---

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I said I’m sorry.”

“…”

“Hey, can you please forgive me just this once? Okay?”

“…”

“How about I apologize one more time?”

“…What on earth are you doing?”

How many times have I bowed at the manual, bending at a 90-degree angle? Perhaps feeling pity for me, Song Ah Rin looked at me in disbelief.

“I’m in the middle of apologizing here.”

“To whom?”

“To the manual.”

“Is she really out of her mind?”

“Do you have a fever?”

Song Ah Rin frowned while Jang Chae Yeon worryingly placed the back of her hand on my forehead.

I felt a chill.

“…I don’t have a fever.”

“You’re talking nonsense even without one.”

“I think it sounds crazy too, but the manual is telling me to apologize.”

“Are you sure you’re not sick?”

Now, even Song Ah Rin looked at me with concern.

“Ah, I’m totally fine, right now the manual—”

– Swish!

As I said that and glanced at the manual, it finally made a sound, flipping open.

[Manual for Office Staff]

[Gangseo Branch, About the Forest]

0. Please read item PLZ once again.

1. Unless a specific cycle occurs, the places managed by each branch are generally not open for review.

2. The forest is the largest containment object managed by the Gangseo Branch.

3. Be advised. This is not a location that requires a guide written by the Response Team or comparable personnel. There are no survival guidelines.

4. First, the place you are in is a ‘wedge’ provided by the Management Agency. You will need to camp here for a few days and assist the Isolation Team with their ‘wedge’ operations.

Wait, camping?

For now, I decide to read the latter part later and look at the tent and combat rations left by the Team Leader.

Could it be that they left all this here for that?

I look up at the sky.

The sun hasn’t set yet, but the weather is turning gloomy, so we should probably set up the tent soon.

“Shall we set up the tent for now?”

“Do you know how to set up a tent?”

“I mean, I’ve done it in the army.”

We lift the tent together, four of us working on it.

As they say, many hands make light work; it surprisingly went up quickly.

It’s about the size that can comfortably hold six people.

I survey the supplies left by the Team Leader.

Food, water, canteens, various camping gear, and even sleeping bags.

“…Why did they give us sleeping bags?”

It’s practically summer right now!

Upon checking the sleeping bag, it’s not just thick; it looks like it’s meant for winter.

“Put it away.”

Jang Chae Yeon said while holding the sleeping bag that’s sprawled on the ground.

“Huh?”

“They wouldn’t have given it to us for no reason. Even though I’m only familiar with the Gangdong Branch, it makes sense to pack it for a containment object that needs regular maintenance.”

After she spread the sleeping bag on the ground, she gently sat on top of it.

Soon, Yu Da On and Song Ah Rin started placing their sleeping bags in their respective spots.

“So how will we arrange the sleeping positions?”

“I’ll take the outside.”

It’s better for someone who’s ever faced extreme cold to sleep outside, right?

As I raised my hand, Yu Da On also raised hers.

“I’ll sleep outside too! I’ve had experience with a couple of night shifts, so I’m used to the cold unexpectedly!”

“…”

Sometimes, I can’t tell if what Yu Da On says is serious or a joke.

Ultimately, we decided to sleep in the order of me, Jang Chae Yeon, Song Ah Rin, and Yu Da On.

After finishing the preparations, the sun had already set, and darkness enveloped the area.

– Click!

I turned on the electric lantern left by the Team Leader.

The light shone, revealing the faces of the four of us.

“This feels like we’re at a workshop or something.”

“Yeah. It does feel like we didn’t really get to enjoy the workshop.”

Song Ah Rin sighed in response.

Let’s see. I really need to read the remaining parts again.

In silence, I opened the manual and began to read it again.

[Manual for Office Staff]

[Gangseo Branch, About the Forest]

5. The ‘wedge’ operations may take a long time. Find ways to survive during that time.

We have food, so meals shouldn’t be a big problem.

6. The weather outside is unpredictable. Don’t be shaken. Protect yourself as much as possible with the gear you brought.

“…”

That’s why we packed a sleeping bag.

7. Someone may call out to you. Ignore it, or if you can’t ignore it, go out and fight.

8. Going outside is permitted. However, don’t stray too far. If you cross the line set by the Management Agency, they cannot guarantee your safety.

9. If you adhere to the listed items, the “wedge” operation will conclude safely, and the Management Agency will come to pick you up again.

10. Should it be deemed that the operation did not conclude properly, please refer back to the manual.

I couldn’t see the latter part.

“…”

With a thump, I closed the manual, and the gazes of the three turned to me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about how unfazed you all are after reading such a manual.”

“I think it’s fine.”

Jang Chae Yeon nodded.

“Then, well… there’s really nothing to do.”

Should I step out for a while?

– Zziing!

I open the zipper of the tent and step outside.

Soon, as I rustle, someone stood next to me.

