Chapter 265

In the lounge of the Sehee Research Institute, the soft sound of a TV was echoing.

[The cause of the ‘End of Stars’ incident that occurred recently in Southern Italy has been identified as the ‘Gray Reaper’.]

[The Korean Object Association announced that they will visit Sehee Research Institute to inspect the management status of the Gray Reaper and plans to elevate safety protocols to US standards.]

Though it was news closely related to the Sehee Research Institute, the Helmet Researcher just let it pass by without much attention.

‘There’s no way the Object Association can conduct a proper investigation.’

The Helmet Researcher knew the Association too well to care about their inspections.

Instead, the researcher was busy playing with the Golden Reaper using a long stick-shaped snack.

“Ah.”

As the Helmet Researcher opened their mouth, the Golden Reaper followed suit.

And into that open mouth went the stick snack.

Then the Golden Reaper happily munched on the treat with delight.

‘Their bite force is stronger than expected.’

While watching the Golden Reaper eagerly eat the snack, the researcher suddenly became curious.

“Again, say ‘Ah’.”

So once more, the Golden Reaper opened its mouth, only this time the researcher offered their own finger instead.

“Bite hard. Hard!”

With a puzzled expression, the Golden Reaper tilted its head before giving a small “Ang!” and bit down gently.

The teeth were round and didn’t hurt much, but it was clear the bite was strong enough.

Lifting the finger up, the Golden Reaper dangled mid-air, lifted solely by its bite strength.

‘It can lift itself using just its jaw strength.’

It looked somewhat like a fish caught on a fishing rod, which made the Helmet Researcher grin.

When the Golden Reaper was placed back on the ground, it worriedly nibbled at the researcher’s fingertips with a concerned look.

‘Does it hurt?’

Like fragile porcelain, the Golden Reaper seemed genuinely concerned about breaking the human.

Well, from the perspective of a Golden Reaper who remains unscathed even when hit by heavy sniper fire, humans must feel like breakable glass bottles.

“I’m fine.”

The Helmet Researcher petted the Golden Reaper’s head and reassured it not to worry.

Checking the time, they realized lunch had almost ended.

‘Lunchtime is almost over.’

The researcher stored the Golden Reaper back inside their helmet and glanced around.

There were plenty of researchers lost in play with Mini Reapers, completely oblivious to the passing time.

It was baffling how the institute managed to function with so many people distracted.

Even more surprising was the fact that there were ten times as many people playing outside in the courtyard compared to the lounge.

‘This was truly a stroke of genius coming to Sehee Research Institute.’

Despite doing only one-tenth of what the Association did, the researcher was treated like an ace here.

Their evaluation of Sehee Research Institute was simple:

‘A research institute that does almost no work.’

Only Deputy Director Park Seoah and Senior Researcher Kim Jungrwi actually worked diligently.

Security guards played with Mini Reapers instead of patrolling, while the Golden Reaper took care of all the surveillance and guarding duties with ease.

Occasionally, isolation room locks would malfunction due to neglect.

Had the Golden Reaper not been keeping watch, objects would have escaped long ago.

Some researchers even tried offloading paperwork onto the Mini Reapers.

Worse yet, some taught their Attached Reapers Hangul and English, a sight both amusing and alarming.

Fortunately, except for the Blue Reapers, none of them learned properly.

Smiling at the Golden Reaper inside their helmet, the researcher left the lounge.

***

The ‘Super Giant Blue Gray Reaper’, covered in Mini Reapers, was racing around the Mini Reaper Garden at lightning speed.

Its massive size allowed for incredible velocity.

“Faster!”

The Mini Reapers clung on joyfully, like kids on a thrill ride.

‘Who knows when Mommy will get tired and stop playing?’

Yet, despite their expectations, she kept going, leaving the Mini Reapers utterly confused.

They then decided she must be a kind mother and grew fond of her.

Hehe, this “Kind Mother Week” seems to be working wonders.

At this rate, pulling off a big prank might not be so bad—like destroying the grand city the Golden Reapers worked so hard to build out of snow.

It was like a sandcastle made of ice chunks, and I was considering how much damage could be done.

Hehe.

While controlling the giant gray reaper, I gazed down at the ‘Blue Girl,’ whose body lay asleep within the original gray reaper form.

“How strange. Why can’t we revive her?”

Before playing with the children as a giant, I attempted to resurrect the Blue Girl.

I planned to ask her all the ambiguous questions that had been piling up.

But the experiment failed.

