---

In the middle of the Sea of Hot Chocolate, the Witch’s Candy House floated bobbing along.

Once destroyed by the cruel Gray Reaper Shark, the candy house had been rebuilt to be sturdier.

It was still just a candy house, though.

Inside the now bigger and fancier candy house, all the Blue Reapers had gathered.

The Blue Reaper who called everyone together, with a determined expression, inscribed a string in the air.

[The Attached Human is in danger! Please help!]

At the terrifying news that the Attached Human was in danger, the Blue Reapers were all startled, gripping their broomsticks tightly.

Word was circulating that the Attached Human had been missing since yesterday.

And they’d heard news that they were in a dangerous situation.

The Blue Reapers listened to the story, grieving as if it were their own tale.

After finishing the story, the other Blue Reapers approached, patting the one who looked sad.

It was a comfort for the proactive Blue Reaper.

The other Blue Reapers knew that if the Attached Human disappeared, they would be cooped up in the candy house for three days, crying.

Then they all nodded together and flew towards the sky.

To the east.

They began flying eastward to rescue the Attached Human.

The moment all the Blue Reapers left, something suddenly leaped out of the Sea of Hot Chocolate.

A Gray Reaper was staring in the direction the Blue Reapers flew.

*

Looking up at the sky where the Blue Reapers had gone, something rose up from the Sea of Hot Chocolate.

Had the Attached Human of the Blue Reapers vanished?

While making a Mini Reaper Shiitake Mushroom stew, I discovered that all the Blue Reapers had gathered somewhere, and my curiosity led me to sneak in, gaining unexpected information.

Actually, if they were planning the Marshmallow Hammer Plan mk.2 like last time, I was fully prepared to pull off the Gray Reaper Shark mk.2 for them, but what I was hearing was different from what I expected.

By the way, those Blue Reapers are brave.

They rushed in without saying a word to me, despite having no physical immunity.

That meant the Attached Human situation was urgent.

I felt uneasy relying solely on the weak Blue Reapers. Should I tell the other Mini Reapers to chase after them?

Who should I send?

The Golden Reaper or the Black Reaper would be too cheerful to sneak in.

The Sprout Reaper spends all day sleeping, and I don’t even know if they can act alone.

Then it’s either the Red Reaper or the Orange Reaper?

I made a decision in my heart and called the Orange Reaper into my palm.

A round, fluffy white furball popped up on my hand.

As I petted the soft orange hair of the Orange Reaper, a relaxed orange face popped out from the fluff.

I conveyed my wishes by squeezing its squishy cheeks.

‘Fly through the sky watching over the Blue Reapers, and if something happens, call for me.’

The Orange Reaper, enjoying my touch, nodded without refusal or discussion and took to the sky.

Then it floated along to the courtyard sky connected to the garden, following the Blue Reapers.

Looking at the sky, all kinds of Cloud Fish began gathering and moving en masse after the Orange Reaper.

I had chosen it for its calm demeanor and flying ability, but was it actually optimized for search and surveillance more than I thought?

I still tried to ignore the lingering anxiety about the Blue Reapers and made my way to the Isolation Room where Yerin was.

*

Inside the Object Association building in Gangnam, in the management department of the Object Research Institute.

From the individual offices, Seoah’s voice echoed.

“So, does that mean the association has no plans to deal with the ‘Eye Cult’ right now?”

“Yes, unfortunately, that’s correct.”

Frustrated, Seoah rubbed her temples, trying to gather her thoughts.

After being rejected five times due to a lack of related documentation and finally managing to arrange a meeting, was the ending really ‘We can’t do anything’?

I’d heard the Object Association in our country was a mess, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad.

The Blue Reaper is sad, but we can’t do anything!

The association employee, wearing a suspicious helmet like a motorcycle helmet, continued speaking in a helpless voice.

“In fact, I understand the seriousness of this situation very well. I’ve brought up the issue to higher-ups several times, but all they do is give me instructions to do nothing, which is quite frustrating.”

The association employee added, “In the end, all I can tell you is to wait. I’m very sorry.” and bowed their head.

It seemed the only option left was to form a security team to storm in…

Only the fact was clear that I couldn’t count on the association for help.

Feeling dejected, Seoah suddenly noticed the strange helmet the employee was wearing.

Other employees weren’t wearing anything like that; why did this one have to?

It looked immensely uncomfortable.

“Why are you wearing that helmet?”

“Oh, this?”

The employee, who was neatly arranging documents, paused upon hearing Seoah’s question and answered.

