Chapter 282

Mini Reaper Garden, Marshmallow Plains.

The sweet aroma of hot chocolate wafted through the air as the Golden Reapers with four-legged gaits joyfully ran around the Marshmallow Plains.

Some were basking together in little groups under the sunlight while others darted about like a game of tag in all directions.

Om.

A few of them nibbled on the squishy marshmallow floor like grazing sheep.

And upon seeing this, other Four-legged Golden Reapers giggled and followed suit.

But the more I observed, the stranger things seemed to get.

First off, there were far too few White Hungry Ghosts.

Moreover, these Golden Reapers were unusually well-behaved for reapers.

As I narrowed my eyes and began inspecting the Four-legged Golden Reapers, about 70% of them started pretending to be nonchalant while slowly creating distance from me.

On the contrary, some bounced toward me with playful grins.

Just like last time, when I grabbed one of the nearby bouncing Four-legged Golden Reapers, sure enough, a Golden Reaper popped out from within its doll costume.

“Caught ya!”

As I unzipped the doll suit, the Golden Reaper poked its head out with a cheerful grin.

Hm.

Though I confirmed the Golden Reaper inside the costume, suspicions lingered deep within me.

The docile four-legged Golden Reaper versus the lively ones. The fleeing ones versus those coming closer.

After placing the captured Golden Reaper back into the doll suit and setting it down, I pretended to watch the burning worm-shaped marshmallow figures while glancing at the mischievous White Hungry Ghosts laughing nearby.

This caused the fleeing Four-legged Golden Reapers to halt, gradually returning to their spots.

No, the Devious White Hungry Ghosts.

In the moment they let their guard down, I teleported instantly to a loaf-like White Hungry Ghost lying nearby.

Dab!

“Gotcha!”

Upon removing the doll costume from the struggling Four-legged Golden Reaper, once again revealed was its soft white flesh inside.

Hehe.

I then pulled out the trembling White Hungry Ghost from the doll suit and bit into its side viciously.

“Kyeeek!”

As the pitiful cries of the White Hungry Ghost echoed, the devious ones disguised in costumes began fleeing frantically.

And the Golden Reapers also shed their disguises and bolted away.

“Exposed!”

“Mom found out!”

“Run!”

Like realizing they’ve been caught on a hidden camera, the Golden Reapers giggled and scattered.

While the Golden Reapers maintained a playful atmosphere, the White Hungry Ghosts desperately fled in all directions.

But without abilities like time acceleration or ghosting, escape from me was impossible for the White Hungry Ghosts.

For those Devious White Hungry Ghosts daring to deceive me, only a dreadful fate awaited.

***

On the vast emerald sea, a large cruise ship glided smoothly. On its deck stood Cheong alongside the Italian siblings.

The warm sunlight shone brightly, and a refreshing breeze tousled their hair.

It was the kind of weather that naturally lifted one’s spirits.

“This place is really nice. I understand why the ticket price is so high with a view like this.”

Cheong, holding binoculars and spotting dolphins, spoke with an Orange Reaper perched atop her head.

On Cheong’s head sat the small telescope crafted by the Purple Reaper, worn by the Orange Reaper who mimicked Cheong’s pose.

Seeing this adorable sight, the woman chuckled softly.

“Still, a significant portion of the ticket cost probably goes toward preventing or dealing with object attacks.”

When the man, cigarette in mouth, brought up this less pleasant reality, the woman elbowed him lightly.

“Hey, since the ship’s interior facilities are great, how about we explore them later?”

Cheong nodded with a smile in response to the woman’s suggestion.

Just before boarding, Cheong and the siblings were strangers.

But after accidentally making eye contact through their Mini Reapers, they quickly became friends.

Even conversing in broken English felt natural.

Given how rare Mini Reapers were outside certain regions, it wasn’t surprising they felt an instant connection.

Truly, the magic of Mini Reapers bringing people together.

As the woman playfully poked the lazy Purple Reaper and looked up at the sky, she said,

“It’s about lunchtime, right? How about we go eat?”

Cheong lowered her binoculars, nodded in agreement, and they headed inside.

They soon arrived at a beautifully decorated restaurant where soft music played alongside TV sounds.

