Seoul Object Story
Chapter 87: The Kkachisan Conference: Epilogue (2)

Hehe, I got another new ability after defeating that red moon.

I could now summon the Garden of Golden Reaper into reality! Isn’t that cool?

This ability was fantastic—it could cover an entire area with the Garden of Golden Reaper, or I could just bring out a part of it.

Even though it was a bit less powerful than the original ability, it was still super awesome.

I never imagined I could bring to life the imaginary stuff created by the hopes and dreams of the Golden Reapers!

If the Golden Reapers started to think more practically and less like children, this ability would become even better.

But it was fine even if they didn’t, I like it just the way it was. Now, I could take out snacks and eat them anytime, anywhere.

I summoned a piece of bread from the garden and took a big bite.

Om nom nom-!

Hehe! Now, even if I ended up on a deserted island, I wouldn’t starve.

Hmm, I’m bored, might as well test this new ability.

In the late afternoon, the Gray Reaper and I were lounging on a mat in the backyard of Sehee Research Institute, enjoying our picnic.

Om nom nom-!

The Reaper picked up a tasty-looking cornet¹, took a small bite, and chewed it slowly.

It munched away with this totally indifferent expression, but with its cheeks puffed up like a squirrel, I could tell it was enjoying every bite.

In some ways, this picnic seemed like any other we had at the research institute, but today was a bit different.

Cornets were sprouting on top of the trees.

Hot chocolate flowed like rivers.

Marshmallows floated in the sky like fluffy clouds.

The backyard of the research institute had turned into a fairytale wonderland.

I really wished Sehee Unnie could have joined us. These days, she was soooo busy with work in the director’s office.

It’s not often that we get to see such a fairytale-like scenery, so it was a little disappointing that unnie wasn’t here.

The Gray Reaper had twisted reality to create this fantastic landscape, but the strange thing was it was the first time I had seen it do this.

As I watched the Reaper use its new ability, I couldn’t help but think…

Didn’t it suddenly show off a new ability last time, too? Was it when Sehee unnie was kidnapped?

After it rescued Sehee unnie, Reaper suddenly started to give off a very pleasant smell.

And after the Dobong-gu case too!

Right after that incident, Reaper all of sudden summoned a mini version of itself but with golden skin!

That little detail totally slipped my mind because it was just so cute.

It seemed like the Reaper had suddenly acquired a new ability again. But how though?

D-don’t tell me! Was the Reaper hiding its power all along?

In an officetel with thick black curtains—a safe house Agent Black had secretly prepared.

Inside, Agent Black sat across the blonde young lady, only a table between them.

Their expressions couldn’t have been more different. Agent Black was serious, while the blonde young lady smiled happily.

“Young miss, please share what you know with me. It’s necessary for me to understand what’s going on.”

“I don’t know much either, ahjussi. After I was attacked by that monster and lost consciousness, only to wake up again as an Object.”

The girl opened her palm wide and let out a faint breath. A moment later, a flame burned brightly above it.

“I don’t know whether it’s a characteristic of Objects, or If I’m just special, but I know what I can do.”

She continued with a mischievous expression as she played with the flame in her hand.

“First of all, If I even so slightly come into contact with sunlight, I will die. As for my abilities, I can revive the dead and even transform into a bat.”

“That’s… the abilities of what people called vampires, aren’t they?”

“Uhmm, yeah. It really feels like I am a vampire, especially with my red irises. But there are quite a few differences. I can breathe fire, and I can feel the fire pumped by my heart circulating throughout my body.”

The flame on her palm gradually grew in size, becoming as big as a basketball.

“If you’re a vampire, what about blood?”

“Unfortunately, I have to drink blood to survive. It is what seems to feed the flame that burns inside my heart. If the firewood ever runs out, the fire flowing through my veins will do what sunlight does to me: set my whole body on fire.”

Upon hearing this, Agent Black fell into deep thought.

The blonde young lady felt her heart rumbling in her chest as she waited for his response with bated breath.

What if he hates me and calls me a monster? What will I do then?

She shifted restlessly, already contemplating a last resort.

“Okay. So, how much and how often do you need to consume blood? While avoiding the Association President’s eyes is critical, your need for blood is the most pressing issue.”

Despite all her fears, Agent Black’s concerns were totally different.

