Seoul Object Story

It was the usual emotionless Reaper, with a somewhat indifferent expression. But since this was their normal face, it oddly made me feel even more at ease in this situation.

As I descended the stairs, I frowned upon seeing the giant pig statue straight ahead. Yeah, the burning steel pig statue certainly had an imposing presence that drew your gaze right in.

After observing the pig statue for a while, the Reaper started looking around as if searching for something…until spotting me and instantly appearing right before my eyes in the blink of an eye.

I knew the Reaper could move like a ghost through the research facility, but this was ridiculous. Seeing them effortlessly bypass walls and obstacles made me realize our isolation rooms were basically pointless formalities…

“Reaper! You came!”

I hugged the Reaper tightly upon seeing them up close. It was nice to see them, but mostly I just felt immense relief knowing I wasn’t alone anymore.

Of course, I already knew the Reaper wasn’t the terrifying death guide depicted in legends. They’re intelligent and capable of guiding rescuers by revealing locations, which is why I wasn’t too worried about survival.

“It was scary, Reaper. Someone died just hours ago – some woman who played violin. Can you believe she ended up dying here?”

“Do you still hear screaming? Whatever object is causing this, it’s definitely sinister.”

The Reaper simply stared up at me with wide eyes while nestled in my embrace. Though unable to speak, conversing with them felt strangely easy. Yerin Oh claims they understand language, but who knows?

“That pig statue seems to be the cause. Just the delicious smell coming from it reeks of harmful intent. If I weren’t trapped behind bars, I’d probably be drawn to it myself.”

Even now, looking around the other prison cells, countless hands reach out beyond the iron bars, completely fixated on the pig statue despite the Reaper’s intimidating presence.

“I should call for help to rescue these people, but this pig statue’s scent is interfering. We don’t know what phenomenon it’s causing, so we can’t act recklessly.”

Meanwhile, the Reaper had already turned their gaze toward the basement entrance behind the wall.

“Is there something over there?”

This silent, curiosity-driven Reaper reminded me a lot of cats. When they get interested in something else, they tend to vanish suddenly, so I’d better request assistance quickly.

“Reaper! Please call for help. Request extraction. Can you summon people from Sehee Research Institute?”

Despite my desperate plea, the Reaper continued staring intently at the entrance.

“Hmm…”

Suddenly, a heavy grinding noise filled the air as the stone door began to slide open. My breath caught – the old man had arrived! Or was it even human?

Under flickering lights, grotesque shadows danced across the walls.

Rather than human, the approaching shadow resembled a massive insect, its scuttling movements sending dust into the air.

Then, with a swift motion, the old man’s face emerged. Definitely the same face belonging to the old man who frequented this basement, though everything else looked off.

His elongated neck swayed unnaturally, with the head dangling precariously at the end like some serpent’s prey.

Beyond the long neck appeared spindly limbs sprawled across a spider-like body, crawling forward on all sides.

Paralyzed with fear, I clutched the Reaper tightly to my chest.

What is this?! What do we do?!

The old man grinned widely upon spotting me, his mouth stretching impossibly.

Help me!

While investigating the house after suspecting a hidden basement, I discovered a suspicious spot I somehow overlooked before.

Clear scratch marks marred the stone, evidence of frequent use. The candlestick nearby bore obvious signs of being used as a switch.

Upon grabbing the candlestick, a grating sound echoed as the heavy statue shifted aside, revealing a passageway leading to the basement.

The dim corridor resembled the gates of hell itself. From within, continuous screams of a woman rose into the air. This must be where Sehee was taken.

Praying those screams didn’t belong to Sehee, I carefully descended the dusty stone steps into the darkness below.

The basement scene was worse than expected.

Massive iron prison cells stretched out on either side of a central steel pig statue. Around the statue lay towering piles of charred bones.

Most disturbing was the pervasive smell filling the entire space. Though it seemed appetizing, I couldn’t identify exactly what kind of food it resembled.

Usually when something smells good, it evokes specific associations like ripe fruit or freshly baked bread. This smell lacked any concrete characteristics, instead blending burnt odors with an inexplicably tempting quality – clear evidence of an object-induced phenomenon.

Other signs pointed to object influence as well.

People packed inside the cells exhibited clearly abnormal behavior, mindlessly reaching toward the pig statue with glazed-over eyes.

Fortunately, Sehee was confined in one of the cells. Her relieved expression upon seeing me suggested she’d endured significant mental anguish. As soon as I entered her cell, she sprinted toward me and embraced tightly.

Holding me protectively, Sehee wore an expression of profound reassurance before launching into explanations about recent events and her analysis of the current situation.

Listening to Sehee, I contemplated how best to extract her.

Should I open the cell and lead her out?

Given the pig statue’s influence, Sehee would likely succumb immediately upon exiting the cell. Even now, she occasionally glanced toward the statue while speaking, indicating strong susceptibility once freed from the bars.

Call for reinforcements?

Uncertain whether we could defeat the owner of this house – a monstrous entity. Without firearms or explosives permitted in Seoul Forest, subduing the creature with cold steel seems impossible. Even bringing additional objects for combat would take too much time.

Just then, I sensed the monster entering the house.

Either our search took too long, or the thugs outside proved insufficient to hold it back.

Through the soundproofing, faint cries of “Rats have entered! Rats!” carried from below.

Judging by the grinding stone sounds reverberating through the basement, it wouldn’t be long before the creature arrived.

In mid-conversation, Sehee startled at the noise and clung to me with surprising strength.

Light footsteps echoed from the staircase – surprisingly delicate given the creature’s three-meter stature.

The basement lighting cast eerie shadows of the approaching monstrosity. Its elongated neck and limbs, along with desiccated mummy-like form, shocked even me despite expecting it.

Sehee squeezed tighter as the creature extended its head into view, culminating when it thrust its grotesque face toward her.

With trembling arms, I looked up to see Sehee simply closing her eyes and repeating “It’ll be okay…” mantra-like.

“Hmph, so you’re the rat.”

The creature bared needle-sharp teeth in a wicked grin.

But upon noticing me standing apart from Sehee, its expression gradually shifted to one of confusion.

“You!”

The creature’s serpentine appendages rapidly contracted, withdrawing like a turtle retreating into its shell.

“Who are you?! Why has an object like you come here?!”

Transforming back into an ordinary elderly appearance, the creature panicked openly, shouting hysterically.

“That woman! You’ve come for that woman?! Then take her and go, quickly!”

So this creature fears some objects but not others. Judging by its reaction, I seem to belong to the feared category – an object inspiring terror without provocation.

However, this elder appears far too intelligent to merely cower in fear. Now prostrate on the floor, it patiently awaited our departure.

Turning to Sehee, I sought her opinion. With the immediate threat diminished, her curious nature shone through her eyes.

“Reaper, what’s going on? Why is it acting like this?”

Amid Sehee’s questioning, the prone elder began changing again. As soon as I looked away, its limbs began extending…

Attempting a surprise attack while I’m distracted?

Its limb stretched silently toward my feet, producing an unsettling squelching sound as it grew.

Strangely, it seems to operate under the delusion that I perceive things visually like a human, regardless of whether I’m actually an object or person.

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