Seoul Object Story

As a soft blanket cocooned me, the TV buzzed with various news reports, filling the containment room with a cozy ambiance. It was as if a campfire had been lit, creating a warm atmosphere that felt even cozier than usual.

Om nom nom-!

I lounged comfortably in the bed, munching on roasted marshmallows. Next to me, the White Hungry Ghost was tied up like a captured deer, while the Red Reaper cheerfully breathed fire beneath it.

“Mom!”

The Red Reaper, having flipped the Hungry Ghost upside down, laughed heartily and tore off its back, offering it to me with glee.

Lately, the Red Reaper had seemingly grown fond of me, spending more time with me now that the blonde girl and the Black Agent were often absent. They had made a candy house in the Garden of the Mini Reapers, just lounging around like they belonged there.

Om nom nom-!

The Red Reaper delighted in watching me eat, continuously roasting marshmallows and popping them into my mouth. With a big smile, it took tiny bites of the marshmallow itself. Once it had finished its treat, it gleefully began roasting another marshmallow, its face alight with happiness.

As I savored the roasted marshmallows while watching the news, a segment about the recent incident caught my attention. It focused on the ‘Eye Cult,’ which had mysteriously vanished, despite having been a worldwide concern not long ago.

[ It was revealed that the 'Eye Cult' possesses a strange characteristic of having no mind corruption level, despite being a pseudo-religious incident instigated by an Object. ]

[ However, it seems that the victims of this pseudo-religion are all subjected to severe violence, and many can no longer live their daily lives. ]

I was particularly shocked to see the face of the person identified as the ‘leader’ of the Eye Cult. The giant we had battled in the United States turned out to be the leader.

Moreover, the stories of the ‘Blue Reaper’s Precious Human Rescue’ and the ‘Golden Reaper Injured in the United States,’ which appeared unrelated, were actually intertwined. It was a strange connection, to say the least.

[ While victims are pouring in from many countries, it is fortunate that mental issues are relatively less prominent in our country. ]

Thanks to the Blue Reaper’s rescue efforts, the victims in Korea didn’t seem to suffer from significant mental problems. That must be attributed to the Blue Reaper’s treatment.

Their treatment might not be perfect, but it had its strengths.

First, they excelled at managing pain.

Born from the Blue Moon, which specializes in mental contamination, they could ease even the most intense pain with a simple application of <Don’t Get Hurt! Please!>.

Second, they were fantastic at alleviating mental issues.

This aspect was likely tied to their specialty.

They had a knack for transforming individuals plagued by anxiety and fear into bright, smiling versions of themselves, much like the Golden Reaper.

The treatment that the victims needed most was indeed the Blue Reaper’s care, so they should be fine in the long run.

When the news segment discussing the aftermath of the cult and subsequent treatment finished and switched to commercials, I picked up the remote and began flipping through channels.

Thud-! Thud-! Thud-!

As I changed the channel, I felt a slight vibration beneath my bed. It was the noise and sensation from the construction of the ‘water park’ that Sehee was building.

Being in a standard Object containment room, the walls blocked much of the sound and vibrations, making it not too bothersome.

Still, a theme park for people and mini Reapers to enjoy together…

Once it opened, I bet it would rake in a fortune.

If it opened…

After all, my kids are adorable!

The problem lay in whether the association would permit the general public to buy tickets. They probably wouldn’t allow it.

I imagined Sehee’s research institute buried in debt.

And I couldn’t help but wonder how furious Seoah would be when that day came.

Maybe Sehee would take off for a month?

The thought made me giggle; it would be quite the amusing situation.

Hihihi!

***Inside the Korean Object Association building in Gangnam, where bright sunlight poured in, the interior was sleek and clean, a testament to the newly constructed space. Sunlight streaming through the windows created a picturesque scene.

However, amidst this clean and beautiful interior, an unusual figure wove through the hallway.

Chatter-! Chatter-!

A person donned in a large helmet ambled through the Object Association building, drawing strange looks and whispers from the surrounding employees.

The mind corruption-blocking helmet, made in the United States, had ‘James’ emblazoned across it in large letters. Its performance was several times better than the helmets used by the Object Association, but it also came at a significantly higher price.

“What the hell is he doing?”

One voice pierced the air, but the researcher in the helmet paid no mind as he made his way to his office.

“Whew.”

Upon reaching his office, he retrieved a mind corruption measuring device from his bag, placed it on his desk, and flipped the switch. Unlike the measuring devices used by the association, this latest model not only detected the presence of mind corruption but also indicated its level.

