---

“Not picking up?”

“Doesn’t seem like it.”

I responded to Jang Chae Yeon’s words while gazing at the art museum.

“We will be closing now!”

As the museum staff shouted and waved their hands, people held up their tickets and hurriedly walked away, as if they were being chased out.

Their departures, murmuring in disappointment, resembled not those under some kind of mind control, but rather genuinely disappointed people who couldn’t participate.

“A-Rin.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t you think someone’s been hypnotizing them or brainwashing them?”

At my words, Song Ah Rin frowned slightly and shook her head.

“No, not at all.”

It wasn’t hypnosis.

…

But there was something more important at hand.

“There are still no people coming out of the exit.”

Having closely observed the exit until now, I confirmed that only a very small number of people had emerged.

Each person who came out wore a joyful expression, but the issue was the noticeably low number compared to those going in.

“Shall we go in?”

“Just a moment.”

I raised my hand to stop Yu Da On, who was getting ready, and checked my smartphone again.

Despite having called the Branch Chief numerous times, she still hadn’t answered.

Gripping the blank business card of the HQ Chief, I silently yelled for her to please listen to me, but nothing seemed to change.

…

It was time to make a decision.

I sent a text to the Branch Chief.

<It seems there's some unusual phenomenon occurring at the art museum. I'm going in first.>

<I've called several times. Don’t blame me.>

I had done all I could.

I slipped my hand into my pocket to check the gun and manual.

Gun, check. Manual, check.

As I rummaged through the pockets of my shirt, I found butane gas as well.

“What’s that for? Planning to burn down the whole museum?”

“If necessary, we might have to.”

Fortunately, most artworks tend to burn well.

“How are we getting inside?”

Yu Da On looked at me.

“I’m just going to walk in.”

“What?”

Yu Da On blinked as if she didn’t understand.

…

My gaze turned to Song Ah Rin, and I realized, “Yeah, this is exactly the time for me to shine.”

With a deep sigh, Song Ah Rin stepped forward.

At the now darkened entrance of the art museum, the moving beams of flashlights reminded us that the security was on the lookout.

With a confident stride, Song Ah Rin walked ahead.

Before long, a security guard, noticing her, hastily raised his hand to stop her.

“Wait! The exhibition has ended! Please come back tomorrow!”

A man shouted as he approached Song Ah Rin.

I quickly glanced over the man’s head.

[Name: Kim Ha Ru]

[Age: 25]

[Specialty: X]

[Talent: X]

[Background: He wonders if night security doesn’t involve meeting many people. Why are people trying to sneak into the art museum?]

[Weakness: He’s an ordinary human. A stab in a vital spot will kill him.]

Just your average guy.

“Do you not hear me—”

When Song Ah Rin looked at the man, his body froze.

The man, who seemed to be in a daze, started to stammer.

“W-What do you want…”

What kind of brainwashing was Song Ah Rin using to make him act like that?

“I’m going in.”

“Uh, y-yeah…”

Soon, the man nodded blankly, and Song Ah Rin walked confidently into the museum.

“What’s taking so long? Are you coming or not?”

She turned back to look at us.

“…I’m going.”

What on earth did she do?

“A-Rin, you’re really the strongest against people, huh? Though it’s a bit different without them being the target.”

“Da On.”

“Yeah?”

“Please be quiet.”

We stepped into the museum.

Inside, the dark art museum boasted opulent marble floors with black curtains hanging beside them.

I heard it was the largest art museum in the country, and they really built it well.

“…It’s hot.”

As soon as we stepped inside, an unpleasant wave of heat hit us.

It felt more lukewarm than hot, almost like…

“The subway during rush hour.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.”

Those three probably had never experienced a crowded subway.

That uncomfortable sensation you get while commuting during the sweltering summer with countless other people.

Fiddling with the manual in my pocket, nothing had surfaced yet.

As I moved forward, a gigantic banner appeared in the darkened museum.

<Anonymous Artist: A Bold Answer to What Art Is.>

A bold answer, huh.

“It’s hot.”

Jang Chae Yeon muttered while unbuttoning her clothes, and Yu Da On hurried over to cover the loosened buttons with her palm.

“…What are you doing?”

With blinking eyes, Jang Chae Yeon looked at Yu Da On, who silently removed her hand.

“Oh, uh, nothing.”

When Yu Da On caught Jang Chae Yeon’s gaze, she discreetly retracted her hand.

“Isn’t anyone else hot?”

“It’s hot.”

“I’m… not that hot, actually.”

With a sigh, Song Ah Rin took off her outerwear, while Yu Da On tilted her head in response to my question.

…

Inside the art museum, I dialed the Team Leader again.

<Unable to take your call right now...>

The unanswered call persisted.

This was strange.

Did the Team Leader not feel that this was dangerous?

Could it be that she had gone bald? That’s not it.

