---

The only city situated in the middle of the snowfield, Frost, was caught in an unprecedented storm.

A chilling draft began to invade the abandoned steam engine room that the coral-colored girl had made her home.

Wrapped in a thin blanket, the girl was tightly holding the Black Reaper in her arms.

“I can’t hear the sound of raindrops….”

Usually, the ‘thump, thump, thump’ sound of water hitting the brass pipes could be heard, but tonight, even that sound had succumbed to silence.

It seemed the bitter cold had frozen everything.

Instead, the sound of the howling wind outside filled the girl’s ears.

‘….’

The wind sounded as if it was growling like a wild beast, or wielding sharp blades.

The coral-colored girl clutched the Black Reaper even tighter.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sudden sound of a crash startled the coral-colored girl.

Something was violently hitting the door.

At first, she thought it was a stone blown by the wind, but the sound grew louder and stronger.

The old metal door made of brass began to tremble anxiously.

The girl held her breath and stared at the door.

Her heart raced.

‘What could be beyond that door? An object? A person? Or something even more dangerous?’

“What… what in the world is it?”

As the frightened coral-colored girl let her thoughts slip, the Black Reaper smiled softly as if assuring her and gently patted her cheek.

Then, it slipped out of the girl’s embrace and began to scatter sparks in the air.

Little fireworks filled the steam room.

The burning Hungry Ghost created from fire leaped over the fence, and dozens of fire-made Red Reapers danced in the sky.

“Wow….”

The coral-colored girl opened her mouth slightly in awe.

The fear she felt soon vanished, and the crashing sounds began to subside.

As she watched the fireworks, slowly dozing off, when the hundredth burning Hungry Ghost crossed the fence, she fell fast asleep.

As the Red Reaper checked the sleeping girl’s face and clapped quietly, the countless fireworks scattering in the air began to fade away as if melting into the sky.

‘Good night.’

The Red Reaper gazed at the face of the sleeping Attached Human, smiling happily.

Endlessly staring at the girl’s face, the Red Reaper’s hand repeatedly conjured various forms of flames that appeared and vanished.

It was a practice for the next fireworks show to show to the Attached Human.

‘….’

The next morning, the coral-colored girl woke up.

As she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the Red Reaper curled up in a ball, eyes closed, sleeping beside her.

She chuckled softly and gently lifted the Red Reaper to slide it into her pocket.

Then, she slowly got up and walked towards the door.

Carefully opening the door, she was greeted by a world covered in white snow.

The sky was packed with clouds, making it a bit darker than usual, but with all directions filled with snow, it seemed a little brighter.

The city, entirely blanketed in fresh snow, seemed eerily calm, as if plunged into silence.

The chaos of the night felt like a lie.

Haa.

Exhaling white steam, the girl descended into the open lot where adults gathered, and she saw them conversing in quieter voices than usual.

“Good morning.”

“Yes, good morning to you too, uncle.”

The girl responded in a small voice to the adults’ cheerful greetings.

Perhaps because it was so quiet around her, she had the feeling that she had to keep her voice low.

“Is the blizzard not as serious as expected?”

One uncle said, shaking his head, an elderly grandfather replied.

“No, it’s not.”

Following the grandfather’s gaze, everyone turned their heads, and the steam tower exuded an unusual atmosphere.

The steam tower was releasing an enormous amount of black smoke, glowing red like heated iron.

“This doesn’t look good. There’s no way it can maintain this condition for long.”

The old man’s murmurs ominously echoed in the open lot.

*

The chairperson’s office in Frost was enveloped in heavy silence.

The city chairperson, with his white hair, was staring intently at the documents laid out on his desk.

His wrinkled fingers slowly traced the numbers on the paper.

The inventory and consumption of Blue Coal.

The gap between these two numbers would determine the fate of the city.

“Oh no….”

The one word, uttered with a sigh, carried a weight of despair.

No matter how he calculated, the steam tower could not sustain a state of overproduction for long.

The consumption of Blue Coal and the fuel, like oil, was far too severe.

The chairperson stood up and began to draw something on the map of the city.

‘There’s only one answer. I need to minimize the heating zones.’

‘The greenhouse, part of the mine, and the residential area must all be closed.’

‘The steam tower plaza should be opened for use instead of the residential zone.’

It was a marking of areas to maintain the city with minimal fuel consumption.

‘The council members will likely oppose the opening of the steam tower plaza under the pretext of security.’

The chairperson looked outside the window, feeling frustrated.

‘I have to persuade them somehow….’

The steam tower, towering in the center of the city, was glowing red and continuously puffing out smoke.

As he gazed at it, a strange thought crossed the chairperson’s mind.

