The private jet's bedroom was now steeped in a peaceful, cozy atmosphere as the lights dimmed.

The soft moonlight filtered through the oval-shaped windows, casting a gentle glow over the room.

The walls, lined with dark mahogany panels that reflected the moonlight, were complemented by thick, plush carpets that sank pleasantly beneath one’s feet, creating a comfortable ambiance.

A small light flickered on my phone resting on the nightstand, beside the remnants of numerous pudding cups I had devoured.

“Reaper…”

Yerin muttered in her sleep, smacking her lips as if savoring something delicious.

In her dream, she was nibbling on my antenna like it was a snack.

What kind of dream was she having, smiling so peacefully under the soft moonlight?

Unlike Yerin’s blissful slumber, I was wrapped in uncomfortable clothes, nestled in her arms on this soft, oversized bed.

As I phased out of her grasp, Yerin instinctively fumbled around for me, like a baby searching for its favorite toy.

I summoned a sufficiently large fish plushie and placed it in her arms, then wandered over to the oval window to gaze out at the sky, where the plane floated above a sea of clouds.

Multiple moons and countless stars filled the vast expanse.

The plane, drifting through what looked like a desolate winter landscape above the clouds, somehow appeared lonely.

I reached out, placing my hand against the cold window, noticing the small gray hand and the blue sleeve of my clothing reflected there.

It seemed like a good time to finally change out of these clothes.

In an instant, I shed the kindergarten uniform by phasing through it.

Then, I summoned a white fish plushie and forced it into the uniform, setting it on the sofa.

"Squeak."

The fish, squashed by the clothes, made a disgruntled noise, its expression comically unhappy.

It was funny to see such an annoyed fish in clothes.

Hehe.

It was time to get ready to visit the Mini Reaper Garden.

I decided to summon the Golden Reaper to keep Yerin company. As soon as I did, the Golden Reaper bounced energetically on my palm, trying to communicate something urgently.

Did something happen?

The Golden Reaper was jumping up and down, waving its little arms in a flurry of gestures.

Since its body language was hard to decipher, I focused on reading its intent.

A new sibling?

Was a new youngest sibling about to join us?

The Golden Reaper looked so happy about the new addition that I couldn’t help but smile as I patted its head.

Another one.

It seemed like new Reapers were being born more often these days.

Well, it was fine since the Mini Reapers were kind-hearted, unlike me. If they were all like "Mini Gray Reapers," it would be absolute chaos.

The thought of a miniature version of myself running wild and causing havoc made me laugh.

Still, managing them was a hassle, so I patted the Golden Reaper and conveyed my message.

“You, the eldest ‘Golden Reaper,’ have to take good care of your younger siblings, okay?”

The Golden Reaper beamed and nodded enthusiastically.

But what caused this new addition?

I thought new Reapers only appeared when something related to the moon was resolved.

The last thing I dealt with was the giant pig king. Does that mean there’s going to be a mini Reaper with a pig’s head?

I imagined a not-so-cute mini Reaper and chuckled, passing my thoughts along.

“Well, keep an eye on Yerin for me. I’m heading to the garden.”

I summoned a bunch of Golden Reapers to keep Yerin company and set off for the Mini Reaper Garden.

I found myself in a very old dream.

The moment of my birth.

Endless barren mountains stretched out before me, filled only with jagged rocks and fierce winds.

The distant peaks were as sharp as blades, and the summits were shrouded in eternal ice fog.

The cold here was so bitter, it seemed as if it could freeze souls, leaving no room for any form of life.

And yet, within this harsh landscape, a single flame flickered to life.

In a world of ice and stone, this was a light that brought warmth and color.

From within that flame, I was born.

I was born from the human desire to survive the endless cold and hunger.

I was a beacon to banish the darkness, a flame to devour the cold.

I was a force that consumed lifeless stone and produced fire to fight hunger.

When I first opened my eyes, I saw small humans worshiping me, and beyond them, a massive figure looking down at me with a blank expression, flanked by a white guardian.

But the vision blurred as the dream began to fade.

I felt myself waking from this deep slumber, opening my eyes to a new moment of birth.

In my hazy vision, I saw small figures surrounding me, and once again, that same massive figure and white guardian stared down at me with expressionless eyes.

Ah, I’ve finally returned.

However, when my vision cleared, I realized this wasn’t the landscape I had dreamed of.

Instead of jagged rocks, there was a soft, squishy ground beneath me, and instead of cold winds, there was a gentle warmth and breeze.

The figures around me weren’t worshipping humans but smiling beings in the form of young girls.

The proud expression of the white guardian had been replaced by a look of dismay.

And the creator who gazed down at me wore a mask of mischief beneath a blank expression as they slowly approached.

Then they took a bite out of me.

My once strong, sturdy body had become something transparent, soft, and sweet.

Unable to resist, I could only lie there with a helpless expression as the creator ate me.

