Chapter 125

Sehee Research Institute was in an uproar.

There was something being made next to my isolation room.

When I approached to check it out, Yerin suddenly dashed over, hugged me tight, and blocked my view.

Did she say she’d show it to me later?

I could sneak in and take a peek, but it felt kind of bothersome, plus it seemed like some sort of surprise party, so I decided to wait with anticipation.

The construction noise was way too loud—I couldn’t even watch TV properly.

So I thought about going out to the backyard to hang out, but there were the Golden Reapers having some weird fun.

Tubang-tubang.

The Golden Reapers were bustling around in all directions.

Everyone had their hands over their ears while shouting “tubang-tubang.”

It all started when one of the Golden Reapers mimicked Yerin covering her ears from the construction noise, and now it’s become a trend—everyone’s walking around with their ears covered.

The Golden Reapers were laughing happily while jumping around with their hands over their ears.

Since they couldn’t use their hands, they were flailing around uncontrollably, bumping into each other, and tumbling over.

And then, as if it were the funniest thing ever, the fallen Golden Reapers would look at each other and burst into laughter.

These guys really seem to find joy in everything.

So, during the noisy chaos in the isolation room, I pushed the head of a Golden Reaper running around energetically.

With its ears covered, the Golden Reaper lost its balance from my finger-push and tumbled around.

Then it sprawled on the floor, looking delighted as it laughed.

Every time I got bored in the noisy isolation room, I played this game of knocking down Golden Reapers, and before I knew it, the room grew quiet.

Finally, is the construction done?

As soon as I thought that, Yerin came bursting into the isolation room with a bright smile.

“Reaper! It’s finally finished!”

Yerin cheerfully slipped her hands under my armpits, lifted me up, and began moving me.

***

The client’s location turned out to be a city that looked quite developed.

According to my investigation, just a few years ago, this place was nothing but ruins, but now it has transformed into a vibrant city full of energy.

The man who built this city was quite famous.

A few years ago, he stood amidst the ruins with only an antique gas lamp, creating something out of nothing—a true father figure of this city.

Looking around, skyscrapers still wrapped in scaffolding pierced the sky, and the sound of construction echoed through the air.

The streets were alive with activity, and restaurants located in various buildings were packed with people.

“This is more impressive than I expected, huh?”

While teasing the Golden Horn Reaper perched on my palm, it giggled cutely, squirming from the ticklish sensation.

Surprisingly, the city was much more bustling than I anticipated.

I thought it would be a barren wasteland since it was ruins just a few years ago, but it had far more people, taller and larger buildings than I imagined.

Still, you could definitely feel that this city was still developing—the skyline was dotted with countless construction sites.

Many areas were cordoned off with barriers commonly used at construction sites, and the intermittent sounds of construction filled the air.

Though noisy, it also gave off the vibe of a city growing and thriving.

“So, where might our client be?”

Opening my phone to check the map, the Golden Horn Reaper curiously peered at the screen.

“We’re here, so we’ll need to go a bit further. Got it?”

The Reaper focused intently on my explanation of the map but seemed confused, turning its head to gaze at me with a bright smile.

Still, the Reaper is just too adorable.

When I gently stroked it with my finger, the Reaper grinned widely.

Even though it might have some strong mental pollution, it doesn’t seem harmful, so maybe it’s fine?

If it makes me happy, that’s all that matters!

Seeing the Reaper rub its cheek against my finger brings me happiness, so it’s okay.

As I walked toward meeting the client with the Golden Reaper in my arms, the cityscape began to change.

The lively atmosphere disappeared, and the city started feeling darker.

There was no trace of the bright ambiance or the bustling sounds; instead, a gloomy and oppressive mood filled the streets.

Instead of the newly constructed buildings I’d seen earlier, there were skeletal concrete structures patched together haphazardly with makeshift additions.

Dark vibes clung to the buildings like weeds sprouting chaotically across the cracked concrete surfaces, permeating the air.

These chaotic extensions cast shadows over alleys and roads even in broad daylight.

Graffiti-covered walls and boarded-up windows clearly indicated what kind of place this was.

A slum?

Does it make sense for a slum to exist in such a new city?

Something feels off.

The vibe of the people passing by changed too.

Exhausted gazes filled with suspicion.

A man sitting in a dark corner of an alley, his eyes brimming with doubt and resignation, stared at passersby.

As we got closer to our destination, anxiety grew, but the warm presence of the Reaper in my hand reassured me, and I continued forward slowly.

Upon arriving at the prearranged meeting spot, a boy wearing a deeply pulled-down cap stood silently at the end.

