Chapter 161

A blonde girl lay asleep, and the Black Agent stepped out of the building to survey the surroundings.

An eerie fog surrounded the tranquil village.

To the Black Agent, this village felt slightly off.

As if to prove that oddness, a Cloud Fish swam by, wagging its tail cheerfully.

The Black Agent opened a notebook and jotted down some observations.

[Hardly any interaction with the outside world.]

[This kind of closed-off village isn’t showing typical reactions.]

[No signs of being wary, curious, or welcoming toward outsiders.]

There was an overall sense of calm and leisure in this Cloud Fish village.

“Could it be Mental Pollution?”

The Black Agent looked up at the Orange Moon, suspecting Mental Pollution.

While reasonable given the fog-shrouded village, there was no concrete evidence.

Snap.

Just as the Black Agent was about to seek out a villager for information, a sound rang out.

Rushing back, worried something might be wrong, the scene before the Black Agent’s eyes was unexpected.

Near a window bathed in orange light, the Blonde Girl held a Red Reaper on her palm.

Considering its appearance, size, and other factors, it seemed to be a Mini Reaper under the Gray Reaper’s command—a Golden Reaper perhaps.

“Ah, mister! Look at this little guy!”

The girl, smiling brightly, pointed to the Red Reaper licking candy in her palm.

“Hmm, looks like one of the Gray Reaper’s minions. Where did you come from?”

Ignoring their conversation, the Red Reaper stuck out its tongue, distraught after it got glued to the candy.

The Blonde Girl mimicked the Red Reaper, sticking out her own tongue playfully while giggling.

She gently helped detach the Red Reaper’s tongue from the candy.

“I’m not sure… I had a dream filled with colorful Mini Reapers. Could that be related?”

Hearing this, the Black Agent stopped pondering.

There simply wasn’t enough known about the Gray Reaper or Mini Reapers to draw conclusions.

It had been a long time since Sehee Research Institute sent proper reports, likely since the Seoul Forest incident after the institute director’s kidnapping.

Had they changed their operating policies?

The Red Reaper quickly devoured a candy larger than its head, then perched nonchalantly on the Blonde Girl’s shoulder, gazing intently at her profile.

‘At least the Red Reaper seems friendly toward the young miss.’

The Black Agent breathed a sigh of relief seeing the Red Reaper’s demeanor.

Considering the power of the famous Golden Reaper among Mini Reapers, worry was justified.

Many experts believed the ‘Golden Reaper’ alone could rival a ‘Special-Class Object.’

Some even thought if the Golden Reaper were hostile, Korea itself might have vanished.

Amid playful antics between the Blonde Girl and the Red Reaper, a gentle breeze emphasized the peaceful atmosphere.

Uncharacteristically peaceful for what should be the heart of an Object.

The Blonde Girl conversed with the Red Reaper as though they understood each other perfectly.

Despite Mini Reapers typically being incomprehensible objects, she laughed joyfully, engaging in conversation.

Seeing the girl regain vitality, the Black Agent silently observed without interrupting.

But peace ended abruptly.

The wall of fog outside the window began darkening.

Thunder suddenly struck the previously serene village, where only soft wind sounds had echoed.

BOOM.

Sensing ominous tension, the Black Agent hid the Blonde Girl behind a wall and began assessing the situation.

The usually warm Orange Moon flickered like a broken fluorescent light.

The fog barrier churned violently, turning black.

Occasional thunderbolts within the fog heightened the menacing ambiance.

Something was definitely happening.

Looking up at the Orange Moon, seemingly ruling this space, it started dripping black liquid like tears.

Plop.

The sticky black liquid, upon hitting the ground, spread a petroleum-like smell throughout the village.

Cloud Fishes that had lazily floated through the air now darted frantically around the village; some headed toward the window where the Black Agent watched.

The Black Agent hurriedly shut the window, took the Blonde Girl’s hand, and opened the door.

“Ahh… mister.”

But opening the door revealed Cloud Fishes staring intently at the Blonde Girl and the Black Agent.

Adult-arm-sized Cloud Fishes filled the corridor, casting eerie orange glares.

***

The Tattooed Woman arrived at Sehee Research Institute with her younger sister in tow.

“Sis, look how many Cloud Fish there are.”

The Younger Sister placed a nearby Cloud Fish on her hand, gently petting it like a domesticated animal.

Smiling at her sibling, the woman glanced around and thought.

“Definitely sloppy.”

Despite such a major event, all that was visible were journalists and spectators.

Only a few police officers were present—no Association Employees in sight.

This certainly felt like a national-scale plan aimed at fostering closer ties with Objects.

Compared to where the woman had lived, this place boasted superior transportation, communication, and social systems, making such laxness inexplicable unless part of a grand plan.

