The courtyard of Sehee Research Institute, bathed in the warm sunlight unlike the purple-moonlit snowfield, radiated a cozy glow.
I was lying on a fluffy marshmallow under the sun.
And above me, countless Golden Reapers were clinging on tightly, rolling around with joyous expressions.
Truth be told, I was utterly shocked when I first met the Golden Reapers after waking up from my dream.
Since Golden Reapers don’t wander where humans aren’t around, I thought for sure I wouldn’t get caught!
I suspected the Sprout Reaper who followed and detected my dream might’ve snitched, but they shook their heads vigorously claiming innocence.
In fact, there was something quite troubling in this dream, so I had planned to return immediately.
That’s how I ended up getting apprehended quietly within a snowman and escorted to Sehee Research Institute.
The Golden Reapers seemed to think I might run off, so they watched me curiously as I cooperated.
But what the Golden Reapers demanded of me turned out differently than I expected.
Lying in the courtyard of Sehee Research Institute with the Golden Reapers, endlessly rolling around and munching on snacks!
Come to think of it, the Golden Reapers always did love clinging onto me.
Had I annoyed them by peeling them off my body recently and tossing them aside, prompting this wish?
I thought they’d punish me harshly with something like “drink one liter of evolution liquid,” but surprisingly, they’re pretty chill.
I secretly hid evolution liquid in the ground beneath Gwanak-gu just in case they decided to act up later…
Hehe.
The Golden Reaper crunched on a uniquely textured long snack, finding it tastier than expected, then offered it to me.
“Mommy!”
As I greedily munched away on the snack, the Golden Reaper giggled happily.
“!”
Then other clung-on Golden Reapers joined in, each holding their favorite snacks and shoving them into my mouth.
It felt like torture—a scene where a human’s stomach would tear apart from overeating.
And in this courtyard of Sehee Research Institute where such cruel “torture” unfolded, others also suffered alongside me.
Four Orange Reapers were buried up to their necks in flower beds, looking much like sprouts.
What could they have possibly done wrong for mini reapers to bury them like that?
Orange Reapers especially hate sand or mud sticking to them…
So naturally, their usually calm expressions were now severely wrinkled with displeasure.
Meanwhile, the Red Reaper was gleefully playing in the mud nearby.
With hands full of dirt, they smeared it all over the Orange Reapers’ fur while building sandcastles.
Next to them, a White Hungry Ghost, its limbs bound and a candle wick stuck into its abdomen, was crying softly.
Hoo-hoo.
Seeing it tied together with the Orange Reapers, it seems the White Hungry Ghost and the Orange Reapers must’ve attempted some kind of rebellion.
While admiring this bizarre spectacle in the courtyard, lunchtime approached, and Yerin waved cheerfully as she came closer.
“Reaper!”
Yerin greeted me with her usual smile after not seeing me for a while.
And I started staring intently at Yerin’s neck.
Actually, the reason I allowed myself to be captured was simple.
Because I had to come back to Sehee Research Institute to check on Yerin anyway.
At first, I thought it was just a dream, but there was something nagging at me.
The timing and number of the Purple Reaper appearances were slightly concerning.
They showed up right after an hour-long struggle and defeating “Nameless.”
And not just one but several appeared.
It didn’t quite make sense that they would appear after destroying the purple moon.
It felt more natural to assume they emerged after killing multiple disguised hermit crabs.
If that’s true, does that mean the hermit crabs in my dream became real?
‘Then…could there also be alternate-world mini Yerins?’
That’s when it hit me.
A perfect circular mark encircling Yerin’s neck, resembling a purple line.
Though it looked too neat, almost like it was drawn with a pen due to being an object-related scar, it was definitely a scar.
‘No way! My Yerin!’
I felt heartbroken thinking she got hurt because of me.
Ever since arriving at Sehee Research Institute, Yerin had sensed something odd about the reapers.
‘The reapers are acting strange.’
This began right at the entrance of Sehee Research Institute.
At the tiny golden reaper guardhouse built like a woodpecker’s nest near the front gate.
A worried-looking golden reaper popped out and patted Yerin’s neck gently.
Afterward, every mini reaper she encountered glanced at her neck, startled, then wore expressions of concern.
