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I can’t believe I can’t fly in the sky.

The Mini Reaper wouldn’t lie to me, so it’s highly probable I really can’t.

Actually, whether I could fly or not was more like a take-it-or-leave-it situation, but now that someone told me I couldn’t, I desperately wanted to fly.

It’s not like there’s anything weird about me.

If there’s a rule that prohibits something, everyone wants to break it.

I stuffed myself full of White Hungry Ghost while brimming with sadness and anger.

Kyu-hing-hing.

Just like it empathized with my sorrow, the White Hungry Ghost wept along with me.

By the way, my kids have multiplied tremendously.

Golden, blue, indigo, black, red, orange, and even a giant adopted child bigger than me!

Especially the relationship between the giant adopted girl and the Black Agent was intriguing.

Although they went somewhere now, I hoped they’d come back soon to show me some interesting drama.

While thinking about this and suddenly lying down on the bed, the Golden Reapers squirmed below me and crawled out from under me.

Hehe.

As I watched the tiny fists of the Golden Reapers tapping away, news came on about something that piqued my curiosity.

[Since the appearance of Objects, cults have been rampant worldwide.]

[But lately, the situation has become particularly severe.]

[There’s a cult spreading worldwide in just a few days, so caution is needed.]

[It’s a religion symbolized by an eye with five pupils, so if you spot it, please report it to the Object Association.]

A cult, huh.

Ever since Objects appeared, numerous cults have emerged and disappeared, but this one felt particularly ominous for some reason.

Lying there and staring at the ceiling while listening to the TV, the Black Reapers looked down at me with worried expressions.

The Black Reapers seemed to have a shred of guilt, as if they were feeling weak because of something they said.

Suddenly, I had an amusing thought.

What would happen if I conveyed my will by bursting forth with sadness and anger saying, “It’s all your fault!”?

Surely, I’d turn into a slime and wail miserably, right?

That would definitely be entertaining…

But since the last time the Black Reaper was very hurt, I guess I have to let it slide this time.

After all, I’m just too kind of a mom.

Lying down doing nothing and staring at the ceiling, the Golden Reapers and Black Reapers gathered together and whispered something before going out of the isolation room.

And how long had passed?

I had dozed off, when I suddenly felt something softly pressing against my cheek.

Black Reapers and Golden Reapers had climbed all over my face.

As I opened my eyes, the Mini Reapers tugged at my pinky finger, leading me somewhere.

The place we arrived at was the vast courtyard of Sehee Research Institute, shrouded in shadows.

Looking up to the sky after seeing the shadow, a giant Cloud Whale floated lazily above the Sehee Research Institute.

The Mini Reapers bounced around, urging me to climb onto the whale.

With the Black Penguin’s teleportation ability, we landed on the whale, and there were Mini Reapers gathered in flocks on top of it.

The Mini Reapers crowded together with bright smiles, welcoming me on this cloud whale made of cotton candy.

As I reached the whale’s back, it began to soar rapidly into the sky.

“Mom!”

“It’s okay if you can’t fly, Mom!”

“You can ride the whale!”

The Mini Reapers swarmed around me, pouring down blessings.

Did I really look that weak?

I wrapped my arms around the adorable Mini Reapers and showered them with affection.

Before I knew it, the whale pierced through the clouds and ascended into the sky, revealing a sea made of clouds before our eyes.

Numerous Cloud Fish followed us, swimming across the sea of clouds.

Each Mini Reaper climbed onto a small Cloud Fish, waving with cheerful expressions.

What a typical Mini Reaper event!

I stood at the top of the Cloud Whale, gazing down at the scenery.

Enchanting clouds formed the sea, and the Cloud Fish glided gracefully through the soft waves.

The view I received as a gift from the kids was quite beautiful.

*

Outside the window, an exotic scenery different from Korea was gradually sinking into the darkness.

The refreshing and dry air unique to the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains, along with the subtle scent of pine and earth, wafted slowly through the open window.

From the wide-open window, a siren could be heard from afar.

The sound of the siren gradually grew closer, then faded away, echoing through the dark streets and alleyways.

A vehicle belonging to the Association, armed with an unyielding passion, was making its rounds through the town.

Reflecting on that alley from the window was the silhouette of a woman.

Lost in thought, she looked down at the scenery of the town.

Her expression was slightly irritated by the periodic wailing of the siren.

“Huh, the Association’s vehicle is still roaming around this area.”

The red-haired woman grumbled as she watched the Association vehicle pass through the alley.

Drurr.

Annoyed by the siren, she lowered the window and shut it.

With a ‘thud’ sound, the now-closed window effectively blocked the noisy sounds that had been audible just moments ago.

