Chapter 334

Inside a bus driving through the outskirts of Songpa District.

Yerin opened her phone and was checking the footage from the security camera.

“Aww, so cute!”

Yerin smiled happily as she watched the Golden Reaper from yesterday’s recorded security footage.

In the security camera feed, the Golden Reaper waddled in with a ‘toot-toot’ sound, placed a hand on the entrance door, and looked around.

Once realizing there was no one around, it giggled and slipped into the house with a ‘hehe.’

“What on earth are these cute Reapers sneaking around to do?”

“Should I install cameras inside the house too?”

“Hmm… their numbers have increased again? Yesterday, fifteen Golden Reapers came in. I hope the snacks I prepared today will be enough?”

Yerin worried slightly as she thought about the pile of snacks she had prepared on the dining table for the Golden Reapers to eat.

Even though the Golden Reapers moved ninja-like in secret, they always managed to devour all the snacks on the dining table.

It seemed like the Reapers could distinguish between offerings and things they shouldn’t touch since they never touched any other snacks in the house.

“Oh, maybe one day during my pretend workday, I’ll go out and come back in to see their party. I want to join the Mini Reapers’ party once!”

Yerin grinned happily while daydreaming.

***

James sat in a car driven by his chauffeur, teaching a new picture to the Golden Reaper.

“This picture means ‘Mom looks tired.'”

The image depicted a deformed Gray Reaper ignoring the Golden Reaper while lying down with an exhausted expression.

It was an illustration for the Golden Reaper’s communication button.

“Does mom always look like this?”

But the Golden Reaper tilted its head repeatedly, seemingly unable to understand.

Hm.

James noted a few things in his notebook upon seeing this.

[The Golden Reaper may not understand the concepts of exhaustion or being tired.]

[Or perhaps the Gray Reaper pays even less attention to the Mini Reapers than I expected.]

James glanced out the window and noticed they had arrived at Sehee Research Institute, closing his notebook.

“A summon from the Gray Reaper. I hope it’s good news.”

Adjusting his clothes, James walked toward the institute.

***

The Marshmallow Plains had grown quieter with the Gray Reaper gone.

The Pink Girl still looked bewildered.

The soft, squishy field was filled with children resembling the Blue Child who had been with her.

The sweet scent permeated the entire world.

Though still somewhat confused, the warm and sweet atmosphere here began to calm her heart.

Is this what Grandfather called Heaven?

Grandfather said that in Heaven, there are no evil magical books, and Guardians and people live happily together.

At the time, the Pink Girl didn’t know what “Guardians” were, but now she understood.

The Blue Reaper calls Guardians “Hungry Ghosts,” so maybe there are Guardians here too?

When she was initially brought to this strange place, she hadn’t paid much attention to her surroundings due to confusion, but now that her tension eased, she started observing.

Turning her gaze, the Pink Girl immediately spotted a White Hungry Ghost.

“Ah, there really is a Guardian here…?”

However, the White Hungery Ghost was being roasted over a campfire, pierced by sharp skewers.

Uh… uh-oh?

Isn’t Heaven supposed to be a place where humans and Guardians live happily together?

Hee-hee-hee…

But the White Hungry Ghost, despite looking extremely wronged, was being cooked happily by the Red Child.

Well, the “Red Reaper” roasting the White Hungry Ghost did seem genuinely happy.

Cock-cock!

Turning her head, the Pink Girl saw the Blue Idol Reaper poking her cheek with a microphone.

“It’s okay.”

“The Mini Reaper Garden is really safe!”

The Blue Idol Reaper gave a kind smile to reassure the Pink Girl.

Then, pulling out snacks from somewhere, the Blue Idol Reaper began sharing them with her.

“Mmm, delicious…”

These snacks were far tastier than the candies she occasionally scavenged from the “Tower at the End.”

“If this is Heaven, and if Grandfather were here too, it would be nice…”

Upon hearing the Pink Girl’s absent-minded mutter, the Blue Idol Reaper looked up with a slightly sad expression.

“It’s okay.”

The Pink Girl gently patted the Blue Idol Reaper’s head and smiled.

“Is this the ‘Top Floor’ I’ve reached?”

The girl, who had always ascended towers as if chased by something, smiled like this.

***

Still in the Mini Reaper Garden without the Gray Reaper’s return.

A massive structure began falling into the Sea of Hot Chocolate.

It was a transparent sugar construction that had been very popular among the Mini Reapers.

Its appearance resembled the “Tower at the End” that vanished into the evolution liquid.

Beyond it, a giant bread soaked in hot chocolate was being dragged ashore.

“Bad bread!”

“Bread!”

