Chapter 123

The interior of the Sehee Research Institute was filled with safety lines set up to guide visitors.

“Unnie Sehee, is it really okay to open the isolation room to visitors?”

“There were just too many requests to see The Gray Reaper. There’s nothing we can do about it. We’ve also received approval from the association, so as long as there’s no accident, we should be fine.”

Unnie Sehee said this with a look that didn’t seem particularly concerned.

Truthfully, I didn’t want to reveal the reaper’s isolation room.

If people keep coming in and out, I won’t get to play with the reaper anymore!

Plus, if visitors come and see a researcher inside the isolation room, it would seem strange…

As soon as it hit 10 AM, countless people wearing visitor IDs began gathering along the safety lines.

Our supervisor? Senior Jungloe Kim.

Maybe because it was the first public unveiling of the Gray Reaper Isolation Room, quite a number of people gathered to catch a glimpse of the Gray Reaper.

Sensing the influx of visitors, the antennae of The Gray Reaper tilted slightly toward the magic mirror.

And swayed gently left and right.

Meanwhile, The Golden Reapers rushed toward the magic mirror and started jumping around, creating a ruckus.

“Wow.”

Gasps of admiration came from the visitors.

The reaper did look kind of cute.

With public opinion improving greatly compared to before, all the visitors were looking at the isolation room with friendly eyes.

Sounds like “It’s amazing that they’re watching TV,” or “The Golden Reapers are so cute,” echoed down the corridor.

A peaceful and cheerful atmosphere.

Thank goodness, it doesn’t seem like an accident will happen.

***

Cozy beds, tasty snacks, and Mini Reapers frolicking—just another day in the isolation room.

Though it seemed similar to usual, today the isolation room felt more chaotic than ever.

Despite its excellent soundproofing, the isolation room wasn’t exactly noisy, but the crowd outside the magic mirror made things feel busier from my perspective.

Warm feelings radiated from the visitors outside, flooding into the isolation room.

The Blue Reapers, embarrassed, had turned transparent and were hiding in the corners while gazing at the magic mirror where the warm gazes of the visitors were concentrated.

On the other hand, The Golden Reapers dashed toward the magic mirror, smiling brightly.

Some even stuck themselves to the mirror trying in vain to peer through to the other side.

They could just ghost-phase through, so why don’t they?

Sometimes the logic of The Golden Reapers is beyond me.

I ignored the commotion outside, turned on the TV, and switched to the news.

There I was, falling through the air.

My expression was blank, yet somehow relieved.

“So this is what the Gray Reaper looked like after dealing with the Giant Jellyfish.”

“Yes, it seems certain based on the circumstances.”

It was a rerun of James’ interview for the news.

For some reason, James bragged that I’d fixed everything he messed up, making the whole world full of stories about me.

Lately, even the rare video clips of me dancing have started appearing again on TV, which is super embarrassing.

Yerin looked happy with all the Reaper merchandise coming out.

She seemed to be buying loads of expensive dolls and figurines.

Even though the real thing is right here, does she really need those figurines?

“Woah!”

Suddenly, cheers erupted loud enough to penetrate the walls of the isolation room.

I turned my head to see The Golden Reapers sitting in a circle.

Dum-dum.

In the center, one Golden Reaper was performing dazzling dance moves.

Watching the small body wiggle and dance, the visitors grew even more excited.

While the chaos outside grew, I decided to sneak away using ghost-phasing.

“Huh? The Gray Reaper disappeared.”

My sudden disappearance caused confusion among the visitors in the hallway.

Then, when I turned off all the lights by pulling a switch, an uneasy atmosphere began to spread.

“What’s going on?”

People relied only on their phone flashlights in the pitch-black darkness.

I popped up suddenly among them, startling everyone.

Hehe, now that the people are scared and running away, peace will return, right?

But my plan was only half-right.

About half of them were startled and backed away, while Kim Jungroe tried to calm them down.

However, the other half saw me and rushed over, starting to pet me instead.

“The Gray Reaper is so cute!”

“What’s this? His hair feels like it’s twitching?”

Taking advantage of the chaos, Yerin also clung onto me.

Trapped among the people, I was dragged around helplessly.

This is all James’ fault.

Next time I see him, I’ll have to prank him a little.

***

Late at night, the faint aroma of coffee wafted through the detective agency as the loud noise of the TV filled the room.

“This incident has deeply affected Trinity Research Institute.”

