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I gaze at the <Cowboy Adventure> before me.

It was an attraction featuring a man in cowboy attire, sprawled out with a gunshot wound to the forehead, and the oddly realistic hole in his forehead only served to unsettle my mood further.

The entrance was an arch-shaped wooden door, roughly the size for three people, typical for a western movie, and the sight of one half swinging open suggested a fierce battle had recently occurred here.

When did I get so good at shooting?

Was it during the Cube incident? Maybe that’s when my vision was enhanced. Or perhaps my body just got accustomed to firearms.

Now, even if it’s not acrobatics, I’m confident I can shoot bullets with far greater accuracy than others.

“Do you think this trace belongs to your companions?”

“I believe so.”

Aileen looked at me as we took in the grotesquely twisted walls, the shattered floor, and finally the bloodstains scattered on the ground.

“It is indeed a bit alien. Much more intense compared to the traces we’ve seen so far.”

“That’s right.”

“Do you think your companions are here?”

“I sure hope so.”

In response to her words, I gazed ahead.

“At the very least, they must have left some traces or clues behind.”

I recalled the way the Team Leader wrote. Whether it was me or not, they seemed to roughly anticipate that someone would come to rescue them or follow them.

Or perhaps they just left information behind for other unfortunate souls.

“Then I won’t oppose entering.”

“…Should we leave one behind?”

She glanced at the two remaining people.

“…In that case, I’ll stay.”

A man named Lee Cheol Soo raised his hand.

“I’ll wait here for a bit and report back if I find a way back or if anything unusual happens.”

“Are you sure you can handle that?”

“Yes. If worse comes to worst, I’ll return alive on my own.”

He said with a joking tone, and Aileen nodded.

“Then, I’ll leave this side to you. If things go awry, come inside.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll count on you.”

With those words, she gripped the door.

“We’re entering.”

-Creeeak…

As the door opened, the metallic scent of blood pierced our nostrils.

“You may be right.”

She covered her nose with her sleeve and then looked at me.

“It smells like blood. And it’s fresh.”

“I can tell.”

“The strange part is… there’s only blood. No… um, byproducts to be found.”

She seemed to be carefully choosing her words.

Indeed, she was right. The floor and walls were smeared only with blood, and unlike where the masks were, there were no other traces present.

The person suspected to have bled this much was likely Yu Da On, who would probably return to normal even with holes all over her body.

We looked inside.

It resembled a bar that could fit right into a western flick.

A counter made of wood and chairs made of metal.

Right in the center, a bartender was polishing a glass.

Although referred to as a bartender, the figure had the body of a person but was not human.

He wore a suit, but where his head should have been, there was nothing but a mangled remnant, and mechanically, he moved his hands to clean the glass.

I examined the top of his head, but nothing was visible.

Could he be a corpse?

-Ding!

A mechanical sound was followed by a bright, feminine voice explaining.

<Welcome to Cowboy Adventure! Here, you can enjoy shooting games and test your skills!>

-Clang!

The bartender pulled out three guns.

Revolvers.

The shining silver revolvers clearly had live ammunition loaded in them.

<Challenge two stages to test your courage, speed, and judgment!>

<Using weapons other than those provided by the attraction will result in immediate disqualification!>

The bartender extended his hand.

“…I need to return everything.”

“…”

In the end, I placed my butane gas, beads, along with my pistol and bulletproof vest on the table before the bartender withdrew his hand.

“…Ready?”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

As she spoke, we both nodded in response.

“Now, let’s grab our guns at the same time. Everyone, get ready.”

All three of us stood in front of the revolvers, and as Aileen grabbed hers, I lifted mine simultaneously.

Immediately, I checked the cylinder.

-Clack!

6 shots.

In other words, all actions must be completed within 6 shots.

-Ding!

A mechanical voice announced.

<First stage! Shoot first!>

-Rattle!

“Focus.”

Aileen redirected her gun and opened her mouth.

Before long, several people had taken their seats.

All dressed like western gunslingers, they chatted casually as if we didn’t exist.

I scanned the people.

A total of 6.

Isn’t it a win if we shoot first?

I quickly drew my gun and pulled the trigger, but—

-Click!

“Huh?”

<The game hasn't begun yet!>

The trigger felt stuck and a woman’s voice echoed, as if in anticipation.