Her hair just thinned a bit more; she’s not completely bald yet. No way the Team Leader doesn’t know about this?

Maybe it’s a bigger problem than I thought.

And regarding art.

The image of a mannequin’s torso crept into my mind.

“I hope it’s not that.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.”

I took slow steps.

<Experience the master's work.>

I glanced at the sign at the entrance.

“A master, huh.”

“…I’m a bit worried now.”

“Same here.”

It seemed Yu Da On didn’t have particularly pleasant memories of the art museum either.

“Da On, how was it when you encountered aestheticism?”

“Aestheticism… oh, that. Like mannequins, right?”

“Yeah.”

…

Yu Da On closed her eyes, lost in thought.

“People get obsessed with art.”

“Art?”

“Well, it’s like…”

Yu Da On furrowed her brows and looked genuinely uncomfortable.

“The center of the world shifts.”

…

“For example, suddenly what matters most to me becomes art, and someone keeps forcing that theme onto me.”

“I see.”

“That feeling… was really bad.”

“That’s true.”

How unpleasant it must be for someone to dig into another’s mind.

“Because they crudely change what’s most important to me.”

So that’s what she meant.

What on earth did she prioritize that made her feel that way?

It felt inappropriate to ask such questions.

As I went on, another sign appeared.

<Experience the living vibrancy in art.>

And dark images of paintings began to emerge in the dim room.

…

Nervously looking around, I felt on edge.

You never know what might pop out unexpectedly.

“…Wow.”

While I was scanning the surroundings, Yu Da On exclaimed, gazing at something.

“Da On?”

“Look over there.”

She muttered, grabbing my sleeve.

I turned to see the painting she was pointing at.

…

It was a crude painting.

Strange vibes emitted from it.

It felt like it was painted by something other than a human.

One thing was certain: it was indeed crude.

“What’s so special about that?”

“…Isn’t it just beautiful?”

I was momentarily speechless at Yu Da On’s words.

Beautiful? That?

At least from my perspective, it didn’t look beautiful at all.

“Look! Amazing detail, and it even seems like you can smell the grass.”

…

I turned around to look at Jang Chae Yeon and Song Ah Rin.

“Beautiful, right?”

Jang Chae Yeon also nodded and muttered, while Song Ah Rin, on the contrary, let out a deep sigh.

“A-Rin.”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Song Ah Rin replied, meeting my gaze.

“The problem is, this isn’t hypnosis.”

…

“Those two genuinely think that painting is ‘beautiful’.”

I glanced at the painting they were admiring.

…

A crude painting.

And the translucent window didn’t even come to mind.

What on earth—

…

I momentarily had that thought too.

The painting was changing constantly.

Watching the crude artwork shifting felt strangely unsettling.

“A-Rin, do you see this too?”

“Yeah, I see it clearly.”

Song Ah Rin replied while looking at the painting.

“But really, what is this?”

“…Can you project what A-Rin is seeing for them?”

…

At my words, Song Ah Rin looked at Jang Chae Yeon.

-Snap!

“…Huh…?”

Suddenly, Song Ah Rin grabbed the back of Jang Chae Yeon’s head.

…

Jang Chae Yeon’s expression began to harden rapidly.

“…What are you doing?”

“Shut up and look at the painting in front of you.”

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

…

She narrowed her eyes.

“Is this the view you see?”

“Yeah.”

“You might be seeing it wrong.”

“That guy’s looking at the same thing I am.”

“If that’s the case, I must be wrong then.”

“Hey, you trust him over me?”

“Yeah.”

Looking at her with an expression that said “how unexpected,” Song Ah Rin glanced at Jang Chae Yeon with a look of disbelief before turning to me.

“Regardless, yes.”

“Da On, let’s go.”

“Uh, okay…”

Yu Da On kept glancing at the painting.

Song Ah Rin sighed and grabbed her by the nape of her neck.

“Hurry or Kim Jae Heon will get mad at you.”

“I-I’ll go!”

Then, she quickly turned her head to assess my expression.

“Did, did I stare too long at the painting, Jae Heon?”

“…No.”

I nodded at the awkwardly smiling Yu Da On, assuring her it was fine as we moved forward.

Passing by countless paintings…

…

The uncomfortable heat only intensified as we went deeper.

Why was this happening when there was no one here?

Soon, we stopped in front of a massive painting.

Countless people were staring straight ahead.

From men in suits to women in dresses and children in jeans, an array of people from all eras and genders fixed their gaze forward.

No.

…

Their sights were directed at us.

A translucent window materialized over the painting.

[Name: The Crowd]

[Age: -]

[Specialty: X]

[Talent: X]

[Background: How many fools gaze up at so many people?]

[Weakness: Burn the painting. Of course, those inside will die too.]

…

Somewhere, an oddly familiar laugh seemed to resonate.