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The courtyard of Sehee Research Institute, with a gentle breeze blowing, was bustling with researchers during lunchtime.

Amidst them, a researcher with a sad expression was wandering around asking people about the whereabouts of the Golden Hungry Ghost Reaper.

In the researcher’s hand was a photograph that had become useless since all the researchers were already aware of it.

“Have you not seen it yet?”

Despair was evident in the researcher’s voice.

Days had passed since its disappearance, but the researcher continued to search for the Golden Hungry Ghost Reaper without giving up.

And from a distance, the ‘Pudding Reaper’, once known as the ‘Golden Hungry Ghost Reaper’, watched this scene with hesitation in its eyes.

The Pudding Reaper, resurrected from the Mini Reaper Garden, looked notably different this time.

While the golden color reminiscent of the sun was still there, the overall silhouette seemed to have transformed as if it was deeply immersed in a large pudding.

Moreover, the sweet scent and the texture when touched had also changed, leaving a worried expression on its face.

‘What if they don’t recognize me?’

This form was somewhat unfamiliar to even the Pudding Reaper itself, and the Attached Human was bound to feel an even greater sense of disconnection.

The Hungry Ghost Reaper, watching that scene, lightly nudged the Pudding Reaper’s plump pudding.

‘It’s okay.’

As it pushed the Pudding Reaper gently, filled with encouragement, the Pudding Reaper gained a little courage.

Encouraged, the Pudding Reaper cautiously began to bounce toward the researcher.

‘Hang in there.’

Seeing that, the Hungry Ghost Reaper smiled contentedly.

Having discovered it first and even guiding the Attached Human to it.

There were times it had struggled under mental pollution, but watching the Pudding Reaper approach the Attached Human again after its resurrection warmed the Hungry Ghost Reaper’s heart.

Was there something connecting the Attached Human and the Object?

Even if they might not recognize each other.

Just like how among numerous Golden Reapers, people could precisely distinguish their Attached Golden Reaper.

When the researcher searching for the ‘Golden Hungry Ghost Reaper’ caught sight of it, they instantly recognized its true identity and hugged the Pudding Reaper tightly.

“I was really worried.”

With quivering voice, the researcher held the Pudding Reaper close as if about to cry.

The Pudding Reaper, flustered by the situation, offered up a bit of its pudding.

And as the researcher received and ate the pudding, they brightened up with a smile.

It was a moment filled with happiness for both the Attached Human and the Attached Object.

Watching that scene, the Hungry Ghost Reaper suddenly recalled countless memories spent with its master.

Days spent with the master it truly loved.

Those were truly joyful times.

Lost in reminiscence, the Hungry Ghost Reaper suddenly felt a longing for its master.

Looking for the Lead Doll, Gray Reaper who had gone with its master, it found them in a corner of the courtyard.

The Golden Reaper had gathered an abundance of golden jelly resembling itself, creating a massive jelly hill.

The Gray Reaper, lurking nearby, seemed to be doing something whenever the Golden Reaper who made the jelly hill left.

With intense concentration, as if creating a Tyrannosaurus, it was making little fists.

When it opened its palm, the red jelly sitting on it transformed into golden jelly.

Upon closer inspection, it was using Spatial Exchange to swap the golden jelly at the center of the hill with the red jelly.

It was incredibly stealthy, a level of spatial control almost equivalent to ‘1st Sword’!

While Golden Reapers had been said to be kinder recently, when no one was watching, they still had a mischievous side.

“Kkyu…”

The Hungry Ghost Reaper turned its head away and started walking towards the depths of the Mini Reaper Garden.

‘Today, I should go see the Blue Master lying in bed.’

The Hungry Ghost Reaper had always liked its master.

Perhaps.

*

Hiding five red jellies within a bowl of plain rice, I stepped out of the courtyard.

Usually, I would have swapped everything except for the top layer, but since it was ‘Kind Mother Week’, I only made a small change before stopping.

Actually, I shouldn’t have played such pranks during ‘Kind Mother Week’, but with mischief rising in my heart, a little slipped out.

Hehe.

With that, I was sure the Golden Reaper would forgive me.

Dudam Dudam.

Wandering through the quiet corridors of Sehee Research Institute, I started to check on the Objects trapped in the isolation rooms after a long time.

There were still plenty of harmful Objects suffering from mental pollution.

Even after killing the Blue Star, the mental pollution remained.

As I observed the polluted Objects, I felt the need to do something for the Ghost Cat and the Blue Lizard.

I could just carry the lizard away.

And I could trick the Ghost Cat by saying we were going out for pork cutlet and take it to Jelly Pig Hospital.

Lost in thought while strolling the empty corridors, I felt a strange sensation.

No matter how it was lunchtime, is it normal for there to be no one around?

Furthermore, upon closer inspection, all the CCTV cameras were turned off.