Beep-!

After a moment, the measuring device emitted a soft beep. He glanced at it to find the needle stretching into the red zone.

Mind contamination level: dangerous. But it’s still manageable.

After all, the helmet he wore was designed to withstand levels in the red zone.

He jotted down the day’s corruption level in the < Official Record Book of Mind Corruption Levels > he had started keeping recently and began preparing for work.

At that moment, something suddenly emerged from behind him at his desk. A golden antenna swayed atop a bookshelf filled with various books.

It was the Golden Reaper.

The Golden Reaper tilted its head, peering curiously at the strange tools on the researcher’s desk.

Sneak-!

As if playing hide-and-seek, the Golden Reaper stealthily approached the desk. As it did, the measuring device’s scale began to creep up from the red zone into black. Beyond the dangerous zone, it was edging into the very dangerous territory.

Sensing something amiss, the researcher turned around, but the Golden Reaper quickly ducked behind the bookshelf.

Hihih!

Chuckling quietly, the Golden Reaper slowly ventured back toward the desk as the researcher turned his head once more. As soon as it hopped onto the desk, the measuring device splayed into the ‘very dangerous’ zone.

Simultaneously, the helmet’s visor lit up red, signaling the wearer to flee, as it had surpassed the helmet’s warranty limit.

“!”

The researcher shot up from his chair in shock and checked the measuring device. The needle was poised to pierce the detector at the black end. Meanwhile, the Golden Reaper clung to it, fiddling curiously with the device as if it were examining something odd.

When the researcher stood and leaned closer, the Golden Reaper beamed, extending both hands toward him. Its expression and posture seemed to plead for a hug.

His vision suddenly flooded with red, the needle on the detector indicating ‘very dangerous,’ causing his mind to spiral into confusion.

Isn’t that the Golden Reaper being contained at Sehee Research Institute?

Why was it here all of a sudden?

He recalled that there had been no mention of mind corruption in the Golden Reaper’s report.

Still, it was cute, just like the auditor’s report. It was odd that the ‘Golden Reaper’ had made a sudden appearance in the Gray Reaper’s audit report, but if it was this adorable, who could blame it…?

It’s not right…

It’s mind corruption!

When a splitting headache pierced through his thoughts, the researcher bolted for the window.

The Golden Reaper, startled by the sudden movement, hurried to the window to see what was happening. It watched as the researcher jumped from the third floor, limping away.

Human! You look hurt!!!

The Golden Reaper gazed down at the human who had evaded it by taking such dangerous actions and wore a sorrowful expression.

***Endless silence enveloped me.

It felt as if I had stepped into an anechoic chamber, where even the faintest sound was muffled.

As I opened my eyes, I found myself in a completely unfamiliar place.

Something black.

A world composed of gray, adorned with rings of light. A realm where the gray sky stretched endlessly. Despite the absence of clouds, the sky was neither blue nor black, and rings of light swirled across the gray expanse.

The ground was also painted in shades of gray, blurring the line between the horizon and the sky.

There was no distinction between my body and the earth either, both merging into the same gray.

And a colossal black entity stood motionless on the gray ground.

Its empty eyes contained only a solitary pupil, framed by a black ring.

“….”

Yet it was already lifeless, resembling a corpse I had previously encountered within the black sphere.

As I gazed up, fixated on the black entity, I felt an unsettling sensation.

It was as if I were being drawn in.

Just as I tried to comprehend that strange feeling, someone poked my cheek.

“Reaper. Wake up quickly!”

In an instant, I jolted awake at the sound of Yerin’s voice.

***When I opened my eyes, I found myself in Yerin’s embrace.

Yes, I was definitely in Yerin’s embrace, watching TV, having dozed off during her massage.

Her gentle presses on my arms and legs always felt so comforting that I couldn’t help but drift off.

“There’s someone who absolutely must see Death God. It’s a death row inmate who came to the lab a while ago!”

Following Yerin’s pointing finger, I turned my gaze to see a familiar Object. A girl peeked out from behind it, trying to catch a glimpse of me.

An Object and a human—a rather odd combination.

There was a round doll head with stitched eyes, one I frequently saw at theme parks.

It should have been one of the theme park components, so how was one of them still alive?

At that moment, the doll head that met my gaze began to speak in a peculiar manner.

[ Are you an alchemist? ]

For some reason, I understood its words, even though it wasn’t Korean or any other language I recognized on Earth.