Upon opening her eyes, what she saw was a massive full moon, a small red moon, and a blue moon.
Three kinds of moons floated serenely in the sky.
Lying down, the black night sky above was filled with twinkling stars.
“Of course, I thought she was dead for sure…”
The blonde girl muttered to herself with a slightly hoarse voice.
Apart from a little discomfort, there was no issue with her body.
Even the chest wound that felt like it had been pierced straight through the heart by a sharp blade had vanished.
There were two uncomfortable points: the lingering taste of blood in her mouth,
and the rough texture of gravel pressing into her back, causing slight pain.
Someone was tightly gripping the blonde girl’s hand. Turning her head, she saw a black agent sitting there.
The agent’s face was etched with worry and concern.
Seeing that face, the girl could feel a wave of relief spreading through her heart.
The girl and the man silently stared at each other but didn’t speak.
An awkward yet not entirely uncomfortable silence passed before the black agent gently pulled the girl into his arms and stood up.
They slowly walked across the gravel patch, making soft crunching sounds.
The girl buried her face in the agent’s chest and said,
“I’m sorry, Ahjussi.”
“It’s fine.”
In a slightly muffled voice, the girl continued,
“What do we do now? I followed the guidance of the heart, but it wasn’t enough.”
“There must be a way. And let’s go find someone who might help us.”
“Oh, you don’t mean…that guy in the yellow suit, do you?”
At the thought, an image of a man in a flashy yellow suit popped into the girl’s mind.
“Yes, that guy will definitely be able to help us.”
Though the blonde girl remembered him as somewhat unreliable, she decided to trust the man’s judgment.
After all, the ahjussi had never been wrong before.
The blonde girl smiled softly while hiding her face in the agent’s embrace.
The end times have come.
The Mini Reaper Garden has reached its end times.
While lounging around the garden and munching on snacks, strange things started appearing.
Huge blue hats as big as their bodies.
It seems the golden reapers are starting a trend inspired by the blue reaper style.
Everywhere you look, golden reapers wearing large water-made hats are walking around.
A golden reaper confidently strolling in their hat, drawing envious stares from fellow reapers.
Then, the one with the hat would laugh happily and place it on the head of the envious reaper.
The newly crowned hat-wearer would strike a pose they deemed cool, and everyone would cheer with clapping hands.
Created by the blue reaper’s magic, these witch hats eventually turn back into water after about an hour—but even so, the golden reapers seemed delighted.
Although there were still many golden reapers like me who found wearing anything uncomfortable, it felt like fewer and fewer were resisting the idea.
At this rate, they might start wearing clothes and shoes next!
I’ll need to teach the blue reaper soon just how inconvenient wearing stuff can be.
Otherwise, the golden reapers might develop some bad habits!
Hmm.
While watching the golden reapers joyfully playing with the witch hats, I spent my time nibbling on some fluffy cake.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a witch hat far too enormous for any mini reaper.
Floating gracefully through the air, the hat landed right in front of me.
The blue reaper approached slowly, looking up at my face.
What is it?
The blue reaper stared at me with shining eyes, clearly hoping for something.
Surely, they’re not asking me to wear that thing?
After a few seconds of eye contact, when I didn’t respond, the blue reaper began writing strings of text in the air:
[I made a big hat!]
Yeah, yeah. Good job.
With heartfelt approval, I patted the blue reaper’s head.
The blue reaper looked pleased but then tilted their head and asked,
[Won’t you wear the hat?]
Hmm..
No, it’d be too uncomfortable.
Looking down, I saw the blue reaper’s almost tearful expression.
Can’t blame them; they’re just a weak youngling without physical immunity.
Sighing, I picked up the giant hat and placed it atop my head.
As soon as I did, the blue reaper beamed with joy.
But wow, this thing is huge and incredibly uncomfortable.
The brim is so wide it could double as a blanket!
Despite wanting to take it off immediately, the surrounding golden reapers gathered around and started having fun.
Golden reapers hanging off the giant brim, laughing and cheering.
The blue reaper happily darted around nearby.
Since the mini reapers seem to love it so much, I guess I’ll endure it until the hour is up.
[Cool!]
[Cute!]
[Suits you!]
The blue reaper who made the hat climbed onto my lap and showered me with compliments.
Even though these praises came from the overly friendly mini reapers, they still felt oddly excessive.
Could they possibly be brainwashing me into wearing clothes regularly?
Deep within Trinity Research Institute No. 3, there was a grotesquely twisted underground laboratory.
A lab only accessible to those authorized by the Director of Research Institute No. 3.
More precisely, only those “evolved” humans as described by the director could enter.
The overwhelming smell of oil saturated the entire third institute, especially here in the basement where it was strong enough to numb your nose.
This smell clung to every corner of the lab, refusing to dissipate.
Under the flickering fluorescent lights, the underground space exuded the eerie atmosphere of a mad scientist’s lair.
Large glass tubes lined up in rows, resembling transparent sarcophagi preserving bizarrely contorted life forms.
Some were already dead, while others moved unnaturally—no longer qualifying as living beings.
Some floated eerily in murky liquid, creating an unsettling silence, while others clung to the glass, casting grotesque silhouettes.
The researchers inspecting these tubes weren’t normal either.
Their limbs were twisted, their semi-transparent skin revealing internal organs beneath.
Amidst this distorted and insane realm, the Director of Research Institute No. 3 stood with a furrowed brow and a fierce expression.
“This failure was supposed to be impossible.”
The director’s growling voice sounded like it was tearing into the people standing before the desk.
The man dressed in Trinity Security attire responded to the director’s statement.
“There was no way to succeed. Sir, you underestimate the Gray Reaper. Why do you keep belittling them?”
“Of course, there was a reason. The very existence of the ‘Gray Reaper’ was proof of my victory. But seeing this repeated failure makes me question my judgment.”
The director smoothed their expression and calmly issued orders.
“Recognizing the Gray Reaper as the biggest variable, we’ll make them our top priority from now on.”
The security-clad man was impressed by the director’s decision.
“Finally!”
“The plan to deal with the Gray Reaper is simple. First, transfer the Gray Reaper to the Third Research Institute so we can handle them on our home turf. Until then, thoroughly review all data related to the Gray Reaper.”
Silently listening to the director’s instructions, a woman in a lab coat replied.
“I’ll arrange to borrow the Gray Reaper temporarily through the Object Association, sir.”
The security-clad man grinned widely with excitement.
“Finally, we’ll get to properly fight the Gray Reaper. Even if they’re a special-class object, we can easily handle them here at the Third Research Institute.”
“With that, the meeting is adjourned.”
With the director’s final words, the meeting concluded.
Once everyone left, a tiny purple hermit crab rested peacefully inside a glass tube in the corner of the empty conference room.
*
As the sun dipped below the horizon into late night,
the blonde girl and the black agent arrived in front of the detective agency.
“Ahjussi, I’m a bit nervous. Are we really okay with this?”
“You can trust this guy. Don’t worry, Young Miss.”
Knock knock.
When they knocked on the door, a man in a dazzling yellow suit burst out.
“Welcome, friend! I’ve been waiting for you. My juniors are ready to throw a welcome party!”
Behind the Yellow Detective, the agency employees could be seen.
There were three of them, all women.
One was polishing a giant hammer.
Another had two golden horns sprouting from her head.
And the last one looked like she hadn’t even hit ten years old yet.
Seeing the child employee, the blonde girl nudged the black agent’s back.
“Are you sure this is okay, Ahjussi?”
A detective agency employing elementary school kids?
The blonde girl couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
