Chapter 58

The Bucheon Research Institute, famous for the ‘Maker’ incident.

The Black Agent was still conducting investigations at the Bucheon Research Institute.

A temporary investigation camp had been set up in the parking lot of the Bucheon Research Institute.

Under the tent of this camp, the Black Agent sat reading a newspaper.

On the front page of the newspaper was a picture of mannequins sprinkling glittering powder as they flew around.

[What is Smile Theme Park? A new Object?]

[Suddenly appearing mannequins from the sky! They dropped flyers and disappeared.]

[Once again, the migration continues; Seoul falls into panic.]

It was an article about the grotesque-faced mannequins that had flown all over Seoul just a few days ago.

Not only did it cover the front page but several others, showing just how much attention this matter was getting.

The sight of mannequins flying around, sprinkling glittering powder, was enough to grab attention, but with strange content on the flyers they dropped, there was no way not to be intrigued.

The contents of the flyer were printed verbatim in the newspaper.

[Smile Theme Park Opening Soon!]

[In 30 days, Smile Theme Park will open!]

[Entry fee is merely one coin!]

[Bring this flyer and entry is free!]

The issue wasn’t the promotional text but the map attached to the flyer that caused concern.

According to the attached map, an area nearly covering most of Seoul was marked as ‘Smile Theme Park.’

Seoul citizens who received the mysterious flyers from the Object began to question:

“So, what happens to the existing Seoul?”

Seoul residents, already having experienced the nuisance of the enormous Steel Tower covering vast areas, naturally thought:

“Maybe they’ll completely destroy Seoul and build ‘Smile Theme Park’ in its place!”

Terrified people prepared to leave Seoul before the opening date stated on the flyer.

A blond girl glanced at the front-page article the Black Agent was reading and said,

“Wow, Uncle. Is this really okay? Almost all of Seoul becoming a theme park—can’t we just give up on Seoul?”

“Fortunately, it seems they’ve identified the Object causing this. It’s been revealed that it’s an Object currently under quarantine at Sehee Research Institute.”

“So, it might be resolved pretty quickly then?”

“That’s unlikely. The government’s current removal operation has failed, and now they’re planning to transport the Object far away from Seoul.”

Currently, both the Association and the government were facing quite a headache.

Thankfully, the cause of the flyer incident had been identified.

‘The Theme Park Invitation Doll’ from Sehee Research Institute.

There were four plausible options to resolve the situation.

First, evacuate Seoul.

This would result in too much financial loss, making it the last resort.

Second, add more people inside the doll and observe any changes.

This option is uncertain. It could even have side effects like expanding the theme park.

Third, destroy the doll.

This has already been attempted, but observations showed that even when reduced to ashes, the doll resurrected.

Fourth, move the doll out of Seoul.

This is currently being tried but has a high chance of failure.

Since the Sehee Research Institute is already outside the theme park zone, the doll’s location seems unrelated to the theme park’s position.

If the plans by the Association and the government fail and most of Seoul gets destroyed?

It would be a nightmare scenario no one wants to imagine.

***

“Hmm. Let’s clean the antenna thoroughly.”

Whistling a tune happily while mopping.

Polishing the antenna sprouting from the head of ‘The Theme Park Invitation Doll’ until it gleams.

An unnecessary task.

Rather dangerous, so it’s best avoided if possible.

“Yerin, it’s dangerous, please don’t go beyond the barrier.”

Despite hearing such warnings daily, she diligently polished the antenna to a shine.

The size of the Theme Park Invitation Doll had already exceeded 20 meters.

Before it grew this large, there was talk of moving it to the backyard, but it was decided to demolish the isolation room walls instead.

Sister Seoah’s opinion: There’s no need to unnecessarily stimulate the seemingly docile Object by moving it.

After tearing down the walls to create space, they installed steel pillars to restrict the doll’s movements.

With the isolation room walls demolished, the doll lay motionless in the spacious center.

It didn’t even twitch anymore.

Occasionally, it would shake its entire body and let out cries of agony, though the cause was unknown.

Now, its fur had fallen out in patches, resembling a rat-eaten doll suffering from cancer.

Suddenly, an arm burst out from the doll’s mouth.

“Huh?”

Completely unexpected!

Based on the doll’s size, it was presumed that all prisoners inside had perished.

I pressed the emergency call button on the table.

The emergency bell rang throughout the research institute.

Police officers and staff rushed in to handle the situation.

