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What in the world is going on right now?

I stare blankly at the person in front of me…

It feels very much like back then. Though, I think there are slight changes.

“Not saying a word.”

“Well, that’s because I’m not.”

I feel like I’ve definitely seen this before,

As I frown and get lost in thought, she smiles and looks at me.

“Why, are you lost in old memories?”

“No. I think it’s someone I’ve seen recently, but I can’t quite remember.”

“You’ve grown up a lot since then. I thought for sure you’d say you missed me.”

“Time has passed like that.”

“In my eyes, you’re still a child.”

She looks at me with a gentle smile.

It feels just like—

“I feel like you hit me while sniffling in my dream.”

“…”

Her laughter halts.

“You really messed up first, didn’t you?”

“Me?”

She begins pointing her finger at me, laying out each detail.

What did I do?

“Do you really think it’s right to keep hitting people’s heads?”

“First, let’s correct one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“You aren’t really human, are you?”

At my words, she pauses for a moment.

“Well…”

“Are you the manual itself?”

“…Well…”

“So, you don’t plan on saying anything, huh?”

She avoids my gaze.

“There’s nothing good for you to figure out right now.”

“Then why did you call me here?”

“I didn’t call you.”

She shakes her head while looking at me.

“You fell here.”

“Fell, you say?”

“It’s kind of an emergency escape. So even if you wake up, your memories will probably be pretty hazy.”

A smile blooms on her face.

“So, take a short break. You won’t remember it anyway—”

“That’s going to be tough.”

I cut her off.

“I was just with A-Rin, and there were strange sights reflected in my eyes.”

The rising sunset and the setting morning sun.

“What’s that?”

“…You’re not going to remember anyway.”

She makes eye contact with me.

“Right, when have I ever beaten you before?”

With a sigh, she opens her mouth.

“Maybe that’s happening because of the phenomenon occurring right now.”

“Phenomenon?”

“Yeah. Remember. Necklaces have a huge impact on people.”

“…”

“Keep the necklace safe. Only you can touch it. If others touch it, definitely don’t let them.”

“…Got it.”

“People tend to hide precious things deep down.”

With a sigh, she sits down on the floor.

“…If I just listen to you, it sounds like you know everything.”

I look at her with an expression that says, can’t you say more? She sighs deeply in return.

“I only know as much as you do.”

“I don’t know that much.”

“No, you do.”

She answers firmly.

“Did I write it down in another timeline?”

I recall the time I fought with reincarnators.

There were things I didn’t understand written in the manual back then.

“…”

She tilts her head with a vague expression.

“Half right, half wrong.”

“You’re not one to explain just because I ask, are you?”

“Correct. Knowing won’t do you any good. No, you shouldn’t know.”

She sighs again.

“But you did accomplish that.”

“Accomplished?”

“It’s nothing.”

She looks at me with that same smile as always.

“Keep pushing forward. Don’t forget. I’m always watching over you.”

“…Yeah, thanks.”

At my words, she smiles.

“No, I’m always having fun too.”

“Just looking outside?”

“There’s something much more enjoyable than that.”

She laughs while looking at my face.

Does she find data collection enjoyable?

She stands up from her spot.

Water splashes on my face, and she looks down at me just like always.

“It’s time to go back.”

“Time to go back?”

“You coming here was unavoidable.”

She gestures with a mature smile.

“Before you go, do you want to ask me something?”

“Something to ask…”

There are so many things I’m curious about.

Who are you, exactly? What is the reason for your existence? What is your purpose?

But the question that slipped out of my mouth wasn’t that.

“Why… do you keep helping me?”

A pure inquiry.

I don’t have the ability to turn back time.

I don’t possess the overwhelming power to destroy everything.

I would not have made it this far on my own.

At my question, she opens her eyes wide.

“Well…”

“‘Well?’”

“Fleeting memories can sometimes be the driving force behind someone living for another person for a lifetime.”

She continues.

“However, I don’t wish to look at you through memories.”

She gazes at me with a gentle smile.

“I just hope you reach a happy ending.”

“What do you mean—”

I suddenly feel a tug at the back of my neck and glance forward.

“Take care. Stay healthy.”

She waves her hand, and just like that, her body is pulled back into the darkness.

What kind of existence am I to her?

A fleeting memory, a happy ending.

Perhaps…

Before I could even think, my mouth opened to shout.

“Hey!”

She looks at me.

“Let’s meet again next time!”

Just like when we were children.

“…”

She smiles brightly at me.

And then, darkness descended.

*

“Wake up!”

I open my eyes wide at the urgent voice.

Jang Chae Yeon clutches my shoulder and shakes me, relief flooding her expression.

“You’ve woken up…”

Jang Chae Yeon looks at me with complete relief on her face, unlike usual.

Song A-Rin lies next to her, breathing heavily.

“What happened? How’s A-Rin?”

“What about you? What happened?”

Me?

“Well…”

‘Remember.’

An unknown voice echoes in my head.

“…”

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine. And A-Rin?”

“She fainted.”

“How?”

“I pulled you two apart but she was already unconscious.”

Jang Chae Yeon says this as she lifts Song A-Rin into the air.

“We need to find the necklace.”

“Where is it?”

‘People tend to hide precious things deep down.’

“Let’s go a bit deeper inside.”

At my suggestion, Jang Chae Yeon nods.

As we walk deeper, the path darkens.

“Ugh…”

Song A-Rin moans as she opens her eyes.

“What I just saw…”

“A-Rin.”

“…I was hugging you…”

And suddenly, as if she realized something, her eyes widen in shock.

