Reaper (MC) POV:

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After defeating the Red Moon, I gained a new ability.

The ability to summon the Golden Reaper garden into reality.

It could either cover the entire area or bring over only a part from the garden, a pretty good ability.

Considering it was a downgraded version of the ability, it was still quite decent.

The things in the garden were fictional products created from the dreams and hopes of the Golden Reapers, yet they could be materialized and brought over!

It seemed that if the Golden Reaper started having practical imaginations, it would become an even better ability.

Well, for now, it was the ability to take out and eat snacks anytime, anywhere.

I summoned a bread from the garden and took a big bite, filling my mouth.

Omnomnom nom~

Well, I wouldn't starve even if stranded on a deserted island.

Since I was bored, I might as well test this newly acquired ability.

***

Yerin POV:

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In the late afternoon, at the backyard of the Sehee Research Institute.

Gray Reaper and I were lying on a mat, enjoying a picnic.

Omnomnom nom~

Reaper picked up a conch bread and took small bites, chewing it slowly.

With an indifferent expression, the Reaper picks up the bread and eats it.

However, observing its puffed-up cheeks, reminiscent of a squirrel, continually moving as it ate, revealed its evident enjoyment.

In a way, it could be considered an ordinary picnic time at the Research Institute, but today was a bit different.

Conch bread on a tree.

Hot chocolate flowing like a river.

Marshmallows floating in the sky like clouds.

A scene straight out of a fairy tale unfolded in the backyard of the Research Institute.

It would have been nice if Sehee unnie had joined us for today's picnic.

These days, Sehee unnie was so busy doing something in her office.

Such a fairy-tale-like respite was a rare occurrence, so it was a bit regrettable that she wasn't here.

The Gray Reaper eroded reality to create a new landscape, something that had never happened before.

Watching Reaper display an ability I had never seen before, one question came to mind.

I think there was a time when it suddenly showed an ability before, wasn't it when Sehee unnie was kidnapped?

After rescuing Sehee unnie, she suddenly started emitting an attractive scent.

And during the Dobong-gu incident, it suddenly summoned mini Golden Reapers.

I had forgotten because they were so adorable.

It seems like new abilities keep appearing suddenly, but what could be the reason?

No way, could it be that the Reaper has been hiding its powers?

***

??? POV:

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In an officetel with thick blackout curtains.

A hideout secretly prepared by the black agent.

There, a blonde girl and the black agent sat facing each other across a table.

The serious expression of the black agent contrasted with the cheerful look of the blonde girl.

"Miss, could you share what you know? I think it's necessary to understand the current situation."

"I don't know that much. I was ambushed by monsters and lost consciousness, and when I woke up, I had suddenly turned into an Object."

The girl opened her palm and exhaled, 'Whoo', causing flames to flare up above it.

"I'm not sure if it's a characteristic of Objects or if I'm special. But I've come to know what I can do."

Playing with the flames on her palm, the mischievous-looking girl continued.

"First, if I touch sunlight, I turn to ash. And I can revive the dead and transform into a bat."

"That's... what's commonly known as a vampire."

"With this reddened iris and all, it does give off that vibe, but there are quite a few differences too. I can breathe fire, and I can feel the flames I create from my heart flowing through my body."

The flames on the girl's palm, which had been changing shapes, grew larger until they were the size of a basketball.

"If you're a vampire, what about blood?"

"Unfortunately, I have to consume blood. I need to eat blood to fuel the fire inside my heart. If the fire go out, the flames flowing through my veins will burn my entire body, just like being exposed to sunlight."

Hearing this, the black agent fell into deep thought.

Watching him, the blonde girl could feel her heart pounding rapidly.

What if the uncle dislikes me for being a monster?

If that's the case... what should I do?

The girl fidgeted restlessly, contemplating even the last resort.

"How much blood does she need to consume, and how often? Avoiding the gaze of the current Association President is the top priority, and it seems like 'blood consumption' will be the biggest issue."

Contrary to the blonde girl's worries, the black agent was contemplating something entirely different.

"I... I don't need to drink that much. Your blood alone should be enough for me." 

Though truthfully, she didn't want to drink anyone else's blood.

