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The lights were off in the bedroom of the private jet, enveloped in a cozy atmosphere.

The dim moonlight seeped through the oval window, gently illuminating the surroundings.

The walls, reflecting the soft moonlight, were lined with dark mahogany panels, and beneath them lay a thick, soft carpet.

Stepping on the carpet felt fluffy, creating a pleasant mood in the bedroom.

A soft, blinking light from a mobile phone shone on the table, amidst the remnants of numerous pudding cups I had devoured.

“Reaper…”

With a smacking sound as if tasting something, Yerin mumbled in her sleep.

Yerin was nibbling as if she were enjoying something delicious.

What kind of dream was she having that made her smile blissfully with her eyes closed under the gentle moonlight?

In contrast to happy Yerin, I lay in the plush, large bed, snugly nestled in her embrace, dressed in uncomfortable clothes.

As I ghosted out of my spot, Yerin began to fumble around for where I had been, like a baby looking for toys.

Summoning a suitably large hungry ghost, I tucked it into Yerin’s arms and approached the oval window to admire the view outside the private jet, drifting over a sea of clouds.

Multiple moonlight beams and countless stars.

The airplane floating in the seemingly desolate snowfield sky appeared oddly lonely.

I reached out, placing my hand on the cold window, revealing a small gray hand and blue sleeve.

I could slowly start taking this off.

I ghosted and swiftly discarded the kindergarten outfit.

Then, I summoned a white hungry ghost, forcibly dressed it in the kindergarten outfit, and sat it on the sofa.

Kyu-woo.

The hungry ghost, squished due to the outfit, let out a discontented voice.

It was somewhat funny to see the unjustly dressed hungry ghost looking wronged.

Hehe.

I began to prepare to visit the Mini Reaper Garden.

First, I summoned a golden reaper onto my palm, intending to place it next to Yerin. The golden reaper busily moved, looking like it was trying to say something upon seeing me.

Was something wrong?

It hopped and gestured, explaining earnestly.

Of course, it was hard to understand the body language of the golden reaper, so I focused on reading its intent.

A younger sibling?

Does that mean a new youngest has appeared?

I thought, petting the golden reaper that looked very pleased to have a younger sibling.

Another one has appeared.

Lately, it seems like there are too many children being born.

Well, the mini reapers are good kids unlike me, so it’s fine if they multiply.

If my copies, like the golden reapers, were ‘mini gray reapers’, it would have been a real mess…

Imagining a smaller version of myself running around creating chaos made me chuckle.

But managing them would be a hassle, so I relayed my intent while petting the golden reaper.

“The oldest, the ‘Golden Reaper,’ needs to take good care of the younger siblings?”

The golden reaper nodded vigorously with a bright smile.

By the way, what caused this one to appear?

I thought that one needed to deal with something related to the moon to gain more.

This time, it was the king of giant pigs I dealt with, so does that mean a mini reaper with a pig head will manifest?

I imagined a not-so-cute mini reaper and delivered my intent.

“Then, keep an eye on Yerin. I’m off to the garden.”

After summoning plenty of golden reapers to decorate around Yerin, I moved to the Mini Reaper Garden.

*

I was dreaming an ancient dream.

A tale from the moment of my birth.

Vast, desolate mountains spread endlessly, with only jagged cliffs and fierce winds existing in this bleak landscape.

The distant mountain range was sharp as a blade, and the summits were cloaked with eternal icy mist.

A chill that seemed to freeze even souls forbade any form of life.

In this harsh space, a single flame ignited.

A light that brought red and warmth into the monotonous world of ice and stone.

Within that flame, I was born.

I arose from the ‘human desire’ to overcome the relentless cold and the accompanying hunger.

I was a flame that dispels darkness and fire that consumes cold.

I consumed the cold, lifeless rocks and offered up the flame of hunger.

Upon opening my eyes, I saw small humans worshiping me, alongside a massive presence with a blank face looking down on me and a white guardian.

The dreamscape started to blur.

I awoke from the deep dream, feeling my eyes slowly open again.

The moment of new birth.

Amidst the hazy sight, I saw the little things surrounding me and a giant presence and a white guardian looking down at me with a blank expression.

Ah, I’ve finally returned.

But as my vision cleared, I realized I was not witnessing the landscape I had dreamed of.

Instead of jagged rocks, there was soft and fluffy ground, and instead of cold winds, there was gentle warmth and a light breeze.

What filled the surroundings were not the humans worshiping me, but rather a girl-like being with a bright smile.

The white guardian lost its proud expression and wore a look of grievance.

And the creator looking down on me hid mischief within their expressionless demeanor as they slowly approached.

Then, they started to eat my flesh.

The once-strong form of mine transformed into something transparent, soft, and sweet.

I could do nothing but submit with a wronged expression as the creator feasted on me.

*

Upon arriving at the Mini Reaper Garden, the first thing that caught my eye was the giant black sphere.

It floated in the garden just like the [Unchanging Black Sphere].

