Chapter 76

Park Seoah was bustling around in her personal room, the Deputy Director’s Office.

Final checks before the business trip.

The Golden Reaper watched Seoah move busily around with twinkling eyes full of curiosity.

Being practically newborn, the Golden Reaper found everything in this space fascinating.

It was entirely different from the isolation room of the Gray Reaper and also distinct from its own Golden Garden—a space with a completely unique atmosphere.

The spacious windows letting in sunlight and the lush views of grass and trees.

The warm sunlight gently caressing its body like a soft embrace.

Various certificates and awards that meant nothing to the Golden Reaper who couldn’t read but could clearly sense their importance to Seoah.

The glossy wooden desk, computer, neatly organized folders, sleek lamp, picture frames capturing various landscapes—everything was intriguing.

Though the Golden Reaper could return to the Golden Garden whenever it pleased, it chose to stay a little longer in this space because it liked it so much.

There were many things here that the Golden Reaper enjoyed—the fridge always stocked with delicious food, the magnetic levitation that made it float softly—but what it loved most were humans.

Seoah, who always sent warmth its way, was simply the best.

“I’ll be back from the trip. Be good while I’m gone?”

On the table where the Golden Reaper sat, Seoah had laid out candies and spoke words the Golden Reaper couldn’t understand.

Even though it didn’t comprehend the exact meaning, the Golden Reaper could feel the emotion behind them.

It sensed that these words signified a long goodbye.

Floating happily on the magnet, the moment Seoah closed the door and left, the Golden Reaper began to ghostingly follow her, hopping joyfully along.

With giggles and laughter, the Golden Reaper playfully jumped around near Seoah.

When Seoah got into her car, the Golden Reaper sneaked inside and dispelled its ghosting form.

Hidden in the shadows, it giggled quietly, enjoying itself immensely.

While Seoah focused on driving, the Golden Reaper opened the zipper of the bag on the passenger seat and hid inside.

Crouching within the bag, the Golden Reaper thought contentedly: “Always together with my attached human!”

***

The comfortable isolation room filled with soft music from the TV.

I lay on the bed, enjoying some rest.

Plop plop!

The Golden Reaper was using my belly as a trampoline, laughing cutely as it bounced around.

It happily leaped up and down, landing on my stomach in all sorts of playful poses.

A being incredibly similar yet distinctly different from me… The Golden Reaper.

Suddenly, I became curious.

Since I can’t see my own destruction condition, what is the Golden Reaper’s?

As soon as I checked, the Golden Reaper panicked and returned to the Golden Garden.

The destruction condition was simple: [Destroy the Golden Garden].

Did the creation of the Golden Garden remove its time limit?

Lately, it seemed like the Golden Reapers only returned when they wanted to…

I had already confirmed the destruction condition of the Golden Garden: [Destroy the Gray Reaper].

Looks like I don’t have to worry about the Golden Reaper dying anytime soon—at least not until I do.

In a way, as long as I’m safe, the Golden Reapers might even be tougher than me.

Tut-tut!

Summoning the vanished Golden Reaper again, it angrily attacked me with tiny fists.

As I played along, taking its punches with my palm, Yerin suddenly burst into the isolation room, gasping for breath in panic.

Clang!

The moment Yerin slammed the door shut, a metallic sound echoed through the isolation room.

What’s going on?

Before I could ponder, the Golden Reaper, more sensitive than me, noticed something and stopped punching, standing still as it stared intently at the door.

“It’s a mad penguin! Stop it, stop it! It’s chewing through metal! There are so many!”

Drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, Yerin rambled frantically. Hearing “penguin,” I immediately suspected the dancing penguin object—a hostile entity toward humans. Was it here?

Crack!

The penguin’s steel-hard beak pierced through the reinforced wall of the isolation room.

“Kyaaak! Reaper!”

Yerin screamed, rushing over to cling tightly to me.

The penguin’s beak began grinding against the wall with an ear-piercing screech.

Screeeech… Screeeech…

The grating noise of metal twisting and deforming filled the isolation room.

“What… what do we do, Reaper?”

The overwhelming emotions radiating from the firewood-like tension.

Yerin was clearly flustered and terrified.

Savoring the intensifying fear, I realized the Golden Reaper atop my shoulder suddenly slapped my cheek in irritation before darting outside.

Was it reprimanding me for hesitating?

That hurts the most when you hit during meals!

For some reason, it seemed the Golden Reaper wasn’t savoring Yerin’s panic or fear—it appeared annoyed instead.

Had it deteriorated to only consuming positive emotions?

Following the Golden Reaper outside, the research institute corridor was in chaos.

Thick steel barriers had descended everywhere, sealing off sections, but the sound of penguins gnawing through them was deafening.

The corridor was littered with dead penguins.

How many penguins are there?!

This number feels like the “Dum-Dum Penguin Picture” distributed ten copies per employee.

In my sight, the Golden Reaper had already eliminated every living penguin.

Walking further down the hallway, I saw security team members blocking the entrance to a conference room.

“Hold the line!”

“Keep them from biting the shields! Don’t let them pass!”

Armed with special alloy shields and heavy batons, they swung wildly at the penguins, but it seemed ineffective.

Using ghosting, I easily dispatched the penguins’ heads near the conference room.

By the time the situation stabilized, the Golden Reaper had already returned after clearing all the other penguins in the facility.

It then sat on my shoulder, staring at me intently.

Seeing the request for praise in its gaze, I gently stroked its head with my finger.

Good job.

The Sehee Research Institute is precious, after all.

Still, hearing that the “Dum-Dum Penguin Picture” sold extremely well everywhere…

This incident might cause quite a bit of damage. Will they survive?

But most of the pictures were sold through “Daily Object.” Maybe they’ll go bankrupt because of this.

***

Halfway up Crow Mountain, I wiped the sweat from my brow and glanced down at the town below.

Tiny buildings, roads, and the gentle sunlight.

The cool breeze refreshed my overheated body.

Why did they build the research institute on top of a mountain, anyway?

Even though it’s a hill-like mountain, it’s inconvenient.

And since it’s been a while since I last climbed a mountain, an odd smell of sunshine has been lingering since ascending Crow Mountain.

Though the sunlight wasn’t particularly strong, it smelled like heated sand.

Does sand even have a smell?

Looking up, there was still quite a distance to go.

“Phew, moving around after such a long time is tiring.”

Someone swiped the sweat off my forehead.

The hand was too small to help much, but… small hand?

Turning my head, I saw the Golden Reaper perched on my shoulder.

Startled, I quickly shoved it into my bag and looked down.

Inside, nestled among documents, wallet, and phone, the cheerful Reaper grinned back at me.

So it followed me here?

Headache incoming.

Completely oblivious, the Golden Reaper cuddled a car key and rolled around happily in my bag.

True, what fault is yours?

Reaching into the bag, I rubbed the Golden Reaper’s head affectionately.

“Here, I’ll give you some candy. But no matter how bored you get, you’re not allowed to come out, okay?”

Whether it understood or not, the Golden Reaper clutched the hard candy and began munching slowly.

The conference hasn’t even started, and I’m already exhausted.

Should I just go back to the Sehee Research Institute?

***

On the opposite side of the mountain where the Crow Mountain Research Facility stood, something strange occurred in an isolated area.

The ground began bubbling violently.

Red sands erupted from the earth, churning like boiling water and forming bubbles as they shot upward.

Then eerie shadows began to appear.

Clearly nothing physical was there, nothing blocked the sunlight, yet shadows emerged.

They took various forms: shadows shaped like cubes, humanoid figures with arms and legs, and others utterly indescribable.

Faintly in the sky, a red moon seemed to be visible.