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“But how do you plan to catch it?”

After declaring my intent to catch it, Song Ah Rin looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“I guess we’ll catch it while wandering around.”

“…Isn’t that a foolish way to do it?”

“Anyway, Chae Yeon is keeping watch outside, and the Team Leader is here, so we can’t just carelessly go out.”

I recalled the conversation I had with Jang Chae Yeon a moment ago.

‘No one has gone out, right?’

<Nope.>

In other words, no one has left the nursery yet.

So, what reason could there be for him to stay in this nursery?

“Da On.”

“Yes?”

“…Could you go with Aileen and, um, fix that wall properly?”

“…Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“There’s no problem taking anyone, but if things go awry, I think Song Ah Rin would be helpful.”

At my words, Yu Da On looked a bit dejected, while on the other hand, Song Ah Rin puffed up her chest with pride.

“Right, I’m really good against humans, you know?”

“…Ah Rin could die to a blind dagger, though. Wouldn’t it be safer for me to go?”

“…It’s not that serious, okay?”

With what seemed like hurt pride, Song Ah Rin scrunched her eyes.

“Well… let’s aim to prevent anything fatal.”

“Honestly, I’d do better going myself…”

“Of course, that’s not wrong, but if that wall goes wrong… it could be a big problem.”

It seemed like Song Ah Rin’s abilities wouldn’t work against that wall directly.

It’s not the best fit, but at least she should go where she can use her talents.

I picked up the ominously shaking pinwheel and handed it to Aileen, who cautiously held onto it.

“As you saw and heard earlier, this tends to grant the user’s wishes in a rather strange manner.”

“I know.”

With a tense expression, Aileen clutched the pinwheel in both hands.

“All I have to do is not wish for anything, right?”

“That’s right.”

“…This is nerve-wracking.”

With her youthful face filled with anxiety, she muttered.

“No, how can you be nervous after becoming the Team Leader for the Response Team?”

“I’m nervous because I’m the Team Leader. I don’t directly meet the containment objects.”

Aileen looked at me as if she were feeling wronged.

“If I were the Team Leader of the Isolation or Management Teams, I would have handled this with a smile, but this is my first time doing something like this.”

“So, I can somewhat understand.”

When I took our Team Leader to the amusement park, I think it was somewhat like this—being utterly shocked and trembling.

“Anyway, I’ll need your help.”

“…Got it.”

“Kim Jae Heon, you need to call if anything happens!”

“And Ye Eun? You’re coming too.”

“…No way.”

What is she saying right now?

Park Ye Eun shook her head firmly at my words.

“Hey, kid. Do you think this is a joke?”

Immediately, a fierce expression crossed Song Ah Rin’s face as she glared at Park Ye Eun.

“People can die, get hurt, and possibly face irreversible choices. Haven’t you seen your friends who turned into walls?”

“I know.”

“What do you know? You’re just a brat going through puberty. Do you really want a beating?”

“Hey, just because you’re similar in height doesn’t mean I’m a brat!”

“You really don’t give in, do you?”

“We know that we could die, right?”

“Ugh, you being here means I might die—”

As Song Ah Rin was starting to speak, she suddenly shut her mouth and lightly tapped my arm, muttering.

“…Do whatever you want, make your own mess.”

“Sure, why not?”

I met eyes with Park Ye Eun.

She looked at me with a cold expression.

“…I’m really going to go.”

“One reason you’re coming with us.”

“I know the way.”

“Let’s go then.”

“You’re crazy!”

Song Ah Rin yelled and hit my back, but I didn’t care and turned to look at her.

“Oh, what’s up?”

“Are you seriously going to drag a kid around just because you have one ability?”

“It’s not because of that.”

I stared intently at Park Ye Eun.

A strong will shone in her eyes.

People with such eyes never listen to others.

“I was worried you’d follow me even if I left you behind.”

“Oppa, you have a good eye for people.”

Park Ye Eun grinned, and Song Ah Rin squinted at me.

“Look at that sly girl. Didn’t you just call me ‘Uncle’ until a moment ago?”

“Yes, yes. From now on, call me ‘Oppa.’”

