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Management Agency Hospital.

It was notorious among the staff, especially the office staff.

Since the office staff hardly ever visited, there was much talk about the veiled identity of this place.

Rumors spread that the field staff, deemed useless, were turned into subjects for human experiments or that criminals were brought in for the Management Team’s containment object exploration.

Whether true or not, the hospital inside the Management Agency was a place of dread for the employees, shrouded in nothing but bizarre whispers.

“Here, take this.”

As I pondered useless thoughts with my dizzy head, a round pill with a purplish hue was shoved into my mouth.

“Ugh, cough!”

Suddenly, something round went down my throat, and soon after, I was shivering at the metallic taste of blood flooding my mouth when someone spoke to me.

“This is for when you’ve lost a lot of blood. The side effects include slight insomnia and that pesky blood taste while you eat?”

“What about… the treatment…”

“That was fixed along the way. You won’t even have a scar.”

I lifted my head to find the source of the voice.

Brown hair, eyes that looked like they were still closed, and the warm sunlight shining from behind.

“…Branch Chief?”

“Feeling a bit better?”

The Gangseo Branch Chief stood before me, looking intently at me. Well, “looking” might be an understatement.

“The medication works quickly, so your blood should be circulating again in no time.”

“…”

She was right. What on earth did they put in that medicine? Just as she said, the fog in my head cleared immediately, and my vision began to sharpen little by little.

“…Where did you get this medication?”

“Do you think this is medicine?”

“…Is it not?”

“Heh, knowing it won’t be good for your mental health. But it’s good for your body, you see. The clinical trials are finished, and many people have taken it.”

What on earth did this woman give me to eat?

Coughing due to the lingering taste of something metallic in my throat, the Branch Chief handed me a glass of water.

“You had quite the trouble again.”

“…Branch Chief.”

“You seem to have a lot of questions?”

She looked at me with a smile in her eyes.

“Where should I start?”

“The nursery.”

Right, the nursery.

“Is everyone else okay?”

“Everyone else?”

“The ones who were blocked off with the pinwheel…”

“Oh. Don’t worry about them.”

She smiled gently.

“They’re back to normal.”

“…That’s a relief.”

Even so, they were children. Leaving them like that wasn’t pleasant at all.

“Anyway, I was curious why Kim Chan Ho had decided to raid the nursery.”

The Branch Chief pulled out a broken rosary.

“Do you know what this is?”

“…I know.”

Thanks to that, I died once and came back.

“This is… um. Where should I start explaining?”

“About the church?”

“Oh, if you know that, it’ll be easier to explain.”

Clapping her hands, she continued.

“Kim Jae Heon has been through a lot by now, so he should know about the organizations at odds with the Management Agency.”

“Right.”

Like the theater company or the hospitals.

“The church is a bit different.”

“Different, how?”

“They don’t directly oppose us. In fact, even when we attack, they just take it.”

“…I see.”

“But they’re not entities to be taken lightly.”

“…”

“They have their own agendas. They talk about gods and whatnot, but still…”

The Branch Chief trailed off before continuing.

“Anyway… for that, they need the sacrifice of others.”

“Sacrifice?”

“Yes. For example.”

She held out the broken rosary to me.

“To use this rosary, ten human lives are required.”

That’s a complete evil item with bad cost-effectiveness.

“So, recharging that rosary?”

“Not quite.”

She shook her head.

“You remember the hands that appeared when we left, right?”

“…Yes.”

Aren’t those the hands that tore me apart and left me like this?

Looking down at me, the Branch Chief continued.

“They probably made a deal.”

“A deal?”

“To recharge the rosary, or perhaps something bigger in return.”

“What could that be…”

“We’ll have to find out slowly. This time, one of our ace individuals went, so he should be back quickly.”

“…We can trust him, right?”

“…I understand that your distrust comes from the recent series of events with Kim Jae Heon…”

She smiled bitterly and continued.

“It was that person who saved Kim Jae Heon earlier.”

“Ah.”

That rolling man.

“So, don’t worry.”

“Understood.”

That man seemed capable enough to handle it.

“Alright, then…”

With a grunt, the Branch Chief stood up.

“I’m off? There’s something else I need to go break.”

“You could have stayed if you were busy.”

“Oh, taking care of things like this is part of being a superior.”

“…Right, Branch Chief.”

“Yes?”

She looked at me.

“…Just a moment.”

Song Ah Rin had told me.

That if many people found out about the reincarnators, the plan would unravel.

But maybe it would be okay if this person found out?

She possessed overwhelming strength and had ample experience. Wouldn’t things be significantly easier if she were informed?

“You seem like you want to say something.”

“…That’s true.”

The Branch Chief looked at me with a soft smile.

