"Is… is it really okay for us to go by ourselves? Is this the right way?"
"It should be fine."
Probably.
Understanding the omitted words, Go Yeongeun swallowed a scream. After persuading his superiors, Kim Soleum had taken his two fellow new hires with him to 'use' the item and left the terrace.
'He probably said that to make it sound logical.'
Since he had claimed one of them owned the item, it only made sense for that person to take the lead.
…Although, being lumped together with Baek Saheon under the umbrella term 'us' felt a bit unsettling.
'Still, he's unusually quiet right now.'
But for the moment, what lay ahead concerned him far more.
"Then I'll take out the candle."
Yes!
Go Yeongeun returned the paper Kim Soleum had given her, and he unfolded it. What happened next was astonishing.
A cylindrical, heavy chunk of pale purple wax rolled into his hand. It was a real candle.
"...!"
The outline drawn with crayon remained imprinted on its surface, like a stamped pattern, revealing its transformation from a mere sketch into reality.
'…Whoa.'
Kim Soleum momentarily forgot the situation, marveling at the sight. Knowing what they planned to do with the candle only heightened his anticipation.
"Please wait a moment."
Taking a deep breath, he pulled out a lighter and attempted to ignite the candle's wick.
Fwoosh.
The flame brushed the wick…
And nothing happened.
"..."
"..."
Why… isn't it lighting?
Kim Soleum even demonstrated his bizarre ability to flick a coin in midair, summoning a third hand to try igniting it, but to no avail.
"…Ah."
As if recalling something, Kim Soleum hastily retrieved the candle kit's instructions and skimmed them.
"Is there a problem?"
"..."
He lowered the instructions with a strangely dry expression.
"No, I don't think so."
But he knew the problem.
At the bottom of the chaotic, dark-red scribbled manual, in the section labeled 'Precautions for Use and Handling', one particular note stood out: The 'recommended users'.
※ This toy is designed to alleviate the fatigue of modern Earthlings. For safety reasons, extraterrestrials, beings from other realms, non-intelligent entities, gods, and all other non-human intelligences cannot use this product. :)
'…I might not qualify.'
After all, Kim Soleum was not a native of this place.
A chill ran down his spine, but he knew that wasn't the priority right now.
He needed to entrust it to someone reliable.
Someone with a low chance of acting rashly, someone with social and moral sense.
"Ms. Goral."
"...!"
"I'll leave it to you."
Go Yeongeun hesitated before taking the candle.
She received the lighter as well and, with trembling hands, held the flame to the wick.
Fwoosh—
The flame brushed the wick…
And it lit.
"...!"
Words began to emerge from the body of the candle, glowing faintly as if illuminated from within.
The keywords from the cards they had drawn earlier.
[Honor] [Interference] [Deceit]
– Do you remember the cards we drew when creating the candle? They indicate the abilities it will manifest.
Kim Soleum's earlier explanation resurfaced in her mind as more phrases appeared on the candle.
The bearer of this candle must present a deceitful form, empowered by the authority of interference, directed toward an honorable target. And the bearer will be granted a blessing.
Impersonator of Nobility.
Go Yeongeun raised the candle high.
A round orb of flame emerged from the candle like a lantern, hovering above her head before disappearing. The space around her softly lit up, resembling a subtle spotlight.
'Wow…'
"As expected, it works as planned."
Kim Soleum, watching with a faint smile, nodded.
"This candle's effect can extend to two people near you, Ms. Goral. Goat and I will follow behind you."
"Yes."
Go Yeongeun wondered if someone other than Baek Saheon could have been chosen, but since the item was Kim Soleum's creation, she complied without complaint.
Kim Soleum spoke again in a hushed tone.
"Still, please be careful. Don't turn around to look at us. The effect only works if we remain hidden behind the candle bearer."
"…Understood."
"And don't stare at the candle too closely. It might eat away at your mind."
Go Yeongeun nodded slowly.
Though tension gripped her shoulders, she managed to regain her composure.
That was her specialty.
"You mentioned the exit is on the upper floors. So, starting from the middle —on the fourth floor—makes the most sense. It reduces the number of possibilities."
"Yes, good plan."
Their steps began to echo.