Lastly, she shut the curtains, completely isolating the outside from the inside, then turned her gaze to the dining table.

On that table, a plump Golden Reaper lay with its hands resting on its belly.

Plump.

As she gently patted the protruding belly, the red-haired woman wore a satisfied smile.

“Are you full?”

Though the Golden Reaper didn’t understand her question, it smiled happily.

On the table were remnants of fast food like pizza and hamburgers, all of which seemed to have been eaten by the Golden Reaper.

The woman picked up a french fry and held it close to the Golden Reaper’s mouth.

Omnomnom.

The Golden Reaper chewed on the french fry, taking small bites.

Watching the Golden Reaper brought her a strange sense of happiness.

Although she couldn’t eat because she was on a diet, she enjoyed feeding the Golden Reaper her desired foods.

Interestingly enough, just watching the Golden Reaper eat made her feel satisfied and uplifted.

“Slow down, eat plenty.”

As she chuckled softly while offering a milkshake to the Golden Reaper, an ominous sound interrupted their happiness.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

“This is the Object Association. Please open the door, Ms. Rachel.”

‘What, they can’t be here to catch the Golden Reaper, right?’

Startled, she looked at the front door, wanting to hide the plump Golden Reaper, but it had already vanished.

Thinking it had escaped well, she approached the entrance and opened the door.

Click.

With a cheerful sound, a very fatigued employee of the Association appeared beyond the opened door.

“Sorry for coming so late, Rachel.”

“No, it’s fine. What’s the matter?”

The Association employee handed her a piece of paper.

It was a sheet adorned with a symbol of a huge eye with five pupils.

*

Trinity Sinkhole in Gangnam District.

Around the recently occurred sinkhole, tall walls surrounded it.

These weren’t newly erected walls but remnants of the original walls of Trinity Research Institute No. 1.

It was a sinkhole that had swallowed everything inside while leaving only the walls, as if measured with a ruler.

“I can’t shake off this feeling that it’s artificial.”

The Director of Research Institute No. 2 touched the whitewashed wall and spoke grimly.

It must be the work of the ‘Gray Reaper.’

No other Object could pull off such a stunt.

The Association’s investigation reported that the Gray Reaper had been isolated at Sehee Research Institute, but the Director did not believe it.

Even if that report were true, he judged it would be simple for a Gray Reaper to deceive the Sehee Research Institute.

That cursed liquid was something that could not be properly used, but it was strangely desirable by the country’s powers and the institute.

Even now, the Director of Research Institute No. 2 was constantly receiving requests for information regarding “Evolution Liquid.”

Trying to use an unverified substance?

This was nothing short of mental pollution.

It would be like shoving an alien parasite into one’s gut just based on flimsy evidence that it’s good for health in a movie.

No, it was more ridiculous than that, since there were documented cases of parasites tearing through guts while people still willingly inserted them into their bellies.

However, there were understandable points.

Those who possessed hidden information among the civilians must feel terrified.

The end of humanity was approaching.

Especially for Korea, the end was near.

Aside from a few major cities like Seoul and Busan, control had long been lost, and Objects claimed more land than humanity.

So, they sprinted to recklessly find a way to eliminate the Objects.

Yet, “Evolution Liquid” was off the table.

The Director pulled out a notebook from his coat.

It was a copy of the notes of the Director of Research Institute No. 3.

He lifted the notebook containing the production method and various data about the Evolution Liquid and set it ablaze with a lighter.

“It’s best to pretend this notebook never existed.”

The Director of Research Institute No. 2 tossed the burning notebook onto the floor and walked away, getting into his car and departing.

The notebook, left on the ground, was continuously ablaze, turning to ash and scattering into the sky.

*

Knock, knock, knock.

The Black Agent politely knocked on the exquisitely patterned wooden door.

The blonde girl opened the window at the landing, smiling contentedly as sunlight poured in.

“Strange. There’s no one in the detective agency.”

With a cellphone in one hand, the Black Agent looked puzzled as he addressed the blonde girl.

At the very least, an employee known as “Junior No. 3” should have been at her post, but the office was suspended in silence with no signs of life.

“Seeing the cellphone is off too, something must be going on. What should we do, Young Miss?”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do. We’ll come back later, Ahjussi.”

The blonde girl had come to thank the detective who let her walk under the sun, but it appeared he wasn’t in.

As she started to head back down the stairs she had come up, she said, “I hope nothing happened to that detective Ahjussi.”

“He’s probably fine. He’s quite the sharp one.”

The Black Agent and the blonde girl exchanged small talk as they began to head back to Sehee Research Institute.

As they departed, the detective agency fell back into ominous silence once more.