“Although it was the personal misconduct of the Director of Research Institute No. 3, we failed to prevent it in advance and bear significant responsibility.”

The story was about the collapse of Trinity Research Institute No. 3.

“In the end, it fell apart like this, huh, Ahjussi.”

The blonde girl glanced at her palm with a slightly bitter expression, recalling the two Trinity researchers she met in the desert.

“I wanted to personally take revenge on the ones who turned me into this, but looks like that’ll never happen now.”

“Aga-ssi…”

The slightly melancholic girl smiled faintly at the black agent.

“But what happens to the rest of the research institutes now?”

“They will likely face dissolution as well.”

Tilting her head, the girl asked,

“Didn’t the investigation conclude it was solely the third institute’s unilateral decision?”

“Still, this matter is too big, and someone will have to take responsibility.”

What worried the black agent most was the ‘Evolution Liquid.’

Just then, the TV brought up the same topic.

“So you’re saying Trinity Research Institute No. 3 conducted experiments turning humans into objects?”

“Yes, according to the materials found at the third institute, it’s almost certain.”

According to current investigations, the key ingredient in ‘Evolution Liquid’ was human beings.

A liquid created by torturing humans, intended to evolve them and dominate objects—a completely insane concept.

Amidst the horrifying revelations about the Evolution Liquid, one piece of information caught everyone’s attention.

It was revealed that the snacks sold by Trinity Research Institute No. 3 were actually ‘human flesh pastries’ made from the leftover scraps of the Evolution Liquid production process.

Who would’ve thought that buying a snack resulted in eating human cubes?

The shock was immense, and reactions were intense.

Since these snacks were delicious, fragrant, and cheap, they had been enjoyed by many.

This revelation sparked movements to dismantle Trinity entirely.

As the girl quietly listened to the TV, she turned it off and stood up.

Pulling back the curtains, moonlight poured over her.

“These days, Detective Ahjussi keeps telling me to wait. When will I finally be able to live under the sun?”

“Surely, there will come a day when you can stand under the sun.”

“Surely, that day will come, right?”

Though slightly anxious, the determined girl smiled as the black agent grinned back at her.

***

Near the canopy sky of the Mini Reaper Garden, a flying candy house hovered.

It was the home of the Blue Reapers.

Originally floating above the Sea of Hot Chocolate, it had ascended into the sky to avoid the perpetually cheerful attention of The Golden Reapers.

Inside, ten Blue Reapers gathered around a crystal ball made of soap bubbles.

Within the crystal, they saw the laundry room of Sehee Research Institute.

Inside, The Gray Reaper sat with a bored expression, staring at the spinning washing machine.

[Mommy, I’m scared!]

Seeing this expression, a Blue Reaper trembled in fear.

Inside the washing machine, numerous Golden Reapers spun happily.

Somehow, The Gray Reaper had caught all the Golden Reapers he’d previously hit with the marshmallow hammer and stuffed them into the washing machine.

Though The Golden Reapers appeared delighted, the scene terrified the Blue Reapers.

Without physical immunity, the fragile Blue Reapers feared getting hurt!

Other Blue Reapers hugged the trembling one and offered comfort.

Then, the gray reaper in the crystal turned his gaze directly toward the Blue Reapers, giving a meaningful stare as if aware of their presence.

Startled, the Blue Reapers destroyed the bubble crystal and huddled together, shaking.

***

Deep into the night, at the excavation site of Trinity Research Institute No. 3.

Most had gone home, but one researcher remained, examining the unearthed items.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a headless lizard. It has the ability to resurrect when placed in fire.”

When the researcher pointed at the object, a response came from the vintage lamp at their waist.

The researcher eagerly took notes with pen and paper.

Moving through the temporary storage area holding numerous objects excavated from Institute No. 3, the researcher continued asking questions and taking notes.

At one point, an unusual object caught the researcher’s eye.

A decaying purple hermit crab.

Its claws had rotted off, and it lay powerless, slowly dying.

Pointing the lamp at the object, the researcher asked,

“One last question. What’s this hermit crab?”

“It’s a servant of the Purple Moon.”

A playful voice echoed from the lamp.

“So, are we sealing the deal now?”

“No.”

The researcher placed the lamp inside a thick alloy-sealed container and sealed it tightly.

[Handle with care.]

[Lamp that tempts humans.]

[Refer to the report for detailed information.]