---

“So.”

– Wrrrrrrr!

As I continued to gaze at the endlessly soaring flames, Song Ah Rin made eye contact with me.

“What’s our secret?”

“…”

While walking on an unwanted snowy mountain, I thought nothing could be scarier than the cold.

But, I was wrong.

…

I avoided Jang Chae Yeon’s penetrating gaze.

“Hey.”

“…”

“Hey.”

“…”

“Hey.”

“…”

“Hey.”

“Yes.”

I realized this was something I couldn’t just ignore.

“What are you talking about?”

Jang Chae Yeon blinked at me.

“Well, you see…”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I should say it or not.

I stared intently at Yu Da On.

But as soon as our eyes met, Yu Da On merely smiled softly.

“…Is it really something that needs to be said, looking at her like that?”

Song Ah Rin, who had been watching the scene, spoke to me in a sharp tone.

“Yes.”

Of course, my answer was a definite yes.

Their expressions hardened at my unthinking response.

But it was only natural.

The tale of being dominated and revived. And the story of future Yu Da On becoming a monster and killing everyone.

How could I just handle this story as I pleased?

That wouldn’t be respectful to her.

“Even if I ask like this?”

“Yes.”

“Hah, seriously.”

With her arms crossed, Song Ah Rin smirked in disbelief.

“How could that even matter?”

“Isn’t it a bit… inappropriate to ask in the first place?”

Is it really that important for them to know what Yu Da On did in the past?

What if they end up harboring grievances against her, or even start to fear her? That would only deepen the divisions within the team.

It couldn’t be helped. I had to take a firmer stand here.

Clenching my fists, I looked between the two of them.

“I think it’s important to respect an individual’s privacy.”

At my words, the expressions of both women completely froze.

“…Huh.”

“…”

With a hollow laugh, Song Ah Rin brushed her bangs aside, while Jang Chae Yeon hung her head with a gloomy expression.

“…It’s okay.”

Seeing them, Yu Da On smiled gently and gave my shoulder a light tap.

“You can tell us.”

“…But is it really okay, Da On?”

At my question, Yu Da On smiled softly and nodded.

“Of course. It’s nice that you’re worried, but…”

“…”

Yu Da On looked at the others and smiled gently.

“If something really bad happens, I’d feel too sorry for you, Jae Heon.”

I wondered what could really happen.

I looked back at Yu Da On, but she just kept smiling and nodded.

“Well then, I understand.”

I cleared my throat and looked at the others.

“So, here’s the thing.”

I explained the events that had happened with Yu Da On.

The first time I met Yu Da On, and the dream of the butterfly and the future where Yu Da On killed everyone.

“…”

“…”

Both of them remained silent as they listened to my explanation.

“Shocking, right? But don’t worry too much about Da On.”

“Well, it’s shocking.”

Jang Chae Yeon muttered as she turned her gaze away.

“But that’s not the shocker.”

“Yes?”

“…Huh.”

And with a relieved sigh, Song Ah Rin responded.

“Yeah. I didn’t know there was such a story.”

With a much softer voice than before, Song Ah Rin replied.

“If Jae Heon hadn’t been there, I’d probably be in a real mess.”

Yu Da On gazed intensely at me.

“I probably would have died there too.”

So that’s why Yu Da On ended up like that.

“Looking at it that way…”

Yu Da On rested her chin on her hand and looked at the other two.

“You both would have had a pretty hard time if Jae Heon hadn’t been around.”

At her words, both of them nodded.

“I probably would have become a cube’s apostle.”

“I’d either have my head explode, or maybe I would have become an extreme character.”

Jang Chae Yeon muttered softly, and Song Ah Rin nodded in agreement.

“Whatever it would have been, it wouldn’t have ended well.”

“That’s probably true.”

The two nodded in agreement.

“Oh, by the way, Chae Yeon.”

“Yeah?”

At my words, Jang Chae Yeon looked at me intently.

“If I remember correctly, you said you knew a bit about the Gangdong Branch mountains.”

“Yeah. I’ve been here to work a few times, though not frequently.”

Jang Chae Yeon nodded slowly.

“So, do you know how the work was done?”

“I do.”

Jang Chae Yeon looked up at the sky.

Snow was still falling.

“But…”

“Yes?”

She turned to face me.

“You don’t have to do it.”

“…That’s true.”

She wasn’t wrong.

There was no need for me to do this.

“Then shall we wait?”

“…I don’t think waiting is bad. If we succeed, the snow will stop.”

Jang Chae Yeon nodded.

“If the snow doesn’t stop, just let me know then.”

“Well… I suppose we’ll have to see how it goes at that time.”

I had a bad feeling. Could it be that we were going to block another wedge?

No, let’s not think negatively.

“Then let’s just hang out for a bit.”

At my statement, the three nodded in agreement.

Snow was still falling from the sky.

*

“…It doesn’t seem to end.”

I was starving.

How much time had passed?

It was still snowing heavily from the sky.

– Wrrrrrrr!

Fortunately, the butane gas was still burning brightly without extinguishing.

“It feels like… at least 8 hours have passed.”

Song Ah Rin fiddled with her phone and replied.