‘Now that I think about it, the council members approved the increase in steam tower output way too easily.’

‘Those who regard the stockpiled Blue Coal as money in their own pockets… it’s a bit suspicious.’

After dwelling on that for a moment, Frost shook his head.

‘Well, council members are human too. They couldn’t just sit by and watch citizens die in droves.’

Then, the chairperson realized something was off.

It was too quiet around him.

The usual noise that should have been present was entirely absent.

“?”

Suddenly, a sense of unease washed over him.

He jumped up and looked around.

Not a single propaganda department employee, acting like the council members’ limbs, was in sight.

‘Could it be….’

With a foreboding feeling, the chairperson hurried to the steam tower plaza.

This was a symbol of privilege, exclusive to the propaganda department, the council, and the chairperson, and the warmest place in the city.

It was always bustling with people, but now it was completely empty.

His heart began to race.

The chairperson hurried his steps toward the steam tower.

And the moment he arrived there, his worst fears became reality.

The most crucial part of the steam tower, the mechanical heart, was missing.

“No way!”

With a scream, the chairperson collapsed to the ground.

Even though Blue Coal and oil were fiercely burning to heat the steam tower, without the mechanical heart, the city could not be maintained.

“How could the city’s council members….”

The chairperson sat there blankly, a look of disbelief on his face.

*

Sehee Research Institute, lunchtime.

The Helmet Researcher was sitting in the lounge, eating lunch.

A sandwich, bubble tea, and chocolate cookies for the Golden Reapers.

However, the Golden Reapers were struggling to drink the bubble tea, not even touching the cookies.

‘Hmph.’

The Golden Reaper sulked, pulling away from the straw and slumping down.

‘I guess the straw is too big to drink from.’

The Golden Reaper looked enviously at the Black Reaper sitting next to her.

As the Helmet Researcher followed the Golden Reaper’s gaze, he saw the Black Reaper drinking the bubble tea with relish.

Bending forward to fit the straw, her face elongated and she began munching on the tapioca pearls with her sharp teeth.

Should that even be considered drinking bubble tea?

It was a slightly awkward comment for the employee who had the Black Reaper as an Attached Reaper, but it looked a bit grotesque.

Kkyuhihi.

A White Hungry Ghost that appeared just then was also munching on the tapioca pearls in a similar fashion as the Black Reaper.

‘Hmph.’

The Golden Reaper had the saddest expression.

Seeing this, the Helmet Researcher decided to make some bubble tea for the Golden Reaper.

‘I just need to reduce the size of the straw and pearls, right?’

*

In the courtyard of Sehee Research Institute.

I peeked a bit at the snowfield beyond the barrier and returned, leaving the Golden Reapers behind.

If something were to happen, surely the Golden Reapers would inform me.

Then, I made a modest-sized White Hungry Ghost into a makeshift bed and laid down on it.

Basking in the warm sun, a Golden Reaper came rushing over, flailing about.

‘Mom is amazing!’

It didn’t seem to be one that was near the barrier, so how did it see me?

Probably short on firewood, I found it a hassle and quickly fashioned one into a pillow and placed it on my belly.

‘No way!’

As I lay there with my eyes closed, listening to the Golden Reaper’s screams, other Mini Reapers began to sneak over.

The Ghost Reaper and Discolored Reaper, who I often hung out with lately.

The Hug Reaper wandering the garden in search of Mini Reapers it could cuddle.

The Black Reaper munching on the belly fat of the White Hungry Ghost.

Because of the Golden Reaper which became a pillow on my belly, the other Golden Reapers were just watching from a distance.

Comfortable.

Next time I rest on the bed, I’ll have to place a pillow on my belly.

On the TV, an advertisement was playing.

It was the trending bubble tea.

Click.

While watching the TV, the sound of a camera clicked.

Turning my gaze, I saw Yerin holding her phone, smiling happily.

It was the daily life at Sehee Research Institute.

*

In the northern region swept away by the blizzard.

Heavy footsteps echoed over the completely frozen coniferous forest.

With the heavy footsteps, the Ice Throne revealed itself beyond the coniferous forest.

Sitting atop the massive Ice Throne was a frog of unimaginable size.

The crown, flowing with a chilling aura, rested atop the frog’s head, and superconductors floated above it.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Mechanical giants marched, carrying the giant frog’s throne.

The bodies of the metal giants were covered in sturdy ice, and their eyes glowed with a mineral light according to commands.

The Frog King pointed far away with his giant finger, sending forth magic.

[Advance! The time for vengeance has come.]

The mechanical giants moved in unison.

With every step, the ground trembled, and trees were uprooted.

At the end of the gaze from the throne, a massive barrier swallowing the horizon could be seen.