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I’m not someone who frequently has nightmares.

Thanks to my lack of imagination, the patterns of my dreams are surprisingly similar.

I’m either being chased or getting killed.

And this situation right now was a prime example of a nightmare.

“Huff, huff…”

I was running endlessly, pushing through a mass of flesh.

“Hah… Ugh…”

“…”

“Phew…”

I glanced at the other three running alongside me.

Other than Yu Da On, none of them were in a good state.

Song Ah Rin was moving her legs while stifling pained moans, and Jang Chae Yeon was staggering as if dizzy.

Running away like this wouldn’t solve anything.

First, I needed to send those two to the next compartment, then we would follow after…

“Da On.”

“Yeah, Jae Heon.”

“We need to…”

“No.”

Before I finished speaking, Jang Chae Yeon interjected and firmly replied.

“Then, you two…”

“Well, it’s up to you…”

“Anyway, the moment we part ways, we won’t survive.”

Jang Chae Yeon looked at me with resolute eyes.

“Let’s find a way to escape.”

As our gazes met, she smiled to reassure me.

“…I have one idea.”

“Speak up sooner.”

Song Ah Rin mumbled as she repeatedly inhaled and exhaled deeply.

“You all know, right? This goes beyond our common sense.”

At least for now.

I had thrown everything we had at that monster in front of us, only to realize that it didn’t actually work.

The fact that I might be the only person sane enough to even be near it was already a problem.

“I’ll look for an exit.”

“How?”

Jang Chae Yeon looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Dialogue.”

I pulled out the manual from my pocket, and it opened casually.

[Manual for Office Staff]

[Containment Object – Aestheticism]

[Caution: This object is extremely dangerous. Simply approaching it can lead to mental contamination, and ordinary Management Agency employees will not survive.]

1. Run away as much as possible.

2. If you can’t run, keep your distance and surrender to the insanity.

3. If you still can’t see a way to survive, you will face a fate worse than death for eternity.

4. So die beforehand. I’m sorry for not being able to help.

Holding the manual in hand, I looked at the three of them.

“Let’s not be afraid.”

That’s what Aestheticism would want.

-Creak, creak.

Footsteps echoed.

A familiar headache surged, causing my expression to contort involuntarily.

“Didn’t go far, did you?”

Aestheticism appeared with a friendly voice, as if meeting an old friend.

“Ugh…”

Yu Da On groaned, clutching her forehead.

“Is there a reason you’re not running?”

“If we run, there’s no guarantee we can find an exit.”

“And?”

“To get an exit, of course.”

A smile appeared on Aestheticism’s freckled face.

“How am I supposed to believe you?”

Believe what?

“Not that you believe me.”

“Oh my.”

“You believe your curiosity.”

At my words, Aestheticism smiled with delight.

“What do you mean?”

“Look, I’m still standing here.”

I gestured toward the three people who still appeared relatively intact beside me.

“Right. I was curious about what my friend would think again.”

With a chilling smile, it locked eyes with me.

“What thought led you to wait for me?”

“…”

Sigh. I took a deep breath.

“You said art is human.”

“I did.”

“Then I’ve shown you everything I can.”

I didn’t know much about art.

Because of that, I could understand what kind of art this creature wanted.

People are art. And my fearless demeanor.

To this twisted creature thirsting for art, I must have been a spark of inspiration.

“If you spare me this time, you’ll get to see even more art next time?”

“Even though you’ll come to kill me?”

Aestheticism smiled, and I nodded back.

“That too would be the pain of creation.”

“Oh my.”

It smiled gently.

“To be honest, that’s not a perfect answer.”

“…”

“But I like the answer.”

Aestheticism waved its hand.

A distant rumble echoed.

“Then, I’ll be looking forward to it.”

It winked as it looked at me.

“Since we made such a fun promise. How about a Q&A session?”

Q&A?

Why would I have questions for this creature…

“For example, someone like you.”

Aestheticism pointed at one person with its finger.

“…”

Jang Chae Yeon was staring intently at Aestheticism.

“You must be curious to ask me something.”

At its words, Jang Chae Yeon’s eyes widened as if she realized something.

“…Aren’t murderers supposed to forget?”

“Have you ever seen a creator forget their own artwork?”

Jang Chae Yeon whispered, and Aestheticism laughed joyfully and replied.

“So, who are you looking for? Your sister, perhaps?”

“…”

Jang Chae Yeon gazed at Aestheticism.

Her eyes were filled with a hatred I had never seen before.

“Where is she?”

“Ugh, that expression is so tiresome, it’s exhausting.”

Aestheticism continued with a playful grin.

“Your sister is currently a wonderful piece displayed in my finest gallery.”

At those words, Jang Chae Yeon’s expression crumbled instantly.

The hatred was replaced by an expression of pure fear and helplessness.

“…Where…”

“Not in this gallery, but in the compartment I invested the most effort into.”

Jang Chae Yeon’s hands trembled, and Song Ah Rin grabbed her wrist.

