"I-Is it really okay for us to go alone? Are you sure?"

"It should be fine."

Probably.

Go Yeongeun, understanding the unspoken part, swallowed a scream.

After persuading his superiors, Kim Sol-eum left the terrace room with two colleagues to “use” the item.

‘They must’ve done it on purpose to make it seem logical.’

Since I said the item belonged to one of them, it would look less awkward if that person took action.

...Though being grouped with Baek Saheon as part of “us” felt a bit unsettling.

‘But he’s strangely quiet right now.’

At the moment, what lay ahead was far more concerning.

"Alright, I’ll take out the candle now."

"Yes!"

Go Yeongeun handed back the paper she had received from Kim Sol-eum, who unfolded it.

Then, something astonishing happened.

A cylindrical, heavy, pale lavender wax figure rolled into his hands.

It was a real candle.

"...!"

The crayon-drawn frame remained like an engraved pattern, making it clear what had happened.

The candle that had been a mere drawing had become reality.

‘…Wow.’

Forgetting the situation, Kim Sol-eum was momentarily awestruck.

Knowing what they were going to do with that candle filled his mind with anticipation.

"Please wait a moment."

After taking a deep breath, he took out a lighter and tried to light the candle’s wick.

Whoosh.

The flame crossed the wick…

And nothing happened.

"……."

"……."

Why... isn’t it lighting?

Kim Sol-eum even tried summoning a third hand by flicking a coin in the air—an absurd ability—to ignite the flame, but it still didn’t work.

"…Ah."

As if something occurred to him, Kim Sol-eum quickly pulled out the instruction manual from the candle kit and scanned it.

"Is there a problem?"

"……"

Then, with a strangely dry expression, he lowered the manual.

"No, I’m not sure."

In truth, he did know.

Among the garbled crimson writing in the instructions, one of the “Precautions for Use” stood out,

"Recommended Users."

※ This toy is designed to relieve the fatigue of modern Earthlings.

For safety reasons, aliens, beings from other realms, non-intelligent creatures, gods, and all other non-human intelligent entities are prohibited from using it. :)

‘…I might not qualify.’

After all, Kim Sol-eum wasn’t really from this place.

The chill running down his spine wasn’t the priority right now, though.

He needed to entrust it to someone reliable.

Someone unlikely to act impulsively, with social and moral sensibilities.

"Goral."

"…!"

"Please take this."

Go Yeongeun gulped and reluctantly took the candle.

Then, trembling, she accepted the lighter and held it to the candle’s wick.

Whoosh.

The flame crossed the wick…

And it lit.

"…!"

Letters began to appear on the candle’s body, as if illuminated from within.

The keywords from the cards they had drawn earlier,

[Honor] [Obstruction] [Deceit]

– Remember the cards you drew earlier when making the candle? They indicate the powers the candle will hold.

Kim Sol-eum’s earlier explanation came to her mind as additional phrases appeared on the candle:

The bearer of this candle must lift it to an honorable subject, harnessing obstructive power, to reveal their deceitful form.

The bearer of the candle is granted a blessing.

The Impersonator of Nobility.

Go Yeongeun raised the candle high.

A round flame emerged from the candle like a small lamp, swirled above her head, and then vanished.

Softly, as if under a faint spotlight, her surroundings lit up.

‘Wow…’

"As expected, it works exactly as described."

Kim Sol-eum, watching with a faint smile, nodded.

"The candle’s influence extends to two people around Goral, so goat and I will follow behind you."

"Okay."

She wondered if they could’ve brought someone other than Baek Saheon, but since the item was Kim Sol-eum’s creation, Go Yeongeun didn’t argue and simply nodded.

Kim Sol-eum leaned in and whispered again.

"Just one thing to keep in mind. …Don’t look back at us. We must remain obscured behind the candlebearer to stay within its effect."

"…Okay."

"And don’t stare at the candle too closely. …Your mind could be eroded."

Go Yeongeun nodded slowly.

Though tension gripped her shoulders, she somehow managed to steady herself.

This was her specialty.

"You mentioned the exit is on the ground floor… So, we’re starting on the middle level, the fourth floor? That way, we can minimize the possibilities."

"Yes, that sounds good."

Their footsteps began to echo.

Just thinking about what was about to happen sent chills down her spine, but Go Yeongeun clenched her teeth.

