Chapter 296

A spacious room in James Tower located in the outskirts of Songpa District.

James had spread out several large design blueprints on the floor, carefully examining each one in detail.

And perched on James’s cheek was a Golden Reaper with a cheerful grin, its own cheek pressed against James’s, giggling “Hehe.”

Though it appeared as if they were both looking down at the design blueprints together, in reality, the Golden Reaper wasn’t thinking about anything specific.

It simply enjoyed occasionally rubbing its cheek against James’s, finding happiness in doing something—anything—with James.

Pointing to the various blueprints scattered across the floor, James asked aloud, “Which design do you think would be best?”

The blueprints James indicated were all special armor designs for Tyrannosaurus.

These were upgraded versions of the armor previously sent to the Gray Reaper, featuring a variety of different styles. Starting from a similar type to the last one sent, there was:

– A Tyrannosaurus with wings.

– A Tyrannosaurus clad in menacing heavy armor.

– A Tyrannosaurus that could fire laser blades from its entire body.

– Even a humanoid Tyrannosaurus capable of wielding weapons like humans.

There were truly many diverse designs.

But there was a problem: which version would the Gray Reaper prefer?

To find out, James decided to print the blueprints on paper and have the Golden Reaper choose the most suitable option.

Upon hearing James’s question, the Golden Reaper tilted its head in confusion before starting to examine the blueprints.

After a moment, the Golden Reaper pointed at one blueprint with a small finger and smiled brightly, as if saying, “Mom will definitely like this!”

The chosen design was the dazzling Golden-Mecha-Tyranno.

James felt slightly puzzled by the Golden Reaper’s choice.

“Does the Gray Reaper like gold?”

Recalling the giant golden statue in the Gray Reaper’s lounge, James nodded. If the Gray Reaper has a golden statue, it must not dislike gold, at least.

“Well then, let’s start production on this Golden-Mecha-Tyranno Armor.”

As a thank-you for helping him decide, James handed the Golden Reaper a giant pudding.

With an enormous spoon far too big for its body, the Golden Reaper scooped up some pudding and nibbled delicately at the edges with its tiny mouth.

Then, hoisting the spoon onto its shoulder like a weapon, it extended it toward James.

“Let’s eat together?”

James grinned at the eager expression on the Golden Reaper’s face and took a bite of the pudding.

“Hehe.”

Watching James eat, the Golden Reaper smiled happily.

Just as James tried to feed the Golden Reaper another scoop, his phone emitted an ominous sound.

An urgent and noisy alarm signaling an emergency situation.

Pulling out his phone, James saw alarming words displayed on the screen.

[American Object Association Space Station, communication lost.]

[No issues detected via ground observation.]

[Extremely high levels of mental pollution detected.]

***

Sehee Research Institute Office.

As soon as the Helmet Researcher entered the office, they noticed an unusual atmosphere compared to usual.

First thing they saw? Golden Reapers!

The office floor was packed with Golden Reapers, leaving barely enough space to walk.

Additionally, there were far more researchers present than normal.

It was surprising to realize just how many Sehee Research Institute employees worked in the office, given how often they used excuses like smoking or coffee breaks to leave their desks.

Today, however, everyone was seated, captivated by the peculiar behavior of the Golden Reapers.

This strange behavior was due to two objects sent by the Korean Object Safety Management Council.

Two completely sealed objects placed near Kim Jungrwi.

“This came without any formal documentation, delivered directly with only verbal notification…”

“And where is Director Lee Sehee during times like these…?”

Deputy Director Park Seoah and Senior Researcher Kim Jungrwi frowned as they searched for solutions over the phone.

Ignoring the tense atmosphere, the Golden Reapers fixated their gazes solely on the sealed objects.

Like curious cats, every time Kim Jungrwi lifted an object, all the Golden Reapers’ eyes followed it.

Even the Golden Reaper sitting on the Helmet Researcher’s palm stared intently at the objects.

“What could they possibly be?”

Given the reactions of Deputy Director Park Seoah and Senior Researcher Kim Jungrwi, these objects must be highly dangerous.

They might even be samples of evolution liquid.

While stroking the distracted Golden Reaper’s head, the Helmet Researcher asked, “Can you tell me why you’re acting this way?”

Turning its head toward the researcher, the Golden Reaper began wildly gesturing with its hands and feet, trying to explain something.

“Can’t understand…”

Of course, it was impossible to comprehend. The gestures used by the Golden Reapers were quite different from human language and difficult to interpret.

Moreover, the same gesture sometimes carried multiple meanings or seemed arbitrary.

