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As soon as we heard the news that the evacuation warning had been lifted, we turned the cart back towards James City.

“Is the Reaper okay?”

I spoke to the Golden Reaper resting on my palm, but the Golden Reaper just smiled brightly, seemingly not understanding, and gently patted my cheek.

Returning on the road we had left, what greeted us were collapsed buildings and destroyed roads.

James City was in a state of almost complete ruin.

“This is going to take a considerable amount of time to restore.”

James lamented as he drove the cart, seeing the damaged city and lamenting how much money would be needed.

It was clear even at a glance that the broken roads and buildings did not resemble ordinary structures.

The exposed cross-sections of buildings flaunted different colors from layer to layer, and beneath the asphalt roads lay tons of metallic cubes likely meant for object containment.

We passed through the ravaged city and arrived at the entrance of the barricade, where people in protective suits had cordoned off the area with “No Entry” tape.

In the center of the zone marked by the tape was the remains of a high building cut in half.

And perched on top of that wreckage was a Reaper looking up at the sky.

“Reaper!”

I shouted in joy, and upon hearing me, the Reaper looked down at me and instantly popped up next to me.

I lifted the Reaper and hugged it tightly, replenishing my need for that soft and fragrant Reaper component.

I squished the Reaper’s fluffy cheeks and said, “I missed you, Reaper!”

The Reaper’s expression seemed to say that it was baffled by how little time had passed since our last separation.

*

As the Gray Reaper and Yerin shared their reunion, James looked up at the barricade, which had fulfilled its role and remained intact.

It was shattered into pieces like a glass cup that couldn’t be repaired, but the wall of James City maintained its form.

It seemed to express the Vice Mayor’s firm resolve.

Just then, an employee approached James and delivered news.

“[The survival of the Vice Mayor has been confirmed, but mental pollution is suspected.]”

Following the employee’s guidance, James was able to meet the Vice Mayor inside a makeshift containment facility for objects.

Despite the suspicion of mental pollution, the Vice Mayor looked fairly composed.

James calmly sat in a chair prepared inside and saw the Vice Mayor with closed eyes, pressing the internal communication button of the isolation room to speak.

“You managed to stay alive.”

“Yes, thanks to the power of miracles.”

Hearing James’s words, the Vice Mayor opened his eyes and replied nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal.

The voice coming from the speaker was calm, yet there was an inexplicable madness reflected in his gaze.

It was a look that didn’t match the always rational Vice Mayor.

Perhaps that gaze was what led to the suspicion of mental pollution.

After a brief conversation with the Vice Mayor, James left.

When he returned to where the Gray Reaper was, he found the Gray Reaper’s hair fluttering, while Yerin was trying to nibble on it.

James, trying to avert his gaze from the Gray Reaper’s mesmerizing antennae, said, “Let’s put off the city tour for now. I know you were looking forward to it, but given the situation, it seems we’ll need at least six months for reconstruction.”

“Ah… So should we just go back to Korea with the Reaper like this?”

Seeing Yerin’s slightly disappointed expression, James added, “If you’re really disappointed, it’s fine to look around the research facilities near the Rocky Mountains. It’s a research hub like James City, and with no civilians around, getting permission for the Gray Reaper to enter should be easier.”

Yerin, deep in thought while hugging the Gray Reaper, mused, “It’s not like we have to decide right away, so let’s take a break and think it over calmly.”

As James chatted with Yerin and her group, he led them onto the cart.

“It’s late, so let’s rest at the accommodation and meet again later.”

However, James did not hop onto the cart. Instead, he called an employee and commanded them to head towards a nearby hotel.

“Is James not coming with us?”

“Of course not. The city’s in shambles, and the Mayor can’t just sit back and relax.”

James watched as the cart moved toward the nearby hotel, then turned and headed back towards the barricade.

*

At Sehee Research Institute’s laundry room.

Having found myself in a situation where not even one washing machine was usable, I, the director, had no choice but to come here.

If it had been a mechanical issue, I wouldn’t have needed to come at all, but since it involved a Reaper, I had to show up.

Arriving in this rarely visited place and looking inside the washing machine, I saw the source of the trouble.

The Golden Reaper was smiling brightly.

A single Golden Reaper, carefree and delighted, was inside the washing machine, peering out through the transparent window.

Tap.

The Golden Reaper, grinning, tapped on the transparent washing machine window as if to say “please turn the washing machine on.”

Hmm.

The last time I saw on the internal CCTV that a Reaper had stuffed Golden Reapers into the washing machine and turned it on, I was surprised, but could it be that they were having fun and not torturing them?