“Okay, Oppa.”

“…I’d rather follow the girl with black hair.”

Leaving behind the grumbling Song Ah Rin, I walked down the corridor.

“For now, there are two places left we’ve never been to.”

“Where are they?”

As we walked, Park Ye Eun held up two fingers.

“First, the Director’s Office. They said… um, the Director has some interesting stuff.”

“Interesting stuff?”

“I don’t know exactly what, but it probably isn’t anything like the pinwheel we just saw.”

“Got it. What’s next?”

“Next is the attic.”

She folded her last finger and continued.

“Honestly, there’s nothing up there. It’s more like a secret base just for the kids to hang out.”

“I see.”

“…Which one do you want to go to first?”

“The attic.”

“Huh? Not the Director’s Office?”

“Yep.”

“…Do you have a reason?”

Hearing our conversation, Song Ah Rin chimed in.

“I just thought about the ridiculous things we’ve been doing until now.”

So far, we had encountered directly only once, and indirectly fought about two or three times.

Based on my experiences up to this point,

“I thought the place would be dark, damp, and likely where shady stuff happens.”

“…That’s it?”

“Yep.”

“…Do I really have to believe this?”

“I’ll lead you to the attic.”

Leaving behind muttering Song Ah Rin, Park Ye Eun took the lead.

“Ugh, I don’t know anymore.”

Eventually, Song Ah Rin sighed and followed behind us.

*

“This is the way up to the attic.”

Park Ye Eun pointed at a ladder, looking back at us.

“Then I’ll go first.”

“…Are you sure that’s okay?”

Song Ah Rin looked at me anxiously as I grabbed the ladder.

“Is there anyone else who’ll go besides me?”

“…Me?”

Song Ah Rin pointed to herself timidly, and I couldn’t help but scoff.

“How long has it been since your arm got better? You’re good.”

As I climbed the ladder, a ceiling that could be opened came into view.

This is the attic I’ve seen in movies.

“Anyone could tell that something would tumble out if you opened that.”

“I know.”

“…Be careful for real.”

Song Ah Rin grabbed my sleeve again and then released it as I opened the door.

-Creeeak!

As soon as I opened the door, I heard something snap and fell above my head, causing me to let go of the ladder and tumble to the floor.

-Thud!

“Ow ow ow…”

A sharp pain throbbed in my back.

“Hey!”

“Oppa!”

Then Song Ah Rin rushed over and checked on me.

“Is anywhere hurt?”

“I’m fine. Just felt like something was going to drop so I fell as soon as I opened the door.”

“Geez, you scared me.”

Song Ah Rin mumbled, glancing to the side, where an axe lay fallen on the ground.

“Looks like this is the right place.”

“Can we really go in there…?”

Song Ah Rin looked at me with uncertainty.

But I wasn’t worried.

“There’s always a way.”

“…Well, if you say so…”

At her words, Song Ah Rin made a hand gesture as if she had no choice.

“Then I’ll go again. Don’t follow me.”

“Oppa, won’t it be dangerous?”

“If you follow me, I’m the one who’ll be in danger.”

With that, I began climbing the ladder again.

As soon as I reached the top, I found myself in a dark attic.

Did someone cover the windows on purpose? Even though I had arrived during the daytime, it felt like being in the dead of night there, unable to see anything.

“…”

A terrible stench of blood.

Turning my gaze to the side,

There lay a corpse.

A body dead with blades stuck all over it.

Is this the… special unit or whatever?

Had he come this far and fought against it?

Breathing heavily, a man continued to speak.

He seemed seriously injured.

“…How many did I lose to get this far?”

A high-pitched voice reached my ears.

“I didn’t lose anyone.”

“There’s no point in lying.”

“For real.”

Yu Da On had indeed died once.

“…”

After a pause in his high-pitched voice, he spoke again.

“…How about Aileen?”

“Why do you ask about Aileen?”

That name didn’t seem like someone I should be hearing here.

“You know nothing, do you? If history were to proceed as it should, she’d be someone who’d have to join us.”

If history were to proceed as it should, she should have joined us.