<When I count to three, show your shooting skills!>

“…Take cover first. Then we shoot. Watch the balloons closely.”

“Understood.”

<Three!>

The countdown began.

<Two!>

A girl named Park Hyun Young gripped her gun, filled with tension.

<One!>

My eyes searched for the target to shoot.

[Name: Gunslinger]

[Age: Newly generated]

[Specialty: Quick Draw]

[Talent: Quick Draw]

[Background: Everyone who enters here is just a Gunslinger.]

[Vulnerability: Shoot first.]

<Start!>

As the countdown hit zero, they rose from their seats.

With the time already prepped, I shot at them before they could even draw.

First, the nearest one.

-Bam!

“Five left.”

As soon as I saw one fall, I dashed sideways, sliding.

My target was the table.

The friction burned my legs, but I paid it no mind as I slid toward the table. Aileen leaped forward, kicked the table, and fired.

At the same time, another foe fell.

-Thud!

The table toppled over with a loud crash, and she slid into it, passing by me and slipping out.

Bullets struck the metal table, making a loud noise, and as I raised my gun, I thought fleetingly that it could be a bulletproof table.

-Slam!

The sight of a bulletproof table flashed into my mind, just as Aileen shot and another target dropped.

“Three left!”

The girl named Park Hyun Young also managed to shoot one while hiding behind the table.

“Two left!”

She exclaimed urgently, and simultaneously, Aileen and I stood up to shoot at the remaining two.

Gunfire erupted together as the two targets fell.

-Ba-bam!

<Congratulations!>

-Click!

With a mechanical whir, the cylinder spun around, and six bullets were all loaded back in.

Though challenging, it was definitely a doable stage.

However, if four people were producing chaos in here, surely there was a significant reason for that. I couldn’t afford to relax.

<Next stage!>

As soon as the woman’s voice echoed, the brightly lit bar darkened.

In the pitch-black environment where all the lights went out, I quickly drew my gun and turned my gaze.

“…One?”

There was only one.

It had grotesque, elongated limbs and an oddly elongated body.

The difference was the stitched-up scar on its neck, and the skin color above its neck was starkly different.

As if someone had forcibly fused its body with a human neck.

Before I could check above, it extended its hand, and for no apparent reason, an ominous premonition washed over me.

“Duck!”

I shouted urgently, collapsing to the ground just as its long claws lunged out.

“Cough…”

It pierced the neck of the girl named Park Hyun Young, who was peeking out from behind the metal table.

With a pop, the sound echoed as she fell, her throat torn open, never to rise again.

At that moment, Aileen began shooting at it.

-Thud!

She clearly hit the target, but it just halted for a moment without falling.

“What the—”

A bewildered voice escaped Aileen’s lips.

In that short time, I quickly glanced above its head.

A translucent window unfolded before me.

[Name: Gunslinger]

[Age: Newly generated]

[Specialty: Shooting]

[Talent: Shooting]

[Background: Since entering here, everyone is merely a Gunslinger.]

[Vulnerability: Find the main body.]

“…Main body?”

“What did you say?”

How should I explain this to her?

After a moment of hesitation, I opened my mouth to relay the message.

“That doesn’t seem to be the main body. We need to find the main body.”

“…”

Her gaze shifted to the creature’s neck.

“…You stitched it up. You’re right. We need to find the main body.”

“Time is—”

“If it’s a game, it must be inside. I will also start searching.”

She said this while running in the opposite direction from me.

Long claws flew toward me, and I hastily rolled to the ground, hiding beneath the table.

-Clang!

With a loud metallic sound, a hole pierced the table as a claw barely missed my shoulder.

Feeling a sharp pain, I bit my lip but couldn’t stop thinking.

Where on earth could the main body be?

With the sounds of destruction and distant gunfire serving as my backdrop, I frantically began surveying my surroundings.

Aileen too dashed through the dark bar, desperately avoiding the monster’s claws while I couldn’t escape its attacks.

I held my shoulder tightly while looking around.

Yet, my eyes revealed nothing.

Think. What do I need to find it?

I scanned the surroundings.

All I could see were the monster swinging its claws and the bartender who had resumed polishing.

In a desperate hurry, I unfurled the manual.

[Manual for Office Staff]

[UJ – An opponent who is an impossible containment object.]

1. At times the opponent may be an impossible containment object while containing or managing it.

2. But, as it is a being born into this world, nothing is invincible.

3. Seek the condition. It may be invincible only in a certain space, or conversely, it might be invincible because something that should be there is missing.

