Seoul Object Story

Inside the gloomy security room of Sehee Research Institute—sealed off from the outside world for security reasons and filled with screens displaying countless surveillance feeds—the staff were fixated on a single monitor.

“Eiiiiii, no way a kid who sleeps that quietly would pull something like that. You’re messing with me because I didn’t see it, aren’t you?”

“You don’t believe your sunbae? I’m telling you, it’s true.”

The screen zoomed in, revealing the sleeping figure of the Bud Reaper with its blue skin, resting peacefully like a serene little angel.

“You’re saying that kid, with that sweet face, provoked you through the camera?”

“I swear it happened! Why would I lie about something so ridiculous?”

The senior security staff seemed to remember something and brought up the saved footage on the screen and said.

“Come to think of it, I don’t need to convince you. Just watch the footage yourself…”

But no matter how much he rewound and replayed the video, nothing unusual showed up—just the Bud Reaper snoozing soundly.

“Seriously… So many odd things happen around these Objects. Did I just imagine it?”

“As expected, this Bud Reaper seems like a harmless, well-behaved kid too,” the junior said with a smile, getting up and heading towards a stash of cup noodles hidden in the corner of the security room.

“I’m starving. Want some ramen too, senior?”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

As she prepared two cups of instant noodles, the junior continued, “You know, Blue Reapers have been acting a bit different lately. Friendlier, you could say.”

“Really? I wouldn’t know. I don’t interact with the Blue Reapers much.”

“They’ve definitely changed. It’s not just me. Some folks say they’ve seen them peel apples and stuff at home.”

The junior returned, carrying two steaming cups of ramen. Handing one over, the senior grumbled, “Ah, that familiar cup noodle smell. The institute’s raking in cash these days, but here we are, still eating this cheap stuff.”

The two ate and chatted idly about various things—the Bud Reaper gifting chocolates, rumors of a giant statue of the Gray Reaper made of gold hidden in the institute’s basement.

It was all unproductive banter, really.

“I’ll take out the trash,” the junior said, gathering up the empty cups and tossing them into a plastic bag before heading out.

Left alone, the senior leaned back in his chair, feeling drowsy as the lingering smell of ramen filled the room. He propped his chin on his hand, staring absentmindedly at the CCTV footage, just waiting for his shift to end.

Then, something changed on the screen showing the Bud Reaper. The creature’s eyes, barely half-open, suddenly met his.

“What the—!”

Startled, the senior shot up from his chair just in time to see the sprout’s eyes widen with a mischievous glint.

Bleh-!

It stuck its tongue out at him.

I wasn’t imagining it!

Just then, the door swung open, and the junior walked back in.

“Senior? What’s going on?”

But by the time the junior returned, the Bud Reaper’s playful expression was gone, replaced once more by the innocent look of a child lost in sleep.