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It seems that beings that transcend common sense always tend to surprise people.

Of course, the beings I’ve been encountering lately break common sense, and the people around me do as well.

Bang!

Robot-like things drop from the ceiling and explode, and every time the man rolls, the robots explode.

“Y-You! Wait!!”

“What are you saying?!”

He shouts something as he rolls, but I can’t hear a word he’s saying.

Once he stops and smiles at me.

“I’ll take care of this since the Branch Chief asked me to!”

“Um, okay.”

“You’re looking for a necklace, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll make a mess here, so you just stay calm and find the necklace.”

“Uh…”

“Is there something you’re curious about?”

He looks at me with a puzzled expression.

It feels like I should tell him this.

“Please make sure to keep the necklace safe.”

“You sound just like the Branch Chief.”

He chuckles.

“But don’t worry. This time, I won’t fail.”

“This time?”

A sense of unease washes over me.

“Hahaha!”

“Hey, wait…!”

Before I can finish my sentence, he rolls away, laughing.

“…”

“Let’s hurry and look.”

As Jang Chae Yeon looks at me with a cold expression, she raises her finger, and my body lifts off the ground.

I stand once again in front of the flesh.

The familiar jumble of letters flashes in my mind.

I squint my eyes to find what I’m looking for through the dizzying letters.

The designs are all the same, making it hard to find anything different.

Amid the background noise of explosions, while examining the necklaces,

“Ugh…”

Song Ah Rin, who was below me, clutched her head.

“A-Rin.”

“I’m fine. Hurry up.”

She repeats deep breaths, muttering.

“Think. Think.”

Then she keeps muttering with her eyes closed.

Should I use a method?

’It doesn’t seem like a mental issue, but…’

Song Ah Rin’s words arise in my mind.

The sights I saw not long ago were indeed different.

“Damn.”

Is it right to recklessly try something without knowing?

I reach out and grab the necklace entangled in flesh.

Only then does the outline of the necklace become visible.

It looks like a cheap, gold-plated necklace that, to be honest, even I, who has no aesthetic sense at all, wouldn’t find pretty.

“Ugh…”

I push my hand further into the flesh to pull it out more easily.

A strange sensation spreads in my hand, but I pull on it regardless.

– Crack!

The necklaces come apart, and countless necklaces are in my hand.

“Not this one. Not this one, either.”

I throw the necklaces aside, lost in thought.

Why are there so many necklaces stacked up so clumsily?

Is it that obvious that I’d come?

“…”

My hand, still picking up necklaces, freezes.

What if they really knew?

Cold sweat begins to trickle down my neck.

A trap only I can fall for, set only if they have a rough understanding of my eyes.

“No, no. No.”

The speed of my hand picking out necklaces increases.

I reach out for the next necklace, ripping it off.

– Crack!

A throbbing headache hits me.

But oddly enough, I feel relief.

There’s something I’m looking for among these.

As I hastily remove the necklaces, I see,

[Name: Proof of Love]

[Age: -]

[Specialty: Whisper]

[Talent: Transmission]

[Background: No one is perfect. The necklace knows this all too well.]

[Weakness: Do not be too seduced by the words they whisper. If you do not wear the necklace, ensure there are no people around you. If there are many people around, wear the necklace. Only one person needs to be sacrificed.]

“…”

The weakness description feels a bit odd.

As I hold the necklace in my hand, a dull headache begins to creep in.

But on the contrary, I feel reassured.

The pain signals that this is the necklace I’m looking for.

Holding the necklace, I look down at Jang Chae Yeon.

“Chae Yeon! I found it!”

“I got it.”

Jang Chae Yeon waves her hand, lowering her body slowly to the ground.

“Thank you.”

“…”

“Chae Yeon?”

Jang Chae Yeon doesn’t speak.

When I shift my gaze to her, she says,

“…that one.”

Jang Chae Yeon is staring intently at the necklace.

“It’s pretty.”

“Huh?”

Is this pretty?

I look at Jang Chae Yeon with a bewildered expression.

