Chapter 145

“Haaaaa.”

As I let out a deep sigh, Seoah sitting in front of me frowned and spoke.

“Director Lee Sehee of the Research Institute. What are you doing here all of a sudden? If there’s no business, please leave quickly.”

I sprawled across the large table in the Deputy Director’s Office and said,

“Lately, there’s just too much work. Is Yerin not coming back soon?”

“…”

Seoah’s gaze was sharp.

Well, I know Seoah works three times harder than me!

Seoah has always worked hard, but I only started working recently, so it feels infinitely tougher…

That is, arithmetically speaking, I’m suffering more!

While thinking this, I looked up at where Seoah was sitting, but she had already turned her gaze away from me and was focused on her work.

Then, my eyes caught sight of a glass case on Seoah’s desk.

Inside the glass case, cushioned by soft cotton, lay an indigo fruit. It didn’t look like ordinary decoration.

“Seoah, what’s that thing on your desk?”

Pointing with my finger, I asked, and Seoah replied calmly.

“The new Object from last week’s report—the Indigo Sprout Reaper, right?”

“Hmm, yeah.”

Though I didn’t actually know, judging by Seoah’s expression, it seemed like something I should be familiar with.

“It’s a product of that Object. The Indigo Sprout Reaper gave it to me saying I should eat it, but I’m still unsure how to handle it. I documented related matters in yesterday’s report.”

“Ah… I see.”

At first, I didn’t think much of it, but since the Mini Reaper gave it, for some reason, the indigo fruit looked delicious.

“What if you’re worried about it? Should I try eating it?”

“No way.”

Seoah firmly refused with a serious face.

Tch.

***

After arriving at the hotel room, I stretched my arms high above my head to relieve the stiffness in my body.

On the table, the Golden Reapers wriggled around upon seeing me, mimicking my stretch.

We looked at each other and giggled, “Hehe.”

So cute.

I glanced over at the Reaper, who was sitting at the dining table, quietly devouring a pudding as big as their torso with a stoic expression.

Even though the Reaper had a cool charm, sometimes I wished they’d act like the Golden Reapers.

Looking at the clock, it was already past noon.

The map showed that the distance I traveled wasn’t far, yet returning to the hotel made me realize quite some time had passed.

And mentally, I felt rather drained.

Was it because I saw such a massive Object?

Despite witnessing an expansive landscape, instead of feeling refreshed, I was overwhelmed.

Perhaps foreseeing this situation, the Secretary hadn’t scheduled anything else and told me to rest well.

The Secretary informed me that the research institute tour would begin tomorrow.

Looking out the window, I saw two distinctly divided worlds.

The sleek and tidy buildings of the research institute district.

And beyond them, the cluster of old, shabby buildings outside the research institute zone.

Though not slum-level, the atmosphere outside the research institute clearly differed.

A sudden thought struck me, and I approached the Reaper sitting nearby, lifting them up and bringing them to the window.

“Reaper, shall we have lunch over there today?”

Seeing the many food stalls, the Reaper’s antennae perked up with interest.

“Alright, let’s go!”

Grasping the Reaper’s hand, I left the hotel room.

“Tubang tubang.”

With excitement radiating from their steps, the Reaper seemed equally enthusiastic.

However, our path was blocked right at the hotel entrance.

“You mustn’t leave the research institute area.”

The Secretary stood firm with a decisive tone.

People passing by didn’t seem startled by the Gray Reaper, but there was a reason for that.

Apparently, the research institute staff had been thoroughly notified about the Gray Reaper’s arrival beforehand…

Guess I can’t do anything about that.

“I apologize for the inconvenience. There are plenty of shopping and dining facilities within the research institute area. Please use those.”

The Secretary assigned by James regretfully guided us to available restaurants.

It’s disappointing, but what can you do?

There was a hint of irritation in the normally expressionless Reaper’s face, but will they be okay?

***

Returning to the hotel room late in the evening after dinner.

I subdued Yerin, who seemed to have anticipated my escape attempt and stayed awake despite looking tired.

Using the power of the Golden Tree, I put her to sleep and laid her comfortably on the bed.

Normally, with my strength alone, transferring her to the bed would’ve been tough, but thanks to the tentacle ability I acquired earlier, it was easy.

“Reaper… don’t go anywhere.”

Lying down comfortably on the bed, Yerin mumbled something in her sleep while hugging the Hungry Ghost.

Looking out the hotel window, the night streets glowed brightly like a city that never sleeps.

The streets I couldn’t visit at lunchtime.

Though I wasn’t particularly interested before, now that I couldn’t go, curiosity bubbled up.

