Deep Place of the Mini Reaper Garden, Marshmallow Plains.
I was meticulously carving a White Hungry Ghost that had mocked the Blue Idol Reaper.
With the intention to craft it into a magnificent [Swirling White Hungry Ghost Roast], akin to a Renaissance statue.
“Ah, I made a mistake.”
Was it because the White Hungry Ghost was made of marshmallows?
Or perhaps the ‘Filial Piety’ sword confiscated from the Ghost Reaper was too sharp?
Or maybe my knife skills were just terrible? Carving the White Hungry Ghost into a swirl kept failing.
Ddueng-heeng-heeng.
The White Hungry Ghost, its torso cut in half with a ‘pop’, emitted an aggrieved cry.
Hehe.
Just as I failed, the laughter of another White Hungry Ghost who had been secretly watching me rang out.
In that instant, I lunged at the laughing White Hungry Ghost and skewered it onto the many stakes surrounding me.
Because of such White Hungry Ghosts, there were plenty of slowly burning White Hungry Ghost kebabs around me.
So many that from afar, they looked like a hill of ghost kebabs.
“The White Hungry Ghosts keep going ‘ddueng-hee-hee’ even though they know this will happen…”
Perhaps it’s in their nature. The White Hungry Ghosts often did this.
Maybe the Mini Reapers, who eat White Hungry Ghosts without hesitation, were also frequently mocked by them.
Gripping the Regenerated White Hungry Ghost tightly and raising ‘Filial Piety’ again.
Crunch-crunch.
As the sound of slowly carving the marshmallow filled the air, the Regenerated White Hungry Ghost went limp, resigned to being carved.
While carving slowly, a strange noise began echoing from behind.
Ddu-hee. Dd-hee.
Turning my head, it was the wicked sound of White Hungry Ghosts trying to pretend the noise wasn’t theirs.
Gnash.
Too distracted by the ‘ddu-hee-hee’-ing White Hungry Ghosts, I accidentally ate away at the thin swirling part again.
Ddu-hee-hee-hee.
This caused another wail from the White Hungry Ghosts.
Hearing this, I stood up, causing the White Hungry Ghosts peeking between the skewers to scatter in all directions.
“I have to do something about the White Hungry Ghosts.”
Shaking my short tail, I resolved while watching the fleeing White Hungry Ghosts.
I’ll stop these cursed beings from ever laughing ‘ddu-hee-hee’ again.
As my anger fueled the firewood to blaze fiercely, I slowly drew out the Halo of the Labyrinth from above the sky.
Its white glow illuminated my face.
Though hesitating briefly at the anticipated pain, I steeled myself and placed the halo on my head.
Then I began imagining the most suitable form in my mind.
“A device to capture White Hungry Ghosts and burn them forever.”
“A size and power that can match the main body of a White Hungry Ghost.”
From the halo, a brilliant light emerged.
It looked like threads of white light but gradually thickened into a defined shape.
The power of fantasy manifestation started drawing the outline of a massive entity.
What was completed was the hollow frame of the Judgment Object of the White Hungry Ghost.
Once the frame was done, I summoned the Black Reapers from the Mini Reaper Garden.
“Mom!”
“What is it?”
“Do you need help?”
Slowly detaching the Black Reapers clinging to me, I projected my resolve.
“Ride the golem, Black Reaper.”
By playing with them once a month and providing snacks, I could hire the Black Reapers.
After some time of the Black Reapers wriggling into the frame…
“It’s complete!”
Finally, the object to burn White Hungry Ghosts was finished.
Massive, intimidating, blazing with the fire of firewood, empowered by the strength of Black Reapers.
I named this object the ‘White Hungry Ghost Incinerator Golem’.
“Arise.”
As my will spread, the golem slowly rose, its heavy footsteps resonating as it began to move.
“Burn all the White Hungry Ghosts!”
With my command, the golem leaped high into the sky.
Koo-ung.
Falling toward where the White Hungry Ghosts gathered, it unleashed flames in all directions.
Ddueng-heeng-heeng.
The White Hungry Ghosts screamed and fled but couldn’t escape the golem’s flames.
The golem collected the ghosts, now struggling with fire on their bodies, and stuffed them into its torso.
Looking up at the magnificent golem, I smiled.
