Chapter 333

As I pulled on the fabric of space, the Tower at the End, brimming with evolution liquid, began to recede into the distance.

The unpleasant smell of petroleum gradually faded away, replaced by a familiar aroma.

The sweet scent of hot chocolate mixed with marshmallows.

When I opened my eyes, an endless expanse of marshmallow fields stretched out before me.

“I’m back!”

Though the time spent at the Tower at the End hadn’t been overly long, the place reeked so much of oil that it felt like I’d been gone for ages.

I collapsed onto the marshmallows, sprawling out dramatically.

So soft and warm…

As I lay there, Mini Reapers from all over the garden began gathering around.

“Mom!”

Golden Reapers clambered atop me, staring intently at my face as they radiated determination.

“We couldn’t come help you, sorry!”

Stuck to my cheek was a Golden Reaper, likely one of the ones who had been headbutting the Garden Gate furiously when it got blocked during the spider battle.

I gently stroked its apparently unharmed forehead.

If this were a human, their head would’ve shattered from all that effort…

But thanks to physical immunity, not a single mark remained from its headbutting spree.

Peeep!

Peeeep!

Turning my gaze, I saw Black Reapers from different origins gathered together, holding hands and chirping at each other.

Black Reapers from the Unchanging Sphere and those from the Tower at the End.

To me, they looked exactly the same, but somehow they could tell where each other was from.

Do they distinguish by the tone of their ‘peeep’ sounds?

“You did well!”

“You worked hard!”

They praised each other, reaching out to pat each other’s heads and start petting them enthusiastically.

Just then, the Golden Reapers barged into the heartwarming reunion of the long-lost Black Reapers.

“New younger sibling?”

“The younger ones have multiplied!”

A wave of Golden Reapers with sunlit smiles swept in.

Each Golden Reaper grabbed one of the newly arrived Black Reapers and tilted their heads curiously.

“Are you hungry?”

“Your firewood is depleted.”

With looks of deep concern, the Golden Reapers enveloped the Black Reapers in tight hugs.

Heart-to-heart, they shoved firewood into each other.

It was a chubby and squishy exchange of firewood.

The Golden and Black Reapers split the firewood evenly, held hands, and giggled “heehee.”

“Let’s go!”

Then, pairing off, they began dispersing throughout the Mini Reaper Garden.

If I had to name it, maybe “Mini Reaper Garden, Golden Reaper Tour Guide”?

Even though the Black Reapers didn’t make ‘peeep’ sounds and were twice as noisy, once all the Golden Reapers left en masse, a quiet group in the corner came into view.

In the Pink Girl’s arms rested a small lump of blue capes.

The Blue Idol Reaper who’d been kidnapped to the tower and the other Blue Reapers were clinging tightly to each other.

They clung to each other for what felt like forever, sniffling softly.

“Why are you guys being so affectionate?”

Other Mini Reapers weren’t this clingy…

Thankfully, after some time passed, the mass of Blue Reapers broke apart.

The sentimental atmosphere dissipated, leaving behind the usual vibe of the Blue Reapers.

The Blue Idol Reaper perched atop the Pink Girl’s head, boasting about its Attached Human.

The Blue Reapers watching exclaimed “Amazing!” repeatedly.

And the Pink Girl awkwardly smiled.

Watching the Pink Girl, I couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of worry.

Since she was brought back from the “Tower at the End,” which exists in a completely different dimension, she might as well be an alien.

What should I do with this extraterrestrial?

She doesn’t look very well-nourished from her time in the tower.

Should I take her to the hospital?

The problem is that while she looks similar on the outside, she might be an entirely different kind of life form.

Plus, her language seems different too.

Listening to her speak occasionally, it sounds like the language used by alchemists.

My head started spinning.

I don’t know…

Giving up on thinking, I told the Golden Reapers to call someone who could help—Yerin, Sehee, Seoah, or James.

Anyone, come solve this!

Hehe.

***

Outskirts of Songpa District, James Tower.

James sat deeply buried in his chair in the Situation Room, looking utterly exhausted. The hologram screen in front of him continuously updated with the latest investigation results on the Black Planet.

Rubbing his eyes while staring at the screen, his expression grew increasingly serious.

The first report caught his attention.

Under the title [Analysis of Black Planet Size Changes], a graph showing the planet’s size increase over time was displayed.

The subtle but clear upward curve caused James’s eyebrows to furrow.

Flipping to the next page, the [Confirmation of Non-Physical Entity] report appeared.

High-resolution images lined up, each marked with various graphs and measurement results.

