The tree, pulsing with deep blue light, and the majestic walls surrounding it captivated me as I watched the shimmering glass shards float in the air. I was so absorbed by the mysterious sight that I barely registered James’s voice cutting through my thoughts.

"We need to head back now. It’s not a good idea to stay on top of the wall for too long."

A tinge of disappointment lingered, but I gently cradled the Reaper and climbed back onto the cart.

If I wanted to see it again, surely I could come back later, right?

As we rode down the passageway in the cart, which hummed softly with the sound of its motor, James smirked slightly and said, "If you compare your wristwatch with your phone, I bet you’ll be surprised."

I pulled out my phone and, just as he said, I was taken aback.

I could’ve sworn I adjusted the time when we landed at the airport, but there was now a time difference of more than two hours.

As I reset my wristwatch to match my phone, I asked, "Could this have something to do with that wall we were just on?"

"You’re sharp. Whether it’s due to the tree’s influence or something peculiar about the space around it, time on top of the wall is totally messed up."

Even the Reaper, who had been happily eating pudding nonstop, paused and lifted its head to curiously look at James.

I had wanted to go back and see it again, but hearing that time flowed so unpredictably up there made me feel uneasy.

"The wall is actually the safer part. Time only fluctuates by about 50%, but if you go beyond the wall where the tree is, things get much worse. Spending just a day in there can cause a huge time gap."

The Reaper’s antennae started to wiggle rapidly, as if it was getting more and more curious about what lay beyond the wall.

No way, even the Reaper wouldn’t sneak past the wall, would it?

I chewed my lip, hoping that wasn’t the case.

Under the canopy sky of the Mini Reaper Garden, the Golden Reapers were having a party with their usual cheerful expressions.

Gathered together, they radiated warmth and joy, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with love and energy.

At the center of the group was the Blue Reaper, wearing a large hat.

It bounced around, spun in circles, and toddled along with the others, though it seemed slightly embarrassed by the whole affair. It pulled its hat down low and glanced around shyly, trying to avoid too much attention.

In front of the Blue Reaper, a mini-sized campfire blazed, casting flickering shadows of the partying Mini Reapers.

The campfire exuded a sweet and addictive scent—like the mouth-watering smell of sugar.

Everything seemed to be going well in this lively scene, except for one contrasting element.

In the middle of the flames, slowly burning away, was a Sugar Flamingo, crafted from transparent sugar.

The Glass Flamingo, which had injured the youngest of the Reapers, had been remade as a sugar sculpture, now serving as the campfire centerpiece, lighting up the party.

"Maybe it’s time to let it go?"

The Blue Reaper was the only one to timidly suggest freeing it, but the Golden Reapers shook their heads with bright, innocent smiles.

The Golden Reapers were merciless when it came to Objects.

By the time we descended from the wall, it was already evening.

While I wasn’t hungry, Yerin looked like she was starting to feel peckish.

As a result, we ended the day’s tour and headed to the dining area inside the research facility.

It was a buffet-style restaurant, and as James sat down with a plate of food, he said, "We’ll call it a day here, and I’ll give you a tour of the city starting tomorrow. Despite everyone being tied to Objects, there’s still plenty to see and do, and the city’s quite good for sightseeing."

I spotted some delicious-looking fruit puddings and piled them onto my plate, then sat down next to Yerin.

As the Reaper went off on its own to grab pudding, I felt people’s eyes following it, their gazes drawn toward us.

Is it really that strange?

It’s like they’re seeing a parrot helping itself at a buffet or something.

But the most intense gaze I felt wasn’t friendly.

Yerin must have noticed the person glaring at us as well, because she leaned toward James and whispered, "That person is staring at us so fiercely. Who is that?"

"Hmm? Oh, that’s the vice-mayor. He takes the exact opposite stance on Objects than I do."

James cut into his steak with a casual expression as he explained.

"There are many research institutes in James City, fostering competition and development. But generally, there are two opposing views."

James continued, unfazed by the situation.

"One side believes that humanity will eventually have to coexist with Objects, while the other argues that coexistence will lead to our downfall and that we must actively eliminate all Objects."

"So, James is on the coexistence side, while the vice-mayor is on the elimination side?"

"Exactly. He’s with the elimination faction. He was vehemently opposed to bringing uncontrollable Objects, like the Gray Reaper, into the country."

Can humanity really eliminate Objects with their immunity to physical attacks?

It seems impossible to me.

But since the conversation didn’t really interest me, I focused on eating pudding and cake.

After finishing her meal, Yerin hugged me close, rubbing her cheek against mine, and said, "I want to see a chubby Reaper. It’d be so cute if you had a plump little belly."

She gently tapped my flat stomach, looking slightly disappointed that it hadn’t changed despite all the food I’d eaten.

‘?’

Yerin was starting to seem a little strange—longing for something odd like a fat Reaper.

Once we were done eating, James led us to the isolation room with a confident smile, guiding us slowly down the hall.

