Chapter 237

An Isolation Room Made from a Converted House.

Though it lacked the facilities of a real lab, it looked convincingly like one on the surface.

On the desk were scattered various experimental instruments in disarray, and countless posters and notes stuck to the walls.

But amidst all this, biscuit bags were strewn everywhere, making the room look terribly messy.

“Compared to the scale and danger of this zombie incident, are you saying there have been relatively few victims?”

“Yes. Similar Object incidents in other countries have happened, but this case has significantly fewer casualties.”

In the dim room, the sound of chewing mixed with the small TV’s audio echoed faintly.

It was the sound of someone gnawing on a hard biscuit with tiny teeth.

As if completely uninterested in the TV program, the sound of crunching continued nonstop.

“The culprit pointed out is ‘The Golden Reaper.'”

“In particular, areas like Mapo District and Songpa District where many Golden Reapers have been seen have reported almost no damage.”

The TV screen faintly lit up the dark room, showing an intriguing scene.

A news studio where an announcer and invited panelists sat.

Among them was an “Object specialist” who participated as a panelist.

On the desk was a transparent cage containing something that sparkled golden.

As the camera zoomed in, it became clear—it was the Golden Reaper, gleaming brilliantly.

The Golden Reaper was playing with a rubber ball inside the cage, rolling around happily.

“So this is the ‘Golden Reaper,’ huh? I’ve never seen an Object up close before. Is it really safe?”

With a hint of distance in his tone, the announcer asked, and the expert confidently declared it safe while opening the cage door.

At that moment, the Golden Reaper leapt onto the desk.

As if it had become the star, it began rolling around and wandering across the desk.

Looking like a small rodent or harmless baby, the other panelists couldn’t hide their excitement.

Even the slightly hesitant announcer relaxed when the Golden Reaper approached and began petting it.

What had started as a serious analysis show about the incident had turned into a Golden Reaper talent show.

The woman watching TV smiled fondly and turned her head toward the Golden Reaper.

“Your friends are on TV over there!”

But the Golden Reaper, busy munching on its biscuit, showed no interest.

Without even glancing at the TV, it remained seated, continuing to nibble on its biscuit and occasionally looking up at its attached human.

When their eyes met, the Golden Reaper grinned happily.

Seemingly uninterested in who appeared on TV, the woman chuckled and picked up the Golden Reaper, gently petting it.

The once anxious-looking woman now radiated happiness, influenced by the Golden Reaper.

‘Well, land prices in Mapo and Songpa districts will definitely rise.’

With how cute and lovable these Golden Reapers were on TV, they would surely attract attention.

Cute, lovable, and safe during Object incidents—who wouldn’t think that?

***

The alchemist’s younger sister was having a nightmare.

She lay in bed drenched in cold sweat, her hands flailing as if trying to grasp the air.

“Uh… Older Sister…”

In her dream, a horrifying scene unfolded: her older sister pierced all over by a bread knife, bleeding profusely, glaring at her with resentment.

“You killed me.”

“It felt so slow as the blunt bread knife stabbed into me!”

Tears streamed down her older sister’s face as she screamed accusations, causing the younger sister to mumble apologies in a small voice.

“I’m sorry…”

The younger sister sobbed uncontrollably, apologizing endlessly.

Even in reality, lying in bed, she cried just like in her dream.

Seeing her pitiful state, a passing Golden Reaper rushed over.

Grasping her hand tightly, it cradled one of her fingers as if trying to warm her pale digits with its own heart’s warmth.

Feeling that warmth, the younger sister’s expression gradually softened.

Slowly, her dream began to change.

The oppressive blue mist that had blanketed everything like the afterlife began to dissipate under the morning sunlight.

What emerged was a magical forest made entirely of cookies, candies, and chocolates.

Chocolate trees shaped like stick candies.

Rocks made of cream decorating the ground.

Sprinkles of every color sprinkled atop the cream.

It resembled a fairy forest bathed in bright sunshine from a fairytale.

And the resentful image of her older sister had vanished without a trace.

“Older Sister? Where are you?”

Wading through the stick candy trees, the younger sister searched for her sibling.

After searching aimlessly for a few minutes, she finally found her older sister.

Sitting atop hardened sugar like clear ice, riding a white hungry ghost with a cheerful smile, wielding two giant lollipops like clubs.

Her happy expression made the younger sister involuntarily smile too.

But as she approached, strange details began to emerge.

“Older Sister?”

Despite her joyful demeanor, the older sister still had a bread knife lodged in her body.

