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I survey my surroundings. What on earth just happened?

Let’s first confirm the situation. Am I dead and come back to life?

I quickly rummage through my pockets.

I grab a perfectly intact statue.

…So I’m not dead.

It wasn’t just the statue. A pistol, a walkie-talkie, butane gas—everything I brought was completely dry and functioning well.

So did I pass in and out of the theater?

But if that were the case, I don’t have any memories or headaches.

To shake off the fog in my head, I glance out the window at the still rising sun and check the date on my smartphone.

“…”

A whole day has passed.

In other words, after being swept away by the seawater, a day has gone by for some unknown reason, and here I am, lying in my room with only that strange experience.

Is this really related to the ‘theater’?

Let’s compare this situation with the ‘Red Lady’ incident.

So, it could mean that my eyes aren’t working properly, or that there’s no one outside, right?

It’s time to check. I don’t have time to change clothes.

I quickly dash and fling open the door to check the other rooms, when—

-Bang!

The door to my room swings open, and a frantic voice calls out to me.

“Kim Jae Heon!”

It was Jang Chae Yeon.

Hadn’t she called my name for the first time?

Wearing nothing but a dress shirt soaked in sweat, she looked at me with wide eyes.

Her shoulders heaved up and down violently before she calmed down upon seeing me.

“…Are you okay?”

“…Chae Yeon?”

I quickly scanned her with my eyes.

[Name: Jang Chae Yeon]

[Age: 25]

[Special Skill: Telekinesis]

[Talent: – ]

[Background: Her life was on the brink of a lonely death, but it changed completely when she joined the Human Resources Team. Sometimes, to protect her colleagues or someone precious to her, she recklessly throws herself into danger.]

[Weakness: Blindfolds and hand seals.]

My eyes were functioning perfectly. There was nothing strange about Jang Chae Yeon either.

I hurriedly examined her body from head to toe.

Her wet dress shirt clung to her, revealing her curves in a way that felt inappropriate to look at, but I forcibly ignored it and checked for injuries or unusual signs.

“…”

She looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if completely unaware of my distress.

No injuries.

After confirming everything, I let out a sigh of relief and plopped down on the bed.

She slowly approached me and sighed in relief as well.

“…Thank goodness. You’re okay.”

“You’re okay too, Chae Yeon.”

“…What happened?”

“Let’s start cross-verifying. What do you remember?”

“…I lost my memory when the water poured down…”

“Did you feel like you turned into a fish?”

“…”

Jang Chae Yeon nodded at my words.

“Is there anything strange about your body?”

“I’ll check.”

She slightly raised her index finger.

With a whoosh, a gentle wind brushed through and swept my hair aside.

“My powers are fine. Nothing feels off.”

“Got it.”

I looked out at the dawn light again.

“You haven’t checked on the other two yet, right?”

“I came to see you first.”

She tilted her head as if questioning why I asked such an obvious thing.

“…Let’s go check on the others.”

She nodded at my words and hurriedly left the room, starting to walk through the corridor.

“Where did you wake up, Chae Yeon?”

“On the corridor floor.”

“Not the bed?”

“Yeah.”

Does everyone wake up in different places?

In that case, the chance that Song Ah Rin or Yu Da On aren’t in my room can’t be disregarded.

As we walked through the corridor, I pulled out the small walkie-talkie I had in my pocket and switched it to Song Ah Rin’s channel.

“Song Ah Rin.”

There was no response.

I switched to Yu Da On’s channel to speak.

“Yu Da On.”

Again, there was silence.

“Let’s check the closest rooms first.”

“Okay.”

The closest one is Song Ah Rin’s room.

Jang Chae Yeon easily pried open the locked door and stepped inside.

“…”

No one was there. Even the bed was neatly made, proving that no one had used it.

Could it be that our paths just crossed?

“Let’s move to the next room.”

“Okay.”

Jang Chae Yeon nodded and followed behind me, and we approached Yu Da On’s room, which was also locked. After opening it in the same manner, we stepped inside.

“She’s not here either.”

“…”

Yu Da On was also absent here.

The only difference was that there was a faint fishy smell in the room.

An unsettling feeling washed over me.

“Let’s start looking for the two of them.”

“Do you know where they are?”

Her question momentarily stumped me.

I had no real way to find the others.

“…Then let’s check the theater first. After that, we’ll search for the others.”

“…Don’t worry.”

She patted my shoulder as I spoke.

“Neither of them are the type to get caught easily.”

“That’s true.”

Still, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

We walked together down the corridor.

As we did, people started to come into view.

“…What on earth is happening…”

“Shhhhh… shhhhh…”

People mumbling while clutching their heads and individuals laughing to themselves incoherently.

I walked past them, scanning for names.

First, the mumbling person.

[Name: Jung Chan Je]

Next, the one who was laughing like they’d lost their mind.

[Name: OXX]

The person who seemed a bit more aware had a name, while those who didn’t were nameless.

