Chapter 309

A girl with ash-gray hair was always happy.

As soon as the girl woke up in the morning, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

How truly happy she was.

The warm scent of toast that made mornings cozy and the gentle sunlight streaming through the window.

When she opened the window and looked down, the greenery of the avenue trees surrounding the apartment complex greeted her senses with their distinct woody aroma.

At the end of the verdant tree-lined path, she could see the school located at the center of the apartment complex.

“Hurry up and come out to eat! You have to go to school!”

Responding to the voice calling her with a “Yes, I’m coming!” the girl headed toward the dining table.

At the table were her parents, older sister, and older brother waiting for her.

Though they weren’t rich, to the girl, it always felt like a happy family.

Her ever-loving parents, older sister, and older brother.

Hehe.

For some reason, the girl let out a small laugh.

As the girl, struggling to hold it with one hand, poured water from an oversized bottle into her cup, the water suddenly turned red and became as thick as blood.

“!!!”

Startled, she dropped the cup, but what spilled was clear water.

“Are you okay?”

The worried voices of her family echoed around her.

Wiping her eyes as if trying to erase the strange vision, the girl stared down at the fallen water.

Clear and transparent water.

It was just ordinary water.

‘Something’s off.’

Perhaps because of seeing that bizarre scene, her mood slightly darkened.

After finishing breakfast and heading toward school, the morning commute began.

The ash-haired girl walked along the neatly paved sidewalk.

“There are no Mini Reapers today.”

In fact, when she heard her family would move to Songpa District, one of the reasons she was most excited about was because of the Mini Reapers.

Songpa District—the place where Mini Reapers were said to roam the most!

Of course, her parents were thrilled for entirely different reasons.

“To live near the Han River in such a safe area of Songpa District…”

Originally an expensive place to live, they somehow managed to purchase it at a lower price, which made them extremely happy.

Unlike her parents, the girl was thrilled simply by the idea of easily spotting Mini Reapers.

However, even after moving to Songpa District—where Mini Reapers were supposed to be abundant—it was incredibly hard to spot any.

Strangely enough, there were no Mini Reapers around her.

Not only near the apartment complex but also not at school.

“Why is that?”

Even though Mini Reapers could often be seen wandering outside the apartment complex, none appeared within it.

At first, this made her feel a little sad, but now she didn’t mind so much.

“I’ve got the Yellow Reaper, after all!”

A secret hideout known only to her.

My own Mini Reaper friend.

Hehe. The thought of meeting her Yellow Reaper friend after school lifted her spirits a little.

***

Basking under the warm sunlight in the Courtyard of Sehee Research Institute.

I had returned here after giving up on monitoring the Steel Tower.

There was no change after spending the whole day rolling around in front of it.

Being stuck in the eerie forest without anything happening made me so irritable I couldn’t stand it.

I clearly remember spending a long time in Seoul Forest right after being born as an Object, but now I can’t even last a single day there.

To vent my frustration: biting the Steel Tower, delivering dropkicks to the Gray Reaper, and attempting to ‘shatter’ it with a mysterious force.

Nothing worked.

So, leaving two dejected Golden Reapers—who were designated as “Steel Tower Duty”—behind, I returned to the Sehee Research Institute.

Hehe.

Despite it being the same sunlight, it feels completely different from Seoul Forest.

Rolling around while enjoying the sun, I stretched my arms and legs wide open when the sound of a TV playing in the courtyard caught my attention.

[One of the safest and most expensive areas in Seoul, Songpa District, has welcomed a unique new apartment.]

[This apartment is drawing significant attention due to its affordable rental prices.]

[However, a dark shadow looms over its past.]

[Accidents frequently occurred among the officials and staff involved in granting permits for this apartment, sparking continuous controversies.]

[These mysterious accidents affected everyone from the construction company president to low-level executives, making proper sales seem impossible.]

[At one point, these incidents were attributed to a powerful Object, but despite investigations clearing it, ominous rumors persisted.]

[Eventually, the government took over the apartment project, transforming it into an affordable housing option for vulnerable populations…]

It was a story about a newly built apartment complex.

