Chapter 42

As the dim evening approached, fireworks illuminated the sky brightly.

It was the opening ceremony of the exposition.

Just as the ceremony began, thanks to the efforts of the research institute employees, the once-empty “Sehee Research Institute booth” was now pretty well-equipped.

There were familiar faces to see.

A piano-playing lizard!

Only after seeing the lizard did I realize I had completely forgotten about it.

Well, if it’s being taken care of properly and living happily, then it’s probably fine, right?

The blue lizard was transported to the exhibition hall after an impromptu isolation room was set up.

The glass isolation room featured a simple setup with a grand piano placed in the center.

As soon as the lizard arrived at the exhibition hall, it started playing enthusiastically.

It was still a moving and excellent performance.

With so many people expected at the exhibition hall, isn’t this going to kill the lizard?

[Receives a standing ovation from ten thousand people.]

Getting a standing ovation from ten thousand people isn’t easy, so it should be okay.

A “cute puppy” also came to the exhibition hall, but its treatment didn’t seem too great.

They had nailed stakes inside the isolation room and tied the puppy’s leash to them.

Back in the day, it would have been treated even worse, growing large and glowing furiously.

Seeing how well-behaved the “cute puppy” has become makes me feel oddly proud and happy.

Well, if it can’t control its temper and starts acting out again, we’ll just need to reinforce discipline with another “bright park.”

As objects isolated by Sehee Research Institute started moving in one by one, there was something unsettling about my own isolation room at the exhibition hall.

Having a bed and TV prepared for comfort is a good thing.

However, the rest of the facilities weren’t to my liking.

Colorful slides and ball pits?!

Do they think I’m a kid?

***

“Yerin Oh, we’re going to the opening ceremony.”

Leaving such words behind, everyone headed toward the venue where the opening ceremony was taking place.

Since everyone wanted to attend the opening ceremony, I volunteered to stay behind and guard the house.

So, I was sitting alone at the counter guarding the entrance of the “Sehee Research Institute booth.”

With general audience entry not yet permitted, the exhibition hall was eerily quiet.

I wasn’t sad about missing the opening ceremony.

Watching The Reaper is much more fun!

Glancing behind me, I could clearly see The Reaper’s isolation room.

At first, when the isolation room was installed, The Reaper looked rather sullen.

Was there something about it that didn’t sit well?

But now, some time later, it seemed quite cheerful.

Swimming around in the ball pit, throwing balls, and fully enjoying the isolation room.

Its transparent limbs flailing about as it swam through the ball pit!

This sight needs to be captured in a photo!

But given how sharp The Reaper is, it’d definitely notice if I tried to approach or take a picture.

I guess I’ll have to settle for storing this image in my brain instead.

***

In the late hours after the opening ceremony ended, I was watching Sehee and Yerin argue while casually kicking around in the ball pit.

“Unnie Sehee, it’s advantageous to take The Reaper out. If we leave things as they are, problems are bound to arise.”

“No, you just want to go out and play with The Reaper.”

Yerin and Sehee were arguing over something rather trivial.

Whether or not to take me on a tour of the exhibition hall.

“Anyway, The Reaper will eventually sneak out to look around on their own, right?”

Huh, how did she know?

I was starting to get bored of the ball pit and was considering looking around the exhibition hall for any interesting objects…

“If The Reaper sneaks out alone, it’ll cause a disaster, but if they go out with a researcher, it won’t look like an accident, so it might actually be safer, right?”

After a long debate, Sehee ultimately conceded to Yerin’s persistence.

“Hmph, I warned the organizers about this situation, but since it was your decision to bring The Reaper here, I guess it’s fine. Then, go out tomorrow with The Reaper.”

***

A mansion sprawling across a vast plot in the heart of Seoul.

After object-related incidents reduced safe land significantly, such a spacious estate in Seoul now boasts an astronomical price.

In the tranquil courtyard of this expensive mansion, an old man and a middle-aged man sat drinking tea.

“The exposition has commenced as planned. Shall we proceed with the trial soon?”

The old man didn’t respond to the middle-aged man’s words, merely sipping his tea.

Accustomed to such situations, the middle-aged man bowed slightly to the old man before leaving the mansion.

