Chapter 124

The morning sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting golden stripes across the entire detective agency.

My suit coat hanging on the rack was scattering little yellow reflections around the room as it caught the sunlight.

The air was thick with the fresh aroma of newly brewed coffee.

It was that familiar scent which somehow always added a bit of energy to my mornings.

In contrast to the quiet morning, the loud noises from the TV filled the air, and it was unmistakably just another typical morning at the detective agency.

The creaking sound of my rocking chair in a comfortable rhythm and the rustling pages of the newspaper I held were all part of the ambiance.

The newspaper was mainly covering the recent incident at Trinity Research Institute No. 3.

“Why did the Hungry Ghost head toward Gwanak-gu?”

“Object Licenses tightened yet still falling short of global standards.”

As I flipped the page, an article analyzing the Gray Reaper took up both sides.

Ah, there’s another one of those articles.

Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of pieces portraying the Gray Reaper in a friendly light.

Whether online or offline, they seem to be everywhere.

Some sites are so bad it’s hard to tell if they’re news outlets or fan clubs for the Gray Reaper.

Still, I don’t feel any particular sense of crisis.

It’s quite strange, really. These reckless and dangerous articles don’t feel dangerous at all.

But based on my gut feeling, the more this pro-Gray Reaper atmosphere grows, the safer Korea seems to become.

Well, if it’s good, then it’s good, right?

“Senior! We’re here!”

Junior No. 1 burst into the detective agency office with a shout.

Junior No. 1 cheerfully pulled out a large hammer from a long bag while grinning.

Behind her, Junior No. 2 and Junior No. 3 entered and bowed politely.

Junior No. 2, with her long golden horns, and Junior No. 3, who looked like an elementary school student, each took their seats.

Seeing that Junior No. 3 still looks like an elementary school student, it seems our younger brother’s condition hasn’t improved.

On the other hand, something strange is happening with Junior No. 2.

While horns usually only grow during childhood, hers have been getting longer, and the reason isn’t clear.

Though I do have a hunch, it’s probably best not to mention it until Junior No. 2 brings it up herself.

Junior No. 3, who handles desk duties, checked something on the computer before speaking up.

“Detective Sunbae, we’ve received a request. What should we do? I’ve sent the details to your phone.”

Ding dong.

An alert sound chimed as the outline of the request sent by Junior No. 3 arrived.

“Investigation request regarding large-scale disappearances involving Black Rust Syndrome.”

Hm, Black Rust Syndrome refers to a condition where objects sprout, much like Golden Horns but with different effects.

If Golden Horns attract affection causing problems, then Black Rust elicits repulsion instead.

Given the nature of the missing person case involving Black Rust Syndrome, it’s likely a murder rather than a kidnapping.

While taking it wouldn’t be a problem, I have things to do now, so I’ll have to pass.

“We’re currently handling a request to rescue the Young Miss with black tendencies, so I’ll have to pass.”

“Ahh, I see…”

Junior No. 3 sat back down with a slightly disappointed look.

At that moment, Junior No. 2 raised her hand enthusiastically and shouted.

“I’ll take it!”

Looking at her phone, Junior No. 2 continued.

“This request, with substantial rewards and involving abductions and disappearances related to Object disease… It doesn’t even feel like someone else’s story.”

Junior No. 2 had a rare, slightly excited expression.

Well, Golden Horn Syndrome does involve frequent kidnappings and disappearances, but it’s somewhat different from Black Rust…

“If this request involves someone with Black Rust Syndrome, will you be okay handling it?”

“Yes!”

Junior No. 2 responded brightly.

Her completely clueless cheerful expression reminded me that she’s not Junior No. 1, so I guess I can trust her.

Black Rust is an object that evokes hatred.

On the contrary, Golden Horns evoke affection.

Both Object syndromes lead to many disappearance cases, but their lives couldn’t be more different.

Especially, people with Black Rust Syndrome tend to strongly dislike those with Golden Horn Syndrome.

There’s a significant gap in government support between Golden Horns and Black Rust, making it easy to feel discriminated against.

Given that it’s a murder case involving Black Rust, it’s definitely dangerous.

Yet, both rationally and instinctively, it didn’t seem perilous.

Thinking about the presence hidden within Junior No. 2’s chest, I spoke.

“Well, go ahead. Just be careful when dealing with the client!”

“Yes!”

Junior No. 2 went over to Junior No. 3’s desk, grabbed the request details, gathered her tools, and left the detective agency.

Watching Junior No. 2 leave, I also stood up to grab my coat.

“Then let’s get going too.”

Junior No. 1 and I exited the office with farewells from Junior No. 3.

***

Swish, swash, gently swaying left and right.

When embracing the Reaper from behind, the antennas atop its head sway seductively, tempting anyone nearby.

