Chapter 164

Researcher Yerin Oh walked out of the office with a tired expression, dragging her feet.

Peering into the window of the Deputy Director’s Office, I noticed the sun had already set, and complete darkness had descended.

Hehehe.

Turning my head over my shoulder, I saw Sprout sitting there, giggling happily on my shoulder.

Once the Spirit Camera I nagged Director Sehee to buy arrives, I’ll finally be able to figure out what this Sprout really is.

Whether it’s a spirit wandering around while asleep or some kind of mental pollution like an illusion…

Actually, before today, I was 80-90% sure it was just an illusion, but now I’m starting to change my mind.

That’s because Sprout subtly gave me some information I didn’t know.

At first, it sounded like faint voices mixed in with laughter.

But while discussing the parts Researcher Yerin Oh had left out of her report, Sprout’s words became clearer, and I started sensing something that felt like emotion or willpower.

It was a completely different way of communicating than language—less precise, more emotional, chaotic even—but definitely a means of communication and information exchange.

If I were to translate Sprout’s message into human language, it would feel like this:

“Ahhh, you’re lying!”

I could sense a joyful emotion along with a willpower that seemed to indicate someone was lying.

It felt like I’d developed a new sense for communicating with Sprout.

When I subtly probed about “Sugar Flamingo,” which Researcher Yerin Oh had been hiding, I managed to get a confession.

I placed Sprout on my palm and gently pinched its soft, mochi-like cheek.

Hehe.

Sprout laughed as if ticklish and grabbed my fingers.

Though it looked like Sprout was pushing me away, my newfound sense clearly told me, “Do more!”

Gently, I continued rubbing its cheek while saying,

“You guys communicate like this, huh? Messy, but heartfelt communication.”

I gained a bit of insight into how Objects communicate.

One famous hypothesis claims: [Objects don’t know language; they read thoughts.]

That hypothesis wasn’t far from the truth.

While it leaned more toward feeling emotions rather than reading minds, it probably looks like they’re reading thoughts at a glance.

If humans communicated by sharing emotions like this, so many misunderstandings might have disappeared…

Still, understanding this style of communication makes it clear why Golden Reapers don’t watch much TV.

Language-less Golden Reapers wouldn’t understand what’s being said on TV, after all.

Then how does the Gray Reaper watch TV?

Tch-tch.

The moment I thought of the Gray Reaper, Sprout began tapping my cheek with its tiny hand.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, turning my head, only to see Sprout putting a finger to its lips as if signaling a secret.

Overwhelmed by the strong willpower I sensed from Sprout, I couldn’t help but nod.

***

I stared at the Trinity Research Institute No. 1 site in Gangnam District, which had completely collapsed into ghosting.

Around me floated cotton candy versions of Cloud Fish, drifting lazily through the air.

Cloud Fish floating everywhere made excellent informants, and these ones were especially helpful, pointing out the culprits behind this incident.

“Thanks for the directions.”

I thanked the cotton candy fish while tearing off a delicious-looking piece of their sides.

“!”

The cotton candy fish protested, asking why I’d thank them and then eat them.

Of course, I ate it because it looked tasty! Are these fish dumb because they’re fish?

Hehe—I sent this thought, causing the cotton candy fish to scatter in all directions.

Trinity Research Institute No. 1 was utterly destroyed without a trace.

A place that obviously needed to disappear—it met its deserved end.

Didn’t they call that black liquid “Evolution Liquid” at Trinity Research Institute?

In my opinion, that “Evolution Liquid” is the most harmful substance in the world, yet people seem desperate to use it.

How can anyone think there’s hope or potential for humanity’s evolution in such a foul-smelling, malevolent liquid?

With this level of destruction, maybe people will stop chanting that “Evolution Liquid is humanity’s hope!”

Watching police cars and Association vehicles rushing in, I slowly headed toward Gwanak-gu.

Now it was time to eliminate all remaining “Evolution Liquid.”

***

Today, with the hope that The Reaper might return, I arrived at the research institute, which seemed unusually chaotic.

The reason? Breaking news.

