Seoul Object Story

Chapter 431

After dealing with the lamp, I stood at the peak of a rocky mountain near the basin and looked down at the vast expanse below.

The sharp, jagged cliffs rose like spikes, as though they were about to pierce the sky. In the gaps between the rocks, dark green coniferous trees grew densely, filling the slopes of the mountain.

The sound of the leaves swaying in the wind had a strangely melancholic quality to it.

‘...’

I gazed blankly at the village situated in the middle of the basin, slowly moving towards its entrance.

Following the transparent stream that curved around the village, I stepped forward, listening to the rhythmic sound of the water.

The entrance to the village was blocked by a pile of rubble and broken rocks.

On the surface, it looked like the aftermath of a landslide, but the faint smell of blood mixed with the unmistakable scent of a gas lamp seeped out from between the rubble.

Well, even if a landslide had occurred, a village with people living in it wouldn’t suddenly be isolated to the point of starvation for no reason.

Turning my gaze, the Blue Grim Reaper stared at the village despondently.

Perhaps having learned this from TV, he clasped his hands together as though praying, making a small wish.

‘...May humans, too, have a world after death, like us...’

I passed by the Blue Grim Reaper’s prayer and once again looked around the empty village.

The well-maintained houses were covered in dust, and the untended gardens were overrun with weeds.

The rusty gates creaked in the wind, and abandoned fragments of daily life were visible through the broken windows.

Time and nature’s forces slowly erased the traces of human life.

As I continued to stare at the village with the Blue Grim Reaper, I heard the call of the Mini Grim Reaper.

‘Mom, I found it! It smells like the lamp!’

Upon hearing this, I lightly tapped the top of the Blue Grim Reaper’s hat and instantly teleported toward the Mini Grim Reaper.

The light floating sensation that comes with teleportation vanished, and I found myself standing in the middle of an unfamiliar landscape.

And against the backdrop of this strange scenery, the Golden Horn Grim Reaper waved at me cheerfully.

‘!’

Seeing this, I felt a bit surprised.

I thought all the Golden Horn Grim Reapers had run away due to their mass exodus?

Curious, I reached out and picked up the Golden Horn Grim Reaper. It giggled and clung to my palm.

Upon closer inspection, there were some differences from the usual Golden Horn Grim Reapers.

This one was slightly smaller and a little rounder than the typical Golden Horn Grim Reaper.

Looking at this, I realized the situation.

This Golden Horn Grim Reaper must have been born after the mass exodus of the others.

I placed the chubby baby Golden Horn Grim Reaper in my palm and began to look around.

This place was an odd blend of contrasting atmospheres.

On one hand, it looked like a ruin, with scattered concrete debris, as if there had been a massive earthquake.

But at the same time, people were seen working diligently to restore the collapsed facilities.

It reminded me of a time in Songpa-gu when restoration efforts were underway.

Of course, there were notable differences between this place and Songpa-gu.

Unlike Songpa-gu, I occasionally felt the presence of people hiding in the ruins of this city.

Hmm.

But strangely, this city felt oddly familiar.

‘So where exactly is the trace of the lamp?’

I looked down at the baby Golden Horn Grim Reaper in my hand and asked.

‘Over there!’

The baby Golden Horn Grim Reaper stretched out its tiny finger and pointed toward the debris-covered road ahead.

I followed its guidance, slowly walking along the road.

The sense of déjà vu grew stronger with each step.

‘I definitely feel like I’ve been here before...’

The baby Golden Horn Grim Reaper continued pointing toward the destination while occasionally glancing up at me.

Each time our eyes met, it cheerfully exclaimed, ‘Mom!’

It seemed like it was checking if I was following properly, though there was no real need for that.

After all, the baby Golden Horn Grim Reaper was standing on my palm.

Finally, I reached the end of the road under its guidance.

It looked as if it had been bombed—utterly destroyed.

The baby Golden Horn Grim Reaper jumped excitedly on my palm as we reached the destination.

‘Mom! This is it!’

As promised, the scent of the gas lamp was thick at the end of the road.

And as I sensed this, the true source of the déjà vu hit me.

This is the RS city!

The road, broken and soaked in blood.

The remnants of goblin campfires preserved by the people.

This was a city where people who had objects activated, like the Golden Horn Grim Reapers, lived together.

Was that black rust?

The problem was that this was the very place where I had previously destroyed a lamp.

I immediately turned the baby Golden Horn Grim Reaper into a dandelion for its useless information.

The baby Golden Horn Grim Reaper, now a dandelion, struggled to move its tiny limbs as it gave me a puzzled look.

