Deep Within the Mini Reaper Garden, Marshmallow Plains

I was carefully carving the White Maw that had once mocked the Blue Idol Reaper, intending to transform it into an elegant [Swirling White Maw Roast] akin to a Renaissance sculpture.

“Ah, I messed up.”

Maybe it was because the White Maw resembled marshmallow, or perhaps the “Filial Piety” blade confiscated from the Ghost Reaper was too sharp, or maybe my carving skills were just that bad—either way, I kept failing to sculpt the White Maw into a spiral shape.

Squealing, the White Maw let out a sound of indignation as its midsection “snapped” cleanly off.

And as soon as I failed, the chuckling of other White Maws watching me in secret reached my ears.

Hearing that laugh, I pounced on the laughing White Maw, skewer in hand, and impaled it alongside the others.

Thanks to these White Maws, my surroundings were full of skewered, slowly roasting White Maw kebabs. From a distance, it looked like a small hill of Maw skewers.

“Those White Maws… They keep laughing like ‘ki-hi-hi’ even though they know this is what happens to them…”

Maybe it was just in their nature. The Mini Reapers seemed to enjoy munching on White Maws as well, which likely meant they’d been mocked by them too.

Gripping a regenerated White Maw tightly in my hand, I lifted the “Filial Piety” blade again.

The sound of marshmallow being sliced filled the air, and the newly regenerated White Maw went limp, as if surrendering to the inevitable.

As I continued carving, strange sounds echoed from behind me.

“Kii-hi. Kii-hi.”

When I turned around, the mischievous White Maws, pretending they hadn’t made the noise, were covering their mouths.

Slice.

Distracted by the giggling White Maws, I ended up slicing off the spiral section, which should’ve been thinly carved.

“Kii-hi-hi-hi.”

And the White Maw’s whining sounded once more.

As soon as I stood up, the White Maws, who had been peeking at me between the skewers, scattered and fled in all directions.

“I need to do something about these White Maws.”

Watching the White Maws scamper away, their stubby tails wagging, I resolved to stop them from laughing that cursed “kii-hi-hi.”

As kindling burned fiercely with my frustration, I slowly drew out the Halo of Labyrinth from the sky.

The brilliant white glow of the halo cast its light upon my face.

Knowing it would undoubtedly hurt, I hesitated briefly before gathering my resolve and placing the halo on my head.

In my mind, I carefully visualized the most fitting form.

“An object to capture and burn White Maws eternally.”

“One as large and powerful as the White Maws themselves.”

Radiant light bloomed from the halo.

At first, it looked like strands of white silk, but they gradually thickened and took shape.

The power of illusion manifestation began to sketch the outline of a colossal figure.

What emerged was the empty shell of a judgment object, the White Maw Incinerator.

Once the frame was complete, I summoned the Black Reapers from the Mini Reaper Garden.

“It’s Mom!”

“What’s going on?”

“Do you need help?”

Gently detaching the clinging Black Reapers, I expressed my intent.

“Get into the golem, Black Reapers.”

By offering snacks and a monthly playtime, I managed to hire the Black Reapers.

Not long after the Black Reapers squirmed their way into the frame, it was complete.

Finally, the object to incinerate White Maws was finished.

A massive, intimidating structure, ablaze with kindling and empowered by the Black Reapers’ strength.

I named the object the “White Maw Incinerator Golem.”

“Rise.”

As my intent spread, the golem slowly lifted its colossal form and began to move with heavy steps.

“Burn all the White Maws!”

At my command, the golem leaped high into the air.

Boom.

And as it landed among the gathering White Maws, flames burst forth in all directions.

The White Maws shrieked, attempting to flee, but couldn’t escape the golem’s flames.

One by one, they were gathered up and stuffed into the golem’s body as they writhed, unable to move with their bodies set ablaze.

Looking up at the impressive golem, I smiled.

“Kii-hi-hi.”

The best part about the incinerator golem was the delightful “kii-hi-hi” sound that played whenever you got close to it.

Heh.

As I enjoyed the cries of the White Maws and watched the golem’s spectacle, golden reapers riding on White Maws began to gather around me.

Could it be they’d come to plead on behalf of the White Maws?

“Mom!”

“Mom, help us!”

However, the intent sent by the golden reapers was entirely different from what I expected.

It was filled with sadness and resignation.

What on earth could be the matter?

A University Hospital in Seoul

In one of the rooms where victims of the cognitive loss incident were held, there was a girl.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, sister.”

Her sad voice filled the room, but her sister lying on the bed showed no reaction.

She merely lay there, staring blankly.

Sitting nearby was the Golden Cloaked Reaper, who had trudged all the way to the hospital.

The reaper gazed up at the short-haired girl, a worried expression in its eyes.

“Poor human.”

“It’s already too late…”

“When will Mom come?”

The golden reapers mounted on White Maws looked at the cognitive loss victims with somber expressions, tears trickling from their eyes.

“What’s going to happen to the humans…”

Meanwhile, the White Maws, held firmly by the golden reapers, were being slowly devoured.

The golden reapers’ sorrowful mood filled the hospital with a bleak and gloomy atmosphere.

Amidst the heavy air, a subtle shift began to spread through the hospital, like a faint buzz breaking the silence.

“It’s the Gray Reaper.”

“Really?”

In that sorrowful place, the Gray Reaper had appeared.

Thud, thud.

As the Gray Reaper led the golden reapers riding on White Maws down the hospital corridor, people’s eyes were drawn to them.

The Gray Reaper, slightly bothered by the attention, entered the room where the victims lay, maintaining its usual blank expression.

“It’s Mom!”

“Mom, please help us!”

“Poor humans!”

As the Gray Reaper entered, the crying golden reapers rushed forward.

Gently detaching each clinging golden reaper, the Gray Reaper slowly surveyed the room.

After taking in each victim, the Gray Reaper summoned the Mini Reaper Garden and swallowed up every cognitive loss victim.

Then, as abruptly as it had arrived, it vanished with a swish.

The Gray Reaper’s appearance, and its sudden disappearance with the victims, was like a natural disaster.

Understandably, the victims’ families were alarmed and began calling and shouting in distress.

But the golden reapers, far from being anxious, smiled warmly and reassured them with a gentle gaze.

“Don’t worry!”

“Mom will take care of everything!”

A dusty office, long unused, lay in quiet stillness.

Once lively, it now seemed like a forgotten stage of memories.

A pale layer of dust covered the furniture, bearing the weight of time.

Rattle.

At that moment, the blinds by the window began to move, breaking the silence that had settled over the office.

Like an old clock ticking back to life, the office gradually began to awaken.

As a crack opened wider, morning sunlight spilled in, illuminating the room in layers.

Dust particles danced in the beams of light, bringing a semblance of life to the dormant space.

At the same time, faint footsteps echoed in the room.

Despite being empty, faint traces of fingers began to appear on the dust-covered desks, as if an invisible hand was tracing old memories.

The sunlight grew stronger, wrapping around the old wooden furniture with its warmth.

With a click, the television flickered to life.

[People who had mysteriously vanished due to the Gray Reaper’s intervention have all returned.]

[According to official reports, the missing people were victims of the “mass cognitive impairment incident.”]

[Earlier reports stated that they appeared to be in normal condition, but recent examinations by the Object Council revealed shocking results.]

[Medical examinations revealed that these victims were no longer biologically human.]

[Their biological structures had been replaced with… “Swiss rolls.”]

The sound of the news reverberated through the office, as if it had always been this way.

Click.

A while later, the TV shut off as abruptly as it had turned on.

Tap. Tap.

Then, the sound of a cane tapping the floor twice echoed through the room.