Sehee Lab Courtyard, Bathed in Warm Sunlight

The short-haired girl sat beside her sister, who had returned to her, revived in a way.

Although her sister hadn’t technically died, her previous vegetative state made it feel as though she’d come back from the dead.

However, the sister who returned wasn’t exactly human anymore.

She was now a Roll Cake Human.

At first, the girl had felt awkward and uncertain, worried if this really was her sister. But as soon as they began talking, she realized it was indeed her.

Her real sister had returned.

They shared a great deal of conversation.

Her sister explained how she ended up like this because she had been deceived by “that man.”

She also shared how, despite winning at the “Festival,” she’d ended up in a vegetative state.

After they had talked about so much, the short-haired girl and her sister leaned against each other, sitting quietly, sharing a moment of contentment without words.

Just being together made them happy.

As the short-haired girl continued to gaze at her sister, her sister met her gaze and spoke up.

“You want to try a bite?”

No, it was probably better when she didn’t talk.

Her sister had always been a bit eccentric, but now as a Roll Cake Human, she had started to play pranks that nearly stopped the girl’s heart.

She’d suddenly shout, “Dullahan!” and remove her head, tucking it under her arm, or snap off her finger and offer it as a snack.

“I told you not to do that!”

“But it’s tasty…”

Sighing, the short-haired girl looked away from her finger-munching sister and turned her attention to the Mini Reapers wandering around.

The Golden Reapers were styling their hair into horns and playing around.

Other Golden Reapers, mounted on White Maws, roamed as if guarding the Roll Cake Human.

The Mini Reapers were feeding tiny sparrows some treats.

And her sister was feeding her fingers to the Mini Reapers.

Seoul was in chaos, but here, watching her sister and the Mini Reapers, it felt as though nothing was wrong.

Reality, however, was different.

Currently, her sister and other Roll Cake Humans weren’t allowed outside Sehee Lab, and if you turned on the TV, you’d see debates raging over whether Roll Cake Humans were actually human.

Just then, the Golden Cloaked Reaper, sensing her unease, gave the short-haired girl a gentle poke on the cheek.

“?”

When she turned, the Golden Cloaked Reaper offered her a reassuring smile.

It was a smile that seemed to say everything would turn out fine.

The smile carried a determination to help no matter what might happen.

The girl placed the Golden Cloaked Reaper on her palm, gently petting it as she asked,

“Since the Gray Reaper is practically a ‘god’ in Korea, the Roll Cake issue will be resolved, right?”

The Golden Cloaked Reaper clenched both fists tightly and nodded as if to say, “Rest assured.”

With her mind put at ease, the short-haired girl began sharing a pudding in the courtyard with the Golden Cloaked Reaper.

As they finished the last bit of pudding, a group from the Object Council entered the courtyard of Sehee Lab.

Sensing an important announcement, everyone in the courtyard held their breath in anticipation.

Mini Reaper Garden, Charred Marshmallow Plains

The once ordinary Marshmallow Plains had turned black due to the White Maw Incinerator Golem roaming around.

Sitting on a hill of modest height on this charred plain, I watched the golem at work.

Around the golem, there was a crowd of White Maws, though a closer look revealed they were actually Mini Reapers disguised as White Maws.

“Attack!”

Just as I had once donned a White Maw disguise in America, the Mini Reapers had dressed themselves as White Maws, engaging in a pretend battle to rescue the White Maws from the golem.

“Who comes up with these games?”

Naturally, while I watched, the White Maw Warriors had yet to win a single battle.

“Waaah! We’ve been defeated!”

As flames engulfed their White Maw costumes, the Golden Reapers tossed them aside and collapsed to the ground as if dead.

It seemed that catching on fire marked a loss.

The discarded White Maw skins were swiftly gathered by the golem and thrown into its incinerator.

Kii-hi-hi.

“That looks fun.”

Turning my gaze from the Mini Reapers’ mournful game with the White Maws, I looked down at the Orange Crowned Reaper struggling in my grasp.

I’d gathered all the special-looking Mini Reapers to test the halos, but I decided to start with the Orange Crowned Reaper for a few reasons.

Firstly, I still hadn’t forgiven its impudence for declaring “I’m busy” and lounging in the sun.

