper, with one side of its torso roughly torn off, was lying helpless in my daughter''s palm.
Fire was flowing like blood while an iprehensible character sitting in the air.
< mom¡="" it="" hurts="">
Other Blue Reapers who were ying with the children flew around hurriedly and erected a barrier made of water droplets.
< please="" protect="" everyone!="">
< Water drop shield, please protect everyone! >
As soon as the water barrier was erected, numerous bullets hit it.
< please="" protect="" us!="" mother="" golem!="">
Therge water Reaper that was used as a trampoline also got up from its slumbering ce and began to protect people by shielding them in its arms.
Boom-!
A loud noise that could not havee from a bullet rang out every time the bullet hit a water droplet.
¡°Daddy, what should I do?¡±
My daughter became restless and looked back at me.
Meanwhile, the Blue Reaper closed its eyes helplessly and began to disperse like powder.
< mom¡="">
The moment the Blue Reaper''s one remaining arm which was stretched towards somewhere, sags to the floor,
The sky split open.
No, the space was mixed together as if it was torn apart.
Chapter 116: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (6)
Inside the Trinity Research Institute facility control room, the image of a Gray Reaper was disyed on the main monitor.
As shown on the monitor, the destructive test had ended in aplete failure.
Maybe that''s why, the slightly excited atmosphere that appeared after they sessfully blocked the Gray Reaper''s ghost form,pletely disappeared.
Numerous notifications shed on the screen, casting eerie light on the faces of the security guards which were filled with worry.
¡°It doesn¡¯t work.¡±
The chief of security¡¯s self-mocking voice could be heard between the rapidly clicking sound of the keyboard and the intermittent beeping sound.
The Deputy Director, who had lost her mind and became an Object, had already melted and left no trace, but the Gray Reaper was still fine.
All kinds of destruction methods prepared by Trinity Research Institute were ineffective against them.
High heat that melted even the evolved Hungry Ghost.
A de that tears apart any ghost Objects.And shock waves that crushed shadows.
They all had no use against the Gray Reaper.
Only a few mechanisms, which restrict movement, including indestructible bubbles, were able to affect the Gray Reaper.
[ This is the Strike team, sessfully sniping. We will continue to attack from a safe location. ]
At that time, news of the sess of the strike team that went to attack the hostages echoed through the room.
The chief smiled meaningfully and waited for the reaction of the Gray Reaper shown in the monitor
At that moment, a huge vibration shook the room.
The monitor in the control room kept blinking pitifully, and people fell to the floor as they were unable to maintain their posture.
Then, all of the machines went ck.
All electricity in the control room was cut off and darkness came.
The once solemn interior of the control room became noisy because of the urgent conversations which took ce.
Fortunately, the power returned to the control room before long.
As the deafening sound of the emergency generator rang out, the control room regained its original atmosphere, but the same couldn¡¯t be said beyond the monitor.
The Gray Reaper had disappeared.
All the bubbles that could not be destroyed by ordinary means had popped. The steel wall which was specially made to block Objects was also torn like a piece of paper.
And then, the chief saw something strange at the edge of the cracked wall.
A trace so small that people wouldn''t notice it unless they looked carefully.
Void.
Something ck that constantly ate the light.
The chief, who felt uneasy at the glimpse of the trace, had a premonition and hurriedly left the control room.
"Ah¡"
Then he looked up at the sky and came face to face with the true void.
From one end to another, the sky was torn apart.
The sun disappeared, casting shadows on the ground, and a feeling of endless terror wafted from the void.
¡°W-what is this? Is this really what the Gray Reaper did?¡±
Like the Milky Way crossing the sky, the sky was torn into five strips.
There were also five scars on the ground as if it was a mirror reflecting the state of the sky.
Trinity Research Institute was torn apart.
It was really ridiculous.
There was no way humans could deal with something like that.
How can humans deal with something like that?
The chief hurriedly returned to the control room as his mind kept telling him to run away.
¡°C-chief. The strike team has been annihted.¡±
A member of the security team reported to the security chief who was hastily collecting the car keys with an ashen expression.
When he looked at the monitor after hearing the member¡¯s words, he saw a CCTV screen showing the torn apart strike team.
The strike team waspletely annihted literally in an instant.
Trying to keep the fear out of his voice as much as possible, the security chief spoke,
¡°All security forces, listen! Everyone disperse inside theb. We should stall for time as much as possible! From this point on, we are giving up on containing and eliminating the Gray Reaper.¡±
The chief continued with as solemn and calm an expression as possible.
¡°Release all Objects we had in quarantine. Make it as annoying as possible for the Gray and buy time. If we wait until the director, we can win. Understood?¡±
"Yes!"
The security chief put his coat on with a serious expression and stepped away from the control room.
He looked up at the sky, and the torn sky had suddenly regained its original appearance.
It¡¯s fortunate. If his men saw those terrible scars, they would no doubt try to run away.
They needed to stall as much as possible until he could escape safely!
The chief, who had been walking leisurely, gradually began to walk faster before starting to dash.
To be honest, he was unsure about which one was stronger between the Director and the Gray Reaper.
What he was sure about was the fact that he would die before the Directore out from his rest.
Arriving at the Trinity Research Institute''s underground parking lot, the chief opened his car¡¯s door and sat in the driver''s seat.
¡°Haha, I survived!¡±
A smile appeared in the chief¡¯s face, recing the anxiety that had taken its ce ever since he saw the void in the sky.
Rumble-!
But that smile onlysted for a moment.
After all, a monster with burning yellow eyes was blocking his car.
The Gray Reaper spread its hands with a scowl. Then the space between the hands shrunk little by little.
Following that hand movement, the space around the chief also shrunk.
He quickly mmed on the car door to open it, but the space did not budge.
¡°S-spare me!¡±
In the space which kept getting narrow and narrow, the chief kicked and punched all the ces around him, but it was of no use.
The space continued to shrink until the car where the chief was in disappearedpletely.
In that ce, only the faint scent of chocte remained.
*******Ah, I made a mistake.
The youngest was weak because they had no physical immunity, but Trinity was so awful that I let my guard down.
I felt a will while ying in Trinity¡¯s special sauna ball pit.
A sad and painful death.
After hearing the Blue Reaper saying , my mind went nk.
Maybe that''s why I used a bit too much firewood when tearing down the barrier.
By the way, I¡¯m a ¡®Mom¡¯ now?
I thought they would treat me like a ''sister'' or ''friend'', so it was surprising.
In order to eliminate the risk factors, I tracked and killed all those who seemed simr to the ones who shot the youngest.
I returned to the ce where the Blue Reaper was with the ck Penguin Teleport, and summoned the Blue Reaper that had been reverse summoned to the Garden onto my palm.
The blue reaper was lying unmoving with no strength in its entire body.
There, there, you are okay! You are okay!
I stroked the blue reaper''s head as I conveyed myfort to it.
< mom,="" you="" care!="">
The Blue Reaper woke up from its sleep and smiled brightly.
< mom,="" cares="" now!="" surprise!="" surprise!="">
< Mom, caring! >
The rest of the Blue Reapers also rushed into my arms.
I was always kind. It was you guys who subtly ndered me by calling me mom.
I only ignore them when I eat snacks, when they were annoying, and when I watch TV.
I also stroked the cute Blue Reapers who ran into my arms.
*******White mes spread everywhere, burning the residents of Gwanak-gu.
No, they burned what looked like the residents of Gwanak-gu.
¡°James! You said it will be okay!!!¡±
The interpreter spoke, breathing heavily due to nervousness.
¡°Haha, you don¡¯t know either, do you? Who would have thought that Gwanak-gu is the city of the dead?¡±
¡°I knew it would be like this!¡±
The interpreter''s scream echoed through the streets of Gwanak-gu.
James and his group hid inside the building to avoid the endless crowd of people.
Even though they burned them, they still had no choice but to block the narrow entrance due to the endless crowds of people.
In the interpreter''s opinion, the weapons James'' bodyguards brought were very interesting.
On the outside, it looks like an old-fashioned torch made of iron, but after they fiddled with it, it turned into a methrower that violently spit white mes.
Is that American technology? The interpreter took a closer look at the torch lent to him for self-defence, and suddenly saw a frog.
The limbs of the frog were pathetically tied in the area of the torch which shone.
¡°STOP!¡±
As he was looking at the poor frog, one of the guards shouted and snatched the torch.
¡°Oh... I should have exined it to you earlier.¡±
Then James apologized.
¡°Never look at a frog tied to the torch.¡±
¡°It just looked like a poor frog. Is there something wrong?¡±
James let out a muffled voice and continued his exnation.
¡°You feel really sorry for that frog, don''t you?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. After all, on top of being tied like that, both of its eyes and mouth sewn up.¡±
¡°You also wanted to set it free, right?¡±
¡°Yes, I decided to let it go first before listening to its story.¡±
James pped his hands and spoke up.
¡°That¡¯s it. Why do you think the frog can talk?¡±
"Huh?"
The interpreter looked puzzled.
Just why did he think it could talk?
¡°That frog is an evil frog that deceives people with its eyes and words. Of course, its very existence has the power to deceive people.¡±
¡°Isn''t it too dangerous?!?!¡±
The interpreter walked away from the torch with a horrified expression.
"James!"
At that time, the security guard blocking the entrance shouted.
When James went and checked, the Gwanak-gu residents who had been persistently following them had begun to disperse.
¡°Just what in the world is happening?¡±
Looking up at the sky, James saw terrible scars spreading across the sky.
It was a handprint that tore both the sky and space apart.
It was such an overwhelming sight that James and his group could only stare nkly at the sky.
At that moment, the ¡®White stone¡¯, otherwise known as Relic Number 0 hidden deep in the briefcase held by James, began to emit light at regr intervals, like a heartbeat.
*******In the depth of the sinkhole that was absent of sunlight which was filled with silence and darkness, the air was frozen as if time had stopped.
It was a ce filled by damp, stagnant air and dead, motionless objects.
In the middle of this abyss where darkness reigns, the Hungry Ghost began to stir.
The Hungry Ghost¡¯s eyes, which had been closed for a long time, pierced through the darkness like shining beads.
Although its intellect no longer existed and only had its instincts remained, it felt a familiar sensation and opened its eyes.
Longing.
Creator.
White and warm light.
It seemed as if a long-forgotten voice wasing to the Hungry Ghost''s mind.
"¡ö¡ö prepare ¡ö¡ö. ¡ö¡ö and when the sun ¡ö¡ö, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö devour everything ¡ö¡ö."
The Hungry Ghost got up from where ity and started running toward the familiar warmth.
Chapter 117: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (7)
Sehee Research Institute¡¯s employees, all decked out inb coats, were bustling around, guiding the sudden influx of people.
¡°This way! Please move slowly! There¡¯s no rush!¡±
Leading the way were the Golden Reapers, striding confidently, each step of theirs practically radiating cuteness.
Plop-! Plop-!
A trail of people followed behind the Golden Reapers, their steps much heavier but filled with a twinge of hope. These were the ones who¡¯d just been rescued from their imprisonment at the Trinity Research Institute.
And their testimonies were something else¡
The Trinity Research Institute was forcibly imprisoning people.
The researchers at the institutes could turn into monsters.
The Blue Reaper saved us.
The Gray Reaper sent us here. I felt a shiver run down my spine when I heard those words. This was no ordinary situation. So, naturally, I reached out to both the association and the police.
When the survivors finally made it to the courtyard of the Sehee Research Institute, their legs gave out, and they copsed, tears of relief spilling out.
Seeing this, the Golden Reapers dashed over, wiping away their tears and gently patting their cheeks.
Well, at least, that''s what the adult did.
The kids, on the other hand, even when plopped into the unfamiliar Sehee Research Institute, just kept ying with the Golden Reapers they held in their hands.
The kids would smile, raise their hands, and¡ªlike clockwork¡ªthe Golden Reapers would do the same, mimicking their gestures with perfect, adorable precision.
ording to the kids, if they grabbed the Blue Reaper¡¯s arms, it would yelp and scurry away as if in pain. But the Golden Reaper? It didn¡¯t mind at all. That¡¯s why the kids liked them even more.
Well, the Golden Reaper was built tougher than the Blue Reaper. Although it looked like it could shrug off an elephant stepping on it, its grip strength was only as strong as a child¡¯s¡
¡°Sehee unnie! The Hungry Ghost has already broken through the third line of defense!¡±
Yerin pointed at the TV, her face unusually serious.
¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better if we just evacuated everyone based on its expected trajectory? I don¡¯t think anyone but the Gray Reaper can stop it¡¡±
The TV red with breaking news, the tone so urgent it might as well have been announcing a war.
[ The Hungry Ghost is currently tearing through the heart of Seoul. Reports confirm that even the third line of defense has copsed. ]
The Hungry Ghost kept charging forward, obliterating every obstacle humans had thrown in its way.
Bombs? No effect. The steel barricades? Ripped apart like tissue paper.
And those barricades provided by the Trinity Research Institute? Utterly useless.
Hahahaha! Those slogans of theirs with the, < Barricades capable of stopping Hungry Ghost-level force! > was just¡ a joke, it seems¡ Fuck!
[ At this moment, the fourth line of defense is still under construction, but experts predict that the chances of stopping the creature are slim. ]
[ In recent weeks, research rmended downgrading the threat level of the Hungry Ghosts. However, the entity now rampaging through Seoul appears intent on challenging that assessment. ]
Honestly, the chaos started even before the Hungry Ghost escaped. A massive fissure had torn open the sky.
Sure, it was an incident big enough to be headline news, but it was quickly overshadowed by the far more immediate and terrifying reality of the Hungry Ghost escaping the sinkhole.
I hope that once the Hungry Ghost situation gets under control, people start paying attention to that other incident.
[ The Hungry Ghost has emerged from the sinkhole in Songpa-gu and is now advancing westward. ]
The news then showed the monster¡¯s projected path. It felt as if they were tracking a typhoon, and right in the middle of it? The ''Trinity Research Institute'' .
¡°As expected, the Hungry Ghost¡¯s heading for the ¡®Trinity Research Institute¡¯, huh? Maybe it¡¯s eager to challenge the Reaper to a rematch!¡±
Yerin, ever convinced the world revolved around the Gray Reaper, sprouted her theory that everything was gunning for the Gray Reaper.
While we were lounging around in the cluttered courtyard, an employee from the Sehee Research Institute approached me and reported.
¡°Director Lee Sehee! The Object Association has arrived at the main gate!!¡±
I sighed, dragging myself toward the front door.
Ugh, just thinking about what new headache the association was about to dump on me made my brain hurt.
*******Looking up at the sky, I was greeted by a sky split into five parts.
Even after all I¡¯d seen¡ªafter countless encounters with the arcane and the inexplicable¡ªthis was a sight new to me.
Maybe it was because this world interacted with Objects differently than mine did, but the flow here¡ it felt off.
They were hopelessly ignorant about Objects. Yet, oddly enough, I sometimes wondered if that ignorance might be the right approach after all. At the very least, this world still held onto the fragile pretense that people could live normal lives.
¡°Unnie, what are you doing today?¡±
¡°Since I have all the ingredients now, I will create a guardian to protect us.¡±
"Guardian?"
My sister tilted her head, curious about the unfamiliar word that had just escaped my lips.
¡°It will bepleted soon. Just watch.¡±
I forced a smile, stroking her head.
Before mey an array of colorful stones, carefully ced on a bed of finely ground soil.
¡°This stone is the core of the guardian. If I were a more skilled alchemist with better materials, its colour would be lessplex, but this is the best I can manage.¡±
As I poured various reagents onto the soil and stones, a faint light began to seep from them.
"Woooaaaaah!"
My sister¡¯s eyes widened in amazement. The stones, so diverse in color, emitted a spectrum of light, a miniature rainbow in the palm of my hand.
The soil, exposed to the light, clumped together, slowly forming a cute shape.
It was an unidentified creature, roughly the size of arge dog, with short legs like a frog¡¯s and a wide mouth. Brightly colored spots covered its body, and a glowing bait dangled from the top of its head.
¡°This is a guardian, an alchemist¡¯s eternalpanion. However¡ it¡¯s not quite on the level of the solid color Guardian or the white Guardian.¡±
¡°Hmm? Unnie, I think I have seen it somewhere before¡ Where was it¡?¡±
Her words were puzzling but before I could ask further, she dismissed the thought with a shout of ¡®Eh whatever! I can¡¯t remember!¡¯ as her serious expression rxed.
¡°The guardian will protect us from now on, as long as this stone remains intact.¡±
The creature stumbled around at first, like a newborn learning to walk. But once it found its footing, it began to dash around the Seoul forest with excitement.
I squatted down and gave the guardian a few pats.
"Yes!! The Hungry Ghost!"
Her sudden outburst caught me off guard.
¡°Umm, no¡ it¡¯s a little different. A mini Hungry Ghost without any creepy tentacles?¡±
I couldn¡¯t make sense of her words, and my expression must have shown it too¡ Sigh¡ Her mind worked in ways I could never fully grasp.
*******It felt heavy.
Not that it actually was, but, you know, it just felt that way.
Right now, a bunch of Blue and Golden Reapers were clinging all over me. They were everywhere¡ªon top of my head, on my shoulders, and even tangled up in my hair.Sigh these gremlins¡
The Golden Reapers were all snuggled up, shing their bright smiles.
And the Blue Reapers? They were shouting, < Mom is warm! > as they clung even tighter.
Since calling just the Blue Reaper could have been dangerous, I¡¯d brought in the Golden Reapers to act as bodyguards. But, sigh, this happened before I could even get them to do what I needed.
Oh well. Everyone who might¡¯ve caused trouble had already been sent off to the Sehee Research Institute, so what was the harm in letting them have a little fun?
Tofort the hurt Blue Reaper, a whole crowd of Golden Reapers gathered around, hugging it close.
The Blue Reaper tried to duck and make a run for it, but it couldn¡¯t quite manage that with the Golden Reapers¡¯ bright, determined smiles holding it in ce.
Guess they didn¡¯t get along as well as I¡¯d hoped.
I giggled, plucking one of the Golden Reapers off the Blue Reaper and holding it up.
It squirmed, reaching back toward the Blue Reaper, but finding that futile it turned to look at me and shed that same bright smile.
They were just so cute, so I couldn¡¯t resist the urge to y a little prank on them.
Too bad I didn''t spot any ck slime to ¡°identally¡± drop them into.
Since the Golden Reapers didn''t like it when I picked them up and tossed them around, I set this one gently on my shoulder instead.
I sprawled out on the floor to rx, gazing up at the sky. That¡¯s when I noticed that the sky was torn into five pieces.
Oh, right. I¡¯d torn them apart earlier.
I hadn¡¯t even realized I could pull off something like tha, but I¡¯d done it before I knew it, all because I¡¯d gotten so mad.
Now that I knew how to do it, I could probably manage it again. But, ugh, it required way too much firewood, so it wasn¡¯t exactly a trick I wanted to use often.
As Iy there, savoring my brief moment of respite, the Golden Reapers started acting like a bunch of startled meerkats.
They all stared in the direction of the Research Institute.
Is there something there?
Their senses were sharper than mine, so if they sensed something, it was probably real.
With a sigh, I got to my feet and headed toward theb.
*******Deep within the Trinity Research Institute, the director of the Third Research Institute stirred as a violent rm pierced the oppressive silence.
When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by a scene drenched in darkness, punctuated only by the eery glow of red emergency lights. The power system had clearly failed, leaving the institute bathed in an eerie crimson.
[ Object-releasing procedures are currently in progress. All remaining personnel inside the Research Institute, please evacuate. ]
A cold, mechanical voice red throughout the facility, indifferent to the panic it was meant to inspire.
¡°Object releasing procedure? How quaint. I don¡¯t recall authorizing such nonsense¡¡±
He rose from the bed with a grace that belied the monstrous power now coursing through his veins. A quick check of his physical state only deepened his grin¡ªhe was wless.
The absorption had seeded beyond his wildest expectations.
An infinite wellspring of power rolled within him, threatening to overflow. The sensation was intoxicating, a sense of omnipotence so profound that it bordered on divine.
¡°Physical immunity? Such a quaint ability, and yet, how utterly delightful.¡±
He spoke to himself as if to an old friend, relishing the sound of his own voice. With this power, he could tear the Gray Reaper apart limb by limb, savoring each moment. The Hungry Ghost? A mere child¡¯s ything inparison.
His smile widened, dripping with anticipation, as he slipped into his pristineb coat.
The corridor outside the recovery room was bathed in ominous shadows, no they were darker than the darkness itself, devouring even the brightest of lights.
And within them, ugly, twisted tentacles writhed and slithered, an extension of the monstrous will that now guided his every step.
*******As I continued walking in the direction where the Golden Reapers were all staring, I found myself at the crumbling mess that was the Trinity Research Institute.
Haha! What a sight! Ruins, chaos, and shadows everywhere¡ªit was like someone had thrown a huge tantrum.
It still looked perfectly fine from the outside, but inside, oh no, it was a whole different story.
The once neat walls and floors? Shattered to pieces! Clearly, something very interesting had gone down here.
The floor was all dark and spooky, like a ck hole trying to gobble up all the light. And even when the light tried its best to shine, those sneaky shadows¡ªtotally breaking thews of nature, by the way¡ªjust kept growing, getting darker and darker. Sigh¡ Naughty shadows!
From that inky pool of darkness, these weird tentacles would asionally pop up. They would wriggle around everywhere, grabbing Objects that looked like they¡¯d escaped their containment chambers. They were totally up to no good!
Sigh. The poor Objects didn¡¯t stand a chance¡ªthe tentacles just yanked them into the shadows and¡ well, let¡¯s just say they weren¡¯ting back out.
They also made some weird sounds, it was all crunchy and *squishy¡ª*like someone was munching on the bone and flesh. Gross, right? But what really made me wrinkle my nose was that stench. Yuck!
I could feel an unprecedented level of maliceing from the shadows. And almost all of it was directed towards humans¡ I had never felt malice of such tremendous intensity.
The presence of tentacles seemed to be twisting and distorting the space itself. It was as if reality itself was struggling to ept the existence of such an entity.
So, this Object must be at the very leastparable to the Hungry Ghost. Hmm, was the Trinity Research Institute hiding a Hungry Ghost-level Object all this time? Suspicious¡
But instead of worrying, I found myself grinning instead.
It¡¯s been ages since I stumbled upon something this strong. Finally! A proper challenge!! So fun!!!
Chapter 118: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (8)
Why is it that wherever I go with James, chaos seems to follow?
Take the area near Trinity Research Institute, for example¡ªprime real estate, high housing prices, the whole shebang¡ªturned into a living nightmare the second I showed up with him.
People were flooding out of the alleyways like some twisted parade. Hundreds of people, eyes wide and wild with madness, spilling into the streets. It was like watching a horror movie unfold, one where the nightmare doesn¡¯t end when you wake up.
Then there were the screams¡ªthose lovely sounds of people being scorched by James'' trigger-happy bodyguards. Those screams? Yeah, they lodged themselves right in my brain, like they had no ns of leaving anytime soon.
I was pretty sure those screams were going to haunt me, popping up in every nightmare from now on.
But then, as if the universe decided to throw me a bone, something odd happened. Like a sudden shift in the wind, the crazed residents of Gwanak-gu stopped dead in their tracks, fear stered on their faces as they bolted in every direction.
Right then, James decided it was a good time to look up at the sky. Naturally, I followed his lead, and what do I see? The sky, torn open like some monster had shed it with its ws.
The tear vanished quickly, but I wasn¡¯t about to dismiss it. Something dangerous was out there¡ª-no doubt about it.
¡°James, let¡¯s bail out of Gwanak-gu. This whole ce feels off¡¡±
Fortunately, his bodyguards were on the same page as me.I mean, who in their right mind would want to stick around a hellhole crawling with Object-possessed residents? But James? Noooooooo, he had other ideas.
¡°No, let¡¯s head to Trinity Research Institute. I need to figure out what¡¯s going on.¡±
James insisted, pulling out a rock from his tightly sealed bag, like that was going to solve anything.
The rock in James¡¯ hand started pulsing, glowing brighter and dimmer like it was trying to mimic a heartbeat. Because that¡¯s exactly what we needed right now¡ªa rock with a pulse.
*******In a space all draped in shadows, a being descended gracefully, slicing through the darkness like it was nothing.
There was this monstrous being¡ªa nasty one¡ªwearing the skin of a human just dripping with malice. He opened his mouth, sounding all confident and rxed.
¡°Ah, Gray Reaper. You are here.¡±
Ugh, the malice! It just kept pouring out of him, like he had a never-ending supply of meanness. Even the Golden Reapers and the Blue Reapers were ring at him, their faces all scrunched up in anger.
< bad="" human!="">
< Bad! >
I couldn''t even begin to imagine how many poor humans had been sacrificed to fill him up with that icky ck slime.
¡°Hahaha! Look! I got my hands on the concept of ¡®indestructible!¡¯¡± He boasted, spreading his hands wide like he was showing off a prize.
¡°I can no longer be harmed by physical means. Unlike those meager Objects that are just immune to modern technology, I have immortality itself!!!¡±
Oh, is that so¡? I see, I see.
I just looked at him with a pitying gaze, totally unimpressed. Oh, he must¡¯ve noticed because he suddenly gave me this disdainful look.
¡°Khm! My apologies, it seems I had been wasting my time trying to make an Object incapable of understanding speech understand my greatness.¡±
Then, out of nowhere, a huge monster popped up from his shadow. Oh, I knew that one! It was a Hungry Ghost offshoot, but it was even beefier than thest one I fought.
But, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ How many Objects did that monster wearing the man¡¯s skin have inside that body of his? Over one hundred? Geez.
¡°Even Objects incapable of human speech will be able to feel the sheer power of the Hungry Ghost that has gained physical immunity!!¡± he went on, clearly unable to stop talking, even though he¡¯d just said it was pointless to talk to me.
Thud-! Thud-!
The Hungry Ghost stomped towards me, all big and menacing. Meanwhile, the Golden Reapers got all excited, hopping around as they rushed towards it.
The killing condition for the Hungry Ghost was the same as before.
< depletion="" of="" its="" regenerative="" powers="">
Physical immunity? Pfft, like that mattered to the Golden Reapers.
They were soon all over the Hungry Ghost, headbutting the poor thing until it was riddled with holes. ck slime oozed out, trying to heal the wounds, but the Golden Reapers left their mes behind in the wounds, making sure they couldn¡¯t regenerate properly.
The Hungry Ghost let out an awful scream as it copsed, its body riddled with holes.
¡°¡¡±
On the other hand, the man looked utterly bbergasted.
¡°How¡? Is there something beyond my understanding? There must be some variable unknown to me!!¡± he kept muttering, his expression twisting in all sorts of confused ways.
¡°Something beyond my understanding? Impossible! I understand all of the ¡®Grimoires¡¯ .¡±
¡°Th-There was a ¡®Contract¡¯ . It is impossible for there to be a variable unknown to me.¡±
¡°Something must be wrong!!!¡±
¡°¡No, there¡¯s nothing wrong. It¡¯s all ording to n.¡±
Suddenly, everything fell silent. The man, who had been babbling incessantly, stopped, grabbed onto his head, and let out a hellish scream.
Meanwhile, a bunch of Objects rose from the shadows.
¡°Yes, yes, this is it!! I have a lot of ¡®Grimoires ,¡± he finally said, looking at me with this weird, almost calm expression.
With every new Object that appeared, theb got more and more wrecked. Honestly, the ce was way too small for all these monsters. There were just so many of them.
Ah, shit¡ It will take an annoyingly long time for the Golden Reapers to kill these many of them. Sigh¡ I guess there is only one option left¡
So, I reached out and grabbed the air.
Grab-!
Then, I swung my hand sideways with all my might.
Creaaaaak-!
The space around us screamed and ripped apart, in the process, all those Objects¡ªand the man, too¡ªwere sliced clean in half.
*******As the director lingered at the precipice of life and death, fragments of a long-forgotten past drifted into his mind.
Memories buried beneathyers of time resurfaced.
[ Regrettably, youck the intellect, finesse, and aptitude required to be an alchemist. ]
Those were the words he heard in his earlier years¡ªa talentless, inept alchemist facing the Grimoire of Contracts .
The Grimoire of Contracts , as the legends foretold, manifested as a man who carried numerous gasmps, yet his face remained an enigma in the director¡¯s mind, a strange and elusive memory.
¡°You forge contracts with the desperate and fulfill their deepest desires? Let us strike a bargain, then. I am prepared to offer anything¡ªanything at all!!¡±
It was a risky contract, one that could cost him everything.
After all, in the world where the director once lived, merely associating with a grimoire was enough to warrant annihtion, even if it meant burning entire viges to ash.
[ It seems you wish to be an alchemist, then what about this kind of contract? ]
The Grimoire of Contracts extended an offer.
[ I shall bestow upon you all the knowledge tied to the ¡®**Grimoire¡¯** that the **¡®Alchemists of this Land¡¯** have discovered, or ever will discover. ]
[ In return, you will find it exceedingly difficult to acquire new knowledge. It is about exchanging current knowledge with future knowledge. ]
[ The contract concludes the moment you perish. ]
[ If you are prepared to ept, then take one of mymps. ]
It was a contract too enticing to refuse, and the director knew it well. With his limited talent, what little knowledge he might have gleaned in the future would amount to nothing.
Upon sealing the contract, the director transformed into an alchemist in an instant. It was effortless, almostughably so.
Now, no one understood the intricacies of the ¡®Grimoires¡¯ better than he did.
Any and all evidence was unnecessary; his knowledge was the truth incarnate. He was the definitive answer, and that certainty followed him even when he set foot on foreign soil.
After all, thend he arrived in was a deste ce, inhabited by fools who knew nothing of alchemy. It was a paradise for a man like him, who wielded boundless knowledge.
But now, at his final moment, he felt the contract¡¯s hold slip away.
¡°I. I¡ What in the world did I do?¡± he muttered with hisst breath.
Yes, he had donned the robes of an alchemist, but he had never truly been one. He was nothing more than a schr, trapped in a prison of his own making, unable to grasp new knowledge no matter how desperately he tried!
The director, burdened with the curse of omniscience and the inability to learn, had grown arrogant. He had forgotten the very reason he sought to be an alchemist in the first ce.
Bing an alchemist was never the end goal; it was merely a means to an end.
I didn''t want it to die like this...
In hisst moments, the words of the long-gone alchemists came to mind.
Only a terrible ending awaits those who wield the power of the Grimoire.
*******As they approached Trinity Research Institute, an unsettling noise reached their ears, it was as if reality itself was being shredded to pieces. The kind of sound that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
The interpreter, understandably freaked out, stammered, ¡°James, why don¡¯t we turn back? There¡¯s something really weird going on there.¡±
James, on the other hand, had a stern, unyielding expression on his face.
¡°Relic Number 0 is in a state where we can¡¯t take any risks. You¡¯ll have to trust me on this.¡±
While the interpreter looked like he was about to pass out, James was as calm as ever, it was as if he knew this would happen already, like some kind of premonition.
The closer they got to theb, the more it looked like a disaster zone.
The Trinity Research Institute, once known for its pristine and sophisticated appearance, was barely recognizable. It was as if a tornado had hit it, only instead of merely debris, there was pure chaos and destruction.
They slipped through the cracks in the building and were immediately hit with the overwhelming stench of petroleum, and what they saw next was enough to make anyone¡¯s stomach turn.
The lower half of a man stood there, upright, while his upper half had been gruesomely severed. Yet, the upper body remained eerily intact.
Right next to this grotesque scene stood the Gray Reaper, looking down with an expression as cold as a winter¡¯s night.
The upper bodyy sprawled on the floor, its eyes ssy and unfocused, as if staring off into oblivion. The man¡¯s faint, broken voice barely made it past his lips. ¡°J-just what did I do?¡±
Faced with such a sight, James¡¯ mind was grappling with numerous questions.
That man has to be the director of the 3rd Division of the Trinity Research Institute. So what in the world happened here?
But before he could dwell too long, a thunderous sound tore through the building.
Boom-!
A massive Object burst through the remains of the Trinity Research Institute.
Its limbs were enormous, tentacles iling around, a smooth, mucus-like skin, and a gaping maw lined with sharp teeth.
It was one of the most dangerous Objects in Korea, the Hungry Ghost.
Chapter 119: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (9)
After leading the kidnapped victims from the 3rd Division of the Trinity Research Institute to the Object Association, our Sehee Research Institute finally got some peace. Finally!
¡°Haaaaa¡ I can finally get some rest now.¡±
Sehee unnie, who¡¯d juste back from a long, exhausting battle with that stubborn Object Association employee, plopped down across from me and sprawled out like a starfish on the table.
Then, the cutest thing happened. The Golden Reaper rushed over to Sehee unnie¡¯s cheek, where she¡¯s ced her head, and started patting it, like it was trying tofort her. Aw!
And, just like magic, Sehee unnie perked right up! She scooped up the little Golden Reaper that was clinging to her cheek, ced it in her palm, and started stroking it lovingly.
Seeing such a sweet scene, the Golden Reaper curled up in my palm, looked up at me with those big, expectant eyes, as if it was jealous of the other little reaper. How could I resist? I gave it a gentle stroke with my finger.
Ahh, pure bliss.
Sitting under one of those fancy parasols in the warm, sunny courtyard, sipping on a drink, and ying with the Golden Reapers¡ªIt would be heaven on Earth.
Each Golden Reaper had its own little quirk. The one in front of me loved being petted on the top of its head. Meanwhile, the one who was lyingzily in the sun? It was a big fan of belly rubs.
I stretched out my hand and tickled its little tummy, and it let out the cutest littleugh.Seriously, can anything be more adorable?
Back in the day, telling one Golden Reaper from another was like trying to spot the difference between identical twins. But now? I¡¯m basically a Golden Reaper expert. (Well, I get them wrong a lot too, but I¡¯m still learning!)
Every time I correctly differentiated a Reaper, I felt like I became even more of a Reaper Expert. Hahahahahaha!!
And, let¡¯s be real¡ªying with the Reapers is the most important job at Sehee Research Institute! Of course, Kim Jungrwi sunbae and Seoah Unnie would totally disagree, but who cares?!
Right in front of my phone, which was resting on the table, a Golden Reaper was crouching, staring at the screen like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. So focused that when I moved my phone, its little head followed right along with the screen.
This was a real shocker because, like, most of the Golden Reapers couldn¡¯t care less about screens.
Also, what was it so interested in? Eh? A news video showing the escaped Hungry Ghost?
The footage seemed to have been taken from a helicopter, courtesy of a broadcastingpany that specialized in Objects. They were doggedly tailing the Hungry Ghost like it was an idol that got caught dating.
"Huh?¡±
Then, something super weird popped up on the screen.
It was the Trinity Research Institute¡ªor what was left of it. The ce waspletely trashed, and the nearby city too, was utterly quiet and deserted. Not a soul in sight.
Oh, and did I mention the charred corpses scattered along the road? Yeah, not exactly a pretty picture.
¡°Sehee unnie! Look! The Trinity Research Institute. It looks way worse than I thought.¡±
¡°Yeah¡ It¡¯s way more serious than what the escapees described.¡±
It seemed like something major had gone down at Trinity, but neither Sehee unnie nor I were too worried about the Reaper.
After all, the Reaper was invincible, right?
The announcer, who had been all flustered over the mess in Gwanak-gu, suddenly calmed down and started reporting with a calm expression.
[ New information has just arrived. ]
The report detailed the whole kidnapping and confinement situation at the Trinity Research Institute, almost like they¡¯d gotten the scoop directly from the Object Association.
Sudden kidnappings. Researchers turning into Objects. The whole thing was shady. The broadcast was practically screaming, ¡°The Trinity Research Institute is up to no good.¡±
The Hungry Ghost, still charging forward in a straight line, suddenly leaped into the ruined building of the Trinity Research Institute,
And just then, the Golden Reapers who were watching the video with me jumped up, waving their little hands at me. Then¡
Wha?
They disappeared, melting away like they were never there.
*******Handling the man who was just dripping with unfounded confidence was way easier than I thought it would be. Like, seriously, I expected more of a challenge!
Since his presence was barely above that of a ghost, I figured there¡¯d be some ridiculous condition for taking him down. But nope! His condition was surprisingly simple.
< destroy="" its="" human="" form="">
That was it. Such a silly little condition for a creature at the level of the Hungry Ghost! But then again, the guy was stuffed with so many useless things, it was like his bnce was all messed up. Poor thing.
The moment I sliced him in half, a bunch of Objects that had been lurking in his shadows just melted into this gross ck slime.
Step-!
As soon as his severed upper body hit the floor, I heard footsteps. Uh-oh. Someone wasing into the Institute.
Wait, really? There are still people hanging around in this dangerous ce?
But then, I saw some familiar faces pop in.
Oh! It¡¯s James and that super scaredy guy from the pudding factory! What a surprise!
There were four other men with them too, and they looked like total bodyguards¡ªck suits, ear mics, the whole serious ¡°don¡¯t mess with us¡± vibe.
From what I heard, James had gone back to the US, but here he was, back in Korea!
The Golden Reapers, lit up at the sight of humans and dashed toward James and the others like puppies seeing their favorite person.
The bodyguards jumped into action, trying to stop them, but James just waved them off. He bent down and scooped up a bunch of the charging Golden Reapers,ughing.
¡°Hahaha, my little cuties! How¡¯ve you been?¡±
Hmm¡ James seems much better with the Golden Reapers now. Strange¡
The bodyguards, though, stood around James like statues, totally ignoring the Golden Reapers clinging to them.
Hmph, how dare they not pay attention to the little reapers!
The Golden Reapers just plopped on the bodyguards¡¯ shoulders with a pouty look when they realized they were being ignored.
Meanwhile, one of the Golden Reapers slowly made its way over to the scaredy guy. This child was abandoned by that scaredy cat before, but it still approached with a super cautious face. They are such good kids!
The scaredy guy though, didn¡¯t act rude this time. Instead, he just closed his eyes tight and stuck his hand out toward the Golden Reaper, looking all nervous.
And then¡ªbam! The Golden Reaper¡¯s face lit up like sunshine and it clung to his hand with an adorable little smile.
¡°Haha¡haha."
The scaredy guy gave a wobbly smile, half in awe, half in fear.
As I watched the Golden Reaper snuggle into his palm, I had a thought.
I¡¯d taken down the ''Culprit behind the ck Slime hiding in Trinity,'' which was my target.
Sooo, haven¡¯t I already finished all the work I needed to do at the Trinity Research Insittute?
Just as I was pondering this, I suddenly heard the sound of a helicopter in the sky. Huh? What¡¯s that all about?
At the same time, the ground started rumbling.
Thump-! Thump-!
It was the sound of big, loud footsteps. Uh-oh. That could only mean one thing¡ªan Object wasing.
The Golden Reapers jumped to their feet, their cute little faces suddenly all serious. They seemed to have sensed the Object too.
SMASH¡ª!
The wall got smashed to bits, and there it was, looking at us with those shiny, creepy eyes. Ugh, it was something I hadn¡¯t seen in a long time¡ªheck, I never wanted to see it again.
It was the ¡®Hungry Ghost.¡¯
The Golden Reapers matched its re with fierce little expressions of their own.
< protect="" the="" humans!="" please!="">
The Blue Reapers flew up high and covered everyone¡¯s heads with protective water droplets.
Scratch-!
But the Hungry Ghost just wandered around, leaving deep w marks all over the floor. But¡
It wasn¡¯t attacking, just¡ looking at us. Weird, right?
Why was it acting like that? I could¡¯ve swoon it was more aggressive thest we met¡
Hmm, what can be causing her weird behaviour, I wonder?
*******The Reapers and the Hungry Ghost were locked in a stare-down, turning the room¡¯s atmosphere into something thick enough to slice with a knife. It was all ominous res and prickling tension¡ªyour ssic showdown.
¡°Ah, it¡¯s all over now. If the Hungry Ghost and the Gray Reaper fight here, we¡¯ll die.¡±
The interpreter was already crying doom and gloom, not exactly a beacon of optimism. The poor guy was clearly scared out of his mind. One of the Golden Reapers, probably feeling a little sorry for him, floated over and patted is cheek like a parent consoling a frightened child.
Meanwhile, the four bodyguards weren¡¯t exactly taking things lightly either. They tensed up, raising their torches as if that was going to help.
The room was stepped in tension, thick enough to choke on. But James was feeling something a little different.
He got the distinct feeling that the Hungry Ghost had its eyes on him.
Don¡¯t tell me?
James slowly lifted the briefcase containing Relic Number 0, his mind already spinning with possibilities. As he moved, so did the Hungry Ghost¡¯s eyes, tracking his every motion.
It waspletely out of his expectation.
How should I interpret this? Isn¡¯t the relic number 0 connected to the Gray Reaper? Should I take it out and see what happens?
Just as he was mulling over that oh-so-brilliant idea, the situation took a sharp turn. Shadows and tentacles erupted from the body of the director of Trinity''s Third Research Institute, exploding outwards in a violent wave.
The tentacles shot into the sky, ripping the roof off the research Institute like it was made of paper and revealing a sky that, well, didn¡¯t exactly inspire confidence. Ominous light? Check.
¡°The colour of the sky is¡¡± James trailed off, left speechless as he stared up at it.
The sky wasn¡¯t just darkening¡ªit was turning ck, melting like someone had spilled ink across the heavens. And the shadows were spread out from the director¡¯s body, flooding the ground with a ck, slimy liquid that devoured everything it touched, pulling them down into the shadows.
But, lucky for James andpany, the ground under their feet was suddenly reced with something much softer. Marshmallows. Squishy, sweet, and totally out of ce in the middle of this chaotic scene.
A weird, cross-section of this marshmallow world spread out around the Gray Reaper, and get this¡ªthe ck slime didn¡¯t dare invade it. It just slithered around the edges, while the shadow continued to swallow up the rest of the surrounding buildings, one by one.
The streets were turning into a nightmarish ck field, tentacles twisting and writhing as they filled the empty spaces between the copsing structures.
And the sky wasn¡¯t just ck¡ªit looked like an upside-down sea of tar, thick and sticky as if waiting to drown the world.
Then, something huge broke through the surface of that inky sea, revealing itself bit by bit. Even through the darkness, there was no mistaking what it was. A monstrous jellyfish, all ck and twisted, the same one that had destroyed a city in China.
The Giant Jellyfish.
Its massive crown red out like some kind of freakish canopy, raining down ck slime. Oh, great. More slime. Just what the day needed.
The tentacles beneath it weren¡¯t just iling around anymore¡ªthey sharpened into des, slicing through the air, heading straight for James and his group.
< protect="" the="" humans!="" please!="">
< Guard the people! Please! >
< Make sure the humans don¡¯t get hurt! Please! >
The Blue Reapers, panicking at the sight of the oing attack, hastily carved strange, iprehensible symbols into the air.
The Golden Reapers, not to be outdone,unched themselves into the sky, their tiny faces set in fierce determination as they prepared to sh with the tentacles.
But, just before the inevitable collision, something massive emerged from the ck slime, cutting between the tentacles and James¡¯ group.
The Hungry Ghost, now slowly rotting in the ck water, had thrown itself into the fray.
*******The Hungry Ghost let out a hear-wrenching scream, its entire body impaled by those creepy ck tentacles from that awful jellyfish.
Wait, what?! The Hungry Ghost was actually protecting the humans? I couldn¡¯t believe it!
My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly expanded the garden, making sure it didn¡¯t fall into that ck water.
The Hungry Ghost looked like it had been through a nightmare.
One of its eyes was all rotten, and its body¡ªugh, the ck slime was eating away at it, ruining its ability to heal. But even though it looked so bad, I had this feeling it wasn¡¯t going to die.
Although its regeneration rate has slowed that much, I was still sure it wouldn¡¯t die.
< stone="" created="" by="" the="" object="" of="" beginning.="">
After all, the killing condition was still the same as before.
Even with its limbs all twisted up, the Hungry Ghost kept staring in James¡¯ direction, like it had unfinished business or something.
And then, out of nowhere, white mes shot out from the briefcase James was holding!
He got so freaked out that he dropped the bag, and it went up in mes, turning into ashes.
But guess what? There was this round stone left behind, shining like the sun.
The stone floated up, right over my head, and suddenly, my whole body was lit up with a familiar white fire. It wasn¡¯t painful at all¡ªin fact, it felt really good. Like, how do I describe it? Maybe like trust and friendship all rolled into one?
The white fire filled my heart up faster than anything, and right then, the Hungry Ghost shifted its gaze from James to me. Its eyes¡ªthey were full of mncholy and reminiscence. It was as if it was looking back on something from a long time ago.
Even though it was staring at me, there was this deep, sorrowful look in its eyes, as if it remembered me from before.
Chapter 120: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (10)
No trace of the Trinity Research Institute could be found anywhere in Gwanak-gu, which had morphed into a twisted version of hell. The tentacles waved wildly, while ck water that swallowed everything covered nearly the entire area.
In James'' opinion, both the sky and the ground were equally screwed.
Tentacles, sprouting from the overturned ck sea that had reced the sky, were snatching helicopters out of the air and dragging them into the ck sea.
And those helicopters were the ones from the broadcasting stations, dutifully filming the chaos from what they thought was a ¡°safe¡± distance.
Cute, right? Too bad for them, the entirety of Gwanak-gu was already a dangerous tentacle-filled yground, and safety was just aughable notion at this point.
The only spot that could remotely be considered ¡°safe¡± in Gwanak-gu was the patch of whitend where James stood¡ªcourtesy of the Gray Reaper¡¯s handiwork.
James lowered his stance, resting his hand on the soft, white earth.
Huh¡? This¡ Is this a marshmallow?
A marshmallow ind, conveniently blocking the hellish tentacle assault. How quaint. It¡¯s like something ripped straight out of a children¡¯s bedtime story, if that story was written by someone with a very dark sense of humor.
Despite the giant tentacles raining down from above, they couldn¡¯t quite touch James and his crew.All thanks to Relic Number 0, burning brightly above the Gray Reaper¡¯s head like a makeshift sun.
¡°Huh¡? So Relic Number 0 can do that too, huh?¡±
James muttered to himself, discovering yet another surprise from the relic he¡¯d been poking and prodding for ages.
The white light had this weird divine vibe, so much so that even the interpreter¡ªwho usually couldn¡¯t stop trembling and making a fuss¡ªshut his trap and watched in silence.
Beneath that glowing light, the Hungry Ghost, which had copsed onto the ground, stared up at the Gray Reaper with a nk expression.
Meanwhile, the Gray Reaper and the Golden Reaper stared back, all casual-like.
The Gray Reaper, locked in this little staring contest with the Hungry Ghost, slowly raised its hand into the air.
And as if on cue, the white sphere drifted closer and closer to the Gray Reaper¡¯s outstretched hand.
The moment the sphere made contact, an intense light erupted.
James had to close his eyes against the blinding sh, unable to keep them open.
When he finally managed to pry them open again, the white sphere was gone. But the light? Still there, only now it was emanating from the Gray Reaper itself.
The now-glowing Gray Reaper casually strolled forward and ced its hand on the Hungry Ghost¡¯s head.
And just like that, the Hungry Ghost turned into ashes, scattering on the wind.
For a creature that looked so vicious, the Hungry Ghost seemed almost¡ peaceful as it dissolved into nothing.
With the Hungry Ghost reduced to ashes, the Gray Reaper, which had been glowing like a mini sun, stopped shining.
Did the Gray Reaper just eat Relic Number 0?
Well, based on the evidence, that seemed to be the case.
The Hungry Ghost turned to ash, and Relic Number 0 had disappeared.
But the Gray Reaper wasn¡¯t done showing off just yet.
It crouched down and pressed its hand into the marshmallow ground. Then, something popped up¡ªarge, round mound of marshmallow.
From that mound, limbs and a tail sprouted.
And as eyes and a mouth appeared, it began to take on the shape of something familiar.
It had be¡ cute?¡ªminus the tentacles, of course.
It was a huge, white Hungry Ghost.
The new Hungry Ghost, which was twice the size of the one that had just turned to ash, opened its massive mouth and let out a sound like a dolphin.
Gyuuuu-!
Then white mes erupted from its marshmallow skin as it charged straight toward the jellyfish.
It was off to fight again, but this time decked out in white me armor that incinerated the tentacles on contact!
*******The Hungry Ghost was just lying there on the ground, looking all pitiful with its body full of jellyfish tentacles. Its big, sad eyes were fixed right on me. Sigh¡
It almost seemed like it was silently begging me to put it out of its misery.
The killing condition of the Hungry Ghost was still < Stone created by the Object of Beginning. >
But then, it suddenly started acting all weird toward me. Like, what was that about?
Just as I was trying to figure it out, a white rock whooshed over my head, glowing all bright and sparkly.
Hmm¡ if I put two and two together, that little floating sphere up there was probably the ''Stone created by the Object of Beginning.''
I tilted my head up to gaze at it, and a little idea started in my mind. Oh, I knew what to do! Even though I¡¯d never tried it before, it felt like second nature.
With a little flourish, I reached out my hand towards the stone.
The instant my fingers touched it, a flood of ¡®unknown memories¡¯ rushed into my mind.
In those memories, I was standing in front of something big and white.
Was it a giant frog? Or maybe a shiny, glossy Hungry Ghost?
Whatever it was, the person in the memory¡ªwas that me?¡ªced their hand on the head of therge white frog that was way bigger than the current Hungry Ghost.
They said something, though I couldn¡¯t make out the words. They felt warm and kinda sad, like a heartfelt plea.
When I snapped back to reality, guess what? That very same frog from those ¡®Memories¡¯ was standing right in front of me!
It had turned into an Object in the Garden of Mini Reaper, born from the ashes of the destroyed Hungry Ghost.