From early morning, breaking news on TV reported a serious incident: Trinity Research Institute No. 1 in Gangnam District had vanished without a trace.

As soon as I saw that sinkhole, I knew instantly.

“Ahh! The Reaper did it!”

Meaning, anyone else could easily associate this event with The Reaper too.

And our research institute? With a top-tier Object escaping quarantine, it’s bound to become a defunct facility.

Yet, surprisingly, Unnie Sehee appeared unusually calm amidst this emergency.

Could she have planned something?

“Unnie Sehee, are you sure everything’s okay?”

When I expressed my concern, Unnie Sehee confidently replied,

“No problem!”

She added that visiting The Reaper’s isolation room would explain everything, so I hurried there immediately.

Could The Reaper already be back?

But what I found in the isolation room was entirely unexpected.

There was indeed a gray + Reaper inside the isolation room.

Tub-tub.

A Black Reaper meticulously painted gray was walking tub-tub around the interior.

Standing about 1 meter tall, with gray skin, and an appearance nearly identical to The Reaper except for its sharp shark teeth.

Is this really going to work?

I clasped my hands together and prayed silently to The Reaper somewhere out there.

“Reaper, please come back before we get caught with this fake gray version!”

***

The black agent and the blonde girl, who had barely survived a life-or-death crisis, collapsed where they sat, panting heavily.

“Thank you for saving us!”

Sitting on the floor, the blonde girl smiled softly as she petted the red Reaper standing guard over them.

The red Reaper frowned, looking somewhat displeased.

Thinking the Reaper disliked being petted, the girl tried to pull her hand away, but—

Thud.

The red Reaper grabbed her fingers, placing her hand back on its head and pressing down firmly.

Seeing this, the blonde girl smiled sweetly, continuing to stroke the red Reaper’s head.

Witnessing this, golden and black reapers swarmed around the girl, each wanting a turn to be petted.

“Alright, alright, I get it. Thanks, everyone!”

The girl repeatedly expressed gratitude, showing appreciation to each mini Reaper.

The black agent watched her, recalling their first meeting.

The granddaughter of the Association President, seemingly always happy and bright…

But there was something distant about her, prompting the agent’s initial approach.

Despite her apparent abundance, the girl always seemed anxious. Now, having lost everything, she finally appeared free of that anxiety.

Surrounded by hundreds of mini reapers, how much time passed before the mist wall dissipated, revealing the rising morning sunlight beyond?

The black agent quickly unfurled a large parasol to shield the blonde girl, but she shook her head and pushed it aside.

“I’m fine, Ahjussi.”

With a playful smile, the girl stretched her arms wide, soaking up the sunlight.

Her body neither burned nor turned to ash.

Closing her eyes and basking in the sunlight, the girl opened them and smiled radiantly.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen such a beautiful sunrise.”

The golden sunlight poured over her head, illuminating the horizon dotted with lush green trees.

Her shimmering golden hair glowed even brighter.

Watching her, the black agent commented,

“You’re absolutely right, Young Miss.”

A faint smile graced the agent’s face.

Enjoying the sunlight with a contented look, the girl turned to the black agent and said,

“Ahjussi, we should go visit Sehee Research Institute.”

She quietly added that she wanted to meet her new “mom.”

***

With many mini reapers gone from the garden, Mini Reaper Garden was unusually quiet.

In this peaceful spot, one golden reaper wandered tub-tub until it stumbled upon something fascinating.

A cloud-like bundle of pure white fluff.

Under the gentle light of the mini garden, it sparkled brilliantly, large enough for the golden reaper to dive into.

Floating effortlessly in the air, it captured the golden reaper’s curiosity.

“Is this the youngest?”

Approaching cautiously, the golden reaper picked up the fluffy bundle as if opening a gift box.

After rummaging through the soft, warm fluff for a while, an orange mini reaper’s face emerged.

Its relaxed expression suggested it had been sleeping peacefully.

“It’s the youngest!”

Excited by the discovery of the new youngest, the golden reaper raised both hands triumphantly and celebrated.