Chapter 119

After guiding the victims of the Trinity Research Institute No. 3 kidnapping incident to the Object Association, finally, peace has returned to Sehee Research Institute.

“Phew. Now I can finally rest.”

Sehee Unnie, who had just come back after a long negotiation with the Object Association people, slumped down onto the chair across the table.

Suddenly, a Golden Reaper leaped onto Sehee Unnie’s cheek that was resting on the table.

The Golden Reaper gently patted her as if comforting the exhausted Sehee Unnie.

Reinvigorated by the Golden Reaper’s encouragement, Sehee Unnie picked up the Golden Reaper and started petting it on her palm.

Seeing the Golden Reaper perched on her palm looking at me expectantly, I also began stroking it gently with my fingertips.

Ah, so peaceful.

Under the warm sunlight in the backyard under a parasol,

with chairs and tables arranged beneath it…

Sipping drinks while playing with the Golden Reapers here makes heaven seem trivial.

Each Golden Reaper had its own favorite way of being petted—this one liked having its crown scratched.

That one stretched out basking in the sun and loved having its belly tickled.

When I reached out to tickle its belly, sure enough, it laughed joyfully, wriggling around.

It used to be hard to tell all the identical-looking Golden Reapers apart, but lately, I’ve been able to distinguish them little by little.

Every time I do, I feel like I’m becoming more of an expert in Reapers, which fills me with pride.

The most important task at Sehee Research Institute? Playing with the Reapers, of course!

Of course, Senior Jungloe or Seoah Unnie would probably disagree, but still!

On top of the table, one Golden Reaper squatted intently staring at the phone screen.

Its head followed every movement of the phone with laser focus.

Most Golden Reapers usually don’t care about screens, so this was surprising.

What the Golden Reaper was watching was news footage of an escaped Hungry Ghost.

Helicopters operated by the Object-specialized broadcasting company were chasing and filming the ghost from afar.

“Huh?”

And then an unusual scene appeared on the camera.

Trinity Research Institute completely devastated, and nearby cities eerily deserted without a single person in sight.

Nearby roads were littered with charred human corpses.

“Sehee Unnie, I can see Trinity Research Institute. The situation looks worse than we were told.”

“Yeah, what the survivors told us doesn’t compare to how bad it actually is.”

Though there seemed to have been a major accident at Trinity, neither Sehee Unnie nor I were overly worried about the Reapers.

Reapers are invincible after all!

The flustered announcer suddenly regained composure and began explaining the current situation based on new information.

[We have received new information.]

Detailed content regarding the hostage situation at Trinity Research Institute, obtained from the Object Association.

The sudden kidnappings, imprisonments, and numerous testimonies claiming researchers turned into Objects.

The broadcast implied that Trinity Research Institute was suspicious.

The roaming Hungry Ghost abruptly dived into the ruins of the Trinity building.

At the same moment, the Golden Reaper watching TV jumped up, waved at me, and then vanished into thin air.

***

Confidence brimming, the man proved easier to handle than expected.

His presence was “Hungry Ghost level,” so I anticipated absurd destruction conditions, but surprisingly, it was simple.

[Destroy the human form.]

For something labeled “Hungry Ghost level,” it was disappointingly straightforward. Perhaps his body was too filled with useless things, throwing him off balance.

The moment the man split in half, countless Objects emerging from the shadows melted into black goo.

Thud.

As the upper body fell to the floor, people entered the research institute.

Wait, why are there still people in such a dangerous place?

It was James’ group from the Pudding Factory.

James from the Pudding Factory, the Timid Man, and four men who looked like bodyguards.

Dressed in black suits with earpieces, they scanned their surroundings with stern expressions.

I heard they went back to the U.S., but it seems they’ve returned to Korea.

The Golden Reapers greeted James’ group with wide smiles.

The bodyguards tried to stop the charging Golden Reapers, but James gestured for them to halt and embraced the flocking creatures warmly.

“Haha, my cute little ones. How have you been?”

James handled the Golden Reapers much more skillfully and affectionately than before.

The bodyguards ignored the clinging Golden Reapers and focused solely on their duties, though the Reapers, feeling neglected, sat dejectedly on their shoulders.

A single Golden Reaper cautiously approached the Timid Man.

Remembered by the Timid Man, the Golden Reaper hesitantly drew near. Closing his eyes tightly, the Timid Man extended his hand.

The Golden Reaper gleamed like sunlight and clung happily to his palm.