This one was a White Hungry Ghost.
Since it was created by the Garden of Mini Reaper, there were some differences from the one in my memory.
Just a little difference¡ªlike, instead of being made of y, this guy was made of marshmallow.
Mmm¡ marshmallow. It looked so squishy and soft, I kind of wanted to take a bite.
I mean, it really looked delicious!
The White Hungry Ghost gave me this hopeful little look, so I couldn¡¯t resist. I slowly walked up to it and patted its leg.
Then, without much thought, I tore off a tiny piece of its flesh and popped it into my mouth.
Om nom nom-!
Yup, just as I thought¡ªit was a real marshmallow. Fluffy and sweet, just the way I like it.
The White Hungry Ghost let out a happy littleugh when it saw me munching on a piece of it. Then it nced around and let out an adorable dolphin-like cry.
Gyuu-!!
Right after that cute little roar, its whole body burst into white mes, and it charged at the jellyfish-like it had a score to settle.
It zoomed around in the sky, burning those tentacles left and right.
Wow¡ It was putting up a much better fight than I expected!
At this rate, I figured it could handle protecting James and his group for now.
But defeating the Giant Jellyfish? Hmm, that might be a bit trickier.
The killing condition for the Giant jellyfish was super specific, after all.
< kill="" the="" talkative="" jellyfish="" that="" cannot="" speak,="" and="" crush="" the="" pearl="" of="" the="" night="" in="" the="" eye="" of="" the="" storm.="">
Um, okay, so what¡¯s a ¡®talkative¡¯ jellyfish even supposed to mean?
I felt a bit puzzled as I stared at the swarm of mini jellyfish floating around in that sea of ck slime.
Oh well, I guess I¡¯d just have to try every method I could think of.
*******James was sittingfortably on the marshmallow ind, casually observing the White Hungry Ghost as it fought with everything it had against the Giant Jellyfish dominating the sky.
Now, the White Hungry Ghost was no small fry¡ªquiterge, in fact¡ªbutpared to that Giant Jellyfish? It was like pitting a newborn against an adult. And yet, despite the size difference, the white mes coating the Ghost¡¯s body gave it a serious edge. Those giant tentacles? Reduced to ashes the moment they touched the Ghost¡¯s searing white mes.
Whenever the White Hungry Ghost found an opening, it didn¡¯t hesitate. It¡¯d leap onto the Giant Jellyfish, tearing into its slimy body with extreme ferocity. But, of course, the jellyfish just shrugged off the attacks, regenerating almost as quickly as it was torn apart.
It was a battle of titans, a war of attrition that seemed like it could go on forever.
But in the midst of all this chaos, what was James doing? He was just lounging there, snacking like he was at a casual pic. Not a care in the world, even though he was smack dab in the middle of a war zone.
Meanwhile, as the White Hungry Ghost duked it out with the jellyfish, the Golden Reapers were busy bringing food from who knows where and distributing it to the people.
The only problem was that it wasn¡¯t exactly what you¡¯d call normal¡ªit was more like marshmallows, pudding, and candy, all tailored to the Golden Reaper¡¯s own sweet tooth. Not that James minded.
And then there was this other Reaper, a new one. This Reaper was blue, translucent, and mini-sized. They were shy though, and never stuck around for long if anyone tried to look at it directly. It would turn invisible and bolt the moment it felt the sensation of being watched.
James found it amusing, especially since the snacks never seemed to run out, probably thanks to those skittish Blue Reapers.
But the star of the show, the Gray Reaper, was off doing something¡ strange. Really strange.
It kept pulling jellyfish out of the ck slime, splitting them open, listening to them like they had secrets to tell, or just straight-up punching them.
It felt like it was torturing it? Maybe. But James couldn''t quite figure out the method to the madness.
The Gray Reaper seemed frustrated, like it was searching for something buting up empty-handed. Jellyfish corpses started piling up next to it, forming a grim mountain. But that didn¡¯t seem to bother the Reaper. It just kicked the whole mess back into the slime, pped its hands, and summoned a bunch of Golden Reapers for some kind of silent conference.
After what felt like an eternity of the Golden Reapers and the Gray Reaper exchanging nces, the Golden Reapers dispersed, diving into the ck water with looks of pure disgust.
Splish-! Ssh-! Splosh-!
The Golden Reapers'' faces twisted with genuine disgust, but they seemed to have no other choice.
And finally, as the countless jellyfish corpses floated above the ck sea, the Gray Reaper smiled in satisfaction.
*******Tap-! Tap-!
I was happily napping when something poked my eyelids.
Ugh, who dared to disturb my beauty sleep? When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by the sight of a very grumpy Golden Reaper ring down at me.
Oh, shit¡ Did I promise to dive into the dark water with them?
Pow-! Pow-!
The Golden Reapers, clearly not happy at my conveniently selective memory, realized from the look on my face that I had zero intention of going in from the start. So, they just decided to take off their anger by pummeling me with their tiny fists.
As I argued with the Golden Reapers, the ground beneath us began to rumble, and a loud roar echoed thorugh the air. I looked up in surprise, and saw the ck sea swirling like a giant whirpool on a sugar rush.
Water pirs shot up in every direction, and fierce winds whipped around, making my hair dance wildly.
< kill="" the="" talkative="" jellyfish="" that="" cannot="" speak,="" and="" crush="" the="" pearl="" of="" the="" night="" in="" the="" eye="" of="" the="" storm.="">
Oh, this is it¡ªthe storm mentioned in the killing condition for the Giant Jellyfish!
Chapter 121: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division (11)
The interpreter scolded his past self forcently believing that the situation was safe just because it seemed less dangerous than he initially thought.
To think he once imagined he could enjoy the thrill of watching a monster movie unfold before his eyes, all while snacking on treats provided by the Golden Reapers!
He should have been thinking about something crucial for survival, like, How can I escape from this ce?
Now, the sky was a mass of ck water, writhing and undting like a restless sea. Below, the vastnd was covered in ink-colored slime.
The boundary between heaven and earth had vanished, as if the two had be one.
But the eerie calm of this bizarre world was shattered by an unexpected storm.
The storm, seemingly caused by Giant Jellyfish, upended thews of nature, turning the world upside down and plunging everything into chaos.
It tore the people from the white earth, hurling them into the sky. The ck liquid above and below twisted violently, forming a vortex that defied direction.
Gravity itself reversed, making it nearly impossible to discern up from down.
Amidst this chaos, only two things stood between the interpreter and certain death: the Golden Reaper, clinging to his shoulder with a grim expression, and the water droplet shield surrounding him.In this terrifying ordeal that tested his very consciousness, the interpreter forced himself to stay calm, scanning all around him for any chance of survival.
He was swept into the sky by the wind, then plummeted down. It was a horrifying experience¡ªgravity had flipped, and he felt as though he was falling endlessly.
It was as if he¡¯d been tossed into a gigantic washing machine, spinning uncontrobly, unable to tell up from a down. But instead of being cleaned, tentacles sprouted from all directions, ready to strike at any moment. ck droplets of water, capable of dissolving human bones and flesh with ease, were everywhere.
Suddenly, a glowing White Hungry Ghost, its short limbs iling, flew directly toward the interpreter.
It came at him in a straight line, as if it were targeting him specifically.
¡°D-Don¡¯te any closer!¡±
Even though it had no teeth whatsoever, the sheer size of the White Hungry Ghost terrified the interpreter as it hurtled toward him.
He felt certain that if such a massive Object collided with him, he¡¯d be lucky to die instantly, without pain.
If he was unlucky, he¡¯d be left in a vegetative state, every bone in his body shattered into millions of pieces.
As the White Hungry Ghost drew near, it opened its enormous mouth, as if trying to swallow him whole.
¡°Aaaahhh! No!¡±
In a panic, the interpreter iled his arms, but as soon as he was swallowed into the ghost¡¯s gaping maw, he lost consciousness.
*******With the interpreter being thest human swallowed, the Hungry Ghost finally seeded in putting everyone into its mouth.
Originally, I wanted to spread the Garden of the Mini Reapers and send everyone to the Sehee Research Institute, but that n didn''t work out. Maybe it was because this space was created by the Giant Jellyfish.
Even though it was much easier for me to erode the space now, trying to expand it still needed way too much firewood for my liking.
Plus, since relying on just the Golden Reapers and Blue Reapers for protection didn¡¯t seem like enough, I told the White Hungry Ghost to keep everyone safe by stuffing them all into its mouth.
At first, I thought the White Hungry Ghost would need some convincing, like the Mini Reapers, but nope¡ªit just silently obeyed.
This White Hungry Ghost is so nice! And yummy!
Suddenly, the Giant Jellyfish threw a fit, making a mess of the whole space.
Inside all the chaos, the White Hungry Ghost was still iling its short limbs as it flew around.
Meanwhile, the Golden Reapers were darting about,ughing happily, like they were ying in an amusement park. Hmm, they always seem so cheerful¡
Hehe! Since the Golden Reapers liked really being tossed around, I bet they¡¯d love being put in something like a washing machine. Hihihhii! It sounds so fun!! I¡¯ll have to try itter!!!
Then, a massive storm hit the space, where there was no difference between up and down.
< kill="" the="" talkative="" jellyfish="" that="" cannot="" speak="" and="" crush="" the="" pearl="" of="" night="" in="" the="" eye="" of="" the="" storm="">
I thought, Hmm, maybe this ''Storm'' showed up after the ''Talkative Jellyfish'' died.
Makes sense, right? But where¡¯s the ¡®Eye of the Storm¡¯ ?
Since the Giant Jellyfish caused all this, maybe it¡¯s the ¡®Eye of the Storm¡¯ ?
The Giant Jellyfish floated there so calmly, keeping its position even as gravity flipped and turned everything upside down.
Wouldn¡¯t it be nice to break the ¡®Pearl of Night¡¯ by just ripping that jellyfish apart¡?
Well, since that thought crossed my mind, I figured, why not give it a try?
Clench-!
I clenched my tiny fist and swung it in the direction of the jellyfish.
As my fingers traced the sky, it split apart. The ck sky, which looked like foam, tore open, revealing a void darker than ck.
And when my fingers touched the Giant Jellyfish, it split into five pieces.
Kieeeeekkk-!
With a sound that was both mechanical and irritated, the jellyfish dropped into the ck sea, fluttering like a popped balloon.
Huh? Is it over?
But nope, the Giant Jellyfish defied my expectations and rose back up to the surface as if nothing had happened.
So stubborn! Just as I thought¡ªit¡¯s not working. Seems like the only way to kill an Object is to fulfill its killing condition.
Even if I squished it with spacepression, it¡¯d probably be just fine. Ugh¡
I should give it a try once I have the time. But this jellyfish was so big and resistant to space erosion that it¡¯d take loads of firewood for me to do anything against it.
I¡¯ll try the spacepression test next time I meet a smaller guy. Let¡¯s see how it works!
Considering the killing conditions of the Giant Jellyfish, finding the ''Eye of the Storm'' seemed really important.
While gravity bounced me around up and down and my body was spinning randomly due to the intense whirlpool, I came across a particrlyrge water pir.
Among all the water pirs connecting the sky and ground, this one was super thick¡ªthicker horizontally than vertically.
Since I couldn¡¯t fly (bummer), I had to burn some firewood and grab the space to zoom toward the water pir.
Clench-!
I grabbed the space and shot forward without tearing it.
Whoosh!
I felt my firewood burning fiercely as I messed with the space, speeding toward the water pir.
As I entered the water pir, I was greeted by a peaceful space¡ªno wind, sound, and no gravity.
This space was the total opposite of the chaotic space I¡¯d just been in. It felt like a different dimension altogether.
The distorted space¡ªwhich was a hundred times bigger than it seemed from the outside¡ªwas filled with still air and silence.
Both the dark sky and the pitch-ck sea inside this water pir were vast, making me feel like I was floating between two giant oceans of darkness.
And there, shining in the ck sea, was a moon as white as a pearl. Could that be the ¡®Pearl of the Night¡¯ ?
Even though there wasn¡¯t a moon, there were two reflections of the moon.
Plus, there were lots of mirror-like obsidian stones floating around everywhere.
Two moons reflected in water that couldn¡¯t be broken, and a mirror that could reflect light.
Hmm, it looks like a puzzle. It also looks hard! But puzzles are fun, right?
*******James, after being swallowed by the Hungry Ghost, found himself pleasantly surprised by howfortable it was inside.
The Golden Reapers were scattered all around, casting a soft, soothing light. Honestly, it felt more like a chill hangout than the belly of some supposedly terrifying creature.
Thanks to the gentle glow of the Golden Reapers, he could actually see the inside of the Hungry Ghost¡¯s stomach pretty well.
And what a surprise¡ªit was way bigger than he¡¯d expected. And as if that wasn¡¯t weird enough, it was packed with these soft, fist-sized balls. A ball pit? In a stomach? Really?
As he looked closer, he realized the balls were shaped like little Hungry Ghosts, only with much shorter limbs.
Adorable, but seriously, what kind of stomach has stuff like this?
Curious, James picked up one of the little White Hungry Ghosts and gave it a squeeze. And amusingly, the thing squeaked back at him.
Gyu-!
A ball pit that makes squeaky toy sounds and is lit by floating Golden Reapers? Honestly, this was turning out to be more entertaining than he¡¯d thought.
When the unconscious interpreter was unceremoniously tossed into the ball pit, James was able to confirm that, yes, everyone in their group was safe and sound. Not bad.
Still, even though it felt pretty safe inside, there was no way to tell what was going on outside.
Eh, whatever. Shrugging, James decided to make himselffortable, lying back in the ball pit. Why stress when you can rx, right?
He turned on the recording function on his smartwatch and started organizing his thoughts by recording all the things that happened that day.
¡°The Gray Reaper absorbed Relic No. 0.¡±
¡°The Gray Reaper destroyed the Hungry Ghost and brought it back as a White Hungry Ghost.¡±
¡°And the ¡®Jellyfish Torture¡¯ the Gray Reaper carried out seemed to be intentional. It was too bothered by its actions to say it did it just for fun.¡±
More events floated through his mind¡ªlike the Gray Reaper¡¯s random dance performance and those odd red and blue that had suddenly risen in the sky.
Then, with azy grin, James made a little hypothesis.
¡°The Gray Reaper can destroy Objects and turn them into his own.¡±
¡°The Gray Reaper knows how to destroy Objects.¡±
¡°We should probably figure out how to prove that hypothesis.¡±
Hmm, Is this all I cane up with right now?
Once he finished recording, James let his serious expression drop. He picked up one of the Golden Reapers that had been staring at him and started ying with it.
*******Woong-!
As I swam through the quiet space, I couldn¡¯t resist tapping on one of the mirrors. The moment I did, all the mirrors started spinning around, changing their positions.
But it wasn¡¯t just the mirror I touched¡ªthree more decided to join in and move along with it.
The mirrors seemed to be bound by some kind of rule. It was like they were ying a game with me, when I poked one, a few others would shuffle around too.
Yep, it''s definitely a puzzle.
It looked like I¡¯d need to move these mirrors just right to get rid of the two moons floating on the water¡
Ugh, puzzles like this always made my head hurt. I usually just messed with them until they solved themselves somehow. But this one? It wasn¡¯t budging no matter how much I tried.
Hmph, so annoying!
Would it really be so bad if I just, you know, got rid of the moon¡¯s reflection on the surface?
Sigh¡ I decided to go for it, even if it meant pushing myself a little. Who needs to think too hard anyway? That was boring.
Lying in the air, I spread my hands out and opened my palms wide.
Then, with a little effort, I clenched the vast space of the ck sea, both above and below.
It was like squishing a giant marshmallow, only more¡ watery.
And just like that, I erased the sea with a flick of my hands. Poof!
The waterspout that had been blocking everything like a big, annoying wall disappeared like it was never even there.
As the barrier disappeared, gravity decided to make its grandeback, tugging me downwards.
Whee! The breeze tickled my face as I fell, and oh, what¡¯s this? A familiar figure was waiting for me below.
The Giant Jellyfish! The Object that once dominated the skies of China as well as Gwanak-gu was finallying to the end of its very dramatic life.
It slowly disintegrated, its once grand and noble self now just a wriggling, pitiful mess. It thrashed around, screaming in pain.
Kieeeeek-!
The scream was pitiful, it was as if the Jellyfish was pouring out all its sadness, all its iprehensible feeling into that one final death throe.
The sound echoed through the air, leaving an indelible mark on the space as if it were carrying the very presence of the Giant Jellyfish.
But the screams got weaker and weaker, and the moment they disappearedpletely, something wonderful happened. The blue sky! It began peeking through the darkness, bright and bail.
See? As expected! The option that didn¡¯t make my brain hurt was totally the right one. Hihihi!
And then I noticed them¡ªlots of media helicopters in the distance, all busy filming me as I gracefully fell.
As I looked at the helicopters, a little spark of excitement buzzed through me. Yep, this whole thing was wrapping up nicely.
Chapter 122: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division – Epilogue (1)
As the Hungry Ghost opened its gaping maw, brilliant light poured into the ball pit, signaling that all those pesky external threats were gone. Finally. It also meant that the Hungry Ghost¡¯s protection had run its course¡ªnot that James was worried.
The Golden Reapers who were ying in the ball pit were the first to run out. They spread their arms wide while having a bright smile on their faces.
Under the golden sunlight, those Reapers practically glowed, radiating happiness. So cute!
James strolled out after them, basking in the warm sunlight that greeted him. A perfectly blue sky stretched above, with bright sunlight gleaming down and a cool, calm breeze brushing past him.
Gone was that dreadful ck sky that had oozed unease like sticky tar. In its ce, a peaceful, clear blue sky reigned, signaling the world¡¯s oh-so-dramatic return to normality.
But when James finally tore his gaze from the picturesque scene and looked around, reality hit. Gwanak-gu was a mess. The once-splendid district was now a wastnd, the ruins slowly revealing themselves as thest remnants of that vile ck slime retreated.
The bare concrete skeletons of buildings stood exposed for all to see, a stark reminder of the devastation the disaster had wrought.
It''d probably take forever for Gwanak-gu to bounce back.
But hey, with the Giant Jellyfish seemingly obliterated, the humans had reimed a bit more breathing room, albeit slightly.
The sound of helicopters began to echo through the ruins, where the skyscrapers and the city¡¯s hustle and bustle were now nothing but distant memories.The choppers lined up, touching down on the debris-strewnndscape, and soon after, soldiers from the Korea Object Association spilled out, ready to clean up the mess.
Not far behind, reporters decked out in full protective gear descended upon the scene, sticking close to the soldiers as they checked the ruins for safety.
James noticed the reporters slowly making their way toward him.
Of course, they had questions, and who better to answer them than him?
He straightened his clothes, knowing they were about to realize just how special the Gray Reaper was.
Gyu-!
A distinctive sound erupted as James squeezed the Hungry Ghost ball in his hand. A nice little memento from his wild time in Gwanak-gu, one he¡¯d be adding to his disy cab for sure.
With that thought, he sauntered toward the reporters, eager to bask in a little well-deserved attention.
By the way, where had the Gray Reaper gone?
The White Hungry Ghost and the Golden Reapers had also disappeared.
*******Right after I took down that big ol'' Giant Jellyfish, a swarm of helicopters buzzed over like they¡¯d been waiting just outside of Gwanak-gu.
Ugh, what a hassle¡
When I spotted a crowd of reporters heading my way, I ducked into a gap between the ruins. No way was I in the mood for interviews!
With this disaster finally over, I was more than ready to get back to the Sehee Research Institute.
I stretched my arms above my head, sping my palms together, when suddenly, a Blue Reaper floated up to me, scribbling something in the air.
< mom!="" mom!="" follow="" me!="" please!="">
< There¡¯s something I want to show you! >
Aww, how cute!
The Blue Reaper looked all shy and nervous. They¡¯re always a bit bashful, but today even more so than usual.
Plop-! Plop-!
I trailed behind the Blue Reaper, who waszily gliding along on a broomstick. It was like I was hiking up a mountain as I carefully climbed the skeleton of a crumbling building.
Meanwhile, the Blue Reaper just kept floating higher and higher.
So unfair! If only I could fly, I¡¯d zip around everywhere, no problem¡
Before long, we reached the top of a tall ruin with an amazing view of the whole area. The panoramic view from up there was fantastic.
The changed scenery of Gwanak-gu from this ce was quite nice.
The wreckage of Gwanak-gu had a certain charm from this height. The way the skyline had vanished, leaving an open vista, the sun shining over the ruins, and the clear blue sky contrasting with the scarredndscape¡ªit all made my heart feel so light and free.
The cool breeze added the perfect finishing touch.
Did the Blue Reaper bring me here just to show me this lovely view? Aww, how cute!
I turned to give the little one a pat on the head for a job well done, but¡ they were gone.
Huh? Where¡¯d they go?
Suddenly, I heard the sound of a bunch of tiny feet pattering around me. Then, out of nowhere, Golden Reapers popped up, bouncing with excitement and giving me a shove from behind.
Wha¡ª?
Before I knew it, I was tumbling down from the top of the ruins, totally caught off guard by their sneak attack.
When I nced up, I saw the Golden Reapers giggling with those mischievous grins of theirs.
Below me, a pool of ck liquid waited in the cracks of the ruins.
Shit! I¡¯ve been duped!
But before I could ssh down, I quickly teleported myself to the Mini Reaper Garden.
Hehehe. Nice try, but you¡¯re a hundred years too early to outsmart me!
After narrowly escaping the trap set by those sneaky Golden Reapers and their Blue Reaper aplice, Inded safely in the Garden of the Mini Reaper.
Escape sessful!
But just as I was patting myself on the back, the floor beneath me crumbled.
Plop-!
I fell into a pool of hot chocte up to my neck, and before I could even think about getting out, the Golden Reapers appeared, armed with marshmallow hammers, and started bonking me on the head.
Every time a marshmallow hammer thudded against me, I felt their emotions flood in¡ªoh boy, they were seriously annoyed with all the pranks I¡¯d pulled on them.
Especially that one time I said we¡¯d catch the jellyfish together, and then¡ well, then I didn¡¯t. Oops. Oh, maybe also because of the time I lied that would never prank them ever again.
The Golden Reapers were having the time of their lives, giggling and whacking me. Had I really been teasing them that muchtely?
I nced around, hoping the Blue Reapers weren¡¯t in on this, but just as I thought I was safe¡
They emerged from between the snacks, closing their eyes as they joined in the marshmallow bonking.
Ahh¡ So you¡¯re all in on this, huh, Blue Reapers¡? Oh well, I guess I had iting.
*******Step-! Step-! Step-!
The sound of shoes echoed through the dark, muddy basement, each step carrying a weight that pressed against the silence.
Though his face was vague and unrecognizable, the man, dressed in a pristine suit, made his way slowly down the stairs.
Rattle-! Rattle-!
His features may have been a blur, but the numerousmps he carried glowed with a clear, undeniable presence.
Anyone who crossed paths with this man might forget his face, but one detail would stick with them¡ª
The Man Who Carried Lamps
The private room, once belonging to the director of Trinity''s Third Research Institute, was a wreck¡ªck slime had corroded the walls, and the structure was crumbling.
The Lamp Man stepped into the dismal room, his gaze settling on a ¡®very old-lookingmp¡¯ tucked away in a corner.
With a simple tap on its surface, the oldmp transformed¡ªnow clean, polished, and seemingly brand new.
He ced themp carefully in the center of the room, making sure it was positioned to catch the eye of anyone who entered. Then, with a slow, deliberate pace, he exited the room, a meaningful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
*******Deep in the night, when the moon and stars sparkled up in the sky and the Golden Reapers were all snug and asleep, the Sehee Research Institute was buzzing with activity. But not for me.
I was just lying in the backyard, staring nkly at the sky. The Institute was busy, the people of the association were all caught up with what was happening in Gwanak-gu, but that had little to do with me.
Being an Object had its perks, you know? Like, I didn¡¯t have to worry about the world''s troubles. I got to enjoy all theforts of civilization without having to do anything in return. How neat is that?
So, there I was, gazing up at the sky, watching three moons just floating there¡ªbig moon, blue moon, red moon.
I kept waiting, thinking maybe a new moon would pop up any minute now. But nope, no sign of a fourth one. I thought since the ¡®Pearl of the Night¡¯ was the moon, a new moon would appear, but I guess not.
Well, that moon wasn¡¯t one of the seven colors of the rainbow, so maybe that¡¯s why it didn¡¯t show up.
But hey, it¡¯s not like I walked away empty-handed from Trinity Research Institute. I mean, I did get a big load of an emergency snack¡ªHungry Ghost! Plus, I managed to snag two more abilities. Not bad, right?
Still, I felt like I took down a bunch of Objects at the Institute, but the loot was kinda meh.
Maybe it¡¯s because they were all contaminated Objects, or maybe Trinity just had a thing for beefy, physical Objects.
One of the abilities I picked up was kinda useful¡ªtentacle summoning!
I could pull tentacles out of shadows, butpared to the sheer number the Jellyfish could summon, I could only summon one at a time, and it was more on the cute side, not like the big, scary jellyfish tentacles.
But hey, it¡¯s strong and sturdy, so it¡¯lle in handy.
I pulled a tentacle out from the shadows and plopped down on it, gettingfy. Then, I focused on the top of my head, and a soft light started glowing all around me.
My hair¡ªthe stupid little cowtail on top of my head¡ªbegan to shine like the Hungry Ghost¡¯sntern.
Sway-! Sway-!
Eh? I could move it¡ I could move it just how I wanted it to. The ability was to light up and move specific parts of hair.
I kind of thought I¡¯d get the ability to summon the Hungry Ghost after dealing with it, but instead, I got this¡ kind of ability?
I got even more confused at the source of the white Hungry Ghost¡¯s ability¡
*******In the dead of the night, the Object Association¡¯s investigation team was still hard at work, moving diligently through the darkness.
Their focus was on the building site where the 3rd Division of the Trinity Research Institute once stood.
Although it lookedpletely destroyed on the surface, quite a bit of the underground facilities remained intact, so there was a good chance they could uncover some crucial evidence.
Association agents cautiously made their way underground, their movements guided by the intense beams of headlights and the protection of their specialized gear. It wasn¡¯t long before they stumbled upon something unusual¡ªa room.
Despite the surrounding chaos, this room looked oddly clean and intact, almost like it had been preserved. And right in the middle of it, a gasmp stood tall, casting a faint glow.
¡°I¡¯ve got a suspicious item here¡ªmight be an Object. It¡¯s a gasmp,¡± one of the soldiers, who had gone in first, reported back.
The researchers following closely behind didn¡¯t waste any time. They carefully sealed themp and prepared it for transport.
Just as they were about to leave, a small voice echoed in their minds.
[ Forge a contract with me. I will provide you with all the knowledge there is about Objects. ]
The voice was sweet and tempting, like an offer too good to refuse.
Chapter 123: Trinity Research Institute: 3rd Division – Epilogue (2)
Inside the Sehee Research Institute, long safety lines were ced to guide visitors.
¡°Sehee unnie, are you sure it¡¯s okay to open the containment room to visitors?¡± I asked.
I mean, it¡¯s the Gray Reaper we¡¯re talking about!
¡°We have no choice,¡± Sehee unnie replied, her expression totally unbothered. ¡°There were just too many people requesting to see the Gray Reaper. Since we got permission from the association, as long as no idents happen, it¡¯ll be fine.¡±
She said it so calmly, but I wasn¡¯t convinced. Actually, I really didn¡¯t want Reaper¡¯s containment room opened to the public at all.
Like, what if they took away my ytime with Reaper? Not fair! And besides, what if people saw me ying with it? They¡¯d think I was some weird researcher or something¡
At 10 a.m. sharp, a bunch of people wearing visitor IDs started gathering along the safety line. So many of them, it was like a parade!
Kim Jungrwi sunbae was the one leading them, looking all serious and professional.
Maybe it was because this was the first time Reaper¡¯s containment room was open to the public, but wow, the crowd was huge! Everyone wanted to see the Gray Reaper up close.
Probably sensing the crowd, Reaper¡¯s antenna tilted slightly toward the magic mirror, like it was curious or something.It swayed from side to side, almost like it was dancing!
And oh my gosh, the Golden Reapers weren¡¯t about to be outdone¡ªthey swarmed toward the magic mirror, jumping around and causing such a fuss. It was adorable!
¡°Waaah!¡±
The visitors all gasped in delight, which was totally expected. I mean, how could they not when the Reapers were being that cute?
Unlike before, people actually seemed to like the Gray Reaper now. Everyone was peering into the containment room with these soft, warm eyes, like they were looking at a cute little puppy or something.
So much noise filled the hallway, either from people gushing over how the Gray Reaper was watching TV, or because they were squealing over how precious the Golden Reapers were.
The whole atmosphere was just so calm and fun.
What a relief¡ It didn¡¯t look like there was going to be any ident today!
*******Even though the containment room looked all cozy with itsfy bed, yummy snacks, and mini Reapers running around, it was definitely noisier than usual.
Now, the room had some seriously great soundproofing, so it wasn¡¯t like it was actually loud. The real issue was all the people beyond the magic mirror¡ªit was noisy from a firewood perspective, if you know what I mean.
I could feel all the goodwilling from outside the containment room, flooding toward me like a warm, fuzzy nket.
The Blue Reapers, who were trying so hard to stay hidden in the corners like shy little shadows, kept peeking toward the magic mirror where they could sense all that good energy.
Meanwhile, the Golden Reapers were beaming as they darted toward the mirror. Some of them even pressed up against it, trying so hard to see the other side.
Sigh¡ They could¡¯ve just phased through with their phantom forms, but nope, they just had to do it the hard way. Sometimes, I just couldn¡¯t wrap my head around the way those Golden Reapers thought.
Trying to tune out all the noise, I turned on the TV to catch the news.
And on the TV was ying a video of me, free-falling through the air, looking all calm and collected. Well, mostly calm¡ªthere was this tiny hint of relief on my face that I didn¡¯t even realize was there.
[ So, this is what the Gray Reaper looked like after defeating the Giant Jellyfish, huh? ]
[ Yep, that¡¯s exactly what happened. ]
And then came a rerun of the interview James did.
Honestly, what was he thinking? He basically told the whole world that I took care of everything, and now everyone¡¯s buzzing about me again.
Thanks to him, ¡°Dance of the Gray Reaper,¡± which had barely been on TVtely, was suddenly all over the ce.
Yerin, on the other hand, seemed thrilled.
She had a whole bunch of new merch to buy¡ªdolls, figurines, you name it, she wanted it. But really, did she need all that stuff when the real me was right here? I mean, hello, the actual Gray Reaper is right in front of you!
¡°Waaah!¡±
Suddenly, a loud cheer pierced through the soundproofing of the containment room. I turned my head to see what was going on, and there they were¡ªthe Golden Reapers, sitting in a circle. When I turned my head to see, I saw Golden Reapers sitting in a circle.
Dum chit dum chit-!
In the center of the circle, one of them was showing off its dance moves, wriggling and jiggling with that tiny body.
The crowd outside was getting louder and louder, all excited over the little Reaper¡¯s dance.
It was cute, sure, but so noisy! Ugh, it looked like I was going to have to kick them out if I wanted any peace and quiet.
So, I turned invisible with my phantom form and snuck out among the people.
¡°Huh? The Gray Reaper¡¯s gone!¡±
The hallway suddenly buzzed with confusion, and just for fun, I flipped the switch, plunging the whole ce into darkness.
An uneasy silence fell over the crowd, and all they had were their cell phone lights to guide them.
¡°Huh? What¡¯s going on?¡±
People started stammering, clearly on edge in the pitch-ck hallway.
Then, just when they least expected it, I popped up right in the middle of them, giving them all a good scare.
Heeheehee! I thought for sure they¡¯d all run away, and then I could finally have my peaceful day back.
But my n only half-worked. About half of them backed off, and Kim Jungrwi had to step in to calm them down.
The other half, though, ran straight at me and started petting me like I was some kind of cute pet!
¡°The Gray Reaper is soooooooo cute!¡±
¡°Why is its hair swaying like that?¡±
And before I knew it, Yerin was clinging to me too, and suddenly I was being hugged and dragged around by the crowd.
This is all James¡¯ fault!
Next time I see him, I¡¯m definitely going to pull some pranks on that guy.
*******Late at night, the loud hum of the TV filled the detective''s office, where the faint scent of coffee lingered in the air.
[ Trinity Research Institute deeply regrets the incident and acknowledges its full responsibility. ]
[ Although the actions were a personal deviation by the director of the 3rd Division of the Trinity Research Insitute, we ept our significant responsibility for failing to detect and prevent this in advance. ]
The news covered the copse of the 3rd Division of the Trinity Research Institute.
¡°In the end, that ce is ruined, huh? Ahjussi.¡±
The blonde girl gazed at her palm, her expression tinged with bitterness, recalling the two researchers from the Trinity Research Institute she had encountered in the desert.
¡°They were the ones who did this to me. I wanted to take revenge on them myself, but now, I won¡¯t get the chance.¡±
¡°Young miss¡¡±
A shadow of gloom crossed her face, but she managed a slight smile as she looked at Agent ck.
¡°What will happen to the rest of the Divisions of the Trinity Research Institutes, Ahjussi?¡±
¡°It is likely that the other divisions of Trinity will also be disbanded.¡±
She tilted her head slightly, her curiosity not yet satisfied.
¡°Didn¡¯t the investigation conclude that it was the third research institute¡¯s arbitrary decision?¡±
¡°The incident is too significant. Someone must be held ountable.¡±
In Agent ck¡¯s opinion, the core issue was the ''Evolution Liquid.'' Coincidentally, the news shifted to that very topic.
[ Are you saying that the Third Trinity Research Institute conducted experiments that turned humans into objects? ]
[ Yes, it is almost certain based on the data discovered in the 3rd Division. ]
The investigation revealed that the key ingredient for the ''Evolution Liquid'' was human beings¡ªa product born from the twisted idea of evolving humans and controlling Objects by torturing them into a liquid form.
As the gruesome details about the evolution fluids emerged, another piece of information captivated even those who hadn¡¯t been particrly interested in the incident.
It was revealed that the snacks sold at the Third Trinity Research Institute were ''Human Flesh Snacks,'' made from the residue left over from producing the evolution liquid.
The snacks were tasty, fragrant, and cheap, making them popr among many. When the truth came out¡ªthat they were made of human meat¡ªpeople were horrified, and the public outcry was intense.
There was even a growing movement to dismantle the Trinity Research Institute as a whole.
The girl, who had been silently listening to the broadcast, turned off the TV and stood up. She opened the curtains, allowing the moonlight to wash over her.
¡°Detective ahjussi keeps telling me to wait. If this continues, when will I be able to live under the sun again?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry! The day you are finally able to walk in the sun will certainlye.¡±
¡°It will certainlye, right?¡±
Agent ck offered a rare smile as he looked at the girl, whose expression was a mix of anxiety and quiet courage.
*******Near the sky canopy of the Garden of the Mini Reaper, there floated a whimsical snack shop.
It was a special ce where the Blue Reapers liked to gather.
Originally, it had been just a cozy little house drifting on a sea of hot chocte. But one day, it had taken to the skies, flying higher and higher to avoid the ever-smiling Golden Reapers who were always trying to sneak a taste.
Inside the snack shop, all ten Blue Reapers were huddled together, peering intently into a crystal made of delicate water bubbles.
What they saw through the crystal was theundry room of the Sehee Research Institute.
There, the Gray Reaper sat, looking bored as it watched the washing machine spin.
< mom="" is="" scary!="">
Seeing the Gray Reaper¡¯s expression, the Blue Reapers shivered in unison.
Inside the washing machine, countless Golden Reapers were spinning around and around.
The Blue Reapers didn¡¯t understand how their mother had known, but she had caught every single Golden Reaper who had yfully whacked her with the marshmallow hammer and tossed them into the washing machine.
The Golden Reapers were spinning with their usual joyful expressions, but to the Blue Reapers, it was a terrifying sight.
After all, the Blue Reapers were fragile and had no physical immunity. If something like that happened to them, they would be seriously hurt.
One Blue Reaper, trembling from the thought, buried its head, and the others quickly gathered around, hugging andforting their scared friend.
Then, the Gray Reaper in the crystal suddenly turned its gaze toward them, as if sensing their presence, and stared.
A mysterious look crossed its face, one that seemed to say it knew they were watching.
Startled, the Blue Reapers hastily dismissed the bubble crystal and clung to each other, shivering in fear and a bit of awe.
*******Deep in the dead of night, at the excavation site of the 3rd Division of the Trinity Research Institute, a lone researcher prowled amidst the relics unearthed from the ruins. While the rest of the staff had long since left, the researcher remained, his eyes gleaming with a twisted curiosity as he scrutinized the artifactsid before him.
"What is this?"
[ It¡¯s the Headless Lizard. Even in death if it dies, it has the ability toe back to life once you throw it into a fire. ]
The researcher¡¯s lips twisted into a semnce of a smile, a grotesque mockery of human expression.
He began to scrawl in his notebook, his handwriting jagged and erratic, as though the very act of recording these details thrilled him.
He moved through the temporary storage room, abyrinth of horrors, where countless Objects from the Third Trinity Research Institutey dormant, each more grotesque and bizarre than thest. His questions were methodical, but his tone grew increasingly frenzied, the anticipation of each discovery feeding his dark desires.
It was then that he stumbled upon something peculiar¡ªa hermit crab, its shell a sickening shade of purple, rotting away to ck.
Its ws had decayed and fallen off, leaving it weak and near death, a pathetic creature gasping itsst breaths.
Seeing the hermit crab that appeared to be an Object, the researcher lifted themp closer to the crab, his gaze narrowing.
¡°Last question. What is this hermit crab?¡±
[ It¡¯s the kin of the Purple Moon. ]
Themp replied, a sinister lilt in its voice.
[ So, are you going to forge a contract with me now? ]
"Not yet!"
With a quick, decisive motion, he ced themp into a storage box lined with thick alloy, sealing it with a series of precise clicks.
< handle="" with="" caution.="">
< Amp that tempts people. >
< Check the report for more details. >
Chapter 124: Black Rust (1)
Morning sunlight slipped through the blinds, streaking the detective agency with warm, golden rays. My suit, hanging casually on a nearby rack, caught the light, scattering a soft yellow glow around the room.
Amidst the shiny, cozy ambiance, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.
Sure, it was a familiar sight¡ªI''d seen it a thousand times before¡ªbut it still had that energizing kick that got me going every morning.
The loud chatter of the TV shed with the quiet,zy start to the day, reminding me it was just another typical morning at the agency.
As the rocking chair creaked in its familiar,forting rhythm beneath me, the newspaper in my hand rustled with every turn of the page.
The headlines were dominated by the incident at the 3rd Division of the Trinity Research Institute¡ªa mess that had everyone talking.
< why="" did="" the="" hungry="" ghost="" head="" to="" gwanak-gu?="">
< Object licensing standards toughened, but still fall short of global expectations. >
As I skimmed the paper, my eyesnded on a double-page spread about the Gray Reaper.
Great. Another one of these articles. Lately, it seemed like every other piece of news was singing the Gray Reaper''s praises. It didn¡¯t matter if it was an online blog or an offline rag; they were all fawning over him.
The real kicker was that some of these sketchy, unlicensed inte rags were basically Gray Reaper fan clubs in disguise.
But did I feel threatened by all this hype? Nah, not really.
It was odd, though. You''d think seeing such careless and dangerous-looking articles would set off some rm bells.
Yet, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the more folks backed the Gray Reaper, the safer Korea might actually get.
Hey, if it¡¯s good, it¡¯s good, right?
¡°Sunbae! We¡¯re here!¡±
Junior Number 1 burst through the door, her voice loud enough to wake the dead.
She shed me a bright smile as she hefted a giant hammer out of a long bag.
Trailing behind her, Junior Number 2¡ªsporting her trademark golden horns¡ªand Junior Number 3, who looked more like a grade-schooler than an actual detective, bowed to me before settling into their usual spots.
Junior Number 3 still looked like a kid, which meant her little brother¡¯s condition hadn¡¯t improved at all. Sigh¡ Poor kid.
As for Junior Number 2, something strange was definitely going on with her. Her golden horns, which should¡¯ve stopped growing ages ago, were getting longer.
I had a pretty good idea why, but it wasn¡¯t my ce to bring it up¡ªnot until she decided to spill the beans herself.
Junior Number 3, who handled all the desk work, nced up from herputer and called out to me.
¡°Detective sunbae, we¡¯ve got a new case. What do you want to do? I¡¯ve sent the details to your phone.¡±
Ding-!
My phone buzzed with a notification, and I quickly pulled up the message.
< request="" for="" investigation="" into=""rge-scale="" disappearance="" cases="" targeting="" people="" with="" ck="" rust="" syndrome.="">
Ah, ck Rust Syndrome¡ªa nasty condition where objects sprouted from people''s bodies, kinda like those Golden Horns.
But where Golden Horns made people oddly likable, ck Rust had the opposite effect. People with it were treated like lepers.
Disappearances of those with Golden Horns were usually kidnappings, but this case was about people with ck Rust. If you ask me, it was more likely a murder case.
There were very few cases where someone who had ck Rust became the subject of kidnapping, so it would be more reasonable to approach it as a murder case.
I wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled about taking it on, though. I had another job lined up, so I¡¯d have to pass.
¡°I¡¯m in the middle of a case for Agent ck, trying to save his young miss. Gonna have to decline this one.¡±
¡°Oh¡¡±
Junior Number 3¡¯s shoulders slumped as she sat back down.
Just then, Junior Number 2 shot her hand up, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
¡°I¡¯ll take the case!¡±
She nced at her phone, her eyes lighting up.
¡°The reward for this one¡¯s huge! And it¡¯s about a person with Object disease getting kidnapped! Feels a bit close to home, you know?¡±
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, an unusual look for her.
Sure, folks with Golden Horns were often kidnapped, but it was a different ball gamepared to those with ck Rust¡
¡°There¡¯s a good chance the client has ck Rust Syndrome. You sure you¡¯re up for it?¡±
¡°Absolutely!¡± she chirped, her expression unwavering.
I had to admit, from the look on her face, she didn¡¯t seem to know much about ck Rust Syndrome. But she wasn¡¯t Junior Number 1, so I had to give her the benefit of the doubt.
ck Rust was an Object everyone hated. Golden Horns, on the other hand, were revered. While both led to disappearances, they weren¡¯t the same thing.
In particr, people with ck Rust often harbored resentment toward those with Golden Horns¡ªcan¡¯t me them, given how the government yed favorites with their support.
A murder case tied to ck Rust was definitely risky. But something in me¡ªa mix of gut feeling and logic¡ªtold me she¡¯d handle it just fine.
Thinking of the secret Junior Number 2 kept close to her chest, I finally spoke up.
¡°Alright, go for it. But be careful dealing with the clients!¡±
¡°Got it!¡±
Junior Number 2 grabbed the case file from Junior Number 3¡¯s desk, gathered her tools, and left the agency.
As the door closed behind her, I grabbed my coat and got to my feet.
¡°Let¡¯s head out too.¡±
Junior Number 1 and I left the office, Junior Number 3¡¯s wave seeing us off as we stepped into the bustling city.
*******As I swayed from side to side. I wrapped my arms around Reaper from behind, snuggling into its warmth as the little antenna on its head wiggled, teasing me.
Nyam-!
I chomped down on the antenna, but just as I expected, Reaper squirmed and slipped right out of my mouth.
Hey! It ran away after teasing me like that?
Right now, Reaper¡¯s containment room was buzzing with noise.
As I watched the Golden Reapers tinkering away on the piano and Reaper patting its soft, squishy belly, I felt like I had the whole world in my hands.
Ah, bliss.
Sure, there was that little hup not too long ago that almost ruined this perfect moment, but it all got sorted out in the end.
Turns out, everyone made such a fuss that Reaper escaped its containment room¡ªagain.
It''s not exactly rare for Reaper to sneak out of its room, but you¡¯d think the Object Association had never seen anything like it.
In the end, they banned us from opening the private containment room in the research institute for a while.
Today, on a whim, Reaper brought the blue lizard into its room, tossed it on the piano, and sat back to enjoy the music.
As usual, the lizard¡¯s performance was wless.
Maybe the Golden Reapers were feeling inspired because they hopped onto the piano, linked arms with the blue lizard, and started patting the keys too.
The music got a little jumbled, but honestly, it just made it sound even cuter and more fun.
The Golden Reapers are just too adorable!
But, like every dream, this one had to end eventually.
The terrifying Kim Jungrwi sunbae knocked on the containment room¡¯s door.
And in his hand was¡
< gray="" reaper="" periodic="" report.="">
Oh right¡
I was supposed to submit that to the associationst month. Whoops, totally forgot.
I dragged myself out of the containment room, putting on my most pitiful face, but it wasn¡¯t enough to calm Sunbae¡¯s fury.
Hinngg.
*******In the middle of the abandoned city, where destion and eerie silence reigned, the ruins of buildings¡ªnow mere skeletons¡ªstood like silent sentinels along the empty streets.
The sky above was a dull, cloudy gray, casting a heavy, oppressive gloom over the deste ruins.
Amidst this destion, a man wandered aimlessly.
He was a shabby-looking figure, his clothes tattered and worn. His face, etched with years of pain, was gaunt, with sunken cheeks and hollow eyes.
In his blood-stained hands, he clutched a wild dog, its body limp and miserable.
The man moved through the ruins, muttering incoherently to himself, his voice low and harsh. His words were a tangled mix of long-faded memories and fragmented thoughts.
It was clear that the man had lost his mind, as he suddenly burst into loud, manicughter, iming someone was watching him.
He arrived at a particr ruin, where the ceiling and walls remained rtively intact¡ªa sign of lingering life¡ªand picked up the dog''s body with trembling fingers, rubbing it against the cold concrete walls.
He continued until his fingertips were raw and bleeding, yet he did not stop.
As time passed, the light of reason slowly returned to his eyes, which had been lost to chaos and madness.
Staring down at his throbbing hand, he muttered to himself.
¡°To think I did something like this again¡¡±
A circr pattern, soaked in blood, was etched onto the wall.
It was evident that he had drawn the pattern himself, but he couldn¡¯t remember why.
This man, who lost his mind several times a day, continued to live simply because he could not die.
Step-! Step-!
At that moment, the sound of footsteps echoed through the ruin, where no one else should have been.
The man¡¯s nerves rattled at the appearance of an uninvited guest, and as he turned, he saw a figure illuminated by a multitude ofmps.
The man, clutching a long, rusty rebar in his hands, stood guard as the neer spoke.
[ You look troubled. ]
The figure before him was suspicious, its face blurring whenever the man tried to focus on it.
Realizing that the intruder was an Object, the haggard man swung the rebar menacingly and shouted.
¡°What are you? Get away from me!¡±
He had no intention of spending his precious few lucid hours with such a suspicious character.
The faceless figure seemed to smile slightly before speaking again.
[ I am the Object of Contracts. To put it more inly, you can call me the Devil of Contracts. ]
[ Don¡¯t you want to cure your mental illness? How about forging a contract with me? ]
The devil¡¯s offer sounded dangerously tempting to the haggard man.
At the same time, it carried a foreboding sense of danger, a warning that he should never ept such an offer.
*******When Yerin, who had been clinging to me like a bothersome little shadow, was finally dragged away by Kim Jungrwi, the containment room was blessedly quiet, save for the melodic tinkling of the Golden Reapers and the Blue Lizard¡¯s piano.
As the Blue Lizard tapped the piano with its shy footwork, the Golden Reapers followed suit and moved their feet. However, since they couldn''t follow along properly, the Golden Reapers looked a little glum.
Lately, I¡¯d been picking up on this peculiar sensation through my ck Penguin teleportation ability. Whenever I had a free moment, I¡¯d be tracing this curious feeling.
Turns out, it was caused by a Golden Reaper, but there was something oddly different about it.
Maybe it was because this particr Golden Reaper was like a rebellious teenager who¡¯d run away from home?
This little rascal hadn¡¯t returned to the Garden of the Mini Reapers like all the other Golden Reapers for quite some time.
I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what made the human it was attached to so irresistible.
Should I pay them a visit once I get bored? Sounds like fun!
*******As Junior Number 2 headed out of the detective agency, something adorable and unexpected popped out of her chest.
¡°Y-you can¡¯te out now!¡±
A Golden Reaper peeked its head out from her chest.
When Junior Number 2 gently pressed its head with her fingers, the Golden Reaper beamed with delight, mistaking the touch for a loving stroke.
But this wasn¡¯t just any Golden Reaper. No, this one was extra special, with a pair of Golden Horns adorning its head!
Chapter 125: Black Rust (2)
The Sehee Research Institute was even noisier than usual today. Something exciting was happening right next to my containment room!
But when I tried to sneak a peek, Yerin dashed over and hugged me tight, blocking my viewpletely.
Aww, does that mean she''s nning to show meter? How sweet!
I could¡¯ve easily snuck in and taken a look, but that sounded like so much work! Plus, it kind of felt like a surprise, so I figured I¡¯d just wait and see. Surprises are more fun when you¡¯re not expecting them, right?
The construction noise was so loud, though. It was impossible to even watch TV, so I thought about heading out to the backyard to lounge around. But before I could make my grand escape, I noticed the Golden Reapers ying some kind of weird game.
Plop-! Plop-!
They were zipping around the containment room like little whirlwinds, their hands mped over their ears.
It all started when one of them saw Yerin covering her ears because of the construction noise, and now it seemed to be thetest trend among them.
They ran around, giggling like it was the best game ever, even though they kept bumping into each other and rolling around on the floor. I couldn¡¯t figure out what was so fun about it, but theirughter was contagious.
