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“The weather is nice.”

The short-haired girl sitting by the window muttered as her hair shimmered in the warm sunlight.

Her eyes reflected the scenery outside the window.

Newly constructed buildings and people who seemed unfamiliar with the city.

This place was the ‘Object Invasion Victim Special Management Zone’ located on the outskirts of Songpa District in Seoul.

Also known as the Roll Cake Special Zone.

Originally, this area was filled with buildings owned by the James Research Institute, but it had now become a place where people like ‘older sisters’ were supposed to live.

The special zone was initially planned to be set up in a slightly more dangerous area, but thanks to the James Research Institute offering this area to the Object Invasion victims, they were able to live here.

The short-haired girl was sitting by the window, admiring the ‘Roll Cake Special Zone,’ and soon started to gently stroke the hair of a Golden Armored Reaper fully clad in armor.

With the blue sky, warm sunlight, and the vibrant atmosphere filling the streets.

If anyone were to be forcibly brought into a secluded area and start a new life, it would be natural to feel anxiety, but there was no trace of such a feeling in the street’s atmosphere.

What could be the reason for the lack of anxiety and only the presence of positivity?

It could be easily discovered by turning one’s gaze anywhere in the city.

A giant pinwheel rising in the center of the special zone.

Proof that golden reapers were all around.

The pinwheel made of candy, snacks, and chocolate slowly rotated, spreading a sweet aroma throughout the entire zone.

“Ahh.”

The girl let out a deep sigh and closed her eyes.

The warm sunlight streaming through the window gently caressed her face.

‘The scent of the Golden Reaper.’

Along with it, the fragrance resembling the sun made her heart feel even more at ease.

When she opened her eyes and looked down, a figure directing the city maintenance work came into view.

It was James, the owner of the James Research Institute.

He had an impression that seemed capable and serious at first glance, but one peculiar sight completely overturned his overall image.

A Golden Reaper perched atop James’s head, moving its hands as if controlling his hair.

It was a scene that brought a warm smile.

“Hehe.”

The short-haired girl couldn’t help but let out a small laugh at the sight.

While watching the lively scene outside the window, she suddenly felt that the house had become too quiet.

‘Where did my older sister go?’

The short-haired girl tore her gaze away from the window and looked back inside, but the house was now empty.

“Sister?”

As she stood up and slowly walked around, she found a note hastily scribbled by her sister.

[I'll be back in a bit. I bought some food and put it in the fridge, so eat if you want.]

Food?

What did she buy?

The short-haired girl tucked the note into her pocket and, without any further thought, approached the fridge and opened the door.

In that moment, a mysterious creature burst into her with a shout of “Avi!”

“Ahh!”

The short-haired girl screamed in shock, her face turning pale.

And a few seconds later, after confirming the creature’s identity, the short-haired girl squished it with a very angry expression.

“Sister! I told you not to do that! How many times has it been now?”

The short-haired girl felt her heart drop several times a day because her playful sister had been playing pranks as a Dullahan ever since she became a roll cake.

“Ugh! It’s getting squished!”

Even as her head was being squished, her sister laughed as if it were hilarious.

*

As usual, the Sehee Research Institute Office had a somewhat chaotic atmosphere.

Ignoring the noisy sounds around her, the Helmet Researcher sat at her desk, writing a report.

On the screen was the title of the report the Helmet Researcher was drafting.

[The Correlation Between the Abduction of Cute Puppies and the Golden Reaper Riding the White Hungry Ghost.]

While writing a report on the abduction of cute puppies, the Helmet Researcher came across some intriguing data and was weaving it into the report.

That intriguing data was that the activity range of the ‘Golden Reaper riding the White Hungry Ghost’ almost perfectly coincides with the warning range of the cute puppies.

[Considering all this evidence, the group of 'Golden Reapers riding the White Hungry Ghost' appears to be strategically utilizing the abducted cute puppies to carry out object removal operations within Seoul.]

[Therefore, at this point, it seems unnecessary to go out of our way to retrieve the abducted puppies.]

After finishing the report and slightly pushing her chair back, a Golden Reaper that had been slouched in the corner jumped up and rushed over.

‘Is it done?’
‘Is it really done?’

The Golden Reaper hopped up and down, looking expectantly as it gazed up at her.

Perhaps it was to suggest going home and playing together soon?

The Helmet Researcher glanced at the clock and confirmed the time before lifting the Golden Reaper and whispering softly.

“Okay, let’s go back.”

At that, the Golden Reaper smiled happily and dove right into the Helmet Researcher’s shirt pocket.