Some were fine, while others weren’t?

As I pondered while shifting my gaze to them, Jang Chae Yeon tugged at my sleeve.

“The theater’s open.”

“…”

I stared intently at the theater.

True enough, the entrance gaped open like a dark maw.

Was a performance really held here?

“Let’s go.”

We had no choice but to enter to find out.

Pulling out my pistol from my pocket, I stepped inside without hesitation.

As soon as we entered the theater, a musty smell mixed with a subtle fishy odor assaulted my nose.

I frowned and surveyed my surroundings.

This place was also dry.

-Plop.

I could hear footsteps, and the nauseating odor grew stronger.

I quickly raised my gaze.

A person whose head was split in half stood there.

Tentacle-like growths pulsated on his right cheek as barnacles clung to his legs and joints, making a creaking sound with each step he took.

His clothes were soaked in something foul, and with every step, it sounded as if he was wading through water.

Soon enough, information etched itself into my mind.

[Name: XXX]

[Age: 31]

[Special Skill: X]

[Talent: The Sea]

[Background: A weakling, he fell to the deep sea after just a single experience.]

[Weakness: It’s not recommended to kill him physically. He must be freed from the sea.]

Free him from the sea?

I thought it was related to the theater’s background.

-Crack!

Not long after I read through the information, Jang Chae Yeon reached out and clenched her fist.

Simultaneously, an overwhelming force passed by me, seized the creature’s leg, and twisted it.

A horrifying sound of bones snapping echoed as it fell over.

“Ugh…”

Yet it made no pained sound and only crawled towards us with its arms.

-Splosh… splosh…

As if it felt no discomfort from having lost its legs.

It was hardly different from a zombie.

“…Kill it?”

Jang Chae Yeon turned her head to look at me, still with her hand outstretched.

“…Wait a moment.”

I stared blankly at the creature creeping towards us.

“Ugh… ugh….”

It uttered meaningless sounds, sluggishly making its way toward us.

“Let’s not do that.”

“Okay.”

I’ve found that any time I proceeded after hearing ‘not recommended,’ it rarely ended well.

I cautiously moved around it and scanned the surroundings.

Something feels off.

“There are no staff members.”

“Staff?”

If this was a performance, shouldn’t there be someone to intervene if things got out of hand, just like during the ‘Red Lady’ incident?

But nothing stopped us, and no actors were in sight.

But how do I explain the water that poured down with the announcement of the show starting?

Ah, my head hurts.

“….”

Lost in thought, I opened the manual.

Is there any helpful section?

[Manual for Office Staff]

[YH – Advice for Assessing Situations]

1. As employees of the Management Agency, you will naturally be caught up in numerous incidents.

2. If you become involved in such an incident for the first time, the first thing to maintain is calm. Think calmly.

3. Conversely, if you have been involved in such incidents numerous times, the thing to be most wary of is your own experiences.

3-1. While experience can be an important factor that saves you, it can also narrow your field of vision. Never forget that containment objects can always betray your common sense and memories.

“…”

I closed the manual with a thud, and Jang Chae Yeon looked at me curiously.

“Did you find something helpful?”

“I don’t know about help, but it could be a reference.”

The sea water, and once being in the deep sea.

“…”

What could be the effects of sea water?

I recalled the background.

[Background: A weakling, he fell to the deep sea after just a single experience.]

I also remembered the time I was submerged in seawater and screamed in pain as I turned into a fish.

Jang Chae Yeon likely experienced the same thing.

So could it be, that we all go through the same phenomenon?

But why are some fine, while others have turned into a half-monster like that thing?

“…Found it!”

As I continued my thoughts, I turned around at the sound of a familiar voice.

From the theater entrance, Song Ah Rin and Yu Da On hurriedly approached.

“Where have you been? I was looking for you—”

“…”

I looked at the head of Song Ah Rin.

[Name: Song Ah Rin]

[Age: 21]

[Special Skill: Hypnosis]

[Talent: – ]

[Background: Sensitive in everything, she is learning how to endure. While it’s still hard for her to speak smoothly, she’s working on it.]

[Weakness: Give her a strong pinch.]

She looked fine.

Next, I gazed at Yu Da On.

Her unnaturally quiet demeanor dug at my heart.

Soon, a transparent window appeared above her head.

[Name: Yu X On]

[Age: 23]

[Special Skill: Immortality]

[Talent: Regeneration (Undecided)]

[Background: Having been recognized for the hole left in her life, she attempts to fill it, but it seems difficult for her still.]

[Weakness: If forced to choose two people in the world to never let be enemies, it would be a reincarnator and an immortal.]

“Chae Yeon.”

“Yeah.”

“Grab Da On.”

“Okay.”

The moment she heard my words, Jang Chae Yeon slammed her hand down, causing Yu Da On to be forcefully pinned to the ground.

“…”

“What’s going on? Hey! What is this?”

Song Ah Rin’s confused voice echoed throughout the darkened theater.