“H-Haha.”

The Timid Man smiled, a mix of cuteness and fear.

The Golden Reaper giggled, delighted by his expression.

Having defeated the ‘hidden culprit of the black liquid at Trinity,’

I wondered, ‘Is this the end of our tasks at Trinity Research Institute?’ when suddenly, helicopter sounds began echoing overhead.

Followed by loud rumbling.

Boom! Boom!

Heavy footsteps and the ominous approach of an Object.

Golden Reapers stood up, alert to the approaching Object.

Breaking through walls emerged a familiar Object.

Familiar but not missed, an Object I never wanted to see again.

The glinting-eyed Hungry Ghost scanning us.

In sync with the Hungry Ghost’s movements, the Golden Reapers glared fiercely.

[Protect the humans!]

Blue Reapers soared high, casting water droplet shields over the people’s heads.

Grrrek.

The Hungry Ghost circled, leaving deep claw marks on the ground but made no move to attack.

This cautious observation was strange.

Why is it acting like this?

Previously, it was much more aggressive…

What could be the reason?

***

Reapers and the Hungry Ghost faced each other, creating an ominous atmosphere.

“Aaah, this is the end. If the Hungry Ghost fights the Gray Reaper here, we’re all dead.”

The interpreter screamed in despair, only to have his cheek patted by a Golden Reaper offering comfort.

Bodyguards tightened their grips, raising torches high.

Tension-filled atmosphere.

But James sensed something different about the situation.

The Hungry Ghost was staring directly at him.

Could it be…?

James lifted the briefcase containing Artifact #0.

The Hungry Ghost’s gaze followed the case minutely.

Impossible.

How should I interpret this?

Were all the 0-series artifacts not related to the Gray Reaper?

Should I take out Artifact #0 and test the reaction?

James’ thoughts were interrupted by sudden changes.

Shadows and tentacles erupted violently from the Director of Research Institute No. 3’s body.

Violent waves of tentacles shot skyward, tearing off Trinity’s roof and revealing an ominous glowing sky.

“Blue?”

James gasped, looking at the sky.

The sky darkened, melting like liquid.

The shadow spreading from the director coated the ground in black liquid.

Everything it touched dissolved, dragging it into the shadow.

Fortunately, we stood on fluffy marshmallows instead of the ground.

An awkwardly patched-together section of the Marshmallow World spread by the Gray Reaper.

The black liquid couldn’t penetrate the marshmallow terrain.

Dark, ominous shadows greedily devoured surrounding buildings one by one.

Streets lined with skyscrapers transformed into a pitch-black plain, replaced by twisted, grotesque tentacles.

The inverted black sea above resembled a sticky abyss.

From this black sea emerged an impossibly huge creature.

Clearly visible despite its grotesque transformation—it was unmistakable.

The Object that obliterated a Chinese city.

The Giant Jellyfish.

The massive dome-like canopy of the jellyfish floated eerily in the sky, raining down black liquid.

Below, enormous tentacles sharpened to razor points lunged toward us.

[Protect the people!]

[Please shield the people!]

[Don’t let anyone get hurt!]

Startled, Blue Reapers hastily scribbled incomprehensible strings in the air.

Golden Reapers leapt skyward, fierce expressions ready to confront the tentacles.

Just before collision, a giant Object emerged from the black liquid, encasing James’ group.

The decaying Agui submerged in black liquid.

***

The Agui, pierced through by the jellyfish’s black tentacles, let out a cry of agony.

‘What?!’

Agui protecting humans?!

Startled, I expanded my protective barrier to cover the fallen Agui from the black liquid.

Agui’s condition was dire.

One eye rotted away, and parts corroded by black liquid seemed to have lost physical immunity.

Still, it didn’t appear fatal.

It was regenerating slowly, but there was another reason.

[The stone created by the Starting Object remains unbroken.]

Its destruction condition was still intact.

Even with limbs deteriorating, Agui kept gazing at James unwaveringly.

Then, a white flame burst from the briefcase James held.

Startled, James dropped the case, which burned fiercely and turned to ash.

Left behind was a round stone radiating like the sun.

The stone ascended slowly, flying toward my head.

Simultaneously, white flames enveloped my body.

Instead of pain, it felt good.

What emotion is this?

Trust? Friendship?

This white sun was filling the firewood far faster than the book I touched last time.

Agui now looked toward me instead of James.

Agui’s sorrowful eyes were filled with longing…

and heart-wrenching sadness.