“White hair.”

“…I know.”

Jang Chae Yeon quietly replied to Song Ah Rin’s calm words, pulling her hand away.

Aestheticism watched them with a smile.

“If you get invited there or can go, you might meet her.”

“…”

“Is that enough for you?”

With a swish, Aestheticism turned its body.

“I hope next time it’ll be a more beautiful subject.”

A terrible smell of paint spread, and when I blinked, only red paint was splattered on the floor.

“…Hah…”

The tension in my body released, and I struggled to hold up my collapsing legs as I looked at the others.

“We’re alive, at least.”

“…”

Yu Da On and Song Ah Rin nodded.

“Chae Yeon, are you… okay?”

“…Yeah, I’m fine.”

Jang Chae Yeon nodded in response to my question.

“I’ll find her someday.”

I felt as if flames were igniting in her eyes.

“But where is the exit?”

“I heard it earlier; it seems to be coming from behind us.”

“Then let’s head out. My arm hurts.”

With a light comment from Song Ah Rin, we all began to walk.

“…”

Silence followed.

No one spoke first.

“Wow, that was intense.”

Yu Da On broke the silence.

“Right? How did the Management Agency survive against something like that?”

“I’m curious about that too.”

Even if the Management Agency was humanity’s last fortress, how on earth did they manage to overcome something like that?

“I’ll kill it someday.”

Jang Chae Yeon’s quiet words interrupted our chatter.

“Without fail.”

Her resolute words left us speechless.

*

The exit was easy to spot.

Numerous people were lined up, pointing at a single location, and at the tip of their fingers sat a beautifully crafted door.

I scanned the people.

[Name: People]

[Age: Created six years ago]

[Specialty: None]

[Talent: None]

[Background: They are merely a milestone.]

[Vulnerability: —]

They were people too.

“Is that the exit?”

“I hope so.”

I replied to Yu Da On’s muttering and moved forward, reaching out for the door.

As soon as I grabbed the doorknob, a translucent window appeared.

[Critical: 0->2]

A terrible smell of paint greeted us,

“Ugh…”

Before we knew it, we were standing in front of the Human Resources Team’s office.

“What’s going on? Guys!”

The Team Leader’s surprised voice echoed as he rushed in.

Then he scanned us with sharp eyes and hastily yelled as he moved toward Song Ah Rin and Jang Chae Yeon.

“Compound fractures and trauma. Call the medical team immediately! Especially for our youngest!”

“My ears are ringing…”

As I supported Song Ah Rin, who covered her ears with one hand, I felt a strange sensation in my pocket and reached in to pull it out.

[Looking forward to the day we meet again.]

A beautifully written note was tucked inside my pocket.

The note smelled horrifically of paint.

*

Upon hearing that I had been captured by Aestheticism, the Gangseo Branch Chief sighed, as if the ground was collapsing beneath her.

“I’m really trying to let you rest, you know? You can’t blame me for this sort of thing, can you?”

After a few moments of groaning and worrying, she looked at me with a serious expression.

“Suspension.”

“Huh?”

Suspension? What did I do wrong?

“Not that kind of suspension.”

The branch chief waved her hand hastily.

“Where is your hometown?”

“Um… it’s not far.”

I’m not a country bumpkin, just an office worker living independently.

“Good.”

The branch chief smiled with satisfaction.

“Call your parents and tell them you’re going to visit after a long time.”

“Um…”

“Don’t look at me like that; I’m also getting scolded from above for this. They’re asking why I keep making you work and if it’s bullying.”

She spoke with a pitiful expression before breaking into a bright smile.

“Just lock yourself in your hometown, breathe, and do nothing but browse the internet. Kids nowadays don’t sleep because they do it lying down…”

“Smartphones?”

“Exactly, smartphones!”

With a click, she placed a white piece of paper on the desk and hastily scribbled something down.

<Kim Jae Heon, is going on vacation.>

She handed me the paper written in a dull style, smiling at me.

“Give this to the Human Resources Team’s team leader.”

“…Uh…”

“Got it?”

“Ah, yes. Sure.”

“Also, tell your teammates to go home and rest too.”

“Yes, understood.”

They’re offering me a vacation; I have no reason to decline.

“Then have a good trip!”

With that, she waved me off, and my unexpected vacation back to my hometown began.

*

“Mom! I washed all the lettuce!”

Yu Da On smiled brightly with an excited face.

“I’ll prep the grill too!”

Jang Chae Yeon also smiled softly as she prepared the grill,

“Ugh, ugh… uh, um, umm… Mom… I’m preparing side dishes too…”

Song Ah Rin, with one arm in a cast, blushed as she stuttered several times while laying out the side dishes.

“Hey, why? What on earth?”

“Oppa, are your hands idle?”

“I’m doing it…”

I looked at my little sister’s sharp remark and stared blankly at the three of them preparing a meal in our house.

They were chatting merrily, sounding happy.

How on earth did it come to this?