Her black hair fluttered in the wind.

“Wow, it’s really windy. I thought it was summer!”

Yu Da On said cheerfully while tying her hair back.

“Aren’t you cold, Da On?”

“Me? I’m the strongest among us!”

She raised her arms in a muscle pose with a smile.

“Being strong doesn’t mean you can withstand the cold, though.”

“That is a valid point.”

She smiled gently.

“…Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just, you know. Various things.”

Since the hospital incident, I haven’t had a proper conversation with her.

It felt like it’s been quite a while since we had a deep talk, even during the cruise and at the amusement park.

“Um…”

Yu Da On looked at the sky, then turned to me.

“Honestly, things have gotten better.”

“Oh, really?”

“If you ask if I’ve completely escaped my past, of course not. I still haven’t seen the doctor I hate the most…”

She trailed off.

“But I’ve been meeting a lot of new people, and more than anything, I got to meet Kim Jae Heon.”

Yu Da On looks up at the sky.

Her eyes sparkled with the starlight.

“Thanks to Kim Jae Heon, I’m always happy.”

“That’s because you did well, Da On.”

For a moment, we both gazed at the night sky in silence.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you sleeping?”

Then, the tent zipper opened, and Song Ah Rin’s annoyed voice echoed.

She’s overreacting, isn’t she?

“I’m going in.”

“Let’s go!”

As we re-entered the tent, Jang Chae Yeon and Song Ah Rin were doing their own things, turned away from each other.

Jang Chae Yeon was reading the manual, while Song Ah Rin was looking at her smartphone.

Wow, they sure didn’t say a word to each other.

“Should we turn off the light?”

“I’m fine with sleeping now.”

“Me too.”

“Same here.”

“So, should I turn it off?”

With a click, the lamp turned off.

Even though it was still a bit warm for a sleeping bag, I flopped onto it.

“…So tired.”

Ever since the midsummer night’s dream incident, I feel like I haven’t had a decent rest.

“Go to sleep.”

Did she hear me? Jang Chae Yeon’s soft voice came from beside me.

“I’ll keep an eye on you.”

“If you’re keeping an eye on me, you should sleep too.”

“I’m not that tired.”

“What does that even mean…”

Before I could respond, fatigue overwhelmed me, and I fell asleep.

*

It’s cold.

As cold as sleeping naked in the dead of winter.

As I huddled up, someone tapped my shoulder.

“Wake up.”

“…Ugh.”

As I opened my bleary eyes, Jang Chae Yeon was lightly tapping my shoulder.

“Get inside the sleeping bag and sleep.”

“…Why is it so cold?”

Without saying a word, she opened the zipper.

– Whoosh!

“Ugh… it’s freezing…!”

The blizzard rushed in, and Song Ah Rin, who had somehow curled up inside the sleeping bag like a caterpillar, grumbled sleepily, pulling the sleeping bag over her head.

“…No. Is this for real?”

“Common sense doesn’t apply in our daily lives.”

Jang Chae Yeon said calmly as she closed the zipper again, looking at me.

“You’ll be fine if you cover yourself with a sleeping bag.”

“…”

“Or should I put you to sleep instead?”

“…I’m fine, thanks.”

I wrapped myself in the sleeping bag and tried to sleep.

I kept hearing whispers, but I fell asleep quickly.

*

I suddenly woke up.

I sat up and looked outside the tent.

Looking at the dim sunlight seeping into the tent, I opened the zipper.

A damp breeze rushed in.

“Ugh…”

Song Ah Rin mumbled and tossed around in her sleep, so I hurried out to prevent her from waking up and quickly zipped it back up.

“…”

The air inside was still dense with moisture as if a blizzard had hit earlier.

It didn’t surprise me anymore.

The trees seemed to have grown denser than yesterday.

As I squinted my eyes at the trees, something caught my attention.

Something was hanging on a tree.

A thick branch had a rope tied to it, and a person was hanging from it.

Before I could even react, a translucent window appeared.

[Name: X]

[Age: X]

[Special Skill: X]

[Talent: X]

[Weakness: They have failed.]

With a thud, the branch broke, and the person fell.

What is going on? What just happened? Mental attack?

That doesn’t make sense. I have a strong resistance to mental attacks.

But if it broke through my resistance? If what I’m seeing is an illusion? Or if there’s really a person hanging there?

But I shouldn’t see a corpse.

The moment that thought crossed my mind, I quickly pulled out the manual with trembling hands.

[Manual for Office Staff]

[Gangseo Branch, Wedge]

1. If a problem arises, reserve members must either wedge or check on it.

2. If you find a corpse hanging from a branch, head east.

3. If you discover a corpse buried in snow, head north.

4. If you find a corpse burned to death, head south.

5. If you encounter an exploded corpse, head west.

6. Good luck.

“Everyone, wake up.”

Something has happened.