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“Then, why is there a House of Ghosts at the Western concept attraction?”

At Yu Da On’s innocent question, I could only shrug my shoulders in response.

“Then does it make sense that the train was chasing us earlier?”

“It does, right?”

How on earth am I supposed to understand this crazy place? I guess it is what it is.

Let’s not try to understand it.

After a brief silence, the six of us huddled together in front of the House of Ghosts.

“Yikes, this feels really creepy.”

“…”

Song Ah Rin’s comment was perfectly accurate.

Of course, there’s no place here that doesn’t feel creepy, but maybe it’s because of the name.

The gigantic sign reading <House of Ghosts> had something about it that unsettled those who looked at it.

“…Is this really the safest place?”

“Keep asking that, and I’ll get a bit confused too… but for now, it seems like it.”

With a vague expression, the Team Leader responded.

Guess there’s no choice but to go in.

I looked around at the others.

No one seemed keen on entering first, so it was up to me.

Just as I reached for the door to open it, someone stepped in front and swung it wide open.

“…?”

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming in?”

Aileen stood there, holding the door open and looking at us.

“…”

After a brief exchange of glances, we all stepped inside.

*

“It’s dark.”

Jang Chae Yeon’s assessment was spot on.

There was nothing more to say.

Darkness. That single word described everything.

I couldn’t see anything because it was so dark.

“…Smells like dust.”

Yu Da On wrinkled her nose and covered it with her sleeve.

I always felt this way, but her sense of smell was quite sharp.

“…”

“Song Ah Rin.”

“…”

“Song Ah Rin?”

“Ugh… Why…!”

When I poked her shoulder, Song Ah Rin jumped and looked at me.

“Are you… scared?”

“What are you talking about! Hey, I’m Song Ah Rin from the Management Agency! Do you think I’d be scared in a place like this?”

It was the same as last time; she might have a bit of fear after all.

Although, I didn’t voice that thought.

“Alright. Then, we need to navigate this place.”

“Should we go for a physical attack?”

“What are you trying to break this time? I think it’s best to just quietly slip through.”

“I’m okay with anything!”

While Aileen and the Team Leader stayed quiet, the three others passionately discussed their plans.

Listening to their conversation, I lost myself in thought.

Since all six of us were here, as long as we could utilize our abilities somehow—

-Tap, tap,

Someone lightly tapped my back with a finger.

Aileen was patting my back.

“There’s a notice here, isn’t there?”

“Where was this?”

“I found it.”

With a surprised expression, she handed me a stiff, laminated paper.

<How to Enjoy the House of Ghosts>

[Don’t be surprised by anything that happens!]

[We will do our best to scare you!]

[If it’s too scary, just shout ‘I’m giving up!’ and the staff will safely escort you out!]

“Based on my experience, that sounds like good advice to never say ‘I give up’ at all.”

Aileen, who read the paper next to me, rested her chin on her hand and muttered.

“This isn’t a human-friendly place, so when they say they’ll escort us safely, that’s from their perspective—not ours.”

That made perfect sense.

As she pulled out the rifle slung on her back, she continued.

“I’ll provide fire support. If my experience or anything else can help, just let me know.”

“Understood.”

After a brief meeting, our roles were determined.

Yu Da On would lead, followed closely by Jang Chae Yeon, with the Team Leader and me in the middle. Finally, Song Ah Rin and Aileen would take the rear.

The entrance was obscured by thick curtains, concealing what lay beyond.

We couldn’t see inside until we entered; it really was just like a haunted house.

“You took your time thinking, and it’s the same order as always.”

“If you have complaints, feel free to take the front.”

“Such a cheeky way to talk.”

Today, Jang Chae Yeon and Song Ah Rin seemed to be arguing quite fiercely.

“I’m going in!”

No matter what those two were bickering about, Yu Da On cheerfully called out and took a step forward.

She pushed aside the curtain and walked in, followed by Jang Chae Yeon, then the Team Leader and me.

“Jae Heon.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“That—”

The Team Leader spoke as we crossed the entrance, and I followed right behind.

“…Huh?”

The voice of the Team Leader that was supposed to be heard in my ear went silent.

I quickly turned around.

Where there should have been a curtain at the entrance, there was now nothing but an expansive open space.

Could it be that I’m alone?

I glanced around.

There was nothing in sight, just walls erected like a maze.

If there’s any comfort, it’s that the pathway is very wide; the downside is that it feels impossible to find a way.

“…”

Fortunately, there was one critical point, and I had a weapon.

Holding out my handgun and butane gas, I slowly moved forward, lost in thought.

Forced relocation? Then, is this another realm?

But there aren’t enough distinguishing features for that.

Walking alone in the darkness.

If I see anything, I’ll shoot.

-Creak, creak,

As I walked, I started hearing footsteps of another person nearby.

I quickly halted and surveyed the area, aiming my weapon.

What is the opponent? How should I respond?

The sound from the right grew closer.

“Wait.”

