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As the Black Agent opened the door and entered, the soft moonlight illuminated the living room.

Except for the silvery beams sneaking through the thick blackout curtains, the living room was enveloped in deep darkness, giving off a mysterious vibe.

In the center, bathed in the gentle moonlight, was a blonde girl, her hair shimmering golden under the faint glow, standing out even more against the silver light halo.

Under the delicate moonlight, the blonde girl looked up, gazing at the moon.

With that appearance, she seemed faint, as if she might dissolve into the light at any moment.

To capture the essence of the girl that seemed about to disappear, the Black Agent slowly approached and spoke.

“Miss.”

Breaking the tranquil silence, the Black Agent’s powerful and soft voice echoed in the room.

“Oh, you’ve come, sir.”

The girl responded with a bright smile towards the Black Agent.

Her smile, as bright and warm as the moonlight, felt as if it illuminated the room draped in blackout curtains for a moment.

The girl, still smiling at the Black Agent, looked back up at the sky and remarked.

“The weather is really nice today. It’s a clear sky without a cloud in sight.”

It seemed she was murmuring something beyond just the simple weather, her voice laced with nostalgia.

As the Black Agent stood beside her, the blonde girl stretched out her small, delicate hand, covering the moon with her palm.

Strangely, the palm of the girl covering the moon looked a bit transparent.

Like a red acrylic sheet, slightly see-through.

“Miss, your hand?”

“Oh, this? Lately, my hand turns like this when I bask in the moonlight. I don’t know why, but it doesn’t feel like a bad thing.”

‘I don’t know.’

Looking at the girl’s face, the Black Agent thought.

Though he had diligently studied Object-related topics, so much remained unknown.

The apparent resurrection of himself and the girl.

The identity of the red moon and its relation to the girl.

And the girl’s body turning transparent.

So many unknowns, but for now, he could only move slowly down the path of what he knew.

The Black Agent cleared his throat to convey the news the girl had been waiting for and said.

“Miss, it seems the detective has found a way for us to walk under the sun.”

“Really? Let’s leave right now!”

The girl’s reaction was instantaneous.

With a smile bright enough to light up the space, the girl tugged at the Black Agent’s hand, urging him along.

Their destination, which they had to reach immediately, was Odaesan, a dangerous area far from the city, where Objects roamed without societal protection.

The Black Agent began to move around the room, gathering the necessary equipment.

The girl followed closely behind him, helping with the preparations.

Having quickly finished their preparations, they stepped out of the lodging and began their journey to Odaesan.

*

Lying in the Isolation Room, I gazed blankly at the Golden Reapers busy at work.

The Golden Reapers, wearing cooking hats, were diligently making pudding.

The sight of the golden rabbit reapers making pudding felt like watching a miniature version of the kitchen.

With the supply of “Gray Reaper Pudding” running smoothly, there was no longer a need to make pudding, yet the Golden Reapers continued to work hard at the pudding factory.

I’m not sure if it is the Golden Reapers’ taste, but they tended to share the pudding they made with Attached Humans.

Was it like gifting homemade chocolates?

It’s a bit hard to understand the Mini Reapers.

The Golden Reapers, with rabbit ears, finished their tasks and dispersed, holding their share of pudding and smiling brightly.

They looked somewhat like employees clocking out for the day.

I picked up a piece of pudding swirling in bubbles and took a bite.

Yum.

This rabbit pudding is definitely delicious.

Although the pudding given as a tribute by the hard-working Golden Reapers must have been the same James Pudding, it tasted better somehow.

I guess watching them toil made it taste better…

Is this the taste of the bourgeoisie!

Just as I was lounging on the bed eating pudding with a Golden Reaper, the Golden Reaper suddenly sprang up as if remembering something, tugging on my pinky.

‘?’

I looked at the Golden Reaper with a puzzled expression, and it bounced excitedly, trying to say something.

From the determination conveyed, it seemed to be referring to a certain place, but I had no idea what it meant.

Was there a place in Sehee Research Institute I was unaware of?

Bouncy bouncy.

Following the bouncing Golden Reaper, now ghosting ahead, I walked out.

The bouncing Golden Reaper frequently looked back to check if I was keeping up, which was a bit cute and made me smile.

The place we arrived at after a long stairway into the basement was a newly constructed, spacious underground facility.

I never imagined such a place existed in Sehee Research Institute.

The most striking feature was the massive golden statue in the center.

It was golden, yet the expression portrayed seemed far from what a Golden Reaper would make, looking rather grumpy, suggesting it represented me.

The Golden Reaper that arrived was bouncing with joy.

Though it was only a lonely golden statue in the basement, the Golden Reaper was extremely happy.

Seeing quite a few Golden Reapers gather and bounce around the golden statue, it appeared to be quite a famous spot among them.

It was enormous.

Looking up at the statue made my neck uncomfortable, and it sparkled as if it was receiving care every day.

There were “Gray Reaper” goods being sold as if they were in a TV advertisement, and I wondered where all that money went…

It seemed to have all gone into making this golden statue.

Is this madness Sehee’s doing?