"Heh, the isolation room I’ve prepared is amazing. Even the Gray Reaper will want to stay here forever."

"Pfft, please. The Sehee Research Institute’s facilities are top-notch! Even if we lack cutting-edge technology, we’ve got everything the Reaper could ever need!" Yerin retorted.

James smirked and whispered, "We’ll see about that," as he opened the door to the isolation room.

What lay beyond the door was an impossibly vast space, making it hard to believe it was just an isolation room.

The space inside was enormous, dwarfing the entire Sehee Research Institute in size.

The interior was designed like a water park.

There was a dining area filled with fresh fruit, pudding, cookies, and various other treats.

Dangerous but thrilling-looking water slides, designed for Objects, surrounded the room, adding a spectacular touch.

In the center of the room, an artificial ocean had been created, with large waves crashing about, surrounded by various amusement rides.

It looked a bit childish for me, but it definitely seemed fun.

The Mini Reapers would love this.

I summoned the Mini Reapers at my feet.

Unfortunately, the Blue Reaper, who didn’t enjoy such active play, didn’t come along.

But the Golden Reapers scattered across the room with eager expressions, ready to explore every corner of the isolation space.

Thud, thud.

Not wanting to waste James’s effort, I decided to "enjoy myself a little" and walked further in.

The water slides were so fast that the Golden Reapers were skipping across the surface of the water like stones, creating a splash wherever they went.

Even as they flew through the air, they wore nothing but the most joyful expressions.

Boom!

A bubbling geyser erupted, launching the excited Golden Reapers high into the air.

The rides they favored were all things that would be deadly to humans.

Dangerous for us, but apparently great fun for the Golden Reapers.

The Reaper, too, was riding an inner tube, getting swept up by the massive artificial waves, flying through the air.

The Reaper’s expressionless face was in stark contrast to the excited Golden Reapers, but I could tell.

It was having fun!

Even though its face was still, its legs were kicking joyfully, and the antennae on its head were bouncing to an invisible rhythm.

"No way…"

A sense of dread washed over me.

Could it be… Is the Reaper really going to stay in America?

Does that mean I’ll have to move to the U.S.?

James’s isolation room was so ridiculously large and luxurious that I couldn’t imagine trying to compete with it.

I felt myself sinking into a pit of despair, when a Golden Reaper climbed onto my shoulder and patted my cheek.

"Are you trying to comfort me? Thanks."

I picked up the Golden Reaper and stroked its head.

While it smiled up at me with a happy face, the Reaper was too busy surfing on the waves to even look my way.

Despite its neutral expression, it was clearly the one having the most fun in the entire water park.

‘Reaper, you really seem to be enjoying yourself. You’re not even looking at me.’

As I grew more and more dejected, several Golden Reapers approached, looking worried, as if they could sense my mood.

I stood there, receiving gentle pats from the Golden Reapers while watching the Reaper, who was clearly having the time of its life, with a heavy heart.

The Pressure Control Room at the heart of James City, responsible for maintaining the barrier, was typically a place of calm, marked by its strict security.

But today, it was the scene of a tense and chaotic crisis.

Urgent warnings filled the screens of the control consoles, the air thick with anxiety, and the beeping alarms emphasized the severity of the situation.

In James’s absence, the vice-mayor of James City stood stoically next to the main control panel amidst the chaos.

"Everyone, get out!"

His voice was firm, almost a command, cutting through the storm like a beacon.

The control room staff hesitated, their faces filled with fear and concern.

One technician looked at the vice-mayor with worried eyes and said, "We haven’t finished calculating the evacuation radius, and the barrier requires constant human oversight to remain stable."

"I know that! I’ll handle it. Everyone, evacuate now."

The vice-mayor’s words were not just an order, but the final, selfless command of a man prepared to sacrifice everything.

Realizing his intent, the staff began to evacuate, their eyes brimming with tears for the man who would stay behind.

Once the control room was empty, the vice-mayor sat down, alone, and surveyed the scene.

The power of the tree beyond the barrier had begun to seep into the control room, warping and tearing the space around it.

The main control console was still working, somehow holding out even as everything around it was being destroyed.

The vice-mayor glanced at it, pulled out a cigarette, and placed it between his lips before putting his hands on the control panel to keep the barrier intact.

He continuously poured his will into the Object maintaining the barrier, commanding it to hold.

Beep.

The unpleasant sound accompanied the final calculation, and with slightly trembling hands, the vice-mayor entered the result.

<Estimated damage radius: Over 30 kilometers. Abandon James City within 6 hours.>

The cold, blunt message he typed marked the end of James City.

Even in such dire circumstances, the vice-mayor remained steadfast, lighting his cigarette.

The smoke rose into the fragmented space around him, highlighting the disintegrating reality.

Yet, despite the chaos, the vice-mayor’s hand remained firmly planted on the control panel, his resolve unbroken.

He fought to maintain the barrier, the final defense of the city.

He continued, even as his body began to break down and his consciousness started to fade.

Until the very end.

The last stand of the man who had always opposed James.