“You think this is pretty?”

“Uh, isn’t it?”

Jang Chae Yeon blinks and reaches out.

As I move the necklace, she blinks and looks at me.

“Chae Yeon.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t you think it’s weird that you think this is pretty right now?”

“…Am I weird?”

Jang Chae Yeon’s expression grows serious.

“Is it strange to think this necklace is pretty right now?”

“Yes.”

Her gaze shifts towards me.

Is she about to attack me?

As I lean slightly back, Jang Chae Yeon nods.

“I see.”

“Huh?”

“If you say I’m weird, then I am weird right now.”

With a face showing no doubt, she looks at me.

“However, I keep hearing in my head that I should wear this necklace, and I think that’s just natural.”

“…”

“Isn’t that strange?”

I nod, and she averts her gaze from the necklace.

“Sorry, but could you take the necklace off for me?”

“Alright.”

I put the necklace into my pocket, and relief washes over Jang Chae Yeon’s expression.

“Yeah, it’s much better than before.”

“Great, then…”

I glance at the man still rolling on the floor.

A man who is laughing like a madman while smashing the appearing robots.

“Do more! Hahaha! Hahahaha!”

“Ahn Sang Hyun!”

At my call, he stops rolling and looks at me with a friendly smile as if nothing happened.

“My, have you already gathered your necklace?”

“Yes.”

“As expected, a result worthy of the Human Resources Team.”

If it’s a result worthy of the Human Resources Team, shouldn’t he be failing?

“Then, let’s make our escape…”

“Wait a sec.”

Song Ah Rin, who had been standing pale and silent, now looks at the man.

“There are still people here.”

“Oh dear.”

His expression grows serious upon hearing those words.

“Let’s do our best to evacuate as much as we can.”

“We have the necklace, and the white-haired one is beside us…”

“So you want us to prioritize rescuing the people? Understood.”

He nods and looks at me.

“Kim Jae Heon.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll leave the necklace to you. I saw it while rolling, and it looks like a pretty nasty piece of work. In my life, I’ve never thought a necklace was pretty. Hahaha!”

He laughs and salutes me.

“Then I’ll go rescue the others. Is that okay with you?”

“…It’s fine.”

It’s always been like this.

The Branch Chief, Song Ah Rin, and now this man.

They are people who throw themselves into saving others without a hint of hesitation.

“Then, I’ll see you later! I’ll make sure the road is clear for you!”

He bows to me and rolls away even faster than before.

Flames flare up as he dashes across the ground.

“…Ugh.”

Supporting Song Ah Rin next to me, she leans against my shoulder and whispers.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. Let’s hurry.”

Supporting Song Ah Rin, Jang Chae Yeon follows closely behind.

“Stay alert, A-Rin.”

“I’m still okay.”

She murmurs while catching her breath.

“Chae Yeon, are you okay?”

“…”

“Chae Yeon?”

“Ah, yeah. I’m fine.”

Jang Chae Yeon also nods in response as she vacantly follows behind me.

Everyone seems to be in bad shape.

We need to get out…

– Crackle!

While I’m supporting Song Ah Rin, a manual falls from my pocket, its pages fluttering open.

[Manual for Office Staff]

TG – Elements that make up a person

1. The elements that make up a person are body, mind, and <Censored>.

2. Among these, the body and mind can be recovered even if lost.

3. However, <Censored> must not be lost.

4. In addition, things that harm this <Censored> are extremely difficult to overcome with an ordinary person’s mental strength and, when exposed for long…

“Ugh…”

Song Ah Rin shakes her head, clutching her head.

“A-Rin.”

“…I got it.”

“Huh?”

“I understand now why you wanted to bring only me and the white-haired one.”

Song Ah Rin mumbles and covers her ears with her hands.

“The black-haired ones… have no way to withstand this.”

“A-Rin?”

Before I can finish my sentence, Song Ah Rin quickly turns her head to look at Jang Chae Yeon.

“…”

The necklace floats in the air, slowly flying toward Jang Chae Yeon, whose expression turns vacant as she locks eyes with Song Ah Rin, standing like an empty doll.

