Chapter 176

The battle with the giant that took place all the way in America was truly exhausting.

It always seemed tough whenever I fought objects in America, and it wasn’t a mistake.

If Yerin and I ever travel abroad again, we should go somewhere other than the U.S., next time.

Lying down on the dirt floor with all my strength drained, gazing at the sky, there were shimmering starlights and moonlight pouring down.

Little moons like mini reapers were irregularly lined up around a massive gray moon.

Not only were they large, but their irregularity gave off a vibe that was definitely worthy of the mini reapers.

And encircling all the mini moons, a great ring traced an enormous circle, decorating the heavens.

Though not overwhelmingly bright, it was certainly eye-catching — the light ring.

That simple circular ring unmistakably resembled the light ring I had seen in “the Eye.”

Except for being more noticeable, the Eye that had suddenly appeared to dominate the sky didn’t seem particularly special.

It would’ve been fun if the light ring could shoot out beams like in ‘Satellite Attack!’ or something.

Exactly like that!

Around me, gathered tightly, the black reapers and golden reapers were playing in the dirt field created as a result of the fight.

Tushi-tushi.

When the golden reaper swung its tiny fists, the black reaper skillfully blocked them with both hands.

Dori-dori.

Then, shaking its head side to side, it demonstrated a stance and extended its fist.

Unlike the chaotic punching frenzy of the mini reapers, this was a disciplined punch.

Jjakk-jjakk-jjakk.

“Amazing!”

The golden reaper applauded enthusiastically while praising the black reaper, who grinned confidently, revealing shark-like teeth.

Among the golden reapers, martial arts seemed popular, as those gathered in the open lot were taking lessons from the black reapers one by one.

Seeing the little ones flailing their arms and legs made me chuckle involuntarily.

While slightly amused and watching the mini reapers’ martial arts training, a black reaper approached and started poking my cheeks.

“Mommy too!”

The black reaper smiled brightly, inviting me to join.

Hmm…

I lacked confidence in exercise, but rejecting felt a bit difficult.

Before I knew it, many mini reapers had joined in, surrounding me with countless golden and black reapers.

The mini reapers looked at me with sparkling eyes, resembling meerkats.

Their gleaming gazes and pure curiosity poured in from all directions.

As I reluctantly stood up, a black reaper my size was already waiting, clapping his fists together.

With the mini reapers forming a circle around us, a makeshift mini reaper colosseum was complete.

Wait, am I supposed to attend a martial arts class too?

I can’t even compete with a golden reaper, let alone a black reaper!

“Mommy, you can do it!”

Hearing the enthusiastic cheers from the golden reapers, I reluctantly raised my fists as the black reaper closed in with practiced footwork.

Pung!

A loud impact echoed near my head.

Even though physical immunity prevented pain, I couldn’t land a single punch.

“Mommy is weak!”

The golden reapers giggled and enjoyed themselves.

This is domestic violence!

The domestic violence continued until the American Object Association arrived to investigate the scene.

***

By the time the next morning came, deep within the forest.

Object Association employees were combing through the woods, taking pictures and gathering information.

They were documenting giant footprints, broken trees, and demolished buildings.

Among the evidence, the most numerous were the big and small baby footprints: mini reaper footprints, gray reaper footprints, and 5-meter tall giant reaper tracks.

This was once again proof that the gray reaper easily travels long distances.

However, Team Leader No. 1 overseeing the entire scene was troubled by another issue.

Surrounded by numerous documents on a large table inside the investigation camp, sat Team Leader No. 1.

Sitting in front of the table, slowly flipping through the files, the leader of the Object Special Task Force muttered quietly to himself.

“This is serious.”

“And I believe it’s extremely serious,” came a soft voice in response.

Startled, believing he was alone, Team Leader No. 1 looked up to see a support team investigator standing nearby with a grave expression.

Relaxing his startled face into a calm one, the leader spoke to the investigator sent from the association headquarters.

“You’re fast, considering the report isn’t fully submitted yet.”

“That’s because this matter is so severe. The Object Association considers this a major problem.”

The report placed on the table by the investigator was a patchwork of various notes and field records.

At the very top, hastily scribbled words read:

<Possibility of creating artificial superhumans through torture.>

The investigator sighed, cradling his head.

“Truly, this is a huge issue. If this news spreads, kidnappings and tortures will likely become rampant.”

“Information control won’t be easy either. After all, the Eye School isn’t exclusive to America.”

A gentle breeze flipped the pages of the report on the table.

The report detailed how victims of the Eye School exhibited object-like abilities or superhuman powers.