She was probably the most timid person in the group, yet she was the one holding the candle.

‘I have to do my best.’

Unaware that the most terrified person of all was walking just behind her!

Step, step.

Their footsteps resounded through the brass-colored hall.

Until they reached the fourth floor, no sound came from the strange guide machines…

But there was no relief.

Because their destination was…

"We’ve found it."

Right in front of one of the guide machines.

"……"

The new recruits of <Daydream Inc.> arrived on the 4th floor and finally located the guide machine assigned to the hallway by following its mechanical sound.

Screeeech.

“Hey, if you run outside the range of the candlelight now, it’ll chase you.”

“I know that already!”

The chilly exchange between Kim Sol-eum and Baek Saheon made Go Yeongeun’s heart go cold.

It seemed like that thing could move its needle-like appendages at any moment to gouge out her eyes…

Go Yeongeun swallowed hard and took a step forward.

One step at a time.

Each step closer made the machine’s reflection in the candlelight waver.

Standing in front of the grotesque spider-shaped machine, Go Yeongeun gave a slight nod.

“Hello.”

Screeeech.

The guide machine moved.

Its eight needles lifted into the air, then neatly folded and descended gently around its body.

The machine tilted its head upward, shining its gas lamp respectfully at Go Yeongeun’s feet.

“…!”

It worked.

Go Yeongeun swallowed hard.

The blessing of the candle was successfully applied to her now.

The blessing to impersonate an honorable entity.

—The first card drawn determines the purpose of the effect, the second card defines the method, and the last one reveals the nature of the effect.

—If combined well, it allows you to create a deception targeting something honorable to obstruct others…

—It’s likely related to impersonation or illusions.

Right now, Go Yeongeun was impersonating the most suitable “honorable entity.”

The one the guide machine would regard most favorably.

That was…

“A fully paid guest!”

Go Yeongeun mustered the calmest tone she could and asked the guide machine,

“If the answer is ‘no,’ please stay still. If the answer is ‘yes,’ please nod.”

Silence.

“Did guests who completed their tour go upstairs from the 4th floor to head home?”

…

“Did guests who completed their tour go downstairs from the 4th floor?”

Nod.

“…!”

It worked!

Though elated by the success, she barely managed to keep her composure and concluded the conversation.

“Thank you. I’ll be on my way now.”

The guide machine remained still.

It stayed put as the three rookies left, its gaze following them until they turned the corner.

The moment they rounded the corner, Go Yeongeun couldn’t hold back any longer.

“It worked…!”

“Keep it steady. The candle burns for about two hours, so don’t let it go out.”

“Yes!”

And so the process repeated.

“Did guests who completed their tour go downstairs from the 3rd floor to head home?”

Nod.

“Thank you!”

It worked again. The three new hires were now filled with thrilling hope for escape as they pressed on.

At this rate…

‘It’s either the 1st or 2nd floor…!’

Everyone shared the same prediction in their minds.

Go Yeongeun bit her tongue to keep herself from getting carried away.

‘Stay cautious, stay cautious!’

If she tipped over the candle, it would be all over.

She didn’t want to escape with her eyes gouged out or her limbs torn off.

She had to remain calm.

Step by careful step, and then—

Grab–

Something seized her ankle.

Go Yeongeun froze and looked down.

There lay a human, their eyes replaced with telescopic lenses.

They looked utterly disheveled, crawling on the floor and flailing as they grabbed her pant leg.

“Goral! Ms. Goral!!”

“…!!”

“Please, take me with you!”

The leader of Team R.

Go Yeongeun’s superior.

* * *

I watched as the person ahead of me came to a stop.

I could see why.

Someone was clinging desperately to her pant leg, shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Ms. Goral! If you take me out of here, I’ll make you some custom equipment! Right away, you’ll be using equipment that only a manager-level person could have! Huh?!”

‘Go Yeongeun was in Team R, wasn’t she?’

It seemed likely this was Team R’s manager.

But his pitiful appearance was hardly befitting of someone who led a field exploration team.

His limbs weren’t taken as a fee, yet he seemed utterly broken, unable to even stand.

‘Was there an internal dispute?’

For someone at his rank, he should’ve been able to last longer, evading here and there with equipment and items. But seeing him like this, it was almost certain.

He was on the brink of death.

And in that state, having spotted a new hire from their team holding an extraordinary item, he leaped out, realizing this was his last lifeline.