And beneath it lay a tragically collapsed tower of snacks.

Om-nom-nom.

It seemed they had built that tower to reach the sphere, but it was too high for its material, so the golden reapers were happily munching on the debris of the fallen tower.

So, a new younger sibling was born inside that sphere?

However, since the sphere was too high, there didn’t seem to be an easy way to ascend.

Just how did they construct the tower of snacks to such a height?

Golden reapers, you’re incredibly capable.

I walked around beneath the sphere, mulling over my thoughts.

If I could just fly, it would be simple.

While pondering beneath the sphere, flames erupted in the Mini Reaper Garden.

The golden reapers were startled and surrounded the flames, while I approached the fire slowly out of curiosity.

It felt similar to when a hungry ghost was born.

Staring at the fire, I saw a small pig-shaped jelly gradually growing in size within the flames.

Unlike regular jelly, it emitted an unbelievably delicious smell.

The golden reapers were drooling.

But instead of preparing to eat, they seemed to be waiting, alternating their gaze between the jelly pig and me.

Well then, shall I have a taste?

I leisurely approached the pig and tore off a piece, eating it.

Om-nom-nom.

It had a chewy, juicy, revolutionary jelly flavor.

When I looked at the bit I had torn off, there was no trace of having eaten it.

Seeing that it regenerated quickly, it could serve as an emergency food, just like a hungry ghost.

As I turned my back, the golden reapers rushed in with happy expressions, starting to nibble a bit.

The jelly pig looked sorrowfully like a white hungry ghost.

*

Gwanak-gu, Ruins of Trinity Research Institute No. 3.

The ruins, engulfed in black liquid, remained a dead land where no one could survive.

Filled with this harmful mucus to both humans, other creatures, and even to objects, Gwanak-gu became a place where only humans in protective suits could roam.

In a camp near those ruins, a secret meeting was taking place.

Only the two remaining directors of Trinity were present now.

The director of Trinity Research Institute No. 1 spoke while shaking a vial of black mucus sealed in glass.

“Fascinating. Truly fascinating. Perhaps this liquid could be the light that brightens humanity’s future.”

Hearing that, the director of Research Institute No. 2 frowned and replied.

“You intend to use such suspicious byproducts from objects? Do you want to end up like the director of Research Institute No. 3?”

“This liquid is neither suspicious nor a byproduct of an object.”

The director of Research Institute No. 1 continued with a meaningful smile.

“Did you not read the director of Research Institute No. 3’s journal? We know the manufacturing method and understand its efficacy.”

“You can’t possibly believe in some fantastical ideas about human evolution or the like?”

“Don’t be ridiculous; there’s no chance of that.”

Ha ha, the director of Research Institute No. 1 jovially replied, but the director of Research Institute No. 2 sensed a bit of sincerity hidden within that laugh.

‘This is dangerous.’

Feeling an ominous aura from the expression of the director of Research Institute No. 1, the director of Research Institute No. 2 hastily stood up.

“I think I should take my leave now. See you next time.”

“Sure.”

The director of Research Institute No. 1 continued to gaze meaningfully at the departing back of the director of Research Institute No. 2.

*

I finally managed to enter the black sphere.

Thanks to the little jelly pig, which had the ability to grow after eating something, I was able to enter.

The jelly pig, force-fed with the numerous snacks scattered in the Mini Reaper Garden, had become large enough to touch the black sphere.

However, the interior of the black sphere was far from the joyful place where the youngest lived, as the golden reaper had said.

In fact, it was more like a graveyard.

A huge corpse loomed in the distance.

And on the ground lay the viscous remains of mini reapers.

They had lost their shape, melted like liquid, but I could see them clearly.

Numerous mini reaper corpses lay sprawled where they had collapsed, losing their kindling.

I reached down, lifting one mini reaper before putting kindling inside it.

The melted mini reaper instantly regained its form and successfully resurrected.

An odd entity with no legs and long arms.

The mini reaper, with kindling burning bright, looked at me with empty eyes before quickly changing its appearance.

A mini reaper strikingly similar to me, but black.

Should I call it the Black Reaper since it’s black?

The Black Reaper stared intently at me before looking back.

It continued glancing between the corpse and me, tilting its head.

‘Mom?’

Seeing the unsure Black Reaper, unlike the golden reaper, I cut off half of the large chunk of kindling Yerin had carefully prepared and placed it into the huge corpse.

With a whoosh.

With the sound of flames igniting, my consciousness shifted into the corpse.

And just by moving my consciousness, I instantly consumed all that kindling and bounced back into my body.

‘Mom!’

The Black Reaper, whose eyes widened in surprise, leaped and clung to my face, starting to weep heavily.

This marked the start, as my kindling filled the black sphere, and countless black reapers began to rise and rush in.

‘Mommy!’

Though a bit bewildered by the sudden clinging and wailing from the Black Reapers, I could clearly feel their desperate emotions.

“It’s alright. Mommy is right here.”

I had no choice but to pat the many wailing black reapers.