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Junior No. 2 headed to China in accordance with the contract with the Man of the Lamp.

As she set foot in the strange land, she let out a deep breath.

Exotic scents and noises surrounded her.

After boarding the train headed for the “Cult,” Junior No. 2 was captivated by the vast landscape unfolding outside the window.

Rivers cutting through the rice fields, mist gently rising above, and mountain ranges visible in the distance.

Everything was new and unfamiliar.

“Who knew there were so many Golden Reapers in China…”

She muttered to herself, looking around.

She had heard rumors that Golden Reapers had spread across the world lately, but witnessing their influence firsthand was quite an eye-opener.

She had heard the story that China’s Free City Alliance had become a mini reaper special zone, but she hadn’t expected so many mini reapers in other areas as well.

Due to the lack of news from within China, combined with the strictness of executing researchers negligent with object management, she had assumed they would be hostile toward the mini reapers.

However, now it seemed they were more friendly than hostile.

She noticed people happily playing with Golden Reapers between the train aisles and seats.

There were even passages for mini reapers to move around on the train walls.

“I thought these things only existed in the Sehee Research Institute…”

When a Golden Reaper bouncing around in the mini reaper passage made eye contact with Junior No. 2, it started waving at her with a giggle.

“Hello?”

Junior No. 2 smiled slightly and waved back.

The Golden Horn Reaper, her attached reaper, jumped up and down in excitement, greeting the Golden Reaper above the passage.

Then the Golden Reaper leapt down from the passage and started playing with the Golden Horn Reaper.

‘What’s with the horn!’

The Golden Reaper seemed fascinated with the horn and kept poking at it.

After watching the Golden Reapers for a while, Junior No. 2 took out the parchment contract from her bag and unfolded it.

Perhaps due to the power of the object, it was a mysterious contract that only she could see.

She double-checked the contents of the contract.

<“Go to the ‘Cult’ and fulfill the Saintess’s two wishes ‘satisfactorily.’”>

The ambiguous word “satisfactorily” complicated her feelings.

Even if she granted the wish, if it was said she didn’t “satisfy,” it wouldn’t be treated as fulfilling the contract—a very awkward condition.

Furthermore, there were numerous troublesome conditions in other clauses of the contract like “there must be no intervention from the Gray Reaper.”

However, she had no choice but to accept the contract.

Not only was it to save her senior, but also because the note her senior left said so.

“Sunbae…”

Junior No. 2 murmured softly as she pulled out the envelope given by Detective Sunbae.

Upon taking out the note from the envelope, several pieces of advice were written inside.

<“When you present the contract, initially there’s a high chance they’ll give you the lamp, but no matter what happens, do not accept the lamp that grants wishes.”>

<“Absolutely, absolutely don’t accept it. The contract is a low-probability gamble, but the lamp is a one-sided contract you can never win.”>

<“…”>

There were some other pieces of vaguely helpful advice, but the big warning at the bottom was not very helpful.

<“Choose freely and move forward as your heart desires.”>

“Ugh….”

Junior No. 2 sighed again as she folded the note and put it back in the envelope.

The advice that seemed most important ended up confusing her even more.

Choosing as her heart desires—what did that even mean?

Every time the Man of the Lamp added a clause, she wanted to punch him. Should she have done that?

Turning her gaze outside, she fell into thought as she watched the rapidly passing scenery.

Endless plains, birds gracefully flying above them, and the mountains slowly engulfing the setting sun captured her attention.

‘Can I really successfully complete this contract?’

The Golden Horn Reaper softly climbed onto her shoulder and rubbed its head against her.

Feeling the warm touch from the soft golden horn made Junior No. 2 smile.

“Thank you, I’m really glad to have you here.”

Junior No. 2 whispered to her attached reaper.

The Golden Horn Reaper responded to her words with a cheerful giggle.

The train kept steadily moving toward its destination.

The sunset painted the sky red outside.

As she gazed at the dimming sky alongside the Golden Horn Reaper, she made a silent vow.

‘I can definitely do this.’

Though she had no idea what awaited her, being with the Golden Horn Reaper made her feel that she could overcome any trial.

*

Deep inside the Sehee Research Institute, Gray Reaper Isolation Room.

I was lounging on a soft bed, idly watching the news flowing from the television.