***

Upon returning to the research institute after being questioned earlier by the association regarding the Eye School kidnapping incident, Seoah discovered a large construction site.

“Construction? What kind of construction is this?”

It seemed too extensive to simply be repair work due to some issue.

Following the construction materials led to the basement where the giant golden statue used to be.

Numerous construction materials were being transported underground, and work was underway to build a massive bathroom.

While scanning the area, Seoah noticed Director Lee Sehee cheerfully giving instructions to people.

“Director Lee Sehee!”

“Yeeek!”

At Seoah’s loud call, Sehee emitted a short yelp before fleeing at high speed.

“Director Sehee! What funds are you using for this construction?”

Seoah chased after Sehee, asking questions, but Sehee ignored her, covering her ears and quickly disappearing.

“Ahhh, headache.”

Having failed to catch the nimble Sehee, Seoah grabbed her head, overwhelmed by sudden migraines.

She knew she’d inevitably meet Sehee when visiting the director’s office, yet running away was just typical Sehee.

Grumbling, Seoah glanced around.

Thinking the ongoing construction was unavoidable, she decided to take a quick look, only to notice something peculiar happening at the site.

It must be Director Sehee’s doing.

Golden reapers happily wiped sweat from workers’ shoulders, while large black reapers carried heavy construction materials.

Envious of the black reapers, the golden reapers hoisted tiny pebbles onto their shoulders, walking with exaggerated heavy steps.

Mimicking the black reapers’ heavy strides, they deposited the pebbles with a “tok” sound into the pile of waste materials.

Seeing the cute effort of the weaker golden reapers almost made Seoah smile, but she quickly snapped back to reality.

Almost forgot my duty as a researcher because the golden reapers were too adorable.

Shaking her head slightly to refocus, Seoah grew increasingly disheartened viewing the chaos of the basement.

Exposing laborers to objects with mental pollution—this is insane…

Seoah massaged her temples as her headache worsened.

[Please don’t get tired.]

[Please don’t hurt yourselves.]

Nursing the workers were blue reapers.

Floating about and carrying concrete debris were orange reapers.

In a rest area set up at one corner of the construction site were sprout reapers in flowerpots.

Displaying crane-worthy strength were the black reapers.

Cheering people on and clearing rubble were the golden reapers.

It was hard to tell whether this was a construction site or a mini reaper garden.

After reviewing the facility design documents, Seoah hurriedly went to find Sehee.

The documents contained absurd plans.

An indoor swimming pool-cum-bathhouse underground, and a water park connecting the ground and underground levels.

And the scale was immense—a mini reaper water park exceeding twice the size of the Sehee Research Institute grounds.

I need to stop Sehee quickly.

***

Late night, a hospital room in Songpa District.

Awakening from sleep, the security team employee slowly lifted their eyelids.

Unfamiliar ceiling, curtained hospital bed.

The faint hum of a refrigerator pump.

Ah, thank goodness, it’s a hospital.

On the second day since arriving at the hospital, every time waking up brought anxiety wondering if it was that hellish cave again.

The younger sibling they sought was currently in quarantine.

Although not affected by object-induced mental pollution, it seemed severe violence required treatment.

As the uncomfortable body twisted under bandages, a small sound began to reach the ears.

Sak. Sak.

A sound akin to someone overzealously peeling an apple came from behind the curtain.

Could it be?

Slowly pulling the curtain aside and looking outside the bed, a blue reaper sitting on the bedside table carefully peeled a large apple with meticulous care.

“Reaper!”

Overjoyed, the security team employee tried to leap up but couldn’t properly rise due to the bandages and pain enveloping their body.

[Please stay lying down.]

Seeing the slightly wincing expression, the blue reaper worriedly recited incomprehensible strings, causing a soft, strange pressure that made the employee sink back into the bed.

The blue reaper, clumsily handling an apple larger than its own torso, cut it into small pieces and offered it with a water-made fork.

[Ahh, please open your mouth.]

Is the blue reaper trying to feed me?

The security team employee was deeply moved.

This was an event the blue reaper never did despite getting closer!

Buoyed with anticipation, they opened their mouth wide in wait, and then—the trembling apple slowly approached until…it poked their cheek.

The apple slipped and rubbed against the cheek, veering off course, leaving the blue reaper at a loss.

Perhaps wearing its cap too low, obscuring its vision, the blue reaper couldn’t properly feed the patient.

Still, the employee smiled fondly.

[Eyes closed, please!]

Until the blue reaper forced the employee’s eyes shut upon noticing their expression.