After stepping out of the mansion, the middle-aged man quickly made a phone call somewhere.

“Mr. Oh Muryong’s trial will have to wait a bit longer.”

While making the call, the man signaled instructions to the chauffeur with just a hand gesture and continued the conversation.

On the night of the opening ceremony, the middle-aged man’s vehicle sped down a quiet road.

***

Yerin looked cheerful from early morning.

“Hmm, hmm.”

Yerin hummed a little tune while preparing a nameplate to hang around her neck.

The nameplate read:

[Sehee Research Institute. Gray Reaper.]

[The Gray Reaper is Safe!]

[A curious object, please kindly watch over it.]

That’s right.

Yerin was currently preparing to take me on a tour of the exhibition hall.

I preferred walking around in physical form with Yerin rather than wandering alone via ghosting, so I patiently waited for her preparations to finish.

“Done!”

Lifting the handmade sign high, Yerin exclaimed loudly.

Besides text, there were drawings on the sign, which looked quite impressive.

Wow, Yerin can draw really well!

After hanging the sign around her neck, Yerin picked me up and perched me on her shoulder.

“Then, let’s go!”

Yerin shouted cheerfully and confidently strode out of the Sehee Research Institute booth.

***

I did wonder if it was okay to walk around so openly like this.

But surprisingly, it was fine.

In fact, it was pleasant because most people were scared and kept their distance, muttering from afar.

There were plenty of interesting objects to see during our stroll through the exhibition hall with Yerin.

If I saw something I wanted to check out, I’d signal by wiggling my legs.

Seeing a shadow-like small rock, I signaled to Yerin by wiggling my legs.

Though I didn’t speak, Yerin understood surprisingly well, making things convenient.

Wiggle wiggle.

(Let’s go that way.)

“Are you interested in the Busan Research Institute’s isolation room?”

At my signal, Yerin stopped, allowing me to examine it closely.

Inside the isolation room, a pitch-black rock was illuminated by a large lamp.

[Shadow Werewolf Rock.]

[When light shines on the rock, a shadow-made werewolf appears.]

[Caution: It possesses blind aggression towards humans.]

It was an object with a very straightforward name.

Shining light on the rock would summon a shadowy werewolf that brutally attacks people.

Is it really okay to bring something like this?

Moreover, the lamp was shining intensely right now.

Reading the bottom description revealed the reason.

[If this object is entirely covered in shadow, it dissolves into the shadow and disappears.]

[After disappearing, it reappears randomly somewhere on Earth.]

[If you don’t intend to abandon containment, never stop illuminating it with light.]

So, you have to keep shining light on it, keeping the monster’s appearance in mind?

Looking around, I noticed an artificial circular shadow within the isolation room.

The object’s presence emanated from that spot.

Inside the small shadow, a thumb-sized werewolf stared menacingly at humans.

[When illuminated, the shadow werewolf appears in the nearest shadow to the rock.]

[No shadows form on the rock itself, which is the object’s main body.]

[The werewolf’s size is proportional to the shadow’s size.]

[The werewolf cannot step outside the shadow.]

After examining the rock and werewolf, I signaled Yerin.

Wiggle wiggle.

(Let’s go somewhere else.)

Continuing our exploration, we stumbled upon another striking object.

An isolation room containing only a single computer brought by a Japanese research institute.

It wasn’t particularly dangerous, but how they managed to capture it was beyond comprehension.

Thanksfully translated into Korean, I could read the object’s description.

[Internet Ghost.]

[Under no circumstances connect this computer to a network.]

An object contained in computer data that would escape if connected to a network, requiring caution.

Once connected to the network, it would wander around all day spreading rumors and causing chaos.

How did they even manage to contain this?

I’m curious, but that must be this research institute’s expertise, so it wasn’t written…

While continuing to explore various booths at the exhibition, we noticed something unusual.

Gloomy researchers welcoming visitors at the Bucheon Research Institute booth.

Of course, it wasn’t strange because they looked overly tired; it was because they weren’t human.

They appeared human in looks and behavior, but they were objects.

Are these researchers suffering from something like “Golden Horn Syndrome”?

But full-body objectification? That’s kinda cool.

Behind the researchers stood a towering golden tree.

And… hasn’t that gotten slightly brighter compared to before??