Chapter 203

As the sun revealed itself between the dim skies visible between the buildings in Mapo District, the glass surfaces of the building walls began to gradually dye themselves with a warm golden hue.

It was finally the end of the seventh night.

The towering skyscrapers that were mere silhouettes in the faint light of dawn now sparkled as they received the sunlight.

Still low on the horizon, the sun’s rays crossed narrow alleys and wide roads alike, weaving through the spaces between buildings.

The city, which had been immersed in ominous darkness and moonlight, regained its vitality with the warmth of the sun and started to return to its original form.

“Ugh, it’s too bright.”

Yerin, who had stayed up all night with me watching the mini reapers’ exploits, covered her eyes with her palm against the glaring sunlight, which seemed to be blinding her.

Though the sunlight wasn’t that intense, Yerin appeared more sensitive to light after pulling an all-nighter.

When I turned around to check, Yerin’s face, gripping my feelers, looked weighed down by deep fatigue.

After sneaking into the quarantined Mapo District and running around for so long, she must be exhausted.

At the moment the sun rose, the fake reapers that had been attacking people until just before sunrise began fleeing in all directions to avoid the sunlight.

Like vampires turning to ash when touched by sunlight, they hid in shadows—but it wasn’t much of a meaningful move.

Their destruction condition wasn’t being touched by sunlight but simply the arrival of morning itself.

Even hiding in shadows couldn’t save them from their inevitable demise.

As the sun’s domain expanded, the fake reapers hiding in shadows began twisting their bodies in agony and contorted until they crumbled like dry mud, eventually vanishing back into shadows.

Even the massive fake reaper disintegrated into black charcoal-like chunks before fading away. The golden reapers triumphantly jumped around, raising their hands high to celebrate victory.

The other mini reapers followed the cheerful smiles of the golden reapers and laughed along.

The giant black reapers dissolved into countless smaller black reapers, scattering in all directions, while many cloud fish flew gracefully between the buildings.

As the golden and black reapers mingled joyfully with the people, laughter spread among the residents of Mapo District.

They finally realized the nightmare-like night was truly over.

Just as the moon naturally fades when the sun rises, the yellow full moon had quietly disappeared by now.

People came out onto the streets with mini reapers, lifting their faces toward the sky to bask in the gentle warmth of the sunlight.

Tubang tubang.

The mini reapers happily wandered among the people, sharing delicious snacks with humans.

The survivors of Mapo District, which had become a battlefield for objects.

The mini reapers who protected humans.

Everyone ended up smiling happily.

“Hii hii.”

Except for the victorious celebration snack that became a hungry ghost.

***

The bright sunlight falling on the helmet shattered into pieces.

A researcher from the Object Association sat on a park bench, absentmindedly staring at the soft sunlight filtering through the helmet’s glass.

After gazing at the sky for a while, the researcher looked down and noticed people gathering in a small park near a hotel.

Happy laughter and the sweet scent of caramelizing sugar filled the air.

Golden reapers mixed among the humans, genuinely smiling as if they were truly happy.

And the people smiled along, infected by that happiness.

They didn’t seem like people who had just narrowly escaped flying chunks of concrete or deadly killer objects.

It must be mental pollution.

In a corner of this lively park, behind a slide, a small golden head popped up.

It was the golden reaper who had been following the researcher.

This golden reaper grinned as if the researcher’s mere survival made it happy.

I told it not to come near because it would be inconvenient.

And when it kept lurking around, I told it I didn’t like it.

I still vividly remember how heartbreakingly it cried then.

But even so, the golden reaper appeared during the researcher’s moments of danger and saved them.

The golden reaper fought fiercely, burning its own life force.

Even if it died, it would reappear somewhere, rushing to protect again.

Although golden reapers might value life differently since they can’t die, it gritted its teeth and endured pain to protect the researcher.

A true struggle.

‘Does a completely harmless object really exist?’

Deep down, the researcher felt the golden reaper wasn’t harmful.

But from a rational standpoint, it was impossible to agree.

After all, the hand that feeds the chicken may one day wring its neck. The golden reaper helping humans today could someday harm them.

That train of thought was interrupted when the researcher’s phone rang.

The caller was the Object Association.

Expecting questions about the recent incident, the association instead delivered shocking news.

They had incinerated all the books related to objects recovered from the memorial park.