When I arrived at the Mini Reaper Garden, the first thing that caught my eye was the giant black sphere floating in the air.

It looked exactly like the Unchanging Black Sphere, hovering above the garden.

And beneath it, the ruins of a collapsed cookie tower.

Nom, nom.

It seemed like they had built the tower to reach the sphere, but it was too tall for the cookie structure to handle, and now the Golden Reapers were happily munching on the remains of the fallen tower.

So, the new sibling must be inside that sphere, right?

But the sphere was too high up, and there didn’t seem to be an easy way to reach it.

How in the world did they manage to stack cookies that high?

The Golden Reapers are way too competent.

I paced back and forth under the sphere, deep in thought.

If only I could fly, this would be simple.

While I pondered under the sphere, a flame suddenly flared up in the Mini Reaper Garden.

The Golden Reapers, startled, gathered around the fire, while I slowly approached, curious.

This felt similar to when the fish first appeared.

As I stared at the flame, I could see a small pig-shaped jelly growing in size within the fire.

Strangely enough, this jelly didn’t look like the usual ones. It smelled delicious.

The Golden Reapers were practically drooling.

It seemed they were waiting for me to take the first bite, so I approached the jelly pig and took a bite.

Nom, nom.

It was chewy and bursting with flavor, an innovative jelly experience.

When I looked back at the bitten area, there were no marks—its regeneration was fast. It could be used as emergency food, like the fish.

As I turned away, the Golden Reapers gleefully began nibbling at the jelly pig, which now wore a pitiful expression, much like the white fish.

Gwanak District, Trinity’s Third Research Facility Ruins.

The ruins, engulfed by black liquid, remained a death zone where no living being could survive.

The Gwanak District, filled with this harmful slime that was dangerous not only to humans but to other creatures and even Objects, had become a place where only people in protective suits could roam.

Nearby, in a camp set up for the investigation, a secret meeting was taking place.

There were only two directors left from the Trinity research labs.

The Director of Trinity’s First Research Facility shook a sealed glass bottle filled with black liquid, speaking with a curious tone.

“This is fascinating. Truly fascinating. This liquid might just be the light that guides humanity’s future.”

Hearing that, the Second Research Facility Director frowned.

“You’re thinking of using this suspicious Object byproduct? Do you want to end up like the Third Research Facility Director?”

“This liquid is neither suspicious nor an Object byproduct,” the First Director responded with a mysterious smile.

“You’ve read the Third Director’s journal, haven’t you? You know the formula, and now you know its effects.”

“Surely, you don’t believe in that nonsense about human evolution, do you?”

“Of course not,” the First Director replied with a sly laugh, though the Second Director could sense a hint of truth behind the smile.

‘Dangerous.’

Feeling uneasy about the First Director’s expression, the Second Director hastily stood up.

“I should be going. Until next time.”

“Indeed.”

The First Director watched the Second Director’s retreating figure with a knowing look.

In the end, I managed to enter the black sphere.

The small jelly pig had the ability to grow by consuming food, which was what allowed me to get inside.

By force-feeding it all the snacks scattered around the Mini Reaper Garden, the jelly pig bulked up enough to reach the black sphere.

However, the inside of the sphere was far from the cheerful place the Golden Reaper had described.

It was more like a graveyard.

In the distance, I could see a massive corpse.

And scattered on the ground were the melted remains of Mini Reapers.

Though they had lost their shape and melted like water, I recognized them.

These were the corpses of Mini Reapers who had fallen after losing their firewood.

I bent down and scooped up one of the melted Mini Reapers, placing firewood inside.

The melted Mini Reaper quickly regained its shape and was successfully revived.

It was now an odd being with no legs and long, elongated arms.

The Mini Reaper, with white fire burning within, stared at me with empty eyes, then swiftly changed its form.

It had turned into a black Mini Reaper that looked exactly like me.

Since it was black, should I call it the Black Reaper?

The Black Reaper glanced at me, then turned to look behind it.

It kept alternating its gaze between the corpse and me, tilting its head in confusion.

‘Mother?’

Unlike the Golden Reaper, the Black Reaper seemed uncertain, so I generously took half of the firewood Yerin had carefully replenished for me and placed it in the giant corpse.

Fwoosh.

With the sound of flames roaring to life, my consciousness transferred into the body of the corpse.

But simply transferring my consciousness consumed the firewood rapidly, and I was forced back into my own body.

‘Mother!’

The Black Reaper’s eyes widened in surprise, and it leaped onto my face, sobbing uncontrollably.

As soon as that happened, my firewood filled the black sphere, and countless Black Reapers, nearly infinite in number, rose and rushed toward me.

‘It’s mother!’

Even though I was a bit perplexed by the sudden outpouring of emotions from the Black Reapers, I could clearly feel their longing.

‘It’s okay. I’m here now.’

All I could do was gently pat the heads of the many crying Black Reapers.