“All detection equipment except optical methods shows ‘no signal.’ Just like the Mini Moon.”

Exhaling slowly, James moved on to the next report.

The third report was even more alarming.

Under the title [Approach Speed Estimation], complex equations and graphs were spread out.

While measuring the movement of a physically non-existent object was nearly impossible, analyzing various indirect indicators suggested that the Black Planet was slowly approaching Earth.

At the end of the report, it concluded that if this “hypothetical speed” calculation was correct, it would collide with Earth in less than half a year.

After confirming that conclusion, James’s expression hardened significantly.

Finally, the [Analysis of Correlation with Spatial Loss Phenomena] report from the U.S. headquarters filled the screen.

This report included detailed statistical data comparing the Black Planet’s size changes with the frequency of spatial loss incidents reported worldwide.

Looking at the graph showing a high correlation between the two variables, James wore a grave expression.

Just as James was about to close the report, an urgent message came through.

[‘Nameless’ exhibits abnormal behavior]

[Incorrect naming either causes no appearance or results in standing still]

“…”

After a long silence, James picked up the remote control.

Click.

The hologram screen turned off with the sound of the remote.

He let out a deep sigh, muttering to himself.

“I’m uneasy.”

His voice carried a mix of fatigue and worry.

James stood up from his chair and walked over to where his elaborately decorated briefcase sat.

Opening it skillfully, he took out two books.

“Artifact Number 0” and its recent interpretation.

James carefully examined “Artifact Number 0” again, just in case, but nothing had changed.

“The appearance of the Black Planet isn’t written in ‘Artifact Number 0.'”

“And neither is anything about ‘Nameless.'”

“Could it be that it’s not a perfect prophecy book? Or maybe there’s some unknown variable I’m unaware of.”

As James sealed “Artifact Number 0” back into the bag, he noticed a Gold Reaper tugging at his pant leg, fidgeting anxiously.

It seemed like something urgent as the Gold Reaper climbed onto James’s shoulder, pulling on his ear.

“Mom’s calling!”

“It’s an emergency!”

Seeing the frantic Gold Reaper, James transferred it to its dedicated table.

On the Gold Reaper’s special table were several toys, pudding, and communication buttons for the Gold Reaper.

Once placed on the table, the Gold Reaper happily waddled over, grabbed some jelly, and stood in front of the button.

Raising its hand high with all five fingers spread wide, it pressed the button firmly.

The screen displayed text in James’s custom “Gold Reaper script.”

[Mom is calling!]

Round golden letters.

The button the Gold Reaper pressed was actually meant for a Gray Reaper call.

After pressing the button, the Gold Reaper celebrated with a triumphant pose.

“Mom’s calling!”

James watched and smiled slightly, placing a finger to his lips.

“This button exists as a secret from the Gray Reaper.”

The Gold Reaper covered its mouth with both hands and nodded.

Heehee.

The Gold Reaper laughed like it was playing a secret game.

“Anyway, a call from the Gray Reaper.”

James felt a small hope upon receiving the Gray Reaper’s call.

“Maybe this time, there’ll be a solution to the case.”

A small hope that this call might be related to Nameless or the Black Planet.

***

While waiting for Yerin to arrive, I rolled around on the marshmallows. Suddenly, three Golden Reapers rushed over, shaking me with urgency.

Three frantic Golden Reapers—an emergency level “three Golden Reapers” situation.

Following them to the Courtyard of Sehee Research Institute, I encountered an unexpected scene far worse than anticipated.

A level “five Golden Reapers” crisis.

In the courtyard sat a lead doll identical to me, emitting a golden light from its eyes, sitting quietly.

Surrounded by numerous Mini Reapers, I felt somewhat disheartened.

I should be happy the Mini Reapers aren’t clinging to me annoyingly, but why does this bother me…?

As I approached the lead doll cautiously, the Mini Reapers began alternating their gazes between me and the doll.

“There are two moms!”

“No, they’re a little different?”

The Mini Reapers tilted their heads in confusion.

“Real mom!”

“This side is real!”

Then, starting with a few Golden Reapers clinging to my ankles, a massive Mini Reaper migration began.

Like realizing the true original after encountering a doppelgänger, the Mini Reapers swarmed toward me.

Hohoho.

Buried under a pile of Mini Reapers, I proudly looked down at the lead doll.

“This is the power of the real mom!”

But the lead doll just stared blankly at me.

Behind its vacant expression, two figures running with extremely shocked expressions came into view.

It was James and Yerin.

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