The Golden Reapers clenched their chubby fists angrily at the sight of the bread.

Meanwhile, the Black Reapers transformed into giant ropes binding the Bread Spider as both the Golden and Black Reapers pulled it together.

Koong!

With a heavy thud, the Bread Spider landed on the Marshmallow Plains.

This whole incident began with the Yellow Reaper’s puppet show.

The Yellow Reaper occasionally performed puppet shows for the Mini Reapers. This time, after hearing a story from the Blue Idol Reaper, he decided to perform one.

However, the story included a mention of a word-cursed giant spider, exposing the Bread Spider’s misdeeds.

The event where the Bread Spider mutilated the Blue Child’s eyes saddened many Golden Reapers and eventually became an agenda item at the Golden Reaper Conference Hall.

As the Bread Spider was secured onto the Marshmallow Plains, the Orange Reaper floated above the soggy creature.

Squinting slightly, he emitted a delighted aura.

“The Golden Reaper Conference Hall hereby declares the following verdict:”

“Our thorough investigation has confirmed that the Bread Spider indeed harassed the Blue Younger Brother.”

“The severity of this act surpasses even past similar incidents like the Sugar Flamingo case, making this crime especially heinous.”

“Furthermore, the Bread Spider concealed these facts and refused to apologize.”

“Therefore, the Golden Reaper Conference Hall sentences the Bread Spider, who bullied the Blue Younger Brother, to ‘Snack Form.'”

While the official verdict from the Golden Reaper Conference Hall was simply “Snack!” the Orange Reaper combined the information he gathered to craft this elaborate judgment.

The Orange Reaper chuckled maliciously during the verdict.

As the verdict was announced, the Mini Reapers began emitting intense determination.

“Snack!”

“Bad snack!”

Fierce-looking Mini Reapers swarmed the Bread Spider like white ants, biting it relentlessly.

Seeing how delicious the soggy bread appeared, they widened their eyes and tore into it faster.

Some Mini Reapers dipped pieces of the Bread Spider into the Sea of Hot Chocolate before eating.

The Bread Spider closed its eyes, accepting its fate with resignation.

And the White Hungry Ghosts watched with enjoyment from a sunny spot.

The laughter of the White Hungry Ghosts played softly in the background like a melody.

***

The courtyard of Sehee Research Institute grew increasingly chaotic as more people gathered.

“Wow, my doll is moving!!!”

Most of the commotion came from Yerin, who was freaking out.

“Am I dreaming right now?”

Yerin pinched her own cheek while rejoicing.

For some reason, the more Yerin freaked out, the worse her mood became.

Looking around, James observed the lead doll with a serious expression.

After using nearby Black Reapers to create a stepping platform and sneaking a peek at his notebook, I saw it filled with unreadable English cursive notes.

James glanced at me briefly before starting to write in elegant Hangul.

[Appearance identical to the Gray Reaper.]

[What connection does this have to the Girl with Blue Hair related to Artifact Number 0?]

[However, it doesn’t seem to be the same Object as the Gray Reaper.]

[Lacking the oppressive aura characteristic of high-level Objects. Further confirmation needed.]

James extended his hand and firmly pressed the lead doll’s arm, adding to his notes.

[Tactile sensation and squishiness are similar.]

Shifting my gaze away from James’s notebook, Yerin was getting attacked by Seoah.

“Researcher Yerin! How could you store such a dangerous Object at home without reporting it?”

“The Reaper wouldn’t give me anything dangerous…”

Yerin shrunk under Seoah’s assault.

“Especially when it’s related to the Gray Reaper, you should have reported it.”

“But everyone takes Mini Reapers home! They’re related to the Gray Reaper too…”

“Ugh.”

“And these days, people walk around with tons of Hungry Ghosts too…”

When Yerin pointed out the current biggest issue at Sehee Research Institute, Seoah’s face turned awkward.

At that moment, Kim Jungrwi spoke with a deep voice to Yerin.

“Regardless, unauthorized removal remains unauthorized removal. Let’s head to the office to write your report first.”

As Yerin was dragged toward the office by Kim Jungrwi, she muttered while looking in my direction.

“No… I don’t want to work.”

Since I’m conceptually incapable of understanding speech, I tried to ignore her, but then the lead doll beside me emitted a golden light.

“!!!”

The lead doll opened its expressionless face and spoke.

“That wish has been granted.”

An incomprehensible mumbling.

But it was definitely language.

“!!!”

Everyone was surprised the lead doll spoke, but I was shocked for a different reason.

Because I understood what the lead doll said.

Just like the murmurs of the Lamp Servants saying “The God was cruel.”

Exactly what is this lead doll?