These little guys always find a way to make everything fun, don¡¯t they? So, naturally, I joined in by giving a yful push to the head of one of the Golden Reapers. They stumbled, lost their bnce, and rolled around,ughing even harder.
Tch! Seeing them so happy made my heart feel all warm and fuzzy.
Whenever I got bored in the noisy room, I yed this little game of nudging the Golden Reapers. And before I knew it, the containment room grew quiet.
Is the construction finally done?
Just as I was wondering, Yerin burst into the room with a huge smile on her face.
¡°Reaper, it¡¯s finally finished!¡± Yerin eximed, her excitement bubbling over.
Without missing a beat, she slipped her hand under my armpit, lifted me up, and started carrying me away.
*******So, I ended up in this city that looked pretty fancy, considering it was supposed to be a dump not too long ago.
After poking around, I found out that this ce used to be a total ruin a few years back. Now it¡¯s a full-blown city with enough buzz to make your head spin.
The guy who turned this ce around seems kind of a big deal.
The dude built all this from scratch, just him and an old gasmp in the middle of the ruins. Now, he¡¯s basically the city¡¯s father.
As I looked around, there were high-rise buildings shooting up everywhere, still wrapped in scaffolding, with the sounds of construction echoing in the air.
The streets were packed, and the restaurants were bursting at the seams with people.
¡°Not bad, huh?¡± I muttered, tickling the Golden Horned Reaper perched on my palm. The little guy flinched and giggled like a kid.
The city was more prosperous than I initially thought.
This city was way more alive than I¡¯d expected. I¡¯d heard it was nothing but a wastnd until recently, so I figured it¡¯d be a barren wastnd, but nope¡ªtons of people, and the buildings were bigger and taller than I thought possible.
But you could still tell it was a work in progress. There were construction sites everywhere, with tarps pping in the wind and the constant racket of building work.
It was noisy, sure, but you could feel the city growing right before your eyes.
¡°Now, where¡¯s our client hiding?¡± I wondered aloud, pulling out my phone to check the map. The Reaper peeked at the screen, looking all curious but totally lost.
¡°We¡¯ve got to walk a little further, got it?¡±
The Reaper listened, but the map seemed to baffle it, so it just turned to me with that big, bright smile.
So damn cute.
I couldn¡¯t resist stroking its little head, and the Reaper nuzzled against my finger like a happy puppy.
Sometimes, I wondered if it had some kind of mind-corruption ability, but since it didn¡¯t really hurt anyone, I figured it was fine.
As long as I¡¯m happy, who cares, right? And seeing the Reaper all cuddly made me happy, so it¡¯s all good!
Anyway, as I wandered through the city with the Reaper snug in my arms, the vibe started to shift. The lively, bustling atmosphere faded away, reced by something darker and gloomier.
The bright lights and cheerful noise? Gone. Instead, everything felt depressing and bleak.
The shiny new buildings gave way to bare concrete structures and hastily put-together shacks.
A heavy, dark atmosphere hung over everything, clinging to the buildings like weeds sprouting through cracks in the pavement.
The makeshift buildings cast long shadows over the alleys and streets, even though it was broad daylight.
The walls were covered in graffiti, and the windows were boarded up. It was like stepping into apletely different world.
A slum? In a brand-new city? Weird.
The people passing by didn¡¯t look much better. They had that worn-down, wary look in their eyes. In the corner of an alley, a man sat, staring with a mix of suspicion and hopelessness.
The closer I got to my destination, the more my anxiety ratcheted up. But I kept going, clutching the Reaper¡¯s warmth like a lifeline.
When I finally reached the meeting spot, I saw a kid standing at the end of a narrow, dimly lit alley. His hat was pulled down low, almost like he was trying to hide.
Is this the client?
I strolled over to him, taking in the musty smell of smoke that clung to the air. The kid turned his head as I got closer, and I could tell he was surprised.
I couldn¡¯t see his face clearly, but the way he gawked at my Golden Horns was a dead giveaway.
His eyes, hidden under the brim of his ratty hat, were a mix of caution and hope.
We exchanged the prearranged questions and answers to confirm our identities¡ªjust some old-school code stuff, which we almost never use, but the client insisted.
Seriously, though, why the old-school nonsense? Can¡¯t he just, I don¡¯t know, use a phone or something?
¡°Hey there, I¡¯m from the Yellow Detective Agency!¡±
The kid took off his hat, revealing a face covered in some gross, ck hexagonal gunk.
Is that ck Rust? Ew, just looking at it made me want to scratch like a million cockroaches were crawling all over me.
The kid coughed, then pulled out a photo. ¡°Please find my family. Please find my Noona. Everyone is disappearing these days.¡±
This was way more serious than I¡¯d expected.
¡°I¡¯ll find a ce to stay first, then I¡¯ll start digging into it. How do you want me to report in?¡±
The kid hesitated, looking a bit lost, before giving me his home address.
With that, I left the dark alley, feeling like things were about to get real.
It was the start of a new case, with me and the Golden Horned Reaper on the trail.
*******When Yerin carried me into the containment room, I noticed it waspletely empty.
Not a single thing stood out, which, if you think about it, kind of made it special because there was literally nothing special at all!
I nced over at Yerin, expecting an exnation, but all I saw was a confident grin stered on her face.
Sehee and Seoah were standing beside her too, looking just as excited. Okay, something¡¯s definitely up¡
But even with all my super awesome senses, I couldn¡¯t detect anything unusual in the room¡ªno hidden Objects, no sneaky humans.
Seriously, what¡¯s the deal here?
¡°Reaper, let¡¯s begin!¡± Yerin announced, her smile growing even bigger as she started fiddling with something outside the room.
And then... ooooh, I felt something really cool surrounding my body, like a gentle force lifting me up.
Slowly but surely, I started to float in the air. It was even better than lying on the fluffiest bed or drifting on a calm ocean. I felt like I was weightless, just floating there, all cozy and happy.
Wait a minute... could they have installed some kind of electromaic magic on the floor?
Oh! This totally reminds me of the time I beat that Dobong-gu frog and got those superconductor abilities.
I remember thinking about asking for an electromaic containment room someday, but then, you know, life happened and I kinda forgot. Whoops!
Before I realized it, the Golden Reapers had already joined in, zooming around and having the time of their lives, floating through the air like little kids in a candy store.
Ah, this is the life.
I closed my eyes, soaking in the pure bliss of floating. Someday, I promised myself, I¡¯m definitely gonna learn how to fly for real.
Just you wait...
*******The boy had a dream.
It was a dream of seeing his family again.
They had all disappeared before he even realized it, but in this dream, he was happy¡ªbecause they were together again.
He had sought help from the renowned ''Yellow Detective Agency'', so he believed, without a doubt, that his family would soon be found.
This dream, this happy dream, was born from that belief.
"Noona!" the boy called out, his smile as bright as the sun.
His sister, standing before him, reached out and gently caressed his cheek.
Slrrrp-!
As if something wet and thick was sliding down from her hand.
Suddenly, the sharp, unmistakable scent of metal filled the boy¡¯s nose.
"Noona?" His voice wavered as unease crept in.
Then, he woke up, a faint tapping on his cheek pulling him from the dream.
What the hell is going on?
Annoyed that his beautiful dream had been interrupted, the boy rubbed his cheek. But when he nced at his hand, his heart froze.
It was covered in blood.
And that smell... that thick, choking smell of blood was all around him now.
Blinking rapidly, he snapped out of his drowsiness and opened his eyes wide. He wasn''t in the familiar, rundown house in the slums where he''d fallen asleep.
No, this ce was different. Cold. Dark. He was in a prison with no windows, the heavy iron bars blocking any escape.
And right in front of him, hanging from the ceiling, was a corpse¡ªa hideous, grotesque corpse.
Blood dripped from the corpse, sttering onto the boy''s face.
The body had been stripped of its flesh, leaving nothing but bones, except for the face. The face...
A horrible thought slithered into the boy¡¯s mind¡ªa thought he desperately wanted to reject but couldn¡¯t.
His hands trembling, he looked up to see the face of the corpse.
¡°Aaaahhh!¡±
His scream tore through the silence as the face of his worst nightmare stared back at him.
It was his Noona.
The corpse was his Noona.
And with that terrible realization, the boy¡¯s world went ck as he lost consciousness, copsing into the darkness that swallowed him whole.
*******I made my way through a dark, grimy alley, heading toward the boy''s house, kicking trash out of my way as I went.
But even after finding a ce to crash, I still couldn¡¯t start looking for his Noona because, duh, I didn¡¯t know who she was.
Seriously, how could I have been so dumb? I should''ve gotten at least some info before letting the kid go!
It was such a rookie mistake that my cheeks burned with embarrassment. Ugh, I was better than this!
¡°It¡¯s gotta be fine, right?¡± I muttered, ncing down at the Reaper wriggling in my hands, feeling a bit of dread creeping in.
As I got closer to the boy¡¯s house, this weird, nasty smell hit me out of nowhere.
Is that the smell of burnt ashes? My gut twisted, and I broke into a run.
When I finally reached the ce, I was met with aplete wreck.
The door had been shed to pieces by something sharp, and w marks gouged into the walls made it look like a wild beast had gone berserk in there.
And as for the boy? Not a trace. He was gone, just like that.
Chapter 126: Black Rust (3)
Plop-! Plop-!
I wandered around the Sehee Research Institute because my old friend, Boredom, finally decided to pay me a visit again. It''s been a while, so I figured, why not?
I was hoping to find some shiny new Objects to y with, but nope, nothing new. How disappointing!
Did they make so much money selling my adorable figures that they just gave up on researching cool new things?
Then, something caught my eye¡ªa familiar, glittering kennel. Ooh, sparkly! It was even bigger and shinier than thest time I saw it. Inside, the ''Cute Puppy'' was zipping around, full of energy.
The researchers at the institute were scrambling around it, looking all serious and stressed out. Hehe, they were totally on edge.
I hadn¡¯t been able to visit muchtely, so the Cute Puppy must¡¯ve missed me. It seemed so happy, prancing around with that smug look on its face, like it owned the ce. Huh¡? it had be all docile, but now it was all bossy and stuff!
Curious, I slipped into the containment room in my phantom form. And wow, the doggie had grown so big! It was like a mountain now!
I guess its ego grew just as much, because it barked at me like, ¡°How dare you enter my room!¡±
It was a bark that seemed to have that kind of meaning behind it.Hah! Silly puppy~ Oh! It seems it didn¡¯tpletely forget me! As soon as it saw my face, it started shrinking until it was just the size of my palm.
Then, it flopped down on the floor, looking up at me with those big, bright eyes and let out the cutest little whine.
Nice try, Puppy, but even though you are cute, you¡¯re still a bipedal creature!
*******Drip-! Stter-!
The boy awoke to the sound of water droplets falling¡ªeach drop echoing in the cold, unforgiving silence of the underground prison.
His eyes fluttered open, and the harsh reality of his situation came crashing down on him. He wanted to believe it was all just a horrible dream, but it wasn''t. This was real.
¡°Heu¡ Heuk.¡±
A soft whimper escaped his lips as he gently lowered the body hanging from the ceiling onto the bed. His hands trembled as he carefully wrapped the corpse with the thin cloth that had once covered the bed.
"Noona¡."
Although the boy was in a depressing situation, he tried to understand the situation as best as he could.
Even in this bleak and hopeless situation, the boy tried to make sense of what had happened. The memory of meeting the detective Noona and returning home was still fresh in his mind. But after that¡
Nothing.
His memories blurred into a haze of confusion and fear.
Who did this?
Why did they keep me alive?
What if theye back for me?
Am I going to die too?
Noona¡ Mother¡ Father¡ They¡¯re all gone.
He was trapped in a dark, silent cage, paralyzed by terror. Dark, despairing thoughts gnawed at his mind, but he clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand.
This was his chance¡ªhis only chance. The absence of the person who had done this gave him a fleeting opportunity to escape.
He approached the iron bars with slow, deliberate steps and pushed against the cage door.
Creak-!
To his surprise, the door wasn''t locked.
Why isn''t it locked?
He swallowed nervously, the sound of his heart pounding in his ears, and stepped over the threshold.
Step-! Step-! Step-!
The sound of his sneakers echoed through the empty hallway, the only noise in the suffocating silence.
Inside the iron cages lining both sides, he saw the lifeless bodies of people he knew, hanging from the ceiling.
The killer had only targeted those he knew.
Just what kind of monster would do something like this?
The boy''s face turned ashen, and his legs wobbled, barely able to carry him forward. But still, he forced himself to keep walking, one agonizing step at a time.
At the end of the hallway, he found a tightly closed iron door. His breath hitched as he reached out, hesitating before pushing it open.
This time, the door swung open easily.
Beyond the iron door was a room filled with a strange, unsettling atmosphere. The first thing that caught his eye was a brightly lit staircase.
The room itself was meticulously arranged, with ominous red paint covering the wide open space.
In the center of the roomy a lump of concrete¡ªan old, rotten, bare structure with its skeleton exposed, like a piece of trash ripped from some forgotten ruin.
A red circle was drawn in the center of the concrete. The blood, still fresh and pungent, hadn¡¯t dried yet.
It was a crude circle, but there was something about it that made the boy feel as though it might pull him in, devour him whole.
The boy stared at the circle, fear tightening its grip around his heart, until he tore his eyes away and began walking toward the stairs.
With each step, he clung to the fragile hope that this stairway would lead him out of this nightmare.
*******I¡¯d been wandering around the boy¡¯s house since morning, but between chatting on the phone and getting lost in thought, lunchtime snuck up on me before I even noticed.
When I finally came across what looked like a serious crime scene, I did the responsible thing and called the cops.
But their response was utterly ridiculous. They just told me it wasn¡¯t their jurisdiction.
So, I dug a little deeper and found out there weren¡¯t any police in this city.
Instead, there was some wannabe vignte group that the police had handed their authority over to. They called themselves the ¡®RS Self-Government Committee.¡¯
I managed to get their contact info and gave them a call, but guess what? They didn¡¯t even bother to show up.
There was some buzz online about how the ''ck Rust'' residential areas were always ignored, and it looked like that rumor was spot-on.
¡°Seriously? This is just stupid,¡± I grumbled, pulling out the ¡®Gray Reaper Pudding¡¯ I¡¯d packed.
The Reaper, who¡¯s got a sweet tooth, absolutely loves this stuff. It¡¯s a bit pricey, sure, but it¡¯s tasty enough to eat as a meal, and I¡¯d be lying if I said I didn¡¯t enjoy it too.
People keep saying pudding made from Objects is dangerous, but I haven¡¯t seen any reports of it being a problem yet, so it¡¯s probably fine, right?
Om nom nom-!
I scooped up some pudding with a spoon and held it out to the Reaper. It munched away with its tiny mouth, looking all pleased with itself.
Then I took a bite.
The Reaper took another bite, and I followed suit.
Before I knew it, we¡¯d polished off the entire pudding I¡¯d brought for lunch.
I patted the Reaper¡¯s head with my fingers as it gave me a sad, pitiful look.
With no cops or vigntes on the way, I figured I¡¯d have to handle things myself.
So, I tiptoed into the boy¡¯s house, trying to keep my steps quiet.
The ce was way too big for a little kid to be living in alone, and the walls and furniture were covered in these eerie w marks.
What the hell caused these?
Judging by the size of the marks, whatever made them had to be a massive monster¡ªlike, around two meters tall.
That¡¯s... big.
If I had to guess, I¡¯d say it was a wolf, with a shoulder height of two meters and a body length of four. Yeah, that sounds about right.
I pulled out my notebook and jotted down everything I¡¯d figured out so far.
A monster that huge? Someone has to have seen it.
I kept wandering through the messy house, ncing at the Reaper in my palm now and then, but it wasn¡¯t reacting at all.
The Reaper¡¯s got a crazy sixth sense for evil Objects, but for this one? Nothing.
What was I supposed to do if the client went missing before I could even solve the case?
Sunbae never seemed to think things through, but somehow, he always solved cases in no time.
If he were here, he¡¯d probably say something like¡
I''m not really sure, but the culprit''s up north! Let¡¯s start walking first!
I had no idea how he came up with that stuff. Did he just keep it a secret because it¡¯s his genius detective skills?
Anyway, I searched the house as carefully as I could, but I came up empty.
p-! p-!
All of a sudden, the Reaper started smacking my palm.
¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong?¡±
I looked down at the Reaper, who was now pointing a tiny finger at the ceiling.
When I looked up, I saw a square pattern up there.
Standing on a chair, I pressed on the ceiling, and adder ttered down.
I climbed up to the attic, and wow¡ªthis room was even more wed up than the rest of the house.
There was something off about the ce. Unlike the other rooms, which had at least some signs of life, this one felt... dead.
It was aplete disaster, too, with the only thing intact being an old desk.
On the desk, neat and tidy, was a notebook.
I opened it up, and what did I find? A journal filled with curses written in cursive aimed at just about everyone.
It was full of talk about killing people, cursing out family members who tormented the writer, and venting about the city¡¯s owner who allowed discrimination against people with ck Rust.
There were especially a lot of curses aimed at some guy named ''RS,'' who apparently founded this city.
As I was reading through the journal, a sharp sound suddenly cut through the air.
Crack-!
Something shed through the concrete wall, aiming straight for my neck, and it was so fast I didn¡¯t even have time to react.
Thud-!
But before it could reach me, the Reaper leaped from my palm and intercepted the scythe-like de.
"!"
I hit the floor in shock, while the Reaper red fiercely at the desk in the attic.
ng-!
The sharp de, now cut off by the Reaper, fell to the ground with a chilling, making an eerie ng.
From beneath the desk, dark, ugly Objects started crawling out.
*******A lovely piano melody filled the containment room, all thanks to the Blue Lizard¡¯s performance. It was a sight to behold, really.
And then, there was the Cute Puppy, standing on its hind legs, dancing with all its might to the music.
After hours of twirling around, the puppy was clearly exhausted. Its little legs were shaking, and its once-bright eyes had softened with weariness.
Just as I was starting to get a bit bored¡ªyawn¡ªI had a brilliant idea. I summoned my Golden Reapers, one in each hand, and motioned them to take over watching the Cute Puppy.
The job? Simple: make sure the puppy doesn¡¯t bother any humans. And the pay? Just one pudding a day. Fair deal, don¡¯t you think?
The Golden Reapers, who had never been too fond of the Cute Puppy because of its mischievous behavior, eagerly agreed. They practically jumped at the chance.
Once I handed over the job to them, I felt a sudden, intense wave of desperation.
It was so strong it almost knocked me off my feet. The Golden Reapers must have felt it too, their eyes widening in rm as they looked around.
The source of this desperate will was none other than the delinquent Golden Reaper who had left home. The urgency was palpable, so I knew I had to act fast.
I left the Cute Puppy in the capable (or at least willing) hands of the Golden Reapers and blinked away with the ck penguin¡¯s ability, off to see what all the fuss was about.
*******Hah¡ hah¡
I took a deep breath, ncing around. Everywhere I looked, it was just a swarm of those creepy four-legged spider Objects, all brandishing their wickedly sharp scythes.
My whole body was sore from all the cuts I¡¯d taken. The Reaper was strong, but there were just too many of these guys.
Whenever the Reaper tried to dive in and take them out, those nasty Objects would immediately shift their focus to me.
So, the Reaper had to protect me, which left me barely able to move.
Sorry, Reaper¡
It¡¯s my fault you can¡¯t cut loose and do your thing.
Then, out of nowhere, the Reaper opened its mouth like it was about to shout or something.
At the same time, its Golden Horns lit up, making the whole ce shake. I could feel this weird power stretching all around the room.
A gray light started to seep in, as if it was eating away at reality itself. And there, smack in the middle of this surreal mess, was the Gray Reaper.
As soon as the Gray Reaper appeared, everything else just¡ stopped. The Objects froze in ce, and the air felt so thick you could practically cut it with a knife.
In the eerie silence of the attic, the Gray Reaper surveyed the scene with an indifferent look, picking up the mine Reaper like it was some sort of quirky artifact.
Press-! Press-!
The Gray Reaper poked at the Golden Reaper¡¯s horn with a curious expression. It kept squishing it down and letting it bounce back up.
A faint, almost yful smile appeared on the Gray Reaper¡¯s lips, and with that, the oppressive atmosphere vanished.
Meanwhile, the Objects rushed toward the Gray Reaper and made frantic attacks.
Then, as if it was annoyed by all themotion, the Gray Reaper casually raised a hand and made a fist.
Clench-!
With that one simple move, the whole attic seemed to copse. The Objects turned into a ck, mushy mess.
It was so effortless and dismissive that it almost made me feel bad for all the trouble I¡¯d gone through just trying to dodge those scythes.
Chapter 127: Black Rust (4)
When I got to the spot where that delinquent Reaper called me from, I saw this super unusual-looking guy waving at me all excited.
It was a Golden Reaper with two tiny horns poking up from its head.
Howe he has those?
I was so curious that I just had to pick up the Golden Horned Reaper and give those horns a little squeeze.
Oh~ They¡¯re so squishy!
It seemed like those horns had something to do with that woman over there.
She was the one that Yellow Detective called Junior No. 2.
This was my first time seeing a Golden Reaper change because of someone else¡¯s influence.
Was this some kind of Golden Horn synergy?
Or maybe Golden Reapers could always change a bit to look like the humans they were attached to?Either way, the Golden Reaper''s horns had such a fun texture¡ªI couldn¡¯t stop pressing them!
They¡¯d squish down when I squeezed them and pop right back up when I let go.
Probably because it felt ticklish, the Golden Reaper wiggled around and giggled.
I was having so much fun, grinning to myself, when suddenly, a bunch of Objects came rushing toward me from all over the ce.
Maybe these guys were the reason why the Golden Reaper called me?
Even though they were pretty weak, each one still had a scythe sharp enough to be dangerous to humans.
And there were way too many Objects for the Golden Reaper to handle while trying to protect the woman on its own.
Ugh, it¡¯d be such a hassle to take them out one by one by ovepping my body with them, so I decided to control the space and deal with them all at once.
I spread out one hand, grabbed the space where the Objects were, and squeezed.
Then, poof! All the Objects were rolled into a ball, space and all.
With the Objects gone, the narrow attic finally felt roomier.
¡°Woah.¡±
Junior Number 2 let out a little gasp of admiration.
She must¡¯ve been surprised since it was probably her first time seeing spacepression in action.
When I looked down at my other hand, I saw the Golden Horned Reaper beaming up at me.
Even though it had those cute little horns now, its personality hadn¡¯t changed a bit.
I spread my palms and gently ced one on top of the Golden Reaper¡¯s head. It spread its arms wide and started sharing all the fun things it had experienced so far.
I was happy!! And the ce was so soft and fluffy!! A-and it was so fun!!! Oh! I also went to lots of ces! And had so much fun!!!
The Golden Reaper¡¯s stories were always so hard to follow¡ªjust little bits and pieces focused on the feelings it got from the experiences.
But hey, the story was full of bright and happy feelings, so that¡¯s what mattered, right?
The Golden Horned Reaper was bouncing up and down, grinning ear to ear as it shared its adventures.
Even though it didn¡¯t really get why, it still mentioned that the human it was attached to seemed troubled.
Was it asking for help?
Looking at its bright, innocent smile, I didn¡¯t think that was its intention.
After hearing the Golden Horned Reaper¡¯s story, I nced around and noticed these huge w marks all over the attic.
Even though the concrete wasn¡¯t shattered, you could still feel the presence of something really powerful in those marks.
There were hidden evil intentions in those traces that made me frown.
The weird thing was, that I seemed to be the only one who noticed; the Golden Reaper didn¡¯t react at all.
Is it because the being who left those marks is stronger than the Golden Reaper?
Even though this wasn¡¯t Seoul, it seemed like I should take care of it.
And, for some reason, I had a feeling there¡¯d be tons of fun waiting for me.
*******The Gray Reaper I met after a long time somehow felt more familiar than before.
Maybe it was because I¡¯d been hanging out with the Golden Reaper so muchtely, but the Gray Reaper seemed way cuter and closer to me now.
Judging by the way the Golden Reaper was bouncing up and down on the Gray Reaper''s palm, grinning like a fool, it was probably thrilled to see its family after so long.
Watching that little reunion, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit guilty.
I really should¡¯ve swung by the Sehee Research Institute sooner and let it catch up with the other Golden Reapers!
What was odd, though, was that even though neither the Gray Reaper nor the Golden Reaper said a word, it totally felt like they were having a conversation.
Weird¡ I thought the Gray Reaper couldn¡¯t talk. At least, that¡¯s what I¡¯d heard¡ª
The Gray Reaper couldn¡¯t speak.
And let¡¯s be real, the conclusion of an elite researcher at Sehee Research Institute is probably more legit than whatever Junior Number 2 from the Yellow Detective Agency thinks.
Anyway, the Golden Reaper, after all that excited bouncing, seemed to have wrapped up its little family reunion. It jumped off the Gray Reaper''s hand andnded right on my chest.
Then it wiggled its way through my clothes, peeked up at me, and gave me this big, bright smile.
Warm! A-And Comfy!
It was like the Golden Reaper was talking to me. While I was dealing with that, I picked up the diary that had fallen on the floor.
Even though it was my second time reading it, the contents were still awful.
Given the context, the owner of this diary had to be the boy who was my client.
But if the owner of the diary really is that boy, then why?
If the culprit really is the boy as the diary says, what reason would he have to ask a detective agency for help?
I don¡¯t know¡
Ah, shit! My head was killing me!
Should I keep working on this case, or just drop it? Am I missing something here?
To clear my head, I climbed down from the attic and stepped outside the boy''s house.
*******While trailing behind Junior Number 2, who had this superplicated look on her face, a thought suddenly popped into my head.
Didn¡¯t the Golden Horned Reaper meet up with Junior Number 2 ages ago?
Then I guess it didn''t know much about the ck slime¡
Hihihi~
What kind of pran¡ªno, what kind of punishment should I give this little delinquent, I wonder?
It¡¯s probably going to be so shocking when it happens for the first time.
Since it hasn¡¯t gotten any info from the other Golden Reapers, I¡¯m gonna get to enjoy its totally fresh reaction to seeing ck slime for the very first time.
I giggled to myself at the funny thought as I watched the Golden Horned Reaper happily waving its arms around, all snuggled up in Junior Number 2¡¯s chest.
*******As I stepped out of the boy''s house, I was greeted by a dark alley.
It was one of those gloomy streets where sunlight didn¡¯t bother to show up, but at least the fresh air made me feel a little better.
When I turned my head, I spotted the Gray Reaper following me with its usual indifferent expression.
Unlike the Golden Reaper, who was always grinning like a fool, the Gray Reaper had its mouth shut tight, making its cheeks puff out a bit.
Poke-! Poke-!
Before I knew it, I was already hugging the Gray Reaper and poking its cheek.
W-wait¡ Maybe it''s true that all the Reapers have some mind-corrupting ability!!
I panicked and quickly checked the Gray Reaper''s face. It¡¯s not going to get angry and roll me up into a ball, right?
But the Gray Reaper still had that nk expression on its face. Its hair was gently swaying in front of me, so I figured it wasn¡¯t in a bad mood.
Thank god.
As I started to rx, I had this weird urge to bite the hair swaying in front of me, but I managed to hold back.
No matter how messed up my mind might be, there are still some lines humans shouldn¡¯t cross.
Om nom nom-!
The Gray Reaper pulled out a cookie from somewhere and took a small bite. The Golden Reaper got a cookie too, but before eating it, it broke the cookie in half and handed me a piece.
Nyam nyam-!
It was a bit too sweet, but still pretty tasty.
So there I was, munching on cookies provided by a Reaper and basking in the warmth of the Gray Reaper, which felt as cozy as a stove. I was morefortable than I ever felt at home.
But then the Gray Reaper¡¯s eyes shifted to the end of the alley.
A faint silhouette was walking among the shadows.
Even though it was broad daylight, a boy was slowly approaching us from the darkest part of the alley where the sun couldn¡¯t reach, surrounded by eerie, flickering shadows.
He looked tired, but as I watched him walk, a sense of dread crept over me.
That damn diary was definitely messing with my head.
The boy''s face looked a bit worn out, but he had this happy expression.
"!"
The moment the light cut through the darkness and hit the boy¡¯s hand, I couldn¡¯t help but hold my breath.
His hand was covered in blood that hadn¡¯t dried yet.
The faint smell of blood seemed to fill the alley as soon as I saw it.
¡°Detective sister. My Noona is¡.¡±
When I saw the boying closer, his face twisted with sadness, an instinctive wave of rejection washed over me, and I took a step back.
The boy froze in ce, his expression hardening.
¡°Detective sister?¡±
He looked shocked.
Plop-! Plop-!
Just then, the Gray Reaper, with its burning yellow eyes, started to move toward the boy.
*******A boy emerged, his body smeared with blood.
When Junior Number 2 recoiled from him, it shattered what little was left of his heart.
He might have looked okay on the outside, but anyone who really saw him would know¡ªhe was already dead inside.
Not a walking corpse, no, but a boy who had crossed the point of no return.
His Killing Condition was fulfilled, as clear as day through my ¡®Eyes¡¯ .
He was already on that unstoppable track to death.
And then, something broke in him. His mind splintered, giving way to madness.
It was the same kind of confirmation of death I¡¯d seen countless times, like when I¡¯d peered into an Object¡¯s Killing Condition before snuffing it out myself.
This boy had seconds left.
He caught sight of me and took a step back, fear shing in his eyes. Then, as if something inside him short-circuited, he stopped.
Just¡ stopped.
It wasn¡¯t natural, like a machine that suddenly powered down.
And then he copsed, like a marite whose strings had been severed.
With his death, a brilliant light began to flood the alley.
It was pouring out from my antennae, bright and overwhelming.
What¡ What is this?
This¡ This is terrifying¡
Chapter 128: Black Rust (5)
My antenna suddenly started glowing.
Well, not a real antenna, obviously. It¡¯s just that little tuft of hair sticking up on top of my head.
But oh my, the light it gave off was so strong that even when I tried to cover it with my hand, it still shone right through!
Why does this silly head of mine always get special treatment?
I waved my antenna side to side gently, and the shadows it cast danced back and forth like they were ying tag.
While I was marveling at my bright, wiggly antenna, the Golden Horned Reaper¡ªwho was clinging to Junior Number Two¡ªclimbed up to the top of my head.
Honestly, I thought the power I got after dealing with that Hungry Ghost was something like "Ability to Attract Golden Reapers," considering how it was behaving.
The Golden Horned Reaper hopped around on my head, spreading its little arms wide, trying to catch my fluttering antenna.
Hehe! But I am not going to make it that easy!
Every time it got close, I gave my antenna a little wave, and the Golden Horned Reaper tried even harder, reaching out with all its might.At first, I thought my new ability was just to wave this cute antenna around like an Anglerfish, but surprise, surprise¡ªit had a hidden talent!
It was a talent for hunting, of all things.
An ability I¡¯d wished for so badly ever since the ¡®ck Butterfly¡¯ incident.
It lets me track down the real body of an Object.
But, since what I had was probably just a lesser version, I could only sense the general direction of where the real body was hiding. Still, not bad, right?
As I shined my light on the boy''s body, I could feel where the Object that caused all this was lurking.
It¡¯s about 120¡ã from the mouth of the alley.
But after lighting up the boy, my antenna started to dim, slowly going back to normal.
Sadly, I couldn¡¯t track the target multiple times by shining the light repeatedly.
In a city crammed with people and Objects, trying to find the main body with just the clue ¡®120¡ã across¡¯ ¡
Hmm, what to do?
While I was busy fretting, the Golden Horned Reaper seized the chance and bit down on my antenna with its little mouth.
Yerin always tried to nibble on my antenna too. I guess it¡¯s only natural since it used to be the bait the Hungry Ghost used. But when the Golden Reapers managed to catch my antenna, they didn¡¯t just bite it¡ªthey chewed on it!
I flicked my antenna again, and the Golden Horned Reaper floated up into the air, looking absolutely delighted as it swung around with it.
It seemed like so much fun. Maybe I should ask the Hungry Ghost to let me try itter?
Just then, a thought popped into my head.
Since I got this ability after dealing with the Hungry Ghost, wouldn¡¯t it have it too?
Even though the one I defeated was a tentacle Hungry Ghost and the one I acquired was a Hungry Ghost made of marshmallows, they were the same species, right? So maybe they shared a simr ability?
Excited, I pped my hands and stretched my arms out wide.
When I summoned the Hungry Ghost from the Garden of Mini Reapers, a massive Hungry Ghost appeared.
But since the alley was so narrow, instead of a round Hungry Ghost, a squished marshmallow Hungry Ghost squeezed into the alley¡¯s shape.
Gyuuuu-!
The white Hungry Ghost, looking all squished and ufortable, let out a pitiful noise.
Then, its forcefully squished body began to split into a bunch of round little blobs.
The blobs rolled onto the ground, sprouting arms, legs, and a tail, turning into mini Hungry Ghosts.
They were now twice as cute since they were mini-sized!
Kyuu-!
The mini white Hungry Ghosts let out adorable little cries.
*******A man was dreaming.
It was a dream from the time when his life had been violently turned inside out.
[ How about forging a contract with me? ]
That was when he had sealed his fate, signing a contract with a peculiar Object that called itself the ¡®Devil of Contracts¡¯ .
Yet, the details of that contract were shrouded in an eerie fog, as if someone had meticulously erased them from his memory.
Perhaps one of the terms of the contract was to forget its very existence.
From the moment he inked that deal, the man became someone else entirely.
The madness that had once gripped his mind with iron ws vanished, reced by a cold, calcting rity. He began to thrive in ways that defied exnation.
Sess followed him like a shadow, and those who dared to obstruct his path simply... disappeared.
There had been a partner, someone who helped him build this city from the ground up. But that fool, the traitor who thought he could oust him, was driven to the brink of madness.
Officials who dared to deploy police in his city? They vanished as if they had never existed.
And then, the city was stained with crimson as one psychopath after another began painting blood-red circles all around.
It was then that he realized.
His madness hadn''t disappeared at all. It had simply found new hosts. His sess, too, wasn''t his own¡ªit was the sess of those who should have achieved greatness, but instead, they spiraled into insanity.
In that moment, he twisted his lips into a smile that was all teeth and no warmth.
Yes, this is the contract I wanted.
A mass suicide and a massive gas explosion tore through the city, an incident where hispetitor¡¯s wife, son, and daughter all took their own lives.
In the end, it all unfolded for his benefit.
He didn¡¯t know what the terms of the contract were, but it was clear this deal was immensely advantageous for him.
It was perfect¡ªbecause there was no cost for him to bear!
¡°Mister Mayor! Please, wake up!¡±
The man was pulled from his dream by the urgent voice calling him back to the present, back to reality.
The mayor¡¯s office was perched atop the tallest building in the city¡¯s center.
The man, dressed in a red suit,y sprawled on a plush sofa, his eyelids heavy as he slowly blinked them open.
Still half-lost in the remnants of his dream, he focused on his secretary¡¯s face. She looked terrified, standing against the backdrop of an office adorned with sleek furniture and carefully curated artwork.
"What¡¯s the matter?"
"The city is inplete chaos! You need to leave immediately, Mister Mayor!"
The secretary was frantic, her eyes wide with fear, her hands trembling as she insisted he evacuate.
But the man was a picture of calm. He rose from the sofa with deliberate slowness, his every movement exuding confidence that bordered on arrogance, and he walked to the window that offered a panoramic view of the city.
What he saw was a tableau of utter destruction and confusion.
It was a scene that might have shocked anyone else, but not him¡ªnot this man who believed the world revolved around his whims.
¡°How could something like this¡ happen to my city?¡±
Twisted, grotesque Objects were rampaging through the streets, ughtering people with abandon. Simultaneously, explosions rocked the city, causing buildings to copse like houses of cards.
For a moment, it seemed as though the man was genuinely shocked. But his expression quickly morphed, from disbelief to intense anger, and finally, to a gentle, unsettling smile.
Once he convinced himself that this cmity was yet another part of his grand contract, his mind cleared, and a perverse sense of peace settled over him.
Adjusting his red suit with a practiced flick of his wrist, he called out to his trembling secretary.
"We must leave at once. Is the vehicle ready?"
"Yes, Mister Mayor. This way, please!"
As the man departed, beyond the window, a massive white mass began to howl.
Kyuuuuu-!
*******When I asked the Hungry Ghost to find the main body of the Object, it answered with a cute little ¡®Kyuu¡¯ and an expression that screamed confidence.
Then, it picked us up and started moving.
The Hungry Ghost is so soft and fluffy!
It was like riding on a giant marshmallow cloud. Plus, whenever I got a bit peckish, I could just nibble on its squishy body¡ªbest transportation ever!
The mini white Hungry Ghost waddled along, its tiny limbs working so hard to track down the nasty Object.
Waddle-! Waddle-!
But as soon as we left the alley, we were met with a loud explosion and pieces of a building raining down on us.
¡°Aaaaaaahhh!¡± Junior Number 2 screamed, while the Golden Horned Reaper looked all nervous.
But the falling debris was way too big for the little Golden Horned Reaper to handle by itself.
And I couldn''t ask the Blue Reaper to stop it either¡ªit¡¯s too young, and its magic might not be strong enough to hold up a whole building!
Just as I was about to use my firewood and raise my hands to protect us, the other Hungry Ghosts, the ones no one was riding on, all smooshed together into one huge white Hungry Ghost and leaped into action!
The building collided with the soft marshmallowy Ghost, and instead of squishing us, it changed direction and fell far away from us. Phew!
After it saved us, the big white Hungry Ghost opened its mouth super wide and let out a proud howl.
Kyuu-!!
*******A woman covered in tattoos and her younger sister walked the streets of Eunpyeong-gu, near Seoul Forest.
¡°Unnie, this thing is heavy!¡±
They had devised a n to pass off the Colorful Guardian as a doll, carrying it around in in sight. But for the younger sister, the Guardian, as solid and unyielding as arge rock, was too much to bear.
¡°I can¡¯t help it then,¡± the woman murmured, her voice devoid of emotion, as she stepped forward and took the Guardian into her own arms.
¡°Wow, how can you lift that with only one hand?¡±
The younger sister''s amazement was met with silence. The woman effortlessly cradled the massive stone with a single arm, as if it were nothing more than a lifeless doll.
They had gone out to buy daily necessities like food when a TV screen they were passing by caught their attention.
A huge white Hungry Ghost was howling on the screen.
The footage, likely shot with a cell phone, was grainy and unsteady, but something about it held the woman¡¯s gaze.
¡°Unnie, that looks exactly like the one you made!¡±
¡°White Guardian? Were there alchemists other than me here?¡±
Her words were t, more an observation than an inquiry. The white Hungry Ghost on the screen seemed unnaturally light for a Guardian, an anomaly that should have stirred curiosity. Instead, she brushed it aside¡ªthere were limits to what she couldprehend, after all.
On the Guardian¡¯s back, she noticed the Gray Reaper, clutching its antennae with that same nk expression she¡¯d seen countless times before.
The Gray Reaper, huh¡? Could there be an alchemist at the Sehee Research Institute? Seems like a visit was in order.
As the woman turned away from the screen, she made a mental note to visit the Sehee Research Institute. There was something there she needed to understand¡ªor, more urately, something she needed to confirm.
*******A car sped through the outskirts of the city, the chaotic sprawl reflecting the mes of its destruction. The vehicle belonged to the man who had once wielded power over the city¡¯s every breath.
Themp in his hand zed with an unholy fire, its acrid odor suffusing the confined space of the car.
Just what the hell is happening?
Thismp was his tool of fear and control, ring to life whenever his enemies drew near. Tonight, its mes roared with an intensity that bordered on the apocalyptic.
The devastation unfolding before him was no mere inconvenience.
The havoc wrought by Objects¡ªbuildings crumbling in seismic tremors and the grotesque mass suicides¡ªseemed trivial inparison to the magnitude of the current crisis.
Thud-!
The car jolted to an abrupt halt, swallowed whole by an immense mass of marshmallow-like substance.
Jumping out of the car, the man in the red suit stared at the impending threat.
Before him loomed an Object: a being with searing yellow eyes and a pallid gray body, its presence oozing sheer power.
Why is the Gray Reaper targeting me? Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. After all, mymp is invincible!
The man went out of the vehicle while holding themp and confidently greeted his enemy.
*******Junior Number 2 was totally lost.
I mean, seriously, what¡¯s happening here?
I came to this mess of a city to handle one little request, and now the client¡¯s dead. Great start, right?
And now, I¡¯m stuck riding this giant white marshmallow with two Reapers, tearing through a city that¡¯s basically turned into a disaster zone. Just my luck.
So, we finally showed up in front of this guy who apparently owns the city.
He was in a red suit, holding this old-timeymp that looked way too simr to the ¡®Watson¡¯mp our detective sunbae had.
Then themp lights up with this red glow, and suddenly my whole view is nothing but red.
It felt as if the marshmallow, the Gray Reaper, and the Golden Reaper have all vanished, and all I see is this weird, crimson fog.
Seriously, I can''t see a thing. This is unsettling.
I need to draw a red circle. Like, ASAP. I know they¡¯ll being soon. But the paint¡ Oh, shit! Yeah! Blood! The paint is in my stomach.
Just the moment I was about to use the multipurpose knife I had, trying to stab myself in the gut to get the paint out, this overwhelming feeling of panic hit me. It was like a desperate voice in my mind screaming, ¡°Please don¡¯t do it!¡±
Then all of a sudden I see this faint silhouette of the Reaper in my vision. It¡¯s glowing all bright and looking super stressed, clinging to my stomach and holding onto the knife.
Huh? Why am I suddenly doing something like this?
The second I dropped the knife in shock, the Reaper just went limp and fell over. It was out cold, its eyes shut tight.
Chapter 129: Black Rust (6)
¡®RS¡¯ , the city where I lived, was a joyful ce.
Every time I walked the streets, the city buzzed with vitality and hope.
No matter where I looked, life seemed to flourish. People of all ages and backgrounds filled the streets, their presence enhancing the city¡¯s energy.
In this hopeful and lively city, the newly constructed buildings appeared to symbolize its ongoing development.
Children yed freely in the well-maintained park, theirughter echoing against the backdrop of lush greenery.
Such a vibrant and dynamic city might sound unbelievable to someone who only heard about it and didn¡¯t see it for themselves.
After all, in this day and age, a city where Object-rted idents rarely ur is indeed a rarity.
However, perhaps as a price to pay, our city also saw its share of psychopaths whomitted heinous acts and drew ominous red circles. Safety-rted idents, like gas explosions, were also not umon.
Still, it was far better than the desert Object that massacred people or theke Object that kidnapped them in Seoul. Unlike Objects, psychopaths and safety idents were threats that could be managed.
The city¡¯s residents worked together to create a safer environment by forming amunity to prevent idents and report any suspicious behavior.Although themunity¡¯s efforts had yet to show results, there was still hope.
Then, out of nowhere, the city full of hope seemed to be the setting of a disaster movie. Roads that once seemed sturdy suddenly copsed, and many people¡¯s neighbors turned into Objects that devoured people.
¡°Oh, I¡¯m dying.¡±
While fleeing from an attacking Object, a building copsed toward me, and I lost consciousness.
When I came to, I was buried in rubble. My mouth was dry, and my lower body, trapped under the debris, ached. Surviving this was nothing short of a miracle.
But it seemed like there was no way forward from here. I could still hear screams and the sound of crumbling concrete, signaling that chaos and destruction still reigned in the city.
I might die from dehydration or be killed by a murderous Object. As Iy there, waiting for my final moments, something strange caught my eye.
A golden Object resembling a small Gray Reaper leaped around the rubble, gesturing energetically.
Following its lead, an Object with an indignant expression that looked like a plushie stumbled over and devoured the debris. Miniature Golden Reapers carried rubble on their tiny backs and feet.
Were they conducting a rescue operation?
It was fascinating to see Objects trying to save people.
Still, I didn¡¯t think I would survive.
Exposure to the hot sun during my unconsciousness left me with a severe fever, and I felt parched and dizzy.
Suddenly, something emerged from the shadows of the rubble.
It was an Object in the shape of a girl made of clear, water-like substance, reaching out to those buried and conjuring water out of thin air.
The blue child spotted me and slowly approached. When it saw my eyes open, it flinched in surprise and hid behind the rubble.
Momentster, it peeked out through a gap and looked at me with a serious expression.
Is my condition that dire?
The blue child then pulled its hat down tightly, as if to avoid looking forward, and approached me slowly.
It gently shut my eyelids and enveloped my body in a refreshing, water-like energy, which brought me great relief.
When I peeked with my eyes still closed, I saw the blue child writing unknown symbols in the air.
< Scars get healed! Please! >
< Don¡¯t lose to the sunlight! Please! >
After writing its message(?) in the air and giggling like a mischievous child, our eyes met. Its face showed such surprise that it quickly dissipated like mist and vanished.
So, there are fairy-like Objects that helped people, too?
I finally felt a glimmer of hope for survival.
At the same time, I couldn¡¯t help but smile at the thought of the cute appearance of the blue child.
*******Strangely enough, as soon as the chase began, the whole city seemed to just fall apart.
The people living here were helplessly swept away by a disaster that hit out of nowhere. It was like the city itself was saying, Let¡¯s make this chase as difficult as possible!
From the Garden of the Mini Reaper, loads of Golden and Blue Reapers popped out, spreading all over to help. They were buzzing around, trying to save the day.
But tracking down our target with the White Hungry Ghost in a city that had crumbled into chaos was no easy task.
It was like the universe decided to throw every obstacle it could think of in our way!
The once-sturdy roads suddenly turned into a minefield. The crumbling asphalt seemed to twist and turn in ways that pointed right at us.
The ground the White Hungry Ghost tried to step on would copse at the worst possible moments, making us tumble down.
Gyuu-!
Every time that happened, the Hungry Ghost would make this sad little noise.
And as if the environment wasn¡¯t enough, there were even more sinister things mixed in with the people. Objects disguised as humans, hiding among the crowd, began to attack us.
The Golden Reapers, ever vignt and sensitive to any malice towards humans, were dispatched immediately to deal with these threats. They were quick to handle the Objects, but it felt like the whole city was conspiring against us.
It was almost like the city was twisting fate and probabilities just to make things harder.
Yet, the fluffy and persistent Hungry Ghost refused to give up. It kept the pursuit going, undeterred by the chaos.
The chase finally ended when we cornered the man we were after. He was wearing this ominous red suit and holding amp that looked like something out of a detective story.
The moment he raised themp, madness spread like wildfire. It didn¡¯t affect me or the mini Reapers, but Junior Number 2 suddenly pulled out her knife and tried to stab herself.
At the tip of her knife, the Golden Horned Reaper was desperately clinging on, trying to stop her. It was like watching a brave little warrior in a tight spot.
Just as I was thinking, Do I need to destroy her limbs to make her stop? because she showed no signs ofing to her senses, the Golden Horned Reaper¡¯s horn started glowing with this brilliant light.
What was it trying to do, using up its own firewood at such speed?
Thanks to the Golden Horned Reaper¡¯s efforts, Junior Number 2 snapped back to her senses. But the Reaper quickly fell limp from the strain, barely hanging on.
¡°Reaper? Are you okay?¡±
Junior Number 2 looked at the Golden Horned Reaper with a helpless expression.
The Golden Horned Reaper¡¯s body was drying out and losing color, like it was about to fade away. I quickly went over to Junior Number 2 and touched the Reaper to transfer some firewood to it.
Seeing the Golden Reaper in such pain was new to me. Even though they were tough enough to endure their limbs being ripped apart, they seemed to be suffering deeply.
After I topped it off with energy, the Golden Horned Reaper fell asleep with a peaceful expression.
Then, I turned my attention to the man holding themp. I stomped forward with the force of my tiny feet.
Since he had hurt one of my Mini Reapers, I wasn¡¯t about to let him off easily.
He was going to feel every bit of my revenge, slowly and thoroughly.
*******The Gray Reaper approached with an unsettling calm. Its face was a nk mask, yet there was a palpable sense of anger emanating from it.
Despite the menacing aura, I felt no fear. My confidence was absolute.
¡°I am invincible in this city!¡± I dered, lifting themp high.
mes erupted from a nearby car¡ªan explosion that had imed many of my rivals.
It was meant to obliterate any obstacles, but could it even shield that human in the midst of such chaos?
p-!
The Gray Reaper''s hands met with a resounding p.
Instantly, the explosion veered away, leaving only a cloud of ck smoke and charred marshmallow-like Objects wailing in agony.
This defied all logic!
I am the god of this city!
Suddenly, the ground quaked violently, trembling like a leaf in a storm.
p-!
With another p from the Gray Reaper, the earth gave way beneath us.
A sinkhole opened up, swallowing only me and the Gray Reaper. It was meant to be a trap for my enemies, yet the Gray Reaper stood unfazed.
Themp¡¯s red mes zed relentlessly, but the Gray Reaper''s advance was unimpeded.
p-!
The Gray Reaper drew closer, its movements as methodical as its expression was indifferent.
p-!
It approached with an almost leisurely pace, pping its hands with a chilling detachment. At that moment, themp¡¯s light extinguished, as if snuffed out by a gale.
¡°W-what!¡±
Themp is broken?
A wave of familiar madness washed over me.
My vision bled into red, a sign of impending doom.
This had to be because I hadn¡¯t drawn a red circle.
No!
Why didn¡¯t I draw the red circle?
No!!
The paint¡ªit¡¯s inside me!
No!!!
*******Themp wielded by that man had a funny way of reminding me of my own abilities.
Well, it wasn¡¯t exactly my power that let me see how an Object was about to meet its end; it was my knack for twisting probabilities to make things go pop.
