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The Golden Reaper was sitting on a nearby building railing, looking down at the window of a house.

‘Will the human be okay…?’

Thinking about the human who had thrown him out of the window not long ago almost brought tears to his eyes, but the Golden Reaper grit his teeth and continued watching to ensure the human was safe.

He looked up at the ominous yellow moon that had begun to emanate a sinister aura.

The yellow moon had started emitting harmful energy to humans recently, which greatly unsettled the Golden Reaper.

‘Humans are weak.’

‘I need to protect the human….’

But the Golden Reaper had no means to attack the moon floating in the sky.

‘!’

At that moment, an overwhelming surge of ominous energy appeared around the human, making the Golden Reaper alert.

Using ghosting and time acceleration, he approached the window where he had sensed the ominous energy, but it had completely vanished.

It seemed that a harmful object had appeared to the human, yet when he looked around, there was no trace left behind.

‘The human is okay, right?’

Worried about the fragile human, the Golden Reaper hid behind the window and peeked out to observe secretly.

The man, who seemed to be hurriedly looking for something, appeared even more pained than before.

There were no physical injuries, but his heart seemed to be hurting.

The Golden Reaper wanted to rush over to comfort the sad human, but the human strangely disliked him.

It hadn’t been long since they had gotten along happily…

After watching for some time, the Golden Reaper slipped away before the human noticed.

‘Someday, a day will come when we can laugh and play together.’

The Golden Reaper forced a cheerful expression and imagined a joyful future.

*

In a hotel room located in Mapo District.

Inside, a researcher in a large helmet had removed his hands from the keyboard and was stretching.

Turning his head to look at the mental pollution detector, he saw that the mental pollution index was pointing to ‘danger.’

‘I absolutely can’t take off this helmet.’

The researcher thought that something significant was likely going to happen in Mapo District soon.

The Gray Reaper often appeared whenever a major incident occurred.

Moreover, the mental pollution index wasn’t looking good.

Even without the presence of the Golden Reaper, the needle on the gauge shot up to the danger level whenever the yellow full moon rose.

The yellow moon was disseminating ‘danger’ level mental pollution across the entirety of Mapo District.

The report that the researcher was currently drafting was also a research report related to this.

Of course, the association would likely dismiss it as no big deal, but the researcher was preparing two reports.

[Observation of Golden Reapers and Mental Pollution.]

[Observation of the Yellow Moon and Mental Pollution.]

The report regarding the Golden Reaper was particularly easy to write.

Since the Golden Reaper had been spreading abundantly in Mapo District, it had become relatively easy to identify the type of mental pollution through the behavioral patterns of people.

When the researcher began the investigation, he assumed that because the Golden Reaper was a cute-looking object with admirable behavior, its mental pollution would naturally focus on enhancing that aspect.

However, the results of the investigation were quite different from what the researcher had expected.

He began to slowly review the report he had compiled.

[The manifestations of mental pollution caused by the Golden Reaper appeared to vary.]

[A common characteristic was that it invigorated people and prompted positive thoughts.]

[It brought joyful thoughts to the depressed and courage to those lacking confidence.]

[It provided mental relaxation to those obsessed with prejudices or rules.]

[The effect of inducing goodwill seemed considerably strong, but rather, it appeared to be a natural reaction of humans who had lost all worries and concerns.]

[Even if the effect of inducing goodwill were true, it would likely be at an ordinary level compared to the other effects.]

“Ha.”

While reading the report, the researcher let out a deep sigh.

No matter how he looked at it, the mental pollution caused by the Golden Reaper didn’t seem harmful to people.

However, even so, he couldn’t trust objects.

There was a high possibility it was a trap set by the objects.

Moreover, even if it were a gift purely derived from goodwill, it was dangerous.

Objects had entirely different ways of thinking from humans, so one could not assert that the direction of goodwill was beneficial for humans.

Yet, he couldn’t help but think this way.

‘Should this much beneficial mental pollution really be called ‘pollution’?’

Unlike the ‘Golden Reaper’ that provoked a lot of thought, the yellow moon’s effects were quite clear.

‘It makes the Golden Reaper look suspicious and terrifying, inducing paranoia and delusions in people.’

The manifestations of suspicious apparitions and fears that appeared after the fifth night were all too clear.

Since then, the researcher had desperately contacted the association, insisting that they needed to evacuate Mapo District immediately, but as usual, the only responses he received were that they were under review.

Gradually, the researcher began to feel something strange.

The association’s incompetence had transcended beyond mere incompetence and seemed to have an ulterior motive.

‘Is it really right to keep working under this much stress in the association? Should I rather go to the Sehee Research Institute where it seems happier…’

The researcher sighed deeply, feeling frustrated.

At that moment, a worried Golden Reaper’s face peeked through the open window towards the researcher.

*

At one of the many roads that needed to be passed to enter Mapo District, a massive checkpoint had been established.

“Researcher Yerin Oh of Sehee Research Institute. You don’t have the necessary entrance permit. Currently, to enter Mapo District, you must acquire permission from the association.”