‘Why?’

I gently placed the tiny dandelion in the charred remnants of the goblin campfire.

Hehe.

As soon as I turned the baby into a dandelion, I began hearing the will of many Mini Grim Reapers.

‘Mom, there’s a lamp here!’

‘Mom, I found it!’

‘Mom!!’

The number of voices announcing the presence of lamps was oddly overwhelming.

Had there always been so many lamps?

I narrowed my eyes and started moving toward the Mini Grim Reapers calling me.

‘Mom!’

‘The lamp’s here!’

‘Mom!!’

‘It’s bad!’

Mini Grim Reapers from all around the world continuously called for me.

And the number of calls was only growing.

As I heard them, a sense of foreboding began to settle in.

The chilly cold settled over the ruins of the temple.

[According to the contract, I can help you.]

[But there will be a cost.]

The quiet voice of the Lamp Man slowly echoed through the smoke.

Given the Lamp Man's abilities, it was an enticing offer, but Junior 2 felt something strange.

“Didn’t you sign a contract saying you couldn’t help with the Saint’s wish?”

Junior 2 didn’t answer the man but instead probed deeper into the suspicious points.

[Indeed, such a contract was made. But the help I offer is unrelated to the wish.]

The man spread his hands, and elegant lamps began to rise between them.

[It’s a simple contract where I offer you the ability you desire for a price, completely unrelated to any wish.]

“...”

Junior 2 thought this was nothing more than wordplay.

‘As expected, no matter the conditions, making a deal with the Lamp Man is unreasonable.’

[Then, would you like to make a new contract?]

As the Lamp Man extended his hand, smoke rose from the lamps, forming the shapes of her companions.

The ever-confident detective senior.

The senior who started using an increasingly large hammer.

And still the junior who was as small as an elementary school student.

The smoke formed her companions, almost as if they were alive.

[It’s a very light cost.]

[If you exclude one of these people from the salvation target... then...]

Junior 2 shook her head firmly before the man could finish his sentence.

“No.”

Her firm refusal seemed to momentarily surprise the Lamp Man.

But soon, his expression turned intrigued, and he slowly stepped back.

[Then I guess there’s nothing to be done.]

The man shrugged.

[After struggling and struggling to fulfill an impossible wish, I’ll wait for you to come to me in desperation right before the contract expires.]

With a snap of his fingers, everything around them vanished in an instant.

The images of her companions made of smoke, his form, and the light of the lamp all melted into the darkness.

As if nothing had ever existed.

‘Dangerous object!’

The Golden Horn Grim Reaper, furious, gnashed his teeth, releasing his anger.

Of course, the Golden Horn Grim Reaper's teeth were soft, so they didn’t make a clattering sound.

Junior 2 quietly embraced the angry Golden Horn Grim Reaper.

The warmth of the Golden Horn Grim Reaper’s unique warmth slowly warmed her cold body.

“Did I do the right thing?”

Junior 2 murmured softly, smiling faintly to herself.

The cold night air brushed her cheek. The deep night in the mountains was colder than expected.

“Now, let’s sleep.”

She curled up, wrapping her arms around herself, and began to prepare for sleep, relying on the warmth of the Golden Horn Grim Reaper.

It was too late and too far to go down the mountain.

Moreover, she couldn’t head to the Mini Grim Reaper Garden.

Given that she couldn’t control the actions of the Gray Grim Reaper, meeting him would be too dangerous.

So, she slowly began to drift off to sleep, feeling the warmth of the Golden Horn Grim Reaper in her arms.

The Golden Horn Grim Reaper looked up at Junior 2’s face with a concerned expression.

‘Human, you look cold...’

The warmth spread, deeply penetrating her, spreading comfortably throughout her body.

‘Human!’

‘Wake up!’

The cheerful will of the Golden Horn Grim Reaper echoed within the warm sensation.

‘Are you warm?’

As the will reached her, Junior 2 woke up in surprise, her eyes wide open.

What she saw was an entirely unexpected scene.

A soft bed spread endlessly on the floor.

A gentle canopy covered the sky.

And in the distance, a huge tree of gold and blue colors was visible.

It looked similar to the Mini Grim Reaper Garden but was definitely different.

Unlike the Mini Grim Reaper Garden, this place had a dreamy and warm feel, like the dream she had while lying in the soft bed.

‘Where am I?’

As Junior 2 wondered, the Golden Horn Grim Reaper presented her with a candy.

A candy with swirling golden and navy blue colors.

‘This is a warm dream!’

The Golden Horn Grim Reaper sent this will and giggled happily.