And oh boy, interfering with thatmp¡¯s power? A piece of cake! All it took was a single p from me.
As I pranced over to the man, making themp¡¯s mes flicker and die, I could see him starting to go a little wobbly.
Instead of getting scared or something, he began acting like Junior Number 2¡ªdigging out his own organs and squishing them around, trying to draw red circles on the ground.
But that wasn¡¯t even the weirdest part.
The more circles he drew, the more he started looking like an Object himself. Blood gushed from his belly, and the red circles on the floor greedily sucked up the crimson flood.
Then, without any warning, the clear sky turned a deep, rming red, and blood started raining down like it was auditioning for a horror movie.
The man, now as dry and frail as a mummy, got up and wobbled around, staring at me with those empty eye sockets. It was like themp¡¯s light was still shining from within him.
Suddenly, the world around me was drenched in blood.
It bubbled and fizzed like it was boiling, and out of it came all these blood-drenched Reapers that looked just like me but all twisted and wonky.
Their mouths opened, and a creepy, metallic scraping sound filled the air.
< mortals="" struck="" down="" the="" divine="" one.="" yet,="" in="" their="" time="" of="" need,="" they="" yearned="" for="" its="" return.="">
< Though the Divine One raged with fury, it shielded the wayward mortals. >
The strangenguage felt oddly familiar, like d¨¦j¨¤ vu with a side of the weird. Even though it was my first time hearing it, something about the story rang a bell.
< mortals="" struck="" down="" the="" divine="" one.="" yet,="" in="" their="" time="" of="" need,="" they="" yearned="" for="" its="" return.="">
< Though the Divine One raged with fury, it shielded the wayward mortals. >
The distorted Reapers kept bbering on, repeating the same eerie message over and over like a broken record.
Chapter 130: Black Rust (7)
A fierce battle raged amidst the copsed buildings, shattered roads, and crumbling ruins.
It was a sh between the palm-sized Mini Reapers and colossal Objects that ughtered people with ease.
Those Mini Reapers, looking just like the Gray Reaper, maneuvered through the wreckage-strewn streets and engaged inbat.
Meanwhile, the Gray Reaper, who had appeared alongside them, was nowhere to be seen.
The Mini Reapers faced off against a ruthless Object capable of slicing through not just people, but reinforced concrete as effortlessly as cutting butter.
To think there were so many Objects like that hidden in our city...
Despite this, the Golden Mini Reapers showed no fear as they charged at the brutal Objects.
They dashed through the dust-filled ruins and acrid smoke, persisting in their battle against the grotesque threats.
The smoke obscured my view of the battlefield, making it hard to gauge the situation, but surely the Mini Reapers were being pushed back?
In the sky, Blue Reapers flew in erratic patterns. They quenched the mes by spraying fine water mist and shielded the people with protectiveyers of water droplets.Meanwhile,rge marshmallow-like cushions surrounded us refugees. These cute, fluffy barriers served as bothfort and protection, blocking any stray debris.
Beyond the smoke, a sound reminiscent of a de sharpening on a whetstone echoed ominously.
It sent chills down my spine, recalling the same noise I¡¯d heard when a monstrous Object sliced a bus to shreds.
Thud-!
With a dull, heavy sound, something golden plummeted from the sky.
Swish-! Swish-!
A Golden Reaper, its limbs iling as it fell,nded on my outstretched hands.
Even as it touched down, the Golden Reaper, with a puzzled expression, looked up at me, its movements ceasing as it shed a bright smile.
This little being is fighting for us?
As I came to my senses, I found myself gently stroking the Golden Reaper''s head with my fingers.
The Golden Reaper, still smiling, suddenly took on a serious demeanor and leaped back into the fray beyond the smoke.
Golden Reaper, fighting!
*******In an area beyond the smoky haze that everyone else couldn''t see, Golden Reapers were darting around with huge, beaming smiles stered on their faces,pletely out of sync with the ash and dust swirling around them.
Meanwhile, the big, bad Objects were iling their sickles in a frantic, destructive frenzy.
But guess what? The side getting pushed back in this wild scuffle wasn¡¯t the tiny, cheerful Golden Reapers¡ªit was those hulking Objects!
To the Golden Reapers, it probably felt more like a super fun game than a real fight.
Theyughed and giggled, even as they dodged and danced around high-speed scythes that could slice through steel like it was butter, tumbling through the air beforending.
The Golden Reapersughed as if they were having fun even though they were hit by a high-speed scythe that could easily cut through rebar and roll on the air before hitting the ground.
Some of the Golden Reapers were even clinging to the Objects'' scythes like they were riding a rollercoaster.
It looked a bit dangerous, sure, but they were loving it, their hair flowing in the wind like they were on the best amusement park ride ever.
There was just one rule in this exhrating yground.
No Object was allowed to escape this smoky amusement park and get close to the people.
Any Object that tried to break that rule ended up looking like a sponge with countless Golden Reaper-shaped holes all over them, rolling around the battlefield in defeat.
*******I was just standing on a busted road with a ruined city behind me.
But somehow, in the blink of an eye, the whole scene morphed into some weird ce where blood was pooling up to my ankles.
It felt like I''d stumbled into a whole other world.
The sky had turned this muddy, dark red, recing the blue we had before.
Meanwhile, the blood on the ground smelled so strong it was practically punching me in the face, making it clear I was now in a gory, blood-filled space.
The blood was bubbling away, though it wasn¡¯t even hot, and for some reason, it was making me feel all kinds of gross.
The Golden Horned Reaper, who had been snoozing on my palm, woke up and clung nervously to my horn, ncing around like it was as confused as I was.
Blood droplets asionally drizzled down from the dark red sky above, and then, out of the endless, boiling blood that spread like a freakyke, a child-sized blob of blood began to rise.
It took on a weird, humanoid shape, with limbs and features all jumbled together in a nightmare-ish fashion.
It didn¡¯t look much like the Gray Reaper, but from certain angles, it was kinda reminiscent¡ªjust a twisted, messed-up version.
And, as if things weren¡¯t already strange enough, the blobs of blood started whispering some cryptic nonsense.
< mortals="" struck="" down="" the="" divine="" one.="" yet,="" in="" their="" time="" of="" need,="" they="" yearned="" for="" its="" return.="">
< Though the Divine One raged with fury, it shielded the wayward mortals. >
The whispers were so clear it was like they were right in my ear.
< mortals="" struck="" down="" the="" divine="" one.="" yet,="" in="" their="" time="" of="" need,="" they="" yearned="" for="" its="" return.="">
< Though the Divine One raged with fury, it shielded the wayward mortals. >
Even though thenguage seemed familiar, the ent and pronunciation were something I¡¯d never heard before.
It seemed like the Gray Reaper got the gist of it, though. It looked more annoyed than confused, as if it understood what was being said and didn¡¯t like it one bit.
After all, its expression didn¡¯t look like it was bothered because it didn¡¯t know the content, but it felt like it was bothered because it understood it.
With a scowl, the Gray Reaper spread its arms wide and clenched its little fists.
Then, everything started twisting and warping like it was being rolled up.
The red sky split open, reced by blue, and the blood on the ground got sucked up into the air like it was being ripped apart.
But before I could even process it, the red returned, and the blood blobs were back, rising from the boiling blood, ready to stir up more trouble.
*******The blood-soaked, twisted masses just wouldn¡¯t stop bbering the same cryptic words over and over.
Did they have some kind of message they were trying to hammer home, or were they just being annoying for the fun of it?
Ugh, what a hassle¡
Seriously, repeating gibberish that¡¯s already hard to understand is such a drag.
So, I decided I¡¯d had enough. I grabbed the space around me and ripped it apart, which took care of the red sky and the babbling blood blobs all at once.
But, wouldn¡¯t you know it? In no time, the sky was red again and the blood blobs were back, as if nothing had happened.
It¡¯s like trying to squash a marshmallow¡ªno matter how hard you try, it just keeps popping back up.
Turns out, with Objects that have tricky killing conditions, tearing apart the space around them doesn¡¯t really help unless you¡¯ve met those conditions. ssic.
So, I decided to take a look around with my ¡®Eyes¡¯ .
The conditions for this space were: < Depletion of energy or Destruction of the main body > .
Great, two options.
Fortunately, both sounded doable to me, but finding the main body first seemed smarter. Who wants to waste energy if they don¡¯t have to?
It will be nice if the main body is nearby...
I used my power to locate the main body, and my antenna started glowing softly in the blood-red gloom, pointing a beam of light toward the north.
As soon as my antenna locked in the direction, I felt someone trying to look at me.
It was like we were exchanging nces¡ªhow weird is that? In the corner of my vision, a dark forest appeared.
There, a man stood with a Steel Tower and a dense forest behind him. His face was all blurry, but he was carrying a bunch of antiquemps.
The shadow he cast from those swayingmps danced around like it had a mind of its own.
Even though his face was obscured, his gaze was sharp, as if he was peering right through me.
When our eyes met, there was this weird sense of familiarity.
The man¡¯s lips moved slowly, and an unfamiliarnguage spilled out. But there was one word I could catch clearly.
[ You are still the same. ]
As soon as he finished speaking, the world around me began to copse.
The bloody sky and the bizarre lumps fell apart like dust, and the gasmps shattered too. It was like the power supply from the main body was abruptly cut off.
Simultaneously, my antenna, which had been pointing north just seconds ago, now pped about helplessly, unable to find the main body.
The antenna that was clearly pointing towards the Steel Tower just a moment ago had lost its direction.
It felt like the stuff I heard from that familiar-looking guy should be meaningful, but honestly, I was still just as clueless as before.
What a pain in the ass.
I¡¯m guessing the ¡®Divine One¡¯ is the one who created Watson. Next time I see Watson, I¡¯ll definitely have to ask him to give that guy a call.
As the blood-filled space crumbled away, the deste ruins reappeared. The culprit behind all this mess was finally taken care of.
Themp guy? I¡¯ll think about him when I run into him in person next time.
*******Time continued its relentless march even as Objects emerged and the city crumbled.
As the chilly night air settled over the ruins, the hearts of the city''s disced residents grew just as cold.
¡°Ha, what are we supposed to do now?¡±
The sigh that apanied this question seemed to capture the collective sentiment of everyone present.
With the city¡¯s autonomy having been recognized by the government, it was left without support. Or perhaps the government was simply too stretched thin to offer help.
Iy down, clutching a dusty rag for warmth, but the night air was still biting cold.
Suddenly, arge fire zed in the midst of the wreckage. The enormous me, resembling a massive campfire, began to warm the surrounding area.
Just what the hell is happening?
Curiosity led me to the source of the ze, and to my surprise¡ª
Gyuu-!
It was a giant marshmallow perched on a tree, set aze by the Gray Reaper.
As Blue Reapers, looking like delicate fairies, fluttered around and sprinkled shimmering powder, a sense of calm began to settle over me.
< don¡¯t="" worry="" too="" much!="">
< Something good will definitelye out of this! >
People momentarily set aside their worries and gathered around the fire.
They sipped on warm hot chocte and enjoyed theforting glow of the campfire, while the Golden Reapers danced about yfully.
For a brief moment, the warmth of the fire and the cheer of the gathering helped them forget their anxieties and fend off the cold.
Chapter 131: Black Rust: Epilogue (1)
Dawn cast a soft light over the world, bathing thepletely copsed city in a subtle glow.
Just the night before, a strange gathering resembling a fairy festival had taken ce, but the Mini Reapers who had distributed hot chocte and cookies to the people were now nowhere to be seen, as if they had been nothing but a dream.
The campfire''s embers were no longer battling the cold and were fading, but they were being reced by the rising sun.
Was it really a dream?
The only remnant of the previous night was the dying campfire.
Yet, even if it had all been a dream, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered.
The survivors, whose faces had been marred by shock and sorrow, now shone brighter than before.
Despite the grief over the city¡¯s copse and the loss of their homes and families, the inexplicable warmth and hope bestowed by the Mini Reapers seemed to breathe new life into their weary souls.
It was like magic.
But even with such magical hope, the skeletal remains of the city left a sense of despair lingering.At that moment, a man spoke softly to those gathered near the remains of the campfire.
"We''ll be able to do it."
The man¡¯s wordscked context, but they were filled with hope.
¡°Even though our city is in ruins, it can be rebuilt. After all, this city was originally built from ruins.¡±
He urged the survivors to find an intact building, convert it into temporary amodation, and start creating their new vige.
¡°Of course, it will take a few years to restore the city to its former state. Moreover, it will involve a lot of hard work.¡±
¡°But together, we can rebuild not just buildings, but lives. We will transform this deste ce into a haven of hope.¡±
Although the man''s words alone were not enough, they were sufficient to reignite the hope left behind by the Mini Reapers.
One by one, people rose from their seats and gathered around the man.
It was a rare event in a world where cities were continually copsing.
In this ruined city, overshadowed by loss, the bricks of hope began to be stacked.
The man then carved a symbol of the new city into therge remnants of the ruins.
It was a symbolmemorating the magic from the previous night that had given them hope.
It was a burning Hungry Ghost made of marshmallow with a slightly ufortable expression.
*******The backyard of the Sehee Research Institute, bathed in the soft embrace of early morning sunlight, was a serene little slice of tranquility.
Dewdrops sparkled like tiny jewels on the freshly trimmed grass, and the leaves glimmered in the soft sunlight.
The sky was shifting from dark blue to a lighter hue, gently nudging the start of the day.
To fend off the morning chill, I perched on a chair, cradling a warm cup of coffee¡ªmy personal magic elixir¡ªfrom the institute.
My eyes wandered over to the Golden Reapers, who were merrily ying on the t marble floor of the backyard.
The strong aroma of coffee mingled with the earthy scent of the morning air, marking the start of a sensory wake-up call.
Every sip brought a cozy warmth that was a delightful contrast to the chilly morning breeze.
The gentle rustling of origami paper crafted by the Golden Reapers added a soft, almost whimsical soundtrack to the morning.
Origami had be thetest trend in the backyard since the Reapers had returned. I have no clue why, but apparently, origami was all the rage.
So, naturally, I brought a pile of origami paper with me when I fetched my coffee.
The Golden Reapers, with their tiny bodies pressed into the colored paper, folded it with adorable determination.
Once they¡¯d finished, they scampered over to me, their eyes twinkling with anticipation, like baby birds hoping for a snack.
With a grin, I patted their heads and ced a fresh piece of origami paper on top. Their joy was palpable¡ªbright smiles and cheers followed as they eagerly resumed folding their new paper.
Meanwhile, the Grey Reaper, who had just made its grand return this morning, was nestled in a nket on a mat.
It looked like a cozy, lumpy nket roll, with only its antenna swaying gently at the top, providing the sole indication of its presence.
Around this nket roll, some Golden Reapers, who seemed less interested in origami, were attempting to catch the swaying antenna.
Hehehe-! It was like a never-ending game of ¡°catch the antenna,¡± and oh, was it a charming sight. Soft and tantalizing, the antenna proved irresistible.
Eventually, the Golden Reapers managed to grab hold of the antenna and, with great delight, munched on it as if it were a prize.
In the midst of their mischief, I heard the crackling sound of a mini Hungry Ghost darting across thewn.
Above it, a Golden Reaper beamed with joy, twirling a pinwheel that spun in the morning breeze.
The Golden Reaper who had made the pinwheel was practically vibrating with excitement.
Tap-tap! Tap-tap!
As I watched the yful scene, I felt a gentle tap on my thigh. I turned to find a cluster of Golden Reapers surrounding me, having discarded their origami papers.
All of them seemed to be there for one thing¡ªpinwheels.
I pulled out more origami paper from my bag and handed a piece to each eager Reaper.
As the minutes ticked by, the backyard filled with the delightful sounds of Hungry Ghosts scampering about and pinwheels whirring energetically.
*******A show that seemed to be all the ragetely was ring on the TV in the detective''s office. Junior Number 2, parked in the corner like a lost puppy, stared at the screen in a daze.
The host of the program was a striking figure, decked out in a dark purple suit that matched his equally purple hair, slicked back with meticulous precision.
Looking at the purple man, Junior Number 1 spoke with a smile on her face.
Junior Number 1, with a smirk that could only mean trouble, turned to me and said, ¡°Sunbae! Are you sure you¡¯re not rted to this guy? Your fashion sense is practically identical.¡±
I nced down at my neat yellow suit¡ªcarefully chosen, thank you very much¡ªbut really,paring the two was likeparing a ssic to a costume party.
Junior Number 1 didn¡¯t seem to expect an answer. She just giggled and turned her attention back to the TV.
The purple host announced the guest with a flourish:
[ Today¡¯s guest is the chairman of the New Seoul Promotion Policy Committee. Let''s give a warm wee to the Honorable Chairman! ]
The screen filled with a slightly disheveled man as the purple host¡¯s theatrical ent and exaggerated actions set a dramatic tone.
As the conversation meandered, the topic turned serious, the focus shifted to the recent destruction of the ¡®RS¡¯ city.
[ In the headlinestely, there was a story about a city called ''RS'' being destroyed. Truly tragic. When we look beyond Seoul, this isn¡¯t the first time a city has copsed. ]
The purple man looked at the chairman with a serious expression and continued.
[ Which really begs the question, is it time to consider relocating Seoul? ]
The chairman, who¡¯d been ready to talk about the tragedy, found himself skillfully redirected by the host, who now insisted on the safety of Seoul.
The chairman¡¯s face twisted with annoyance, but he seemed resigned to it.
Honestly, the whole show reeked of something fishy. The constant emphasis on Seoul¡¯s safety felt too rehearsed, too contrived. It had the distinct whiff of a ¡®big event¡¯ about to unfold.
When the show wrapped up, Junior Number 2, who¡¯d been zoning out, suddenly approached me with a serious expression.
¡°Detective sunbae! I¡¯ve got something to tell you.¡±
I was bracing myself for some major drama¡ªmaybe she¡¯d identally blown up a building or something.
But no, we just headed to the rooftop for some privacy.
Out on the rooftop, I lit up my pipe, exhaled a plume of smoke, and looked at Junior Number 2, waiting.
¡°So, what¡¯s the big secret?¡±
With a look of utter hesitation, she squeezed her eyes shut, pulled something from her chest, and shoved it in front of me.
On her palm was a Golden Reaper, grinning as if it was begging me to look closer.
¡°Actually, I stole an Object from Sehee Research Institute!¡±
I raised an eyebrow and let out a casual puff of smoke. ¡°That¡¯s it? I already knew. You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡±
Junior Number 2¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. "Pardon?"
¡°Well, Junior Number 3 probably knows too. Everyone¡¯s aware, except Junior Number 1, who¡¯s probably too busy obsessing over her hammer to notice anything else.¡±
I took another drag of my pipe, savoring the moment as I watched Junior Number 2¡¯s bewildered expression.
*******When I woke up, I had ten Golden Reapers clinging to my antennae like they were fishing for something. They were all so light and fluffy that they made my hair look like a party in full swing.
Trying to shake them off, I swung my antenna with all my might.
The Golden Reapers flew through the air, their little faces expressing pure heartbreak¡ªas if their favorite toy had been snatched away.
Ugh, why did even more of them get addicted to antennas?
The backyard of the Sehee Research Institute was a mess of origami scraps, and Yerin, who had been next to me when I fell asleep, had vanished.
Plop-! Plop-!
I wandered around the institute, looking for Yerin and hoping to find something fun to do.
¡°Huh? America?¡±
Then I spotted Sehee, Yerin, and James chatting in the hallway near my containment room.
I had nned to pull a prank on James the next time we met, but to my surprise, he hade to visit me in person! How could I resist having a bit of fun?
I crept closer, thinking up the perfect prank. But before I could get too far, James noticed me and, with a big, happy grin, held something out towards me.
¡°This is the new ¡®Large Gray Reaper Pudding.¡¯ I bought it for you before it goes on sale.¡±
He thrust a pudding, bigger than my entire body, into my hands.
Wow, it¡¯s gigantic!
The sweet aroma of the pudding was too tempting to resist. I decided to be generous and forgive all of James¡¯ previous misdeeds.
I peeled open the pudding container and scooped up a spoonful of the soft, creamy dessert.
Om nom nom¡ª!
Ah, bliss.
This pudding is simply divine.
As I indulged in the deliciousness, I heard something hard to ignore.
¡°Let me ask this again: Would you like toe to the United States of America with the Gray Reaper?¡±
USA?
Chapter 132: Black Rust: Epilogue (2)
Oh my gosh, the Reaper was just absolutely adorable with that gigantic pudding!
Om nom nom-!
I mean, I could hardly contain my squeals when I saw it¡ªso cute, just munching away, like a little kid with a giant candy!
¡°Let me ask this again: Would you like toe to the United States of America with the Gray Reaper?¡±
When Sehee unnie mentioned ''America,'' you could see the Reaper''s antennae perk up instantly. They started swinging around like they were at a party!
¡°...I see. Let us sit down and chat for a bit,¡± Sehee unnie said, leading us to the Reaper''s containment room.
Okay, so technically it was a containment room, but honestly, it was more like a cozy lounge with chairs and snacks galore¡
I mean, could we really use the ''containment room'' to have an important meeting?
I plopped Reaper on the bed (it wasn¡¯t moving anytime soon with that pudding), and then I settled in next to it, hugging it because it was just so soft and warm.
Ah~ it¡¯s so soft and warm~! The rest of the crew, including James and the slightly useless interpreter, took their seats.
James¡¯s bodyguards stood like statues outside, and the Golden Reapers started making themselvesfy.
The Golden Reapers who were resting on the bed looked happy as soon as they realized that the containment room was crowded.
They huddled together before jumping up to hunt a ce on people''s shoulders.
Some managed to snuggle up on people¡¯s shoulders, while others looked grumpy as they flopped down on the bed.
¡°May I know why you¡¯re asking us to go there?¡±
James, looking all serious, started exining.
¡°It¡¯s about Relic No. 0.¡±
¡°So far, the Gray Reaper has reacted to two different Relic No. 0¡¯s. Thus I wanted to see if the Reaper would also react to other Relic No. 0¡¯s.¡±
Relic No. 0, hmm? I hadn¡¯t heard of it in Korea, but I had seen one of them at the pudding factory!
¡°Ah! You mean that book-like Object?¡±
¡°Yes, that¡¯s what we call Objects like that.¡±
Sehee unnie''s eyes lit up. ¡°Why not just bring the Relic No. 0 here to test it? It seems like a lot easier than hauling the Gray Reaper across the globe.¡±
¡°First of all, there is no clear standard for ¡®Relic Number 0,¡¯ so there are quite a few Objects that were considered as Relic Number 0.¡±
James cleared his throat and lowered his voice as if he was about to say something important.
¡°Well, there¡¯s no clear standard for Relic Number 0, and some Objects can¡¯t be moved. We need to test the Gray Reaper¡¯s reaction to the ¡®Immutable ck Ball¡¯ . It¡¯s the first Object ever defined.¡±
The ¡®Immutable ck Ball¡¯ was legendary¡ªeveryone knew about it. It was the first Object discovered, and no one could move it, like, ever.
It was the very first ever Object to be discovered. To be more precise, it was the first item that disyed supernatural phenomena and thus defined as an Object.
It was a gigantic sphere with unknown abilities that could neither be broken nor moved.
It was a time when Objects were still a government secret, so the sphere was disguised as a structure decorating the city.
¡°So, the Immutable ck Ball is also Relic Number 0?¡±
¡°We don¡¯t really know.¡±
James shrugged, shaking his head helplessly.
¡°All Objects that existed before the ¡®Immutable ck Ball¡¯ are called ¡®Relic Number 0¡¯ . But it appeared pretty earlypared to other Objects.¡±
¡°To test our theories, the Gray Reaper has to go to America. Since the Immutable ck Ball can¡¯t be moved, it¡¯s the only way.¡±
Sehee unnie nodded after thinking it over for a while.
¡°Alright, we¡¯ll need to consult with the Korean Object Association. Let¡¯s figure out the cost and schedule.¡±
With that, Sehee unnie and James shook hands and headed out, probably to draft up some fancy contract or something.
Seoah unnie¡¯s going to have a hard time again I see¡
Om nom nom-!
Meanwhile, the Reaper was still totally engrossed in its pudding. It seemed super chill about America but not so much about ¡®Relic No. 0¡¯ .
America, huh?
I had never been abroad until now, so I was a little excited.
I had never been abroad, so I was kinda buzzing with excitement. Plus, getting to travel with Reaper? That¡¯s gonna be epic!
Ah, I want to go there quickly!
But first, I need to find some fun spots to hang out with Reaper!
*******Yerin had dashed off in the name of some kind of important investigation, and by the time I polished off thest bit of that enormous pudding, it was already lunchtime.
So, what did I do? I just sprawled out in the sunny courtyard of the Sehee Research Institute, soaking up thezy afternoon vibes.
The courtyard was this adorable mix of grassywn and garden brimming with cookies and sweets. The sunlight was all warm and cozy, making me feel like I could just drift off into a nap.
The sky was a perfect blue, dotted with puffy clouds driftingzily.
I leaned back against the soft, sweet-smelling body of the Hungry Ghost, feeling a mix of earthy leaf scents and sugary goodness.
It was like the universe was giving me a big, warm hug.
But, of course, that peaceful scene didn''tst forever.
Junior Number 2 burst into the courtyard with a loud "WOAH!" that shattered the calm.
She was practically glowing with excitement, her eyes wide as she watched the Golden Reapers rolling around and ying.
Looks like James¡¯s dull stories have attracted quite a bit of an audience today.
Junior Number 2 brought along the Golden Reaper with soft, new horns¡ªprobably hoping to cheer it up by introducing it to its fellow Golden Reapers.
As the Horned Golden Reaper trotted into the courtyard, all the other Golden Reapers flocked around it like bees to honey.
It was like a mini-reunion, and the horned Reaper quickly became the center of attention.
The other Golden Reapers were practically crawling all over each other, eager to touch its soft horns and give it envious nces.
It seemed like the horned Reaper was a bit puzzled by all the fuss. Maybe it didn¡¯t quite get why it had horns in the first ce?
I watched with a chuckle as a few of the Golden Reapers closed their eyes, their little fists clenched in concentration.
I could practically hear them saying something like ¡®I want horns!¡¯ in their mind.
Oh?
And then, like magic, something started happening.
Even though none of them grew actual horns, a few strands of their hair began to twitch and curl up, mimicking the horned Reaper¡¯s look.
They seemed to have gotten the same ability to move their antennae like mine! How adorable!
Ta-da! The Reapers who seeded were absolutely thrilled, spreading their arms wide and showing off their makeshift horns.
It turned into a full-on Golden Reaper horn-wishing prayer room, with everyone closing their eyes and focusing hard.
Meanwhile, the Horned Reaper, now free from all the attention, made its way onto the Garden of the Mini Reaper.
It pranced around the marshmallownd with a big grin, its little steps turning into joyous leaps.
At that moment, Junior Number 2 snapped a picture with a misty-eyed expression, clearly moved by the Reaper¡¯s yful antics.
*******In the midst of the Seoul Forest, nestled within the confines of a log cabin adorned with intricate tattoos, the woman¡¯s younger sister was voicing her discontent.
¡°Unnie, can¡¯t we just move to Seoul?¡±
The woman¡¯s head tilted slightly as she pondered the question.
¡°Is it truly so ufortable here?¡±
"Yeah!"
When her sister, whose insistence on growing herbs in the forest had always seemed inflexible, responded with a surprising degree of affability, the little sister nodded her head furiously in response.
¡°If we get the chance, we can move¡¡±
¡°Really? Really?¡±
¡°Indeed. But given our limited funds, we may not find a particrly desirable ce.¡±
¡°That''s alright! Anything¡¯s better than this forest where we can¡¯t even use electronic devices!¡±
Despite her earlier conviction about the necessity of the forest for her herbs, the woman had been swayed by the allure of the ''Sehee Research Institute'' in Seoul, rumored to have an alchemist.
Her sister, who had been busy grinding herbs, looked noticeably brighter at the prospect of moving to Seoul.
¡°Oh, by the way, Unnie, in the ce you used to live, didn¡¯t they call Objects ¡®Magic Books¡¯ ? So, did someone create Objects?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not acquainted with the origins of Objects. However, I do know the origin of the term ¡®Magic Book¡¯ .¡±
¡°Did a book written by someone be an Object?¡±
¡°No. The first Object discovered in my world took the form of a book. The discovery of this ¡®Magic Book¡¯ was so remarkable that it retained the name, even though subsequent Magic Books discovered did not resemble books.¡±
Satisfied by this exnation, the younger sister''s curiosity waned, and she returned to chattering animatedly about their potential new life in Seoul.
*******Plop-! Plop-!
I strolled around the Garden of the Mini Reaper, excitedly testing out my new ability.
Honestly, I didn''t expect to get any new powers this time, so finding out I had this quirky skill was a delightful surprise.
Turns out, I could send out text. Like, a glowing gray bead would appear in my hand with whatever I thought written on it.
It seemed like themp''s ability was to make people understand words even if it was in an unknownnguage.
When I thought ''Hello'', a bead popped into my palm with < Hello > written inside it. It wasn¡¯t written in Hangul or any other Earthlynguage, but it was perfectly legible.
Though it seemed pretty useless for someone like me, who couldn¡¯t speak anyway, I had an idea.
A prank! A text prank!!
After crafting a long, borate message, I ced the bead in the arms of a sleeping Golden Reaper.
It was so cute, hugging the bead as if it were my finger, and smiling away in its dreams.
I settled down nearby, pretending to be asleep, and eagerly waited for the Golden Reaper to wake up.
This was going to be so much fun!
Hihihi!
*******The Golden Reaper slowly awoke from its slumber, feeling something unfamiliar in its hand. It tilted its head in confusion, staring at the odd orb that had appeared.
What¡¯s this?
The bead, slightly transparent, held a jumble of letters that piqued the Golden Reaper¡¯s curiosity.
As it peered inside, its eyes widened in shock at the disturbing message it read:
< this="" is="" a="" cursed="" letter!="">
< The beloved human of whichever Golden Reaper reads this¡ >
< THEY WILL DIE IN THREE DAYS. >
< If you want to prevent that, you must split this orb in two and give it to two other Golden Reapers. >
The Golden Reaper¡¯s eyes grew round with fear. It quickly looked around, its tiny heart racing. Tears began to well up as it clutched the bead tightly, its worry palpable.
It hugged the orb close, its thoughts filled with apologies to its beloved human who would soon be dying.
Determined to protect its friend, the Golden Reaper set off towards the farthest corner of the Garden of the Mini Reaper, where no other Golden Reapers roamed.
It moved with a sense of urgency and sorrow, each step filled with sorrow.
Its destination was the depths of the Garden of the Mini Reaper where there were no Golden Reapers.
So, it hugged the marble tightly and threw itself into the deep ocean of hot chocte.
Chapter 133: James City (1)
Seeing the Golden Reaper''s unexpected reaction, I quickly jumped up and scooped it out of the sea of hot chocte.
The little guy was curled up in my palm, eyes squeezed shut, clutching that bead like it was the most important thing in the world.
It had already fallen asleep, and a tear slipped out¡ªit was as if it was having a sad dream or something.
Honestly, I just wanted to spread that silly letter around and watch the Golden Reapers y the cursed chain letter game. I never thought it would actually believe it¡
I held the Golden Reaper in my hand, running the situation over in my head.
How am I going to fix this mess?
This was way more of a headache than dealing with the Hungry Ghost.
Solution number one:
1. Pretend I fixed the curse by getting rid of the marble.
Pros: The Golden Reaper would be happy. No one gets hurt, and everything¡¯s all sunshine and rainbows.Cons: If it figures out the truth, I¡¯m in big trouble. Who knows how mad the Golden Reaper would get?
This was the suggestion from the neutral Reaper in my mind, a nice, easy route to a happy ending for everyone. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a bad idea.
Fooling the Golden Reaper, who¡¯s super sensitive to emotions, wasn¡¯t going to be easy. If it were that simple, I¡¯d probably still be identally summoning them in ck slime.
Solution number two:
2.Apologize properly and face the consequences head-on.
The good Reaper suggested this one. You know, do the right thing because it¡¯s the right thing. If you mess up, you apologize. Easy enough.
There was a solution number three from the evil Reaper, but I tossed that idea out right away. It was a high-risk low-return n that wouldn¡¯t make anyone happy, plus it could cause a lot of problems if things went south.
So, I decided to go with solution number two. I tried to gently pull the marble out of the Golden Reaper''s arms, but it held on so tight I thought it might never let go.
Eventually, the Golden Reaper woke up, saw me, and clung to the bead even harder, its little body shaking like it was scared of losing it.
I sighed, gave up on taking the orb, and just patted the Golden Reaper''s head instead.
So¡ You see¡ I made that bead. I¡¯m sorry! Actually, I made that bead. I¡¯m sorry.
The Golden Reaper''s eyes flew open, and it stared up at me in shock. When I destroyed the bead and made a new one, the tears started all over again.
I hugged the Golden Reaper close and stroked its head slowly.
It was just a prank, okay? Your beloved humans won¡¯t die. Please don¡¯t cry. I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t do it again.
I kept stroking its head until it finally stopped crying.
*******Thete afternoon sunlight streamed through the office window, casting long,zy shadows over the pile of papers on my desk.
Ugh, I could feel the fatigue creeping up on me¡ªprobably because I¡¯d been stuck in the same stiff position for ages.
Since Kim Jungrwi sunbae and Seoah unnie were super busy, all the simple, boring paperwork hadnded on my te.
¡°Uggggghhh.¡±
I stretched my arms over my head, letting out a little groan as I felt that oh-so-satisfying pull in my muscles. Ahhh, much better!
There were just too many things to prep for the ¡®Sehee Research Institute¡¯s trip to the United States¡¯ that James just had to suggest out of the blue.
I had to submit all these documents to the Korea Object Association and the American Object Association about transferring an Object from one country to another.
And don¡¯t even get me started on the mountain of forms, applications, and whatever else we needed just to get ourselves to the U.S.
But guess what? I¡¯d finally submitted every single document that had been driving me crazy until, like, ten minutes ago.
¡°It¡¯s finally over!¡±
I leaned back in my chair, feeling totally satisfied now that I was free from the never-ending nightmare of paperwork.
Seriously, the Korea Object Association had so many document requests that it felt like they were multiplying every time I finished one.
Of course, once I get all the responses to the documents I sent, there¡¯ll be more work waiting for me, but that¡¯s tomorrow Yerin¡¯s problem, not today Yerin¡¯s.
Right now, it¡¯s finally time to chill!
My heart, which had been totally drained from all that work, started to perk up at the thought of going to see the Reaper. Yay, finally!
I got up, turned off the lights of the empty office, and headed outside.
A big, goofy smile spread across my face just thinking about meeting Reaper.
Once I got to Reaper¡¯s containment room, I was going to hug it soooo tight and then roll around on the bed with it!
But when I arrived, I walked right into the most shocking scene ever.
Reaper¡
The Reaper is wearing clothes!
Reaper was sitting on the bed, watching TV, and¡ªget this¡ªwearing a big witch hat and a scarf, both made of water.
In the hands of the sitting Reaper, a Golden Reaper wearing the same hat and scarf was watching TV with a bright smile on its face.
Around them, Golden Reapers wearing witch hats were running around, smiling brightly.
Perhaps because they were wearing the same clothes as the Reaper, they looked very happy.
The Reaper is wearing clothes!
Am I dreaming?
Did I fall asleep because I was so tired and still haven¡¯t finished all that paperwork?
I pinched my cheeks, just in case.
Ow, okay, not a dream.
So this was really happening.
I whipped out my phone from my pocket and started snapping pictures like crazy.
A Reaper wearing clothes, doting on a Golden Reaper who¡¯s dressed just like it?
This is the kind of photo I¡¯d pay my entire life savings for.
Tap-! Tap-!
The Golden Reaper tapped Reaper¡¯s palm, and Reaper gently stroked it with its fingers.
The little Golden Reaper looked like it was in heaven, just soaking up those gentle, loving strokes.
Reaper was being so sweet that it almost looked like it had suddenly developed motherly instincts.
If I had to give this photo a title, it¡¯d definitely be¡
< cute="" family="" photo="" of="" a="" (unexpectedly)kind="" reaper="" and="" the="" golden="" reapers.="">
*******The day to leave for America had finally arrived.
When I stepped out of the research institute¡¯s vehicle, the quiet hush of dawn and the crisp morning air greeted me like an old friend.
It was that sweet, peaceful moment before the sun decided to fully wake up and start bossing everyone around.
Then, as if on cue, a soft, blue light started to creep over the horizon, casting its sleepy glow on everything it touched.
When that blue sunlight kissed my skin, I felt oddlyforted.
Maybe it was because I¡¯d been cooped up for so long, all thanks to the Golden Reaper insisting I wear clothes and y dress-up with it.
I mean, I¡¯d promised to make things right, and all it wanted was for me to wear the same outfit and y? How could I say no to that?
Such a simple request, especially for something that was basically a mini-me.
You¡¯d think it would have asked for something more, I dunno, dramatic. Like a cursed letter Mk 2 or something, just to even the score¡
As I trailed along behind Yerin, getting closer to the airport, I noticed something was off.
The usual bustling crowd of travelers was nowhere to be seen. The whole ce was eerily quiet, and that silence gave me a weird feeling.
Did they really clear out the entire airport just because little ol¡¯ me was heading to the U.S.?
Step-! Step-!
With each small footstep echoing as we entered, it hit me¡ªyep, they really did.
An empty airport, wrapped in silence.
The only sounds were Yerin¡¯s shoes and my bare feet tapping against the cold floor.
But honestly, if they were going to go to all this trouble, wouldn¡¯t a military airport have been cooler?
Well, I¡¯m not exactly an expert, so I figured there must be some reason behind it and just shrugged it off.
Still, using a civilian airport like this made it feel like we were on some kind of secret mission. Pretty fun, if you ask me.
Hiihihi!
And then, there they were¡ªJames and his group, waiting for us right in the middle of the airport hall.
We¡¯re finally heading to America!
*******James City, a massive new metropolis sprawled across the eastern part of the United States.
As the name suggests, it was a colossal city built and bankrolled by none other than James himself.
At the airport on the outskirts of the city, preparations to wee the Sehee Institute group arriving from Korea were in full swing.
While I was overseeing the early morning hustle at James Airport, something weird caught my eye.
¡°What on earth is that ?¡±
Beyond the tall buildings, I spotted a cylindrical pir with a bunch of holes.
Now, that¡¯s not something you see every day. In fact, it wasn¡¯t there at all yesterday!
How could such a massive structure just pop up overnight?
¡°But¡ Team leader¡ there¡¯s nothing there¡?¡±
To make things even stranger, my subordinates acted like they couldn¡¯t see the pir at all.
Okay, so either I was losing it, or they were.
And honestly, there was no way it was me, so clearly, everyone else had lost their minds.
Ignoring their puzzled looks, I slowly made my way toward the pir.
¡°A phenomenon that appears to be the work of an Object with mind corruption abilities, has been discovered. Request to dispatch a response team!¡±
I could hear someone calling for a response team from afar.
Ha! Without even realizing their minds were corrupted, they went ahead and called for backup themselves.
Now, what¡¯s the protocol when something like this happens again?
Oh, right¡ªI should record everything.
¡°I see a strange structure. It¡¯s white, shaped like a giant pir with lots of holes.¡±
¡°Since no one but me can see it, it looks like everyone else¡¯s minds have been corrupted by the Object.¡±
¡°I¡¯m moving in to confirm the identity of the pir.¡±
Sure, it¡¯s usually a bad idea to approach an Object recklessly, but hey, this is an emergency. What else am I supposed to do?
After passing a ton of security checkpoints, we finally arrived at the Object¡¯s location.
But guess what? The huge pir was gone. Instead, all we saw was arge barrier and a gate.
The reason James City exists¡ªa massive barrier enclosing the entire area that had turned into an Object and couldn¡¯t be reversed.
It was one of those ces you couldn¡¯t just waltz into unless you had administrator-level clearance.
But, as soon as I saw the barrier in front of me, a sudden revtion hit me like a ton of bricks.
Open the gate.
In that instant, everything I had drilled into my head to gain administrator-level authority came rushing back.
If you are conscious and feel the need to open the gate, press the red button.
So, I did just that¡ªpressed the red button¡ªand then, just like that, everything went ck.
Chapter 134: James City (2)
When wended at James Airport in James City, I immediately noticed something was different. It wasn¡¯t like the Korean airports I was used to¡ªit had its own distinct vibe.
The structure and interior weren''t too different, but the atmosphere was totally unique!
Maybe it¡¯s because I can¡¯t hear Korean anywhere?
Or maybe it¡¯s the signs¡ªeverything¡¯s in English!
Even if you ignored thenguage thing, there was something definitely different about this ce.
It was fascinating how everything wasid out differently, from the design to the tiniest, most insignificant details.
James, who was strutting a little ahead of me with all the confidence in the world, nced back and said, ¡°Wee to America and James¡¯ City.¡±
He looked so much more rxed and bold than he did in Korea¡ªit was like he had totally transformed!
As we crossed the airport gate, the hustle and bustle of people moving about hit me all at once. It was lively, almost buzzing with energy.
The stores and restaurants were filled with brands I had never seen before, and the air was thick with unfamiliar yet mouthwatering smells.I couldn¡¯t help but wish that Sehee unnie and Seoah unnie hade along with me...
Meanwhile, Reaper was chillingfortably in its transparent containment room, curiously observing the airport.
Its antennae wiggled gently, reacting to everything it saw!
I sooo wanted to rush inside the containment room and give it a good pet, but, duh, I couldn¡¯t do that right in the middle of the airport!
If we were in Korea, I would have been inside the containment room with Reaper the whole time.
As soon as James led us out of the airport, we were greeted by a vastndscape that unfolded before our eyes.
A ridiculously wide road stretched out in front of us, and at the end of it, this massive structure called ¡®James Tower¡¯ soared into the sky like it was trying to reach the heavens.
The heart of the city was smack dab in the middle of this gigantic road that seemed to go on forever.
James Tower wasn¡¯t just tall¡ªit practically screamed¡ª"Look at me!"
It was the ultimatendmark of the city.
¡°Let¡¯s unpack first and talk about our future ns!¡±
He led Reaper to this big vehicle that was set up with a simple containment room just for it.
As we drove toward ¡®James Tower¡¯, the car gently shook, making the ride feel oddlyforting.
*******The tattooed woman and her little sister navigated their vehicle through the remnants of what was once a lively neighborhood.
They observed their surroundings as they wove through abyrinth of decaying buildings.
Some of the structures bore cracks resembling spiderwebs, while others leaned precariously, revealing their crumbling foundations.
The area was littered with signs of abandonment, likely after a catastrophic event¡ªperhaps an earthquake.
Yet, despite the decay, there was a curious sense of renewal in the air.
It was as if new skin were growing over old wounds; freshly built structures and roads emerged among the bombed-out shells of buildings.
These new buildings were pristine and immacte, a stark contrast to the ruins around them.
The roads, too, were freshly paved with smooth asphalt, a marked difference from the shattered and worn paths they reced.
The tattooed woman remarked as she studied the area, ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as I expected.¡±
Her voice carried a mix of surprise and relief as she stepped out of the truck.
Given the footage she had seen of the Songpa-gu sinkhole disaster, she had anticipated far worse, but the infrastructure had endured better than she had imagined.
The streetlights flickered on at dusk, indicating that electricity still coursed through the power lines, and the water pipes continued to supply water.
The woman had chosen Songpa-gu as her next home after leaving the tranquil Seoul Forest.
There were two reasons for this decision: practicality and alchemy. The former was the affordability of the area, while thetter was the favorable location.
After the copse of the Central Research Institute, Songpa-gu had been reported aspletely destroyed by the massive sinkhole, but the outskirts remained rtively unscathed.
However, the looming presence of the sinkhole had cast a shadow of unease over the local poption, leaving many residents wary and anxious.
It was this anxiety that drew her to Songpa-gu. With real estate prices plummeting due to the sinkhole teeming with Objects, it became possible to purchase a home at a surprisingly low cost.
From the perspective of someone with a guardian capable of subduing most Objects, the area was ideal for settling down.
Another factor in her decision was the proximity of the ''Sehee Research Institute.''
The institute''s location near the ''Gray Reaper,'' which seemed to be connected to alchemists, was another enticing reason for her choice.
As she surveyed the area, she suddenly heard the soft meowing of a cat.
Meow-!
When she looked in the direction of the sound, she saw a pure white cat crying softly while looking at the woman.
It was a cute kitten, too pristine to be a stray.
Ah, it must be someone¡¯s pet, an ordinary person might think upon seeing such a cat.
But the woman¡¯s thoughts were different.
It doesn¡¯t smell like a living creature; it must be an Object.
She examined the kitten closely, noting itsck of fear, when her sister¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts.
¡°Unnie, help me with this!¡±
She nced at her sister, who was struggling to lift arge dresser, and then back at the cat. But it was gone¡ªthe white cat had vanished without a trace.
Well, it didn¡¯t matter.
In her old world, Magic Books were destroyed on sight, but this world wasn¡¯t hers. She had to abide by its rules.
At first, she found thex attitude toward Objects in this world absurd, but her perspective had shifted.
Korea was far more advanced than her kingdom and had fared much better. Perhaps coexistence, rather than extermination, was the wiser path? She had begun to entertain such thoughts.
The news she asionally watched always seemed to suggest as much.
With the sheer number of Objects escaping from the Research Institute, it felt almost deliberate.
Was this a scheme by the ruling ss to promote coexistence, using people¡¯s mistakes as a pretext?
No matter how challenging Object containment was, the frequency of these escapes was unnaturally high.
¡°Unnie!!¡±
Her sister¡¯s urgent call snapped the woman out of her thoughts. She walked toward the truck, where their belongings were piled high.
*******The Sehee Research Institute, left in disarray by the departure of the Gray Reaper, was teetering on the edge of chaos.
New Objects were being transported into the facility inrge alloy containers, sending everyone except the security room staff scurrying to manage the influx.
It was the day when the institute, long starved of new acquisitions, finally received a fresh batch. Ideally, the transfer would have urred when the institute was more stable, but the timing had been set long before James had reached out.
A security room employee, his expression one of utter boredom, stared at the newly arrived Objects through the containment room cameras.
He sighed and muttered, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be fine if we stopped taking in more Objects? I heard the Gray Reaper figure sold really wellst time¡¡±
¡°Even so,¡± the senior member of the security team replied, feeding pudding to the Golden Reaper cradled in his arms, ¡°if we want to keep up our reputation as a research institute, we¡¯ve got to keep epting new Objects. If we didn¡¯t and just catered to tourists, we¡¯d be the Sehee Object Zoo, not the Sehee Research Institute.¡±
The senior security officer looked utterly content as he watched the Golden Reaper daintily eat the pudding, slowly lifting the spoon to its tiny mouth.
¡°Honestly, this ce doesn¡¯t feel like a research institute anymore. All we do here in the security office is feed the Golden Reaper. It¡¯s more like a ¡®Baby Reaper Kindergarten¡¯ than a research institute.¡±
As he continued to check the CCTV footage, something caught his attention¡ªa containment room stood empty.
¡°Sunbae. The ghost cat containment room is empty right now. Is that okay?¡±
¡°Oh, that? No worries¡ It¡¯s an Object that doesn¡¯t cause any trouble. We just need to look for it if it doesn¡¯te back in a few days, like with the Gray Reaper.¡±
And so, life at Sehee Research Institute continued its strange, peaceful routine.
*******As soon as we entered the Research Institute, tucked away in the grand, off-limits James Tower, I couldn¡¯t resist ying a little. I slipped into my phantom form and breezed right through the containment room. So sneaky, right? Hehe.
I figured it was okay toe out now, right? I mean, what¡¯s the worst that could happen?
A bunch of researchers stared at me like I was a naughty kitten caught with its paw in the fishbowl, but James just pped his hands, all cool and collected.
¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± he said with that calm, reassuring voice of his. ¡°The Gray Reaper is harmless and too slippery to catch anyway, so it¡¯s fine to let it be.¡±
The researchers didn¡¯t seem entirely convinced, though. Their suspicious looks made me giggle.
Then, one of them, all sneaky-like, crept up behind James, pulled out this fancy Object stick, and¡ªZap! ¡ªStabbed him with it.
A burst of blue electricity crackled from the stick, zapping poor James. I stifled augh as he yelped and iled around.
¡°Stop! Stop it!¡± James protested, wriggling like a fish on a line. ¡°I¡¯m in my right mind! Zapping me won¡¯t change anything!¡±
Eventually, he managed to wriggle free, coughing dramatically.
¡°Wow, not even the employer gets a break, huh?¡± Yerin said curiously.
¡°Of course,¡± James replied, rubbing his side where he¡¯d been zapped. ¡°Just because you¡¯re the boss doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re immune to mind corruption. In serious cases, they¡¯d even consider¡ you know, taking more drastic measures.¡±
So if you don''t want to die, you should be careful, James added.
Yerin¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity as James handed her this thick rulebook. It looked so heavy! I bet it could double as a doorstop.
¡°Wow, they have rules for everything!¡± Yerin marveled as she flipped through the pages. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay to show me all this?¡±
¡°Sure,¡± James said with a shrug. ¡°These rules are already online. Objects are a threat to humanity, and keeping this stuff secret would only speed up our extinction.¡±
His mindset was quite different from the usual hush-hush attitude of Korean research institutes, where everything was about secrecy and profit. I found it refreshing.
¡°Before I give you the grand tour,¡± James continued, striding confidently down theb¡¯s wide hallways, ¡°let¡¯s take care of the most important thing first.¡±
The hallways were so tall, they made me feel tiny! The design was sleek and modern, with crisp, clean lines and elegant simplicity.