No matter how much I used the giant’s abilities, the Blue Girl’s soul simply did not exist.

Is the Blue Girl not an object?

Yet, looking at her corpse, it was evident she was indeed an object.

What am I missing?

I couldn’t figure out the reason.

While deep in thought, the Purple Reaper emerged silently from the shadows, its body rusted in several places as if battered and bruised.

“?”

Was there such a damaged Purple Reaper?

Nonetheless, it approached me with immense gratitude, clinging tightly.

“Mom! Thank you so much for helping!”

The Purple Reaper rubbed its cheek against mine enthusiastically.

It seemed genuinely thankful, disregarding its usual quirks, and expressed gratitude for leading everyone in the Mini Reaper Garden to help it and its Attached Human.

Though I hadn’t done anything, I stroked the Purple Reaper comfortingly.

“Well, well. I always have you in mind.”

My tone sounded too contrived, causing the Purple Reaper to appear slightly suspicious, but it soon relaxed and clung closer again.

“Anyway, are you uncomfortable? Should I fix you?”

I asked the Purple Reaper, whose body looked tattered after a battle with the Blue Giant, but it shook its head slowly, insisting it was fine.

“Well, if you’re okay with it, I guess there’s nothing I can do.”

After expressing gratitude for a long time, the Purple Reaper finally revealed a serious request.

Normally, I’d tease endlessly, but since it was “Kind Mother Week,” I agreed to grant the wish.

I’m being way too nice lately.

Hehe.

***

Deep within the Mini Reaper Garden, amidst the Sea of Hot Chocolate.

The Blue Reapers gathered at their hideout, striving to create something extraordinary.

[Shine like stars!]

They were upgrading the ‘World’s Strongest Mom Golem’.

Seeing the enormous blue-lit mother figure filled the Blue Reapers with immense happiness.

Even the perpetually cheerful Golden Reapers envied them, calling them “jealous siblings!”

To express their joy, the Blue Reapers were modifying the golem.

As large as the Giant Mother!

As radiant as the Giant Mother!

However, with only ten Blue Reapers, creating such a colossal Mom Golem proved impossible.

And replicating the mysterious blue glow of the Giant Mother was equally challenging.

Thus, their concerns only deepened.

***

In Southern Italy, where the ‘Star Curse’ vanished and all ‘Choosers’ disappeared instantly.

Amidst the chaos accompanying the rebuilding and transformation of the devastated south, a man returned to his hometown.

A man who had lived deceiving others as a ‘Chooser’.

Having completed most of his tasks, only one final duty remained.

“Are they gone…? It feels lonely.”

Looking around the now-empty family home, the man couldn’t hide his melancholy.

A small purple friend trailed behind him silently.

The Rusty Purple Reaper had appeared suddenly and disappeared just as abruptly.

Though it never spoke, its emotions were clear through its eyes—it admired the man’s life as a ‘fixer’.

That Purple Reaper had looked up to him.

The man had vaguely anticipated this moment.

Having fulfilled his reasons for wielding a gun, yesterday he buried his trusted firearm at his younger sister’s grave.

Perhaps that’s why it left.

Without a gun, there was no longer any reason for the small companion to follow.

It couldn’t be helped.

“Though we may not meet again, I hope you remain safe and unharmed.”

The man prayed for the health of his small, rusted friend.

“During your endless travels, if you ever reach Korea, I hope we can meet again with smiles.”

The man began packing to fulfill his younger sister’s last wish—to travel the world beyond Italy.

He would likely never return to Italy.

Planning to wander the globe until the end of his days, like a tumbleweed, he prepared as if taking his sister along.

The first destination: Paris, France.

She definitely wanted to take a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower.

She also mentioned wanting to stroll the streets of Paris and enjoy croissants.

There were many places his sister wished to visit.

Carrying minimal luggage to the door, the man felt a throbbing pain in his temples.

“Then, let’s go.”

Muttering softly, as if speaking to his sister, the man opened the door and stepped out.

But what awaited him wasn’t the start of a lonely journey.

Standing before him was his sister, looking exactly as she did in life.

“Big brother, you’ve aged so much.”

Her voice bright despite the redness around her eyes.

Running toward him, she embraced him tightly and began sobbing uncontrollably.

The man closed his eyes, said nothing, and slowly stroked her hair, as if fearing the miracle would vanish if he opened his eyes or spoke.

He held her like that for a long time.

Meanwhile, the Rusty Purple Reaper hid in the shadows, blessing the happiness of its beloved human.