Yerin had never paid much attention to the scar she’d had since childhood, so she didn’t find it unusual.
Mini reapers usually ignored it altogether, so their sudden interest made her feel uneasy.
Even the normally indifferent Gray Reaper gasped upon seeing her, prompting Yerin to inspect her old scar in the mirror out of curiosity.
But nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Beneath the endless waterfall of evolution liquid, the blue girl and her master stood ready.
After guiding survivors safely to a nearby city, they returned to survey the sinkhole area.
“There’s no way to prepare for something of this scale.”
Her master gazed upward at the cascading waterfall of evolution liquid with a troubled expression.
“If we can’t resolve this situation, humanity will likely have to live atop mountains in about thirty years.”
The blue girl added quietly, flipping through her notebook filled with equations: “This is quite serious.”
She then smiled faintly and said,
“But by that time, I should’ve reached a level capable of handling this as both an infinite-growing magical book and alchemist.”
Her master chuckled lightly at her playful tone before responding seriously,
“Yes, I trust you. ‘The Last Alchemist.'”
His face hardened again as he continued,
“I’m heading to the kingdom’s capital to report on the evolution liquid problem. You focus on your tasks.”
“Yes, I will.”
The blue girl replied earnestly.
This situation carried many implications.
The disappearance of the moon protecting humanity and the collapse of cities.
The contamination of evolution liquid and the survival of the magical book.
Is evolution liquid truly beneficial to humans?
However, the blue girl believed the master’s words wouldn’t resonate much.
The alchemy guild had already become akin to ‘that man’s’ private property.
Carrying a faint premonition that this hermit crab would play a significant role in the future, the blue girl held it close and set off with the enlarged white hungry ghost.
Under the beautiful starlight now shining down, the courtyard of Sehee Research Institute remained serene.
I was still lying there.
Apparently, the Golden Reaper had no intention of returning me to my bed.
Lying here for three days straight feels excessive.
And next to me, the White Hungry Ghost with a candlewick embedded in its abdomen cried softly.
Hoo-hoo.
The White Hungry Ghost illuminated the courtyard of Sehee Research Institute day and night for three days as a living candle.
Given their only request was to lie and play together, I assumed they weren’t angry based on their cheerful demeanor….
But judging by the atmosphere, the Golden Reapers intended to stay here resting for over a week.
There’s no way I can remain here when comfortable isolation rooms exist.
‘!’
Then an idea struck me—something better than merely lying here idly.
An adventure-filled method brimming with dreams.
The walls tinged brown.
The ceiling so low that a mini reaper jumping could reach it.
The passage so narrow that arms couldn’t stretch fully.
The Golden Reaper cautiously advanced along the labyrinthine corridors, tense and wary.
The Golden Reaper wielded a large shield and short sword.
Behind them, the Red Reaper carried a flaming spear.
Bringing up the rear was the Blue Reaper, clutching a staff.
A perfectly balanced party consisting of a warrior, spear-wielding soldier, and mage.
Suddenly, a shadowy monster materialized before them.
‘Attack!’
The Golden Reaper raised their one-handed sword, exuding determination.
The Golden Reaper pushed forward with their massive shield, while the Red Reaper jabbed with their fiery spear from behind.
Kreeeeek!
The shadowy creature burned fiercely, letting out agonized screams before vanishing.
In its place appeared three large star-shaped candies.
The mini reapers each took a candy, happily munching as they continued down the corridor.
How long had they wandered this maze?
After considerable effort, the Golden Reaper discovered something unusual.
‘Stop!’
The Red Reaper with their flaming spear and the Blue Reaper with their staff halted immediately.
Before the Golden Reaper stood a grand, ornate door.
‘Boss Room!’
The door glimmered ominously with shadowy hues.
With slightly excited expressions, the trio pushed open the dungeon boss’s final chamber.
As the Golden Reaper stepped into the room filled with endless darkness, torches lining the walls ignited, illuminating the boss room.
When the shadows receded and the vast chamber revealed itself, a deep voice echoed.
“You’ve finally arrived, challenger.”
On a towering platform stood the final boss, revealed to be a Violet Reaper with its seashell horns transformed into demonic horns by shadows.