It was so fancy that I almost felt badparing it to the Sehee Research Institute. Poor Sehee.
The walls were painted a pristine white and dotted with digital disys showing off the insides of the containment rooms. So high-tech! I had no idea what half of the equipment did, but it was fun to guess.
After winding through a maze of gadgets and gizmos, we arrived at this massive, open space.
The ceiling soared above us, and the room was so beautifully decorated it felt like stepping into a luxury hotel lobby. Except¡ there were barely any people around.
In the center of the room floated this huge ck sphere. It looked like a giant, mysterious sculpture, just hanging in the air, all dark and enigmatic.
< immutable="" ck="" ball="">
That¡¯s what they called it. An Object that couldn¡¯t be moved or destroyed. It didn¡¯t seem to do much, just floated there, but it was so big and shiny! I had to take a closer look.
Plop-! Plop-!
As I drifted closer, I noticed the surface looked soft, almost like it was rippling. I reached out and touched it, and it was like pressing my hand into warm, still water. The surface swayed gently under my touch.
James and Yerin were making a fuss in the background, but their voices felt so far away. All I could focus on was that warm, inviting ckness in front of me.
And then, before I knew it, the sphere began to pull me in.
Chapter 135: James’ City (3)
A security office employee sat on a deserted emergency staircase that not many people used, waiting for someone.
He looked a little nervous, as if she were in the middle of some shady deal, but instead of anything illicit, she was holding a ¡®Gray Reaper Pudding¡¯ in her hand.
ncing around, the employee¡¯s face lit up with a bright smile. She had spotted something¡ªa blue hat poking out from behind the railing pir of the stairs leading to the next floor.
Despite the awkwardness of the moment, the employee felt a thrill. The Blue Reaper was approaching.
Meeting the Blue Reaper regrly had been no easy feat. Ever since she first saw the Blue Reaper cleaning her house like a snail, she had worked hard to make this connection.
The Reaper was elusive, making it quite challenging to feed it pudding. But now, it seemed all her efforts to gain the Blue Reaper''s attention were paying off.
Munch-! Munch-!
The Blue Reaper nibbled at the pudding, spooning it into its small mouth with deliberate care.
Perched on the employee¡¯s palm, the Reaper ate slowly, and with every bite, the employee¡¯s heart swelled with a strange satisfaction.
Even though the Blue Reaper still felt a bit distant, the employee consoled himself with the fact that just being able to meet it regrly was a significant achievement.He made a silent vow that one day, she would rest with the Blue Reaper in her house and feed it all the pudding it could want.
Unlike the Golden Reapers, who gobbled their pudding down, the Blue Reapers ate slowly. Just as the Blue Reaper in her hand finished half of the pudding, the red emergency light in the staircase began to blink.
Beep-! Beep-!
A loud rm echoed, and an ominous red light bathed the stairs. What on earth had happened?
An emergency at a time like this? Sehee Research Institute had a very high emergency threshold, so if the siren was ring, something serious must have gone down.
It wasn''t like the Blue Lizard, who was always ying the piano, had suddenly snapped and beaten someone to death with it, right?
The Blue Reaper, who had been happily eating, now looked around in rm.
Swiish-!
A sharp sound cut through the air, and the steel door on the emergency stairwell was sliced open. From the opening, a bird¡¯s beak, as clear as ss, poked through.
It was the < ss mingo > .
This mingo, made of a transparent material that beautifully absorbed and reflected light, was thetest Object acquired by Sehee Research Institute.
When still, it looked like an exquisite statue, so it must have been ssified as a safe Object, right?
But the ss mingo now looked anything but safe. It seemed aggressive, its posture menacing.
The Blue Reaper, sensing danger, stepped in front of the employee and scribbled an iprehensible string of characters in the air.
< protect="" us!="" please!="">
A water droplet shield formed around the Blue Reaper and the employee, shimmering with a faint blue glow.
However, the ss mingo ignored the protective shield and continued its slow approach, the sound of ss clinking with every step.
Meanwhile, the employee took a cautious step back, trying to put some distance between himself and the shield.
The mingo¡¯s steel-cutting beak and its proud, confident stance filled her with anxiety.
The Blue Reaper, frightened by the advancing mingo, also began to back away.
< water!="" be="" ten="" sharp="" needles!="" please!="">
At the Reaper¡¯smand, water gathered in the air, forming sharp, needle-like shapes that shot toward the mingo.
But the attack had no effect.
The mingo merely pulled its head back slightly, then shot its beak forward like a bullet, shattering the water droplets and aiming straight for the Blue Reaper.
The employee quickly scooped the Reaper into her arms and rolled away just in time to avoid the beak.
His quick thinking saved the Reaper, but not himself. The beak grazed her thigh, tearing off arge chunk of flesh.
The searing pain and the feeling of blood soaking her leg hit her all at once.
Looking down, she saw the Blue Reaper in her hands, its wide eyes filled with shock.
< make="" the="" pain="" go="" away!="" please!="">
< Make the pain go away! Please! >
< Make the pain go away! Please! >
< Someone help us! Please! Please! Please! >
Despite the pain, the employee tried to send the Blue Reaper down the stairs, away from the danger.
But the Reaper clung to her hand with all its might, shaking its head in refusal. With a frightened expression, it stood in front of the mingo, as if trying to protect him.
But the Reaper¡¯s bravery was short-lived. The mingo, irritated by the interruption, swung its paw and sent the Blue Reaper flying. The Reaper clutched its stomach, clearly in pain.
The Blue Reaper swatted away and clutched its stomach as if in pain.
At that moment, heads began to pop out from all over the emergency staircase.
Golden-colored heads.
From the stairs, from the railing, from every nook and cranny, Golden Reapers, with unusually angry expressions emerged, ring at the mingo.
Even with the angry Golden Reapers surrounding it, the mingo maintained its confident gait. But something was off¡ªit seemed to be moving forward, yet in reality, it was retreating.
As soon as it passed back through the steel door it had entered through, the mingo turned tail and bolted, fleeing with all its might.
Behind it, a wave of Golden Reapers, looking like a fierce tsunami, chased after the retreating bird.
*******Ooh, the inside of the Immutable ck Ball was so much smaller than I thought! It was almost like being squished inside a teeny-tiny box.
I mean, it was cozy and all, but definitely not what you''d expect from something so big and mysterious on the outside.
Right in the middle of this tight little space was a in wooden round table, just sitting there like a lonely ind floating in a dark, endless sea.
It looked super old and fancy, like someone really took their time crafting every single line and curve in the wood. You could tell it had a story of its own.
There were all these adorable little chairs around the table too!
I just had to pick one up and take a closer look. It was so small, just perfect for a Mini Reaper to sit on. I could totally picture them sitting here, having a teeny-tiny tea party or something. How cute!
But then I noticed the walls¡
They were pitch-ck and covered in all these strange symbols that didn¡¯t look like anything I¡¯d ever seen before.
It was like someone had gone a little bonkers, scratching and carving these eerie, twisted letters into the stone with their bare fingers. And ugh, some of them were even stained with old, dried-up blood. Creepy, right?
< the="" grimoire="" that="" vanquished="" the="" divine="" one="" must="" be="" annihted.="">
< The Grimoire that vanquished the Divine One must be annihted. >
< The Grimoire that vanquished the Divine One must be annihted. >
And there was this one phrase, written over and over again, like the person was really obsessed with it. It was everywhere¡ªon the walls, the ceiling, even the floor.
I found some bloodstains on the mini chair I was holding, so I cleaned it up a bit, but there wasn¡¯t anything hidden on it.
The table, though, had something else carved into it, also in blood¡
< may="" my="" plea="" ascend="" unto="" the="" divine="" one.="">
When I touched those words, whoa! It was like all these emotions¡ªdespair, grief, hope¡ªjust came rushing at me all at once, feeding into my me like a huge pile of firewood.
It was overwhelming, but kinda exhrating too, like being on a rollercoaster of feelings.
And just like that, the space around me started to copse, pulling me back into its dark depths.
Before I knew it, I was back at the James Research Institute, almost like nothing had happened at all.
*******The < Immutable ck Ball > made this weird gurgling noise, like water sloshing around in a tub, and then¡ªpoof!¡ªit swallowed up Reaper just like that! I was so shocked, my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
When I turned around in surprise, James was standing there too, looking all calm and collected, but with just the tiniest bit of wonder in his eyes.
¡°As expected.¡±
¡°Uh, James? Reaper just disappeared! Is that, like, okay?¡±
James just turned to me with that calm, mysterious look of his.
¡°Do you think there will be any problem?¡±
¡°Um¡¡± I had to think about it for a second. I mean, Reaper was pretty tough, so I couldn''t really picture anything bad happening to it. But still, you never know, right?
¡°Besides,¡± James continued. ¡°I figured there was a high chance the Immutable ck Ball and the Gray Reaper would, you know, do something together.¡±
Just as he finished talking, the < Immutable ck Ball > vanished¡ªlike, blink, and it¡¯s gone! And there was Reaper, standing right where the ball had been, looking all confused and adorable.
It kept staring at the spot where the ball used to be, like it couldn¡¯t quite believe what just happened.
Plop-! Plop-!
Reaper turned its head and started walking toward me, still looking a little dazed. It even tilted its head, like, ¡®What the?¡¯ And then it started clenching and unclenching its tiny fist like it was testing to see if everything was still working. So cute!
¡°Looks like the < Immutable ck Ball > was a sess. The other Relic Number 0¡¯s are being transported, so let¡¯s get started with the ¡®James Lab¡¯ tour before they arrive.¡±
And then he added, with a grin, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a shame toe all the way to America and not do a little sightseeing?¡±
Before I could even think about arguing, he was already heading out of the vacant lot where the Immutable ck Ball had been.
I grabbed Reaper¡¯s hand¡ªit felt nice and reassuring¡ªand followed him, trying not to trip over my own feet.
As we walked away, a bunch of researchers with all sorts of fancy gadgets started poking around where the < Immutable ck Ball > had disappeared.
They were super busy, but I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about something that felt a little off. Why is James feeding Relic Number 0¡¯s to Reaper? Huh¡
*******James Research Institute was soooo big! We got to ride around in this cute little electric cart for our tour, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel like I was on some kind of fun amusement park ride.
I was all snuggled up on Yerin¡¯sp, clutching a giant pudding like it was my precious treasure, and just taking in everything around me.
Being in Yerin¡¯s arms while I munched on that delicious pudding¡ªit was like all the jumbled-up thoughts in my head started to sort themselves out.
I mean, I think I might¡¯ve gained some new ability after that whole thing with the Immutable ck Ball. But, ugh, I couldn¡¯t really figure out what it was! So confusing! But then, with every spoonful of pudding, it was like, "Eh, whatever. I¡¯ll figure it out when I need to, right?"
As James steered the cart up this twisty ramp, we finally made it to the top of this super tall wall.
It was like a fortress, starting all the way from the outskirts of James City and going up, up, up into the sky. And in the middle of it all was this gigantic, dark blue tree.
The gigantic being was a dark blue tree.
¡°If the < Immutable ck Ball > was what kickstarted the founding of James City, that tree is the reason we keep it going.¡±
And wow, the sight in front of me was breathtaking, like the most beautiful and mysterious thing James had shown me so far. But, um, also kinda scary?
The wall around the tree seemed like it was there to keep it in, like a big, fancy cage. And all the observation gadgets on the wall¡ªyikes! It was like humans were totally freaked out by that tree.
The tree itself, though? It was gorgeous, but in an unsettling way.
The trunk was this huge, ancient thing, glowing with an indigo light that pulsed like a heartbeat¡ªlike the heartbeat of the earth or something.
It made me feel all tingly, like it was connected to something deep and... otherworldly.
¡°Wow, look! There¡¯s something like ss flying around it!¡±
Yerin gasped at the transparent shards swirling around the tree, like leaves made of broken ss. They spun and danced around, catching the eerie light and shing in all these crazy, rainbow-like colors.
But here¡¯s the thing¡ªThose shards were extremely dangerous!
They were pieces of torn space, all sharp and chaotic. They looked pretty, sure, but if humans got too close... well, let¡¯s just say it wouldn¡¯t be good.
And the tree just kept ripping up the space around it, getting bigger and bigger like it was hungry for more. There was no way that wall and all its barriers could hold it back.
Is this okay? I mean, seriously, this feels really, really dangerous¡
Chapter 136: James City (4)
A tree pulsating in deep blue and these majestic walls... It was like something out of a dream.
As I watched the ss fragments twirl around in those mysterious colors, I heard James'' voice cut through my reverie.
¡°We should head back now. It¡¯s not good to stay on the wall for too long.¡±
Ugh, really? I felt a pout forming, but I just sighed and hopped onto the cart, cradling Reaper, who waszily hanging in my arms.
I could alwayse backter to see it again, right?
We rode down the wall in the cart, which hummed quietly like it didn¡¯t have a care in the world. James, who was driving, had this smug look on his face as he spoke.
¡°If youpare the time on your wristwatch with your phone right now, I bet you''ll be surprised.¡±
What was he on about? With a huff, I pulled out my phone to check¡ªand yep, just like he said, I was totally shocked!
I could''ve sworn I set my watch right when wended at the airport, but it was nearly two hours off! Like, how does that even happen?
While I fiddled with my watch, setting it to match my phone, I shot a question at James.¡°Is this whole time wonkiness thing because of the wall we just climbed?¡±
¡°Bingo! I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the tree or the space where that tree¡¯s hanging out, but yeah, the flow of time on the wall is aplete mess.¡±
Reaper must¡¯ve found that interesting because it paused mid-pudding and perked up to look at James.
I mean, I kinda wanted to go back and stare at that tree some more, but the thought of time being all messed up made me squirm.
¡°Still, it¡¯s manageable on the wall since time only speeds up or slows down by, like, fifty percent. But if you go beyond the wall, that¡¯s where things get tricky. Even if you just spend a day inside and thene out, the time gap would be huge.¡±
Reaper''s little antennae started wiggling like crazy. Hehe! It must be curious about what was beyond the wall.
Wait a minute... Reaper wouldn¡¯t sneak past the barrier, would it?
I wondered about that while giving its antenna a yful lick.
*******Under the sky canopy in the Garden of the Mini Reaper, the Golden Reapers were having the most cheerful party ever! Their happy little faces beamed with joy as they gathered inrge numbers, radiating energy full of life and love.
Right in the middle of all the fun was a Blue Reaper, looking a bit shy under a big ol¡¯ hat.
It was like all the jumping, spinning, and running around was too much for it, so it pulled its hat down low, ncing around bashfully.
In front of the Blue Reaper, a campfire about the size of a Mini Reaper zed brightly.
The fire danced along with the weak breeze stirred up by the Golden Reapers¡¯ yful antics, casting a swaying shadow over the lively scene.
And oh, the campfire wasn¡¯t just for show¡ªit gave off the sweetest, most mouthwatering scent, like sugar melting in your mouth!
But amidst all the fun and sweetness, there was one thing that stood out: a mingo made of transparent sugar, burning right in the middle of the fire.
The Sugar mingo was the one lighting up the party, having been reborn from a ss mingo after it had hurt their youngest sibling.
< wouldn¡¯t="" it="" be="" okay="" if="" we="" let="" it="" go="" now?="">
The Blue Reaper was the only one who suggested that maybe it was time to release it. But the Golden Reapers, with their bright, determined faces, just shook their heads.
They were pretty firm about how they treated the Object.
*******After we came down from the wall, it was already evening.
Even though I wasn¡¯t hungry, I noticed Yerin looking a bit peckish. So, James, being all considerate and stuff, paused our tour and led us to the restaurant inside the institute.
At the buffet-style restaurant, James plopped down with his te and said, ¡°Let¡¯s wrap up the tour for today. I¡¯ll show you around the city tomorrow. Besides all the Object stuff, there are tons of things to do in this city. Plus, it''s a great ce for sightseeing.¡±
The bouncy fruit pudding looked sooo delicious, so I piled my te high with it and sat down next to Yerin.
I could feel the eyes of everyone in the restaurant on me¡ªprobably because, you know, an Object like me was just casually helping itself to pudding.
Is it really that surprising?
It felt like they were looking at me the way you¡¯d look at a parrot chowing down at a buffet. Weird, right?
But there was this one gaze that felt especially intense¡ªand not in a friendly way.
Yerin must¡¯ve noticed it too because she whispered to James, ¡°That person is ring super hard. What¡¯s his deal?¡±
¡°Hmm? Oh, that¡¯s the vice mayor. He¡¯s one of those who thinks the opposite of me when ites to Objects.¡±
James said casually while slicing into his steak.
¡°For the sake ofpetition and development, there are a bunch of research institutes in James City. But they can be divided into two broad groups.¡±
He continued, looking like he was talking about something as simple as the weather.
¡°The first group thinks humanity has to coexist with Objects. The other group thinks that if we do, we¡¯ll eventually get pushed out and go extinct. So, they believe it¡¯s better to exclude Objects altogether.¡±
¡°I see. So James is all about coexistence, while the vice mayor is all about exclusion.¡±
¡°Exactly. He¡¯s an exclusionist. That¡¯s why he was super against me bringing in an Object like the Gray Reaper, which is a bit tricky to control.¡±
But like, can humans really exclude Objects when so many of them have all sorts of physical immunities?
I kinda doubt they can pull it off.
But anyway, that was all a bit too heavy for me, so I just went back to enjoying my pudding and cake. Yum!
After we finished eating, Yerin hugged me tight, rubbed her cheek against mine, and said, ¡°I want to see a chubby Reaper. I think you¡¯d be so cute if your belly stuck out...¡±
She then patted my stomach, which stayed skinny no matter how much I ate, like she was kinda sad about it.
?
Yerin¡¯s getting weirder and weirder... She¡¯s actually bummed that something strange didn¡¯t happen.
After our meal, James led us to my containment room, looking all proud of himself.
¡°Hehe, the containment room we prepared is amazing, you know? It¡¯ll probably make the Gray Reaper want to stay here forever.¡±
¡°I doubt that. Do you know how well-equipped the Sehee Research Institute is? Even though it doesn¡¯t have thetest gadgets, it¡¯s still perfect for the Reaper!¡± Yerin chimed in.
James just murmured, ¡°Is it?¡± as he opened the door to the containment room.
When the door swung open, it revealed a space so huge it was hard to believe it was inside a building! Like, wow!
Even though it was just a containment room, it was way bigger than the entire Sehee Research Institute. And it was decorated like a water park!
There was a restaurant with food ranging from fresh fruits to pudding and cookies all on disy.
There was even a water slide made with Objects, which looked kinda dangerous but also super cool.
In the middle,rge waves were dancing in an artificial sea, and all around it were a bunch of rides.
It was a bit too childish for me, but it looked like so much fun!
I bet the Mini Reapers would love it even more than me. So, I summoned them from beneath my feet.
But, as usual, the Blue Reaper, who wasn¡¯t a fan of being active, didn¡¯t show up.
The Golden Reapers, on the other hand, spread out in all directions with eager expressions, ready to explore.
Plop-! Plop-!
Seeing how much effort James had put into this, I figured I should join in and enjoy it ¡®just a little¡¯.
*******The water slide was so ridiculously fast that the Golden Reapers were bouncing off the water like skipping stones.
Even as they sshed everywhere, they still looked like they were having the time of their lives.
Pop-!
A geyser erupted with a dramatic burst, sending the excited Golden Reapers soaring into the air.
The rides they loved were the kind that would probably be deadly for humans, but for them, it was all just a fantastic thrill.
Reaper was also getting tossed around on a tube, swept away by the massive artificial waves.
Its t, impassive expression was a stark contrast to the jubnt Golden Reapers, but I could tell it was having a st.
Despite its nk face, its legs were happily swaying, and its antenna was twitching to an invisible beat.
"N-n."
Suddenly, a wave of anxiety hit me.
Will Reaper really stay in America? Should I just up and move to the United States too?
The scale of the containment room James had shown us was so enormous I couldn¡¯t even dream of suggesting something like it to the Sehee Research Institute.
As I wallowed in my despair, a Golden Reaper hopped onto my shoulder and patted my cheek.
¡°Are you trying to cheer me up? Thanks a bunch.¡±
I cradled the Golden Reaper in my hands and gave it a gentle stroke.
While the Golden Reapers beamed at me with their cheerful faces, Reaper was still busy riding the waves and swimming through the air.
Its expressionless face might have looked serious, but I could tell it was enjoying every second of this water park.
Reaper¡¯s clearly having a great time. It didn¡¯t even nce my way.
I don¡¯t know how they figured out that I was feeling down, but a few of the Golden Reapers came over with concerned expressions.
I watched Reaper, having the time of its life, and felt a pang of sadness as I wasforted by the Golden Reapers.
*******The Wall Pressure Control Room, the very heart of James City, was the fortress of its highest security. It was a ce where serenity usually prevailed, a calm amidst the storm.
But today, it was a maelstrom of chaos.
Emergency warnings shed on the control console, their harsh lights cutting through the oppressive tension that filled the air. The wailing rms underscored the gravity of the situation.
In ce of the absent James, the Vice Mayor of James City stood steadfast by the main control panel. His presence was a beacon of resolve in the midst of turmoil.
¡°Everybody get out!¡±
Hismanding voice cut through the mor, a beacon of authority amidst the chaos.
Yet, the control room staff hesitated, their faces etched with fear and doubt.
One staff member, anxiety palpable, spoke to the Vice Mayor. ¡°The escape radius calction isn¡¯t finished. We need to stay to maintain the barrier.¡±
¡°I understand!¡± The Vice Mayor''s voice, though firm, carried the weight of sacrifice. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. Everyone else needs to evacuate now.¡±
His words were not merely an order; they were a final, selflessmand from a man ready to forsake everything for the greater good.
The moment they realized his intentions, the control room staff shed tears over his sacrifice and began to escape.
Realizing his intent, the staff, tears in their eyes, began their desperate escape.
Soon, the Vice Mayor was alone in the control room, now a hollow shell of its former self. The influence from beyond the wall began distorting the space, cutting it apart, and reassembling it in chaotic fragments.
Despite this, the main console continued its calctions with unwavering precision amidst the wreckage.
He drew a cigarette, cing it between his lips with trembling hands. His resolve was unyielding as he ced his hand on the control panel, a grim determination to maintain the barrier.
Beep-!
The calction results emerged with a disconcerting sound. The Vice Mayor, hands shaking from the weight of his task, entered the data.
< the="" estimated="" range="" of="" damage="" is="" over="" 30km.="" abandon="" james="" city="" within="" 6="" hours.="">
The cold, unyielding message he typed was broadcast throughout James City.
In the midst of this destion, the Vice Mayor remained resolute. He lit his cigarette, the smoke curling in the fractured space, a symbol of the world¡¯s crumbling order.
Even as chaos reigned around him, he kept his hands on the control panel, his will unbroken.
He persevered in his duty, a final bulwark against the impending devastation.
It was the end of a man whose ideals had been at constant odds with James, now standing alone as thest protector of his city.
Chapter 137: James City (5)
In the director''s office at Sehee Research Institute, Seoah and I were glued to the security CCTV footage ying on the monitor mounted on the wall.
The room was steeped in silence, broken only by the asional rustle of pages filled with charts and diagrams being turned. But no matter how much I stared at the screen, the cause remained elusive.
Why on earth did the seemingly calm ss mingo escape?
I nced over at Seoah, breaking the silence.
"Why did it suddenly decide to bolt? I''ve watched this video a dozen times, and I can¡¯t spot anything that might¡¯ve provoked it. No attacks, nothing.¡±
Seoah responded calmly, her expression thoughtful.
¡°I did a thorough analysis of the Research Institute that quarantined it before Sehee Research Institute acquired it. I found some¡ suspicious factors.¡±
¡°Really? What did you find?¡± I asked, tilting my head slightly, my interest thoroughly piqued.
Seoah then pulled up a series of photos that looked like something out of a dystopian military thriller.
In the images, I saw an imposing structure surrounded by a thick reinforced exterior wall,plete with an explosive device that could blow at any moment and bury the containment room underground.Wow, they really went all out, I thought, my eyes widening a bit at the sight.
"I think the reason for its escape is that our institute doesn''t have such a high-intensity containment room. It might¡¯ve seen a chance to escape and got a little aggressive to make it happen. Just look at its behavior after it broke out¡ªit headed straight for the stairs instead of attacking anyone."
¡°So, you¡¯re saying it pretended to be harmless when escape seemed impossible but decided to make a run for it when it saw an opportunity?¡±
I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little offended, like the Object had decided we were an easy mark.
¡°Thankfully, that won¡¯t be happening again.¡±
When I turned my gaze to the corner of the table, I saw a reliable and cute soldier standing with an upright posture. It was a Golden Reaper donning a helmet and spear made of water!
Thebination of their confident stance and cute appearance made them twice as endearing in an instant.
After the ss mingo incident, the Golden Reapers had somehow acquired helmets and spears and started patrolling theb.
There was one in every containment room.
One in every office.
A bunch of them trotting cutely down the hallway.
And plenty of them standing guard by the puddings in the break room.
To us, they were undeniably cute. But for the Objects, it was a different story. Whenever the Golden Reapers were on patrol, the aggression of the other Objects dropped significantly.
The employees who frequently encountered the adorable Golden Reapers were also thrilled!
We¡¯d officially be the safest¡ªand most content¡ªresearch institute in the world.
*********I was enjoying a dreamy rest on the artificial beach in the water park. Beneath me, Yerin was sprawled out on a hard stic bed that couldn¡¯t hold a candle to the soft sandy beach.
Even though the bed was hard and should¡¯ve been ufortable, Yerin still had her eyes closed, looking utterly blissful. Meanwhile, I was lying on top of her, all rxed and cozy. Above me, the Golden Reapers, usually so energetic, were taking a break.
Some of them rested on my stomach, while others were happily bouncing up and down on it.
Yerin looked happy, and I was equally delighted¡ªI mean, I got to lie on a soft bed instead of a hard one!
It was paradise, really, with even the Golden Reapers frolicking about.
Watching the Golden Reapers scampering around the water park, I felt a warm satisfaction, like their yfulness, which had been fadingtely, was finally back in full swing.
Oh, right! I hadn''t messed with the Blue Reapers who whacked me with the marshmallow hammer. Since I didn¡¯t want to upset the Golden Reapers, I figured I¡¯d have to treat the youngest Reaper like I did the others.
But the youngest was so delicate, and it was tricky toe up with a harmless prank. If I tossed them in the washing machine like I did with the Golden Reapers, they¡¯d probably fall apart!
As I munched on sweet snacks and watched the Golden Reapers joyfully ssh about, Yerin started nibbling on my antennae.
But the end of that peaceful day came with a sudden crack in the air. When I saw the crack stretching out, aiming straight for Yerin¡¯s head, I panicked and quickly summoned the Garden of the Mini Reaper around it.
Luckily, the crack didn¡¯t tear through my space, just stopping midair.
"!"
Yerin, clearly startled by the sudden turn of events, forgot to even make a sound. She just stood up and wrapped her arms around my neck.
The space that had split quickly snapped back to normal, but the ground affected by the crack started to crumble.
What in the world was happening?
I felt a bit angry¡ªokay, maybe more than a bit¡ªthinking that whatever this was almost hurt Yerin. So, I got up and spread my senses around.
I was ny percent sure it was that pesky tree that could cut through space and devour it.
Just as I was plotting how to turn that tree into sawdust, James burst into the containment room, fiddling with his phone.
¡°Why couldn¡¯t I reach you? Everyone, get out! We need to evacuate James City right now.¡±
James was drenched in sweat, like he¡¯d run here at full speed. Yerin, seeing the crack slicing through steel walls like pudding, quickly covered the top of her swimsuit and hurried after James without a word.
As we made our escape on the electric cart, I could see how chaotic the research institute had be. All the doors were flung open, as if everyone had fled in a rush, leaving papers and high-tech gadgets scattered all over the floor. asionally, I spotted dismembered bodies near the space cracks.
¡°A little while ago, I got a report that something was off with the barrier. Even though the calctions say we¡¯ve got six hours to evacuate, I¡¯m not so sure. The tree¡¯s messing with time, so no one knows if six hours will turn into one hour, one second, or one year. We¡¯ve got to move fast¡¡±
James exined, his face tense with worry.
¡°But at least the barrier¡¯s holding, for now. When the tree first expanded the space beyond the barrier, everyone was scrambling to escape, and the damage was severe.¡±
James muttered under his breath, ¡°I never imagined the Vice Mayor would make such a choice.¡±
As we sped past the Institute¡¯s grounds, the streets outside were deserted. It looked like several cracks had appeared in the space beyond the research institute too.
Most of the tall buildings were crumbling, and the low ones looked ready to copse at any moment.
I ced two Golden Reapers on Yerin¡¯s and James¡¯ heads, respectively, and then leapt out of the cart.
¡°Reaper?¡±
I nced back at Yerin, who was walking away, and then dashed toward the barrier in my phantom form.
Whatever had put Yerin in danger was going to pay for it¡ªI¡¯d make sure of that.
*********Where am I?
Even as I tried to grasp my surroundings, all I felt was confusion.
Ah¡ I was in the barrier control room, wasn¡¯t I?
I need to protect the wall.
I have to protect citizens from that dangerous Object...
But the reality before my eyes wasn¡¯t the control room. It was a shattered, chaotic space, like a mirror broken into countless fragments.
It was a mosaic of iprehensible moments.
The space was silent, as though I were submerged deep beneath the ocean.
Colors and shapes twisted together, a kaleidoscope of disjointed visions.
My thoughts, like the world around me, had fundamentally changed, leaving me utterly disconnected from everything.
I looked down and saw my palms, rooted to the console, anchoring me like a ship¡¯s anchor in this storm of chaos.
The timer on the console disyed six hours, but then the numbers blurred, ovepping with one hour and then minus thirty hours.
The time disyed on the console was a mess, rendering the ¡®remaining time¡¯ meaningless.
Yes! This must be it¡ªthe time distortion beyond the barrier I¡¯d only read about in the records.
A world where time didn¡¯t flow linearly, but instead jumped and twisted.
The control panel I was touching had already fractured into several pieces. It looked ancient and broken, as though thousands of years had passed. But whenever I nced away for just a moment, it was whole again, as if it had never been damaged.
And I¡ªor something I presumed to be me¡ªwas mixed up too.
I was dead. And yet, somehow, still alive. Staring at my own corpse.
Six hours should have passed, but it felt like time had stopped¡ªor maybe it had never stopped at all.
It felt like I¡¯d been trapped in this shattered world forever, repeating this situation endlessly.
A maze with no exit, where the past, present, and future collided, merged, and looped endlessly.
It was my prison.
*********Plop-! Plop-!
I wandered alone through the once lively streets, now deserted and empty. Each step echoed with a soft, lonely rhythm in the middle of the quiet city.
Oh, there was a restaurant that looked like it sold the tastiest food, and the facilities were amazing too! This city would¡¯ve been so much fun to explore with Yerin tomorrow. But now, the roads and buildings were in ruins, with only traces left behind of people who had hurriedly fled.
Like a little salmon swimming upstream, I made my way closer and closer to my destination, stepping on the remnants of those who ran away to save themselves. With every step, I could feel the ominous vibration of the barrier growing stronger, and the closer I got, the more I could sense that tree¡¯s presence.
asionally, cracks would appear in the air, tearing through the city like lightning on a stormy night.
When I finally arrived in front of therge barrier, it looked¡ really bad. Honestly, it was a miracle it still held together. It was like a barrier made of shattered pottery, somehow stuck back together with sheer willpower.
Then, all of a sudden, a gap opened up in the cracked barrier, like a wound seeping dark blue light¡ªlike it was bleeding or something.
I raised my head, peering up at the barrier, and without a second thought, I leaped right into the wound.
*********The chaotic, unrecognizable world, once scattered in a thick fog, began to align, but only the control panel and I remained clear amidst the confusion.
It felt as though a powerful Object had set its gaze upon this fractured reality.
When I forced my head to move and looked up, the world was still shattered, but now it was something else entirely.
It was andscape of countless realities, torn apart and pieced back together¡ªa living, breathing mosaic of distorted existence.
The ground beneath me was a patchwork of mismatchednd, forced together like pieces of a puzzle that didn¡¯t belong. Yet, it was filled with white flowers that pulsed with a sinister life.
At the same time, it was a ghostlynd where long shadows danced alone, eerily disconnected from anything casting them.
And at the far edge of this fragmented world, a towering tree spread its long, thick roots, desperately clutching the torn pieces ofnd, trying to hold them together.
Above, the sky was a dizzying chaos, a curtain of dusk and dawn, day and night, all mixed together. It was as if time itself had shattered into the sky, each fragment reflecting a different moment.
Yet, it wasn¡¯t the tree that dominated this surreal space.
It was a colossal, dark blue moon, floating in the broken sky, its heavy light pressing down on the trees, casting an oppressive shadow over everything below.
Chapter 138: James City (6)
In a residential area that had narrowly avoided sinking into one of the gaping holes in Songpa-gu, a house stood out. Its walls, recently painted in calming colors, drew the eye. Therge windows revealed a spacious living room filled with neatly arranged moving boxes, patiently waiting to be unpacked.
This was the home of two sisters who had just relocated from Seoul Forest.
The sisters rested side by side in the expansive living room of their new, affordable house¡ªa price secured by the home¡¯s unsettling proximity to the sinkhole. The elder sister, her skin inked with tattoos, sat upright on a slightly worn but soft sofa. Her gaze was nkly fixed on the TV screen, the flickering light casting soft shadows around the room.
The woman couldn¡¯t help but be amazed every time she saw this so-called TV. The idea that something like this could exist without alchemy or a magic book was beyond herprehension.
But enjoyment? That was another matter entirely. The TV shed with endless news, scenes shifting rapidly, apanied by the urgent voices of reporters. Yet, it was unclear if she derived any pleasure from this onught of information.
She watched more out of obligation than interest. Her younger sister had dragged her out of her room, insisting she watch the news with her.
But instead of focusing on the shing screen, the younger sistery on the sofa, her head resting lightly on her older sister¡¯sp, her body stretched outzily.
¡°You were so eager to watch TV when we were in Seoul Forest. Why aren¡¯t you paying attention now?¡±
The elder sister¡¯s voice was light, tinged with mild curiosity as she observed the one who had coaxed her into watching the news, only to ignore it herself.
¡°I¡¯m just resting.¡±The younger sister giggled, seemingly pleased with herself, her eyes twinkling as she looked up at her elder sister¡¯s face.
Feeling slightly burdened by that gaze, the elder sister gently covered her younger sister¡¯s eyes with her palm.
[ It has been confirmed that the Director of the 3rd Division of the Trinity Research Institute has been found dead! ]
¡°!¡±
The sudden news was beyond belief.
That man is dead?
¡°The Director of the 3rd Division of the Trinity Research Institute is dead? Who killed him? No Object could kill him!¡±
¡°You didn¡¯t know? It¡¯s been on the news a lot. They say the Gray Reaper killed him.¡±
The Gray Reaper?
There¡¯s no way an Object could ovee the ck liquid¡
The woman quickly arrived at two possible conclusions. Either this Gray Reaper was something truly extraordinary, or the news was a lie. But knowing that arrogant man, he wouldn¡¯t have faked his own death. He must truly be gone.
She had never imagined that the man, the primary architect of the world¡¯s downfall, would meet such a meaningless end. Even now, when she closed her eyes, the acrid stench of the ck liquid that had tainted the world seemed to fill her nostrils¡
¡°Are you okay, Unnie?¡±
The younger sister¡¯s voice broke through, tinged with concern as she noticed her sister¡¯s vacant expression.
*********Crossing the crack in the barrier, I was met with a sight so bizarre that it made me forget all about my revenge on Yerin for a moment. Hmm, how should I describe it? It was like all the worlds were dancing just for me!
Wherever I looked, the chaos swirled and shifted, almost as if the creator was tweaking things just for little ol¡¯ me. Everything was so foggy and undefined at first, but as soon as my gaze touched it, it became all clear and solid.
The misty fog retreated, pushed away to the edges of my vision, and the world, once a mess of chaos, started to piece itself together. But¡ªoh dear¡ªit didn¡¯t look quite right.
The earth and sky seemed like they¡¯d been mixed together in a blender and then stitched up in a hurry. Stable? Not at all! It was a patchwork world teetering on the edge of falling apart.
After gawking at the strangendscape for a while, I finally decided to move. My eyes caught sight of a tree, faint and distant, and I started toward it, one tiny step at a time.
¡°!¡±
But then, something awful happened. One of my feet got swept up by a swirling patch of space, and¡ªwhoosh¡ªit was gone! Not even a little piece left behind. I yelped in surprise; it¡¯s been so long since I felt pain like that! I quickly hopped back, trembling a bit.
Sure, I had enough firewood to heal in a blink, but it still hurt! A lot!
Wow, that spatial severing thing was no joke. How did it cut right through the physical immunity that always protected me?
Nope, no more of that, thank you! I wasn¡¯t about to wander into another twisted space after that. I decided to check the tree and the blue moon¡¯s killing conditions instead. Safety first!
The tree¡¯s condition was simple enough: < put="" your="" hand="" on="" the="" surface="" and="" say,="" ¡®you¡¯ve="" worked="" hard.="" you="" can="" rest="" now.¡¯=""> Easy peasy, right?
The blue moon, though, had a slightly nastier one: < destruction="" of="" the="" tree.=""> But hey, at least the instructions were clear, and I could handle that!
It wasn¡¯t asplicated as I¡¯d feared, but I did wish I didn¡¯t have to get so close to do it!
The blue moon¡¯s realm made it super hard to summon the Garden of the Mini Reaper, which would have been helpful. But nope, no shortcuts for me.
I gritted my teeth and tried to hold the space together with all my might. Then, with a deep breath, I took a step forward. The space didn¡¯t vanish like before, but¡ªoh no!¡ªmes burst from my body like blood.
Step one, and my right hand got sliced clean off.
Step two, my left ankle twisted up and vanished as if it got ground up in a blender.
If I could¡¯ve screamed, I would¡¯ve, but I was too busy trying not to cry.
The wounds healed instantly, but the pain? The pain lingered like a ghost, tormenting me.
My space maniption skills were, well, a bitcking. So every time I moved, something went wrong, and another part of me got chopped off.
One more step, and a twisted bit of space stabbed one of my eyes.
Another step, and the soles of my feet got sliced up like I¡¯d walked on knives.
Why was I doing this again?
Oh, right! Because I had to.
If I gotzy about saving humans, I¡¯d end up losing all my precious firewood to some Object-rted mishap.
And I was not going to let that happen. Almost starving to death once was more than enough for me. Everyst bit of firewood on Earth was mine!
Thinking of Yerin, I gritted my teeth and took another shaky step.
But the tree was still so far away, and my steps were slowing down, each one harder than thest. And to make things worse, my firewood was running out, fast.
*********The deputy mayor finally escaped the torturous limbo between reality and dreams. Something powerful had entered this space, pulling him back to rity.
In the world where chaos had receded, what he saw chilled him to the core¡ªthe Gray Reaper, an uncontroble force, stood before him.
From the deputy mayor¡¯s perspective, it was maddening.
Hah, James. You¡¯ve lost your mind. You can¡¯t even control an Object in such an emergency?
Yet, buried within his frustration was a glimmer of hope. The Gray Reaper, a being that had wiped out countless Objects, might somehow manage to turn this around.
But that hope was crushed the moment the Gray Reaper took its first step and was brutally injured.
The Gray Reaper he had studied was an Object known for its fierce individualism. It might save people on a whim, but never at the cost of its own safety.
What followed, however, stunned the deputy mayor.
Despite its skin tearing and limbs being blown away, the Gray Reaper pressed on, gritting its teeth against the agony.
Could it really be risking everything to save James City?
The deputy mayor, who had dedicated his life to understanding Objects, had never witnessed such selflessness from one of them. Each painful step the Gray Reaper took stirred something deep within him.
He had seen too much, and endured too many tragedies caused by Objects. To him, their nature was evil¡ªmonsters that deceived, destroyed, and dragged humanity into the abyss.
But as he watched the Gray Reaper struggle forward, that conviction began to waver.
Was it possible that this creature was more than a monster? Could it be¡ altruistic, like an angel?
The thought took root in his mind, only growing stronger with every wound the Gray Reaper suffered.
When its ankle was severed, sending it crashing to the ground, his heart broke.
And when a gaping hole opened in its body, golden mes pouring out, the deputy mayor¡¯s sorrow became overwhelming. Tears streamed down his face, unbidden.
Before he knew it, the deputy mayor found himself cheering for the Gray Reaper, hoping¡ªagainst all logic¡ªthat it might prevail.
*********After trudging through that bloody, painful path of penance, I finally stood before the tree. The space around me, which had torn me apart so many times, had calmed down, and in its ce was this sweet, fruity scent.
It was so unique, but at the same time, it felt like something I had smelled before¡ªlike a forgotten memory.
Finally, it was over.
I ced my hand on the tree, and it trembled like a little puppy under my touch.
[ You¡¯ve worked hard. You can rest now. ]
I poured all my will into those words.
And then, I saw something I¡¯d never seen before.
There was this vast, dark night sky above me, and the air was filled with that sweet, fruity scent again. But it didn¡¯tst long¡ªsoon, the smell of petroleum from the ck liquid in the distance started to overwhelm it.
In the middle of this orchard under the blue moon, there was a mysterious girl with blue hair. And nearby was a fruit tree, taller andrger than the others, reaching up as if it could touch the stars.
The girl gently ced her hand on the tree and spoke in a soft, mncholic voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Please try a little harder.¡±
Then she turned around and met my eyes. She looked surprised at first but then smiled like she understood something. That smile was so gentle, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
But then, everything began to fall apart. The sky, the earth, the floating fragments of space¡ªthey all shattered like broken ss. The whole world was filled with these tiny pieces of light, swirling around like snowkes in a blizzard. It was so bright, so white, it felt like everything else had just¡ faded away.
And then, as the light slowly dimmed, the familiar outlines and colors starteding back. The world around me came into focus again.
The twistedndscape was gone, reced by a familiar night sky, but something was different. There was the usualrge moon, but also a red moon, a blue moon, and a deep blue moon, all shining down together, casting a soft, strange light over everything.
Under this moonlight, the ground was littered with debris¡ªlike someone had carelessly cut and pasted pieces of different worlds together with a sharp de.
There were fragments of buildings I¡¯d never seen before, and strange, unknown items scattered among them, all sharply cut and tattered.
And around thisnd of debris, James City¡¯s barrier formed a round horizon, holding everything within.
Chapter 139: James City: Epilogue (1)
The moment the Gray Reaper touched the tree, the sky filled with light¡ªa brilliant, overwhelming radiance that marked the Reaper¡¯s victory over the Object that had slowly devoured America.
As shattered time and space began to realign, I knew I would soon be torn apart, scattered to the winds. Yet, a deep sense of relief washed over me. At least I could close my eyes knowing that the crisis in James City had been averted.
The deputy mayor, his movements stiff and broken, managed to lift his head and gaze skyward. His failing eyes, dim and blurry, could still make out the celestial bodies above.
The moonlight, pure and beautiful, bathed the deputy mayor¡¯s shattered form. Though his bodyy in ruins, his heart swelled with a quiet pride.
It may have only been six hours, but in that brief span, I had protected James City.
With that thought, the deputy mayor released thest vestiges of will holding his form and mind together. His hands, once gripping the control panel with determination, loosened as he surrendered to his fate.
The mayor¡¯s body grew colder, but the smile on his face remained.
As the endless cycle of time finally released its grip on him, a flood of emotions surged within. He had fulfilled his duty, safeguarded the city he loved, and now, he could leave James City behind¡ªfree from the terror of fractured time.
In the periphery of his fading vision, a golden light flickered. The mayor gazed at it, thinking it resembled the me of an angel,e to guide him home.
*********My surroundings were a total mess, like someone had taken a giant paintbrush and sshed different styles and materials all over the ce.Buildings that didn¡¯t belong together were mixed up like a jumble of mismatched puzzle pieces. A shiny pir, looking like it was straight out of an ancient marble temple, was lying broken on the ground. Poor thing¡
Right next to it was a piece of fresco, all sliced up into sharp squares. It was supposed to show some religious scene, but now it just looked like a weird, artsy jigsaw puzzle. And then, there was this antique iron furniture, totally over-the-top, like something no one would use these days. Even the once-luxurious chair, the kind only snooty nobles would sit in, was cut in half and tossed aside like yesterday¡¯s news.
Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for the huge barrier looming in the distance, I might¡¯ve thought this ce was some bombed-out museum instead of James City.
Oh, by the way, who was that blue-haired girl over there?
She seemed familiar, but at the same time, not. It¡¯s really odd how she felt so familiar even though I couldn¡¯t quite ce her. Super weird, right?
Anyway, there were a lot of strange things going on, but one thing I really, really liked was the new ability I just got. Oh, it¡¯s so fun! I could manipte time now, just like I could mess around with space before. Isn¡¯t that neat?
It¡¯s like, I can¡¯t do everything the original ability could, like mix time and space together or cut and paste them all over the ce, but I can speed up or slow down my own time. And that¡¯s still super satisfying!
With this, I could totally outrun the Golden Reaper and y all sorts of pranks on them.
Hihihi¡
Plop-! Plop-! Plop-! Plop-!
Even when I wasn¡¯t using my phantom form and just walked normally, I was still so fast that afterimages kept popping up behind me! It was like I was in one of those old cartoons where the character zips around, leaving a blur. So fun!
I wandered around the ruins for a bit, just enjoying the speed. But then, I suddenly sensed someone in the air. What? A person here, in this dangerous, messed-up space where there shouldn¡¯t be anyone?
Now that I think about it, when I was off killing that nasty tree, my firewood kept rising little by little. I guess it was because of this person.
They must¡¯ve been stuck in a gap between time and space, and now they were graduallying back to the real world because the tree was destroyed and the blue moon showed up.
When I peeked at the gap in space, I saw the person¡¯s body was already shattered into pieces. Yikes, they were practically dead. If I left them like this, they¡¯d be 100 percent gone.
But you know what? I felt like I could save them! Maybe it was because of my ability to mess with space or the new time-manipting thing, but I just knew I could fix this.
Originally, I wanted to wait for Yerin toe before gathering the scattered fragments from the gap. But hey, why not do it now? Consider it a little thank-you for keeping my firewood stocked up when I was dealing with that tree.
To my surprise, the work was easier than I thought. If the pieces had been shattered in 3D, I probably would¡¯ve just thrown in the towel.
But since it looked like someone had broken a ss te, all ttened and neat, it wasn¡¯t too hard. It was like solving a puzzle! And you know what? I found it super fun! It was like putting together a big, shiny puzzle.
Turns out, I really like puzzles! Who knew?
When I get back to Sehee Research Institute, I¡¯m definitely going to ask them to get me a proper puzzle. Not just any puzzle, though. It¡¯s gotta be one with cool scenery! The one I have now is superme, with a muscr ck man as the reward picture. Ugh, so not my style.
Before long, I heard people¡¯s footsteps getting closer. I guess they¡¯d already noticed the trees inside the barrier had disappeared.
Did they check it with a satellite or something? Wow, they moved faster than I expected.
As more and more people in heavy protective suits started showing up, I finally finished the puzzle.
And then, just like that, a man in a stylish suit fell from the air, right into myp.
When the puzzle was done, and I checked out his face, I realized it was the deputy mayor¡ªthe same guy who¡¯d been ring at me yesterday. Oh boy!
As soon as he came to, he looked at me, raised his hands toward the sky, and shouted¡
"God exists!"
Then, with tears streaming down his face, he added with an even more dramatic expression¡
"And that God had gray skin!"
The expressions on the faces of the employees from James Research Institute who heard him were priceless¡ªthey looked like they¡¯d just eaten something super sour. They quickly moved in, shocked the poor guy with electricity, and carried him off, unconscious.
Poor deputy mayor. Even though he was important, it¡¯s such a shame he lost his mind after being tossed around by space and time like that¡
*********In the small one-room apartment of a security guard¡ªwho had been injured by a ss mingo¡ªa soft light filtered through the cozy window, gently illuminating the room. The fine mist from the quietly humming humidifier caught the light, making it look like a delicate fog.
Although the space was small, it was impably clean and neatly organized. Not a speck of dust could be found anywhere, not even on the bookshelf that upied an entire wall, or under the bed, or beneath therge furniture that was hard to move.
On the small but sturdy table next to the bed, an apple had been neatly sliced into bite-sized pieces.
Lying in that tidy room were the security guard and the Blue Reaper.
The Blue Reaper, with its small, ethereal form, was gently moving a cold towel across the sleeping guard¡¯s forehead.
¡°Hmmmff.¡±
When morning came, the guard stirred awake, immediately locking eyes with the Blue Reaper, who was still holding the damp towel.
< !="">
With a surprised expression on its face, The Blue Reaper disappeared. The wet towel it carried a moment ago also fell to the bed with a soft thud.
The guard quickly picked up the fallen towel, setting it on the table, before ncing around the room. As always, everything was perfectly in order.
Since the ss mingo incident, the Blue Reaper had been visiting the room every time the guard fell asleep. It would quietly clean the room and then sit beside the bed, watching over him.
It wasn¡¯t exactly what the guard had hoped for. He had imagined the two of them sharing pudding and ying together, just like he often did with the Golden Reapers.
But now, the Blue Reaper had be even more elusive. It was getting harder to spot it while he was awake.
The guard felt a bit wronged seeing the Blue Reaper flee faster than before.
Didn¡¯t we get closer? Why did it run away¡? Did I do something wrong¡?