Is this the client?

I cautiously approached the boy standing in a narrow alley dimly lit by faint light, thick with acrid smoke.

The boy seemed slightly startled upon seeing us.

His face hidden in the lamplight, but it was clear he was surprised by the sight of my golden horns.

Between the brim of the hat, his eyes gleamed cautiously yet expectantly.

To confirm identities, we exchanged the predetermined phrases as agreed beforehand.

The response came quickly, and the boy gave a small nod.

This signaled mutual confirmation.

Of course, our office rarely uses these kinds of code phrases unless strongly requested by the client.

Why does he insist on using them?

Can’t we just verify via phone?

“I’ve come from the Yellow Detective Office.”

Upon speaking, the boy removed his worn-out cap.

Half of his face was obscured by a black hexagonal pillar.

This object—it looked like some kind of black corrosion—and just looking at it made me feel like hundreds of cockroaches were rushing toward me for no reason.

The boy, his voice slightly trembling, pulled out a photo.

“Please find my family. Please find my sister. Lately, everyone keeps disappearing.”

The situation seemed graver than I had anticipated.

“In that case, let’s secure lodging first and begin the investigation. How should we handle progress reports?”

When I asked, the boy hesitated slightly before giving me his home address.

After receiving the boy’s address, I left the shadowy alley.

Thus began the case-solving journey with the Golden Horn Reaper.

***

Arriving in Yerin’s arms, we found ourselves in an empty isolation room.

There was nothing special anywhere.

If nothingness itself can be considered special, then perhaps this could qualify.

Turning my head to look at Yerin, she wore a confident expression.

With Sehee and Seoah standing beside her, it was clear something significant was happening—but…

Using my senses to scan the isolation room, I detected neither any objects nor hidden humans.

What could it be?

“Reaper, let’s get started!”

Yerin smiled broadly as she fiddled with something outside the isolation room.

Suddenly, I felt an unusual sensation enveloping my body.

A gentle force lifting me evenly.

Fwoosh.

My body began floating effortlessly in the air.

More comfortable than lying on a plush bed, more serene than drifting atop calm seas.

Gravity seemed to vanish, leaving me peacefully suspended mid-air.

Could this be… magnetic flooring installed in the isolation room?

Back when I dealt with the Dobong-gu Frog and acquired superconductivity powers, I’d dreamed of setting up a magnetized isolation chamber.

I had planned to create it eventually, but constant cases kept distracting me!

Meanwhile, the Golden Reapers, sensing the fun, happily floated around the room.

Ah, how relaxing.

Closing my eyes, I indulged in the sensation of floating.

One day, I must acquire the power of flight.

While making such whimsical resolutions…

***

The boy dreamt.

A dream of meeting his family.

Though they had all vanished somehow, this was a happy dream of finding them again.

The renowned ‘Yellow Detective Office’ would surely help him reunite with his family soon.

Such faith fueled his joyful dreams.

“Sis!”

In the dream, the boy laughed brightly.

His sister reached out to caress his cheek tenderly.

Sticky and viscous.

Like blood trickling down.

And suddenly, a strong metallic smell filled the air.

“Sis?”

Awoken by the sensation of someone tapping his cheek, the boy snapped out of his pleasant dream, annoyed.

What the heck?

Rubbing his cheek in irritation, the boy noticed his hand was soaked in blood.

And the coppery scent of blood.

Confused, he opened his eyes and realized he wasn’t in the shabby slum house where he had fallen asleep.

Instead, he was in a sturdy iron-barred windowless prison.

In front of him hung a grotesque corpse.

Blood dripped from the corpse onto the boy’s face.

A skeleton-like body, stripped of flesh except for the face.

A terrible suspicion crept into the boy’s mind.

Bracing himself, he checked the corpse’s face.

“Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!”

It was his sister.

The horrifying realization of whose face it was caused the boy to scream and faint.

***

Moving through the dark alley toward the boy’s house.

Before securing lodging and starting the search, we didn’t even know who the boy’s “sister” was, making it impossible to locate her.

I should’ve gathered basic information before parting ways—such amateur mistakes made my face burn with embarrassment.

“Everything will be alright.”

I glanced at the wriggling Reaper in my hand, steadying my nerves.

Approaching the boy’s house, an odd smell hit me.

The scent of charred ash.

Driven by unease, I rushed to the boy’s house only to find chaos.

The door, cleanly sliced off by something sharp.

Deep claw marks gouged into the walls.

The scene looked like it had been ravaged by a large beast.

And there was no sign of the boy anywhere.