Chapter 88

The Golden Reaper held out a handful of pudding with an inviting smile.

As the pudding was received by mouth, the Golden Reaper stared intently, as if to say, “Isn’t it delicious?”

“Thank you!”

While expressing gratitude, the speaker vigorously patted the Reaper’s head.

The Gray Reaper’s pudding culinary journey came to a halt upon discovering an imported pudding that seemed particularly delightful.

It was so pleasing that even the usually stoic Gray Reaper’s fondness was evident.

However, the Golden Reaper’s initial reaction was somewhat perplexing.

After taking a bite, the Golden Reaper would scoop up pudding in both hands and offer it to people nearby.

At first, it was thought that the Golden Reaper’s taste differed from the Gray Reaper’s since they acted so differently.

But considering how this particular pudding was almost a staple for the Golden Reaper too, it was clear they both adored it immensely.

Interestingly, the Golden Reaper genuinely wanted others to try it because it was so delicious.

This was quite contrary to the Gray Reaper who would snatch the pudding while walking by.

Yet there was one concern.

“Senior Jungloe, I hear pudding isn’t coming in still?”

“Hmm. It seems the factory producing the Korean supply has been occupied by a Level 2 hazardous Object. Strangely, every attempt at recontainment keeps failing.”

With such a beloved pudding by the Gray Reaper now disrupted, it was worrying.

Hopefully, they wouldn’t get too sad without pudding.

Surely, they wouldn’t go all the way to the factory just for pudding, right?

***

A desert suddenly appeared in the heart of Seoul.

A desert filled with sand as red as blood.

To the delight of Seoul residents, this strange phenomenon became a source of great entertainment.

Though potentially dangerous due to its connection to an Object, visitors didn’t seem to give it much thought.

In the middle of this desert, a towering woman covered in tattoos emerged.

“Why did you suddenly decide to come here, sister?”

Behind her trailed a frail-looking younger sister.

“To see that…”

The towering woman paused mid-sentence, then continued.

“…’Red Moon.’ We’re advised to be cautious when speaking its name, truly troublesome.”

Turning around, she spoke softly to her younger sibling.

“If you want to kill me, just say so. I consider my current life a bonus. Being granted a proper death would be a blessing.”

“No, how long will you keep saying that? I’ve said I won’t kill you anymore!”

The younger sister flustered, continuing her explanation.

“I mean, compared to anyone else, you’re far better now, sister.”

Smiling brightly, the younger sister boasted about their sister.

“You don’t hit or insult me, and you’re kind.”

Despite frequent attempts on her life by the younger sister, they always failed due to lack of resolve.

At some point, her attitude completely shifted, though the elder sister had no clue why.

She simply assumed it was due to some psychological issue—believing the story about coming from another world without any doubt was peculiar.

“So why are we here to see the ‘Red Moon’?”

“In truth, the Red Moon’s inhabitants once lived in this desert, but it seems they’re gone now. It would’ve been nice if they were still here…”

Away from prying eyes, the towering woman scooped up a handful of red sand.

Dropping a drop of unknown liquid from an eye-drop bottle she retrieved from her bosom, the sand coalesced into a shiny red sphere.

“Wow, it’s like magic!”

“It’s not magic, it’s simple alchemy.”

“Yeah, impressive alchemy!”

The towering woman carefully placed the round object into her bag.

Her younger sister asked curiously.

“Didn’t you say you’d make something like a bomb with that?”

“Yes, it’s highly effective against those who can neither die nor live.”

“But haven’t you ever seen those ‘undead monsters’? Is it really necessary?”

“As long as that entity exists in this world, it’ll definitely be needed.”

A fierce grin spread across her face as she growled, recalling a face in her mind.

The despicable face of a man called the betrayer of humanity.

Currently known as the Director of the 3rd Trinity Research Institute.

***

One of the three directors leading the Trinity Research Institute.

The mansion where the 3rd Director resides.

In the garden, unpleasant black plants grew from sticky black soil.

In a corner of the mansion, the 3rd Director, a middle-aged figure, looked down at the butler who had turned to mud.

“Hmm, I thought I had successfully replicated the drug this time, but alas, it failed again. What a pity.”

Despite repeating how regretful it was, the Director’s expression showed no real sorrow.

“…! …! ….”

The melted butler writhed and mumbled incomprehensibly.

The Director gazed down at the butler mumbling for help.

“Truly loyal until the end, asking to be cremated alive instead of a funeral.”

With a snap of the Director’s fingers, a small spark landed on the butler.

Instantly, the butler burst into flames like oil catching fire.

“The vegetation differs, so the medicine remains incomplete. More experiments are required.”

A giant man lying nearby abruptly stood up.

“Ah, already awake? The golden horns do make you different.”

But the giant man didn’t appear normal.

His whites were stained black, and saliva dripped from his mouth.

Nevertheless, the Director nodded happily.

“I was worried about finding a new butler, but one has arrived. Welcome, new butler.”

Proudly patting the staggering giant man on the shoulder, the Director welcomed him.

Then, ordering the new butler to clean up the charred remains of the old one, the Director disappeared into the Deep Place of the mansion.

The new butler collapsed to the floor, chewing on the burnt remains of the previous butler.

His mouth, split into three monstrous parts, greedily devoured the dried-up remnants.

***

Thump thump.

As the sun sank below the horizon on a late night, a blonde girl danced along to the moves on TV, left open near the window of her apartment.

The latest trend: Gray Reaper Dance.

After dancing for a while, the girl stopped and stared blankly at the Black Agent.

“Are you hungry?”

Loosening his collar, the Black Agent replied.

“Yeah.”

The blonde girl nodded slightly, approached, and bit into the agent’s neck.

After feeding, the girl licked her blood-soaked lips, exhaling hot breath.

Watching this, the Black Agent commented.

“Perhaps contacting the Association President would be wise. Avoiding his gaze forever has limits.”

“Absolutely not! Grandfather might do anything. He might even dissect me for real.”

The Black Agent wore a puzzled expression.

“Considering the unusual speed of the Association’s response this time, it shows how much the Association President cherishes you. Do you have any specific reasons for avoiding him?”

After pondering, the blonde girl answered.

“Hmm. Something feels off about Grandfather. Every time he says ‘I love you, I care about you,’ whenever I’m in danger, he doesn’t stop me.”

“Isn’t he respecting your decisions and freedom?”

“Does anyone give that kind of freedom to elementary school students?”

The blonde girl firmly continued.

“I’ve had uneasy feelings more times than I can count. For some reason, it sometimes feels like Grandfather wishes for me to meet with an accident.”

Seeing the excited girl passionately explaining, the Black Agent decided to hold back his opinion.

“We’ll plan to avoid detection by the Association President.”

The Black Agent began organizing necessary tasks like creating new identities.

***

Hungry Golden Reapers lay sprawled across the bed.

Snacks were piled up around them like mountains.

Yet, the Golden Reapers lay listlessly, having lost their appetite.

I too lay beside them, watching the news upside-down to soothe my sadness.

No pudding.

We finally found Ninja Pudding, but there won’t be any more.

What’s worse is that we don’t know when pudding will return.

“There’s no more production, and we don’t know when it’ll come back. Sorry, Reaper!”

Yerin hovered anxiously beside the sprawled-out me and the Golden Reapers.

The merciless TV, unaware of human emotions, broadcast the news as usual.

[A factory in Incheon licensed to produce a famous overseas pudding has been occupied by an Object.]

The sound from the TV caught everyone’s attention.

An Object occupies the famous overseas pudding factory!

So the factory shutdown was caused by an Object?