[The Korean Object Association plans to soon release a new household doll.]

[However, the U.S. Object Association and various research institutes have expressed concerns. They argue releasing dolls without thorough safety testing could be dangerous.]

[A representative from the Korean Object Association stated, “We will follow all procedures carefully,” emphasizing, “the safety of citizens is our top priority.”]

Perhaps because their next destination was Korea, the TV showcased Korean-related news.

Cheong watched, feeling slightly worried.

‘This seems pretty risky… Is it really okay?’

But neither the Italian siblings nor the Mini Reapers appeared concerned.

“You can do it! Go, Purple Reaper!”

Instead, they were already playing around with the bread rolls.

Om.

The Orange and Purple Reapers now faced off over a bread roll, competing to see who could eat more.

It was almost like a mini-eating contest.

In the short time Cheong glanced at the TV, the Orange Reaper had somehow devoured countless bread rolls, his belly puffing up like a tadpole.

Unfortunately, the winner of the bread battle was the Purple Reaper.

Orange Reaper disqualified.

Caught hiding bread in his fluffy hair, he was busted by the Purple Reaper.

Huh-huh.

As Cheong consoled the sad Orange Reaper sprawled on the floor, her worries about Korea vanished.

‘If one Orange Reaper defeated a Giant Deity, surely Korea filled with wiggling Mini Reapers will be fine.’

***

All the White Hungry Ghosts disappeared from the Mini Reaper Garden!

“Mom ate them all!”

Amidst ominous rumors spreading among the Golden Reapers, a group of brave ones set out to track the missing White Hungry Ghosts.

Deep within the Marshmallow Plains.

Toward a suddenly appearing giant hole, helmet-wearing Golden Reapers cautiously approached.

Thud-thud-thud.

Carefully descending into the hole, a massive cave entrance yawned before the Golden Reapers.

“!”

The cave entrance bristled with menacing skewers, each impaling numerous White Hungry Ghosts like chicken kebabs.

Skewered and burning, the tiny White Hungry Ghosts flailed their legs endlessly.

Their cries of “Kyeeek!” echoed through the cave, sounding like eerie screams rising from hell.

Above the White Hungry Ghosts floated a crystal orb legible even to Golden Reapers.

[Hell of White Hungry Ghost]

As the Golden Reapers passed through [Hell of White Hungry Ghost] deeper into the cavern, another inferno awaited.

A hell labeled [Hell of Devious White Hungry Ghost].

A hell so shocking it made even the Golden Reapers cover their eyes.

So terrifying that many Explorer Golden Reapers abandoned documenting it altogether.

Kyeeek.

***

Gangnam District of Seoul, Object Association Building.

Sehee had been summoned by the Object Association and waited her turn.

Looking around, representatives from all kinds of Seoul-based research institutes occupied seats.

Each looked exhausted, poor researchers burdened by endless work.

Sehee idly poked the chubby cheeks of the Golden Reaper resting on her palm while gazing out the window.

The clear blue sky and perfect sunshine made her long to lie down in the Courtyard of Sehee Research Institute.

Children running about, their happy laughter filling the air.

Pairs of people strolling along the streets.

Seoul definitely had a different vibe lately.

Six months since the launch of “Association Dolls” exclusively in Seoul…

Seoul’s streets were now teeming with Association Dolls.

At first, people eyed them suspiciously, but as time passed, their incredible abilities left everyone in awe.

From nanny dolls escorting children to daycare to construction worker dolls building skyscrapers and teacher dolls passionately educating students, dolls became an integral part of daily life.

They even earned money for their owners.

Resembling humans in appearance, people grew increasingly dependent on these dolls until imagining Seoul without them became nearly impossible.

Dolls were everywhere; places without them in Seoul could be counted on one hand.

Mapo District, James Tower, and Sehee Research Institute.

Probably just these three locations if Mini Reapers didn’t dislike Association Dolls so much. When Sehee tried leaving home, a water-made sword-and-helmet-clad Golden Reaper bodyguard chased after her.

The James-led American Object Association still firmly believed “autonomous objects are dangerous.”

Despite the seemingly joyful crowd enjoying the sunny day, Sehee couldn’t shake the feeling of calm before a storm.