---

The Songpa District was in utter chaos due to the assault of brain-eating zombies.

In the very midst of it was the construction site of James Tower.

James was deep in thought, writing a report in his makeshift office.

His mind was overflowing with discoveries made while improving the Mental Pollution Detector recently.

James had merely upgraded the detector to be more sensitive.

However, the improved detector yielded unexpected results.

Now, it could track and detect not only mental pollution but almost every type of object.

This improvement was inspired by the fact that electric shocks were effective against zombies with detected mental pollution, but it pushed James into even deeper thought.

‘So, does that mean most objects are afflicted with mental pollution?’

James scratched his stubbly chin, having not shaved for several days.

Through the improvements and various experiments with this detector, he managed to categorize mental pollution into two groups.

The first group consisted of mental pollution with a clearly identifiable cause.

With the enhanced detector, it was possible to effectively track where this pollution originated.

This type of pollution, typically found in humans exposed to objects that induce hypnosis or perception change, was known in academia as ‘ordinary mental pollution.’

In contrast, the second group was the pollution detected in most objects.

This type of pollution could not be traced back to its source, even with the improved detector.

It had no directional quality, almost as if the pollution was spilling down from the cosmos.

Any ordinary person might dismiss it as merely a ‘measurement error’ of the device, but James thought this seemingly meaningless second pollution held a crucial clue.

Thus, his hypothesis was radical.

‘Most objects are afflicted by harmful mental pollution towards humans and are being manipulated by someone.’

However, proving this hypothesis did not seem easy.

Because there were no objects that were untainted by mental pollution.

Well, not entirely true.

Among the currently secured and researchable objects, there was only one entity, the ‘Golden Reaper,’ that was not afflicted by mental pollution.

The Golden Reaper, unaffected by mental pollution, was friendly towards humans, which could serve as evidence supporting James’s hypothesis.

However, the sample size was just too small for it to be convincing.

Moreover, what could it possibly mean that only the Golden Reaper showed no signs of mental pollution?

James let out a deep sigh as he finished writing the last line of his report.

‘Uncovering the secrets of the Golden Reaper might be the key to unraveling the cause of all these object incidents.’

He set down his pen and looked out the window.

In the distance, the ruins of Songpa District came into view, covered by ashen clouds.

James resolved to head to the Sehee Research Institute for research on the reapers.

Even though the American Object Association had banned entry due to serious mental pollution risks, he thought now was the time he absolutely needed to go.

*

Inside the isolation room deep within Sehee Research Institute, a sense of tranquility seemed to envelop the space.

Warmth lingered in the air, and a cozy blanket wrapped around Yerin’s body.

In the silence, the soft sounds of the Mini Reapers enjoying their pudding and the gentle murmurs from the TV created a peaceful atmosphere.

It was the same scene as usual.

Yet Yerin sensed that something was different.

The Gray Reaper, who usually loved watching TV, was today staring intently at Yerin, hardly casting a glance at the screen.

Yerin couldn’t help but think that the Gray Reaper’s gaze seemed to linger on her chest more than ever.

Even when the Gray Reaper appeared to look elsewhere, it felt like that gaze was exclusively focused on her chest.

The evidence was the antenna sprouting from the top of the Gray Reaper’s head.

The antenna, which should have been swaying gently, was always leaning towards Yerin, occasionally emitting a faint glow.

It was obvious that the Gray Reaper was deeply engrossed in something related to her.

Then, a thought struck Yerin.

‘Isn’t now a perfect opportunity to dress the Reaper in something it dislikes?’

But just then, news about Russia flowed from the TV into Yerin’s ears.

[The object incident currently occurring in Russia shows no signs of resolution, and the Siberian blockade continues.]

[The Russian government has not shared what is happening with the world, leaving much speculation.]

The TV screen then displayed a scene of the snow-covered Siberian landscape.

The endless array of snow, a breathtaking white world, captured her gaze.

But this beautiful sight was far from welcome for Yerin.

It was a scene that doused her plans to sneakily change the Gray Reaper’s clothes with cold water.

The moment she saw the snowy scenery on the TV, the Gray Reaper’s eyes began to shimmer with curiosity.

Without opening its mouth, it seemed to express wonder with sparkling eyes.

It felt as if those eyes were shouting, ‘Wow, snow! I really want to see that snowy landscape!’

A sigh escaped her lips.

