---

With Park Ye Eun’s help, we quickly cleared the barricade. After all, she was the one who built it in the first place.

“If you have this level of ability… you could work at the Management Agency.”

I approached Park Ye Eun, leaving Aileen, who had sparkling eyes, behind, and our gazes met.

“Uncle.”

“…Yeah.”

Hearing that ‘uncle’ title never quite gets old, even though I’m not the age to be addressed as one.

Seemingly unaware of my disgruntled feelings, Park Ye Eun stared at me and asked.

“Are you part of the Management Agency’s Isolation Team?”

“Um… no.”

“Then where are you from?”

“Human Resources Team.”

“…Huh?”

To my surprise, she looked at me as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“Hu…Human Resources Team?”

“Yup.”

“Why is the Human Resources Team here…? Oh, could it be that they came to scout me because of my ability? Human Resources Team is really tough! You have to jump into danger to save people!”

“Um…”

“That’s definitely the Management Agency. I heard the work is rough…”

“Let’s just let her think that.”

While I watched Park Ye Eun, who was happily chattering away in wonder, Song Ah Rin whispered to me.

“Oh, I’m sorry. This way, please.”

After a brief excited chatter, she snapped back to reality and started to lead us.

“Here it is.”

Park Ye Eun stood in front of a white door and turned to face us.

“I heard this place is safe… Apparently, most of the teachers and kids are hiding here.”

“…Is this really the right place?”

The question wasn’t mine.

Song Ah Rin wore a serious expression as she peered beyond the door.

“Yes, it’s right.”

“…Hey.”

“I’m listening.”

With narrowed eyes, Song Ah Rin muttered, “There’s an incredibly weird aura beyond the door—”

-Creak.

The door automatically opened, and a black mass surged toward us.

“Everyone—”

As Park Ye Eun was about to step inside, her eyes widened.

-Bang!

Aileen, who was ready, shot something without hesitation.

-Thud!

The rushing mass stopped, having been hit by the bullet.

“…Huh?”

Park Ye Eun muttered, seemingly unable to comprehend.

“This is insane. Ugh…!”

And then Song Ah Rin began to gag against the wall as if she sensed something.

“The smell…”

Yu Da On also watched the scene with her nose pinched.

Before us stood the massive flesh wall.

It leaned against the narrow door, as if trying to push its way out, oozing blood from bullet wounds.

If it were just a flesh wall, I wouldn’t have reacted this way.

-Grrr…

-Ooorrggh…

From the mass came groans, and at times, limbs and eyes could be seen peeking through.

“…”

I too struggled to suppress the rising nausea at the sight before my eyes.

[Name: Many Who Have Become One]

[Age: Created 30 minutes ago]

[Specialty: Oneness]

[Talent: Union]

[Background: The pinwheel asked, ‘Do you want to live?’ They replied, ‘Please let us all go.’ The pinwheel responded, ‘Then I will make you all one.’]

[Weakness: Find the pinwheel and reverse the wish.]

“Uh, uh? Uh?”

The one who was struggling to accept the situation the most was indeed Park Ye Eun.

“Uh… Why… safe, safe…”

-Creak…

Leaving behind the dazed Park Ye Eun, I closed the door.

-Grrr…

-Thunk…

As I painfully forced the creaking door shut, with a loud click, it finally closed, and I turned my attention to the others, opening my mouth.

“For now… let’s find the pinwheel.”

“Ugh…!”

Behind my silent statement, I heard Song Ah Rin gag.

*

It didn’t take long for Song Ah Rin to regain her composure.

“…Are you okay, Song Ah Rin?”

“That was… a truly horrible thought.”

After hearing my words, Song Ah Rin seemed to still be on the verge of gagging, covering her mouth as she murmured.

“What did you hear?”

“…It’s better not to know.”

Cold sweat beading, Song Ah Rin whispered.

Should I attempt a method with Yu Da On?

“…Don’t associate the black-haired one with me.”

“How did you know?”

“I could tell just by looking at your eyes.”

Song Ah Rin mumbled as she looked at Yu Da On.

“I’d rather get connected ten times with the white-haired one than with that person.”

There’s really no need to hate her that much.

“And let’s not turn to me, go comfort that little girl instead.”

Song Ah Rin pointed at Park Ye Eun.

Park Ye Eun walked around, looking dazed.

“…”

Honestly, no matter what I said right now, I didn’t think it would get through to her.

“Hey.”

“…”

“Ye Eun.”

“…”

“Park Ye Eun.”

“…”

She merely followed us, completely out of it since seeing that flesh wall earlier.

“…Give her some time.”

Aileen, who had been observing, stood next to me and softly murmured.

“She’s in shock.”

“…”

“I know that feeling well. Let’s just wait until she regains her senses.”

“Understood.”

Leaving behind the dazed Park Ye Eun, I waved my hand to summon the others.

“First, we need to catch someone named Kim Chan Ho. If not, we need to recover the pinwheel.”

“I’m on board with that.”

Yu Da On nodded in agreement with my words.

“Song Ah Rin.”

“I’m listening.”

“I’ll be watching closely, so if you sense anyone or anything suspicious, please let me know.”