The Blue Reaper was nowhere to be found in the room now, only a faint, refreshing scent lingering¡ªa trace of its presence.
*********The containment room was unusually quiet, probably because the Gray Reaper and the always-noisy Yerin were nowhere to be found.
After waking up from a dream that felt like it happened ages ago, I decided to head to the containment room to check on the facilities¡ªand, let¡¯s be honest, to take a break.
It wasn¡¯t a super old memory, but it had that weird, nostalgic feel, like something from a long time ago. It was a shback to when I first met the Gray Reaper, back when I was stuck in that creepy cave in Seoul Forest.
But, of course, dreams love to mess with reality.
In this one, I made it back to the Research Institute without the Gray Reaper. Yeah, I was so high on the joy of escaping that I totally forgot to bring Reaper, whose light was starting to fade.
Naturally, the dream turned into a nightmare where I struggled to run the Research Institute without the Gray Reaper.
And just when I thought it couldn¡¯t get worse, there he was¡ªReaper¡ªstaring at me with those big, sad eyes, his whole body falling apart.
What if something actually happened to Reaper?
I mean, it¡¯s hard to picture the Gray Reaper getting hurt, let alone being in danger. But still, that dream left me with a gnawing worry, like a tiny, annoying voice in my head saying, ¡°What if?¡±
And then, just when I thought I was being paranoid, the news hit like a ton of bricks.
[ Breaking news! An urgent report just came in. ]
[ Reports indicate that ¡®James City,¡¯ a hub for Object research, has been destroyed. ]
[ Domestic research institutes partnered with ¡®James¡¯ Pudding,¡¯ active in Korea, may also be impacted. ]
A helicopter shot of the destruction shed on the TV screen, and there, standing on top of a building split clean in half, was the Gray Reaper, gazing down at the ruins.
Reaper¡ What on earth are you doing there?
*********The sleeping room of Sehee Research Institute, typically empty due to the light workload and the invitingfort of the break room, now held an unusual gathering.
The cause of this rare assembly was a peculiar Object sprouting from the edge of a flower pot.
Within the pot, fresh and vibrant dicotyledons fluttered gently. The nt was moist and lively, its striking blue hue adding to the oddity.
But the color wasn¡¯t what drew their attention. It was the face beneath the sprout¡ªa tiny reaper, an exact miniature of the Gray Reaper, sleeping soundly. Only its head protruded from the soil, while the rest of its bodyy buried beneath the earth.
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Chapter 140: James City: Epilogue (2)
As soon as the evacuation notice was lifted, we spun the cart around and headed straight back to James City.
¡°Is Reaper okay?¡±
I asked the Golden Reaper, who was chilling on my palm, but it just gave me a bright smile and patted my cheek, like it had no idea what I was talking about. Typical Reaper.
When we got back to the road we came from, everything was a total mess¡ªcopsed buildings, roads all torn up.
James City was practically in ruins.
¡°This is gonna take forever to rebuild,¡± James sighed as he drove, eyeing the wreckage. He added something about how much it was going to cost to fix everything, but I kinda zoned out after that.
At first nce, all the broken roads and shattered buildings didn¡¯t look like your everyday structures. Some parts were a different color, and there were tons of metal cubes buried under the asphalt. Weird, right?
They must¡¯ve been some sort of protective facilities against Objects.
We drove past the half-destroyed city and reached the entrance to the barrier, where a bunch of people in hazmat suits were blocking the road with that ¡°do not enter¡± tape.
In the middle of the taped-off area, there were the remains of this super-tall building that had been sliced right in half. And guess what? Reaper was up there, just gazing at the sky like it was some sort of deep thinker or something.¡°Reaper!¡±
I yelled, totally excited, and Reaper nced down at me before suddenly popping up right next to me.
I scooped Reaper up and hugged it tight, soaking up all the softness and that familiar scent.
As I squeezed its squishy cheeks, I gushed, ¡°Reaper, I missed you!¡±
But then Reaper gave me this weird look, like, ¡°Seriously? It¡¯s only been a few minutes!¡±
*********While the Gray Reaper and Yerin were busy with their little reunion, James was eyeing the barrier that had just done its job.
Sure, it was still standing, but now it looked like a piece of ss that had taken one too many hits. Honestly, it was like the thing was channeling the deputy mayor¡¯s stubbornness.
Right then, a staff member strolled up to James with some news.
< the="" deputy="" mayor="" has="" been="" confirmed="" to="" be="" alive,="" but="" they="" suspect="" that="" he="" is="" suffering="" from="" some="" kind="" of="" mind="" corruption.=""> ??£Î?¦¢§§S
Following the staff member¡¯s lead, James found himself in a temporary containment facility, the kind usually reserved for Objects. Cozy, right?
Considering the whole ¡°mind corruption¡± suspicion, the deputy mayor seemed oddly normal. He was just sitting there, eyes closed, looking all zen. James hit the internalmunication button.
¡°So, you¡¯re still kicking.¡±
¡°Yeah, I survived by some miracle.¡±
The deputy mayor opened his eyes, his voice calm as ever, like nothing was out of the ordinary. But those eyes? They had a touch of madness that didn¡¯t quite fit with the rational guy James was used to dealing with.
Maybe that¡¯s why the staff was so convinced his mind was corrupted.
James exchanged a few words with the deputy mayor before heading out. When he got back to the Gray Reaper, it was busy ying with its hair, which Yerin was trying to nibble on. Cute, but not exactly time for games.
Trying to ignore the Gray Reaper¡¯s antennae¡ªthose things could probably hypnotize you if you stared too long¡ªJames spoke up.
¡°We¡¯ll have to push back the city tour. I know you were excited, but it looks like we¡¯re stuck with at least a six-month dy.¡±
¡°Ah¡ Then, can we just head back to Korea?¡±
Seeing her slightly regretful expression, James added.
¡°If you¡¯re that bummed about it, you could check out the research institutes in the Rocky Mountains. That area¡¯s packed withbs, just like James City, but minus the civilians. Might be easier to get clearance for the Gray Reaper there.¡±
Yerin hugged the Gray Reaper, looking a bit conflicted.
¡°No rush to decide. Take a breather, think it over.¡±
After chatting with Yerin a bit more, he guided her onto the cart.
¡°It¡¯s alreadyte, so get some rest at the hotel. We¡¯ll catch upter.¡±
But James didn¡¯t hop on the cart. Instead, he waved over the staff and ordered them to take her to a nearby hotel.
¡°You¡¯re noting, James?¡±
¡°Of course not. The city¡¯s a wreck; the mayor can¡¯t just kick back and rx.¡±
James watched the cart roll away toward the hotel, then turned and headed back toward the barrier.
*********I found myself in Sehee Research Institute¡¯sundry room¡ªof all ces¡ªas the director, because, surprise, surprise, one of the washing machines was out of order. Now, normally, this wouldn¡¯t be my problem, but since it was a Reaper-rted issue, guess who got called in? Yep, me.
When I arrived in this oh-so-exciting part of the institute I hardly ever visit, I peeked inside the washing machine and¡ªwell, there it was. The source of the problem. A Golden Reaper, smiling like it didn¡¯t have a care in the world.
There it was, just chilling inside the washing machine, looking out through the transparent window with this happy, carefree grin.
Thud-! Thud-!
The Golden Reaper knocked on the window, smiling brightly, like it was trying to say, Hey, how about turning this thing on?
Hmm¡
I have to admit, when I first saw the CCTV footage of the Golden Reaper putting itself in the washing machine and actually turning it on, I was pretty surprised. Was it just goofing around? Not harassing anyone, just¡ ying?
But even though it seemed harmless, I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to hit that start button.
So, I opened the washing machine door, reached in, and tried to pull the Golden Reaper out. But nope! It clung to the machine like its life depended on it.
Its little arms were trembling, holding on for dear life, and I couldn¡¯t help but think, Okay, maybe I shouldn¡¯t force it.
I decided to give up on getting it out and turned to my secret weapon: the Gray Reaper pudding I had stashed in my pocket¡ªsomething no Sehee Lab employee should be without!
I pulled out the pudding and waved it in front of the Golden Reaper¡¯s eyes. It was like waving a toy in front of a cat; its eyes locked onto the pudding immediately.
I peeled off the lid, and the pudding jiggled, revealing its soft, wobbly goodness.
The Golden Reaper, who had been all cozy inside the washing machine, was now perched on myp, both hands outstretched, mouth open like a little baby bird begging for food.
That innocent, bright expression, without a single worry in the world¡ I have to admit, it made me a bit jealous. So, of course, I had to y a little prank. I mean, it¡¯s only fair, right?
Now that I think about it, the Reaper often pulls cute pranks on the Golden Reaper. Maybe that¡¯s why it¡¯s always up to some mischief.
But, okay, maybe stuffing it in the washing machine and turning it on was a bit much. I figured I¡¯d y a little nicer with the pudding.
I scooped up a spoonful and held it just out of reach. The Golden Reaper opened its mouth wide and leaned in, but I pulled the spoon back, just out of reach. It ended up copsing dramatically on the floor.
As expected, the Golden Reaper is just too cute!
Finally, I offered the pudding spoon to the Golden Reaper, who was now giving me this suspicious, almost using look. It approached cautiously, and just as it was about to take a bite, I pulled the spoon away again.
The Golden Reaper looked up at me with those big, sad eyes, like it was asking, Are you really not going to give it to me?
I could practically hear it saying, Fine, if you¡¯re not going to give it to me, then don¡¯t!
Its tearful expression tugged at my heartstrings, and I could tell it was about to give up on the pudding altogether, just to make me feel better.
Even though it couldn¡¯t speak, I swear I could read its thoughts from its face alone.
¡°I¡¯m sorry for teasing you!¡±
I finally blurted out, feeling guilty. I couldn¡¯t stand to see it so sad, so I quietly fed it the pudding.
Om nom nom-!
The Golden Reaper slowly ate the pudding, its face lighting up with happiness, like the whole sad episode had never happened.
Honestly, I think I like seeing it happy more than teasing it.
*********The luxury hotel in the heart of a satellite city near James City was, well, super fancy! I mean, it had a great location and everything. But guess what? James rented out the entire hotel just for us! How cool is that?
Poor Yerin must¡¯ve beenpletely wiped out because the moment she hit that big, soft, king-sized bed, she was out like a light. And it wasn¡¯t just her; there were a bunch of Golden Reapers all snuggled up and snoozing on top of her. It was like a fluffy, golden pile of adorable sleepiness.
I couldn¡¯t help but smile as I watched Yerin, all cozy and happy with her little Golden Reapers cuddled up around her. She looked so peaceful. But then, I turned away and nced out the window at the dark, quiet night.
Down below, I could see the staff from James Research Institute busy securing the area around the empty hotel. They were probably making sure everything was safe and sound.
But, oh! It was definitely time for me to head off to the Garden of the Mini Reaper. I¡¯d been waiting for this!
Before I left, I made sure to ce a whole bunch of Golden Reapers next to Yerin¡ªjust in case I wanted toe back to the USter. You know, gotta be prepared!
And with that, it was time for me to go have some fun with my shiny new ability.
Hihihi.
*******There was only one structure within the Garden of the Mini Reaper: a solitary house that resembled a witch¡¯s candy cottage, where the Blue Reapers dwelled.
This imposing edifice was constructed from sweets, woven together through the magic of the Blue Reapers, floating precariously between the air and a vast sea of hot chocte.
Within this candy house, anchored above the molten chocte sea, a gathering of Blue Reapers was underway.
Whisper¡ª! Whisper¡ª!
The Blue Reapers huddled close, exchanging hushed whispers and sharing their emotions and intentions.
The central focus of their assembly was humans. Specifically, the tale of a human who, despite being extraordinarily weak, had endeavored to save one of their own.
The story was met with congrattions and envious nces from the other Blue Reapers. For them, interacting with humans was an arduous task¡
So, despite their deep affection for their humanpanions, they could only watch from afar.
The Blue Reaper¡¯s boasts grew more extravagant with each retelling.
< i¡=""y="" beside="" him="" and="" napped="" together!="">
The exaggerations of its bravado umted, each im more grandiose than thest.
< i="" even="" cut="" an="" apple="" and="" fed="" it="" to="" him!="">
< !="">
< !="">
< !="">
The boastful Blue Reaper was now being hailed as the most courageous among them.
Yet, unbeknownst to the jubnt gathering, a dark shadow began to encroach upon their joyful refuge. It was a specter of vengeance, a lingering presence of unfulfilled rage.
The Gray Reaper, who had harbored a deep-seated grudge against the Blue Reaper that had struck it with the Marshmallow Hammer, was now closing in.
Oblivious to the impending danger, the Blue Reapers continued their idle chatter, their blissful ignorance a stark contrast to the looming threat that approached them.
Chapter 141: James City: Epilogue (3)
In the candy house perched above the chocte sea within the Garden of the Mini Reaper Garden¡
Crack-! Crack-!
The air was split by the sound of something crumbling.
< r-reveal="" y-your="" identity!="">
Startled by the noise, the Blue Reapers swiftly cast their search magic. Their efforts, however, only deepened their despair.
A ¡®Gray Reaper Shark,¡¯ with nothing but its antennae visible above the bubbling sea of hot chocte, was ravenously attacking the candy house.
The Gray Reaper¡¯s eyes, burning with a vengeful fire, glinted with unrelenting determination.
Ssh-! Ssh-!
In an instant, a gaping hole appeared in the floor of the candy house, through which piercing yellow eyes emerged from the dark, hot chocte sea, locking onto their target.
The gaze soon fixed on a Blue Reaper who had swung its marshmallow hammer.As if to announce, Found you!
< m¡="" mom.="">
A gray hand surged out from the sea of hot chocte, reaching toward the Blue Reaper who was sobbing in terror.
The slowly advancing hand sent shivers through the Blue Reapers, who trembled in unison.
The hand seemed to relish their fear as it seized the Blue Reaper it had singled out.
The Blue Reaper, engulfed in dread, pulled its hat down into the hand, trying to shield itself from the horror that was about to unfold.
At that moment, the Blue Reaper heard its Creator¡¯s chilling message.
Should I put you in the washing machine like the Golden Reapers?
The Blue Reaper¡¯s tears flowed freely at the thought. The prospect of being subjected to such a fate promised not only severe pain but possibly death, slow and agonizing. ?
The Gray Reaper chuckled at the sight of the Blue Reaper¡¯s escting fear and conveyed its will once more.
If I put you in the washing machine, you¡¯d be seriously injured, and that wouldn¡¯t be fair, right?
Hearing this, the Blue Reaper felt a glimmer of relief and thought, Mom is so kind.
Hmm, then¡ Yes! Yes! I will confiscate your hat for an hour!
Seeing the Blue Reaper¡¯s brief moment of relief, the Gray Reaper grinned wickedly, snatched the hat, and fled to America.
The Blue Reaper, feeling the absence of itsforting hat, reached up with a trembling hand. The hat, its source of sce, was gone!
Stripped of its beloved hat and unable to move properly, the Blue Reaper sank into despair over the hour-long confiscation.
As the other Blue Reapers gathered around the hatless one, their faces etched with concern, they did little to alleviate its profound emptiness and anxiety.
< m-mom...="" whaaa!!!="">
The Blue Reaper couldn¡¯t help but shed tears as it desperately searched for its mother.
*********While decked out in his exclusive, high-end protective suit, James strutted through the barrier like he owned the ce.
Naturally, the first order of business was to tidy up the mess of relics strewn about.
What a haul of artifacts¡ Quite a few of them look eerily simr to Relic Number 0.
He thought this as he hefted a thick book, its edges expertly sliced.
It was almost a twin of the Relic Number 0 James already had in his collection.
The book he was examining seemed remarkably well-preserved, unlike James¡¯s own battered copy. The metal trimmings and intricate patterns on this one were still pristine, untouched by the relentless march of time.
[ James. There¡¯s a simr pattern here too. You shoulde take a look. ]
The radio crackled inside his suit, prompting him to move to the new location. There, he spotted a massive boulder, about the size of an adult¡¯s torso, adorned with a pattern that matched the book¡¯s blue girl design.
James instructed his secretary to preserve the boulders that appeared to be relics with the utmost care and added a little extra.
[ We¡¯re going to need to bring in some archaeologists. Someone has to handle the skeleton and ssify it properly. If we try to do it ourselves, it¡¯ll be nothing more than a rough guess. ]
[I see. I¡¯ll post an archaeologist recruitment notice right away. Should it be for about 6 months after James City is rebuilt?]
[ No, we need them now. With everything falling apart, we can¡¯t afford dys. We still have some usable buildings left, so it should be enough. ]
At James¡¯s directive, the secretary nodded and stepped back, leaving the field open for someone else.
Given the chaos following James City¡¯s copse, work was constantlynding on his te.
James, who had clearly been pushing his limits, closed his eyes briefly and asked¡
[ What¡¯s the issue this time? It¡¯s not about the budget, is it? ]
[ It¡¯s a call from the ¡®Mini Moon Observation n¡¯. They¡¯ve reported an unexpected change. ]
An unexpected change.
Aside from the dark blue moon, what else could have changed?
James nced up at the sky, taking in the array of celestial bodies: arge, pale moon, a red moon, a blue moon, and the dark blue moon.
Ah, so something definitely had changed.
[ Tell them to keep observing. I¡¯ll dig into Relic Number 0 to see if there¡¯s any mention of simr phenomena. ]
As he watched the person leave, James sighed and looked skyward.
In James¡¯ eyes, the oncerge, pale moon now had a decidedly ¡®gray¡¯ hue.
*********After wrapping up the paperwork for the ss mingo¡¯s destruction and the intake of new Objects, I made my way out of the deputy director¡¯s office.
My next stop? The containment room for the ¡®Navy Blue Bud Reaper¡¯ .
The ¡®Navy Blue Bud Reaper¡¯ had been moved to the sleeping room way toote. Can you believe it? Researchers at the Object Research Institute failed to report the appearance of an Object that was showing abnormal behavior!
If I hadn¡¯t stumbled into that chaotic scene in the sleeping room, the Bud Reaper might still be snoozing there.
Some folks who knew about the Bud Reaper tried to downy it, saying it was just a cute sprout that was sleeping. Yeah, right.
The other Objects that popped up thanks to the Gray Reaper were all a handful to contain, so they had their hands full. Bute on, the Bud Reaper seemed like a breeze to handle. Shouldn¡¯t it have been contained properly?
I shook my head in disbelief and gave a star candy to the Golden Reaper.
Crunch-!
The Golden Reaper chomped down on the candy with a crunch that sounded like pure satisfaction.
When I finally reached the containment room, the scene was a far cry from what I expected.
The flowerpot was surrounded by dirt, and the Bud Reaper was sprawled out on the table. It looked like a crumbling mess, with its sprout drooping like it was having a really bad hair day.
Surprised, I quickly scooped up the Bud Reaper and gently nted it back in the flowerpot.
There, all better now, right?
The Golden Reaper fluttered down from my shoulder and peered at the Bud Reaper in its flowerpot with a curious gaze. Maybe because the Bud Reaper looked so pitiful, the Golden Reaper nudged the star candy towards its mouth.
Lick-! Lick-!
The Bud Reaper¡¯s tiny tongue flicked out and began to taste the star candy, little by little.
I snapped a photo with my phone. Just for data purposes, of course.
The title was¡ª
< status="" report="" of="" the="" bud="" reaper.="">
I couldn¡¯t help but smile faintly at the adorable picture of the Bud Reaper with its little tongue out, looking as cute as ever.
*********< mom!="" i="" looooove="" you!!="">
After I returned the hat, the Blue Reaper perked up like a flower in spring.
I had actually nned to ¡°identally¡± extend the hat¡¯s confiscation by a whole extra day. But, oh dear, the Blue Reaper¡¯s desperate little cries melted my heart. I ended up giving it back before the hour was even up.
It turns out, it¡¯s a bit tough to prank someone when they¡¯re already feeling weak.
But hey, fairness is important.
I nced down at the Blue Reaper, all cozy and beaming up at me from the palm of my hand. Then my eyes wandered to the state of the hotel room¡ªugh, it was almost as messy as my containment room!
Yerin had kicked off her nket and was snuggled up with the Golden Reapers. Some of the Golden Reapers were sprawled across the floor, fast asleep, while the mini Hungry Ghost sat on the table, gazing up at me with its big, curious eyes.
I pressed the mini Hungry Ghost¡¯s belly, and it let out a cheerful ¡®Gyuuu¡¯ sound.
As I peered out the window, which was brightening with the morning light, a mischievous idea popped into my head.
Since myst prank didn¡¯t quite hit the mark, why not try another?
I looked back at the white Hungry Ghost and let out a giggle.
Then I turned to the Blue Reaper, still looking all cheerful and content.
Hey, could you make this ce look like a party¡¯s about to start?
*********When I woke up, I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes. The hotel room had been transformed into a watery wondend, with decorations and trees all made of shimmering water.
It was like a party thrown by mermaids or something!
In the middle of this watery extravaganza, the Reaper was perched on the table, clutching a fork and knife in each hand.
The table was set with an array of utensils, and a big bowl sat in front of both the Reaper and me. The bowl¡¯s lid asionally rattled, making me wonder what surprise awaited underneath.
I couldn¡¯t help but think, Please don¡¯t let it be a Golden Reaper. Please!
The Reaper had a reputation for yful pranks, so I braced myself and lifted the lid. To my surprise, there was the White Hungry Ghost inside, looking at me with the saddest little eyes.
It did have a knack for ying pranks on the White Hungry Ghost and the Cute Puppy. Was this some sort of twisted joke?
Despite the Reaper¡¯s nk expression, it looked oddly pleased with itself.
¡°Gyuuuuu¡¡±
The Hungry Ghost whimpered as the Reaper¡¯s fork and knife hovered menacingly. It was a mix of pitiful and, well, kind of hrious.
Chapter 142: The Burning Drug (1)
The delightful breakfast of raw Hungry Ghost steak was over.
Yerin, probably feeling a little guilty about indulging in sweet marshmallows for breakfast, had ordered room service. She nibbled on them while cradling the mini Hungry Ghost in her arms, her eyes glued to the TV.
Well, I guess a marshmallow as big as an adult¡¯s head might be a bit much for breakfast.
I slowly crawled over and rested my head on Yerin¡¯sp. From my vantage point, I could see the tiny feet of the Mini Hungry Ghost dangling just above me.
My mouth watered as I leaned in, ready to sneak a bite, but Yerin was quicker. She whisked the white Hungry Ghost away, just out of reach.
¡°This is mine. I¡¯m not sharing.¡±
You¡¯re just going to y with it anyway, Yerin!
Pouting, I summoned a new mini Hungry Ghost and popped it into my mouth, turning my gaze toward the TV. The news anchor on the screen was frowning, speaking in a heavy tone about some recent disaster: a new drug that was spreading like wildfire.
Even though the drug was extremely addictive, it waspletely undetectable and dirt cheap, causing all sorts of trouble.
Hmm, it must be a drug made from Objects. Munching on my marshmallowy Hungry Ghost, I listened as the TV droned on about how, when tested in theb, the drug was found to be mostly burned protein. It was so charred they couldn¡¯t even tell what kind of meat it was.
Because of that, the Narcotic Control Bureau concluded that this drug had something to do with Objects and requested help from the Object Association.
Then, pictures of people who had taken the drug shed on the screen.
Their skin looked like dry, cracked bark, and their bodies were as skinny as mummies. But their eyes¡ they glowed with a creepy, ominous light.
It reminded me of something¡
Oh! Now that I think about it, it kind of looked like those monster men I saw in Seoul Forest back in the day.
As I mulled it over, the TV clicked off, and Yerin¡¯s voice filled the room.
¡°Ugh, that¡¯s so creepy. I¡¯ll probably dream about it¡¡±
She hugged me tight and added, ¡°Reaper! Let¡¯s go to the swimming pool in this hotel! Since there won¡¯t be any other guests, we¡¯ll have the whole ce to ourselves. It¡¯ll be fun!¡±
With that, Yerin scooped me up and carried me out of the hotel room, off to our next adventure.
*********In one of the rtively fine conference rooms inside James City, James, the deputy mayor, and the officials monitoring the mini-moon were gathered.
¡°You look tired. Why don¡¯t you take a break, James.¡±
James, wearing his usual indifferent expression, barely nced at the deputy mayor, who was still sporting an escape-prevention cor around his neck¡ªbriefly released from quarantine but still very much under watch.
¡°It¡¯s better to suffer now. I can¡¯t keep the guests from Korea waiting,¡± James replied, as if the idea of taking a break was beneath him.
Without waiting for a response, James turned his attention back to the footage projected on the screen.
¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about the gray moon.¡±
At his cue, the ¡®Mini-Moon Observation n¡¯ staff switched the slide.
¡°These are photos of the moon we took yesterday.¡±
The slide disyed arge moon, proudly standing out among the mini-moons¡ªa moon that waspletely gray.
¡°As you know, the color of the moon is affected by both weather conditions and time. However, since yesterday, no matter when or where we observed it, the only thing we saw was that the moon always has the same color.¡±
Photos taken from various locations and time zones shed on the screen in quick session, but to everyone¡¯s surprise, the moon looked exactly the same in each one.
¡°Right now, only a few people have noticed the anomaly because of the blue moon¡¯s appearance, but soon, many more will catch on.¡±
¡°I hope it doesn¡¯t turn into something big like the Red Moon.¡±
Everyone nodded slightly at the deputy mayor¡¯s murmured concern.
When the Red Moon first appeared, it unleashed a wave of doomsday theories, chaos, and a surge in suicides. The aftermath was so severe that many envied Korea, where no major incidents urred.
Once the discussion on the Gray Moon wrapped up, the slides began to show a document of a slightly different nature¡ªa handwritten report.
The deputy mayor stood up and cleared his throat.
¡°It¡¯s my turn now.¡±
The report contained an eyewitness ount and an interpretation from a schr who majored in Objects and physics.
There was ample room for skepticism, given that the deputy mayor, the prime eyewitness, might have suffered from mind corruption and hallucinations.
After flipping through the slides and delivering a detailed presentation, the deputy mayor added a brief remark before sitting down.
¡°In conclusion, I can say that it really happened, not a hallucination. Even though space-time inside the space was distorted, it was not an illusion. I saw both the blue moon and the Gray Reaper who was destroying it.¡±
¡°Finally! I can be 99% sure that the mini-moon was a phenomenon caused by the Gray Reaper,¡± James dered, satisfied.
He¡¯d been convinced that the Gray Reaper was behind the mini-moon ever since the Red Moon incident, and this confirmation was a relief.
They then moved on to discuss the future observation schedule and whether or not to relocate the research institutes within James City.
¡°Let¡¯s end the meeting here,¡± James announced, bringing the session to a close.
After James dered the end of the meeting, everyone left the conference room with tired faces.
The room emptied quickly, the officials leaving with tired faces.
¡°This thing is ufortable,¡± the deputy mayor grumbled, fiddling with the escape-prevention cor around his neck.
¡°Ah, that cor¡¯s supposed to be ufortable. ording to the regtions, you have to wear it for a month since it¡¯s suspected that you have level two mind corruption,¡± Jamesmented casually, adding that he¡¯d also worn one for a week when suspected of level three mind corruption.
With a dismissive wave, James bid the deputy mayor farewell as he was led back to containment.
¡°Then let¡¯s meet in a month.¡±
¡°Okay,¡± the deputy mayor replied, resigned to his fate, while James, with much more on his te, went about his business.
*********Even though the atmosphere at the hotel pool was quiet, it was surprisingly charming!
Since there were no other guests, I got to enjoy sshing around in the water with the Reapers all by myself in this peaceful, quiet pool. It was like having my own little slice of paradise!
Of course, it would have been even better if the security guards from the James Research Institute weren¡¯t lurking around, looking all nervous and tense, but hey, you can¡¯t have everything, right?
The gentle sound of water hitting the edge of the pool and the sshing from the Golden Reapers jumping off the 10-meter diving board felt like the perfect background music for our little pool party.
Ssh-! Ssh-!
The Reaper I was holding under its little armpits was sshing around in the water with the most indifferent expression, its feet swinging slightly as if it was all just so¡ meh.
The rides at the hotel pool weren¡¯t as intense as the ones at the James Research Institute, but the Golden Reapers seemed to be having a st anyway!
Lately, though, I¡¯ve noticed something a little strange about the Golden Reapers. They always look¡ happy. Like, all the time.
You¡¯d think they¡¯d show a bit more excitement when they¡¯re having fun or eating something yummy, but nope, the Golden Reapers are just¡ content, I guess? It¡¯s weird, but also kinda cute!
But that doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t have their own likes and dislikes. Maybe their reactions change depending on who gives them something? Hm, that¡¯s something to think aboutter.
Just as I was pondering all this while ying in the water with the Reapers, James showed up at the hotel pool, looking super tired.
¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re resting well.¡±
¡°I think you need to rest, James. Yourplexion is really bad.¡±
But James just brushed it off, saying he was fine (typical James), before asking us to head to the hotel¡¯s central hall.
*********James showed up, looking like he could copse at any moment, and called Yerin and me over.
Poor guy, he really needed a break! But I figured this had to be about Relic Number 0, so I put on my serious face (well, as serious as I can get).
After finishing our swim, we headed to this huge hall filled with all sorts of antiques. It was like walking into a museum!
There were ancient relics, old-fashioned trinkets, and even a fountain pen that looked like it had written its fair share of secrets.
Oh, and there were these strange murals that looked like they¡¯d been ripped right off the wall of some mysterious temple.
But¡ none of them had the same energy as Relic Number 0. I could just feel it.
And just like I suspected, none of these items reacted to me. Not even a little tingle!
¡°Nothing is reacting, huh? Strange,¡± James said, sounding a bit surprised. Honestly, I was too, but then something else caught my eye.
It was this huge marble mosaic on the floor. It was so pretty! The mosaic showed a sky with seven moons, a massive spire, and animals as big as the spire.
I found myself just staring at it, trying to take it all in. Yerin seemed intrigued too, as she started looking at the mosaic from different angles.
Then James began exining, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a mosaic I brought from Korea. It was found in the house of the director of the Trinity Third Research Institute.¡±
He continued, though he sounded a bit unsure, ¡°I brought it because the style and patterns in that mosaic were simr to what we found in Relic Number 0. But after examining it, we discovered it was made with modern technology, so it¡¯s considered an imitation of Relic Number 0.¡±
For some reason, it reminded me of those bloody blobs that kept repeating¡
< mortals="" struck="" down="" the="" divine="" one.="" yet,="" in="" their="" time="" of="" need,="" they="" yearned="" for="" its="" return.="">
< though="" divine="" one="" raged="" with="" fury,="" it="" shielded="" the="" wayward="" mortals.="">
*********There was no trace left of the majestic mountain range that had once been filled with towering trees. Now, thend was choked with a ck liquid, thick and viscous like petroleum, stretching endlessly beyond the ruined peaks.
The ordinary nts and animals that had once brought life to this ce had vanished without a trace. There was no chirping of birds, no rustling of leaves, no whispering winds¡ªonly a silence that pressed down on thend like a suffocating shroud.
In this deste wastnd, a monster of mythic proportions roamed. It was a massive pig, its size rivaling that of the very mountains that had once stood here.
From its gaping maw, the beast breathed fire, scorching the ck liquid that pooled across the ground. With every thunderous strike of its hooves, the earth quaked, sending echoes of dread through the still air.
This burning pig was the ruler of the abandoned mountain range, cursed to wander in a state of unending hunger.
Its zing eyes lifted to the sky, calcting the time.
Above, three moons hung ominously¡ªthe orange, yellow, and green orbs glowing like sinister suns, casting their eerie light over this twisted world, deepening the shadows that lurked in every corner.
Chapter 143: The Burning Drug (2)
The office of the Deputy Director of Sehee Research Institute boasted a grand window with a view of the courtyard. But today, there was something off about the familiar scene.
In the middle of a sunlit spot where golden rays poured in through therge window, a flowerpot basked in the warmth.
And nestled in that flowerpot was a soft-looking blue bud, its petals drooping a bit.
¡°It still doesn¡¯t have any energy¡¡±
My voice echoed in the quiet deputy director¡¯s office.
I¡¯d hoped that with its nt-like antennae, the little sprout would perk up under the sunlight, but it remained as limp as ever, despite the sunny treatment.
Even the Golden Reaper had tried its hand at reviving the bud, watering it with a can of what was presumably water, but to no avail.
This wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d moved the poor bud to a new spot in an attempt to revitalize it.
Initially, I¡¯d thought that maybe it needed some human energy, so I ced it in the break room where people buzzed about like bees. But even amidst all the bustling activity, the sprout still looked as wilted as ever.
It appeared to be suffering from a perpetual cold.I spent a fair amount of time observing the bud, and as the afternoon wore on, the sunlight softened, bathing the office in a warm amber hue.
I sat there, chin resting on my hand, gently stroking the listless bud with my fingers.
The warmth of the sunlight and the stillness of the office lulled me, and before I knew it, my eyelids grew heavy.
And just like that, I drifted off to sleep.
*********When the test for Relic No. 0 wrapped up, I felt like I was on a museum tour, with Reaper clinging to my back like a little shadow.
As I nced around at the items being organized, I saw that many of them were personal belongings that resembled those of Relic Number 0¡ªthings like notebooks and fountain pens.
Holding onto Reaper¡¯s tiny feet as they swayed, I scanned the scene, and that¡¯s when James, who had finished tidying up, sauntered over.
¡°Well, that¡¯s a wrap on the Relic Number 0 reaction test. I was going to show you around the research institutes and give you a tour of James City, but that¡¯s going to be tricky now.¡±
Oh no¡ I have to leave already? Such a bummer.
Traveling abroad isn¡¯t something I get to do often, so I was super disappointed about not seeing more. But what made me even more sad was Reaper.
It was a precious chance to have fun with Reaper abroad¡
To bring the special Object, the Gray Reaper, with me, Sehee Research Institute had to get permission from the Object Association in Korea and also the country we were visiting.
If it weren¡¯t for James¡¯s request, I doubt it would¡¯ve been possible.
Seeing my downcast face, James came up with another idea.
¡°Hmm, you look pretty disappointed¡ Okay! How about considering my suggestion to visit the research institutes in the Rocky Mountains? The natural scenery is stunning there, and there¡¯s a huge ghost barrier¡ªjust as impressive as James City.¡± ?
¡°Really? Can we do that?¡±
¡°I invited you, so of course we can.¡±
With a gesture, James signaled a woman with neatly cut ck hair toe over.
¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m swamped with work in James City and can¡¯t apany you. Instead, I¡¯ll assign one of my secretaries to assist you. If you need anything, just let her know.¡±
The secretary, who had received instructions from James, approached us and greeted us quietly.
¡°I¡¯ll be your guide from now on. It¡¯ll take about two days to get permission to enter the ghost barrier researchplex and arrange for a ne. So just rx at this hotel until I get in touch with you.¡±
More time at the hotel, huh?
I grabbed the hotel guide and started exploring, buzzing with excitement about the extended trip with Reaper.
The hotel had so many facilities beyond just the pool. As long as I had Reaper with me, I was sure it would be a st.
*******When I opened my eyes to the blinding morning sunlight streaming into the deputy director¡¯s office, I realized it was already morning. I stretched, trying to work out the kinks in my stiff, hunched body.
I guess the paperwork really got to me this time. I mean, I passed out just because I got a bit of sunlight, even though I was in such an awkward position.
Surprisingly, I felt pretty good for someone who had slept face down on a desk for who knows how long.
Looking down, I noticed the Golden Reaper hanging out by a flower pot, propping its chin on one hand. It had this expression like it was observing something new and precious, almost like it was gazing at a younger sibling.
Following the Golden Reaper¡¯s gaze, I saw the bud¡ªswaying with life.
¡°You¡¯re alive!¡±
The words slipped out before I could stop them. I was so relieved that the problem I¡¯d been fretting over had somehow resolved itself.
But the moment I spoke, the leaves, which had been gently swaying, suddenly froze, almost as if they were startled by my outburst.
Feeling a little guilty, I quickly stroked the leaf, trying to soothe it. Slowly, it began to move again under the sunlight.
But why did it start moving all of a sudden?
Sure, it could be because it was finally getting the right mix of sunlight or moonlight, but something told me that wasn¡¯t the whole story.
There has to be another factor at y¡ Wait! Could it be because I slept near it!?
Now that I think about it, the first time it appeared was in the sleeping room.
I needed to observe it a bit longer to be sure, but my hunch felt solid.
I guess I¡¯ll need to set up a containment room for the bud in the sleeping room.
As I looked out the window, mentally organizing my to-do list, I noticed something odd happening in the courtyard.
The Golden Reapers were running away frantically from something.
*********Even though it was still early evening, not quite night, Yerin had already drifted off to sleep while watching TV, her arms wrapped snugly around me. She must¡¯ve been all tuckered out from sshing around in the water earlier.
Nyam-! Nyam-!
Even in her sleep, Yerin was happily nibbling on my antennae. It tickled just a bit, but it was more cute than annoying.
I carefully wiggled free from Yerin¡¯s hug and summoned a mini Hungry Ghost, just my size, to take my ce.
Yerin rolled over, still half-asleep, andtched onto the Hungry Ghost¡¯s antenna instead. She settled back into a deep, peaceful sleep,pletely unaware of the switch.
Satisfied with my sneaky little move, I left Yerin to her dreams and zipped over to the Sehee Research Institute.
I had something mischievous in mind¡ªsomething I hadn¡¯t done in a while but was oh-so-fun.
Stealing pudding!
At first, I was always able to nab pudding from the Golden Reapers without a hitch. Buttely, those sneaky little things had gotten much quicker, their movements sharper than mine, making it way harder to seed.
But now¡ now, I have a trick up my sleeve.
I could speed up time!
When I arrived at the courtyard of the Sehee Research Institute, I spotted the Golden Reapers, each holding a pudding with gleeful expressions.
They never ate the yummy puddings by themselves¡ªthey always waited to share them with the humans they were fond of. How sweet, right?
I giggled to myself as I hid my presence and sneaked up behind a Golden Reaper holding its precious pudding. I reached out to grab it, but the Golden Reaper dodged with a quick twist of its body.
Ugh, they were getting too good at this! Their graceful, quick moves were all trained to avoid my little pranks.
But this time, something different happened.
Time around me began to slow down.
The Golden Reaper, clutching its pudding like a prized trophy, seemed to float in the air, moving slower and slower.
I couldn¡¯t help but grin mischievously as I gently plucked the pudding from its hands.
It was so easy, like taking candy from a baby.
Hihihi.
The Golden Reaper¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as it watched the pudding slip from its grasp. It reached out with a desperate little expression, like a baby bird whose food had just been snatched away.
Since the Golden Reapers were technically my clones, I knew they could eventually learn to manipte time just like I could. But until then, I was going to have a st with this little trick. Iughed to myself, already imagining all the fun I¡¯d have.
But then¡ something unexpected happened.
The Golden Reaper suddenly darted after me, its eyes locked on the pudding package in my hands.
And with a triumphant grin, it snatched the pudding right out of my grasp!
No!!!
How could they¡? When did they¡? This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen!
I stood there, stunned, as the Golden Reapers scattered in all directions, using time eleration just like me.
*********Along the rugged expanse of the Rocky Mountains, where nature¡¯s raw powermands respect, the colossal ¡®Ghost Wall¡¯ loomed, imposing and unyielding, like a sentinel guarding the edge of the world.
This newly erected barrier, designed to repel ghost-type Objects, stretched so far into the distance that its end seemed to vanish into the horizon. It marked a boundary¡ªa line separating the realms where humans dared to live from those where they were forbidden to tread.
Perched on a high, jagged rock, the outpost that managed and monitored this barrier was a fortress against the unknown. Inside, six soldiers, their faces etched with fatigue, scrutinized the myriad of cameras specially designed to detect ghostly entities.
The screens flickered with blurred images¡ªshadowy forms of ghost Objects drifting ominously beyond the barrier.
As two new personnel arrived to relieve them, the soldiers who had finished their shift stood up, weariness hanging heavy on their shoulders.
The sound of their boots echoed ominously against the stone as they descended the steep, narrow stairs, their conversation tinged with unease.
¡°The atmosphere¡¯s off these days¡¡±
A soldier with a shaved head muttered, his voice thick with apprehension.
¡°Yeah¡ Those ¡®Brain Predators¡¯ that used to swarm beyond the barrier are almost gone. All we see now are the ¡®Burning Pig Heads.¡¯ ¡±
The ¡®Burning Pig Heads¡¯ ¡ªa recently discovered and rapidly multiplying ghost Object¡ªhad be a constant, unsettling presence beyond the barrier, their numbers swelling as the other, more familiar entities seemed to vanish.
The massive barrier cast a long, dark shadow over the road as the soldiers continued their descent, the oppressive weight of the unknown pressing down on them.
¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening out there¡ But we can¡¯t exactly go out and investigate¡ªit¡¯s swarming with ghost Objects. It¡¯s a nightmare.¡±
¡°Won¡¯t the Object Associatione up with a solution?¡±
The soldier¡¯s attempt at optimism fell t, his words hollow. The one with the shaved head simply shook his head, a grim smile tugging at his lips.
¡°What can we even do against ghost Objects?¡±
At that moment, a deafening roar echoed through the mountains, the cry of a massive pig-like creature reverberating off the cliffs, making the very ground tremble beneath them.
But the soldiers continued their descent, their faces impassive, as if the terrifying sound was nothing more than the wind howling through the mountains.
*********The two fun-filled days I spent at the hotel with Reaper zipped by faster than I could blink! Before I knew it, we were on a ne, leaving James City behind andnding at the Rocky Mountain Ghost Barrier airport.
It wasn¡¯t your usual airport. It was tucked right inside a huge researchplex, so the whole vibe felt super fancy but also kind of lonely¡ªlike, no tourists in sight, just researchers scurrying around.
The hallways were all sleek and quiet, with only the soft echoes of footsteps here and there. The air was crisp and cool, probably because we were up in the mountains, but¡ Reaper didn¡¯t seem to be enjoying it much.
Actually, Reaper had been in a grumpy mood since yesterday.
It kept sulking like something was really bugging it, and every time it spotted the Golden Reaper, its pouty face got even poutier. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder, did those two have a spat or something?
Just as I was busy inspecting Reaper¡¯s sulky little expression, the secretary that James had assigned to us appeared, all business-like and ready to help with our luggage.
¡°Let¡¯s head to your amodation first,¡± she said, and I trailed along behind her, my eyes wandering around the airport.
There was something strangely calming about this ce.
Maybe it was the way everything looked so neat and high-tech, kind of like James City?
Plus, there was this faint scent in the air that reminded me of Reapers¡ªsoft and familiar, like a little bit of home.
Chapter 144: The Burning Drug (3)
After wrapping up my work, I left the deputy director¡¯s office at the Sehee Research Institute and made my way to the sleeping room.
Inside, right in the middle, stood a sturdy containment unit made of tempered ss¡ªthe special room built just for the bud.
And sure enough, my hunch was right. Ever since it was moved to the sleeping room, the bud had been looking fresher and livelier every day.
I was grinning at the sight of it when I noticed something odd.
What is that?
I opened the tempered ss and pulled out the flowerpot to check. Next to the bud¡¯s leaves, a small blue fruit had started to form.
As I stared at the fruit, as pretty as a sapphire, I got that prickly feeling¡ªlike someone, or something, was watching me.
Blink-! Blink-!
¡°!¡±
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I realized the bud had opened its eyes and was staring right at me.With a big yawn, it let out a tiny giggle, its face all cute and smug, then plucked the fruit and handed it to me.
¡°You want me to eat it?¡±
When I took the fruit, the sprout kept miming the motion of putting it in its mouth. Then it shut its eyes again and went back to sleep.
Now, since this was a fruit given by an Object¡
Obviously, I shouldn¡¯t eat it. But then again, this was the Mini Reaper variant, so¡ maybe it¡¯d be okay?
I shook my head furiously, trying to clear away those Oh Yerin-esque thoughts.
But seriously, what was I supposed to do with this fruit?
*********As I walked through the gate, the vast airport spread out before me, sparkling under the soft glow of modern lights. Ooh, shiny!
The terminal was all sophisticated and fancy¡ªminimalist and elegant, like something right out of a brochure. Wide, clean corridors led to several gates. ???
Even the check-in area was all neat and organized, with kiosks everywhere, making sure no one would get lost.
It wasn¡¯t too crowded, which was nice. Mostly, I just saw people who looked like government officials, all busy-busy. Probably because this airport was brand new, built just for the research institute nearby. Fancy stuff.
It was a cool sight and all, but¡ I wasn¡¯t exactly feeling cheerful.
And the reason¡?
Ugh, that smell of coal¡ªugh, that all-too-familiar scent from the burning Seoul Forest. It was faint, just a little whisper of smoke in the air, but still! It was delicious enough to make me curious. Totally not because I messed up a prank on the Golden Reapers. Nope, not at all.
Maybe my sulking was obvious, because the Golden Reaper, who would usually be bouncing around on my head and ying with my antenna, was now perched on my shoulder, gently stroking my cheek with a worried look.
It was¡ kinda sweet. I picked it up with my hand, and it reached out to me, beaming like it had just won a prize.
Hmph, how could I stay grumpy after that? I patted the little Golden Reaper on its head and trailed after Yerin, who was already making her way out of the airport.
Outside, a sleek, fancy limousine with the James Research Institute logo was waiting for us. Oooooh, a limo!
When I hopped in with Yerin, I found the inside was just as impressive as the outside¡ªspacious and shiny.
¡°Wow, the chair is nice and soft.¡±
Yerin said, shaking my hand like she was closing a big business deal or something. Cute.
¡°Then, we will be leaving.¡±
I was busy admiring the sparkly car interior when the secretary sitting across from me spoke up. The car glided forward, smooth and soft, like a cat padding across a plush carpet.
As we rolled out of the nearly empty parking lot, I spotted a crowd gathered near the airport exit.
They were waving papers and shouting at the top of their lungs, all excited about something. The signs were in English, but I could still catch the gist.
< dismantle="" that="" cursed="" barrier!="">
< embrace="" your="" fate!="">
< the="" end="" awaits="" us!="">
Yerin seemed curious too; she pointed at the crowd with a little frown and asked, ¡°Who are they?¡±
¡°They¡¯re believers in destruction. You know, the kind who think Objects are divine punishment for human sins.¡±
Yerin tilted her head, clearly puzzled.
We didn¡¯t see folks like this much in Korea. Maybe it was because Objects¡ªlike, real-deal ¡®God¡¯s Apostles¡¯ ¡ªwere pretty easy to find if you just ventured a bit away from the big cities.
Yup, Korea sure had a front-row seat to the Object show.
It was kind of funny to see such groups here in the United States, with all their strict Object management rules. Guess it¡¯s a culture thing?
Yerin seemed to have the same thought, and she asked with a bit of suspicion, ¡°Are there a lot of people with such strange beliefs?¡±
¡°Oh, not that many,¡± the secretary replied. ¡°Butpared to Korea, where you hardly see any groups like this, yes, it¡¯s a lot.¡±
¡°So, it¡¯s not that America is special,¡± Yerin mused. ¡°Korea¡¯s just weird because we don¡¯t have these groups?¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. Even if you factor in the Korean Object Association feeding ¡®apocalypticists¡¯ to the Hungry Ghost, these groups are still pretty rare in Korea.¡±
Oh, right, the whole bit about feeding ¡®apocalypticists¡¯ to the Hungry Ghost.
Yerin seemed surprised at first, but then just shrugged it off, like, ¡°Eh, sounds like something they¡¯d do.¡±
Well, yeah, our country¡¯s Object Association was a bit¡ unique like that.
I nced at the protesters, still yelling their hearts out as they watched our limo go by.
The secretary called them ¡®apocalypticists,¡¯ but I wasn¡¯t so sure.
I just thought they all smelled kinda delicious¡ªlike charcoal and just a hint of a barbecue.
*********Maybe because they were always swapping Objects with other research institutes, the amodations they gave us were super fancy.
I mean, they even had a ball pool! A ball pool!
The Reaper seemed to love it just as much as I did. The pouty expression it had worn for days vanished as it happily swam around, sshing through the colorful balls.
And when it took the plunge, the Golden Reapers would join in too, their little antics totally melting my heart.
But then morning came (ugh), and the secretary showed up to drag us out of our cozy room and up to the helicopternding pad on the hotel rooftop.
The helicopter there looked¡ kinda weird. It was wooden? Like, seriously, it looked like someone had decided to craft a helicopter out of wood. So odd!
¡°Did youyer the helicopter with wood? That¡¯s, uh, interesting.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a special kind of wood that can block attacks from ghostly Objects,¡± the secretary exined all calm and collected. ¡°It¡¯s essential for where we¡¯re headed.¡±
Oh, so it was that super famous spirit barrier wood?!
I took a closer peek and, wow, they really went all out with it. The wooden armor was so meticulously attached that I half-expected the person who installed it had major paranoia issues. Like, whoa, chill much?
So, where on earth were we going, anyway?
¡°We¡¯re heading to see a must-see sight in the Rocky Mountains. It¡¯s something every researcher here gets shown at least once.¡±
The helicopter began to rumble and slowly lifted us up, me and Reaper squeezed inside. Up, up, up we went, until finally, a massive wall known as the spirit barrier came into view.
Reaper, ever curious, was peeking down from the window.
But instead of stopping at the barrier, the helicopter kept going, flying past it and deeper into a restricted area.
When we got there, the sight that greeted me was¡ strange. Like, really strange.
From the dizzying height, I saw this huge pit in the ground. It was so big that I couldn¡¯t even see where it ended, and the edges looked like someone had ripped them apart, leaving scars all around.
