Chapter 38

Near Seoul, at the Golden Horn Isolation Zone.

An area where people with golden horns on their heads and their families live was buzzing with heated arguments.

“Kid, stop being so stubborn. Selling it now will fetch the highest price. I know a dealer who offers fair rates and is super reasonable.”

“NEVER! Who in their right mind would sell their horns?”

Ignoring the man’s words, the Girl with Golden Horns marched ahead confidently while the man followed behind with a groveling expression.

“Look, they disappear naturally after you turn 30 anyway. Why not cut them off and make some cash? Think of it as a win-win!”

“No way! Didn’t one of my friends sell hers and then commit suicide after getting depressed? Wasn’t she introduced to that guy by you?”

The man feigned shock dramatically.

“Absolutely not! And I assure you, I take care of depression too. Don’t you think I’d know better about this stuff since I have horns myself?”

“Ah, if it’s so great, why don’t YOU sell YOURS first?”

The girl turned around suddenly and shouted loudly.

Following her for a full 30 minutes must’ve been exhausting for the groveling man.

“Ahh, this? It’s my business tool—I can’t sell it. Without my horns, I wouldn’t be able to enter here. How would I survive? Besides, soon enough I’ll leave this place anyway, right? Having spare cash sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Plus, stepping outside with horns makes you a target—there are so many dangerous people out there!”

“Anyway, I’m NOT selling mine!”

With a loud slam, the Girl with Golden Horns closed the door to her house, finally silencing the annoying man.

Though deep in thought, she had to admit—not all his words were wrong.

Indeed, crimes involving horn removal were skyrocketing these days.

Still, she had no choice but to venture out…

To find her only sister, who had vanished.

***

At a detective agency bathed in pleasant sunlight, someone lounged comfortably in a rocking chair.

“This case might set a new record for object-related damages…”

On TV, they were loudly discussing how the ‘Steel Tower Pulse’ incident caused unprecedented financial losses.

After all, numerous research facilities near Seoul Forest were reduced to dust in an instant.

Not to mention countless other buildings that simply vanished into thin air.

Of course, the construction industry was booming like never before.

“Senior! Did you know we’re the first country to do this?”

“The first?”

The junior detective abruptly sat up from slouching on the desk.

“We’re the first nation to reclaim land taken by Objects! Even America hasn’t managed that, right?”

“Hmm… From what I recall, there were a few cases in the U.S. and China, but this is definitely the first time anyone has reclaimed territory from such a large-scale Object like the Ice Throne.”

The junior’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Who were the people who reclaimed Dobong-gu? They infiltrated and succeeded despite risking their lives! This should totally be made into a movie, right?”

“I’ve heard rumors about it already, though no release date yet. With stories like this becoming rare, government support might come through too.”

“Of course!”

The junior grinned foolishly.

“Oh yeah, wasn’t our last mission a failure?”

Mentioning the failed mission drained all energy from the junior, who slumped back onto the desk like cooked cabbage.

“But… It wasn’t exactly a failure… Someone else just solved it faster than me! Isn’t it unfair when the client solves it themselves?”

No matter how much he complained, the contract clearly stated otherwise.

“I should head out soon.”

Standing up, the senior adjusted his coat and straightened his attire in front of the mirror.

“Where are you going? We don’t even have any missions!”

“I feel called by an important mission.”

“Huh?”

Leaving the bewildered junior behind, the senior stepped out into the world.

***

Haaam…

Boredom struck, prompting a yawn.

Despite being completely free of physical fatigue, yawning persisted.

Was this leftover habit from human times?

On TV, the same old debates raged endlessly.

They were replaying discussions from when the Steel Tower first appeared, or when the Ice Throne took over Dobong-gu.

“It’s time to move the capital! There are far better locations available!”

“Are you sure those places are safer? In Daejeon recently, an Object started turning people into food!”

Talk of abandoning Seoul and relocating elsewhere resurfaced again, as it did every year. Yet surveys consistently showed most people preferred staying put.

Well, when you poll residents of Seoul, obviously they’d want to stay.

From personal experience moving around various places, something always struck me as odd:

People always believed their hometown was relatively safe.

Seoulites thought Seoul was safest; Busanites felt the same about Busan.

Given the constant news of monstrous Objects, anywhere could seem dangerous.

But your own home feels livable because you’re actually living there.

Turning off the repetitive parrot-like TV drivel…

***

Ever since breaking the Golden Heart, I gained some strange ability.

By consuming inner flames, I could temporarily create objects.

Probably lasts about a day?

Testing it out, I crafted a golden doll identical to myself.

Oh wow!

It was incredibly detailed, replicating even the texture perfectly. Best of all, it consumed minimal fuel, so I made plenty.

Soon, my bed overflowed with golden dolls until I noticed a troubling issue—they began moving on their own.

I couldn’t control them.

Instead, they clung to me desperately, like starved for affection.

Their relentless clinging blocked the TV view, forcing me to flee atop the wardrobe.

There, I found solace alongside the Ghost Cat who had also escaped.

Meow!

The feline complained irritably about my creations.

My isolation room was now overrun by uncontrollable dolls.

Destroying them felt cruel.

After all, they were my creations—discarding them seemed against moral principles.

Just then, I sensed Yerin peeking outside the door.

A brilliant idea struck me.

Yes, give them all to Yerin!

***

Rushing out secretly upon hearing the Reaper returned, I stumbled upon a shocking sight.

“The Reaper is FULL of mini gold Reapers!”

Inside the isolation room, dozens of tiny golden Reapers bounced around energetically.

Attempting to leap toward the original Reaper perched atop the wardrobe.

Being smaller, they were twice as cute!

Entranced, I opened the door and entered.

The little Reapers immediately stopped leaping and stared at me en masse.

Wow, what a powerful gaze!

So many golden Reapers existed!

Picking one up, its size fit perfectly in my hand.

“Ooooh, soft!”

“So cute!”

Initially tense, the golden Reaper relaxed once it realized I posed no threat, climbing onto my face and clinging tightly.

One led to another, soon the entire roomful of golden Reapers swarmed me.

Hehe, happiness.

***

Exiting the isolation room, I immediately filed for leave and left the research institute.

Obviously, to smuggle the golden Reaper home.

Unauthorized object removal? No problem as long as I don’t get caught!

Releasing the golden Reaper inside my house, they scattered everywhere, hopping joyfully.

Some climbed onto me and clung tight.

Ah, this must be paradise.

Golden Reapers shared similar tastes with the original—sweet snacks were favorites.

Unlike the original, however, they showed zero interest in TV.

Why does the original always watch news while these behave more cat-like?

They knocked things down, ran away when chased…

Playing with golden Reapers made time fly.

Late at night, the golden Reapers grew sleepy, closing their eyes and nodding off while clinging to me.

Sleepy-time clinginess resembled the original.

Lying in bed, their warmth made it incredibly cozy.

***

Suddenly, my vision blurred and everything felt hazy.

I tightly embraced several golden Reapers.

“Yes! Yes! This is it!”

Oh, happiness. Days spent with mini Reapers.

Ah, pure bliss.

Is this what happiness feels like?

But one by one, the Reapers slipped away from my arms, bidding farewell.

“No! Wait! Please don’t go!”

Despite my desperate pleas, the Reapers shook their heads sadly.

“Don’t leave me… Please!”

Still, all the Reapers disappeared, leaving tears streaming down my face.

Awakened abruptly by the cold, I found myself crying alone in bed.

Like in the dream, the Reapers were gone without a trace.