Chapter 223

Deep Inside Sehee Research Institute.

For a long time, the lonely isolation room, which had no owner, now had its master back.

Until recently, the isolation room had exuded an inexplicable emptiness, but now it felt full once again.

It wasn’t as if the isolation room had been truly empty—it was always filled with countless mini reapers.

And yet, even though the gray reaper wasn’t particularly loud or large, Yerin could definitely feel the difference.

Om…

The gray reaper lay there with an exhausted expression, cuddling Yerin while munching popcorn and watching TV.

[Investigation results show that a significant number of missing persons who vanished without a trace have been confirmed to be on the Island of Red Lightning.]

[The Japanese Object Association announced plans to return the recovered individuals to their families after various tests and health checks.]

The TV was talking about the Island of Red Lightning, where the gray reaper had been just a short while ago.

Even though the gray reaper had personally experienced the events on the island, they watched the news with a strange sense of curiosity.

[Top-tier object, the Island of Red Lightning, has been identified as an object that operates through missions.]

[Japan described it as a kind of labyrinth city.]

The moment the term “labyrinth city” came up, the gray reaper’s hidden antenna inside Yerin’s mouth began to sway happily from side to side.

[The Japanese Object Association deregistered the island’s object status before developing it into a tourist attraction.]

[This decision, made in just a week, has raised concerns among domestic object experts and within Japan itself.]

As soon as the news mentioned turning the labyrinth city into a tourist destination, the gray reaper’s antennae started dancing like seaweed in rough waves.

Feeling the swaying antennae, Yerin began planning to visit the labyrinth city with the gray reaper once it opened, despite public warnings about its dangers.

After all, most places the reaper had visited became safe from objects, so Yerin believed there would be no issues.

[The gray reaper, suspected of destroying the Island of Red Lightning, suddenly disappeared to Japan for reasons unknown.]

While the news had initially focused on Japanese objects, the screen shifted to footage of the gray reaper.

It showed a video of the gray reaper emerging from a giant whirlpool.

Taken by a drone sent out immediately after the surrounding clouds disappeared, the footage wasn’t great quality, but it clearly showed the gray reaper.

In the video, the gray reaper was being bitten all over by black reapers.

Of course, the gray reaper currently resting in the isolation room also had many black reapers clinging to them.

Like remora sharks with sharp teeth, the black reapers latched onto the gray reaper.

What prank did the gray reaper pull to get bitten like this for so long?

Even when the gray reaper transformed into a red reaper and set fire to the orange reaper’s hair, it hadn’t been this bad…

Yerin tried pulling at one of the black reapers’ legs to help, but they were gripping too tightly to be removed by her strength alone.

It was almost as if the black reapers were expressing their anger toward the gray reaper.

***

The chirping of sparrows.

The warmth of a cozy bed.

The enticing aroma of delicious toast.

These elements of an ordinary morning gradually reached the girl lying in bed.

Though already awake, she burrowed deeper under the blanket to savor the happy atmosphere a little longer.

But beneath the blanket, a pair of white and yellow eyes stared intently at her.

Pee!

A small cry from a black reaper, as if urging her to wake up.

Irritated by the daily wake-up call, the girl grabbed the black reaper from under the blanket and began tickling it vigorously.

“Eh!”

Whether because the tickling genuinely amused it or because it enjoyed playing with her, the black reaper simply smiled brightly in her grasp.

Thus, after rolling around with the black reaper under the blanket, the girl placed it atop her head, sat up in bed, and absentmindedly gazed out the window.

She felt most at peace during these moments of observing everyday scenery.

“This isn’t a maze.”

“It’s normal life… home.”

Such a sense of reassurance washed over her.

Though quite some time had passed since leaving the labyrinth city and returning to Japan, whenever she lay down to sleep, she often felt as if she might suddenly awaken back in the labyrinth city.

Having been trapped there for only three months, the girl struggled to imagine what it must feel like for those who had been there for a year—or even ten.