It was dark and ominous, almost like it was sucking in the light. I couldn¡¯t see the bottom or the end, no matter how hard I squinted.
I know America is massive, but this? This was just ridiculous. How could a hole that huge even exist?
¡°So, you noticed,¡± the secretary said, noticing my staring. ¡°That hole constantly distorts space. The closer you get to the center, the worse the distortion. It¡¯s so severe that we haven¡¯t been able to reach the center yet.¡±
I¡¯d heard about the mysterious tree that could twist time, but this hole? This was on a whole different level.
¡°Researchers assigned to the Rocky Mountains are shown this sight to humble them. It¡¯s a reminder of just how precarious Earth¡¯s situation is, despite the current peace.¡±
¡°That¡¯s¡ true¡¡± I replied, my voice sounding a bit tired even to my own ears.
The scale of the Object below was so massive it made me feel how small and weak humans really are. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªwill humans really be okay?
But then I nced over at Reaper, who was sitting beside me, looking so bored. My worries instantly melted away.
Well, the Reaper was invincible, so it¡¯d take care of things, right?
¡°Aside from the danger from the Objects that live here, it¡¯s actually quite a beautiful sight. It¡¯s also pretty popr.¡±
I kept my eyes on the swirling pit below. It felt like it was trying to pull me in, and I could catch a whiff of something oily and unpleasant. Yuck.
*********In the shadowy underbelly of the city, where the streets twisted and turned like abyrinth, a man crept through the darkness.
He had been working undercover for months, unraveling the secrets behind the ¡®Object drug¡¯ that was seeping its way through the United States, tainting everything it touched.
And now, atst, the real source of that poisony before him.
< burning="" steel="" pig="" statue.="">
An Object once unearthed in Korea, now hidden deep beneath American soil.
His heart thundered in his chest, each beat a reminder of the urgency.
He only needed to get out of this ce, to bring the truth back to his superiors.
Just one more step, and his mission would beplete. All he had to do was endure the meeting of these doomsday zealots, trapped in their underground sanctuary.
The group¡¯s prayer,ced with sinister devotion, finally ended. The man allowed himself a quiet sigh of relief.
Phew! I can go back safely now.
But fate had no intention of being kind.
A seemingly harmless, middle-aged woman approached him, her smile deceptively warm, as she extended a ss of whiskey toward him.
¡°How about a drink with me?¡±
The man hesitated, the unexpected gesture sending a chill down his spine.
The whiskey flickered with a peculiar glow, its surface shimmering like liquid fire.
He raised the ss, and a sweet, intoxicating aroma filled his senses¡ªa scent that had no ce in any ordinary liquor. It was unmistakable.
The whiskey was tainted, clearly a product of an Object.
As if to confirm his worst suspicions, the Object detector on his wrist began to blink, the red light shing a dire warning: Level 1 mind corruption¡ªa perfect brainwash, impossible to resist.
Time seemed to stretch, every second dragging on as the reality of his situation wed at him.
When did I get caught?
¡°Did you really think you could fool us?¡±
The words hit him like a hammer. In a desperate act, he hurled the ss against the wall and spun on his heel, ready to flee.
But he didn¡¯t get far. A gunshot echoed through the room, and pain exploded in his side, driving him to the ground.
His vision swam, the world around him fading as the burning pain spread.
¡°You should have been more careful, Agent.¡±
¡°It¡¯s okay. You won¡¯t die. Not yet, at least. After all, you¡¯ve got to live¡ To join us, to be one of us.¡±
Through the encroaching darkness, he saw it¡ªthe burning whiskey ss, inching closer, its malevolent glow lighting up the sinister grins of his captors.
Chapter 145: The Burning Drug (4)
¡°Haaaaa.¡±
As I let out a deep sigh, Seoah who was sitting in front of me frowned.
¡°Director Lee Sehee. Why are you suddenly here? If you don¡¯t have any business with me, please go back quickly.¡±
I sprawled across therge table in the deputy director¡¯s office and answered with all the drama I could muster.
¡°I¡¯ve been so busytely. When is Yerining back?¡±
¡°¡¡±
Seoah¡¯s eyes sharpened at that. Well, I get it¡ªshe works three times as much as I do. But!
Seoah has always worked a lot. Meanwhile, I¡¯m trying to work after not working for ages, so it¡¯s infinitely harder for me¡
In other words, it¡¯s mathematically harder for me!
I nced up at Seoah, hoping for some sympathy, but she¡¯d already turned her gaze back to her work.Then, something on her desk caught my eye¡ªa ss case with a fluffy cotton quilt and a blue fruit on top. It didn¡¯t look like an ordinary decoration.
¡°Seoah, what¡¯s that on your desk?¡±
I pointed at it with my finger, curious, and Seoah replied in a calm voice.
¡°You remember the new Object I mentioned in the reportst time, the Navy Bud Reaper, right?¡±
¡°O-of course I do.¡±
To be honest, I had no idea what she was talking about. But judging from Seoah¡¯s expression, it seemed like something I should know, so I pretended I did.
¡°It¡¯s a product of an Object. The Navy Bud Reaper gave it to me and told me to eat it. But I¡¯m still debating what to do with it. I wrote down the details in the report I submittedst night.¡±
¡°Ah¡ I see.¡±
At first, I didn¡¯t think much of it, but maybe since it was a Mini Reaper who gave it to her, the blue fruit suddenly looked¡ delicious.
¡°If you¡¯re that worried, should I try it instead?¡±
¡°No.¡±
Seoah just shot me down without any hesitation.
Tsk.
*********When I got to my hotel room, I stretched my arms high above my head, trying to shake off the tiredness clinging to me.
As I did, the Golden Reapers that were swarming around on the table mimicked my movement, putting their tiny hands together and stretching up too. Then they looked at each other and burst into giggles.
So cute!
I couldn¡¯t help but grin, thinking that maybe Reaper was doing it too. So I leaned in to check on it.
Om nom nom-!
But nope, Reaper was just sitting there with its usual nk face, focused entirely on munching on a pudding almost as big as it was.
Even though Reaper had this cool, chic vibe, sometimes I really wished it would act more like the Golden Reapers. They were just so adorable!
I nced at my watch and saw it was already past noon.
It felt like we¡¯d barely walked any distance, but somehow, so much time had passed by the time we got back to the hotel. I was also feeling mentally wiped out.
Was it because I¡¯d been staring at that massive Object all day?
Even though I saw some beautifulndscapes too, instead of feeling refreshed, I just felt overwhelmed.
It was like the secretary had predicted this because she didn¡¯t schedule anything else for the day and told me to just rest.
But she did mention that our tour around the research institute would start tomorrow.
As I slowly walked over to the window, I noticed how the world outside seemed divided into two. On one side, there was a cluster of research institutes, all sleek and stylish, while beyond them, there was a group of old, shabby buildings.
It wasn¡¯t quite a slum, but the atmosphere was definitely different from the researchplex.
Suddenly, I got an idea. I scooped up the sitting Reaper and lifted it to the window.
¡°Reaper. Should we have lunch over there today?¡±
Reaper¡¯s antennae swayed left and right, clearly intrigued by the idea of exploring the area with all those restaurants.
¡°Then, let¡¯s go!¡±
I grabbed Reaper¡¯s hand and we left the hotel room.
Plop-! Plop-!
Reaper¡¯s steps were brisk, matching my enthusiasm. It was probably just as eager as I was!
But as soon as we reached the hotel entrance, someone threw cold water on our fun.
¡°You must not leave the research instituteplex,¡± the secretary said, blocking our path.
I thought it would be fine since no one passing by seemed surprised to see Reaper, but apparently, there was a reason for that.
Turns out, the local research institute staff had already been thoroughly briefed about the Gray Reaper¡¯s arrival¡
So, there was nothing we could do.
¡°I apologize for the inconvenience. There are many convenience facilities such as shopping centers and restaurants within the research instituteplex, so please use those ces.¡±
The secretary that James had assigned to us guided us to a restaurant with an apologetic expression.
It was really disappointing, but what could we do?
Even Reaper, who usually didn¡¯t show much emotion, seemed a little grumpy. I hope it¡¯s going to be okay¡
*********Late at night, back in the cozy hotel room after dinner, I finally managed to get Yerin to sleep. She¡¯d been watching me like a hawk, as if expecting me to sneak out or something. Silly Yerin!
But she looked so tired, poor thing, trying her best to stay awake. So, I used a tiny bit of the Golden Tree¡¯s power to gently lull her to sleep and tucked her into bed all snug andfy.
Normally, it would¡¯ve been tricky moving her to the bed with my usual strength, but thanks to the nifty antennae power I picked up earlier, it was a breeze!
¡°Reaper¡ don¡¯t go anywhere¡¡±
Yerin mumbled drowsily, hugging her mini Hungry Ghost tight. I smiled at her sleepily slurred words and patted her head before turning to the window.
The city outside was alive with lights, a shimmering yground that never seemed to sleep.
It was the same street I wasn¡¯t allowed to visit for lunch earlier. I hadn¡¯t been too interested before, but now that I knew I couldn¡¯t go, I couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit curious.
Hihihi, maybe just a little peek?
With a mischievous grin, I slipped into my phantom form, bing all ghosty and invisible, and floated right out of the hotel window.
As soon as I left the research instituteplex, the vibe of the city changed. It wasn¡¯t as neat and polished, but it had this exotic charm that was so different from Korea. It was fun just to drift around, taking it all in.
And oh, the food! There was this dish that looked especially tasty¡ªthin slices of tender beef, piled high on crispy, freshly baked bread, all grilled to perfection.
The beef was glistening with rich juices, giving off a savory aroma that made my mouth water. And the onions, cooked just right, mixed in with the beef, topped with gooey, melted cheese¡ yum!
What was that called? I wondered.
I was so tempted to snatch one up¡ªjust a tiny bite, surely no one would miss it! But then I remembered the Golden Reaper perched on my head.
Sigh¡ if I stole it, they¡¯d definitely get upset with me for making someone sad.
Besides, it wouldn¡¯t be good for the Kid Reapers¡¯ ¡®education,¡¯ would it?
Not that I¡¯m sure if calling them kids is urate, but they do love copying my pranks, so I guess they¡¯re easily influenced by me.
Maybe I could ask Yerin to buy me er instead?
Plop-plop! Plop-plop!
I strolled through the streets filled with restaurants, my steps light and bouncy.
The farther I wandered from the researchplex, the quieter the streets became, but the food got even more interesting and exotic.
And then¡ªoh! I spotted a dish from back home in Korea! That made me so happy for some reason. Was this the fun of traveling abroad?
But as I kept exploring, a weird, unpleasant smell began to creep into the air.
The Golden Reaper must¡¯ve noticed it too because it suddenly spat out my squirming antennae and looked around, all alert.
The smell was unmistakable¡ªthe delicious smell of charcoal and something more¡ Yes! The Burning Steel Pig Statue!
Hmm, if I wanted to ask Yerin to treat meter, it¡¯d probably be better if the area was safe first, right?
I gently ced the Golden Reaper in my palm and shared my thoughts. It nodded in agreement, its little face all serious.
Plop-plop! Plop-plop!
Following the smell of charcoal through the maze-like streets, I felt a bubbling excitement in my chest.
The Golden Reaper, bouncing along ahead of me, seemed just as eager at the thought of defeating an Object.
The narrow alleyways twisted and turned, each one revealing a new, strange scene. Finally, we arrived at an old, worn-down church, the exterior crumbling and neglected.
But despite the shabby appearance, there were lots of people going in and out¡ªwell, not exactly people.
They were like the monster men I¡¯d seen before in Seoul Forest¡ªhumans turned into Objects. So, there must be a Burning Pig Statue here too!
The Golden Reaper sensed the ominous aura, its little face set in a serious expression as it scanned the area.
I followed the smell into the church, passing by the old wooden chairs and the altar, all the way down to the basement.
The basement was huge and much more spacious than the shabby exterior suggested. But then again, it made sense¡ªthis was a ce meant to hide an Object, after all.
There were guards down there, lots of them, but they couldn¡¯t see ghostly Objects like me. So, I just floated by, unnoticed!
When we finally reached the Burning Pig Statue, the scene was eerily familiar¡ªa giant iron pig, charred skeletons piled up beneath it, and the air filled with desperate, endless screams.
The Golden Reaper kneeled by the skeletons, tears streaming down its little face as it gently touched each bone.
It always amazed me how sad the Golden Reapers got when they saw dead humans, even though this world was so full of death.
I checked the statue¡¯s killing conditions¡ª
< indigestion="">
And, phew, it was the same as the one in Seoul Forest. A tricky little riddle, but nothing I couldn¡¯t handle.
I slipped inside the Steel Pig Statue, feeling a strange, new sensation. The space inside seemed to connect to somewhere else.
This is new! Must be my new space-time powers kicking in.
The space was wet and squishy, like the inside of a giant intestine. Ew. It reminded me of the scene back in Seoul Forest, but something was different this time.
The charred skeletons were just standing there, watching me from a distance.
They were the same ones who¡¯d attacked me before, pouring out their resentment. But now? They seemed¡ scared?
I took a step forward, and they all backed away, startled. They didn¡¯t have faces, but I could totally feel their shock.
The closer I got, the more they retreated. It was like a game of tag, and somehow, that made it fun.
After a bit of yful chasing, I decided it was time to get serious and started using my powers to catch the skeletons. As I did, the space around us began to distort.
The < indigestion=""> condition was met!
The whole ce twisted with the roar of a giant pig, and suddenly, I felt a powerful force pulling me somewhere.
Nooo, my game of tag!
I fought against the force, but it eventually pushed me out of the narrow intestines and sent me flying into the sky.
Below me, I saw a herd of pigs marching across the ground, which was covered in ck gooey stuff.
The intestines of the pig I¡¯d been in burst open, killing it in the process.
The pig was a gigantic monster easily over ten meters long, but looked so tinypared to the rest of the herd.
But the thousands of other pigs didn¡¯t even notice. They just kept marching, paying no attention to their fallen kin.
At the front of the herd was a pig straight out of a myth¡ªa gigantic beast with steps that shook the earth and fiery breath that scorched the ck muck.
A pigrger than a mountain was leading the charge toward a spiraling hole in the ground.
Chapter 146: The Burning Drug (5)
Inside the gloomy security room of Sehee Research Institute¡ªsealed off from the outside world for security reasons and filled with screens disying countless surveince feeds¡ªthe staff were fixated on a single monitor.
¡°Eiiiiii, no way a kid who sleeps that quietly would pull something like that. You¡¯re messing with me because I didn¡¯t see it, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t believe your sunbae? I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s true.¡±
The screen zoomed in, revealing the sleeping figure of the Bud Reaper with its blue skin, resting peacefully like a serene little angel.
¡°You¡¯re saying that kid, with that sweet face, provoked you through the camera?¡±
¡°I swear it happened! Why would I lie about something so ridiculous?¡±
The senior security staff seemed to remember something and brought up the saved footage on the screen and said.
¡°Come to think of it, I don¡¯t need to convince you. Just watch the footage yourself¡¡±
But no matter how much he rewound and reyed the video, nothing unusual showed up¡ªjust the Bud Reaper snoozing soundly.
¡°Seriously¡ So many odd things happen around these Objects. Did I just imagine it?¡±¡°As expected, this Bud Reaper seems like a harmless, well-behaved kid too,¡± the junior said with a smile, getting up and heading towards a stash of cup noodles hidden in the corner of the security room.
¡°I¡¯m starving. Want some ramen too, senior?¡±
¡°Yeah, that sounds good.¡±
As she prepared two cups of instant noodles, the junior continued, ¡°You know, Blue Reapers have been acting a bit differenttely. Friendlier, you could say.¡±
¡°Really? I wouldn¡¯t know. I don¡¯t interact with the Blue Reapers much.¡±
¡°They¡¯ve definitely changed. It¡¯s not just me. Some folks say they¡¯ve seen them peel apples and stuff at home.¡±
The junior returned, carrying two steaming cups of ramen. Handing one over, the senior grumbled, ¡°Ah, that familiar cup noodle smell. The institute¡¯s raking in cash these days, but here we are, still eating this cheap stuff.¡±
The two ate and chatted idly about various things¡ªthe Bud Reaper gifting choctes, rumors of a giant statue of the Gray Reaper made of gold hidden in the institute¡¯s basement.
It was all unproductive banter, really.
¡°I¡¯ll take out the trash,¡± the junior said, gathering up the empty cups and tossing them into a stic bag before heading out.
Left alone, the senior leaned back in his chair, feeling drowsy as the lingering smell of ramen filled the room. He propped his chin on his hand, staring absentmindedly at the CCTV footage, just waiting for his shift to end. ?
Then, something changed on the screen showing the Bud Reaper. The creature¡¯s eyes, barely half-open, suddenly met his.
¡°What the¡ª!¡±
Startled, the senior shot up from his chair just in time to see the sprout¡¯s eyes widen with a mischievous glint.
Bleh-!
It stuck its tongue out at him.
I wasn¡¯t imagining it!
Just then, the door swung open, and the junior walked back in.
¡°Senior? What¡¯s going on?¡±
But by the time the junior returned, the Bud Reaper¡¯s yful expression was gone, reced once more by the innocent look of a child lost in sleep.
*********From my perch high above, I looked down at the world below¡ªa vast, endless sea of ck slime that stretched all the way to the horizon. Its shiny, gooey surface rippled slowly, like the gentle rise and fall of a sleeping monster¡¯s chest.
Right in the middle of that sticky, dark mess, there was this herd of pigs, but not your regr oink-oinks¡ªnope, these pigs were wrapped in mes! Their burning bodies scorched the slime with every step, like they were leaving angry little footprints.
At the front of their fiery parade was a massive, swirling hole, deep and dark, gobbling up every bit of light like a greedy little abyss.
I¡¯d seen something just like that abyss before, from a helicopter ride¡ªexcept this one looked even darker, nastier, like someone had poured a bucket of sludge into it.
The whole scene looked totally like something out of an apocalypse movie. Those fiery pigs marching toward that unreachable pit? Yeah, their intentions were super obvious¡ªhumans, beware!
They are here to invade Earth and pick a fight.
And Yerin was staying near that big, nasty hole I saw earlier. I couldn¡¯t just leave her there, all alone and vulnerable. Nope, my eyes were set on the leader pig¡ªthe biggest, meanest one leading the charge.
I zeroed in on it, ready to do my thing.
I grabbed at the space in front of me, like I was tearing open the air itself, and oh, did things get wild. The universe seemed to feel what I wanted¡ªit twisted and warped, and then¡ªbam!¡ªa ck sphere, dark as night and greedily swallowing all the light, ripped through the air.
Those pigs didn¡¯t stand a chance. They got sucked right into that swirling ball of darkness, squealing and bleeding. Even the big boss pig couldn¡¯t resist¡ªit got shredded into pieces.
But, eh, when ites to Objects like us, it¡¯s never that simple. Victory? Hehe, not yet.
My attack didn¡¯t meet the magic criteria to finish them off for good, so their torn-up bits started crawling back together.
The big pig, missing chunks of its body, red up at me,va oozing out instead of blood. And all those little pigs? They were back, staring at me like I was some big, annoying pest.
[ !!!!! ]
The giant pig¡¯s mouth opened wide, and it let out this weird, guttural noise¡ªsomething I¡¯d heard before on Earth. I could understand it before, but I couldn¡¯t make out a single word now¡
Wait. Why couldn¡¯t I understand it? I always could before. Confused, I nced down at myself¡ªand, oh boy, what I saw wasn¡¯t my usual cute self.
A ck body.
White mes flickering in the void.
A blurry, ghost-like form.
A height that practically scraped the sky.
I was staring at a vessel of a body and soul that had died ages ago.
My shadow blended with the ck slime below, looking down at the herd of pigs with me.
What was happening? What on earth was I?!
Just as I was freaking out over my new body, my senses suddenly expanded¡ªwhoosh! I could feel everything: every continent, the whole, even beyond the universe itself.
Omnipotence.
Yeah, I was feeling it. All-powerful, all-knowing¡ªI could do anything! But just as I was basking in that awesome feeling, a tiny, soft voice broke through.
Mom,e back quickly...
It was the Golden Reaper¡¯s voice, filled with pain.
I could hear the children calling for me, waiting for me to return.
*********Whoosh-!
The Golden Reaper perked up, ears twitching at the sudden rush of mes, eyes fixed on the steel pig statue. The once sturdy, unbreakable metal was now drooping and melting like it had lost its fight.
Mom won!
The Golden Reaper grinned, bright and cheerful, and waited eagerly for the Gray Reaper toe back from inside the melting pig statue.
But instead of a triumphant mom, what stumbled out was a Gray Reaper who looked¡ wrong.
The Gray Reaper¡¯s body¡ªso strong and proud just moments ago¡ªsagged lifelessly, copsing into the softening steel, then rolling to the ground in a heap.
¡°!?¡±
Startled, the Golden Reaper dashed over, a worried little frown creasing its face. The Gray Reaper was lying there, eyes shut tight, not moving even a teensy bit.
p-! p-!
Tiny hands patted the Gray Reaper¡¯s cheeks, soft but insistent, but got no response at all. She wasn¡¯t asleep, either. This was just a hollow shell of the Gray Reaper, almost like a sad, empty puppet.
Mom¡¯s not here¡
The Golden Reaper stared down at the Gray Reaper, its cute little face scrunching up in confusion. But it wasn¡¯t super worried¡ªafter all, Mom was invincible! She was the Creator, the mighty Gray Reaper.
She wouldn¡¯t just disappear like that, right? It was just¡taking a little long for her toe back, that¡¯s all!
But then¡fire started sparking from Mom¡¯s body, and suddenly, that little worry started to grow. mes flickered, and with them, something strange and scary happened.
The firewood, all that warm light that made Mom, well, Mom, began to flicker and vanish. It was being sucked away, faster than the blink of an eye. The Gray Reaper¡¯s glowing form dimmed in an instant, turning dull and brittle.
Soon, her skin looked dry, like cracked mud, and when the Golden Reaper tried to lift her up, the Gray Reaper¡¯s body crumbled, bits of it scattering like sand.
Mom!
The Gray Reaper was in trouble. Big, big trouble.
Mom is in danger!
Panic bubbling in its chest, the Golden Reaper called out to all its friends, crying desperately for help. Without hesitating, it funneled all its firewood, its very essence, into the Gray Reaper.
Mom...
Through teary, blurry eyes, the Golden Reaper saw the other Golden Reapers rushing over, all of them silent but determined.
One by one, they touched the Gray Reaper¡¯s lifeless form, giving her everyst flicker of their firewood¡ªeverything they had.
As they did, their light dimmed, and they fell softly to the ground, one after another.
Mom,e back quickly¡
Even as theyy there, drained and flickering faintly, the little Golden Reapers¡¯ wishes, their soft and tiny voices, shimmered and flowed like gentle whispers through thest of their firewood.
*********Deep into the night, a sinister curtain of light descended over the researchplex near the Rocky Mountains. It was a red curtain, bleeding across the horizon. From the far western edge to the opposite end, everything was aze.
The towering barrier that once guarded the Rocky Mountains¡ªthe spirit barrier that protected America¡ªwas engulfed in mes.
Smoke rose thick and heavy, smothering the sky in a shroud of darkness. And within that swirling smoke, a monstrous shadow loomed¡ªa colossal pig, its vast form draping over the mountain range as it stared down at the fragile human world below.
The rms sounded, all toote.
The Rocky Mountain Spirit Barrier Management Center¡ªthe heart that controlled the barrier and the entity imprisoned within, known as ¡®The Abyssal Vortex¡¯ ¡ªhad finally dered an emergency.
Chapter 147: The Burning Drug (6)
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was this cozy brick wall glowing softly. It had little cracks, and through them, I could see fire swaying like it was dancing just for me. The ceiling was all red mes too, kind of like someone had draped a big red cloth over it, and there was ck smoke swirling up, moving like it was putting on a performance.
Ugh, the air was so harsh! A human would¡¯ve probably choked on it. The smoke was so thick and creamy, I could barely see a thing. My poor eyes were stinging like crazy.
I turned my head slowly¡ªit wasn¡¯t easy, not with that heavy, stifling air¡ªand there they were. The Golden Reapers, lying in a neat little circle around me, looking all peaceful, like they were just taking a nap. Their firewood wasn¡¯t glowing anymore. They had chosen to stay asleep, not wanting to wake up and put any more strain on my poor, dwindling firewood.
Feeling grateful, I tried to raise my hand to pat them. That¡¯s when I really realized how bad off I was. My hand felt so heavy, and when I finally managed to move my fingers, they crumbled like sand. Even my skin was king away, falling apart like dry, fine grains.
Yep, I was literally falling apart. On the verge of death, actually. My firewood had almostpletely burned out. Honestly, thest time I¡¯d been this drained was when I met Sehee. Even though I wanted to give the Golden Reapers a pat or share what little firewood I had left, my hands just¡ disintegrated.
So, I justy there, staring nkly, waiting for my firewood to refill. If I moved too much, my wrists would snap, and if I tried to stand, my ankles would probably crumble.
The ceiling was still burning away, but¡ at least my firewood started toe back pretty quickly.
Just like that time during the Central Research Institute mess, all the fear and confusion from the people around me started to flow into my firewood reserves.
Something was definitely going down outside.
Yerin¡ was Yerin okay? I was worrying about her, feeling that creepy tension in the air, when I noticed my firewood had recovered enough. Slowly, I got up and gathered the scattered Golden Reapers into my arms.
I carefully passed some firewood to them. One by one, their little bodies flickered back to life, like a fluorescent light turning on after being off for too long.
It¡¯s Mom!
The Golden Reapers chirped, snuggling into my arms and rubbing their little faces against me like they hadn¡¯t seen me in forever.
It¡¯s really Mom!
There, there. Mom¡¯s here.
I said, hugging them tight.
But wow, I¡¯d almost died. Almost died in some strange world with a strange body.
Just thinking about it made me feel all-powerful again, like I could do anything¡ªexcept the fuel efficiency was awful ¡
Maybe it was because I¡¯d pushed a dead body way too far. Seriously, what was that ce? Was it connected to that Relic Number 0 thing?
So many questions, but meh, who cares right now?
I got to my feet, and the Golden Reapers, still looking worried, stared up at me with wide eyes. Some of them clung to my head, holding on for dear life, like I might just keel over at any second. ?
It¡¯s fine, don''t worry.
I reassured them with my thoughts, and started walking.
Plop-! Plop-! Plop-!
Like a line of ducklings, we all waddled along, heading up to the surface.
The hallways were a confusing maze, and the smoke made it hard to see, but it was no biggie for me¡ªor the Golden Reapers.
Plop-! Plop-! Plop-!
As we walked, the Golden Reapers¡¯ worried little faces slowly began to brighten. It looked like they were starting to enjoy themselves, like we were just out for a fun stroll together.
I felt like a kindergarten teacher, leading them up to the surface, when¡ wow, a huge change greeted us.
Even though it was the middle of the night, the streets were lit up like it was day. But the light wasn¡¯t from the sun¡ªit was this eerie, blood-red glow hanging over everything.
And there, blocking part of my view, was a massive spirit barrier, surging like a tidal wave, burning bright red.
*********A crimson light surged through the window.
When I woke up, I could hear all these strange screams around me. It was kind of weird, because my hotel room was supposed to be quiet and peaceful! But nope, chaos had definitelye to visit. Ugh.
I peeked out the window, and guess what? The street wasn¡¯t dark anymore¡ªoh no, it was bathed in this creepy red light, flickering like a huge fire had just set the whole ce aze. It looked so intense! Like, way too intense. I mean, who needs that much fire?
Just in case, I yanked the curtain on the other side to check it out. The moment I did, this intense heat just smacked me right in the face. Ouch. And there it was¡ªa gigantic wall of fire. Seriously, it was huge , like it could crash down on me any second! Who thought this was a good idea?
Oh, wait! The Reaper was gone! I nced around the room, and out of all the Golden Reapers that used to hang out with me, only one little guy was left.
And he was clinging to my face. I mean, really clinging, like a little sticky bug. Its tiny face was all worried, like it was saying, not to dare leave it. Aw, poor thing.
¡°We have to get out of here, quick!¡± a voice shouted.
It was the secretary, bursting into the room looking super stressed. When she noticed the Reaper had bailed, she grabbed my hand and practically dragged me out of the hotel. She was in such a rush, I barely had time to whine!
¡°Come on, let¡¯s go!¡± she said, leading me straight to the parking lot.
Then, she shoved a motorcycle helmet into my hands and threw me on the back of a motorcycle. Seriously, no warning, just plop ¡ªon I went.
¡°You better hold on tight!¡± she yelled over the roar of the engine.
As we zoomed out of the hotel, this crazy loud sound came from the sky, like it was copsing in on itself or something. The spirit barrier¡ªthe one that had been burning¡ªstarted to give up, crumbling under its own weight.
And then, oh boy, giant pigs came crashing through the fire wall, shaking the whole ground like it was a piggy earthquake.
The secretary gunned it, speeding through the mess like she was in some kind of action movie. We were dodging fire-breathing pigs and ming debris, heading for safety, or at least further from the chaos.
The streets were packed with abandoned cars and¡ªuh¡ªburnt corpses. Some people had been roasted alive, while others had their brains sucked out. Yep, totally normal.
Those fire-breathing pigs were just casually strutting around, burning people to ashes. And don¡¯t get me started on the Ghostly Objects haunting the ce! Ugh, it was a total nightmare.
The secretary, though¡ªshe was like some kind of acrobat on that motorcycle, dodging the pigs and mes like it was nothing. It really felt like we were gonna make it out of there. I mean, it was so close!
But noooo, fate just had to mess with us.
Out of nowhere, BAM! We mmed into something invisible, and both of us went flying off the bike, hitting the ground hard.
Bang-! Bang-!
I cked out for, like, a second. But the Golden Reaper was tapping on my helmet, waking me up.
The poor, poor motorcycle¡ it was totally wrecked. The secretary? Yeah, she wasn¡¯t moving¡ªlooked like she was knocked out cold.
¡°Ughhh¡¡± I groaned, feeling this sharp pain in my side. Ow. Definitely something broken.
The Golden Reaper looked up at me with those worried eyes again. Yep, I probably had some broken ribs, but honestly? I was still in decent shape considering we¡¯d just been thrown from a speeding motorcycle.
The little guy must¡¯ve protected me. What a sweetheart.
And then, guess what? That giant pig started waddling toward us, like it had just spotted its next snack. It was giving me that look¡ªlike, yep, you¡¯re next.
Thump-! Thump-!
Its heavy footsteps were getting closer, and I couldn¡¯t even move! My ribs were a total mess, and I was stuck there like, Really?! Now?
But then, my brave little Golden Reaper ran right at the pig, looking so determined. I almost cried from how cute it was. But also, what was it thinking?!
The pig puffed up, ready to spit fire, and the air got all hot and wobbly. But the Golden Reaper? It charged right in, ready to block the mes with its tiny body.
And then¡ªbam! The space just¡ tore apart. Like, literally. The giantva pig didn¡¯t roar or anything.
Nope, it just split in two, copsing silently into pieces, like someone had ripped it up like paper.
All the fire and smoke scattered into the air, and this soft, yellow light shimmered from inside.
Beyond the pig torn in half, a small silhouette swayed.
Glowing eyes that pierced the darkness.
Long, flowing hair.
Gray and soft skin.
And¡ªwait, is that a glowing heart?! So cool.
¡°!¡±
The Grey Reaper revealed itself, surrounded by numerous Golden Reapers.
¡°Reaper!!!¡± I shouted, totally forgetting about my broken ribs as I limped toward them.
As soon as I saw that face, relief washed over me like a huge, warm wave. Finally, I was safe.
***Yerin limped over to me, her face lighting up all happy-like as she wrapped her arms around me in the tightest hug ever. She even started rubbing her cheek against mine.
¡°Reaper, are you hurt?¡± she asked, looking all worried.
She leaned back just a little, her eyes scanning me up and down like she was checking for damage.
¡°You¡¯re puffier than usual¡ and your light¡¯s a lot weaker.¡±
Her fingers gently traced the sunken part of my cheek, and her frown deepened, all serious-like, as she gazed into my ming eyes.
But honestly? Yerin looked way worse off than me. Scratches covered her everywhere, and her side¡ªouch¡ªthat had to hurt.
Compared to her, I was just, like¡ running low on firewood. No big deal, really!
When I tore through space to save Yerin earlier, my firewood reserves had dropped back down to empty. But, oh! It was already bouncing back up. Fast.
Worry, joy, affection¡ all sorts of warm, fuzzy feelings were pouring out of Yerin, and every single one was helping me heal.
Firewood was flowing into me, far stronger than what I got from her before, maybe because she¡¯d just barely survived a super dangerous situation. Or maybe she was just that concerned about me. Either way, I could feel myself getting better by the second.
I nced past Yerin¡¯s arms, looking out at the chaos on the street.
Ghostly Objects were swooping around in the sky like creepy, evil birds, and on the ground? Pigs. Giant, fire-breathing pigs rampaging around like they owned the ce.
And then, far off in the distance, I spotted the silhouette of the big guy. The really big guy.
The King of the Pigs.
Even through the thick smoke, I could see his massive form casting a shadow over the whole city. His face peeked through the haze, as he stared right at me.
Chapter 148: The Burning Drug (7)
James¡¯ simple words echoed in my mind.
¡°Please guide the guest well.¡±
The moment I opened my eyes, an overwhelming pain surged through every inch of my body. Above me, the sky was thick with creamy smoke. Iy in the ashes of what had once been a beautiful city, my gaze fixed on the crimson and ash-streaked sky.
Smoke billowed, writhing like a serpent swallowing the heavens. Beneath it, the mes raged, painting the world in hues of destruction.
The smoke, darker than the night sky itself, glowed with an eerie red as the mes below reflected off it. Every so often, the sky roared with thunder, like an ominous drum signaling the end.
¡°Ha
Breathing grew harder by the second. With every exhale, the blood filling my lungs gurgled, each breath no more than a boiling rasp.
Cough-!
Blood sprayed from my mouth, staining the cracked asphalt beneath me, leaving behind the only evidence that I was still alive.
Death was close. My body screamed in agony from every corner, though at this point, it was easier to identify the few parts that weren¡¯t injured.I had failed.
If I had been more cautious, we might have escaped¡
Caught in this cycle of regret, I heard a faint rustling nearby. Slowly, painfully, I forced my head to turn.
¡°!¡±
James¡¯ guest, Yerin, was rising from the wreckage. Despite the crash, she was still able to move.
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, James¡¯ guest stood.
Thank goodness.
Relief coursed through me. She was hurt, but it wasn¡¯t fatal. At least she would survive.
This was James¡¯ mission, and I had wanted to see it through to the end. I needed to guide her to safety, but my body refused to obey. No matter how much I willed myself to stand, to move, I remained paralyzed.
Sigh¡ I couldn¡¯t guide her all the way, but isn¡¯t this enough, James?
The words wouldn¡¯te, but in my mind, I spoke to him. Apologies mingled with the blood in my mouth¡ªregrets for failing toplete the task.
My eyes barely opened now, my lips trembling, as I sensed something¡ªsomeone¡ªdrawing closer.
In the blurry distance, yellow and grey flickered, swaying in my fading vision.
And then, everything went dark.
***The moment I nced up at the blurry shadow looming over the city, I froze. There, in the sky, was a gigantic pig! I blinked, startled by its sheer size. I mean, I¡¯d seen this pig before, but¡ wow, its presence was totally different now.
Back when I was using the mysterious dead body, it felt like looking at a tiny pet piglet. But now? Oh no, this thing had real weight to it. Power.
From its huge, gaping mouth, dark redva poured out, smelling awful, and the leathery skin it had was burning with an unending me. It was kind of fascinating, in a gross way.
Then, the pig lowered its massive head and looked right at me. Those violent eyes¡ they didn¡¯t seem all that smart, but the way they stared? It was like they were pinning me in ce.
And just like that, poof¡ªit started to blur, and before I knew it, the giant pig disappearedpletely.
It was like it was stuck between being real and¡ not real. Maybe it couldn¡¯t fully manifest yet?
To deal with that pig, I¡¯d have to head back to the vortex Yerin and I had gone to check out earlier. Yeah, that was the n.
When I turned around, there was Yerin, totally forgetting her pain and busy¡ licking my antennae? Well, okay, that¡¯s one way to handle stress, I guess. But then she seemed to remember something important and quickly limped away from me.
She ended up next to the poor secretary who was bleeding all over the ce.
¡°Reaper. What should I do?¡±
Yerin looked down at her, totally at a loss. The secretary was in bad shape, really bad, and even if we were in a hospital, I doubted she¡¯d be easy to save.
Seeing her like that, I quickly summoned the Blue Reaper.
The little Blue Reaper appeared in my palm, giving me a worried look before flying off towards the secretary on its watery broom.
Just like Yerin and the Golden Reaper hanging out on my head, the Blue Reaper seemed all worried when it nced back at me.
Do I really look that sick?
I only turned into a slightly dry y doll¡
< make="" it="" not="" hurt!="" please!="">
< let="" the="" wound="" heal!="" please!="">
< help="" her="" fight="" through="" it!="" please!="">
The Blue Reaper shut its eyes tightly and began writing things, one after another, as it focused on the secretary¡¯s critical condition. Slowly, the secretary, who looked like she was about to die, started breathing steadily again.
But¡ that wouldn¡¯t be enough. She still needed real treatment. The Blue Reaper¡¯s help wasn¡¯t going topletely heal her wounds.
So, I sent her to the Sehee Research Institute with a few Golden Reapers. Once she got there, they¡¯d take her to the hospital, right? They had to.
I wanted to send Yerin back, too, but¡ I couldn¡¯t. I still needed her to deal with the pig.
Ugh. I was hungry. And kind of dizzy. I didn¡¯t have enough firewood.
After I moved the secretary far away, the dizziness hit me again.
Yep. I definitely needed more firewood.
I wobbled over to Yerin, who was sitting on the ground, probably exhausted, and without thinking, I licked the blood off her cheek.
¡°!¡±
Yerin jumped, totally shocked, and stared at me. But I just looked away, pretending I hadn¡¯t done anything at all.
Hehe, thanks to my little prank, more and more firewood poured in from Yerin, who hugged me tightly from behind.
Then I gave an order to my mini-reapers: ¡°Disperse and help the people.¡±
But the Golden and Blue Reapers shook their heads fiercely in protest.
I¡¯m fine now!
I showed them how my skin had regained its luster and kept insisting that I was totally okay. Finally, the mini-reapers flew off, spreading out in every direction.
The city, which had been drowning in despair, began to feel a little lighter. Less intense.
Between the small bits of firewood, the mini-reapers gathered and the big chunk Yerin had given me, I was pretty sure I¡¯d have enough firewood to face that giant pig¡ before it fully showed up.
***Plop! Plop!
I clung to Reaper¡¯s hand, skipping along as we walked beyond the curtain of fire. The mes didn¡¯t bother me much, though. I mean, with one Golden Reaper and one Blue Reaper sitting on my shoulders to protect me, I felt super safe!
Thanks to Blue Reaper¡¯s healing, the pain had totally disappeared, so I was able to tag along on Reaper¡¯s journey without any issues. Sure, there was still this weird, tingly feeling on my side, but, eh, as long as it didn¡¯t hurt, I was fine! No biggie!
After we crossed the zing spirit barrier, we were greeted by the ruins of a city that looked like it hadn¡¯t been touched in ages. I think it had been abandoned because of all those pesky Ghostly Objects popping up everywhere.
There was no electricity at all, so it was pretty dark. But, hey, the burning barrier and that creepy red sky lit up the ruins well enough. The roads were all cracked, weeds were growing wild, and everything that used to be a part of civilization was, like, falling apart. Oh, and don¡¯t get me started on the footprints¡ªthere were pig tracks everywhere . Gross.
We kept moving, heading in the opposite direction of wherever that giant pig was going. I didn¡¯t really know where we were headed, but Reaper seemed to have a n, so¡ I just followed along.
The sky was giving me the creeps, though. It had this weird, ominous vibe, and I got scared for no reason. So, naturally, I squeezed Reaper¡¯s hand a little tighter. I mean, I didn¡¯t wanna get lost or anything!
¡°Reaper, look at the sky over there,¡± I said, pointing up.
Dark smoke was curling and swirling, all gathering in one ce like a big, twisty snake. Yikes. It was shaping into something freaky, like a vortex or¡ something bad.
But then I looked at Reaper. He¡¯s invincible, right? So we¡¯ll be fine. Totally fine! Right¡?
***As we got closer to the pit, the whole ce looked like it was being stretched and pulled like taffy¡ªeverything around us was all warped, like we were walking through one of those funny fish-eye lenses! It was kind of fun, but also¡ disorienting? But don¡¯t worry, I kept the Garden of the Mini Reapers swirling around us to stop the space from getting all wonky on us. Because of that, we made it to where we needed to go super quick! Yay!
After we passed through the dark, creepy forest, this huge pit appeared, sitting right under an open cliff. Ooh, it looked way closer to the barrier than I thought! So, it wasn¡¯t really the distance that was the problem¡ªit was all that weird space distortion messing with us!
The pit? It was, like, totally different from when we saw it from the helicopter. Up close, the ck, twistednd looked like it was alive, swirling and shifting like some giant dark creature. And right in the middle of all that mess was this giant, terrifying abyss, like it could swallow the whole world!
And there it was¡ªthe giant pig! It was hiding in the shadows, but it was finally revealing itself, taking these huge steps that made the ground shake like crazy! It looked so much scarier now than it did when we saw it through the smoke. Whoa. Each step it took made the ground twist and turn like a spinning vortex. It was bending space itself! That¡¯s kind of impressive¡ but also terrifying?
Even though I was feeling a bit nervous¡ªbecause, you know, that pig was, like, super powerful, maybe even more than the Hungry Ghost¡ªI had to check its killing condition.
< destroy="" it="" without="" leaving="" a="" single="" piece="" of="" flesh.="">
Huh? That¡¯s it? Really?! That¡¯s all? I mean¡ that sounds kinda easy for a pig that¡¯s bending space and spitting fire like that! But I guess¡ I shouldn¡¯tin, right?
Still, it felt a little too easy. I squinted at the pig suspiciously, and then¡ I noticed it. There was this faint stenching from it, and ckva was dripping from its mouth. Ew. Gross. It had fire that could burn that nasty ck stuff, but¡ was it not enough?
Ohhh! The pig was soaked in that gross ck liquid! I thought it was just some smelly goo, but maybe it was way more dangerous than I realized! Huh. That makes things a lot simpler.
I decided to try out that new technique I picked up while ying around with the dead bodies. Hehe, let¡¯s see how this works!
I stretched out my right hand, and poof ¡ªthe skin on my hand turned all ck.
Clench!
As soon as I made a fist, the space around me started to shrink, pulling everything together into this awesome little ck sphere. It looked just like the one I made when I used the dead body! Cool, right?
The sphere hovered in front of me, all-powerful and swirly, ready to crush that big ol¡¯ pig into nothingness. It was made from all the favors and affection Yerin had sent my way, and I could totally feel it was going to do the trick. Time to squish that pig!
***As Reaper¡¯s right hand turned all ck, the air around it started to shrink, pulling everything in to create this super cool ck sphere.
¡°Whoa! It¡¯s like a ck hole!¡± I squealed, totally impressed. I mean, how awesome is that? Reaper was pulling off some serious magic here! I mentally gave Reaper a round of apuse. Go, Reaper, go!
But¡ wait. Things didn¡¯t go exactly how I expected. Actually, not even close.
The giant pig started biting at the space around it, including the ck sphere! Like, what?! That wasn¡¯t supposed to happen! It must¡¯ve been super hard for the pig though, ¡®cause half of its body got all torn up and disappeared. Still, it somehow managed to chomp down on the space and¡ iste it? Ugh, rude.
Then, things got worse . The space that was crushed between the pig¡¯s giant teeth twisted into this crazy vortex, and¡ªoh no!¡ªit started flying toward us like a speeding bullet!
¡°Aahhh!¡± I gasped, my heart racing. The ck sphere had turned into this dangerous, twisty vortex of doom, ripping through the space and heading straight for us! Yikes!
Before I could even blink, Reaper let go of my hand and¡ªoh my gosh¡ªkicked me away with both feet! What the heck, Reaper?! I tumbled backward as the ck sphere flew past the exact spot where Reaper had been standing.
¡°Reaper!!¡± I yelled, panicking. Did Reaper just¡ die?! No way! Reaper just vanished without a trace!
***In the ce where the Gray Reaper had vanished, Yerin stood motionless, her mind fractured, as if reality itself had unraveled before her eyes.
The king of pigs, a monstrous being now stripped of most of its grotesque form, turned its gaze toward her. Its movements were slow, deliberate, each step resonating with the sickening crackle of sinew reweaving itself. Rotten blood vessels wound together, muscles stitching over bone, the ckened skeleton once again cloaked in decayed flesh. It was not alive, not in the way living things should be.
The Golden Reaper and the Blue Reaper stood tense, their small forms rigid as the abomination drew nearer. Fear rippled through the air, thick and choking, as if the very ground recoiled from the creature¡¯s presence.
It seemed inevitable¡ªthe beast would charge, crush everything in its path, and drown the world in its rot.
But then, it stopped.
A sound broke the stillness, something out of ce, almost absurd in the grim tableau.
Plop. Plop.
Tiny, almost innocent footsteps.
The marshmallow ground stretched out toward the pig, rippling softly under the weight of those steps. And from the silence emerged the Gray Reaper, delicate and untouched, walking alone across the shiftingndscape.
Its form rebuilt itself with each step, rising slowly from nothing. From that small ankle, to the soft, ethereal figure that came back to life, piece by piece.
Fully restored, its antennae twitching, the Gray Reaper stood firm. But the look in its eyes had changed. It was no longer the fragile, spectral figure of before. Now, it red at the monstrous pig with a fury so raw, so terrifying, that even the king of pigs hesitated under its gaze.
The silence returned, heavy and ominous, broken only by the beating of hearts that dared not hope.
Chapter 149: The Burning Drug (8)
In the quiet stillness of the night, while everyone was fast asleep, something curious happened in the courtyard of the Sehee Research Institute. Out of nowhere, a bloodied Western woman appeared, lying peacefully atop a bed made of fluffy marshmallows. At the same time, several Golden Reapers¡ªshining and ethereal¡ªappeared beside her.
The Golden Reapers, with their bright, mischievous gazes, stared down at the woman, who was groaning softly with a high fever. Then, without a word, they scattered in all directions, leaving just one behind to keep watch.
We need to find someone to help her!
The little Reapers darted off in every direction, determined to track down someone who could summon that square car¡ªoh, what was it called again? Ah, yes, the one that always came when someone was hurt.
But unlike the others, one particrly cheeky Golden Reaper, sparkling with a sense of purpose, went straight to the sleeping room. It knew exactly where to go: to wake up the youngest, the very one who had called for their help in the first ce.
***When Reaper disappeared, I was so shocked!
Like, when it just pushed me away and vanished into that ck sphere thing, my brain totally nked out. I couldn¡¯t think of a single thing.
I couldn¡¯t talk, couldn¡¯t move. It was like someone had just bonked me on the head, and I was standing there,pletely useless.
What just happened?! That was the only thought floating around in my mind.
I stared at the spot where Reaper had been just a moment ago, but there was¡ nothing. Absolutely nothing.But wait¡ tiny feet started plopping on the marshmallow floor. What even?
That weird sight kind of knocked some sense back into me. My thoughts slowly started toe together.
Oh my gosh¡ªReaper¡¯s tiny feet! Reaper¡¯s invincible, just like I thought!
Plop! Plop!
The little feet kept moving, and then¡ªwait for it¡ªReaper began to regenerate! From the ankles up, it was rebuilding itself bit by bit until even the cute little antennae on its head were back!
Reaper was back!!
I couldn¡¯t contain myself¡ªI sprinted down the marshmallow path, practically diving toward Reaper, and when I reached the end, I threw my arms around it and hugged it as tight as I could.
I wanted to say a ton of things, but, for some reason, the words just¡ wouldn¡¯te out. So, I kept hugging Reaper, feeling all warm and fuzzy that it was back. Even though it looked kinda annoyed, it didn¡¯t push me away.
And then¡ªugh¡ªout of nowhere, that giant pig, the one that¡¯s been lurking, decided to show up. Like, seriously?! It probably thought this was its big moment or something, and it opened its ginormous mouth to spew out a huge st of fire.
The heat was insane ! It felt like it was about to scorch the entire air around us¡ªlike, okay, am I seriously about to die right now?
But nope! Reaper, looking slightly peeved, clenched its tiny fist. And boom! A giant ck sphere appeared, sucking up all the fire like it was no big deal. ??
Reaper shot me a look and squeezed my hand, like it was saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± And honestly? That look totally calmed my heart down. I¡¯d been freaking out, but Reaper¡¯s calm face made me feel a lot better.
The fightsted longer than I expected, though. Every time Reaper stretched out its hand and clenched it, a ck sphere would shoot out and tear the giant pig to pieces . It was intense!
I held my breath as much as I could because I didn¡¯t want to interrupt Reaper¡¯s awesomeness , and I was honestly just standing there inplete admiration.
To make sure the pig couldn¡¯t do that annoying thing where it ate the ck ball and spit it back at us, Reaper kept the spheres around for only a few seconds. Each time the ck sphere popped in and out of existence, the whole space echoed with this eerie, crumbling sound.
It was, like, the roar of heaven or something. Super ominous!
But that dumb pig¡ somehow, it kept dodging! It created these weird vortex things and teleported away to avoid the spheres. Dimensional gateways , I think?