Secondly, I’d caught it trying to create a large cart to carry the Golden Horned Reaper and a few older Golden Reapers. I didn’t like the idea that it might also try to carry me.

Staring at the Orange Crowned Reaper with a meaningful expression, I summoned all the halos I could.

Nullification Halo.

Complete Evasion Halo.

Illusion Manifestation Halo.

Verbal Command Halo.

Space Halo.

A total of five.

Plus, the Space Halo was brand new and unused!

Heh-heh.

…

When all the tests were done, the Orange Crowned Reaper lay motionless on the ground as if lifeless.

Its fluffy head was down, making it look like a furry caterpillar, which made me smile.

Had I gone too far? But then I remembered its “I’m busy” attitude and felt that maybe it hadn’t been enough.

So I lifted the Orange Crowned Reaper, braided its hair to complete its caterpillar look, and placed it in a sunny spot.

Heh-heh.

The test with the Orange Crowned Reaper was quite successful.

I discovered that different halos seemed to suit each Mini Reaper uniquely.

Just like the Blue Idol Reaper used the Verbal Command Halo, the Orange Crowned Reaper seemed unaffected by the Complete Evasion Halo.

If I distributed all the halos among the Mini Reapers, they might be able to fend off foreign threats.

Imagining a bright future, I trudged off toward the next special Mini Reaper.

The arrival of so many people from the Object Council turned Sehee Lab’s office into a buzzing hive.

The sound of footsteps and excited voices mingled together.

Although the lab never had many people working in it, this was even more evident now.

Despite the commotion, the Helmet Researcher quietly continued to hold his place.

His fingers moved busily across the keyboard, his eyes focused on the monitor as he finished a report.

Yet, his ears missed none of the surrounding conversations.

“Did you hear? They’re creating a special Roll Cake Human containment zone like the one for the Golden Horned.”

“Well, that’s the most natural solution.”

Two researchers stood by the window overlooking the courtyard, conversing in hushed tones.

“At first, there was talk of classifying them as objects and quarantining them in the lab, but this solution is a relief.”

“Probably because the Golden Reapers are protecting them. Quarantine wouldn’t have been possible.”

“Considering the Golden Reapers’ popularity, it might even sway the vote.”

The researchers chuckled at their conversation but fell silent when Kim Joongrae entered the office.

In the quiet that followed, the Helmet Researcher finished his report.

The title of the report was Stolen Cute Puppy Report.

Deep Within the Mini Reaper Garden, Beyond the Marshmallow Plains and Candy Mountains

There stood a hidden castle that even the Gray Reaper was unaware of.

The castle walls were a blend of colorful candy and transparent water, resembling a work of art.

Golden Reapers mounted on White Maws patrolled the castle grounds with solemn expressions.

On the watchtower atop the walls, Golden Reapers wielding blue spears kept vigil.

The atmosphere felt more like a chivalric tale than the Mini Reaper Garden.

This castle was known to the other Mini Reapers as…

The Castle of the Golden Reaper Knights.

Beyond the grand gates of the Golden Reaper Knight’s castle, at the end of a long corridor, was the grandest and most ornate room in the castle.

The ceiling soared high, adding to the majesty, and the walls were decorated with golden candies that glistened brightly.

The floor, made of clear candy, gave the illusion of walking on glass.

In the center of the room was a massive round table, surrounded by countless Golden Reapers seated in council.

However, the most eye-catching feature in this grand room was the enormous kennel at the center of the round table.

Inside lay the “cute puppy” that had been seized by the Golden Reapers.

Just then, the “cute puppy” rose and started barking at the air.

The Golden Reapers stood up, grinning as they waited for something.

When the barking ceased, the Blue Reaper, quietly standing in the corner, approached the round table and traced a string of letters in water.

[12 km northwest of Seoul]

[Strength equivalent to ‘Golden Reaper’s First Blade’ level!]

The Golden Reapers gasped in shock at the message.

At that moment, one of the Golden Reapers mounted a White Maw, raising its spear.

“Together, we fear nothing!”

With a cheerful smile that suggested nothing could go wrong, the Golden Reaper rallied the others.

The other Golden Reapers mounted their White Maws and sent out their intent.

“All charge!”

“A harmful object!”

And so, the Golden Reaper Knight Brigade set out to eliminate the object that had appeared in Seoul.