Perhaps this was the hardest language to decipher in the world.

“Harmful object!”

“Must dispose quickly!”

“Mom! Hurry back!”

Despite this, the Golden Reapers had gathered because they were worried about the Sehee Research Institute.

An object made purely of malice, something evil, had infiltrated the institute.

***

Late morning, Courtyard of Sehee Research Institute.

I was enjoying the unusually quiet courtyard with Yerin, basking in the sunlight.

Strangely, there were no researchers drinking coffee and playing with Mini Reapers, nor any Golden Reapers lounging around nearby.

A rare peaceful moment in the courtyard, resting alongside Yerin.

Yerin was nibbling on my antennae while telling me various stories.

“Remember the lead doll the Reaper gave me as a gift? I might be imagining things, but it feels like it’s moving slightly.”

“Normally, I’d consider that dangerous, but since it’s covered by a White Hungry Ghost, it should be fine, right?”

Lead doll…

That intricately crafted doll found in the Blue Girl’s workshop.

I gifted it hoping it would reduce Yerin’s attempts to dress me up.

So far, those attempts have significantly decreased, much to my satisfaction.

Still, I’m slightly uneasy about what Yerin might be doing with my doll.

Well, as long as the White Hungry Ghost is attached, nothing major should go wrong.

“And early this morning, the ‘Object Safety Management Council’ delivered some objects.”

Mid-conversation, Yerin mentioned something intriguing.

The arrival of new objects?

One of the sweet events that occasionally happened at the Sehee Research Institute.

I wonder what kind of creatures arrived this time?

While pretending to listen with closed eyes, I noticed the Golden Reapers approaching me.

Tubang-tubang.

Climbing onto my body as I pretended to sleep, they started calling out.

“Mom!”

“Big trouble!”

Unwilling to shake off the pleasant drowsiness, I kept my eyes closed.

Tetchi-tetchi.

Then, a Golden Reaper started tapping my eyelids with its hand.

Knowing I was pretending to sleep, it lifted my eyelids, forcing eye contact.

“Mom, wake up quickly!”

Even though Golden Reapers can sense I don’t rely on sight, they always try to make eye contact.

Reluctantly, I left Yerin’s embrace and followed the Golden Reaper into the institute.

When I arrived, I immediately understood why they were alarmed.

“Definitely worth raising a fuss about.”

Two extremely harmful objects had arrived at the Sehee Research Institute.

Watson-like antique lamps.

Though I’ve grown stronger recently, or maybe because I’ve been encountering external beings frequently, the lamp seemed rather weak to me.

However, it was incredibly harmful to humans.

Looking closer, the lamp somewhat resembled the Purple External Being.

Not an external being, but similar to the Purple External Being.

Not an object, yet radiating an object-like aura.

Not an object, yet displaying destruction conditions like an object.

At some point, I’ll need to hunt down the ‘owner of the lamp,’ but I don’t know where they are.

Using my antennae to track the main body through the lamp would likely destroy it again, like last time.

For now, I’ll seal it in the Mini Reaper Garden.

Deciding on this course of action, I issued orders to the Golden Reapers.

“Take them!”

In response, the Golden Reapers, who had filled the office floor, surged like waves and swept away the sealed lamps.

***

Outskirts of Songpa District, James Tower.

James was securely connected to the American Object Association from Korea, watching live footage of an ongoing operation within the association.

“Are objects appearing even at space stations now?”

James’s quiet voice echoed the concerns of everyone in the association.

Several days had passed since communication with the space station was cut off, but no abnormalities were detected through long-distance observation.

After much deliberation, James Research Institute and the American Object Association decided to send a manned exploration vessel.

[Currently approaching the space station. No anomalies detected yet.]

The team leader of the exploration vessel communicated.

As the control center continued monitoring the vessel, they noticed troubling signs.

“Mental pollution levels are rapidly reaching dangerous thresholds.”

[Confirmed. We still have some time, so we’ll proceed further.]

After advancing a bit more, worry crept into the team leader’s next transmission.

[The increase in mental pollution levels is worse than expected. It seems unlikely we’ll be able to dock with current equipment.]

Although docking seemed impossible, everything had been going smoothly until an unexpected situation arose.

Even though the mental pollution shielding hadn’t collapsed, the exploration team leader began relaying strange observations.

[A green moon appears above the space station! I repeat! A green moon has been spotted…]

Immediately after, the communication cut off.

Green moon?

“Attempt long-range observation immediately!”

Panicked, James urgently shouted.

The control center swiftly attempted long-range observation, but the exploration vessel had vanished without a trace, as if swallowed by the station itself.