Just as I was about to pull the trigger, a familiar voice rang out.

“…Aileen?”

Aileen was also aiming a gun at me.

“…Phew.”

Upon seeing me, she breathed a sigh of relief and lowered her weapon.

“You scared me! I came out and found no one.”

“Same here.”

What on earth is going on?

“Looks like we stuck together well.”

“Yeah. Have you looked for the others?”

“Not yet.”

“What a pity.”

Aileen clicked her tongue and slung her rifle back over her shoulder.

“For now, should we stick together?”

“I’ll let you know if I see anything.”

“Sure.”

With a focused gaze, I began to walk.

I can’t see anything. No sounds of footsteps either.

“Do you see anything?”

“How would I see anything?”

“You’re not seeing anything?”

“It’s a bit too dark here.”

Amidst the darkness, she was searching for the laminated paper?

I turned my gaze to Aileen.

Wearing a bulletproof vest, with dull blonde hair and lifeless eyes, small stature.

She looked exactly like the Aileen I knew.

However, the translucent window above her head told a different story.

[Name: X]

[Age: X]

[Specialty: Disguise]

[Talent: Disguise]

[Background: This person is not Aileen.]

[Vulnerability: Please shoot immediately.]

“What the—”

Before she could react, I whipped out my handgun and aimed it at her forehead.

-Bang!

Without a moment’s hesitation, I pulled the trigger as her head jerked back, then returned to its original position.

“…How did you know?”

She looked at me with a hole in her forehead and asked in a quiet voice.

“I’ve been tricked by things like this before.”

“Ahaha… ahahaha… ahahahaha!!!”

Hearing my response, she laughed joyfully before dissolving like a shadow.

“…”

-Bang!

-Thud!

The moment she vanished, the sounds of gunfire and something shattering echoed nearby.

Are they all doing well?

“…”

But what if they’re not?

I began to move through the maze interior with quicker steps.

If the six of us were scattered in one space and these monsters were deceiving us, that would be a problem.

I don’t expect my comrades to be fooled. They’re all experienced in their own right.

But conversely, if they aren’t fooled, it would be a problem.

What if everyone is suspicious of one another and attacking each other?

If the originals were to fight one another, then it’s truly the point of no return.

“Jae Heon, you son of a—”

-Bang!

“Hey!”

-Bang!

As I moved, I quickly scanned the heads of the entities that greeted or appeared around me and dispatched them.

The most troublesome were the monsters taking the form of Aileen, as every time I saw them, they’d reflexively aim a gun at me, requiring quicker reflexes to handle.

I’d taken down about six of them, but up until now, I hadn’t encountered a single genuine person.

If only I were alone—

-Bang!

The sound of a gunshot echoed from around the corner, causing me to stop in my tracks.

Could it be Aileen again?

With my finger on the trigger, I cautiously approached the sound.

Turning the corner, I shot immediately.

The moment I turned the corner,

“Ahhh!”

The world spun upside down, and I crashed to the ground.

With my arm twisted back, the barrel of a gun was pressed against my temple.

As proof that I had just fired, the gun’s barrel was still warm.

I managed to glance sideways.

[Name: Aileen]

[Age: 23]

[Specialty: X]

[Talent: X]

[Background: She lost her entire family in a Cathedral when she was young; through painstaking efforts over the years, she became the youngest member of the Response Team and the youngest Team Leader. Her motivation is fueled by the desire to find her family and end all of this.]

[Vulnerability: Just an ordinary person. If you kill her, she will die.]

“Proof.”

Aileen’s emotionless voice pierced my ear.

“Proof?”

“Proof that you’re the real one.”

I hurriedly racked my brain.

What should I say?

The easiest thing would be to talk about the memories we’ve shared.

Just when I was about to recount our gunfight, I shut my mouth.

If the clones had any memories of the amusement park, that would be a fatal mistake.

Instead, let me mention something uncertain, something that happened before we even entered the amusement park.

I remembered the sight of her bowing her head in the truck.

“Inside the truck, bow at 90 degrees!”

“…”

“I said I’m sorry, I’ll take responsibility—”

“That’s enough.”

The gun was taken away, and my body was released.

After Aileen let me go, she cleared her throat and spoke.

“…Then I need to prove myself too—”

“That’s fine. I just confirmed you weren’t the imposter.”

At my words, she raised an eyebrow.

“That’s not the important thing right now. We need to quickly join up with the others.”

“Afraid I’ll get confused?”

“Exactly.”

At my response, she slowly nodded.

“Alright. Then let’s hurry and regroup.”

She began to stride confidently.

“But so far, have you taken down any other monsters like this?”

At my question, Aileen just slightly turned her head to meet my gaze.

“No.”

“Then how did I know?”

“Experience and instinct.”

She said that,

-Thud!

A sound of something collapsing caught our attention.

“Let’s run, then.”

“Got it.”

Armed, we both dashed into the darkness together.

Only one of us could cause such a big commotion among us.