Chapter 44

Golden waves spread out.

The sight of tiny Golden Reapers dispersing all at once resembled ripples with concentric circles.

Though they occasionally tripped and tumbled over obstacles, rolling around like little tumbleweeds.

While intermittently disappearing and reappearing as if using some kind of “Ghosting” ability, they continued to spread in all directions.

That said, it seemed the Golden Reaper wasn’t quite accustomed to Ghosting yet, as every time it activated the ability, it would roll uncontrollably along the floor.

It would hop on its small legs until encountering an obstacle, then vanish ghost-like before reappearing on the other side of the obstruction, only to stumble and roll again due to lack of control.

And upon spotting a human, it would excitedly leap forward and cling tightly to them.

The first Reaper to embrace a human beamed triumphantly, raising its tiny arms high in victory.

As if marking territory, each person was claimed by only one Reaper.

They even glared fiercely at any other Reapers who dared approach, effectively chasing them away.

Before the Golden Reapers began spreading, the exhibition hall had been a buffet for Objects hostile to humans.

A buffet where prey lay unconscious and scattered everywhere.

But the Objects poised to sample this feast were forced to halt their actions when the Golden Reapers arrived—sensing something ominous emanating from them.

Combined with their overwhelming numbers, these diminutive beings exuded an intimidating presence that left the Objects uneasy.

In fact, the atmosphere shifted dramatically, calming almost instantly.

However, this tranquil mood didn’t last more than ten minutes.

Impatient Objects soon disregarded the Reapers’ existence and recklessly lunged toward the fallen humans.

Part of this stemmed from perceiving the Reapers’ behavior as harmless—they showed no interest in the Objects themselves, merely attaching themselves to people and staying still.

This indifference emboldened the other Objects, sparking hope: perhaps these Golden Reapers were passive and non-threatening after all?

With renewed confidence, the Observant Objects bared their teeth and turned back toward their intended prey.

The first to act were dinosaur-like lizards, large as tigers, resurrected from the past through time anomalies.

Losing patience, these dinosaurs charged toward the sleeping figures.

At that moment, the Golden Reapers lifted their heads, their eyes glowing menacingly.

Even under such intense gazes from dozens of pairs of eyes, the dinosaurs pressed forward—alas, their intelligence fell short of comprehending the warning.

The price for ignoring the Reapers’ threat proved devastating: their small, Reaper-shaped forms riddled with holes, they collapsed bleeding profusely.

Their golden bodies, once radiant, now glistened crimson with blood.

Such adorable yet horrifying scenes unfolded throughout the exhibition hall until all Objects targeting humans were eliminated.

***

When everyone inside the exhibition hall had fallen asleep and Objects ran rampant, chaos ensued.

Yet, during this time when movement should have been impossible, the door to the Bucheon Research Facility’s control room opened.

Out stepped a man dressed sharply in a suit, wearing a lab coat, and wielding an antique cane, leading a procession of researchers trailing behind him like obedient henchmen.

With confident strides, the Director crossed the now-slumbering crowd within the exhibition hall, heading straight toward a specific booth.

His destination? The “Sejong Research Institute” booth showcasing the Object [Unbreakable Cube].

Arriving at the booth, the Director effortlessly retrieved the desired Object.

The isolation chamber’s door was already open, and the security personnel lay fast asleep.

Likewise, CCTV and electrical systems had long gone silent.

Holding the cube in his left hand and his cane in his right, the Director scanned the area with satisfaction.

“With this, we’ve secured the necessary Object.”

Having completed his mission, he noticed something unusual about the exhibition hall’s atmosphere.

Where once there were only unconscious people sprawled across the floor, dozens of palm-sized creatures now dotted the space—golden Objects resembling Gray Reapers.

Perched atop the chests of the sleeping individuals, they stretched their necks to gaze intently at the Director.

Their collective stare gave off an eerie meerkat vibe.

“Is this a new ability of the Gray Reaper? Fascinating… I’ve never seen this in my observations, not even within Time Gaps. How curious.”

Despite years of studying the Gray Reaper, discovering an unknown ability unsettled the Director deeply.

He resolved to capture and study the Gray Reaper further once current matters involving ‘Nameless’ were resolved.

Meanwhile, the Mini Reapers kept a close watch on the departing Director.

From them radiated an inexplicable hostility—an enigma to the Director.

Why did these Mini Reapers regard him as an enemy?

No matter how hard he pondered, the reason eluded him.

Summoning his researchers into his shadow with a snap of his fingers…

Tap tap.

Two taps of his cane against the ground caused both the Director and his team to vanish without a trace.

***

My Golden Reapers scattered in all directions.

Tumbling, bumping into each other—it was utter pandemonium.

The Objects threatening humanity appeared bewildered by the sudden appearance of these tiny intruders.

Well, naturally—if you suddenly see a swarm of miniatures bounding around, you’d wonder what’s going on too.

Leaving Yerin safely on the ground, I climbed up a utility pole to observe the situation.

From above, the behavior of my creations boiled down to one simple observation:

“…These guys really love humans, huh?”

For no apparent reason, they adored humans excessively.

The first thing that caught my eye was the sight of a Golden Reaper piercing through the heart of a Yeti-Object—a combo of three Object abilities.

Watching my little creation wander covered in blood stirred strange emotions within me.

Continuing my surveillance from atop the pole, the Golden Reapers’ patterns became clear:

No interest whatsoever in Objects.

If an Object threatens a human, they become ferocious and attack.

They seem to highly prioritize protecting their “Attached Human.”

There doesn’t appear to be any criteria for choosing an Attached Human.

Does being human suffice?

It looks like whichever Golden Reaper claims someone first considers them theirs—a baffling sentiment indeed.

Right now, one clings stubbornly to my scalp, gripping handfuls of my hair.

Though I’m technically an Object, maybe as their creator, I’m treated as human?

Objects driven back by the ferocity of the Golden Reapers retreated to the outskirts of the exhibition hall.

Those posing no direct threat to humans received no attention from the Reapers.

Cautiously observing the escape routes, I noticed something odd.

This exhibition hall is designed like a prison?

Subtly enough that casual inspection wouldn’t reveal its true nature.

Objects fleeing the Golden Reapers found themselves blocked by walls encircling the perimeter, trapping them helplessly.

Regardless, the design of the hall isn’t my primary concern.

What intrigues me is the sudden mass sleep event—and how to resolve it.

And the solution likely lies with that massive Golden Tree.

With humans protected by the Golden Reapers, they finally have breathing room.

Of course, the Reapers’ protection lasts only a day, so swift action is essential.

***

Entrusting Yerin’s safety to the Golden Reaper, I headed toward the giant tree.

Strangely, the Bucheon Research Institute’s booth lacked any visible researchers, unlike others filled with slumbering staff.

Aside from a few visitors, no one resembling a researcher remained.

This blatant self-incrimination practically screams, “We did it!”

Clearly, this was another crime orchestrated by the Bucheon Research Institute.

What could they possibly hope to achieve by putting everyone to sleep?

To thwart the establishment of a zoo? Unlikely—but this will certainly delay approval for its creation.

Another dream of mine bites the dust…

I arrived at the grand Golden Tree, which still emitted brilliant light.

Standing tall amidst an open lot, this solitary tree caught my attention.

Inspecting its destruction conditions revealed a single line:

[Human must overcome the nightmare of the tree.]

“Huh?”

This hint made sense within context.

Since everyone is asleep, they’re likely dreaming—or rather, having nightmares.

Could waking someone up destroy the tree?