Rustle, rustle.

As the Helmet Researcher finished preparing to leave for the day and slowly stepped out of the office, she discovered the Sehee Research Institute employees gathered in a large group.

“Is something going on?”

Driven by curiosity, she approached, and her eyes were drawn to the elegantly decorated desserts.

Ice cream, pudding, and fruit-adorned desserts.

Of course, they weren’t special treats hard to come by at the Sehee Research Institute.

They had all kinds of sweet snacks prepared for the Mini Reapers.

Drawing closer to find out why everyone was so crowded, she found the reason.

The Mini Reapers were making snacks for the research institute employees.

The Blue Reapers cleaned the bowls with magic, while the Black Reapers carried the empty bowls.

The Golden Reapers neatly filled the bowls with fruit, and the Hungry Ghost Reaper scooped the ice cream into the bowls.

Finally, the Pudding Reaper snugly nestled in the center of everything.

Of course, before being served, the Pudding Reaper’s main body was pulled out by the Hungry Ghost Reaper, and only the pudding was served.

A dessert made by the Mini Reapers…

The Helmet Researcher suddenly felt hungry and took a dessert before eating it together with the Golden Reaper.

Munch, munch.

It was a daily life filled with little happiness at the Sehee Research Institute.

*

Following the procession of the Golden Reapers heading off on an adventure, I arrived at the Jelly Jungle.

I thought I had discovered a completely new place, but it turned out to be the Jelly Jungle?

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t seen any Golden Reapers wandering around the Jelly Jungle.’

Even after thinking about it, I had only occasionally seen Green or Orange Reapers flying around the Jelly Jungle.

‘Jelly!’
‘Jelly!’

The Golden Reapers seemed to know something that all Mini Reapers also knew, as various Mini Reapers ambled around, each enjoying themselves in their own way in the Jelly Jungle.

Using the giant jelly mushrooms as trampolines.

Riding the jelly vines without touching the ground.

Flying through the sky in a catapult made from jelly trees.

There were so many different ways to play.

However, for me, the Jelly Jungle wasn’t such a new area.

Just as I was about to turn away feeling slightly bored, I caught sight of a few Golden Reapers.

The procession of Golden Reapers continued forward, crossing through the Jelly Jungle.

As if the Jelly Jungle wasn’t their true destination.

Worried about that point, I kept following them and eventually stumbled upon a structure I had never seen before.

‘!’

It was a pastry structure awkwardly set in the jelly-filled jungle.

The structure was spiraling deep into the ground, reminiscent of an ‘antlion pit.’

It also bore a resemblance to the space created by the man with a halo.

Moreover, the scale was quite massive.

It was deep enough that the end couldn’t be seen, and its width was as expansive as a large stadium.

I mixed in among the Golden Reapers, following the spiral that led down.

Continuously, deeper underground.

As I walked down the increasingly dark spiral, I felt a sense of adventure and found it somewhat enjoyable.

How far had I traveled?

The spiral passage leading underground stretched on in pitch dark without a glimmer of light.

Perhaps that’s why the Golden Reapers occasionally turned back to check if I was still there.

Were they doing that out of fear?

I found that sight a bit cute and couldn’t help but chuckle.

But this darkness was somewhat mystical.

Even with the bright sky visible when I looked up, it was so dark down here.

‘What a fascinating phenomenon.’

When I redirected my gaze forward, it looked as if tiny golden stars were twinkling in a night sky.

The dark passage resembled the night sky, and the softly shining Golden Reapers appeared as starlight.

Guided by the starlight like sailors, I followed the brave Golden Reapers along the dark adventurous path.

While proceeding, the pained wills of the Golden Reapers began to emerge.

‘Mom!’
‘Moooom!’

I was startled and instantaneously teleported to the leading Golden Reaper.

What I found was a pitch-black abyss where no light could be seen.

Looking up, I saw the sky was obscured in darkness.

And at the heart of that abyss, the Golden Reapers were curled up on the ground, clutching their heads.

I hurriedly gathered the Golden Reapers into my arms.

Then I felt a liquid on their bodies.

As I hurried to wipe it away, the areas touched by the liquid became bleached white as if they had been disinfected.

‘What is this?’

It was a grayish liquid I recognized from being inside the Black Giant’s body.

That was the longing.

The very essence that had pinned the Black Giant’s body to the ground.

Moreover, this abyss was gradually letting that longing seep out.

‘Mom!’

And within the rippling longing at the ground, a small silhouette slowly emerged.