Mini Reapers occasionally hung around there too, but lately, there hasn’t been much talk about that apartment.

While pondering the suspicious nature of this apartment, the Mini Reapers started getting restless.

“A new younger sibling!”

“The youngest has arrived!”

Turning my gaze, I saw the woman from the Cosmic Station and the Green Reaper entering the courtyard.

Hmm…

Suddenly noticing miniature animals running around the courtyard, I realized they must have been created by the Green Reaper.

Actually, the moment I entered the courtyard, my attention was drawn to those fascinating tiny creatures.

And upon spotting a mini rabbit, an “inspired snack idea” popped into my head—but alas, the Mini Reapers’ fierce opposition prevented me from executing it.

That brilliant snack idea? A kebab made by grabbing handfuls of thumbnail-sized rabbits.

Hmph.

A full kebab stick with five mini rabbits skewered together sounded delicious…

But the Mini Reapers glared at me as if I were a Harmful Object, stopping me from trying.

Is it really so different from White Hungry Ghost kebabs?

They’re only different in terms of pain and resurrection.

Now the Green Reaper, following the Mini Reapers’ requests, began creating tiny elephants, hippos, and rhinos the size of fingernails.

Since there’s only one Green Reaper, it seems they don’t feel burdened by creating animals.

“Ah!”

Right then, I realized the most important thing in the world.

I should ask for a Tyrannosaurus!

Hehe.

James’ Golden-Mecha-Tyrannosaurus Armor combined with the Green Reaper’s detailed T-rex creations!

Just thinking about it makes my heart race—even though I don’t technically have one!

***

Deep Place within the Mini Reaper Garden.

An artificially created ravine nestled between the Marshmallow Plains and Candy Mountain.

The location where Mini Reapers call the “Scream of the White Hungry Ghost” was now filled with numerous Red Reapers.

Blonde Girl was observing a slightly smaller Red Reaper leading the others as they ran around playfully.

The smallest Red Reaper stood about a head shorter than the rest.

“Certainly, they weren’t this different before…”

Initially, they were roughly the same size, then slightly smaller, but now the gap has widened considerably.

The first Red Reaper always claimed to be the oldest sister, yet watching them play revealed the opposite.

She acts more like a doted-on youngest sibling commanding her older sisters, who happily comply with smiles.

“Revolution!”

“Revolution!”

Whenever the Red Reaper shouts “Revolution!”, the sisters join in.

Hehe.

If the Red Reaper roasts a White Hungry Ghost, the sisters follow suit.

Maybe it reminds me of our childhood.

Back when both parents were alive and Grandfather hadn’t gone mad—our happy days.

Blonde Girl glanced away briefly, smiling faintly as she shook off the Red Reaper Sisters clinging to the Black Agent.

This must be our happy ending.

At that moment, the small Red Reaper floated upward, projecting determination.

“Expedition!”

A sudden proposal to go on an expedition to Seoul Forest, rumored to be filled with Objects, without any particular reason.

“…”

Is this really our happy ending?

***

Currently, at the most luxurious apartment complex recently completed in Songpa District.

The ash-haired girl, after school, was making her way home via a detour to meet her Yellow Reaper.

Amidst the bustling students, she heard a frightened child’s voice.

“It’s a Golden Reaper.”

“Somehow… it’s scary.”

Turning her head toward the source of the sound, she saw a Golden Reaper standing atop a bollard blocking vehicle access to the sidewalk.

Expressionless and staring blankly.

The Golden Reaper simply gazed at the passing children with no emotion.

“Definitely strange.”

She’d heard Golden Reapers smiled warmly at humans, but every Golden Reaper she’d encountered so far had this look.

Their eyes were like those looking at a random pebble on the road—transparent.

Completely devoid of emotion, yet precisely because of that, they seemed even more dangerous.

Clearly, the internet isn’t reliable.

All those stories about Golden Reapers were lies.

Still, fortunately, the girl had her “Yellow Reaper.”

“A cheerful, playful friend unlike the Golden Reapers.”

Thinking about meeting her friend today, the corners of Ashen Girl’s mouth involuntarily turned upward.