“I’m ready.”

A warm breeze flowed in through the window.

“…Huh.”

I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

“Branch Chief, I’m fighting against the reincarnators.”

*

The Branch Chief looked at me with a soft smile.

“I’m ready.”

A warm breeze blew in through the window.

What in the world is happening?

“Tell me, quickly.”

“Branch Chief, didn’t you just hear me?”

“Yes?”

“I’m telling you, I’m fighting against the reincarnators.”

*

The Branch Chief looked at me with a soft smile.

“I’m ready.”

A warm breeze flowed in through the window.

“Branch Chief, I am facing the reincarnators—”

*

The Branch Chief looked at me with a soft smile.

“I’m ready.”

A warm breeze flowed in through the window.

“…No. It’s nothing.”

Something is happening.

It’s strange. When I talked to Song Ah Rin, there were no issues like this.

It’s not just any reincarnator. The moment I try to give a hint, time winds back like a spring unwinding.

First, I should gather my thoughts. And then, I’ll consult others besides her.

“Oh my, your expression really looks dreadful. Are you really okay?”

She looked at me with concern, and I could only nod.

“…I am.”

“Got it. See you later, then.”

She smiled, waved, and walked out.

“Others should be coming soon, so make sure to talk well.”

“Understood.”

With a click, she exited the door.

What on earth is happening?

“…Ugh.”

I tried to adjust myself to sit up but had to lay back down because of the ripping pain in my side.

“Jae Heon!”

She said she would come in soon. And here she comes.

Bang, the door burst open, and Yu Da On ran in.

“Jae Heon…! Are you okay now?!”

Right. Let’s test this on Yu Da On.

“Da On, this is important.”

“…Yes.”

At my words, Yu Da On immediately straightened up.

“I’m fighting against the reincarnators.”

Silence loomed.

Could it be that time rewound again—

“…Reincarnators…?”

Hearing my words, Yu Da On tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

“Reincarnate? The one I know?”

“Wait a second, Da On. Can you hear me?”

“…I can.”

She looked at me like she was gazing at someone in pain.

“I’m fighting against the reincarnators right now.”

“Uh…”

Yu Da On blinked and nodded.

“Reincarnators… got it. What can I do?”

“…”

Can she hear me?

“No. Just remember it.”

“Yes!”

Yu Da On nodded with a smile.

But why is it just Yu Da On?

“Da On.”

“This wound—wait, what?”

Yu Da On lifted her head in response to my words.

“What about Chae Yeon and Ah Rin?”

“Uh… Why those two?”

For some reason, it felt like her voice had lost some emotion.

“No, it’s just… Da On is here, but why aren’t the others?”

“…I don’t know either.”

She replied with a smile and perched on the edge of the bed.

“I’ll keep you company until the other two arrive!”

She looked at me brightly as she smiled.

“Well, that sounds—”

-Click!

The door opened, and Jang Chae Yeon walked in.

Jang Chae Yeon stood expressionless, staring ahead.

Was it just my imagination that Yu Da On’s smile cracked slightly?

Yu Da On turned her head towards Jang Chae Yeon, who briefly met her gaze before slowly walking to my side.

“…Are you okay?”

Soon, breaking the silence, Jang Chae Yeon looked at me with concern.

I nodded in response to her question.

“I’m… not fine, but I’m okay.”

“Good. That’s a relief.”

Jang Chae Yeon sighed in relief.

“Oh, right. Chae Yeon.”

“Yes?”

“I’m fighting against the reincarnators.”

“Uh-huh?”

“Can you hear me?”

“Uh-huh.”

“What do you think about that?”

“I don’t think anything.”

What on earth is happening?

“Something is going on.”

“That’s right.”

“I understand. Just tell me.”

With that, Jang Chae Yeon shut her mouth again.

If that’s typical of her, then I wasn’t surprised.

“…But, where did Song Ah Rin go?”

“…I don’t know.”

Jang Chae Yeon slowly shook her head.

“Why?”

“…No, I’m just saying Ah Rin might be hurt too…”

“She probably isn’t hurt as badly as you are.”

Yu Da On replied with an icy voice.

“Not being able to manage her safety means hurting others.”

“…”

What should I even say here?

I glanced at Jang Chae Yeon, but she too turned her gaze away, avoiding my eyes.

“If it were me and her… we would have handled it better.”

“…That doesn’t mean it was Ah Rin’s fault.”

At my words, both of them turned their heads away.

“People can get hurt while living.”

“…Still, I wish it wouldn’t be you, Jae Heon.”

Yu Da On muttered softly.

“…Let’s talk when Ah Rin comes.”

And until the following night, Song Ah Rin never came to find me.