Reaper (MC) POV:

---

While gazing up at the massive, fiercely burning red skull, a strange sound reached my ears.

"Grrrrrr."

Following that sound, at the spot where the now turned to ash heart had been, an unidentified lump of slime was squirming.

A black, foul-smelling lump.

It really gave off an unbearably putrid stench.

The Golden Reapers, with senses more keen than mine, had already fled far away. 

What in the world is this?

As I approached closer, it felt like it was trying to say something.

'Don't want to die.'

'Save me.'

Though a small, muffled voice, I clearly heard it say 'save me'.

Seeing it speak human words, I recalled encountering a similar foul-smelling creature before.

The human monster mixed with Objects that attacked me in the cave. 

Looking closely, this melted lump also seemed to be squirming in a human shape.

So there was another one of those harmful monsters?

Then it has to die.

Without much thought, I kicked the slime human's head away.

bugeulbugeul

After kicking its head away, the slime thrashed about boiling, then 'pop' burst open.

The slime human, which had kept muttering 'don't want to die', 'save me' etc. until its head flew off, died just like the cave monster, leaving only black blood behind.

The slime lump could no longer maintain its form and the black blood spread out, flowing everywhere.

Thump thump.

A Golden Reaper, asleep on my head, punched me lightly.

Hmm.

It's definitely going to be angry.

But it might be fun.

I plucked the soundly sleeping Golden Reaper off my head and plopped it into the slime.

At that moment.

The Golden Reaper, which normally wouldn't wake up easily like me when asleep, startled awake and leapt out of the slime.

After using ghostification to shake off the slime, instead of getting angry, the Golden Reaper just returned to the Golden Reaper garden. 

Ah, it really did get mad.

Even summoning it again on my palm, it turned its back, refusing to look at me.

'I'm sorry, I won't do it anymore.'

I stroked it sincerely.

As I kept stroking, it glanced at me, then smiled and climbed back onto my head.

Golden Reapers really are kind.

***

I climbed up onto the burning skull.

The skull was so huge that the flames clinging to it billowed up high enough to engulf my whole body.

Is this really something a human can do?

It doesn't seem like there's any fire-resistant suit that would let them just walk into the flames...

From atop the tall skull, gazing at the red moon, I felt a bit closer to it.

The condition for destroying the red moon,

<Place the red skull in the center of the desert, set it on fire, and dance on top of it.>

I've acquired the red skull and set it on fire.

Now I just need to position it in the center and dance!

When I return to the Research Institute with Seo-ah, Yerin will have bought new puddings again, right?

I should finish this quickly and go back.

The center of the desert is directly beneath the red moon. 

I sat cross-legged atop the burning skull, playing with the Golden Reapers while waiting for the red moon to move above the skull.

But the red moon showed no signs of moving above the skull. 

Rather, it seemed to be orbiting around the red skull.

The red moon's movement pattern had changed.

What's going on? Do I really need to carry the whole skull and reposition it?

***

Seo-ah POV:

---

I was resting in the shade under the Golden Reaper pyramid, avoiding the scorching moonlight.

Calling it scorching moonlight sounds a bit strange, but it really is scorching hot, so I can't help it.

On my palm sat my little guardian angel, a Golden Reaper.

The Golden Reaper tapped my palm, signaling for me to toss it up into the air.

I stepped out slightly from under the Golden Reaper pyramid, preparing to toss the Golden Reaper high into the air.

I knew that this little golden creature, known as an Object, was much stronger than a human, but it looked so small and fragile that I always became cautious when throwing it.

Slowly raising my palm, I flung the Golden Reaper up towards the sky.

It would be a height that would terrify any human, but the Golden Reaper was happily giggling and enjoying the ride.

Spinning around in the air, then with a 'tah-dah', it landed in a splendid pose like a gymnast.

"Oh! Well done."

I clapped and stroked it, and the Reaper smiled bashfully.

Its expression seemed even happier than when being tossed.

Actually, instead of wanting me to keep tossing it because rising into the sky was fun, was it urging me to toss it to receive praise?

Well, it's cute either way.

The Golden Reaper, which had been staring at me intently seeking attention, suddenly whipped its head around and began staring at a specific spot beyond the horizon.

At the same time, the sky split apart.

A massive red pillar of light fell from the sky.