Unlike the girl, many other victims of the labyrinth city had yet to reintegrate into society.

Because adventurers lived lives far removed from societal norms, they required extensive examinations.

Adventurers unfamiliar with laws and rules often resolved issues with force.

Moreover, the “adventurers” who spent much time in the mazes possessed abilities that seemed extraordinary compared to ordinary humans.

Had the girl cleared more mazes, she might still be detained.

She learned more about the adventurers’ reintegration process through the “dog meat man.”

She casually asked people when the man might return to society.

However, based on what she discovered, it seemed he would need considerable time.

Among the “surviving adventurers,” he was the one who had advanced the furthest.

Kidnapped to the island nearly 15 years ago, he carried numerous conditions making his return difficult.

“I wish I could see you soon in Japan, Uncle!”

Lost in thought, she touched the cold windowpane, feeling its chill, when her mother’s voice called from below.

“Come down quickly!”

“Yes!”

With the black reaper transformed into a bracelet on her wrist, the girl replied cheerfully.

An ordinary and joyful start to the day.

***

Awakening too early due to staying up late watching TV while the mini reapers slept,

Umm umm.

Upon touching her cheek, she realized a black reaper was still attached.

“They’re still here.”

Judging by their tiny, regular snores—”peeee”—the black reapers were undoubtedly asleep but clung to her firmly.

Though ghosting could easily detach them, doing so would likely make them angrier.

Still upset after being buried in sand for so long!

Normally, a single pudding would suffice to calm them, but perhaps they’re going through puberty?

Thud thud.

Arriving at the courtyard of Sehee Research Institute under the moonlight, she was greeted by a serene landscape.

The floor shimmered like marshmallows, a small table held a miniature TV, and her special chair glowed with colors reflected by the moonlight.

Following the light upward, she saw various moons and three distinct rings of light in the sky.

Reaching out her hand, she summoned the halo she obtained recently.

The halo from the labyrinth city.

Its power involved illusions and hallucinations, much like the old man demonstrated.

Yet, as an “eye,” it far surpassed ordinary objects.

Not merely creating strong enough illusions to deceive her but altering reality itself.

Much like the sudden appearance of the island or the many items in the labyrinth city, it could transform ordinary matter into illusions and manifest them as reality.

A godlike ability akin to creation.

Of course, limitations existed.

Materials of higher tiers, like the nine-step trial she endured, couldn’t be physically created and could only be manipulated as illusions.

Still, it was undoubtedly an impressive power.

Her first thought upon obtaining it was, “I can make tons of pudding!” But that happiness faded quickly.

Using the halo just to eat pudding isn’t worth it.

It’s like setting oneself on fire for a single pudding during human times.

However, using the halo for fun pranks is worth considering.

Although no clever ideas came to mind yet, deceiving reality with illusions sounded fun indeed.

Hehe.

***

Crunch crunch.

The golden reaper, confined in the isolation room, gnawed on cheap feed.

Though hard and tasteless, the golden reaper happily munched away.

After all, the attached human was watching!

Taking a bite of the tough feed and looking through the glass at the person staring at them, the golden reaper found everything enjoyable and tasty with their attention.

The woman keeping the golden reaper caged muttered to herself while watching the reaper eat.

“Surprisingly well-behaved?”

All the elaborate equipment prepared for isolating the golden reaper seemed unnecessary now.

Without proper containment achievements, the research institute wouldn’t gain recognition.

All current facilities were provided by a dangerous partner, leaving little time for her.

If she’d known how perilous they were, she never would’ve partnered with them.

Before capturing the golden reaper, she had even planned dissection experiments, but seeing the cheerful face eating cheap feed made her hesitate.

“Huh, what should I do?”

At that moment, loud noises began.

Bang bang bang.

The door was being pounded on violently, as if trying to break it down.

Though soundproof, she imagined angry shouts like “Open the door immediately!”

“Eek.”

Hearing the noise, the woman, already pale, turned paler.

The golden reaper, calmly eating earlier, now stood and stared toward the source of the sound.