After waiting in a long line, he had entered the checkpoint, but entry was denied.

Appealing that they were isolating the ‘Gray Reaper’ in the research institute was of no use at all.

I stood near the checkpoint and called the Sehee Research Institute.

“No, I don’t think I can get into Mapo District, Senior Jungloe.”

“It seems you either need to be a resident of Mapo District or obtain entry permission from the association.”

Having tossed aside Senior Jungloe’s hurried response to come back quickly if I couldn’t enter, I stuffed my mobile phone back into my pocket.

Then, I looked back at the checkpoint with a disappointed expression.

I could see many Golden Reapers patrolling towards Mapo District.

Just like when they used to carry water-made spears, the Golden Reapers were patrolling Mapo District with energetic expressions.

‘How enviable.’

After seeing the Golden Reapers, I didn’t want to go back to the institute.

Because there were hardly any Reapers left at the institute, it was extremely deficient in Reaper essence.

I secretly approached the area near the checkpoint and called out to the patrolling Golden Reaper.

As I shook the Gray Reaper Pudding, the Golden Reaper instantly noticed and arrived before me in the blink of an eye.

However, the Golden Reaper stopped about 3 meters away, as if an invisible line had been drawn.

“Come here quickly. Let’s eat pudding!”

I tempted him by holding out a bit of pudding, but the Golden Reaper merely shook his head with a disappointed expression.

“Could it be that you can’t come any closer…?”

Checking on my mobile phone, it appeared that the Golden Reaper couldn’t cross the boundary of Mapo District.

It seemed they had been instructed not to go outside of Mapo District.

Reluctantly, I got closer to the checkpoint and started feeding the pudding.

The Golden Reaper, perhaps delighted to have pudding after a long time, started eating with a very happy expression.

He stuffed his cheeks, making them swell as he munched on the pudding.

Watching the happy Golden Reaper, I slowly began to push the pudding back.

What would happen if the Golden Reaper crossed the boundary that it had been told not to? Just a light curiosity.

Nomm, nomm.

The Golden Reaper absolutely enjoyed the pudding, and as the pudding was slowly pushed away, the Golden Reaper began to inch closer to the boundary.

One bite for the Golden Reaper, one bite for me.

Before I knew it, what had once seemed like a large tub of pudding had finally uncovered the bottom.

As I looked at the Golden Reaper, who was munching on the last bit of pudding with a happy expression, I said in surprise.

“Wait, didn’t you just come outside Mapo District?”

The Golden Reaper didn’t understand what I was saying and merely tilted its head.

So, when I pointed at the ground where the Golden Reaper was standing, its tilted expression turned into one of shock.

Its face changed to one of ‘No!’ as the Golden Reaper dropped to the ground.

Feeling sorry for the unexpectedly intense reaction, I carefully picked up the collapsed Golden Reaper and gently moved it beyond Mapo District.

‘I’m sorry!’

I silently apologized to the collapsed Golden Reaper in my heart.

*

On a quiet rooftop that had become my hideout in Mapo District.

There, the Golden Reapers who had been rejected by humans gathered around me, looking depressed and lying down.

‘Come on, hold on a little longer.’

I comforted the sad Golden Reapers by gently patting their heads one by one.

The last night in Mapo District was approaching.

Recently, the Golden Reapers being rejected by humans had significantly increased, likely due to the yellow moon scattering a mental pollution that caused them to be rejected.

Except for the first day, they hadn’t made a proper attempt to attack, but I never expected they were preparing for something like this…

However, the Golden Reapers were brave kids, so they couldn’t stop just because they were merely rejected.

As the full moon rose in the sky, I clapped my hands and conveyed my will to the Golden Reapers.

‘Alright, now let’s go protect the humans!’

Hearing my intention, the Golden Reapers slowly began to rise and scattered in all directions to protect their assigned human.

They were devoted kids who ran around to protect the weak and sad humans.

Once all the Golden Reapers had disappeared, I summoned the Blue Reaper and Red Reaper and settled down.

Since it was chillier compared to the isolation room, I placed the Red Reaper on my lap.

With no furniture around, I had the Blue Reaper create a large sofa so I could sit comfortably.

Then I turned on the TV and tuned into the news—instant isolation room complete!

Ah, so comfortable.

Maybe because I was enjoying this while the Golden Reapers were working hard, it felt twice as cozy.

Hehe.

As I was resting like this, the ominous yellow moon had already begun to rise in the sky.

At the same time, small footsteps began echoing across the rooftop.

Thump, thump.

A Golden Reaper holding a golden lightsaber staggered toward me.

The patrolling warrior Reapers occasionally came to rest where I was, but it felt a bit early.

‘Is something wrong?’ Just as I thought that, an unfamiliar sound reverberated in my heart.

Crack.

The golden lightsaber enlarged and pierced through my torso and sofa.

[Mom!]

‘Revolution?!’

The Blue Reaper and Red Reaper were startled and rushed toward me.

And the Golden Reaper that had stabbed me was smirking while only raising one corner of his mouth.