4. A lack might be the answer.

5. Don’t forget to shed common sense and think from the challenger’s perspective.

A lack might be the answer.

I viewed its neck.

The stitching scar.

It could be invincible due to lacking what should be present.

My gaze shifted to the bartender, who was polishing the glass.

A headless bartender, and a stitched-up corpse.

Could it be—

I quickly drew my gun and aimed at the bartender, and only then did he start sprinting through the area.

“Aileen! The bartender!”

With my words, her gaze turned toward the bartender as well.

She quickly raised her gun and shot at him, but like us, he didn’t attempt to reveal himself from under the table.

I dashed forward, aiming at him.

“Cover me!”

There was no answer. Just the sound of her light footsteps alongside the rapid shots peppering in succession.

I gripped the table tightly and vaulted over it, looking at the bartender laying low.

Just as he attempted to flee,

-Bang!

With a hearty sound, the bartender collapsed, a hole drilled through his heart.

-Ba-bam!

With a triumphant fanfare, it was as if nothing had happened from the start; the monster vanished, leaving only me and Aileen, dripping sweat.

<Congratulations!>

And before my eyes, the translucent window unfolded.

[Critical: 0 -> 1]

Flapping,

There was but a single golden ticket left where the bartender had stood.

Checking the ticket, it simply bore the words <Exit Ticket>.

Flipping it over revealed, <Hand the ticket to the clown, and you will be guided to the exit.>

How utterly candid.

Aileen’s eyes briefly shifted to the girl with her throat half-slit.

“…”

After blinking once, she began gathering her gear as she surveyed the surroundings.

“…Let’s go.”

“Understood.”

As we stepped outside the door, a man stood awaiting us, pausing momentarily at the sight of the two of us emerging, but he said nothing.

“…How was it?”

“Nothing at all.”

“…Got it.”

She rubbed her eyelids, appearing tired, then handed the ticket to the man.

“Take this and go out.”

“But—”

“Then report back. Either bring the Isolation Team or report to upper management. If you tell the sub-team leader, he’ll handle it.”

“And Aileen…”

“I’m going to search for the missing people with Kim Jae Heon.”

“…Understood.”

As the man carefully examined the ticket, he nodded and tucked it into his pocket.

“…Are you really going?”

“Yes.”

“…”

The man offered a slight bow to her, then turned to me.

“I… ask of you.”

I nodded in understanding and responded affirmatively as he began to retrace his steps with the ticket in hand.

“…Phew…”

She sighed softly, rubbing her eyelids.

“…Are you okay?”

“…”

With her dull eyes seeming bereft of emotion, she finally patched a faint smile.

“No, I’m dying.”

Her tone differed significantly from earlier when she addressed the team members.

Was it a fitting expression for her age?

“…I suppose I must maintain my face in front of my subordinates.”

After repeatedly rubbing her eyelids, she blinked and then looked at me.

“But I have to. A team leader must never show weakness in front of others.”

“Am I not ‘others’ then?”

“More like a total stranger, so it’s rather okay.”

As he vanished from sight, she murmured and turned back to me.

“I guess we receive an exit ticket every time we clear an attraction.”

“Then we know where others headed off to.”

“…Hmm…”

Her gaze shifted to a location marked as “Run, CheonRiMa!”

“We need to think of other escape plans aside from the main route. Given how clearing five attractions seems utterly impossible.”

“I agree.”

“…Shall we take a short break?”

She leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath.

How many responsibilities did that small body hold?

Leaning against the wall myself, I took a moment to breathe.

It felt like we had rested for at least 5 minutes when suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in my ear.

“…Not that way!”

“…”

“-Ri Ya!”

The familiar voice.

“…Isn’t that them?”

In response to Aileen’s comment, I turned my gaze.

A girl with violet hair was pointing at a girl with white hair, screaming in annoyance, while the white-haired girl coldly ignored her.

It was Jang Chae Yeon and Song Ah Rin.

“Are those your companions?”

“…Yes.”

But why had they come all the way here to bicker like that?

“…Oh!”

The overly loud Song Ah Rin turned her head and spotted me.

“Hey!!!!!!”

Her eyes widened as she jumped and waved at me.

Seeing her greet me with such enthusiasm felt like the first time in my life.