“Hehe.”

I slipped out the hotel window using ghosting to conceal myself.

Once I crossed the research institute boundaries, the atmosphere changed dramatically.

Less polished and refined, but strangely evocative of a foreign charm compared to Korea, making even sightseeing enjoyable.

There were appetizing foods too.

Freshly baked warm, crispy bread topped generously with tender slices of beef.

The thinly sliced beef glistened with rich juices, releasing a savory aroma.

Between the slices of beef were perfectly cooked onions, and atop them rested melted cheese, enveloping the beef and onions.

It looked incredibly delicious—what’s the name of this dish?

I considered sneaking one, but the Golden Reaper hovering above my head made me reconsider.

They’d probably get upset if I made someone sad by stealing.

Not good for the kids’ education either…

Although I’m not sure if calling the Mini Reapers “kids” is appropriate, given how the Golden Reapers often mimic my antics, they’re definitely influenced by me.

If I really want it, I’ll ask Yerin to buy it later.

“Tubang tubang.”

Excitedly, I walked through the street filled with restaurants.

The farther I moved away from the research institute zone, the fewer people there were, but the more exotic dishes appeared.

Occasionally spotting Korean food brought a sense of familiarity.

But as I ventured deeper, an unpleasant smell began to waft through the air.

Sensing this, the Golden Reaper stopped munching on whatever it was and stood up, scanning the surroundings.

The tantalizing scent of roasted steel pig.

If I want Yerin to bring food from here, it’d be better if this area is safe, right?

Placing the Golden Reaper on my palm and conveying my intent, they nodded in agreement.

“Tubang tubang.”

Following the scent through the labyrinth of buildings, anticipation grew.

The Golden Reaper walking ahead of me was also excited, ready to tackle the Object.

The maze-like buildings seemed endless, but each alley revealed a completely different scenery.

Finally, we arrived at an old church with a weathered exterior.

Despite its worn appearance, the church saw plenty of visitors, most of whom weren’t human.

Object-transformed humans similar to those in Seoul Forest.

The burning pig statue must be here.

The Golden Reaper also sensed something ominous and seriously scanned the surroundings.

Following the scent inside the church, trails led past chairs and the altar, descending into the basement.

The vast underground space contrasted sharply with the decrepit exterior, but it made sense given the need to hide Objects.

There were quite a few people patrolling around, but since they couldn’t perceive ethereal beings, I easily ignored them and passed through.

The scene that greeted me at the end was eerily similar to what I saw in Seoul Forest.

Unending cries of agony, blackened skeletons scattered across the floor, and the colossal steel pig statue.

The Golden Reaper, upon seeing the pile of charred skeletons, knelt down in despair, shedding tears.

Touching each fragment of bone with sorrow, the Golden Reaper’s grief was touching.

Even in a world where people die so easily, the Golden Reaper’s perpetual sadness was remarkable.

Turning to check the destruction condition, it was identical to what I saw in Seoul Forest.

<Indigestion.>

Though cryptic, having solved this puzzle once before made it simple.

Entering the hollow interior of the steel pig, I could sense the space connecting somewhere.

Previously unnoticed, I realized this was due to my newly acquired spatial abilities.

Before my eyes unfolded a grotesque, damp internal cavity reminiscent of intestines.

Though familiar from Seoul Forest, the subsequent events differed slightly.

Instead of grabbing me and venting their grievances, the pitch-black skeletons merely watched from a distance.

As I took a step forward,

The skeletons jumped back in alarm.

Even without skin or facial features, their unease was palpable.

Every step I took, they retreated further.

Feels like a game of tag, kind of fun.

Just as I was enjoying playing tag with the skeletons and preparing to use my abilities to catch them, the space began to distort.

The <Indigestion> condition was fulfilled.

With a mighty roar, the giant pig’s space twisted violently, pulling me toward an unknown destination.

No! My game of tag!

Fighting against the force disrupting my game, I resisted strongly, only to be ejected from the narrow intestinal space and catapulted into the sky.

Below me stretched a land covered in black liquid, teeming with marching pigs.

Near where I was ejected, a dead baby pig lay amidst the wreckage of the ruptured intestine.

Though dwarfed by the shadow of its colossal kin, the dead pig was easily over 10 meters long.

Yet the horde of thousands of pigs continued their march, heedless of their fallen comrade.

Leading this terrifying procession was a mythic-sized giant pig.

Earth-shattering footsteps.

Fiery breath consuming the black liquid.

The mountainous pig relentlessly strode toward a swirling vortex-shaped hole gouged into the ground.