“…Okay.”

“I know where they are.”

As Song Ah Rin nodded and was about to tell the others to set off, Park Ye Eun stood beside us, murmuring in a small voice.

“I think I know where the teachers went to meet. I have a pretty good idea of where they are.”

“In that case…”

“Please follow me.”

Slowly, she began to lead us. The three of us took a moment to glance at the way she was moving and then followed behind her.

“…Uncle.”

“Yeah.”

I don’t know how long we walked, but Park Ye Eun turned to look back at me.

“If it’s you, uncle… can you save our teachers and children?”

“…Well, I can’t just make promises.”

“But I’ll try every means I have.”

“Okay.”

With a determined nod, Park Ye Eun began walking again, leading us further down the corridor.

Suddenly, we heard something collapse from afar.

“That’s a flesh wall coming out.”

“Right.”

“I’ll move faster.”

Understanding our conversation, Park Ye Eun quickened her pace.

I was lost in thought as we dashed down the long corridor.

There’s no problem in breaking the flesh wall. The Critical is there. However, what I wanted wasn’t the death of the flesh wall.

I didn’t know how many people were clustered together within that wall, but I couldn’t kill them.

“…”

In that moment of thought, a translucent window floated in front of me.

[Reinforcement: 1 Time]

Should I use this?

“…”

“Arrived!”

Just as I was sorting my thoughts on how to use my ability, a panting Park Ye Eun’s voice made me snap my head up and look at the door.

It read “<Teachers' Room>” in a child-like, uneven handwriting.

“If we’re welcoming guests, this should be the place.”

“…Da On.”

“Yes.”

With an air of confidence, Yu Da On stepped forward and opened the door.

-Crack!

The moment she did, a blade came flying, slicing her neck and spraying blood everywhere.

“Cough…!”

With both hands gripping her neck, Yu Da On gasped for breath, and after a brief moment, she quickly returned to her normal state and glared inside, scanning the surroundings.

“That’s…”

As Yu Da On began to speak again, a voice rang out.

It was the voice of a high-pitched man.

“State your wish.”

“…Huh?”

Yu Da On’s steps faltered as she entered.

“If you say ‘save me,’ I will grant your wish.”

“…Huh…?”

Looking around in awe, Yu Da On questioned the voice.

“If you want that neck’s wound to heal, I can help with that.”

Yu Da On looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“It says if I say to save me, it’ll save me?”

“I can hear it too.”

If it promises to save you regarding a cut to your neck?

“I’m not dying from something where my breath is obstructed by a cut…”

“Usually, that would kill you,” Song Ah Rin murmured, standing beside Yu Da On, seemingly in disbelief.

“…Isn’t that odd?”

“Very strange.”

“If you keep going like this, you’ll end up dead. Isn’t your life the only one you have?”

“No, I’m telling you I’m not dying! How am I supposed to die from this?”

As Yu Da On spoke with a look of shock, Song Ah Rin and I exchanged glances.

“It’s as if it’s predicating that someone’s going to die upon entry here, right?”

“Exactly.”

“And yet it’s still saying the same thing after seeing that your neck returned to normal.”

“…Like it’s programmed or something.”

Our gazes met, and simultaneously, we stepped into the room.

“…”

“…”

Nothing happened.

“Jae Heon. W-What…? There’s nothing here…?”

Yu Da On was stroking her neck and stood beside us.

Somewhere, the sound of wind could be heard.

A pinwheel was spinning proudly on a desk.

“It seems there’s something we didn’t think of.”

I looked at the pinwheel, and soon the translucent window appeared above it.

[Name: Pinwheel]

[Age: -]

[Specialty: Twisted manifestation of wishes]

[Talent: Twisted manifestation of wishes]

[Background: A child wished with a pinwheel. ‘Please make my mother healthy.’ The pinwheel fulfilled that wish. His mother became a carrier, and that village became one where a plague rampaged, leaving it uninhabitable.]

[Weakness: The tool is only a tool.]

“Containment objects don’t always have a self,” I said.

The pinwheel spun in my hand.

“A being that grants wishes incorrectly, placed before a desperate person.”

-Creak!

With a crackling sound, the high-pitched man’s voice played again.

“If you say ‘save me,’ I will grant your wish.”

“If it asks for a wish, another disaster is bound to occur,” I mused.

Next to the spinning pinwheel lay a tape recorder.

“…”

I picked up the pinwheel and called Jang Chae Yeon.

After a brief ringing, Jang Chae Yeon’s cold voice came through.

“Yep.”

“Have you arrived?”

“No. But a reinforcement just went out. I’m here watching over the team leader and the kids.”

With a loud bang, I heard the team leader scream from beside her.

“To the right! To the right!”

“Reinforcement?”

“You’ll find out when you see. There’s a bit of trouble here too.”

“Nobody’s gone out, right?”

“None.”

“Understood.”

“Yeah, I’ll come once this is over.”

“Oh no! Chae Yeon! Save me!!”

A sound of crashing came from the phone, and I hung up to glance at the others.

“Let’s go.”

I couldn’t let this slide.

“We’re catching that trash.”