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I look around the truck racing through the night.

There were people of various ages.

Elderly folks, and even kids who looked like high school students. I couldn’t help but wonder how they ended up here.

“If you’re curious about something, why not just ask?”

A nonchalant voice struck my ears.

She’s young.

That was the thought I had when looking at the Response Team leader.

Not just young, but too young to be in a leadership position.

It’s just that her presence felt so out of place.

With her messy platinum hair and a face that seemed to have seen it all, I couldn’t help but glance again at the info above her head.

[Name: Aileen]

[Age: 23 years]

[Specialty: X]

[Talent: X]

[Background: Lost her entire family in a cathedral at a young age, she became the youngest member of the Response Team after years of grueling efforts, and eventually the youngest Team Leader. Her driving force is a singular desire to find her family and end all of this.]

[Weakness: Just an ordinary person. If killed, she dies.]

It wasn’t hidden.

She had no notable characteristics. No abilities. Just an average human.

How did someone like that make it this far? Or rather, how did they become this way?

“I guess my words don’t sound sensible.”

“…Excuse me. I was lost in thought due to my worries.”

She stared at me for a moment before speaking.

“I’ve heard the stories. You’re Kim Jae Heon from the Human Resources Team.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Many in the Response Team are curious. Just how did you manage to not only survive Gangseo University Hospital, but also take a doctor’s head with you?”

That’s why other people were looking at me with such strange eyes.

“I’d like to share my adventure, but unfortunately, there’s no time for that.”

With that, she pulled out a tablet while gripping a handgun.

“Listen closely. We’re heading to Sora Land. It recently opened. According to findings from other teams, there’s been no organizational interference so far.”

People listened intently to her words.

No organizational interference.

“This implies that there could be a natural occurrence or containment objects involved. You all understand what that means, right?”

Tension rippled through the crowd.

“Forget common sense. We’re going in with a strike team.”

As she spoke, she scanned the surroundings.

“First, anyone with family still alive, get out.”

A few stepped back.

“Next, if you still haven’t found anyone you want or need to go somewhere else, leave.”

Many more stepped back.

Not many were left now.

“Lastly, anyone who doesn’t want to fight, leave.”

No one moved this time.

“…Alright. Old man Kim. Follow me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

An elderly man raised his hand.

“And you, Manager Park. You two come along.”

“Understood.”

“Alright.”

A neat-looking man and a middle-aged woman stepped forward.

It’s amusing to see someone so much younger treating them so respectfully.

“Lastly…”

Her gaze turned to me.

“Are you planning to not come?”

“I wouldn’t.”

As I stood up, all eyes turned to me.

“I’ll do my best.”

“Good. You definitely have a different demeanor since you’ve survived.”

“More than that, it’s about the trust.”

If the Human Resources folks I knew were around, they wouldn’t die that easily.

Upon hearing my words, she raised an eyebrow before looking back at the others.

“We’ll be going in as five. The rest will secure the area and find an escape route.”

“””Understood!”””

Everyone shouted loudly.

I could hear the bustling sound of the people around.

Soon, the truck came to a halt, and as the back door opened, people began to rush out.

In the end, only the Response Team leader, Aileen, and her selected members remained.

“Let’s start the briefing.”

In the small truck resembling a cramped room, she waved her handgun and started speaking with her youthful voice.

“First, we only know of one official entrance. We’re going in, waiting until the park closes, and then coming out.”

She twirled her gun and continued.

“After that, we’ll arrive at the main entrance of the amusement park. The problem starts from here.”

Her gun came to a stop.

“There’s almost no info beyond this. The Management Agency is planning to close and contain it, but there may be side effects like those at Gangseo University Hospital, so for now, we’ve received lukewarm responses.”

Since it had only been a week since it opened, she added.

“In other words, aside from survivor testimonies, this is our primary exploration.”

The atmosphere grew somber.

I recalled the manual I’d seen at Gangseo University Hospital.

How many people’s final cries, information, and blood were tainted within that manual?

And now, this time, our blood could be the one to be spilled first.

“I will do my utmost to ensure everyone returns alive. However…”

She looked around, then bowed her head at a 90-degree angle.

“I apologize in advance.”

“…”

Silence swallowed the space.

“You all might die in places I can’t reach, and at times, you might abandon yourselves and even me.”

With her head still bowed, she continued.

“If that happens, curse me. Think it’s because your leader was incompetent and direct all your anger towards me.”

After a long silence, she lifted her head.

Perhaps because she had bowed for so long, her face was flushed.

“I’ll take it all.”

Hearing her words, the three people began to chuckle.

“That’s enough, Team Leader. We’ve heard this before and will probably keep hearing it.”