“Ms. Goral! That’s an item, right?! Oh my god, it looks amazing. Come on, let me come with you!”

“Wow, not even scared, huh? He keeps running his mouth.”

Baek Saheon muttered under his breath.

Then, he turned to Go Yeongeun and spoke.

“Let’s test if the machine comes when it hears noise. He’s not running anywhere in that state anyway.”

“What? What are you talking about…?”

“……”

The Team R's Leader, who had been begging Go Yeongeun, looked up at Baek Saheon.

The glint of the telephoto lens flickered.

“Which team are you a rookie from?”

“……”

“Ah. Right. That doesn’t matter…. What matters is getting out of here. But hey… The item the rookie from our team is using, it’s in the form of a candle? A consumable, huh.”

“…!”

“A flame… A flame-based defensive item, huh? Yeah, it seems like that…. So, what if I shake it like this?! Like this? And the flame goes out?”

“Ugh–”

Startled, Go Yeongeun almost faltered but quickly grabbed hold of the candle again.

‘This lunatic.’

Just as I was about to summon my special equipment midair to yank Team R's Leader off using my third hand, he clung to Go Yeongeun’s leg once more.

“Do you think I know less than rookies just because I’m in this state?? Take me with you!”

“…But you abandoned me, didn’t you, Team Leader?”

Go Yeongeun murmured in a voice so calm it was chilling.

“You pushed me aside when the machine appeared and ran, didn’t you?”

“…!”

Since everyone had scattered upon entry, I had assumed Go Yeongeun hadn’t run into any of her team members and had been navigating alone all this time…

Was that why she was alone?

“No! I did what I could! I couldn’t sacrifice myself for a rookie, so I had to leave you! But now you can take me with you! Humans should act humanely when they have the means!”

The Team Leader clung desperately, shouting frantically.

No tears could flow from the lens that had replaced his eyes.

“If you leave me behind, it’s murder, murder! Just try leaving me, and I’ll destroy that item! Somehow!! I’ll—!”

Thud.

“…!”

Thump.

The body of the Team R's Leader slumped to the side and collapsed.

Baek Saheon lowered his left foot, which he had just used to strike the Team Leader’s temple.

“……”

And so did I.

I retracted the third hand after it struck the back of Team R's Leader’s head.

‘He… he’s still breathing, right?’

I hadn’t meant to hit him simultaneously, but somehow, it happened.

At any rate, it seemed the situation was under control now.

I looked down at the pitifully dressed middle-aged man in his 40s.

‘…Even in this state, his field experience shows.’

He had perfectly mixed pleas that would prick a rookie’s conscience with threats they’d find terrifying, delivering a well-balanced cascade of nonsense.

Go Yeongeun still held the candle firmly, but her trembling eyes betrayed her as she stared down at her direct superior in his humiliating state…

And Baek Saheon spoke lightly.

“Well, that’s settled. Let’s just take his head with us now.”

…What?

“No, we can’t.”

“He’s going to die anyway, so it’ll save him some pain, and we’ll get the fee for Plan B when we need it. There’s no downside.”

“Consider how traumatic it would be for Goral if you cut someone’s head right now. It’s hard to stay calm after killing an acquaintance yourself.”

As Baek Saheon and I argued back and forth, Go Yeongeun’s face turned paler and paler.

“No, what is this? No… no way….”

“What are you talking about? People do whatever it takes to survive. It’s doable.”

“No, it isn’t. Don’t listen to him, Goral.”

“Goral…”

“Wait!”

“……”

“……”

“I’ll just… handle it this way.”

Go Yeongeun gripped the candle tightly and kicked Team R's Leader into a dimly lit sofa corner.

Then she let out a long sigh.

“This way, the machine won’t detect him right away…. Let’s go now, before the candle burns out.”

“……”

I nodded.

But Baek Saheon frowned.

“Making things complicated. He’s going to die anyway.”

“…If you owe your life to a kind person, don’t talk like that, okay?”

“……”

Go Yeongeun let out a deep sigh.

“Still, thank you both. I almost got swept up in this mess.”

“You’re welcome.”

Surprisingly, Baek Saheon stayed silent. I thought he’d throw in some sarcastic remark or try to extract something, but he didn’t.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

We began descending the stairs again.

After a round of disruptions and incidents,

The end to this lunacy was in sight.