Yerin lacked the authority to embezzle the budget, and Seoah wouldn’t use the research institute’s budget for this kind of thing.

Sehee seemed normal, but occasionally did odd things…

Looking at my gigantic golden statue, it felt strange.

It was a mix of pleasant yet ticklish emotions.

Honestly, I don’t quite understand why the Golden Reapers love that statue so much, but since it’s a place the Golden Reapers hold dear, the similar-minded Black Reapers might enjoy it too.

I slightly laid out a Mini Reaper Garden around to draw the Black Reapers here.

However, the Black Reapers that appeared seemed more anxious than pleased.

They were looking around nervously, as if expecting an attack.

Petting an anxious Black Reaper placed on my palm slowly, I inquired.

‘Why the worry?’

But the Black Reaper didn’t respond, instead leading me in front of the golden statue.

It pointed at a panel affixed before the statue, conveying its desire to know what was written on it.

I remembered that Mini Reapers could only feel emotions, not understand speech or read writing.

Should I teach them Korean later?

As I pondered while looking at the panel, it had simple content written.

SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1YzMxdm93cGVLVTRkbWw3alh5MDdSNDRUUVVkLzN6WWRWT0F5YndzaFA2cw

[Gray Reaper Golden Statue]

When I told the Black Reaper that my name was written on the panel, it looked startled, staring at me with wide eyes.

‘Name?’

I petted the overly anxious Black Reaper to soothe it.

‘It’s fine. There’s no problem at all.’

Looking around, I noticed that the Black Reapers had gathered around me, looking up with worried expressions.

‘Is it okay to call you by your name?’

‘Is it okay to write your name?’

The Black Reapers melted like slimes, trembling with an unknown anxiety.

What’s so significant about a name?

I sat down on the floor, gathered the Black Reapers in my embrace, and conveyed my will.

‘It’s okay. Don’t be so scared, it’s fine.’

After a while of comforting them, the Black Reapers could return to Mini Reaper forms and smile brightly.

Phew, parenting is tough.

Having shaken off their fear, the Black Reapers joined the ranks of the Golden Reapers, joyfully gazing at the golden statue.

Seeing the giant golden statue and the small children laughing around it felt oddly reminiscent of a primitive religious ceremony.

*

In the city ruins near the Spirit Barrier, where the embers had long since extinguished and no longer coughed up black smoke, a strange flame began to rise again in the eerily quiet ruins.

“What a mess.”

James commented while looking at the city ruins engulfed in the mysterious flames that burned resolutely, unaffected by the wind.

“It is a mess, and it seems this area is beyond saving.”

A friend from the Object Association echoed James’s words.

“Who would have imagined so much ‘burning drug’ that causes mental pollution was buried underground?”

Despite being wrapped in protective gear, there was a lingering scent of tasty char.

“By the way, I read this report, and it was absurd.”

The friend from the Object Association said while shaking the report James submitted.

The title of the report was [Gray Reaper Observation Report].

Inside was packed with details of the Gray Reaper’s activities in the U.S. and related analyses.

It had already been confirmed that it couldn’t inflict physical damage and could ghost, but it was reaffirmed again.

Numerous other abilities were densely listed as well.

“With such a variety of abilities, there were no properly reported facts. Can we really leave the ‘Gray Reaper’ with the Sehee Research Institute indefinitely?”

“Yeah. I think other research institutes would lead to catastrophe; only Sehee Research Institute can handle this.”

James firmly supported the Sehee Research Institute with a serious expression.

Though the reasoning behind the support was rather flimsy.

“The most surprising part is this.”

This was a hasty addition at the end of the report.

[The Gray Reaper has no vocal cords but understands Korean at a native level.]

[It understands English only at a word level.]

[It appears communication via gestures or writing is possible.]

James’s friend pointed at the report’s conclusion with a finger.

“Why is this part suggested to be classified as top secret? A communicating Object? The potential for utilization is endless!”

“Exactly because the possibilities are endless. It seems the Gray Reaper doesn’t want to reveal its ability to communicate.”

James quietly added, ‘I even considered omitting it from the report entirely.’

“Maintaining the current relationship with the Gray Reaper is essential. When you go to the association, make sure to emphasize that strongly.”

“Well, sure. Keeping a situation where we can receive indirect assistance from an Object like the Gray Reaper is important.”

In the ruins, where mental pollution was too severe to approach carelessly, the two men made a secret pact related to the Gray Reaper.

A promise to maintain the current state.

*

In the Odaesan vicinity, where thick fog obscured even the nearest view, employees from Trinity Research Institute No. 1, wrapped tightly, began to appear one by one.

Behind them, they carried large containers exuding the scent of oil.

[Be careful. This fog is an Object.]

The voice of the Deputy Director of Research Institute No. 1 echoed in their ears through the radio.

In the deep fog, a mysterious scene unfolded with Cloud Fish swimming about.

However, the Trinity Researchers paid no heed to such scenery and continued their march towards their destination.

As the Deputy Director looked up at the sky, above the thick fog shone a mysterious moon, glowing orange.