The screen showcased the dazzling exploits of mini reapers in succession.

Images of mini reapers handling “superior objects” occurring all over the world looked like a scene from a movie.

The 1st Sword of the Golden Reaper cutting through the sky.

The Purple Reaper carving through opponents in the shadows.

And the Golden Cloaked Reaper piercing enemies like a golden comet.

‘Perhaps people enjoy the exploits of mini reapers, they’re often on the news.’

Looking at the mini reapers frequently appearing on TV recently, I felt a wave of hope.

Seeing them even on the news felt like automatic hunting was just around the corner.

Hehe.

The television introduced mini reapers as “objects from South Korea,” depicting them as if they were Korean.

The anchor seemed to speak with pride about the mini reapers’ achievements.

At that moment, a sweet and sour scent tickled my nose.

Turning my head, a Golden Reaper held out a large strawberry with a bright smile.

“Mom, eat this too!”

As I swallowed the strawberry offered by the Golden Reaper in a single bite, it giggled happily.

These strawberries were piled high in the isolation room, bought by Yerin.

“Mini reapers need to eat fruits to stay healthy!”

Yerin had brought in those ridiculous remarks while piling up strawberries.

They wouldn’t be too sweet compared to snacks, yet the mini reapers appeared to enjoy the strawberries with joyful expressions.

Even mini reapers from other rooms flocked into the isolation room to eat strawberries, filling the space with them munching on the large fruit.

The mini reapers clutched strawberries as big as their heads, nibbling away.

Nom nom.

The sounds of strawberries being eaten resonated from all sides.

It was truly a strawberry festival.

Among the children joyfully eating strawberries, one stood out.

A Golden Reaper that picked up the strawberry but was just eating the stem and leaving the fruit behind.

‘That’s not how you eat it.’

I pulled on the part it was biting, but…

“No way!”

The Golden Reaper bit down, determined not to let go.

Even as I lifted it, it just dangled in the air, showing no inclination to let go.

‘Sure, do as you wish.’

A mini reaper munching on some grass wouldn’t cause any harm, so I decided to leave it be.

Watching the little one nibbling on the grass brought back memories of something similar from long ago.

I think it was soon after I could summon the Golden Reapers…

‘Is it delicious?’

At that time, a Golden Reaper tilted its head as it watched the one chewing grass.

“Yes!”

Trusting that response, other Golden Reapers also took a bite, but immediately they frowned.

‘Not tasty!’

Yet, since the one munching on grass seemed to enjoy it so much, more mini reapers kept appearing who were duped into trying it, even knowing it tasted bad.

‘Ugh.’

‘Not tasty!’

I watched that sight in admiration.

I remembered the crucial information: ‘If you pretend something awful is delicious, the Golden Reapers will be deceived.’

At that moment, a new piece of news began to flow from the television.

[Terrorist organizations famous in China have been eradicated.]

The screen displayed individuals wrapped in black cloth from head to toe.

They targeted isolated objects and killed anyone who interfered, resulting in significant civilian casualties.

Sly as they were, the Chinese government succeeded in tracking down their base and mobilized military forces to wipe them out.

‘Could this be about the Gyeyang Mountain Ninjas?’

I tilted my head as I watched the news.

*

After getting off the train and walking for a while, Junior No. 2 arrived at the location indicated by the Man of the Lamp.

However, what unfolded before her eyes was a city that had been completely reduced to ruins.

‘What… is this?’

Junior No. 2 looked around with a bewildered expression.

The broken buildings were riddled with holes as if a giant monster had taken a bite out of them.

A faint smell of something burnt wafted in the air, and dust kicked up by the wind obscured her vision.

“So I have to grant the wish of someone living in that building… here?”

She muttered with a flustered voice.

Checking the contract, it was clear this was the location the Man of the Lamp had indicated, but no matter how she looked, it seemed like no one could possibly live here.

Buildings appeared fully collapsed as if hit by shells, with charred remnants left standing like skeletons.

It was truly a desolate sight.

The Golden Horn Reaper was quietly surveying the surroundings from her shoulder.

‘What should I do?’

Junior No. 2 let out a deep sigh, falling into a state of contemplation.

She hit a roadblock at the very first step of the contract.

How was she supposed to find the Saintess here and fulfill her wish?

No, first of all, was there even a survivor?