Yerin’s carefully crafted plan was in jeopardy.

The Gray Reaper, utterly absorbed to the point where nothing else caught its attention, seemed to lose focus on the snow-covered scenery.

The antenna, which had been fixed in one direction like a compass, began to sway gently.

At this point, trying to sneak in the wardrobe change would surely upset the Gray Reaper.

‘Ah… if I try to change clothes now, I’ll definitely be found out.’

Yerin’s mind was filled with regret.

She was frustrated with herself for missing such a golden opportunity.

*

I lay atop a giant marshmallow, quietly preparing a prank.

Before setting off for Siberia to enjoy a fantastic snowfield, I wanted to complete the prank I had in mind.

I had to give up on my project of ‘finding the Light Ring inside Yerin’ this time.

No matter how hard I peered into Yerin, the Light Ring remained invisible.

It seemed my abilities were simply lacking to discover Yerin’s Halo.

Considering it took quite a while for me to find the Halo within myself, I guess I was still insufficient to locate hers.

Yet, even without making the discovery, I was sure of one thing: Yerin possessed something special.

After all, an ordinary human with no remarkable traits wouldn’t have that much potential.

I looked around and climbed to the top of the marshmallow hill.

To ensure my prank went unnoticed, I checked for any Mini Reapers around.

Confirming that there was no one, I adorned myself with the Labyrinth’s Halo and created two of the most delicious candies in the world.

These candies were stuffed with firewood, which would undeniably feel like the tastiest candy to the Mini Reapers.

Hehe.

I grinned with excitement, anticipating the prank.

*

The Golden Reaper standing on my palm gazed suspiciously at the candy I offered.

No matter how much I insisted that it was incredibly delicious, the Golden Reaper’s expression seemed to ask, ‘What kind of trap is this?’

I didn’t think my pranks had reached such an extent.

I wished the Reaper would trust me a bit more.

‘This is an incredibly delicious candy, and there are only two in the world.’

I emphasized once more.

If the Golden Reaper had an Attached Human, it would have shared the delicious candy with them, but since this particular Golden Reaper was my target, it didn’t have one yet.

With a questioning gaze filled with suspicion, the Golden Reaper closed its eyes and took a bite of the candy.

It was as if it was forced to swallow poison by its mother.

However, a few seconds later, the Golden Reaper’s eyes widened as it perked up its antennae.

‘Delicious!’

With that astonished expression, marvelous thoughts flowed from it.

And that surprised expression melted into a blissful smile in an instant.

Cherishing the cheeks fluffed up by the candy, the Golden Reaper savored the treat.

Once it finished the candy, the Golden Reaper snuggled up to me, beaming with joy.

‘Thank you, Mom!’

I offered the remaining candy to the Golden Reaper.

Then the Golden Reaper bent its antennae into a question mark shape and asked.

‘Isn’t that Mom’s?’

‘Mom doesn’t really like it. It’s okay if you don’t eat it.’

After a bit of a struggle, the Golden Reaper, once it heard I didn’t like it, finally accepted the candy and ate it.

The Golden Reaper’s face beamed with happiness after consuming the second candy.

Seeing that the Golden Reaper had finished all its candy, I suddenly put on a sad face and conveyed my intentions.

‘Wasn’t the candy delicious?’

My intentions were laced with profound regrets and sorrow.

The Golden Reaper looked at me with shock.

‘But Mom said she didn’t like it…’

‘Not a chance.’

The Golden Reaper, appearing confused, started to get flustered, then eventually began to cry as it clung to me.

‘Mom, I’m sorry!’

The Golden Reaper kept apologizing for not realizing that it had eaten something that Mom also enjoyed.

I looked down at the Golden Reaper and smiled mischievously.

Hehe.

*

The currently sealed-off Siberian fields had been overtaken by an unidentified object.

Countless drones and humans dispatched for investigation vanished without a trace the moment they set foot in that area.

It looked impossible to conduct a survey.

There were no humans, vehicles, or landmarks present there.

Only the endlessly sprawling snowfield remained.

The snowfield, devoid of any visible path or ground, was as smooth and flawless as highly polished metal.

In the center of that snowfield, two beings were leaving footprints as they walked.

A girl with blue hair wrapped in a warm-looking thick cloak.

And a white hungry ghost trailing slowly behind her.

The two beings continued to walk, leaving footprints on the endless snowfield like they were on a vast ocean of snow.

 

---