“I’m wearing it because mental pollution has been detected throughout the Object Association building lately. I suggested closing the building due to its mental pollution, but they told me not to report unless it’s serious.”

Mental pollution?

Hearing about mental pollution made me feel like I was smelling warm sunlight.

Could it be?

Hehe.

Startled, Seoah turned her head to look at the Sprout atop her shoulder, who was laughing as if something amusing was happening.

Could it be that the Golden Reaper slipped out from the Institute and hid in the association?

No matter how insane our Institute was, surely they wouldn’t have purposely taken it out?

*

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound of droplets slowly falling echoed.

In the dark cave, with just a single incandescent light bulb hanging down illuminating the space, the Sehee Research Institute Security Room Employee opened their eyes.

“Huff. Hoo.”

I tried to breathe properly, but breath came in fits, making normal breathing difficult.

My entire body was a mess to the point where even breathing was challenging.

‘Ugh, I should have brought a gun…’

I never thought that the person called the leader would be strong enough to win in a brawl against dozens of people in the open lot.

If only I had brought one of the gas guns used for security work, I wouldn’t be in this situation.

The Security Room Employee could hardly maintain their posture, their bones feeling like they were all broken.

It felt like a groan would slip out involuntarily, but with sheer willpower, the employee gritted their teeth.

I have to save my younger brother.

And when I return, I need to see the Blue Reaper.

Thinking that the Blue Reaper would welcome me back brought some relief and hope.

Just a little longer, and surely someone from the association or the institute will come to rescue me.

Our research institute may be sloppy in everything, but when it comes to welfare, it’s solid…

Suddenly I thought the Blue Reaper might be sad, but considering the cheerful nature of the Mini Reapers, it was likely that they would forget it soon and go about their happy rambunctiousness.

Plodding.

While reminiscing about the happy memories with the Blue Reaper and enduring the pain, I suddenly heard familiar footsteps.

“Sis. Are you okay?”

I heard the voice of my missing younger brother in my ear.

Looking up, there was my younger brother, looking fine in neat white clothes.

“Oh, you’re still aware. Usually, people lose consciousness due to pain, but you really are amazing.”

But something felt off to the Security Room Employee.

It was strange.

“What are you talking about? Get a grip.”

“Big sister! You should cast off your flesh and join us in the Eye’s embrace.”

“What’s wrong with you? Snap out of it.”

Am I being mentally polluted?

But to the Security Room Employee, there didn’t seem to be any mental pollution in this place.

Only ruthless violence remained.

Hearing the employee’s words, the younger brother clenched her arm tightly, murmuring the doctrines of the Eye Cult with a sad expression.

“The flesh is the prison of the soul. Only through pain can one escape that prison.”

“Ugh!”

The expression on the younger brother’s face as he gripped the broken places showed no change.

The Security Room Employee, who had been persevering through gritted teeth, ultimately lost consciousness due to overwhelming pain.

*

Munch munch.

I stuffed myself with pudding, nestled in Yerin’s arms.

But somehow, it didn’t taste good at all.

Hmm.

I kept thinking about the image of the Blue Reaper with one arm severed, causing even the pudding I usually loved to lose its flavor.

Noticing my troubled expression, the Black Reaper, who was resting nearby, began looking up at me with a worried face.

‘Mom, are you hurt?’

Then it brought over a large Hungry Ghost from somewhere and offered it to me.

‘You’ll feel better if you eat it!’

That’s right; my kids are all so kind.

Due to my worries about the Blue Reaper, I felt slightly touched by the simple act of kindness from the Black Reaper.

I conveyed my thanks with a short, ‘Thank you,’ took the white Hungry Ghost it handed to me, and started to munch on it.

Kyuheehee.

Today, I wasn’t in the mood for the body, so I took off all the legs and set the Hungry Ghost down.

And I stood up, steeling my resolve.

Feeling too anxious, I decided to go see the Blue Reaper directly.

If it’s dangerous, I’ll help a little; if it’s safe, I can just watch the Blue Reaper in action.

I gently patted the Black Reaper before teleporting to where the Orange Reaper was, using the ability of the Black Penguin.

*

In the sky of Gangdong-gu, where Cloud Fish were flying all around.

The Blue Reaper was carefully soaring through the sky, tracking the traces of the Attached Human.

[Please find the traces.]

Moving according to the magic guide, the Blue Reapers had a feeling that they knew what their destination was.

A huge abandoned building left by the Object incident.

From inside that building, dreadful feelings were surging forth.

Pain, despair, and twisted ecstasy.

The Blue Reaper, landing on the building, shed tears.

It hurt so much; the humans were suffering unbearably.