Instantaneous reporting systems available anywhere accidents occur.

Transportation means capable of reaching anywhere in the country swiftly.

Truly blessed technologies, the woman reflected.

Suddenly, a Cloud Whale descended dramatically, then ascended just as abruptly, adorning the sky with a river of Cloud Fish before vanishing.

Disappointed, the Younger Sister admired the celestial river of Cloud Fish left behind.

Now heading toward Sehee Research Institute to meet the famed Alchemist and ‘Gray Reaper,’

“Ugh…”

They learned the Gray Reaper had already disappeared somewhere.

Still, is it alright for managed Objects to vanish without issue?

Strange…

***

The Colosseum aftermath involving the Reaper has concluded.

I wanted to cuddle with the Reaper and feed it pudding, but things turned out this way.

After the Cloud Whale attack, the Reaper had vanished somewhere.

“Reaper, let’s eat pudding together!”

Though lured with pudding, it didn’t appear.

Instead, hungry Mini Reapers gathered around me.

Hmph.

Where did the Reaper go again?

Thought I’d get some rest after dealing with so many cases in America, but the Reaper stays busy…

Slumping to the ground and opening a pudding container, Gold and Black Reapers flocked like baby birds, mouths wide open awaiting pudding.

“Alright, alright. Got it.”

After snapping a picture of their adorable faces, I fed them spoonfuls of pudding.

Each happy bite brought joyful savoring expressions from the Mini Reapers. By the time everyone was fed, the sky had grown dark.

Only mysterious lights brought by Mini Reapers remained, illuminating the dim courtyard.

Drawn by the sweet scent, I approached the source.

“!”

Inspecting the firelight, a transparent something slowly melted inside.

Continuously melting within the flames was a transparent Flamingo.

Could this be the Glass Flamingo the Golden Reaper destroyed?

Here lies the supposedly lost Glass Flaminggo.

The melting Flamingo bowed its head sorrowfully.

Melting sugar trailed down its cheeks like tears.

Its woeful gaze seemed to plead:

“Please return me to the Isolation Room.”

Though pity tugged at my heart, remembering the troublesome situations caused by unreported Objects, I averted my gaze and ignored it.

Sorry, Flamingo.

Consider this punishment for attacking our staff and the Blue Reaper.

***

Looking upward, a river of Cloud Fish danced gracefully across the sky.

The endless stream of Cloud Fish ended atop a secluded mountain far from Seoul.

Though distant from Seoul, a fallen signpost indicated the location.

[Odaesan National Park Map.]

The path up the mountain bore evident signs of neglect, resembling ruins.

Yet the broken roads and lush vegetation harmonized beautifully with nature.

As I climbed, the celestial river of Cloud Fish faded into insignificance.

For at the destination stood a dome of fog stretching like a massive Barrier.

Approaching the fog, an unsettling vibe grew stronger.

Despite being mere fog, lightning crackled within, and the faint petroleum odor intensified.

Is this black liquid again?

After resolving this, I’ll thoroughly clean the black liquid in Gwanak-gu.

If possible, eliminate the culprit behind this mess too!

How dare someone use the liquid that devastated Gwanak-gu.

Entering the fog driven by the Orange Moon’s desire, it felt as though logs thudded like a beating heart.

Such was the allure of impenetrable fog.

Penetrating deeper, the once-white fog lost its luster, darkening.

The sole light sources were occasional thunderbolts flashing through the fog, creating an impression of storm clouds descending to earth.

Bursting through the stormy curtain of fog, a village emerged where fierce battles raged among Cloud Fish.

The usually docile Cloud Fish now bared teeth, tearing into each other in brutal combat.

Black-stained Cloud Fish clashed violently with pristine white ones, swirling chaotically like a turbulent sea.

At first glance, it seemed evenly matched, but the white Cloud Fish were at a disadvantage.

Any bite from the black-stained Cloud Fish instantly corrupted the victims, turning them against their former allies.

However, amidst this unfavorable battlefield burned a fiery red presence—the Red Reaper.

The Red Reaper burned fiercely, spewing flames in all directions.

Like a colossal wildfire, it expanded flames, then darted rapidly through the sky like sparks.

The Red Reaper’s flames were incredibly powerful, reducing any black-stained Cloud Fish caught in them to dust.

Though our connection was faint, the Red Reaper was undoubtedly a Mini Reaper.

Another youngest sibling has appeared.

Yet despite seeing one Mini Reaper, I sensed two.

Is another Mini Reaper hiding somewhere?

Approaching where the Red Reaper fought valiantly, a piercing gaze suddenly hit me.

Turning toward the gaze, I found the familiar Blonde Girl staring fixedly, as if transfixed.