And all sorts of Object forms sprouted up from all directions.

"Reaper! Objects have appeared!"

I hugged the Golden Reaper tightly and cautiously surveyed the surroundings.

Sand soldiers also sprouted up in droves around me.

The Golden Reaper was ghostly fast at detecting the appearance of threatening Objects, but this time it didn't seem very interested.

Did it judge that these Objects posed no threat to me?

Fortunately, the Objects that emerged now showed no interest in me at all, simply rushing towards the pillar of light.

After showing interest in the light pillar for a while, the Golden Reaper soon lost interest, looked at me, and started dancing.

Dancing?

Why suddenly?

Though sudden, the Golden Reaper looked truly delighted, smiling bashfully as it danced.

***

Reaper (MC) POV:

---

Ah, this is annoying.

I was dancing amidst the flames. 

For almost an hour, in fact.

Looking down, I could see the Golden Reapers cheerfully smiling, chatting amongst themselves, and dancing along with me.

You all seem to be enjoying yourselves.

Actually, I had started dancing in a somewhat resigned state of mind.

It was impossible to move the skull, and the red moon showed no signs of approaching.

To hell with it all!

I thought, and just started dancing first. But it turned out to be the right answer.

A spotlight shone down on me from above, and the red moon began slowly approaching me.

Judging by its approach speed, it seemed I'd need to dance for about 3 hours.

The dance model I had in mind was the quirky dance of a black penguin that I had seen in photos before.

But since I had never actually danced before, it was quite difficult.

Just as I was thinking, 'So I just need to keep dancing until the red moon is right above and it'll be over?', another obstacle appeared.

Objects started swarming in from all around, attacking me.

So I had to overcome the Objects' interference while dancing nonstop for 3 hours amidst flames that turned sand into glass?

On top of that, I had to deal with that building-sized, fire-breathing skull beforehand.

Is this really something a human could do?

No, before questioning if it's possible, figuring out the method of destruction itself seems impossible.

Fortunately, I didn't need to deal with the approaching Objects myself, I just needed to keep dancing diligently. 

The Golden Reapers took care of any Objects trying to disrupt the party, with the attitude of 'We won't forgive anyone disrupting our fun!'

Any approaching Objects were instantly shredded by the Golden Reapers like being put through a crusher.

3 hours. 

I hope it passes quickly.

***

Seo-ah POV:

---

After the pillar of light descended from the sky, the moonlight gradually grew weaker.

Gray Reaper must have done something. 

The scorching moonlight emanating from the red moon also became almost powerless.

Now the temperature had dropped to a normal level, no need to hide inside the Golden Reaper pyramid anymore.

Moreover, the desert was gradually shrinking.

No matter where I looked, east, west, north or south, there was nothing but the horizon in the desolate desert before.

Now when I looked around, I could see a transparent dome and the familiar forest of buildings beyond it.

All these phenomena occurred after the pillar of light appeared.

Perhaps Gray Reaper is trying to save people at the place where that pillar of light is?

The distance to the pillar of light seemed close enough to walk.

With the cheerfully dancing Golden Reaper placed on my palm, I slowly walked towards the pillar of light.

I should go welcome Gray Reaper!

***

Sehee POV:

---

A dance party broke out in the Gray Reaper isolation room without Gray Reaper.

It started with the Golden Reaper.

And then Yerin started following along when she suddenly saw the Golden Reaper start dancing.

Of course, we couldn't keep up with the Golden Reaper's infinite stamina, and after collapsing from exhaustion while gasping for breath, Yerin and I watched TV.

As if the Golden Reaper's sudden action wasn't for nothing, the news showed a shocking video.

Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum.

It was a high-definition video capturing Gray Reaper dancing with awkward movements and the Golden Reapers dancing innocently around it.

The Reapers were seen dancing under a brilliant spotlight in the center of the desert.

And around the skull where Gray Reaper was dancing, people were gathered in a circle.

Superstar Gray Reaper?

What kind of situation is this?

"Unnie! Unnie! I see Seo-ah there."

"Ah, she looks safe fortunately."

We were relieved to spot Seo-ah's appearance in the briefly shown video.

As expected, the trustworthy Gray Reaper.

The guardian deity of our Research Institute!

---

T/N: The reaper can be mischievous at times, don't you think?