But I just couldn’t bring myself to press the washing machine button.

I opened the washing machine door to pull the Golden Reaper out, but the Golden Reaper clung to the inside like it didn’t want to leave.

The cute Golden Reaper trembled as if desperately trying not to exit.

I gave up on forcibly pulling it out.

As a Sehee Research Institute employee, I had only one option: to use the Gray Reaper Pudding I always carried.

I took out the pudding and wiggled it in front of the Golden Reaper’s eyes, and I could see it staring intently like a cat chasing a toy.

Peeling off the pudding’s lid and scooping a bit with a spoon, I revealed the soft interior as the pudding slightly jiggled.

The Golden Reaper, who had been hiding in the washing machine, was now standing on my lap with outstretched arms.

With its adorable little mouth wide open like a baby bird’s, it let out a soft “ah” for the pudding.

A carefree expression devoid of any worries.

Seeing the always bright and happy Golden Reaper made me feel inexplicably envious, making me want to play around a bit.

Thinking back, the Reaper also had its share of cute pranks when playing with the Golden Reaper. Was this the mood behind those pranks?

Putting it in the washing machine and turning it on was too much, but I could certainly play a little with the pudding.

I scooped up some pudding while keeping it just out of the Golden Reaper’s reach.

As it approached, mouth wide open towards the spoon, it ultimately toppled over onto the floor when the spoon moved further away.

Sure enough, the Golden Reaper was adorable!

When I offered the pudding spoon to the Golden Reaper, who looked ready to cry from its failure, it slowly approached with a somewhat suspicious look.

And just as it opened its mouth to take a bite, I swiftly pulled it back.

The Golden Reaper, denied again, looked up at me with a slightly sad expression.

It was as if it was asking, “Aren’t you going to give it to me?”

“You don’t have to give it if you don’t want to!”

From its watery eyes, it seemed to convey that it felt sad giving up the pudding for the human’s sake.

Though it couldn’t speak, I somehow felt like I could understand its feelings just by looking at its expression.

“I’m sorry for teasing you!”

Planning to just have a bit of fun, I eventually gave in and quietly let the Golden Reaper have the pudding.

Om nom nom.

With a face transforming into pure happiness as if it had never been sad, the Golden Reaper devoured the pudding.

Of course, it’s much better to see them happy than to torment them!

*

Nearby James City, in a luxury hotel located in the center of a satellite city.

Although it had a pretty decent location, James had rented out the entire hotel for us.

Yerin, seemingly exhausted, fell into a deep sleep as soon as she lay down on the bed.

On the enormous and fluffy king-size bed, many Golden Reapers curled up around her.

I watched Yerin, blissfully asleep with the Golden Reapers snuggled in her arms, before turning to gaze at the dark hotel night view.

Peering down at the empty hotel surroundings, I noticed employees related to the James Institute were controlling the area.

It was about time to head to the Mini Reaper Garden.

The Golden Reapers needed for the return to the U.S. were all lined up beside Yerin.

Now it was time to head out and cause some mischief with my newly acquired abilities.

Hehe.

*

Inside the Mini Reaper Garden stood a single architectural marvel.

The Candy House of the Witch where the Blue Reapers resided.

A sturdy house woven from candy by Blue Reaper magic.

A magical house hovering above the Sea of Hot Chocolate.

Inside that Candy House anchored above the Sea of Hot Chocolate, a gathering of Blue Reapers was taking place.

Whisper, whisper.

Blue Reapers huddled together, sharing feelings and intentions with one another.

This gathering’s theme was “Humans.”

Tales of a human who was incredibly weak but had tried to save them.

The Blue Reapers listened intently, their faces filled with envy, as they offered congratulations.

They were actually interacting with humans!

For the shy Blue Reapers, interacting was quite a challenging thing.

No matter how much they adored their attached humans, most could only admire them from afar.

As the bragging of the Blue Reapers began to grow, it took a turn.

“Uh… We also get to lie down and rest together!”

Their bragging began to snowball into lies.

“I even cut up apples and fed them!”

“!!”

“!!”

“!!”

Before long, the bragging Blue Reaper started to be regarded as the bravest Blue Reaper among them.

But just as the cheerful chatter and strings of joy began to spill out of the Candy House, a sinister shadow started to loom.

It was the vengeful spirit of the haunting Marshmallow Hammer, a Gray Reaper who hadn’t forgotten its grudge.

Unbeknownst to the Blue Reapers, who were too engrossed in their tales of attachment to humans, a threat was silently approaching.