Instead of blood, strawberry jam flowed from the wound.

She had transformed into a donut filled with strawberry jam—her younger sister’s favorite.

‘It’s a nightmare.’

This was clearly a nightmare.

Realizing the absurdity of the situation, the younger sister woke up from her dream.

The first thing she saw upon waking was a Golden Reaper furiously beating up a Gray Reaper.

***

Haaam.

So sleepy it triggered an involuntary yawn late at night.

In the grand auditorium located at the center of Jelly Pig Hospital, I fought off drowsiness while observing the mysterious ritual of Mini Reapers.

A clearly structured ritual progression.

Mini Reapers dressed in elaborate religious garb.

Ritual tools brimming with style and culture.

It was evident that this wasn’t something the Golden Reaper had randomly imagined or overheard—it was far too complex and unique to exist anywhere on Earth.

On the large circular altar lay the alchemist, a blonde girl, and a black agent.

Around them, Mini Reapers circled, tossing firewood into the altar’s interior.

Midway through the ritual, a Mini Reaper ran to me, hugged me like Yerin, grabbed some firewood, and returned to its place.

Struggling to keep my heavy eyelids open, I noticed who taught this incomprehensible ritual.

The Golden Reaper, having forgotten part of the sequence, scurried to ask the Black Reaper.

Given its complexity and length, it was understandable why the Golden Reaper forgot.

The younger sister fidgeted anxiously.

“Will it be okay? It’ll be fine.”

Hmm, was it because I altered her dream using the Golden Tree’s ability?

Though the Golden Reaper got extremely angry when it realized I tampered with dreams, I felt somewhat wronged.

If the younger sister wakes up happy from her nightmare and I make others dream pleasantly, isn’t it a win-win?

Out of sheer frustration, I tied the hair of the Golden Reapers sitting on my lap together.

“Huhehe~”

By the time I finished tying them up, the ritual had ended.

After the ritual concluded, the girl and the agent remained asleep.

Next to them, the Red Reaper gently caressed the girl’s cheek with a melancholic expression.

Unlike the still-sleeping girl and agent, the alchemist woke up on the altar.

“Older Sister!”

Confused about her situation, the alchemist tried to analyze it, but the younger sister was simply delighted to see her awake.

Upon checking, I noticed the traces of the Color Universe had disappeared from the alchemist’s body.

She seemed to have transformed into a bound entity like Jelly Pigs or Sugar Flamingos.

Perhaps cutting her might reveal she’s made of roll cake like the agent.

After confirming the alchemist’s condition, I promptly returned to the isolation room.

I’m too sleepy to stay here any longer.

***

Awoken by a sudden feeling of emptiness in the cozy isolation room bed, I opened my eyes.

Before me stretched an endless space.

A space I’d seen before.

The colorful universe where the red monster had vanished.

No stars were visible; only chaotic colors flowed throughout the space.

Like paint sliding across glass, the colors slid and flowed unpredictably.

It was a bizarre yet beautiful and ominous space.

However, this wondrous space held dangers.

Just gazing at it consumed the firewood of my heart.

Yet, it compelled me to continue staring.

While observing, I noticed entities lurking within the colors.

A space where colors repelled each other like oil and water.

Amidst these colors floated colossal beings.

Monsters of indeterminate form.

They drifted aimlessly within the flow of colors.

I stood on gray earth, gazing upward at these giants.

‘Is this a dream?’

A dream but not quite a dream—that’s how this space felt.

The monsters above seemed indifferent to everything.

‘When will this dream end? Will it end when I run out of firewood?’

While admiring the curious spectacle, my gaze met one of the monsters.

At that instant, the aimless drifting ceased as the monster stared intently at me and began slowly approaching.

For some reason, I felt I shouldn’t let it come closer and tried to turn away, but my head refused to move as if glued in place.

‘I can’t take my “eyes” off it.’

I needed to forcibly turn my head, but I lacked enough firewood.

Just a little bit more!

I wasted too much firewood admiring the universe.

‘!’

Suddenly, behind me, a warm glow accompanied by a radiant beam of light began to pour down.

A golden light full of firewood.

Turning around, I saw a massive ring of light glowing within the golden beams.

***

Awakening from sleep, I was astonished.

The warmth and coziness I felt behind me came from none other than Yerin’s embrace.

When the identity of the golden firewood was revealed, it felt like solving a mystery.

But simultaneously, new questions arose.

What was the Light Ring?

Was it related to Yerin?

Was it merely a product of a dream, or did it hold deeper meaning?