It’s the end times. The end times.

It was a situation unimaginable during my time at the institute.
‘!’

As I kept loitering in the corridor, I finally encountered the reason for the emptiness.

[Please clean everything!]
[Please become clean!]

The Blue Reapers were busy cleaning Sehee Research Institute with magic.

‘Ah, no way. Did they turn off the CCTV to avoid disturbing the cleaning by Blue Reapers?’

Now that I think about it, I hadn’t seen anyone cleaning lately.

Even knowing the reason, it was still the end times.

A research institute entrusting security and cleaning to Objects?

It certainly suited the relaxed and laid-back Sehee Institute, but it was hard to call it a ‘research institute’.

*

The Helmet Researcher was sitting in the lounge, observing other researchers boasting about their Golden Reapers.

“My Golden Reaper remembered up to ‘b’ yesterday.”

“Really?”

Fortunately, those chosen by the Golden Reapers had given up on writing reports, but they started comparing how smart their Golden Reapers were.

Of course, the Golden Reapers showed no interest in such comparisons and simply munched away on the pudding given by their Attached Humans.

Hehe.

Listening to their conversation, the Helmet Researcher wore a proud smile as he fed snacks to his Golden Reaper.

“My Golden Reaper was tested yesterday and remembered the order up to ‘ㅇ’.”

A completely meaningless comparison, but somehow it had a magical allure that made me want to try it out.

It felt like one of those psychological tests or popular personality tests these days.

And as the results turned out better than what I overheard in the lounge, I felt my shoulders lift.

In the lounge filled with discussions about Golden Reapers, news related to them was also circulating.

It was shocking news that could even overshadow the Italy incident.

[Today’s news is quite unusual; a Golden Reaper has been appointed as the head of a research institute in Japan.]

[Since this happened in Japan, known for its research on Objects just after the United States, it provides even more shock.]

At the same time, the TV screen displayed a truly massive Golden Reaper standing on a podium.

Next to it, the ‘former’ head of the research institute was holding a microphone with a serious face, answering questions.

The journalists’ questions mostly boiled down to one.

‘Why on earth did you do such a crazy thing?’

The answer was straightforward.

‘Because it’s cute.’

[The Japanese Object Association expressed strong opposition to this nonsense.]

[As many institutes and organizations voiced their dissent, surprisingly, the American Object Association offered a positive response.]

“Ugh.”

Maybe it was because I witnessed such absurdity, but my headache began intensifying.

It felt like a huge hammer was pounding my skull.

I thought my head might just split open any moment now.

Seeing that, the Golden Reaper gently patted the Helmet Researcher’s cheek with an extremely worried expression.

The truly sad expression of the Golden Reaper coupled with the warm scent of sunshine.

In that moment, all trivial worries vanished, and my headache completely disappeared.

“It’s not hurting anymore. I’m fine.”

Well, if it’s that cute, it’s okay for it to be a research institute head.

The Helmet Researcher smiled happily and patted the Golden Reaper’s head.

As the Attached Human ceased to be in pain, the Golden Reaper looked genuinely happy.

*

Mini Reaper Garden, Marshmallow Plains.

Feeling like a chef, I was making simple dishes using a bread knife.

Just like splitting soft bread in half and spreading strawberry jam on it.

I carefully split open the back of the White Hungry Ghost and spread jam on it before placing it down.

Kkyu Hing Hing.

Looking up, the Marshmallow Plains were already filled with the ghostly jam bread I made.

It looked like the sight of red peppers drying in the sun.

To make it look even more appetizing, I sprinkled some sprinkles.

This was an attempt at a dish that would make the expression of the White Hungry Ghost, who had been smiling ‘Kkyuhi’, turn back to dismay.

There was one unfortunate thing.
Even though I shared it with the Mini Reapers, they stubbornly refused to eat it.

They could tear things apart easily, yet they wouldn’t touch the White Hungry Ghost that had been cooked to taste better.

What strange creatures they are.

The Orange Reapers praised it.

In fact, they borrowed a few Mini White Hungry Ghosts and created a dish that made me admire.

After scooping out the insides, they filled it with meat and threw it in the oven.

“Impressive!”

I praised the fluffy hair of the Orange Reaper as I commended them.

While I was making dishes with Hungry Ghosts, the Mini White Hungry Ghosts I had caught had run out.

“Did I use them all already?”

Looking around, I couldn’t spot a single White Hungry Ghost.

It felt like the number of White Hungry Ghosts had decreased lately, but surely that must just be my imagination.

Getting up from my spot and wandering about, I noticed the Golden Reapers playing around.

It seemed like feral play had become a trend, as many Golden Reapers were running on all fours.

Hmm, something feels off?

Strangely enough, they looked like they were about to cry with a ‘Kkyu Hing Hing’.