She who didn’t get hurt oddly at the amusement park, and the situations that went well for her.

Could she originally have been one of the reincarnators?

Then why isn’t she with the reincarnators now?

I had a feeling that I’d never seen this guy before, and even listening to Kim Chan Ho, she appeared to have been seeing him for the first time.

In other words, for some reason, she had not entered the reincarnators’ party. No, she couldn’t.

“Are you curious?”

The high-pitched voice let out a weird giggle, and I replied,

“No.”

What could I possibly be curious about? I’m in a conversation with the guy who dropped an axe on my forehead.

[Critical: 2->1]

As I took out my gun, the world turned black and white and slowed down.

In the monochrome world, a man wearing a black hood shone brightly.

[Name: Kim Chan Ho]

[Age: 31]

[Specialty: Storage]

[Talent: Storage]

[Background: He worked in the Management Agency’s Accounting Team, but had someone whisper about his future and fate.]

[Weakness: He’s just an ordinary person. If killed, he’ll die for good.]

Surprisingly, it was quite easy to see in the darkness.

-Bang!

Without hesitation, I pulled the trigger, the bullet embedding itself into his thigh—

-Ting!

From inside his clothing, a rosary I had seen at the amusement park fell out.

“What the—”

As he bled from his thigh, he swung his arm wildly.

“I’ve already gotten all I needed.”

[Critical: 1->0]

The world slowed down again.

I didn’t pull the trigger again and began surveying my surroundings.

In slow motion, blades charged towards me from all sides.

Normally, I would never have avoided them, but this time was different.

In the slow time, I calmly tracked the trajectories of the blades.

I took half a step forward.

I dodged a blade that was flying toward my side.

Bending slightly at my waist.

I miss a blade that was rushing towards my head.

My gaze remained fixed on the enemy.

The blade that was going for my neck could no longer threaten me.

All that remained was to pull the trigger.

-Bang!

The moment I pulled the trigger, countless blades brushed past me.

One grazed my side and I felt blood spill, and another knife raced toward my neck, just grazing me and leaving a thin cut.

But I hadn’t been hit anywhere directly.

“Ugh…”

Instead, in front of me was a man dying with bullets lodged in his solar plexus and thigh.

“Cough…!”

As he spat out blood, dark red liquid gushed from his mouth.

“Kuh, kuhuh…!”

His face was filled with ridicule.

“…”

I could understand why he was laughing.

He wanted to make me aware of how much precious information he’d lose by dying.

However, there were sufficient ways to obtain information.

Ignoring the bleeding man, I turned around and called for the necessary person.

“Song Ah Rin.”

“Yeah.”

Before I knew it, Song Ah Rin had come up beside me.

“Please gather the most important information in a short amount of time.”

“Don’t worry. That’s my specialty.”

Surprise appeared on his face when he looked at Song Ah Rin.

“Wha—”

“Shut up, you scum who only bullies kids.”

“Ugh, my head…! Aah…!”

Song Ah Rin looked coldly at the man, who writhed in pain and shook his head.

“…”

“Wait.”

Soon, the man’s expression became dull as he began to spit out words, and Song Ah Rin glanced at me before murmuring, beginning to repeat what he said.

“…”

With an expression of businesslike focus, Song Ah Rin listened to his words.

The expressions on his face while he was spilling the information were neither frustration nor sadness, just emptiness.

“I’ve got the gist of it.”

Before long, Song Ah Rin murmured something and stood next to me.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s too long to discuss here. And by the way, have I ever told you to talk and erase my memories?”

“Yes.”

“Geez. Looks like I’ll have to erase it again.”

-Thud!

At that moment, the ground trembled.

“Sis! Oppa! At home—!”

I heard Park Ye Eun’s urgent voice from below.

-Drip…

And I heard something melting behind me.

“…”

“…”

As Song Ah Rin and I turned around, Kim Chan Ho’s corpse had already melted away, leaving only bones.

-Thud!

The house shook.

“The house is weird!”

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

We quickly slid down the ladder, and

“Aaaaah!”

What I saw was Park Ye Eun screaming as countless hands erupted from the walls.