With a thud, the necklace falls to the ground.

“Poisonous woman. You’ve held on for quite a while. Without mental barriers or suggestions…”

As Song Ah Rin gestures, Jang Chae Yeon begins to follow behind me.

“…Listen carefully.”

“A-Rin.”

“This necklace doesn’t interfere with a person’s mind.”

She mutters while pointing at the necklace.

“It interferes with something deeper, not the mind or body.”

“Deeper, you say?”

“Let’s say it’s the soul, for simplicity.”

She mumbles and reaches out.

“And.”

“…”

“I’m going to wear this necklace.”

“You, A-Rin?”

“You might not know, but ever since I took it out, the whispers have been getting louder. The white-haired one has likely heard similar things. She just stood still because she didn’t want you to worry.”

“…”

“It’s fine.”

Song Ah Rin smiles through the effort, looking at me.

“I just need to take a short nap. You need to lead me out to the exit.”

[Only one person needs to be sacrificed.]

The weakness part springs to mind, and a longing voice echoes in my ears.

Before Song Ah Rin can tremble and reach for the necklace,

“…”

“Hey.”

The first to snatch the necklace is me.

“What are you doing?”

Before Song Ah Rin can say anything, I wear the necklace.

“You…!”

“Kuhk…!”

My head starts ringing.

It feels like I’m endlessly riding a rollercoaster.

A different kind of headache hits me than when I encountered Aestheticism.

– Feel it.

– Always failing you.

– Always just dying.

– You’ll fail again this time too.

Incomprehensible voices echo in my head, and the dizziness forces me to kneel on the ground.

Are these the voices Song Ah Rin heard?

“You’re really going to die like this…!”

With a desperate look, Song Ah Rin reaches for my neck,

– Clap!

I swiftly swat her hand away.

“…This is something I need to do.”

“You’re getting a nosebleed…!”

Warm blood begins flowing from my nose.

Ignoring the whispering voices in my ears, I look at Song Ah Rin.

“How are you holding up?”

“Now’s not the time to care about me…!”

“Oh, you seem fine then.”

– Am I going to fail here again?

– Even if I succeed here, all that awaits you is more suffering.

“I’m sorry…”

My legs go weak, and at the moment I feel like my head’s going to explode.

“Please take me away.”

Then my consciousness cuts off.

*

“Hey! Hey!”

As Song Ah Rin catches the falling man, she urgently calls out.

I check his complexion.

He’s pale.

“We need to take the necklace off…! The necklace…!”

With trembling hands, she reaches for the necklace around the man’s neck,

– Crackle!

A manual falls from his pocket, pages fluttering open.

[Manual for Central Team Members]

1. Assimilate.

2. Right now. With the person you trust most around you.

“…”

Song Ah Rin inhales sharply and looks at Jang Chae Yeon.

“…Ah.”

Jang Chae Yeon’s eyes regain their sharpness.

“…What’s wrong.”

“This guy’s in danger. We need to assimilate. You and I.”

I cut straight to the point, explaining to her just that.

“Do it.”

Jang Chae Yeon didn’t hesitate.

It didn’t matter if she didn’t understand everything. The person lying before her was a man, and Song Ah Rin said she needed to assimilate with her.

Song Ah Rin nods and holds Jang Chae Yeon’s head, bringing their foreheads together.

“Just like last time?”

“Yes. Just like back then.”

At Jang Chae Yeon’s words, Song Ah Rin responds.

The two press their foreheads together and meet each other’s gaze, shortly afterward closing their eyes and collapsing into one another.

*

Both women open their eyes simultaneously.

“Where are we?”

“I don’t know.”

In response to Song Ah Rin’s question, Jang Chae Yeon mutters and replies.

“…What?”

Murmuring, I look at the sky.

“What’s… …Huh?”

Song Ah Rin follows Jang Chae Yeon’s gaze to the sky, her eyes widening.

The sky glows like emerald water, shimmering, with a sunset rising.