“…Are you okay?”

“What?”

“Are you okay? Hey, hold on a second!”

As Song A-Rin begins to flail, Jang Chae Yeon sighs and lets her down.

As soon as her feet touch the ground, Song A-Rin quickly approaches and tiptoes to meet my gaze.

“A-Rin, what are you doing right now…”

“Shh.”

Her nose is so close to mine that it almost touches.

But not a hint of embarrassment shows on her face.

With a serious expression, she stares into my eyes and then says,

“Nothing. Thank goodness.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, she pulls away.

“What did you see?”

“…It’s not what I saw; it’s what I let go.”

“You let go?”

“There was something bothering me since morning…”

Song A-Rin mutters as she presses her temple.

“But that jumped to you. And I feel a bit better now.”

“Ah, I see.”

“…But I don’t know how you’re so fine right now.”

“You’re resistant to mental attacks.”

“I don’t think it was a mental attack, though…”

As Song A-Rin murmurs, she looks at me.

“Don’t you hear any voices in your head?”

“What?”

“Anything saying to die, that you’re useless, or anything like that?”

“Not at all.”

“Isn’t there someone blaming you or endlessly bringing up past events?”

“Nope.”

“…That’s a relief.”

She sighs in relief once more.

“It seems like nothing’s wrong, so let’s just think about that later.”

Jang Chae Yeon seems slightly anxious as she begins to move.

As we walk forward, bizarre wires start to decorate the surroundings, and I hear a buzzing sound from somewhere.

“Everyone hears that sound, right?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s loud.”

Both of them nod.

We move toward the sound.

“…”

“…Is that… a person?”

Song A-Rin mutters in disbelief, while Jang Chae Yeon turns her gaze.

I can’t help but frown at the sight before me.

It’s a massive lump of flesh.

Isn’t this perhaps what it would feel like if you just tore someone’s flesh and infinitely multiplied it?

What’s even more horrific is that—

[Name: Kim Ja Kyung]

[Age: 36]

[Specialty: X]

[Talent: X]

[Background: She simply heard that she just had to wear the necklace.]

[Vulnerability: Please remove the necklace.]

“…This is definitely a person.”

“…Ugh.”

“How horrific.”

Song A-Rin looks away, and Jang Chae Yeon sighs, muttering to herself.

Staring at the lump, I realize there’s something hanging from it.

It’s probably the necklace.

It’s buried so deep I can’t see it properly.

I squint my eyes. Are translucent windows appearing?

A translucent window appears.

The problem is—

“…There are too many.”

It’s hard to see because of the countless translucent windows.

I slowly step toward the necklace.

“Should I do it?”

Jang Chae Yeon looks at me.

‘Only you can touch the necklace. If others touch it, definitely don’t let them.’

That nostalgic voice resonates in my head.

I stretch out my arm to stop Jang Chae Yeon.

“No. I’ll do it.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes. I can do it.”

Suddenly, I feel an overwhelming confidence as if I’ve been told by someone that I can do it.

“…Be careful.”

I nod at Jang Chae Yeon’s warning as I slowly step forward.

Getting the necklace itself is a huge problem.

“…Ugh.”

Climbing this mass of flesh is the real issue.

Looks about three people high stacked on top of each other.

Do I really have to climb this?

While I was contemplating, Jang Chae Yeon suddenly raises her finger.

“Whoa!”

My body is suddenly hoisted up and flies toward the necklace.

“I was wondering how I’d climb this…”

Receiving my gaze, Jang Chae Yeon smiles and reaches out to grab the necklace.

As soon as she grabs it, a translucent window pops up.

[Name: Necklace]

[Age: X]

[Specialty: X]

[Talent: X]

[Background: Every jewel has a device to prevent this.]

[Vulnerability: X]

“…”

I turn my gaze away.

Necklace, necklace, and more necklaces.

All overlapping as if to intentionally obstruct my view.

Translucent windows pop up.

From afar, footsteps begin to echo.

“…Chae Yeon.”

“…Yeah.”

“How long have we been away from our spot?”

“…40 minutes.”

“…We’re late.”

“What about the necklace?”

“It’s fake.”

I stare at the lump of flesh.

Remembering its vulnerability—

<Please remove the necklace.>

The necklace must definitely be here. The question is, where?

In the end, it’s only a matter of time. Just a bit more searching…

-Boom!

I hear a sound from somewhere.

“Hey! Watch out!”

Song A-Rin shouts as Jang Chae Yeon reaches out.

I look up at the ceiling.

A robot is falling from above.

Its mouth opens wide,

-Tick, tick…

A timer appears.

As if preparing for me to collect the necklace.

I quickly turn my back.

There’s no escaping. Then, I’ll have to…

-Bang!

I hear something explode.

Along with that, my body flies far away…

“…Huh?”

Not at all?

I open my eyes that I had closed and look ahead.

“Haha! Hahaha! Hahahahaha!”

I hear a hearty laugh as something rolls on the floor.

Each time the round object rolls, sparks fly, and the floor dents.

“Hahahaha!”

After rolling several times, a man who had curled himself up springs to his feet.

Despite having withstood that bizarre thing with his bare body, he has not a single scratch.

In fact, he even protected me.

He looks at me, puffing smoke from his body.

“Long time no see, Kim Jae Heon! It’s a fine day; have you been well?”

“…”

With a refreshing smile, the man gazes at me.

“I wondered when I could roll right on time like this! Hahaha!”

“How annoying.”

Jang Chae Yeon mutters as she sees him, while he laughs without a care in the world.

It was the ace of the Gangseo Branch Isolation Team.