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The warm midday sunlight settled in the Courtyard of Sehee Research Institute, bustling with researchers gathered for lunch with the Mini Reaper, just like any other day.

They chatted while gazing at the Golden Triceratops Statue that had suddenly appeared in the middle of the courtyard.

“Why is the Golden Triceratops Statue here all of a sudden?” one researcher asked with a puzzled look.

“Maybe the Sehee Research Institute Director set it up?” another researcher suggested, presenting the most probable hypothesis.

Such absurd happenings in the research institute were mostly caused by Sehee, making it a reasonable assumption.

Besides, the only person who could acquire such a large chunk of gold was likely Sehee.

At that moment, Sehee and Seoah walked in slowly among the researchers.

As soon as Seoah saw the Golden Triceratops Statue, her expression twisted in disbelief.

Then, with a face full of disbelief, she whipped her head toward Sehee.

Sehee shook her head with a look full of innocence.

Though the words were silent, Sehee’s expression seemed to shout, “It’s not me!”

Sadly, perhaps because Sehee lied too often, Seoah didn’t look convinced.

Hehe.

I was watching the scene from the cozy shade created by the frill of the Triceratops.

Kkyu.

Next to me were the Red Reaper and the White Hungry Ghost, who was being forcibly grabbed by the Red Reaper.

The Red Reaper struck a pose like a painter aiming a hand camera at the Golden Triceratops Statue.

What on earth was he seeing while doing this? He had a flaming pipe resembling a cigar in his mouth and held a flame-forged sculpting knife in his hand.

After a while of admiring the Triceratops, the Red Reaper struck a dramatically proud pose.

Then, with a bold motion, he stabbed the sculpting knife into the White Hungry Ghost.

Kkyuhengheng!

It seemed the Red Reaper intended to carve the frill for the Triceratops, but perhaps due to too much force, the flame-forged sculpting knife pierced through the White Hungry Ghost’s neck.

‘Ah!’

As the Red Reaper’s expression turned flustered, realizing he made a mistake, the White Hungry Ghost seized the chance to escape.

The chase between the fleeing White Hungry Ghost and the seemingly delighted Red Reaper began, just like always.

*

In the late afternoon, as the sun tilted toward the horizon, the line of supply transport vehicles that had been continuously arriving came to a halt, and as the Association Dolls carrying supplies to the parking lot started disappearing one by one, only silence remained in the parking lot.

In the corner of the parking lot, soaked in the stillness, stood James’s temporary Isolation Facility.

It was a makeshift facility consisting of an Isolation Room to contain the object and an Observation Room to remotely experiment and observe its interior.

Inside the Observation Room, James, dressed in a lab coat, and his subordinate employees were closely examining the Isolation Room.

In that Isolation Room, Association Dolls were securely fastened in steel frames.

These were all kinds of dolls purchased by the Association.

James scrutinized the Association Dolls attentively through a transparent partition.

At that moment, a man in a bulletproof vest and black uniform spoke up, unlike James.

“Boss. Isn’t it safer to use the facilities inside the Tower?”

James, who had been slowly dismantling the Association Doll using a mechanical arm, replied without taking his eyes off the control console.

“Of course, the internal facilities of the Tower are much safer, Alex.”

“Then, let’s move there right away! There are too few security options available here.”

Agreeing with his words, Alex responded immediately.

“Judging solely from the security facilities, that would indeed be better. But we won’t move.”

However, James gently shook his head in refusal.

“The Association Dolls are constantly trying to get into the Tower. It’s best not to bring the dolls inside until the situation becomes clear.”

James added, “From now on, let’s think of James Tower not as a laboratory but as a fortress.”

After a long time spent dismantling the dolls, James finally stood up from the console.

“I’ve got a rough idea of the doll’s structure, but I still can’t figure out the most important energy source.”

Perhaps having been at the remote console too long, James rubbed his eyelids with his fingers as if his eyes were tired.

Alex seemed slightly surprised that James, the best object expert in America, claimed he didn’t know but said nothing in response.

“It’s time to call it a day.”

James said while looking at the Golden Reaper, which was now tightly pressed against the darkening window as the sun disappeared.