Books the researcher had requested to examine.

Completely different language systems, yet clearly tied to objects—why burn them?

Why?

How could they just burn something that might hold crucial information for object research?

The researcher couldn’t help but ask.

“But why was such a decision made?”

The answer was simple.

Following the basic policy of the Object Association: If an object doesn’t provide financial benefit, attempt destruction first.

[If destruction is difficult or seems challenging, isolate.]

Since the books originated from an object, they were classified as objects.

So, destroy.

With the isolation rooms reaching capacity, prioritizing destruction was understandable.

But applying this rule to easily isolated books…

The researcher hung up the phone weakly and slumped on the park bench.

Simultaneously, the report slipped from the researcher’s limp hand.

It was the “Golden Reaper Mental Pollution Report” written in Mapo District.

Feeling stifled, the researcher looked up at the clear blue sky, but unlike their mood, the sky remained bright and serene.

Children playing happily with objects.

Peeking from a nearby spot, a golden reaper watching them with worried eyes.

Haha.

A dry laugh escaped the researcher’s lips.

Deciding the report was no longer needed, the researcher picked it up and placed it atop the burning hungry ghost to set it ablaze.

Then, very slowly…

Extremely slowly, the researcher removed their helmet.

Instantly, all worries vanished from their mind.

Stressful as this was, maybe it was time to quit the Object Association.

And apply to Sehee Research Institute instead.

Placing the helmet on the bench, the researcher clapped their hands and called out to the hidden golden reaper.

Realizing it was truly being called, the golden reaper initially tilted its head in disbelief but soon dashed over with genuine joy.

Watching the jumping golden reaper approach, the researcher’s expression mirrored the same happiness.

***

As soon as the Mapo District incident ended, Yerin and I returned to Sehee Research Institute, where Sehee was working passionately.

Planning, researching data—it was almost like watching Kim Jungrwi.

Seoah observed this with a slightly strange expression.

Why did she look at Sehee’s hard work that way?

Curious, I glanced at Yerin, but she also wore a puzzled look, seemingly unaware of what was happening.

Yerin approached Seoah to inquire.

“Sister, what’s going on?”

“Ahh, Researcher Oh Yerin, you’re back. The director is reacting this way because of rising land prices.”

Seoah shook her head while explaining.

Land prices?

Could this be related to the rumored ‘Gray Reaper Theme Park’ being built near Songpa District?

Listening to Seoah, the story was amusing.

Sehee had purchased land at ten times the market price for the absurd idea of building a theme park, only for the prices to skyrocket unexpectedly.

What seemed like a surefire path to bankruptcy turned into a windfall.

Prices surged once due to the James Tower construction news.

And again after the Mapo District mini reaper incident.

Thanks to rumors that the area around Sehee Research Institute was the safest place in Korea.

Selling just a portion of the purchased land paid off debts and provided enough funds to build another Sehee Research Institute, explaining Sehee’s newfound enthusiasm.

So, will the Gray Reaper Theme Park really happen?

Carrying this hope, I was heading back to my cozy isolation room when I sensed someone approaching the institute.

Anticipation. Kindness. Gratitude.

Though not as intense as Yerin, someone emitting large amounts of positive emotions was slowly coming closer.

Appearing to be one of those rescued by the mini reapers in Mapo District.

Meaning this person skipped sleep entirely to visit Sehee Research Institute immediately after the incident.

While expecting some annoying matters post-Mapo District, this level of initiative exceeded my expectations.

Judging from this, it was hard to imagine how much more annoying things would get in the future.

***

With most mini reapers having left for Mapo District, Mini Reaper Garden grew quiet.

Through this tranquil garden strolled a golden reaper returning from Mapo District, walking leisurely with a “tubang tubang.”

While other golden reapers were joyfully playing with people, this one expected something else.

‘A new younger sibling!’

The golden reaper waited with sparkling eyes for a new sibling derived from the yellow moon.

Suddenly, something popped up in front of the golden reaper.

Golden skin.

Gently swaying feelers moving side to side.

A picture-perfect smile.

Eyes resembling buttons or doll-like orbs.

A mini reaper resembling a golden reaper appeared except for the eyes.

Huh?

‘Not a sibling?’

The golden reaper tilted its head upon seeing the newly arrived mini reaper.

In response, the mini reaper tilted its head identically.