The old man chuckled heartily.

“Well, if we have nothing to lose, then death is just death, right?”

The man smiled in response.

“You’re still quite adorable.”

The woman simply smiled gently.

Soon, all four of them turned their gazes towards me.

Looks like it’s my turn to speak.

Let’s see.

“I’ll do my best.”

With those final words, the briefing concluded.

*

Watching the people retreat like a tide from behind a tree, I stood next to the huddled Response Team leader.

Soon, she looked up at me.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

With a grunt, she threw on a bulletproof vest over her hoodie, slid her handgun into its holster, and picked up the rifle leaned against the tree.

Click. She checked the gun then looked at me.

“…Do we really not need rifles?”

“Not necessary.”

She knew, just like I did, that this level of ordinary firepower wouldn’t take down those monsters. If it were that simple, everything would’ve been shot dead by now.

“And yet, you still wear a bulletproof vest. That’s a bit funny.”

“In my experience, when you get hurt, it truly feels like death.”

I glanced at my injured left pinky.

It had healed somewhat but the bone hadn’t fully reconstructed yet.

“…”

Her gaze met mine, and she began to speak again, still staring at me.

“You have the vibe of a veteran.”

“Um… Team Leader—”

“Just call me Aileen. Using titles from our world isn’t great.”

Not by name?

The thought puzzled me, but I shrugged and called her by her name.

“Aileen.”

“Yes, Kim Jae Heon.”

Should I ask her this?

After a brief moment of hesitation, I finally couldn’t hold back my curiosity anymore.

“How did you become the Team Leader?”

“…”

She paused in cleaning her weapon and stared at me.

“Instead of questioning Aileen’s qualifications… the Management Agency promotes someone only after they’ve worked for a long time.”

“That’s how you became the Team Leader.”

“…?”

After I spoke, Aileen gave a dry response and resumed working on her firearm as the others laughed and chimed in.

“The Team Leader has been here the longest on the Response Team.”

“Eh…?”

“She’ll hit her ten-year mark this year!”

“…”

Hearing the team members, she sighed and spoke.

“That’s a question I’ve grown tired of hearing.”

“We might feel that way, but others might not.”

“I don’t care about others, so it’s fine.”

“And she’s at it again~”

The mood felt strangely light.

Amidst the bustling atmosphere, everyone began checking their gear.

Let’s see, I’ve got the handgun and butane gas sorted. …I have the statue and the black beads too.

As I finished checking my gear,

-Clank!

The sound of a metal door closing made Aileen murmur.

“Prepare yourselves.”

The previously dim lights flickered back on.

A blood-like red glow filled the space.

An eerie melody began to ripple through the air.

-Welcome to the land of dreams and illusions~ Sora Land~ Come on in!~

Someone stood before us.

As I looked ahead, a clown was smiling brightly and extending balloons toward us.

The poorly applied face paint sometimes revealed parts of a face covered not in skin, but rather muscle and bone.

It felt as if a half-dead human or a monster donning human skin was welcoming us.

Five balloons bobbed in greeting.

“Welcome! It’s the nighttime opening of Sora Land!”

With a mouth stretched wide in a grin, the clown stared at us.

“…Take one.”

Aileen murmured, accepting a balloon, and we followed her lead.

“This balloon is like your life! Please take good care of it!”

I glanced up at the clown’s head.

[Name: Clown]

[Age: Created two days ago]

[Specialty: Life Connection]

[Talent: X]

[Background: He visited the amusement park and cannot rest even in death.]

[Weakness: He will disappear when the amusement park does.]

“…”

I looked at the balloon.

It was about the size of two fists. Not overly large.

I glanced at the others.

All four were staring at the balloon with tense expressions.

“This… could explode and release toxic gas.”

“Or maybe it really shouldn’t pop at all…”

“Or perhaps only a few should pop…”

Everyone discussed seriously, frowning.

I too fell into thought.

If I were to consider a point from the unique characteristic of life connection, then—

Whoosh—

Something sharp flew through the air from far away.

-Bang!

Something pierced the old man’s balloon, and it popped simultaneously.

“…Ah…”

With a short gasp, he collapsed.

“Take cover!”

As she yelled, I jumped behind a tree, all of us reflexively hiding.

Aileen and I found shelter behind the tree, while the other two ducked underneath a bench.

-Thud! Thud!

The sound of something hard sticking into things.

Then—

“Everyone, hold your balloons tight.”

The three looked at me in disbelief.

“Hurry!”

I shouted, and they quickly clutched the balloons to their chests.

With life connection, amusement parks, and balloons,

Right now, we were wandering this place with our hearts exposed.