“Oh, your phone works?”

“No. I just guessed.”

Song Ah Rin showed me her phone.

The simple phone with the screen turned off only reflected my face.

“Of course.”

I guess it was about time to move.

I groaned and stretched my body.

“Looks like we have to solve this ourselves.”

“I’m ready.”

Yu Da On stood up, raising her arms to show off her muscles.

“The other two… seem to be ready already.”

Before I could say anything, the two were already standing, looking at me.

“Well then, can you lift us up, Chae Yeon?”

“Okay… huh?”

She didn’t sound like she understood something.

Looking at her in confusion, she pointed towards the sky.

“It stopped.”

“Huh?”

She was correct.

The snow that had been falling just a moment ago had ceased, and above it, something was shining brighter than the sun.

That must be…

“That…?”

“Yeah. The light we saw from the Team Leader’s car.”

At my mumble, Jang Chae Yeon nodded in agreement.

What is it doing out here?

Soon, the brilliant light that reflected in my eyes disappeared, leaving only the sky with no snow.

“…It seems there’s nothing much.”

“It looks that way.”

I truly hoped that was the case. Even if it were doing something, I had no way to deal with it.

“Chae Yeon.”

“Yeah.”

Jang Chae Yeon nodded and raised her hand.

Soon, the bodies of the four of us floated in the air, and before we knew it, we were standing firmly on solid ground again.

– Swoosh,

The snow hanging from the tree fell to the ground with a sound.

“Should we go back?”

If we ended it just by resting in the shelter, that would be really easy.

Just as I was about to take a step, Jang Chae Yeon hastily opened her mouth.

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“Something feels off.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“No, I don’t really know.”

“Neither do I.”

Song Ah Rin narrowed her eyes and looked around, while Yu Da On also closed her eyes and sniffed.

“What’s going on, Chae Yeon?”

“…I don’t know. The air just feels different.”

“Then let’s be cautious.”

It wouldn’t be odd if something happened around here.

I looked around while taking a step forward.

It was somewhat tricky since my feet were slipping on the snow, but nothing happened until we made it down.

“…”

Soon, the city’s skyline came into view.

“Well, we made it faster than I expected. And nothing went wrong?”

Yu Da On said cheerfully as she walked ahead.

“Indeed.”

The fact that nothing had happened was, in any case, a good sign.

I raised my phone.

At this point, I should finally be able to get a signal, reporting to the Team Leader…

“…”

But the phone still showed no signal and was frozen.

I felt anxious.

– Rumble!

I pulled out the manual.

[Manual for Office Staff]

[OX. When you cannot identify what situation you find yourself in]

1. Working at the Management Agency, it’s common to find yourself in situations where you don’t know what’s happening.

2. In such cases, multiple checks are needed. First, look around at the buildings nearby.

I looked around at the surrounding buildings.

Normal buildings I recognized.

3. If the buildings seem fine, then check the time. You may have traveled to the past or future.

But there was no way to check the time.

4. Alternatively, it could be a dream. Perform a reality check.

I pulled my fingers but nothing happened.

5. If the four above methods do not show any special answers, the probability that you are the one with an issue is likely low.

6. Nonetheless, if you continue to feel a sense of unease, keep observing your surroundings.

Is that it?

Feeling uneasy, I looked around.

“Let’s move a bit further—”

– Thud!

The ground shook.

As the four of us checked each other’s faces at that moment,

– Thud!

The ground shook again, and birds took flight.

In the distance, I heard the screams of people.

“What’s happening? What is going on?”

Song Ah Rin muttered, her expression anxious as she looked ahead,

– Thud!

Buildings began to collapse.

“…”

Far in the distance, dark clouds began to form, spreading over the city’s skyline.

– Rumble!

Rain began pouring down from that place.

A translucent window appeared above the dark clouds.

[Name: -]

[Age: -]

[Specialty: -]

[Talent: Rain]

[Background: Nature is not always kind to humanity. It still isn’t.]

[Weakness: This is the time to think of the root of this matter.]

“This is…”

The dark clouds I saw back during the flood disaster.

Could it be that I’ve returned to that time? Then the Branch Chief should somehow resolve it, and I should run away then.

“Everyone, for now, let’s…”

“Jae Heon.”

Yu Da On pulled on my sleeve with a pale face.

“…Yes?”

“Look at that.”

A wave, as big as a house, was approaching us.

Wait. A house-sized wave?

This isn’t the coast. We’re definitely inland.

“What the hell is—”

“That’s not important right now!”

Jang Chae Yeon shouted loudly, snapping me back to reality.

“Don’t think! Run!”

At her words, we all began to sprint back up the mountain.

Branches scratched my face and left marks as we stumbled and rushed upwards.

“Ugh… ugh…”

When I felt my breath at the edge of choking,

“Stop.”

At Jang Chae Yeon’s command, we all halted.

“It’s passed.”

Under her words, I looked into the distance.

The ground I had been standing on had turned into ocean,

And the water was rising.

“…Chae Yeon, what is this?”

“Yeah… a cruise.”

We exchanged glances.

– Rumble…

In the distance, it was raining, while waves rolled before our eyes.