The thought of what lay ahead sent shivers down her spine, but Go Yeongeun clenched her teeth.
Here she was, probably the most timid of them all, tasked with holding the candle.
'I have to do my best.'
Little did she know, the most cowardly of their group was right behind her!
Step, step.
Their footsteps reverberated through the brass-lit hall. As they ascended toward the fourth floor, no sounds of the usher machines could be heard. But it wasn't reassuring.
Because their destination was…
"Found it."
It was right in front of the usher machine.
"..."
The new hires from , who had reached the fourth floor, followed the sound of the machine until they finally located the usher responsible for the hallway.
Screeeech.
"Hey, if you run out of the candle's range now, it'll chase after you."
"You think I don't know that?"
The cold exchange between Kim Soleum and Baek Saheon sent a chill down Go Yeongeun's spine. It felt like the needle-like components of the machine might move at any moment to gouge out her eyes…
But swallowing her fear, Go Yeongeun stepped forward.
One step at a time.
Each step closer caused the reflection of the machine in the candlelight to waver. Standing before the grotesque spider-shaped machine, Go Yeongeun gave a slight nod.
"Hello."
Screeech—
The usher machine moved. Its eight needle-like legs raised into the air… then slowly settled around its body in a neat formation. The machine lifted its head and respectfully shone a gaslight near Go Yeongeun's feet.
"...!"
It worked.
Go Yeongeun swallowed hard. The candle's blessing was successfully working for her. The blessing to impersonate an honorable being.
– The first card determines the purpose of the effect, the second dictates the method, and the third reveals its essence.
– When combined properly, it creates a deception targeting something honorable to hinder others…
– This ability is likely related to impersonation or trickery.
Right now, Go Yeongeun was impersonating the most appropriate 'honorable being' for this scenario.
The most favorable target for the usher machine.
A guest who had paid in full!
In the calmest tone she could muster, Go Yeongeun addressed the usher machine.
"If your answer is 'no', please remain still. If it is 'yes', nod your head."
Silence.
"Did guests who finished viewing the exhibition on this fourth floor go upstairs?"
...
"Did guests who finished viewing the exhibition on this fourth floor go downstairs?"
Nod.
"...!"
It worked!
Overwhelmed with relief, the candle bearer barely managed to conclude the interaction.
"Thank you. I'll continue enjoying the exhibition now."
The usher machine remained quietly in place as the three within the candle's radius left. As they rounded the corner, Go Yeongeun couldn't help but exclaim.
"It worked…!"
"Move slowly. The candle will burn for about two hours, so it's critical not to let it go out midway."
"Yes!"
And then the process repeated.
"Did guests who finished viewing the exhibition on this third floor go downstairs?"
Nod.
"Thank you!"
It worked again. The three new hires were now walking with cautious but hopeful steps, fueled by the thrill of escape.
If this kept up…
"Either the first or second floor…!"
The same thought occurred to everyone.
Go Yeongeun bit her tongue to keep her excitement in check.
"Stay calm, stay calm!"
If she were to drop the candle, it would all be over. To avoid escaping with her eyes, tongue, or limbs taken, she needed to remain composed.
As she took a careful step forward…
Grab—
Something seized her foot.
Go Yeongeun froze and looked down.
There was a human being, his eyes replaced with telescopic lenses, crawling desperately on the floor and clutching at her pants leg.
"Goral! Ms. Goral!!"
"...!!"
"Take me with you!"
It was R-squad's leader.
Go Yeongeun's superior.
I looked at the person who had stopped ahead of me.
I knew why.
Someone was clinging desperately to the leg of the person ahead, shouting.
"Ms. Goral! If— If you get me out of here, I'll make equipment for you! The kind only a section chief can access! Right away, too! Okay?!"
'So Go Yeongeun is from the R-squad.'
Seems like this was R-squad's section chief.
But for someone supposedly in charge of a squad in the Field Exploration Team, he looked utterly pathetic.
His limbs weren't taken as payment but seemed completely broken, leaving him unable to stand.
'Did infighting break out?'
If he were a proper squad leader, he should have been able to hold out with his equipment and items while moving stealthily. His current state made it almost certain that hadn't happened.
He must be on the verge of death.