For some reason, it felt like the flames flowing through her veins were even more hotter. Yup, that’s why her skin was flushed. Totally.

“I… I don’t need much. Your blood is probably enough.”

In truth, she just didn’t want to drink anyone else’s blood.

“Ah! There’s also some vague information mixed in. Would you like to hear it?”

“Please tell me anything. We still have too little information.”

Clearing her throat, she spoke in a low voice.

“Make the moon. Stand in the desert. Your heart will lead the way.”

She spoke deeply as if imitating a famous person.

“Were those words something you heard from someone? It sounds that way.”

“Those words came to my mind as soon as I woke up on the altar, with a knife stuck in my heart. I don’t know who said them or why those even words came to mind.”

“It would be wise to keep that in mind. It certainly seems crucial to understanding the situation.”

Agent Black took brief notes on what she said, jotting down more thoughts at the same time.

Watching him keep on writing stuff in his memo she got annoyed, grabbing his cheek and turning his gaze towards herself.

“Forget this. There are far more important matters!! We must find those Trinity researchers and seek revenge.”

A sinister smile bloomed on her face.

My personal room in the research institute, which I prided myself on keeping document-free, was currently filled with numerous books and materials.

“Ugh.”

A groan naturally escaped my mouth.

“I don’t want to study.”

The evil ‘Daily Object’ had once again given me a headache.

Thanks to the black penguin that caused so much chaos killing and injuring a lot of people, the laws suddenly changed.

Now, all individuals as well as organizations dealing with ‘Objects’, including media companies were required to have specific certifications.

Sure, certification had always been a thing for research institutes, but for those institutes established before the law was enacted, only needed to prove their containment performance.

So, of course, our institute, one which contained the Gray Reaper, was exempt from certification due to our excellent containment performance!

However, the law changed. Now everyone needed a certification after a three-month introductory period.

But… It’s so difficult…

I couldn’t believe such an ordeal had come upon me, who had been grinning like a fool when I heard that the difficulty of the certification exam would increase to prevent an overabundance of Objects research institutes.

AGHHHH!! Instead of laughing back then, I should have studied in advance!

Knock-! Knock-!

It was an ordinary knock, but for some reason, I had a strong feeling that I should never open the door.

Knock-! Knock-!

“You are inside, aren’t you, Director Lee Sehee? Please, can you open the door quickly?”

And as expected, Seoah had come here to harass me.

I heard there’s an audit coming for every Object research institute regarding their management systems, was that why she’s here?

So, I just crept closer to the door, locked it, and began a sit-in protest.

“I just did what was customary! I’m not wrong!”

“Director? Director! Open the door quickly!”

Bang-! Bang-! Bang-!

The knock on the door sounded even scarier.

In a private room in Oh Muryong’s mansion.

“Grandpa!”

A girl with blonde hair and blue eyes hugged Oh Muryong, with a bright smile on her face.

“There~ There~ My dear granddaughter.”

Oh Muryong patted the blue-eyed girl with a happy smile.

Knock-! Knock-!

A sharp knock rang out from the door.

“Tsk… Sweetie? Looks like it’s already time for this grandfather to return to his work. So can you go back to your room and play there?”

“Yes, Grandpa!”

As the blue-eyed girl exited, a man entered, bowing his head deeply.

“President.”

“What is it?” Oh Muryong’s voice was cold.

“We have erased all traces of the Young Lady’s visit to the Kkachisan Research Institute.”

“Hmm, good.”

Oh Muryong turned away, satisfaction in his voice.

The man bowed again and left the room.

Once alone, Oh Muryong approached the fireplace and activated a hidden mechanism.

A dark, foreboding entrance opened up.

It was a grand underground secret passage, that had been meticulously concealed.

Oh Muryong descended, his steps echoing in the underground passage, and entered an elevator.

He descended even deeper underground, finally arriving at a seemingly high-tech laboratory.

Right on cue, the researchers dressed in their lab coats flocked to him and bowed their heads.

Here, in the absolute depths of the underground institute was what he was looking for.

A cryo pod.

Inside lay a beautiful blonde girl with deathly pale skin, her body devoid of any blood whatsoever.

Taking out a locket pendant, Oh Muryong became lost in his thoughts, staring at it with an intense gaze.

“I can’t lose her like this. No! I absolutely can’t!”

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