Seoul Object Story

Late at night, large fireworks began at the expo site, far from Sehee Research Institute.

Along with the distant, small sounds of fireworks, the lights adorning one side of the sky softly illuminated the institute.

Though it was time when most employees should have gone home, people were gathered in the institute’s backyard, spending time eating food and drinking.

It looked like a company dinner.

The reason for all this was just one thing: the mini Reapers.

For some reason, today the mini Reapers wouldn’t let their attached humans leave the institute.

It had been a normal day, but as quitting time approached, Sehee Research Institute began to descend into chaos.

Golden Reapers clutching pant legs as if saying “don’t go,” collapsing and being dragged along the floor.

Blue Reapers hiding in corners, throwing water droplets like snowballs at security team members working in 5 teams on 4 shifts.

Black Reapers using their powerful strength to firmly fix both feet, making movement impossible.

And Sprout Reapers endlessly returning people to their original positions when they tried to go down the institute stairs.

In a normal research institute, this would be a situation where people would shout…

“Finally the mini Reapers show their true colors!”

But Sehee Research Institute wasn’t normal.

Though the researchers initially tried to go home, as this continued, their thoughts turned elsewhere.

Could something be happening?

Are dangerous Objects roaming outside?

Such thoughts began to arise because the mini Reapers had always shown superior ability in detecting Objects.

And the one who put a period to these concerns was Institute Director Lee Sehee, who had recently disappeared somewhere without going home.

“Today is a festival! A party!”

With those words, the party began.

The researchers enjoyed barbecue and beer in the spacious, well-decorated backyard while watching the expo fireworks, and the mini Reapers walked thump thump around their attached humans.

Caught up in the party atmosphere, researchers with slightly reddened faces played with their attached Reapers.

Om nom nom.

A Golden Reaper munching on chocolate became interested in the golden liquid its researcher was drinking.

The Golden Reaper usually wasn’t interested in alcohol since it didn’t look sweet and smelled unpleasant.

But perhaps because the Golden Reapers had gained experience and become more interested in their attached humans, many Golden Reapers showed interest in beer.

“Want to try?”

Usually, researchers were reluctant to give alcohol to Golden Reapers because they somehow felt like children.

At that moment, one brave researcher was pouring a little beer into a small cup made for Golden Reapers.

Many researchers watching this wore expressions asking ‘Is it okay to give alcohol to Golden Reapers?’

But that researcher steadfastly handed the alcohol to the Golden Reaper with the logic ‘Well, Golden Reapers aren’t human anyway!’

The Golden Reaper stared intently at the suspicious-smelling beer, then stuck out its tongue and lightly licked the surface.

After tasting the beer like that, the Golden Reaper tilted its head, wrinkled its face slightly, then drank it all at once.

Bleh-

The Golden Reaper stuck out its tongue as if it had eaten something bad.

And as if asking why humans drink such things, it started throwing light punches at the researcher’s cheek.

The Golden Reaper threw punches for a while, then, perhaps losing interest, hopped back onto the table.

But the Golden Reaper couldn’t maintain its balance properly and slipped, falling with a thunk.

Hehe.

The fallen Golden Reaper smiled embarrassedly.

“Our Golden Reaper is drunk?”

The researcher poked the Golden Reaper’s soft cheeks while watching it struggle to maintain balance.

Then, the Golden Reaper giggled as if ticklish, grabbed the researcher’s finger, and lightly bit it with an ‘ang’.

The Golden Reaper was already affectionate normally, but after drinking, it smiled more and bit more frequently.

Seeing this, researchers began offering beer to their own attached Reapers.

It was a peaceful everyday scene at Sehee Research Institute.

But the party didn’t last as long as expected.

At some point, all mini Reapers suddenly stood up and began looking at the sky.

Even the drunk Golden Reapers instantly sobered up by emitting golden flames from their entire bodies, and turned their heads toward where Mother was.

Humans are in danger!

Mother is calling!

And the mini Reapers, raising their antennae as if receiving radio waves, scattered in all directions at once.

Leaving only a small number to protect Sehee Research Institute, most disappeared somewhere.

“Somehow I felt this would happen.”

The researcher endlessly stared at his palm where, until just moments ago, a Golden Reaper had been waving goodbye, and muttered in a small voice.

His voice echoed softly through the now-quiet party venue.