A Mini Reaper Garden floats gently above the Sea of Hot Chocolate, where a Candy House drifts along.
CrunchCrunch.
From within that Candy House, a sound of something crumbling begins to echo.
<Who…? Identify yourself!>
Hearing this voice, the Blue Reapers panic and cast a Scouting Magic—but it only brings them greater despair.
In the depths of the Hot Chocolate Sea, a Gray Reaper Shark emerges, its feelers poking out as it viciously bites into the Candy House.
The eyes of the Gray Reaper gleam with an unyielding desire for vengeance.
Splash. Splash.
Before long, the floor of the Candy House is punctured, and through the thick, chocolate-colored sea, a pair of glowing yellow eyes rise.
These eyes are fixed on the Blue Reaper who once swung a Marshmallow Hammer.
As if to say, “I’ve found you!”
<Eh... Mommy.>
Toward the crying Blue Reaper, a gray hand bursts forth from the Hot Chocolate Sea, slowly approaching.
With each slow advance of the hand, the Blue Reapers huddle together, trembling uncontrollably.
Like someone savoring their fear, the hand finally grabs its target—the trembling Blue Reaper.
Captured in the grip, the Blue Reaper pulls their hat low over their face, drenched in dread at what’s to come.
Then, a voice of divine will echoes toward the captured Blue Reaper:
“Should we put you in the washing machine like the Golden Reaper?”
Upon hearing this, the Blue Reaper bursts into tears.
Of course, their limbs would break, and they’d suffer greatly.
No, it might even be fatal.
And it would surely be slow and painful.
The Gray Reaper grins wider as they observe the shaking Blue Reaper and transmit their thoughts:
“Putting you in the washing machine might hurt too much—seems unfair.”
Relieved by this, the Blue Reaper thinks, “Mommy really is kind after all.”
“Then, your hat is confiscated—for one hour!”
While the Blue Reaper feels momentarily reassured, the Gray Reaper smirks evilly, snatches the hat, and flees to America.
The Blue Reaper runs their hands over their head where their beloved hat used to be, but it’s gone.
Without their cherished hat, the Blue Reaper despairs at the thought of enduring an entire hour without it.
Even as other Blue Reapers gather around worriedly to shield them, the void and anxiety within the Blue Reaper remain unrelieved.
<Eh… Mommy…>
The Blue Reaper can only cry helplessly, longing for their mother.
James, donning his specially designed protective suit, leads the investigation inside the Barrier.
His first task was categorizing and organizing the countless artifacts scattered within the Barrier.
“Wow, there are so many artifacts here. Quite a few designs resemble those of Artifact Number 0.”
James holds up a thick book with sharp edges, pondering.
It looks almost identical to his Artifact Number 0, except for its sharper cuts. This newly discovered book appears less weathered by time.
Unlike James’ artifact, the metal decorations and intricate patterns haven’t dulled with age—they remain pristine.
[James. Similar patterns are appearing here. Come check it out.]
Moving to the source of the radio transmission, James finds a massive stone block carved with peculiar runes.
This adult-sized stone block seems to have been part of a building or a tombstone, adorned with the same patterns as the book featuring the Blue Girl.
James orders the preservation of these apparent artifacts while instructing his secretary further.
[I guess we need to call archaeologists to the research institute. Someone needs to systematize and classify everything. We’d just end up doing things haphazardly otherwise.]
[Then, I’ll immediately post job openings for archaeologists. Recruitment should start about six months after James City is rebuilt, right?]
[No, now. With the End approaching, we can’t waste time. There are plenty of usable buildings still standing—it’ll work.]
As the secretary bows and retreats upon hearing James’ words, another figure approaches.
Due to the collapse of James City, work keeps piling up endlessly.
James, exhausted from staying awake too long, blinks repeatedly before asking,
[What is it now? It’s not budget-related, is it…?]
[A message from the ‘Mini Moon Observation Project.’ They’ve detected unexpected changes.]
Unexpected changes?
Other than the Indigo Moon’s appearance, there are more changes?