Chomp!

Grabbing the antenna with my mouth, it wriggles briefly before escaping.

Hey, it tempted me first and then ran away!

A slightly chaotic scene in the Reaper’s isolation room.

Watching the Golden Reapers play piano, stroking the soft belly of the Reaper makes me feel like I own the world.

Ah, happiness.

There was a crisis where these happy times almost disappeared, but it was resolved well.

Perhaps because people were being too noisy, there was a minor incident where the Reaper escaped from the isolation room.

While escaping might be normal for the Reaper, the Object Association seemed to view it differently.

Ultimately, public exposure that could stimulate the Reaper has been temporarily banned.

For some odd reason today, the Reaper caught a Blue Lizard and placed it on the piano in its isolation room to enjoy the music.

As always, it was a magnificent performance.

Inspired by the music, the Golden Reapers climbed onto the piano and linked arms with the Blue Lizard, clumsily playing along.

Though the music became a bit chaotic, it turned cuter and more lively.

Golden Reapers are cute too!

But all dreamlike moments must eventually end.

The terrifying Senior Jungloe knocked on the isolation room door.

What he held in his hand was….

“The Regular Gray Reaper Report.”

Oh right.

I was supposed to submit it last month, but I forgot.

I tried to exit the isolation room with the most pitiful expression possible, but it wasn’t enough to calm Senior Jungloe’s anger.

Heeeng.

**

In the middle of an abandoned city, a desolate and eerie silence hung heavily in the air.

The ruins of what was once a bustling city remained, with skeletal buildings standing silently like mute sentinels over empty streets.

The sky was a dull gray, casting a gloomy shadow over the ruins.

Amidst this desolation, a man wandered aimlessly.

His tattered clothes hung loosely on his emaciated frame, giving him a disheveled appearance.

His face, twisted by prolonged suffering, revealed sunken cheeks and hollow eyes, showing signs of extreme exhaustion.

In his hands was the carcass of a mangy stray dog, its blood staining his hands red.

He wandered without purpose, muttering to himself in a low, raspy voice.

His words were disjointed, a mix of fragmented memories and thoughts.

One moment he claimed someone was watching him, the next he burst into laughter—clearly indicating his madness.

Arriving at a ruin with relatively intact ceilings and walls, the man used his fingers to smear the dog’s corpse against the wall.

Despite the intense pain and bloody mess from pressing too hard, he didn’t stop.

Gradually, a glimmer of rationality returned to his crazed eyes.

Looking down at his throbbing hands, he muttered.

“Again, doing this…”

On the concrete wall was a circular pattern smeared with blood, clearly drawn by his own hand though he didn’t know why.

Living day by day unable to die, this man endured.

Thud thud.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the deserted ruins.

Turning sharply in alarm at the unexpected visitor, there stood a man holding numerous lamps.

Thrusting a rusted steel rod toward the ragged man, the Man of the Lamp spoke.

[Such a sorry sight, you seem quite troubled.]

The disheveled man couldn’t focus his gaze on the suspicious stranger.

Recognizing the stranger as an Object, he swung the steel rod threateningly and shouted.

“What are you? Get lost already!”

The disheveled man didn’t want to waste his precious few hours of sanity on such a suspicious character.

The faceless Man of the Lamp chuckled softly before saying.

[To put it simply, I am an Object of Contracts. You may call me the Devil of Contracts.]

[Wouldn’t you like to cure your mental illness? How about making a contract with me?]

The Devil’s offer was incredibly tempting to the disheveled man.

Though it smelled of danger—something he absolutely shouldn’t accept—it was hard to resist.

***

Once Yerin was dragged away by Kim Jungrwi, the isolation room filled with the piano sounds of Golden Reapers and the Blue Lizard.

As the Blue Lizard danced nimbly on the piano keys, the Golden Reapers followed, tapping their feet.

Unable to keep up properly, the Golden Reapers looked a little dejected.

Lately, due to the strange sensation caused by the black penguin teleportation, they’ve been exploring this peculiar feeling whenever they have free time.

This unusual sensation originated from the Golden Reaper, but something felt off.

Is it because this Golden Reaper hasn’t returned to the Mini Reaper Garden like the others?

It’s been quite some time since this one left home.

I wonder how attached humans feel so good that it keeps sticking around.

Maybe I should visit when I’m bored?

***

As Junior No. 2 stepped out of the detective agency, something popped out from her chest area.

“Ah, you’re not supposed to come out now!”

From her chest emerged the head of a Golden Reaper.

Pushing it back with her finger, Junior No. 2 inadvertently scratched its head, causing the Golden Reaper to giggle happily.

Uniquely, this Golden Reaper had a golden horn sprouting from its head.