Not that it was dodging perfectly, though. Reaper¡¯s attacks still hit sometimes, but the pig had this crazy regeneration thing going on, so even when it got hit, it was back in action almost instantly. It was seriously tough for a pig!
Still, the pig wasn¡¯t just a sitting duck. It¡¯d fight back, breathing fire or charging at us out of nowhere.
Every single time, Reaper would squeeze my hand like it was saying, ¡°It¡¯s okay, calm down.¡± Reaper was just so kind!
Overall, though, Reaper was totally dominating. I mean, the difference between them was so obvious. Reaper didn¡¯t even need to move ! It just stood there, and with a wave of its hand, all of the pig¡¯s attacks werepletely neutralized. The power and focus it had? So. Freaking. Cool.
Meanwhile, the pig was running around like a maniac, desperately trying to find an opening. But, from where I was standing, it was super clear who had the upper hand.
Even so, Reaper¡¯s face showed a little impatience. Like, huh? Why? It was winning by a mile!
Maybe the pig was dodging too well or something? Ugh, Reaper, don¡¯t be so impatient!
It¡¯s fine! Really, just rx!
***In the dim light of dawn at the Sehee Research Institute, tucked away in a quiet corner of Songpa-gu, the security team began their early morning patrol. The faintest hint of sunlight touched the sky, and their footsteps echoed through the dark, empty halls. Only the green glow of emergency lights offered any visibility, casting long shadows along the walls.
The early morning darkness clung to the institute like a heavy nket, swallowing both light and sound. Dew had gathered on the windows, glimmering faintly in the dawn light, reflecting a muted glimpse of the outside world. Inside, with no researchers present, the air felt cold and eerie.
As one guard passed a containment room, his shlight beam cutting through the gloom, a soft, mncholy piano tune reached his ears. It was a funeral song, the sad melody filling the air andplementing the dreary, deserted hallway. The music was hauntingly beautiful, though it sent a chill down his spine.
Peering into the dark containment room, the guard saw the familiar sight of a blue lizard ying the piano. Its movements were slow but deliberate, each note resonating with power. He knew this creature always yed at dawn, but the performance never failed to give him goosebumps.
Suddenly, a shimmering golden halo appeared, bobbing down the hallway like a bouncing ball. It was unmistakably the glow of a Golden Reaper.
Wait, shouldn¡¯t the Golden Reaper be asleep at this hour? the guard thought to himself.
He flicked his shlight toward the glowing halo. It seemed to notice the light, picking up speed as hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Before he knew it, the Golden Reaper had rushed right up to him, tugging at his pants with urgency. Its usually calm demeanor seemed almost frantic.
The guard leaned into his radio. ¡°I¡¯ve got a Golden Reaper here¡ seems like it¡¯s in a hurry.¡±
He picked up the little creature, cing it on his shoulder as he followed its insistent hand gestures. The Golden Reaper led him to the courtyard, where three or four others stood around a woman¡ªpale, Western, and covered in blood. She didn¡¯t seem as bad off as she looked, but her fever was high, and she needed treatment.
The security officer radioed the situation to the main office, requesting an ambnce. After finishing the call, he turned to the Golden Reaper, which was still frantically gesturing toward the woman.
¡°The square thing¡¯s gotta mean the ambnce¡ Are you asking me to treat her?¡± he asked, looking down at the creature.
The Golden Reaper just tilted its head in confusion.
¡°Look, I don¡¯t know what you want from me,¡± he muttered. ¡°The ambnce is on its way. She¡¯ll be fine.¡±
He gave up trying tomunicate with the Golden Reaper and scanned the courtyard for anything unusual. That¡¯s when he spotted another Reaper¡ªa Bud Reaper¡ªbeing carried piggyback by one of the Golden Reapers.
¡°Whoa¡¡± He blinked, surprised, quickly rying the sight to the team over his radio. ¡°Bud Reaper¡¯s being carried outside by the Golden Reapers.¡±
The other Golden Reapers hovered around, doting on the Bud Reaper like an older sibling caring for a younger one. They stroked its head and back, gently wiping away the dirt and dust from its little body.
The Bud Reaper was clearly the center of attention.
Just then, the mini TV in the courtyard flickered on, broadcasting a news sh.
[ We have received reports that the spirit barrier in Colorado is currently on fire. ]
The screen showed images of the barrier in the U.S., mes licking the sky as fire rained down from above.
The wail of a distant ambnce began to break through the silence. The Golden Reapers paused to nce at the news for a brief moment, then turned back to wave at the security guard before vanishing into thin air.
In the courtyard, all that remained was the sound of the approaching ambnce, the unconscious woman, and the lone security officer.
***Clench-!
When I squeezed my little fist super tight, the space around me twisted and crumpled, squishing everything inside! But that big, annoying pig? It slipped right out, like some sneaky eel, and zipped away, trying to get at me and Yerin again. Ugh, how rude!
This pig was so different from that Hungry Ghost I dealt with back in Songpa-gu. The Hungry Ghost? Oh, it was like solving a puzzle with no clues¡ªso frustrating! But this pig? Its weakness was super obvious¡ but it just wouldn¡¯t die! How is that fair?!
I was getting all jittery as the battle dragged on. When I nced over, I saw Yerin looking all pale and worn out. She hadn¡¯t gotten much sleep, poor thing, and she¡¯d been hurt really badly too. Of course, my energy was still in pretty good shape, especially with all the power I was borrowing from Yerin. But I couldn¡¯t keep fighting forever.
I needed to do something ¡ªand quick! Yerin looked like she could copse any moment, and I couldn¡¯t let that happen. I had to finish off that pesky pig before shepletely zonked out.
Hmm, maybe I could toss it into a sinkhole like I did with the Hungry Ghost? But then again, this piggy could tear through space and teleport wherever it wanted. So, yeah, no guarantee it would just stay in a hole and behave. Sigh.
Maybe¡ ooo! I could create a massive ck sphere¡ªso big it couldn¡¯t even dream of dodging it! But¡ oopsie. I didn¡¯t have enough energy for that. I¡¯d need to y with Yerin for like, the entire day, to build up enough strength for something that huge.
Just as I was getting ready to call in a whole swarm of Golden Reapers to help me trap this stupid pig, Yerin suddenly pushed something toward me.
¡°Reaper, look at this! It¡¯s a mini reaper! I¡¯ve never seen one like it before!¡±
On her palm was the cutest little Golden Reaper holding¡ another even tinier reaper! It was navy blue with these two adorable little leaves sprouting from its head, all snuggled up under the Golden Reaper¡¯s armpit.
¡°!¡±
My mind nked for a second. It felt like someone had just handed me a surprise baby and told me, ¡°Congrats, it¡¯s yours!¡± When did this little thing even show up?!
I stared at the tiny Bud Reaper, totally mesmerized. After a few moments, it blinked its deep blue eyes sleepily, rubbed them, and then gave me this bashful little grin. My heart? Completely melted.
The Golden Reaper gently held the Bud Reaper out to me, and it just flopped right into my palm. It couldn¡¯t even stand properly yet!
Yaaannn-!
Oh my gosh, it yawned! The little thing was so sleepy and adorable! Through its will, it started telling me all about what it could do and¡ what it couldn¡¯t do. And let me tell you, this Bud Reaper? It was really smart!
I listened, totally impressed, as it exined its abilities. Honestly, it was amazing. I almost wanted to p¡ªit was even cooler than my own powers, the ones I used to take down the Navy Moon!
Surely, surely this Bud Reaper could take down that tricky, slippery pig!
Chapter 150: The Burning Drug (9)
The giant pig was darting around the Rocky Mountains like it owned the ce, all puffed up and waiting for a chance to strike. It was kind of cute, thinking it was such a big shot.
I grinned to myself as I ced the Bud Reaper and the Blue Reaper on my palm, sending a little nudge of my will their way.
You¡¯ve only got one shot, so make it count!
Off to the side, the Golden Reaper, who I had told to sit this one out, was pouting on Yerin¡¯s palm, looking just like a sad little puppy that had its dinner bowl swiped away. Aww, poor thing.
¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay,¡± Yerin cooed, patting the Golden Reaper¡¯s head, like she wasforting a baby. I think she felt bad for it. I did too, but there was no time to be soft!
With a little hop in my step, I gathered up thest of my firewood, ready to whip up a giant ck hole. I didn¡¯t have enough left for another attack after this¡ªjust enough to grab Yerin and dash back to the Garden of the Mini Reaper if things went south. But hey, let¡¯s stay positive!
As I pushed the remaining firewood into my hands, I watched it slowly darken, a hazy mist swirling around. The Bud Reaper and the Blue Reaper perched on my shoulder, their tiny faces all serious and ready to go. I could feel their little hearts racing!
The giant pig, catching on that something huge wasing, locked eyes with me, like it was daring me to make a move. Ooh, it was really watching me now!
Let¡¯s mess with it a little.
< block="" its="" vision!="">< wrap="" us="" in="" thick="" fog!="">
< shatter="" its="" senses!="">
As the fog rolled in, smothering its vision and jumbling up its senses, I stretched my hands out. Time to give this piggy a show!
And just like that, it freaked out, covering itself in mes and barreling toward me at full speed, like a giant fireball on legs.
I couldn¡¯t help but giggle as I clenched my hands, ready for the next move.
Clench!
***The King of Pigs, the master of the mountain range, mulled over the confusion clouding its mind. It had to kill all its enemies. That was the promise it had made with ¡ö¡ö.
For its mountain, for its kin, for ¡ö¡ö.
But now, its vision blurred as space twisted again. Once more, the space contracted, tearing into its flesh and bones without an ounce of mercy. Even as its body was shredded, the King of Pigs refused to die. No, this level of pain would never be enough. R?
Though agony coursed through its entire being as flesh and bone were reluctantly stitched back together, it saw the enemy. Through nearly blind eyes, dim with fatigue, it could still make out the faint presence of its opponent.
And that presence¡ was weakening.
I will win.
The enemy was strong, yes, but not strong enough. Its power was vast, but not endless.
If this dragged on, the foe would exhaust itself, or be forced into a fatal misstep. The King of Pigs, with all its primal cunning, was waiting for that moment.
Yes¡ the enemy would have no choice. It would have to make a desperate move to shift the tide of battle.
< block="" its="" vision!="">
< wrap="" us="" in="" thick="" fog!="">
< shatter="" its="" senses!="">
That moment arrived sooner than expected.
A thick fog unfurled, wrapping the battlefield in darkness. The King of Pigs¡¯ sight dimmed, but it didn¡¯t matter¡ªit could still feel the enemy¡¯s presence, and it was fading, quickly.
The enemy had wagered everything on one final attack.
The King of Pigs tensed. This was its moment. As the enemy¡¯s presence thinned, something else appeared. A crushing weight descended, and the very fabric of space cried out.
Something unfathomable wasing.
With a roar that shook the mountains, the King of Pigs charged, engulfing its massive body in mes. It would meet this threat head-on, in a sh of pure strength. But it was no fool¡ªit was prepared to dodge, to outwit its prey if necessary.
As it neared, the fog parted to reveal a fractured, shimmering boundary. The mist began to shift unnaturally, blocked by an invisible force. The flow of the fog bent, twisting as if pressed against an unseen barrier. Then, the air itself warped, like ss beads scattered through the atmosphere, distorting the scene as though viewed through a fish-eye lens.
A transparent yet opaque boundary had trapped the King of Pigs.
Then came the darkness.
A void vast enough to envelop the King of Pigs spread out, swallowing thendscape where even light dared not shine.
And from within that abyss, a sound. The mournful song of a copsing space, a low, resonant hum that heralded the end. This was the signal the King of Pigs had been waiting for¡ªthe moment it had to strike and avoid destruction in one swift move.
The ck sphere appeared, and with it, the pig leaped through space, aiming for the area behind the enemy. It would attack the instant it evaded¡ªperfect timing, a wless counter.
But then, everything stopped.
The pig¡¯s mouth hung open, teeth poised to crush, yet all was still. The fog that had shrouded the battlefield dispersed like an illusion, and whaty before the King of Pigs was not the sky but a vast tree.
A tree of gold and navy, unfamiliar yet eerily familiar.
It could not move.
Why?
In the suffocating silence, only one being stirred. Its enemy.
A gray-skinned creature, with yellow mes burning within its hollow frame, floated slowly toward the King of Pigs. As it drew near, it tapped a finger against one of the pig¡¯s massive mrs. The tooth moved, but not of its own will.
No. No!
The King of Pigs was dragged backward, a blue afterimage trailing behind it. Its body was retreating, as if retracing its steps, back through the path it had traveled before it was suspended in time.
The gate, which had vanished, reappeared as time rewound. The shattered earth pieced itself together, and fragments of the mountain were sucked back into ce.
Only its time was being reversed.
The King of Pigs struggled, every fiber of its being resisting the pull, but it was futile.
Then, it happened.
The ck sphere, already devouring space, consumed the King of Pigs in an instant. Its body was ground away, torn asunder in one swift motion.
In those final moments, as its flesh dissolved, the King of Pigs glimpsed an old memory, buried deep within.
A hazy recollection, long forgotten.
It was from its birth.
A memory of a white guardian, peering down at the newborn King of Pigs, while behind it loomed a colossal figure, watching with cold, expressionless eyes.
With that memory, the King of Pigs closed its eyes. Forever.
***I won!
It¡¯s finally over.
The giant pig, all fast and furious, was dead.
As the earth vortex that had been swirling everything around started to fade away, the huge open space where the pigs had been causing chaos began to shrink super quickly. It was like the world was snapping back to normal, which felt kinda nice.
The Bud Reaper? Oh, poor thing¡ªit was already snoozing in the arms of the Golden Reaper. But the Golden Reaper wasn¡¯t exactly being gentle. Nope, it was smiling all bright and happy, tossing the Bud Reaper into the air like a little celebration. Adorable, right? Except¡ judging by how Bud Reaper¡¯s eyebrows furrowed even in its sleep, I don¡¯t think it was feeling all that thrilled .
¡°It¡¯s finally over!¡±
Yerin came running over, her face practically glowing, shouting in excitement. She was so cute when she was all relieved like that.
¡°Reaper! You won, huh?¡±
She grabbed my hands, all smiles and sparkles, but¡ oh, no.
Crumble-!
Yeah, as soon as Yerin¡¯s hands touched mine, they turned to dust and crumbled right there! You should¡¯ve seen her face¡ªshe looked so shocked!
It was the Navy Bud Reaper¡¯s ability¡ªAbility to reverse the enemy¡¯s position. Totally drained more firewood than I thought, whoops.
¡°Are you okay? Are you okay?¡± Yerin started panicking, and¡ hehe, a funny little idea popped into my head.
Hihihi.
Suppressing the firewood¡¯s glow, I dramatically fell backward as I¡¯d just copsed, all unconscious-like. And yeah, it hurt a tiny bit, but I cut the firewood flowing to my legs, letting them crumble into ashes too. Super convincing, right?
¡°No! Reaper!!!¡±
Yerin¡¯s panicked scream was so dramatic, she started shaking me, sobbing like crazy. She even buried her face into my chest like some kinda tragic heroine.
Perfect.
I figured it was time to stop the prank, so I opened my eyes¡ and¡ uh, Yerin wasn¡¯t moving.
Huh?
Wait, did she actually¡ faint?!
Oh nooo, she fainted from shock ! Extreme mental shock, maybe?! Oops.
Meanwhile, the mini-reapers were hovering nearby, giving me the dirtiest looks, like I was absolute trash or something.
What the¡ why!
I quicklyid Yerin down and shook her, but she didn¡¯t even budge.
Yerin! Wake up! It was just a joke!
Was she seriously¡ not okay?!
She wasn¡¯t suffering from something for real , was she?! Oh no, oh no, oh no!
***I rushed to work after hearing about some unidentified woman showing up at the Sehee Research Institute in the early morning¡ªwho, as it turned out, was James¡¯ personal secretary.
Yep, James¡¯ personal secretary was suddenly brought here. Totally normal, right?
Naturally, my mind started spinning. This had to be connected to the Gray Reaper or Oh Yerin somehow, but trying to get info on that in Korea? Ha! Forget it.
The news about the spirit barrier burning down¡ªyeah, that big story¡ªgot shut down too, just like that. I couldn¡¯t reach James, so I just forwarded the secretary¡¯s hospital report to his email. That¡¯s professional enough, right?
The Korean Object Association, ugh, they love to control information like this sometimes. But why? No clue. It was a little worrying, but I figured it¡¯d be fine.
The Gray Reaper was with them, so if anything really serious happened, it¡¯d show up with Yerin, all cool and dramatic, and fix everything. I liked that n.
After sorting through my tasks, I decided to clear my head with an early morning walk. That¡¯s when I stumbled upon something¡ odd.
While passing Sehee¡¯s office, I noticed the door was slightly open, and through that crack, I spotted a staircase¡ªan underground staircase. Suspicious much?
Oh, and then I remembered that ridiculous rumor I¡¯d heard floating around the institute. You know, the one about how no matter how much money Sehee¡¯s research institute made, its finances never improved because there was supposedly a giant golden statue hidden in the basement.
Yeah, it wasughable. Except now, staring at this weird, hidden staircase¡ I wasn¡¯t so sure.
So, naturally, I did what any reasonable person would do: I grabbed my phone and ventured down those secret stairs, relying only on the dim light of the screen. Genius move, Seoah, really.
Director Lee Sehee always ran things by the book. Her budgeting? Transparent as ss. So why on earth would she have built this underground¡ thing?
With every step I took, I regretted not checking the budget reports more closely. I mean, who knew what was down here?
Finally, I reached the bottom, and¡ wow. The underground space was massive. Spacious,fy, and honestly, sparkling like some sort of underground pce. Air conditioning was running, making it feel oddly pleasant for a basement.
But then¡ªoh, then my eyes fell on the centerpiece of this underground hideaway.
A huge golden statue.
And not just any golden statue¡ªit was of the Gray Reaper. Yup, the giant, expressionless face told me right away that this wasn¡¯t the little Golden Reaper, but its much bigger, scarier counterpart.
¡°How much did this cost?¡± I muttered to myself, still half in awe.
It didn¡¯t take a genius to see this entire underground setup, from the statue to the space itself, had to cost an outrageous amount of money. And there I was, walking around in this¡ hidden, gildedir, breathing the cool air that felt way too fresh for something underground.
As I wandered, my brain still trying to make sense of all this, I suddenly heard a voice.
¡°You finally saw it, Seoah.¡±
My heart practically jumped out of my chest. I spun around, and there, standing in the shadows at the top of the staircase, was Sehee. She was watching me, calm as ever.
Chapter 151: The Burning Drug: Epilogue (1)
The spirit barrier had copsed.
That trustworthy shield guarding the city? Gone. Crumbling away in mes like some cheap paper fortress.
And where was I in all this chaos? Wandering around, of course. Just strolling through the burning streets like it was my personal yground.
The city¡ªonce a familiar maze¡ªnow felt like it was trying to choke me out. Every breath I took felt like fire, burning my lungs as if they were on the verge of exploding. Yeah, real fun.
The red glow from the barrier¡ªit looked like a sunset, if sunsets were harbingers of doom¡ªcast eerie shadows over the ruins. The copsed outer walls looked like the city¡¯s skeleton, while smoke and fire shot into the sky without a care. The streets, which used to be as familiar to me as the back of my hand, now felt alien, twisted by destruction.
¡°Hurry up. We¡¯ve got to get out, and fast.¡±
That was my friend, always the cautious one, leading the way.
¡°Wait. Stop.¡±
Suddenly, he pressed his back against a half-shattered wall, voice low. I nced over in the direction he was staring at, and there they were¡ªthose long-limbed freaks. Monsters. Not human, of course. More like Objects, with limbs that stretched out like water striders.
Unlike the ming pigs¡ªyeah, you heard me right, giant ming pigs¡ªthey skulked around every corner, hunting down survivors. If it weren¡¯t for those creeps, we¡¯d probably have been out of this burning city ages ago.One of them, hunched and grotesque, was prowling on the other side of us, inspecting the area like it had all the time in the world. From the looks of it, this thing was gonna be here for a while.
I nced at my friend. ¡°So¡ what now?¡±
He didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°We wait. Once it moves, we cut through that alley and we¡¯re good. We¡¯ll hit the forest.¡±
¡°Yeah, sure.¡± I muttered under my breath, taking in a deep breath to steady myself. Even though the air reeked of smoke and burning debris, I stifled a cough and focused on catching my breath.
After a few minutes, the monster finally wandered off, disappearing down an alley.
¡°Thirty seconds,¡± my friend said calmly. ¡°Wait thirty more seconds, then we bolt.¡±
¡°Got it.¡±
I could finally breathe again, lungs starting to stabilize.
Twenty-five seconds. Twenty-six¡
Then, I heard it¡ªa low, raspy snicker.
What¡¯s so funny? I turned to my friend, half-expecting some clever remark, but he was looking up. And when I followed his gaze, well, wouldn¡¯t you know it¡ªa monster with an absurdly long neck was hanging over the wall, smiling down at us.
¡°Run!¡±
At his word, I bolted. Asphalt cracked behind me as the monster¡¯s hand sliced through the ground like it was slicing cake.
Great. Just great.
We were almost there, dammit!
I cursed inwardly as we ran toward the forest, but then, of course, we had to stop. Why? Because there it was¡ªa massive, heat-radiating pig, standing right in our path. Its body gave off so much heat it felt like my skin was about to catch fire just from being near it.
A pig in front. A monster closing in from behind. Perfect.
¡°This is it,¡± my friend said, surprisingly calm. ¡°We¡¯re done for.¡±
Really? Is this how it ends? For a second, I thought, Screw it. Letting go of everything suddenly made the stinking hell we were in feel¡ cooler.
Wait, cooler? And humid?
That didn¡¯t make sense. Not in this burning wastnd.
Then, out of nowhere, glowing characters appeared in the sky. Water droplets surrounded us like some kind of divine shield.
< please="" protect="" everyone!="">
At the same time, I saw an Object flying overhead, glowing a clear, refreshing blue. It was a strange sight, but what followed was even stranger. Golden Objects started popping up everywhere¡ªfrom behind broken stone walls, overturned cars, even cracks in the asphalt. They poked their heads out like curious meerkats, only a little too¡ cute.
¡°It¡¯s the Golden Reapers! We¡¯re saved!¡± My friend copsed to the ground, his face ck with relief.
¡°The Golden what?¡± I wasn¡¯t exactly sold on the idea of trusting cute little gremlins.
¡°You¡¯re always so disinterested in Objects,¡± he scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s the Golden Reapers. I can¡¯t believe you haven¡¯t heard of them. There¡¯s even a fan site¡ª< little="" golden="" reapers=""> .¡±
Fan site? Really? I mean, sure, it sounded important, but his excitement made him seem less like a fan and more like¡ a fanatic. Great. Turns out my roommate¡¯s one of those guys.
I nced around. The monsters¡ªthe giant pig, the long-necked creeps¡ªwere gone. Then I felt a little tug at the hem of my pants. One of those cute little Golden Reapers was pointing towards the end of the road, its tiny face filled with concern.
The thing looked harmless enough, so I picked it up, and it just nestled into my hand, smiling like a baby. Its scent reminded me of warm sunlight.
¡°Well, you¡¯re kinda cute.¡±
¡°Right?¡± My friend grinned as he followed the path the Reapers had shown us.
I followed, holding the smiling Golden Reaper in my hand, gently stroking it as we walked. The monsters had disappeared, and more of the fairy-like creatures were dancing around the ruins, glowing with golden light.
Maybe it was just a gut feeling, but for the first time in what felt like forever, I thought¡ maybe things were finally looking up.
***A voice echoed through the underground facility¡ªthe one that had clearly cost a small fortune to build.
¡°No! Please, just look the other way this one time!¡±
¡°No. This is embezzlement. You know what happens when it¡¯s rted to Objects¡ªpunishments get severe!¡±
Director Lee Sehee was clinging to my foot, pleading like her life depended on it. Honestly, she¡¯s lucky I don¡¯t charge her for this kind of emotionalbor.
¡°It¡¯s not embezzlement! This underground facility is just¡ an extension of the research institute, you know?¡±
I raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, and pointed at the massive golden statue standing in the middle of the room, radiating light like it was about to host its own divine sermon.
¡°Then what¡¯s up with the giant gold statue? You can¡¯t tell me that was necessary. It screams expensive from every angle.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not embezzlement either! I just¡ recycled the gold that was already here.¡±
Recycled? From where exactly?
Oh no. Oh no no no ¡
¡°Wait¡ did you use the Cute Puppy¡¯s kennel?¡±
The golden kennel? From the Cute Puppy¡¯s containment room? That kennel was iconic¡ªthere¡¯s no way she¡
¡°So, you stole it?¡± I asked, my voice a little high-pitched from the sheer disbelief.
But why hadn¡¯t I heard any reports about the kennel disappearing? I mean, sure, we¡¯re a bit rxed around here (okay, maybe too rxed sometimes), but there¡¯s no way no one noticed a whole doghouse vanishing, right? It was huge.
Did the security team seriously not report it? What on earth are they getting paid for? At this point, I should be the one signing their dismissal papers.
And¡ªwait, when did this whole basement even get built?
Director Lee Sehee was usually clueless, blissfully ignorant about most things. But of course, when it came to sneaky, under-the-radar construction projects, suddenly she¡¯s a mastermind. Figures.
Just as my faith in the institute was circling the drain, Sehee piped up again.
¡°I didn¡¯t just take the kennel¡ I reced it! With a gold-ted one, of course!¡±
Ha. Well, thank goodness for that. Gold-ting makes everything better, right? Totally not suspicious at all.
At least now it wasn¡¯t technically embezzlement, right? I mean, they just expanded the facility a little. Nothing to worry about¡ probably.
As I was mulling over the ridiculousness of this whole situation, something small and shiny popped up from behind the golden statue.
It was a Golden Reaper.
Director Lee Sehee pointed at the tiny creature with an air of desperation, gesturing wildly like her life depended on this exnation.
¡°This golden statue is one of the Golden Reapers¡¯ favorites ! I mean,e on, we can¡¯t just tear it down! Do it for the Golden Reapers, not for me!¡±
And with that, she shoved the poor little Reaper¡ªwho looked equally as bewildered as me¡ªinto my hands. It had the same sad, pleading face as Sehee. I swear it was trying to say, Please don¡¯t break our shiny golden statue!
Well, great. Now I had the Reaper guilt-tripping me too.
¡°Fine, if it¡¯s for the Golden Reapers, we¡¯ve got some justification.¡± I sighed, waving off the whole thing. For the Reapers¡¯ sake, I let Sehee off the hook this time. My ¡®angry boss¡¯ face softened, though it wasn¡¯t easy with all this nonsense going on.
The Golden Reapers, who had been cautiously peeking at me from behind the statue, immediately brightened up and dashed toward me. Great, now I had a swarm of them clinging to me, their little golden faces beaming with pure joy.
Honestly, what could I do? They were cute. And, well¡ it was for the Golden Reapers, after all. How could I say no to them?
***In the transport vehicle James sent to take me to the airport, I pressed my face against the window, my expression all scrunched up as I watched the city blur by.
A burned city. Apletely copsed spirit barrier.
Soldiers were everywhere, rushing around, trying to move people to safety now that the city had been dered an Object danger zone. It was kind of chaotic, but oddly organized, too.
I had heard the damage was actually pretty small, despite the spirit barrier copsing and all the Objects causing trouble. It was all thanks to the Golden Reapers and Blue Reapers. Obviously.
People had seen the Mini Reapers in action, and there were tons of videos circting. Everyone loved them¡ªthey were cute, they were helpful, and they didn¡¯t freak people out like most Objects. They really were something special. So adorable!
Then, Yerin shoved her phone right into my face.
¡°When we get back to Korea, let¡¯s try these outfits!¡± she squealed, her eyes practically sparkling as she showed me photo after photo of frilly, doll-like clothes.
Yerin had the same obsession as the Mini Reapers¡ªshe wanted to dress me up. But¡ why? What¡¯s the deal with everyone wanting to make me wear stuff?
Still, I sighed and nodded, scrunching my face even more. I mean, what could I do? This was my punishment for making her mad earlier.
When she passed out from my little prank (whoops), she woke up way faster than I expected. Lucky me. But she must¡¯ve been really freaked out, because she was super angry afterward. So yeah¡ special measures were needed.
Ugh, clothes. I don¡¯t get it. Why do people¡ªand Mini Reapers¡ªlove clothes so much?
It¡¯s not like we could find any cute outfits in the Rocky Mountains anyway, so I just threw on a white Angry Ghost for clothing. It was pretty stylish, if you ask me.
Whether it was because she found the whole Angry Ghost outfit hrious, or because she was just happy I was wearing something for once, Yerin calmed down quickly.
And then, of course, once she realized I felt bad for the whole prank thing, she took advantage of the situation. She started showing me the worst clothes ever. Horrible outfits. Frills. Everywhere. They looked like doll clothes, but way worse.
I mean, just ncing at them, you could tell they were a nightmare to put on¡ªribbons, knots, all that nonsense. No way I could wear them on my own. Plus, they looked so ufortable, like I wouldn¡¯t even be able to move properly.
Surely, she wasn¡¯t actually serious, right?
But the look on Yerin¡¯s face made me nervous. She was definitely serious. Oh no.
***The Garden of Mini Reapers, once a whimsical paradise where fluffy marshmallows drifted like snowkes and cotton candy clouds cast their soft, sugary shadows, had fallen into an unsettling stillness. The sweet, intoxicating scent of the wavy sea of hot chocte, once so inviting, now lingered in the air like a haunting memory. Where joyfulughter had once echoed, silence now reigned. The Mini Grim Reapers¡ªthose mischievous, yful creatures¡ªhad vanished, having left to aid the living. Their absence turned the vibrant garden into a deste, eerie void.
In the heart of this now empty space, where not a single Mini Grim Reaper could be seen, something began to stir. The air grew thick, oppressive, as a shape started to form in the void.
It was massive¡ªits surface smooth and wless, without so much as a blemish. A perfect sphere, untouched and unyielding.
< the="" unchanging="" ck="" ball="">
It hovered there, suspended in the air, an orb of absolute darkness. Its presence was suffocating, as if it devoured the light around it. Rising like an unnatural sun over the once-bustling garden, the ck ball cast a shadow that seemed to stretch endlessly, swallowing what remained of the lighthearted world in its cold, ominous grip.
Chapter 152: The Burning Drug: Epilogue (2)
When we arrived at a quiet military airport located quite far from the spirit barrier, James, who felt like it had been quite a while since thest time I saw him, greeted us. The haggard expression he had when he left James City had faded considerably.
James, who seemed briefly surprised to see me standing on my two feet in a chubby outfit with a crumpled expression, quickly turned his gaze and spoke to Yerin.
¡°First of all, let me thank you. I just got a call that my secretary was seriously injured and hospitalized in a Korean hospital. I¡¯m sure it was possible because of your help. Thank you very much.¡±
Yerin waved her hand in response to James¡¯ words.
¡°It¡¯s fine. In retrospect, I barely survived because of her driving skills.¡±
Hearing her answer, James said that they shouldn¡¯t talk here and asked us to sit down and talk before guiding us to the inside of the airport. James walked slowly with his unique gait and introduced us to the airport facilities. It was a simple and deste facility, as expected of a military airport, but it seemed like they had prepared for our arrival because there were some convenient facilities.
James led us to a lounge built by surrounding a part of the airport hangar with a temporary wall and led us to a soft chair inside. At the tables, there were all kinds of snacks, most of which were my favorites.
Om nom nom-!
I quickly sat down and hugged arge pudding container and started eating it. In the meantime, James sat down on the chair and started talking while taking some snacks from the table and eating them.
¡°I am very embarrassed because I was the one who rmended this ce. I never thought the perfectly good spirit barrier would copse like that. It seemed like one can¡¯t be too sure when talking about Object-rted issues.¡±Yerin, who was eating a small jelly, shook her head and said.
¡°How could you predict something like this, James?¡±
¡°Still, I can¡¯t help but ask. Do you know anything about that situation? Just what happened?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know either. When I woke up, the barrier was suddenly on fire¡ Reaper might know, but we can¡¯t really ask it.¡±
While looking at the back of my head as I absentmindedly ate my pudding, Yerin said so.
¡°When I woke up, the sky was red, Reaper was already not around, and the spirit barrier was already burning brightly. Then, your secretary came to see me and told me to escape quickly, so I hurried out of the hotel.¡±
¡°Then we collided with something and were thrown off the motorcycle, but luckily Reaper came just in time, so both me and the secretary survived. That¡¯s all I know.¡±
When Yerin exined it like that, I thought it was a really close call.
What would have happened if I had dyed a little more to recover the firewood, I wonder?
Of course something really terrible would have happened.
¡°I see, I guess I would have to wait for the investigation result. The Object Association is currently predicting that it¡¯s rted to the ¡®Object drug¡¯ incident that¡¯s been on the risetely.¡±
James continued talking while looking at Yerin, who was sitting in an awkward position.
¡°Even though yourplexion is pretty good, your posture looks ufortable. Are you hurt somewhere?¡±
¡°Ah yes. I think my ribs were broken when I was thrown from the motorcycle, but they¡¯re better now. I think the Blue Reaper did something to heal me. But I think I should still return to Korea and get a thorough checkup.¡±
¡°I see. So you¡¯re thinking of going back to Korea.¡±
Yerin answered James¡¯ calm question.
¡°We should return now. My body isn¡¯t perfectly fine, and I think Reaper also secretly wanted to return.¡±
At Yerin¡¯s unexpected answer, I lifted my head from the pudding container and looked at Yerin. I thought Yerin would naturally ask to go somewhere else, was her health worse than I thought?
No matter how I looked at it, it didn¡¯t seem so bad that I had to move her to Sehee Research Institute through the Garden of the Mini Reaper, though.
After hearing Yerin¡¯s words, James nced at my face for a moment.
?
Then he turned his head towards Yerin again and said,
¡°Then, you should take my private jet.¡±
¡°Wow, really?¡±
Yerin smiled brightly at James¡¯ answer before taking my hand and shaking it happily.
¡°We¡¯ll take a private jet together again this time!¡±
Yerin smiled brightly at the thought of taking the ne together with me.
In fact, I was thinking about secretly going back by teleporting alone, but I guess that wouldn¡¯t work¡
Knock-! Knock-!
At that moment, a quiet knock echoed from the wooden door.
¡°I think the ne is ready.¡±
James said as he got up from his seat.
¡°Let¡¯s meet in Korea next time. We decided to build James Tower in Korea, so we¡¯ll be able to meet again soon.¡±
Yerin got up from her seat and picked me up while I was eating pudding.
¡°Let¡¯s go home, Reaper.¡±
Yerin¡¯s soft voice rang in my ears.
It was the end of our difficult trip to America, where only strong Objects appeared.
*********There was no night in the Garden of The Mini Reaper as it was always bright and cozy, but if there was a night, wouldn¡¯t it be this kind of time?
The Mini Reapers began to return to the garden after helping people in the city near the spirit barrier. Once they gathered in the middle of the garden, the Golden Reapers shared their stories of bravery and bragged about the people they met.
They also shared the sad stories of humans dying, the brave stories of them saving humans, and the happy stories of being favored by humans.
All of those feelings were diluted, amplified, and disappeared as they held each other¡¯s hands and shared their will.
The sadness disappeared when it was shared, while the joy doubled when it was shared. What remained were stories about 100 people and 100 different colors of humans.
The Golden Reapers were always happy and had fun whenever they talked about people.
Hop-! Hop-!
The Golden Reapers exchanged their wills while smiling brightly. Then, some of the Golden Reapers discovered something and began to look up to the sky.
It was because of the ck round sphere which was floating in the air.
The curious Golden Reapers stared at the sphere and wondered.
What is that?
Is that an attraction that Mom prepared for us?
The Golden Reapers, who had been looking up at the sky, lowered their gazes and began to look at each other. In the middle of the softly shining Garden of the Mini Reaper, a silent resolution was exchanged. Then, the Golden Reapers dispersed and began to create something.
Plop-! Plop-!
The Golden Reapers scattered in all directions with cute steps and tore off some pieces of the marshmallows and shaped it into squares like bricks. Then they began to stack them under the round sphere. The hard stick-shaped cookies became pirs, while the thin biscuits became the floor for the stairs.
As countless Golden Reapers happily worked on the construction as if they were ying with y, a tall tower waspleted in no time. It was a tower that was high enough to touch the sphere.
Once the tower waspleted, one of the most curious and courageous Golden Reapers slowly began to climb the tower. Below, the other Golden Reapers were watching with bated breath.
With every marshmallow it climbed, it got closer to the ck sphere. Even though the tower made of candy swayed in a terrifying manner, the Golden Reaper was able to slowly climb the tower with its unique sense of bnce.
Ta-da-!
Having reached the top of the precariously swaying tower of candy, the Golden Reaper spread its arms wide and took a pose with a bright smile. It was a pose that symbolized the joy of being able to climb the tower to the end.
The Golden Reapers who were watching from below also jumped up and down to congratte their kin on its sess.
The Golden Reaper, who had beenughing bashfully at its kind action, jumped from the tower with a determined expression. Its target was the ck sphere floating in the air!
The Golden Reaper jumped, surrendering its body to gravity, and prepared for a collision with the sphere. However, despite the appearance of the sphere, it gently sucked the Golden Reaper.
As it entered, a deste space appeared in front of the Golden Reaper. Inside the ck sphere, the space was endlessly spreading. In that space, there were remains of destroyed Objects, ground contaminated with ck mucus, and a huge, very huge empty thing lying on the ground.
The Golden Reaper walked slowly and carefully through the ominous-looking environment. As it walked through the space that felt foreign yet familiar for some reason, the Golden Reaper was able to find a piece torn off from the huge thing.
The piece that had fallen off from the thing then melted away and transformed into something that looked exactly like the Golden Reaper from the antennae to the tips of the feet. It had transformed into something exactly like the Golden Reaper.
The only difference it had with the Golden Reaper was its ck skin and white me.
When the Golden Reaper tilted its head to the sides while looking at the ck Reaper who looked exactly like it, the ck Reaper also tilted its head in the same way.
When The Golden Reaper raised its arm, its ck counterpart also lifted it.
And when the Golden Reaper jumped, it also jumped the same way.
The Golden Reaper, who had a puzzled expression on its face, smiled brightly and reached its hand towards the ck Reaper as if it had found something interesting.
The Golden Reaper held the ck Reaper¡¯s hand as if it was reflected in a mirror, andughed heartily.
New sibling?
Even though It felt slightly different, it also felt like its sibling.
The Golden Reaper was very happy and joyful because it had a new sibling again.
And as if affected by that emotion, the ck Reaper¡¯s firewood gradually burned yellow, and it also smiled faintly.
Another child was born in a ce unknown to the Gray Reaper.
*********Late evening at Sehee Research Institute, the cute puppy walked with a tired expression and plopped down in front of its kennel.
Since the cute puppy ran around with the Golden Reapers who boasted infinite stamina every day, it always came home every day in a tattered state. In front of it, the special food that came once a month filled its food bowl.
The cute puppy then looked up at the ceiling with a hazy expression while eating the food. It was reminiscing the happy times when it ate food much better than this food every day. It was a joyful time when all the people around it moved only for it.
However, those happy days had all passed, and only the traces of it remained, making the cute puppy sad.
You¡¯re the only one left.
The cute puppy ced its paw on the gigantic golden kennel andmented.
Thud-!
However, the feeling it got from the kennel was strange. It was light.
Suddenly, a terrible thought urred to the cute puppy, and it raised its ws to scratch the kennel hard.
Then, the cruel truth was revealed.
As the gold-ted shell was peeled away, a bare grey stic was revealed.
No!
The cute puppy cried and fainted from the shock of the terrible reality that had been revealed.
Chapter 153: The Burning Drug: Epilogue (3)
In the ruins of a city where the heat from the huge still lingered and the smoke still could be seen here and there, the streets where many people once walked were charred and copsed, leaving only traces of their former appearance.
The buildings that once towered high, almost touching the sky, now bowed their heads, revealing only their skeletons between the copsed walls and broken windows.
The streets where many people had walked, the roads where countless vehicles passed, and the buildings that provided shelter to countless people were all empty and silent. All the people had been transferred to other ces, as the city was designated as a dangerous area where ghostly Objects could appear.
In the midst of these ruins, researchers from various research institutes, led by James, slowly entered the ruins, wrapped in protective suits all over their bodies. Of course, they did not enter this dangerous area for no reason. The first reason was that the research institutes had received a request for research cooperation.
Since it could be an ident rted to the Gray Reaper, they probably hoped that the ¡®James Research Institute¡¯, which knew the Gray Reaper the best, would help.
The second reason was that the government had requested for their cooperation. It was a request to help search for missing Drug Enforcement Agency personnel.
[ Drone Units 1 to 80 are cleared. No ghostly Objects have been found inside the ruins so far. ]
Among James¡¯ group, radio transmission from the soldiers who were piloting the drones was heard.
[ Then, each of you should disperse and start working! ]
As James gave an order into the radio, the researchers began to disperse in all directions, holding detectors and such. What the researchers were holding in their hands was a detector needed to investigate the Object drug.While the researchers were dispersing, the soldiers began to move busily to set up tents to be used as a temporary base.
[ Overall, the mental contamination level is high. There is definitely something in the ruins. ]
James frowned as he looked at the mental contamination level detected by his measuring equipment. It must mean that the Object drug was buried somewhere in these ruins.
James expected that the copse of the spirit barrier and the Object drug incident were rted. In order to find out the truth, it would be necessary to find the missing personnel of the DEA.
If possible, it would be best to find the DEA team leader.
He had to find the team leader who had disappeared after reporting that one of his agents was mentally contaminated and hiding a gunshot wound.
Few researchers approached James, who was organizing some data while sitting in a makeshift tent. They were researchers who had been assigned to a separate mission by James.
[ James, I had taken a picture. The vortex really disappeared. ]
The data they sent was a picture of an empty lot. It was a picture full of circr traces of the ground being dug up, and it was full of the footprints of a giant pig and traces of destruction.
It was a picture of a ce where a twisted vortex on the ground had been, a ce where satellite observation was impossible due to spatial distortion.
[ I thought this would be the result when the spatial distortion disappeared, but it really did disappear. Just what the hell happened? ]
James muttered to himself in a low voice, then spoke to the researchers who filmed the empty space where the vortex once stood.
[ We might find more clues there, so make sure to preserve and seal the scene. ]
After hearing that, the researchers gave a small greeting and returned to their positions.
*********As we entered the door of James¡¯ private ne, a unique atmosphere greeted us. It was a luxurious andfortable atmosphere.
However, Reaper walked into the ne as if it didn¡¯t matter.
Soft lighting cast a soft glow on the hallway, and unlike regr nes, the spacious space gave off afortable atmosphere. The well-decorated hallway was also finished with glossy wood, and the sensation I got from touching it was incredibly smooth and soft.
When I arrived at the space where Reaper and I would be staying, there wererge, soft seats lined up in a way that seemed to be arranged to make whoever sat there able to have a good conversation with their partner.
As soon as Reaper found the seats, it walked awkwardly and hopped over beforeying down on therge sofa and took out a pudding and scooped it into its mouth.
The Reaper who was wearing a Hungry Ghost outfit and hopped around was so cute!
While Reaper was eating the pudding, I opened the closet located beyond the seating area and smiled happily. The closet was full of the clothes I had asked James to get. There was so many kinds of children¡¯s clothes for Reaper!
Reaper was wearing clothes obediently now, but I needed to get it to try other things soon because I didn¡¯t know when it would stop cooperating.
I had a feeling that I shouldn¡¯t wait until we arrived in Seoul!
The fact that Reaper wouldn¡¯t take off the Hungry Ghost clothes made me even more anxious. There must be a reason why Reaper, who was synonymous with being self-indulgent, was putting on his clothes so well.
¡°Reaper!¡±
When I called Reaper with a big smile, it looked up at me with a slightly nervous expression.
Ta-da!-!
I took out a children¡¯s dress from the closet and showed it to it, making Reaper shake its head violently with a terrified expression.
Shake-! Shake-!
I could feel its strong determination to never wear it from how it shook its head.
Tsk, it seemed like the effect of me fainting has somewhat weakened.
I should have passed out for longer! Why did I wake up so quickly?
If it weren¡¯t for Reaper smiling brightly in my dream and waving for me toe back quickly, I wouldn¡¯t have woken up so easily¡
Surely the Reaper didn¡¯te into my dream and wake me up, right?
Just like that, the persuasion continued for a long time.
I stimted Reaper¡¯s psychological sense of guilt by adding some pleading. Normally, it would never work, but since I had fainted from one of Reaper¡¯s pranks, it seemed like it would work.
¡°Then, I¡¯ll take out three clothes. Wear one of them. Okay?¡±
Reaper, who had been furrowing its brows, thought deeply and then slowly approached me with a reluctant expression.
It¡¯s a sess!
If I listed simr clothes as options, Reaper would definitely be upset, so I picked out clothes that were moderately diverse but still cute and held them up.
The first one was a pink children¡¯s dress with lots of frills.
However, Reaper walked past it without even looking at it.
Sob-!
The second one was a gothic children¡¯s dress with abination of ck and white.
Reaper thought deeply while looking at it before passing by.
The third one was a kindergarten uniform that suited the Reaper¡¯s height.
After seeing that, Reaper started to slowly look at the clothes again from the beginning. Although it seemed like it didn¡¯t like any of them, it eventually chose one.
However, the choice it made was really unexpected.
Before long, I dressed the Reaper, who was standing still in despair, and adjusted its posture and even gave him a hug.
Just like that, the perfectly cute Reaper waspleted!
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As I took a bunch of pictures of the Reaper with my phone, I thought to myself. The probability of it choosing the third one should be the lowest, but it still chose the third one. It seemed like it simply chose something with less fabric.
Did you hate fabric that much?
Even though a thought from the researcher part of me appeared and deduced that it might be rted to its abilities or characteristics, it quickly disappeared into oblivion due to the Reaper¡¯s cute appearance.
I was so happy because I could get two pictures of the Reaper wearing clothes!
One is a photo of it wearing a Hungry Ghost costume while the other one was a photo of Reaper wearing a kindergarten uniform.
It was a great result of the trip to the US.
Just like that, I was able to have a happy time on the ne that was taking me back to Korea from my trip to the US.
*********A researcher from the James Research Institute was walking around with measuring equipment to create a distribution map of mental contamination levels.
The distribution map showing where the mental contamination level gradually faded while it was centred around the ce where a certain church building used to be was almostplete.
In the meantime, there was an area where the level was particrly high, so he slowly approached that area while recording the levels.
[ This is Block D 7. A different level than expected was observed. ]
Just what was the reason, I wonder?
Was there an Object hiding in this deste ruin?
The researcher¡¯s steps became increasingly slower as he felt afraid.
Beep-! Beep-! beep-!
As he used the measuring device that made sounds at irregr intervals as a guide, he finally saw arge rock awkwardly ced in the middle of the copsed building.
Is that rock the cause?
Just what is that rock?
[ I found a suspicious rock. I will investigate now. ]
After reporting the unusual situation ording to procedure, the man slowly pushed the rock, trusting in the performance of the protective suit.
Then, something popped out with a ¡®Ta-da!¡¯.
It was a Golden Reaper who was smiling bashfully as if he was embarrassed because it had been caught.
What the¡ it was just a ¡®Golden Reaper¡¯.
He was relieved that it wasn¡¯t a vicious object, but he still felt uneasy.
Did Golden Reaper have such a high mental contamination level?
A delicious scent wafted through the protective suit at that moment. It was the scent of the Golden Reaper, which resembled the smell of the sun.
Well, the Golden Reaper was kind, so it shouldn¡¯t be a big deal.
At that moment, a strong electric current flowed from the protective suit, making the researcher faint.
In his darkening vision, the Golden Reaper approached him with a worried expression.
¡®It¡¯s okay. I just fainted because my mind was polluted, so don¡¯t worry.¡¯
The researcher tried to reassure the Golden Reaper with a smile, but no sound came out of his mouth, which was paralzyed by the electricity. Then, the man lost his consciousness.
*********The ck Reaper and the Golden Reaper held each other¡¯s hands andughed happily on the pitch-ck ground. They were having fun even though they were just jumping around. They jumped and ran around, they even rolled around on the slippery ground.
The Golden Reaper, who was lying on the groundughing, suddenly had a thought. It would be more fun if they went out and yed with everyone!
So, it decided that it was time to take the new youngest outside and introduce it to everyone. The Golden Reaper held the ck Reaper¡¯s hand tightly and walked out of the ck sphere.
However, the ck Reaper stopped walking just in front of the boundary of the ck sphere.
Shake-! Shake-!
The ck Reaper shook its head with a sad expression.
The Golden Reaper tilted its head after seeing its action, not understanding the ck Reaper¡¯s refusal to leave.
If it doesn¡¯t want to go, what can it do?
The Golden Reaper, who hade to that conclusion, shook its hand in the air vigorously.
I¡¯lle back next time!
Then, the Golden Reaper jumped over the boundary.
The ck Reaper, left alone in the dark space, erased the faint smile that remained in its lips and walked somewhere.
It was fun.
The ck Reaper thought.
It was really fun.
It then leaned on therge body of its mother and conveyed its will.
It was fun.
However, his will was not conveyed. It bounced off and scattered into the air.
So, Mom, please wake up too¡
It believed that since it was alive, its mother would wake up too.
It repeated the words over and over again as it blew the firewood that the Golden Reaper had given it onto its mother.
It continued to do so while shedding tears.
It continued until it used up too much firewood and copsed, unable to maintain its form.
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