In the Golden Reaper’s hand was a drawing of Mecha Tyrannosaurus, sticky with glue.

“It’s been six hours already, so you should start to ease up and clock out.”

As James spoke, there were already five drawings of Mecha Tyrannosaurus stuck to his lab coat.

*

By now, night had fallen and darkness had settled. Yerin was following the Golden Reaper home.

Doo bang doo bang.

The Golden Reaper’s confident footsteps were as thumping as ever, and the water-made spear and helmet shimmered in the moonlight.

The Golden Reaper occasionally looked back, aligning her gaze with Yerin’s while flashing a big smile.

It seemed to be a gesture to check if Yerin was keeping up.

Upon reaching the building’s main entrance, an Association Doll cheerfully greeted Yerin, a resident of the building.

“Welcome back!”

The doll kindly greeted her, but Yerin hurried past without even looking, as if she couldn’t be bothered.

Then Yerin passed through the corridor and entered her home.

“Arrived!”

As soon as she opened the front door, Yerin exclaimed joyfully.

She took a round golden jelly from the snack container at the entrance and handed it to the Golden Reaper.

“Thanks for the escort!”

The Golden Reaper, receiving Yerin’s gratitude, grinned and started nibbling on the jelly bit by bit.

Om nyom nyom.

The Golden Reaper munched on the jelly with its little mouth, and a happy smile spread across its face, reflecting the sweet taste of the jelly and the emotions radiating from Yerin.

Once the jelly was all gone, the Golden Reaper raised its hand, waved goodbye, and then disappeared with a swift ghosting.

As Yerin entered her room after seeing off the Golden Reaper, a puzzled look crossed her face.

‘?’

There was something strange.

She remembered placing the White Hungry Ghost on the knee of the Lead Doll before stepping out of her room.

But now, the Lead Doll looked as if it was tightly hugging the White Hungry Ghost.

The Lead Doll, being one of those dolls that can hold poses due to its somewhat stiff joints, was frozen in place in that position.

But now, the Lead Doll’s arm was rigidly clasped around the White Hungry Ghost.

‘Did the Hungry Ghost adjust its position by itself?’

To Yerin, it seemed the White Hungry Ghost had crawled in and made the Lead Doll move its arms to cuddle it.

The face of the snuggled white hungry ghost beamed with a happy smile.

Perhaps sensing the cold temperature of the lead doll, its tiny face appeared livelier than before.

‘The Lead Doll must be pretty cold, but it looks comfortable and happy.’

Yerin watched the scene for a moment and then smiled softly.

The Hungry Ghost always had an unjust look on its face, making it look even happier.

Yerin slowly approached, poked the Hungry Ghost’s cheek, and gently patted the soft head of the Lead Doll.

‘!’

However, while stroking the Lead Doll’s head, Yerin was suddenly startled, her eyes widening.

“It’s warm?”

Yerin murmured, as if trying to feel the warmth left in her hand while forming a fist and then pulling away.

*

Late at night, in the Security Room of James Tower.

James was still at work, restless and not ready to clock out.

‘Two days until the Doll Fair.’

Those two days felt like the last remaining time to James.

‘I hope to clearly understand whether the Association Doll is a problem or not before then.’

James was analyzing the CCTV footage displayed on the monitor.

It was a video composed of the peculiar behaviors of the Association Doll stitched together.

[Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.]

The monitor emitted a rhythmic clacking sound.

It was the sound of the Association Doll turning the doorknob.

The same pace and size of sound every time.

Each time the Association Doll exhibited abnormal behavior trying to get into James Tower, it was like this.

[Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.]

The Association Doll always turned the doorknob three times in the same rhythm, then returned to the same spot as if nothing had happened.

While James was intently staring at the monitor in the Security Room, he suddenly heard a loud noise.

Beep. Beep.

An incoming warning indicated someone was approaching the Security Room.

Switching the screen, he saw Alex, who had clocked out, slowly heading toward the Security Room.

‘Did he leave something behind?’

Then, upon reaching the Security Room, Alex turned the doorknob.

[Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.]

[Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.]

[Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.]

“….”

Then Alex looked up at the security camera and spoke.

“Boss, please open the door.”