"Ah! And there's some ambiguous information too, do you want to hear it?"

"Please share anything you can. I don't have enough information right now."

Clearing her throat, the girl spoke in a soft voice.

"Create the moon. Stand in the desert. The heart will guide the way."

The girl imitated a deep voice, as if doing an impersonation.

“Is this something you heard from someone? It feels that way.”

"Those words just came to me as soon as I opened my eyes. I don't know who said them or why they came to mind. They were engraved in my brain the moment I woke up with a knife stabbed into my heart."

"It would be good to remember that information clearly. It definitely seems like essential information to understand the current situation."

The black agent simply noted down the girl's words, adding a few more points.

<Create the moon. Stand in the desert. The heart will guide the way>

<Create the moon - related to the red moon>

<Stand in the desert - connected to the red desert>

<A knife embedded in the heart. Flames created from the heart. The heart guiding the way?>

<Uncertain about the presence of Objects. Miss appears to have a valid identification. 'Nameless'?>

Watching the agent write, the girl grabbed his cheek and turned his gaze towards her.

"There's a more important matter. We need to find those Trinity researchers and get revenge."

The blonde girl grinned menacingly.

***

Sehee POV:

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My office room, which used to boast having no documents, was now filled with numerous books and materials.

"Ugh."

A groan naturally escaped my lips.

"I don't want to study."

My head ached because of the evil 'Daily Object'.

After the black penguin appeared, causing many casualties, the laws suddenly changed.

A new law required all individuals and organizations dealing with 'Objects' to have a specific license, including media outlets.

In fact, the Research Institute had needed this license much earlier, but for institutes established before the law, their quarantine records could substitute for the license.

Our Research Institute, quarantining the Gray Reaper, was naturally exempt from the license due to our quarantine records!

However, this new law introduced a 3-month grace period after which the license became mandatory no matter what.

But it's too difficult.

I had smugly laughed at the news that the licensing exams were getting harder to prevent mushrooming of Object Research Institutes. Little did I know such a trial awaited me.

I should have studied in advance instead of mocking others.

Knock knock knock.

It was an ordinary knock, but for some reason, it sounded like a knock I shouldn't open the door to.

Knock knock knock.

"Is Director Lee Sehee of the Research Institute there? Open the door quickly."

Ah, it was Seo-ah as expected.

Seo-ah came to bother me.

She said there would be an audit on the management system for the Object Research Institute, so that must be why.

I quietly approached and locked the director's office door and started a sit-in protest.

“I was just following protocol, I didn't do anything wrong!”

"Open the door quickly, Director!"

Bang bang bang.

The sound of knocking on the door is scary.

***

??? POV:

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A private room in the Oh Mu-ryong mansion.

"Grandfather!"

A blue-eyed blonde girl hugged Oh Mu-ryong with a bright smile.

"Oh, my granddaughter."

Oh Mu-ryong smiled pleasantly as he stroked the blue-eyed girl's hair.

Knock knock knock.

A polite knocking sound reverberated.

"It's time for this old man to work. Go back to your room and play."

"Yes, Grandfather!"

As the blue-eyed girl left, a man entered and bowed politely to Oh Mu-ryong.

"Chairman."

"Yes, what is it?"

The man raised his head and began his report.

"We have removed all traces of the lady going to the Kkachisan Research Institute."

"Un."

Oh Mu-ryong made a satisfied sound and turned around.

The man bowed and left the room.

After the man exited, Oh Mu-ryong approached the fireplace and manipulated something.

A dark entrance appeared.

A grand, carefully hidden underground secret passage.

Oh Mu-ryong slowly began walking down the passage.

Using an elevator to descend deep underground revealed an advanced laboratory-like setup.

When Oh Mu-ryong appeared, the researchers in lab coats rushed over and bowed their heads.

Deep in that underground lab was Oh Mu-ryong's goal.

A cryogenic pod.

Inside it lay a blonde girl, devoid of any signs of life.

Oh Mu-ryong took out a locket pendant from his pocket and muttered while looking at it.

"I can't afford to lose her like this. I absolutely cannot."

Inside the pendant was a photo of a smiling blonde girl.