The police were ready to escort the prisoner, and the staff prepared flamethrowers in case the doll acted up.

Association employees also gathered, watching with anticipation.

The staff’s battle cries echoed through the research institute.

“One, two. One, two.”

They grabbed the hand protruding from the doll’s mouth.

The woman pulled out fell limply to the floor.

The returned death row inmate was a tattoo-covered woman.

As soon as I confirmed her appearance, I quickly hid behind Sister Seoah.

The intimidating atmosphere of the death row inmate!

Peeking from behind Sister Seoah, the death row inmate didn’t seem as sharp as before.

Had she suffered too much inside the Object?

“Sister Seoah, doesn’t it seem like the death row inmate’s aura has changed significantly?”

“It does seem somewhat calmer indeed.”

The woman retrieved from the doll’s mouth was handcuffed again and prepared for re-escort.

After testifying about her experiences inside the Object and undergoing trial, she’d likely be acquitted as promised.

Watching her silently answer the police’s questionnaire, it was clear her demeanor had changed.

No longer feeling scared, I stepped out from behind Sister Seoah, who asked me,

“Researcher Yerin Oh, are you not hiding anymore?”

“Aahaha, I’m not scared at all, so it’s fine.”

I scratched my head in response.

Such a shift in feeling was rare, but it was certainly surprising.

After a brief investigation, the death row inmate was led out of the research institute, muttering faintly.

A prisoner transport vehicle parked at the entrance of the research institute.

Before boarding the bus, the female death row inmate stared at the sky for a long time, then was dragged inside by the police.

Was there something in the sky?

Looking up, all that could be seen was the yellow glow of a normal full moon.

***

The isolation room of the Theme Park Invitation Doll became quiet after the death row inmate left.

The occasional patrolling police force had also withdrawn, making it feel several times emptier.

“Hey, Unnie Sehee came too?”

“Just… felt like I should.”

Upon arriving at the isolation room, Yerin was already there.

It had been hours past quitting time, yet somehow our feet wouldn’t budge.

Probably because Yerin, who loves reapers, felt the same way.

Keh.

Kegheh.

The doll that vomited the death row inmate was now breathing heavily.

The doll was about to die.

Just listening to its breathing gave off that impression strongly.

And when the doll dies, the Reaper will return, right?

What if the Reaper doesn’t return?

Never imagined that possibility.

With everyone gone, the isolation room was so quiet that the high-frequency sound from the artificial lighting could be faintly heard.

In that silence, a soft sound of powder dispersing occurred.

The giant doll, standing at least 20 meters tall, started crumbling into dust.

Like the wind blowing through a desert, the sound of dust spreading echoed quietly.

“The Reaper has come.”

Familiar yellow lights appeared amidst the swirling dust that filled the isolation room.

We and Yerin ran through the dust and tightly embraced the Reaper.

“Welcome back, Reaper.”

For some reason, the Reaper hugged us back today.

***

‘The Theme Park Invitation Doll’ was destroyed.

“Seoah, please take care of the aftermath!”

Leaving only this message, Director Lee Sehee handed over all the destruction reports and related tasks to me and disappeared somewhere, citing urgent business.

Once the work was roughly completed, I went looking for Director Lee Sehee.

Director Lee Sehee was found inside the special isolation chamber of the super-dangerous Object, ‘The Gray Reaper.’

And she was asleep.

To find out what happened, I reviewed the recorded CCTV footage.

Director Lee Sehee and Researcher Yerin Oh entered the isolation chamber.

Initially, they seemed to argue over ownership of the Gray Reaper, but they quickly reached an agreement.

Left Yerin, Right Sehee. That seemed to be the arrangement.

Researcher Yerin started the massage first, followed by Director Lee Sehee.

Three rounds of massages were performed, starting from the fingers and toes up to the face.

There was a single report in the institute’s database stating that massaging puts the Gray Reaper to sleep, and once again, it instantly dozed off.

After confirming the Gray Reaper was asleep, the two moved it to the bed.

At this point, both should have left the isolation chamber, but they didn’t.

Instead, they both laid down on the bed where the Gray Reaper slept and fell asleep themselves.

Violation of the research institute’s isolation regulations!

According to the rules, they should be immediately removed, but disturbing a sleeping super-level Object is also against the rules.

There was nothing to do but leave them be.

Instead, I pulled out a notebook titled [Gray Reaper Mental Pollution Report] from my pocket.

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