Looking up at the sky, he sees a large pale moon and the red, blue, and indigo moons.
Ah, indeed, it has changed.
[Inform them we’ve observed the changes. I’ll also search through Artifact Number 0 to see if there are any records of similar phenomena.]
Watching the departing figure, James sighs deeply and gazes upward.
To his eyes, the large moon shines not pale, but a distinct “gray.”
After finishing reports on the destruction of the Glass Flamingo and paperwork related to new Objects, I exited the Deputy Director’s Office.
Destination: Isolation Room of the Indigo Sprout Reaper.
The plant pot containing the Indigo Sprout Reaper in the Sleeping Room was moved far too late.
How could the researchers from the Object Research Institute neglect reporting such abnormalities?!
If I hadn’t noticed the commotion in the Sleeping Room and investigated, the Sprout Reaper might have stayed there indefinitely.
People claiming it was fine because the Sprout Reaper is cute, or saying the presence of Sprout helps them sleep better, tried hiding it.
Though isolating other derivatives of the Gray Reaper is difficult, the Sprout Reaper behaves well enough to be isolated—so it should have been done properly.
Shaking my head, I fed a Star Candy to the Golden Reaper.
Chomp.
The Golden Reaper happily munches on the candy with satisfying sounds.
Arriving at the isolation room where the Sprout Reaper was confined, I’m greeted by an unexpected sight.
The pot is covered in dirt, and the Sprout Reaper lies sprawled across the table outside the pot, looking dry and wilted.
Its small sprout atop its head droops lifelessly.
Startled, I pick up the Sprout Reaper and replant it back into the soil.
Will it recover now?
The Golden Reaper hops down from my shoulder, curiously observing the buried Sprout Reaper.
Seeing the weak state of the Sprout Reaper, the Golden Reaper pushes a Star Candy towards its mouth.
LickLick.
Slowly, the Sprout Reaper extends a tiny tongue and begins licking the candy.
I take a picture with my phone for documentation purposes.
Not out of personal interest, but for reference.
Title: <Ecology of the Sprout Reaper>.
Smiling softly at the image of the little tongue peeking out, I file away the photo.
<Mommy, you’re truly kind.>
Returning the hat, the Blue Reaper regains their spirit.
I originally planned to pretend I forgot and leave them hatless for a day, but the Blue Reaper cried too pitifully, so I returned it before the hour was up.
The Blue Reaper is too fragile; making fun of them too harshly feels tough.
Still, favoritism isn’t good, though.
Looking down at the Blue Reaper sitting demurely on my palm, smiling brightly up at me, I glance around.
The messy interior of the hotel resembles my own Isolation Room.
Yerin sleeps hugging numerous Golden Reapers instead of using blankets.
Golden Reapers sprawl across the floor, fast asleep.
On the table sits the Mini Hungry Ghost, staring up at me.
Squeezing the Mini Hungry Ghost’s belly produces a “Gurgle” sound.
As dawn approaches through the window, an amusing idea strikes me.
There’s not enough mischief here—we need more pranks!
Smiling at the white Hungry Ghost below, I turn to the cheerful Blue Reaper.
“Decorate this place like a party.”
Waking up, I find the hotel room completely transformed.
Made entirely of water, every decoration sparkles.
A water-made Christmas tree stands tall.
The hotel room looks like an aquatic-themed party venue.
Amidst this space, the Reaper sits atop the table, holding a fork and knife.
Various dishes cover the table, with two large bowls placed in front of the Reaper’s seat and mine.
Hidden under dome-shaped lids, the contents of the bowls occasionally rattle.
Surely, they didn’t put a Golden Reaper in there, did they?
Recalling the typical pranks Reapers pull, I sit down and lift the lid. A White Hungry Ghost stares up at me pitifully.
The Reaper frequently plays tricks on the White Hungry Ghost and the Cute Puppy.
Did the ghost do something to upset them?
The Reaper appears emotionless yet radiates pure joy.
“Gurgle”
The Hungry Ghost cries pitifully as the Reaper slices into it with the fork and knife.