“Ddueng-heeng-heeng”
The greatest feature of the incinerator golem was the sweet ‘ddueng-heeng-heeng’ sound heard merely by approaching it.
Hehe.
While enjoying the golem’s performance accompanied by the cries of White Hungry Ghosts, Golden Reapers riding White Hungry Ghosts began gathering around me.
Could they be here to tell me to stop tormenting the White Hungry Ghosts?
“Mom!”
“Mom, help!”
However, the intent sent by the Golden Reapers was completely different from what I expected.
It was filled with deep sadness and resignation.
What could possibly be the matter?
At a university hospital in downtown Seoul.
Among the Victims of Cognitive Ability Loss Incident housed in the hospital was a girl.
“Sorry. I’m so sorry, sister.”
In the hospital room, a short-haired girl spoke sorrowfully, but her older sister showed no reaction.
She simply lay there blankly on the bed.
Beside them sat the Golden Cloaked Reaper who had walked all the way to the hospital.
“…”
The Golden Cloaked Reaper watched the young girl worriedly from nearby.
“Poor humans.”
“It’s too late…”
“When will mom come?”
Even the Knights of Golden Reapers riding White Hungry Ghosts looked sadly at the cognitive ability loss victims, shedding tears.
“What to do about humans…”
Meanwhile, the White Hungry Ghosts were being slowly torn apart by the sad Golden Reapers.
Due to the Golden Reapers’ sorrow, the hospital was filled with a gloomy atmosphere.
Then, a slight change began spreading through the somber hospital.
Though somewhat excited, it quietly rippled through the sad environment.
“It’s the Gray Reaper.”
“Really?”
The Gray Reaper had appeared in the sorrow-filled hospital.
Tuk-tuk-tuk.
As the Gray Reaper led the Golden Reapers riding White Hungry Ghosts down the hospital corridor, they drew the attention of the hospital staff.
Seeming slightly annoyed by the attention, the Gray Reaper maintained their usual expressionless face while entering the room where the victims were gathered.
“Mom!”
“Mom, help!”
“Poor humans!”
As the Gray Reaper entered, the sobbing Golden Reapers rushed over.
Detaching the clinging Golden Reapers one by one, the Gray Reaper began slowly surveying the hospital room.
Having taken in all the victims, the Gray Reaper summoned the Mini Reaper Garden and swallowed all the cognitive ability loss victims whole.
Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the Gray Reaper vanished with a swish.
Both their appearance and disappearance with the victims were sudden.
It was nothing short of a natural disaster-like incident.
Naturally, the victims’ families panicked, making phone calls, shouting, and creating quite a commotion.
However, the Golden Reapers didn’t seem anxious, instead showing warm expressions of relief as they laughed softly.
Approaching the panicked people with their characteristic tuk-tuk steps, they sent comforting intents.
“Don’t worry!”
“Mom will take care of it!”
An office long unused, covered in thick layers of dust, lay silent and still.
What was once a lively place now seemed like a forgotten stage of memories.
Pale dust enveloped the furniture, bearing the weight of time.
Tsul-leok.
Then, the old blinds by the window broke the long silence, moving slowly.
As if an old clock had begun ticking again, the office began to awaken gradually.
The widening cracks letting in morning sunlight formed stair-like layers, illuminating the interior.
These beams of light danced with dust particles, breathing life into the sleeping space.
Simultaneously, faint footsteps echoed.
And despite the empty office, delicate fingerprints began appearing on the dusty desk, as if invisible hands were tracing old memories.
The sunlight grew stronger, shining into every corner of the office and warmly embracing the old wooden furniture.
Then, with a click, the TV turned on.
[All people who recently disappeared due to the Gray Reaper have returned.]
[According to official announcements, all missing persons were victims of the ‘Group Cognitive Ability Incident’.]
[Earlier breaking news reported that the victims had fully recovered, but a detailed examination conducted by the Object Association revealed shocking facts.]
[Medical examinations showed that the victims were no longer considered human.]
[Their biological composition had been replaced by ‘Rollicake’…]
The news from the TV filled the office.
That noisy TV sound felt natural, as if the office had always been like this.
Click.
After some time, the TV that had turned on suddenly turned off again.
Tap. Tap.
Then the sound of tapping a cane on the floor twice was heard.