And in this desperate moment, seeing a rookie from his squad wielding a remarkable item, he had lunged forward, recognizing his last lifeline.
"Ms. Goral! That's an item, isn't it? Woooow, i-it looks great! Um, uh, ttake me with you, please! Okay?"
"Whoa, not even scared, huh? Babbling away."
Baek Saheon muttered under his breath.
Then he turned to Go Yeongeun and said,
"Let's see if the monster machines hear him. Not like he's in any condition to run away anyway."
"Huh? What kind of nonsense is that…"
"..."
R-squad's leader, who had been begging to Go Yeongeun, turned to look at Baek Saheon. The gleam of his telescopic lenses flickered.
"You. Which squad are you a rookie from?"
"..."
"Oh, right. It doesn't matter… What matters is getting out of here. But look… the item my squad's rookie is using—it's shaped like a candle. A consumable, huh?"
"...!"
"Fl…Flame-based… yeah, defensive item, right? Right, yeah, that must be it… So, then, what if I shake it, shake it like this, and put the flame out?"
"Ugh—"
Go Yeongeun, who nearly stumbled, quickly steadied the candle in her grip.
'This lunatic.'
I was about to summon my special equipment to use a third hand to pry him off, but the squad leader clung to Go Yeongeun's leg again.
"Do you think I, even in this state, know less than a rookie? Take me with you!"
"…You left me behind, Squad Leader."
Go Yeongeun muttered in an eerily quiet voice.
"When the machines came, you pushed me aside and ran."
"...!"
I thought Go Yeongeun hadn't met any teammates and had been wandering alone because the team had split up when they entered.
So that's why she was by herself.
"No! I did what I could! I couldn't die trying to save a rookie, so I left you behind. But now you can take me with you! If the conditions allow, humans should act humanely!"
The squad leader screamed desperately, clutching at her. Tears didn't even flow from the lens-replaced eyes.
"If you don't take me with you, it's murder! Murder! Just try leaving me behind. I'll destroy that item! Somehow!! I'll—"
Thud.
"...!"
Srrrrrk—
R-squad's leader's body went limp and collapsed sideways. Baek Saheon retracted his left foot, which had just struck the squad leader in the temple.
"..."
And me too.
I recalled the third hand back into the glove, which struck the back of the R-squad's leader's head.
'H-He's still breathing, right?'
I hadn't meant for both of us to hit him, but here we were. At least the situation seemed to have settled.
I glanced down at the disheveled middle-aged office worker sprawled on the floor.
'…Well, he does have experience in field exploration.'
He had crafted a balance of pleas that could tug at a rookie's heartstrings and threats that could instill fear. A manipulative mix.
Go Yeongeun still held the candle steady, but her trembling gaze betrayed how shaken she was by the pitiful state of her superior.
Baek Saheon casually remarked,
"Now we just take his head and leave, right?"
…What?
"No, we can't."
"He's going to die anyway. It'd make it easier for him and give us spare payments for a Plan B. There's literally no downside."
"Think of Ms. Goral's mental state if we decapitate someone she knows. It's hard to maintain composure after killing someone you're familiar with."
As Baek Saheon and I spoke on either side, Go Yeongeun's face grew increasingly pale.
"This is ridiculous. No, I can't…"
"What are you talking about? People can do anything to survive. Of course, it's possible."
"No, it's not. Don't listen to him, Ms. Goral."
"Goral—"
"Wait!"
"..."
"..."
"I'll just do this."
Go Yeongeun tightened her grip on the candle, then kicked the squad leader toward a shadowy sofa corner. His body slid into the dim recess. She exhaled deeply.
"This way, the machines won't spot him immediately. Let's go before the candle burns out."
"..."
I nodded.
Baek Saheon, however, scowled.
"Making things complicated. He's going to die anyway."
"…If you owe your life to someone kind, you should stop saying things like that, don't you think?"
"..."
Go Yeongeun sighed deeply.
"Still, thank you, both of you. I almost got caught up in that."
"It's nothing."
Surprisingly, Baek Saheon didn't say another word. I thought he'd make a snide comment or demand something in return, but he didn't.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
We descended the stairs once more.
The disruption and the incident were behind us.
The end was in sight.