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Walking with an awkward silence.

“So, it’s not that there’s no camaraderie, but, um… er.”

“…”

“…”

Yu Da On opened her mouth and then quickly shut it again, trying hard to salvage the situation, but ended up closing it once more.

“No, did I really speak without camaraderie?”

“…y…yes, exactly.”

“That’s not it.”

With a low sigh, Jang Chae Yeon chimed in.

“Then what is it?”

“…”

In response to my question, Jang Chae Yeon opened and closed her mouth a few times, then turned her gaze to the floor.

“…W-why are you looking at me?”

“No, usually in situations like this, Song Ah Rin would let out a sigh and explain things.”

“Ugh… well, you’re not wrong about that…”

Song Ah Rin rolled her eyes, repeatedly opening and closing her mouth, and eventually sighed, shaking her head.

“No, um, I can’t say anything.”

“This is frustrating, really.”

If it’s not camaraderie, then what is it?

“It’s not like I approached without affection either.”

“…”

The three of them seemed to flinch slightly.

“If you don’t tell me what it is, I can’t understand.”

“Alright, alright. I messed up, okay?”

Song Ah Rin quickly shook her head and shouted, while the other two nodded fervently.

“Jae Heon, we’re going. There’s a pretty picture up ahead.”

“Da On, wait a second. Don’t push—no, what did I do wrong?”

Before I knew it, Yu Da On, standing behind me, shoved me forward with all her might.

“Wow, a butterfly!”

“That butterfly has a human face. What’s so pretty about—”

Before I could finish my sentence, Yu Da On dragged me along, completely diverting my thoughts, and before I knew it, we exited the Hall of Nature without resolving my doubts.

“But…”

“Yeah?”

“I know it might seem annoying to say this, but…”

“I’m listening.”

“Isn’t it easier here than I expected?”

“…”

-Slap!

“Ow!”

Jang Chae Yeon smacked my arm and shot me a glare.

*

As we exited the Hall of Nature, we found ourselves standing in what could only be described as a rest area—or rather, a lobby with nothing in it.

I even looked at the manual, wondering if this might be a trap.

[Manual for Office Staff]

[Gallery 2.5 – Rest Area]

1. This is a rest area. It’s one of the few places in the art museum to take a break, though there’s no food or drink, but you can catch your breath here.

2. However, absolutely do not turn back.

If there had only been item 1, I would have seriously worried that the manual was compromised, but item 2 actually set my mind at ease.

Song Ah Rin was lying down using her jacket as a pillow, eyes closed. Every time her arm twitched, she scrunched her brows, making me think she might be in more pain than it appeared.

Yu Da On, curiously tapping on the walls, was looking around. Did she find something? With a fascinated expression, she kept blinking while poking at the wall.

And Jang Chae Yeon was with me.

“There are things you absolutely must not say in the isolation team.”

“What are they?”

“This situation is really easy, right? We’ve definitely caught this thing, right? The inside is cleaner than expected, etc.”

“Those are all things you shouldn’t say.”

“That’s the exact thing you just said.”

“I’m sorry.”

Jang Chae Yeon gave a soft smile at my apology.

“That’s enough if you’re sorry.”

After that, silence fell upon us again. However, it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence—it was more of a peaceful silence where being quiet was perfectly fine.

Now would be a good time to ask something I was curious about.

“By the way, Chae Yeon.”

“Yeah?”

“Did you have a sister?”

“…I did, but I didn’t.”

Jang Chae Yeon turned her gaze far away.

“She wasn’t blood-related, but she was much more like family than that.”

“Is this from a story?”

“…Yeah.”

“Like when you were with Song Ah Rin?”

“Even longer ago. Back when I first entered the Management Agency.”

“What kind of person was she?”

“I don’t know.”

“…Huh?”

Jang Chae Yeon looked at me.

A smile formed on her face.

With a calm yet sad smile, she answered me with a voice filled with sorrow.

“I forgot everything about her except her face.”

“…”

“Let’s get going.”

As if to say it had never happened, she smiled at me and stood up, dusting off her backside with both hands.

Guess I should get up too.

As I stood, a gentle touch brushed against my backside.

Jang Chae Yeon was brushing off my pants as if it were nothing.

“…”

“…”

Tap, tap, she endlessly brushed at my clothes.

“Um, Chae Yeon?”

-Tap, tap…

“Chae Yeon?”

“…”

“Jang Chae Yeon.”

“Oh, yeah, yeah.”

She snapped her head up.

“I think that’s enough.”

“…Okay.”

She looked a bit disappointed, puffing her cheeks slightly before starting to walk again as if nothing ever happened.

“I’m leaving.”

“Got it.”

“Yeah.”

At her words, both Song Ah Rin and Yu Da On began to prepare.

While the three were getting ready, I opened the manual ahead of time.

[Manual for Office Staff]

[Gallery 3 – Hall of Art]

1. The Hall of Art is, as the name suggests, a gallery where you can enjoy artistic experiences.

2. Everything here feels alive, and in severe cases, it can affect both you and those around you.

3. Making noise here is definitely a no-go, but in the Hall of Art, it takes a long time for the guides to come after you, so if you’re close to escaping, making loud noises and running as fast as you can is recommended.

4. From here on, exits exist. As you proceed, be prepared to leave at any time.

4-1. As you head deeper into the Hall of Art, you may encounter masks worn by the guides. Find a painting showing a face covered with hands holding that mask and place it on the painting. The guide will then thank you profusely and lead you to the exit.

4-2. While continuing to walk, you may encounter Aestheticism. Engage in a lengthy discussion with her about art. If you can persuade her, she will lead you to the exit.

5. There’s nothing in particular to watch out for in the Hall of Art. Just remember, this place transcends your imagination, and no matter what actions you take, those actions may come back to you like a bigger boomerang.

6. The Hall of Art will significantly differ from conventional art in a human viewpoint. If you end up liking this art, please visit the Mental Health Department of the Management Agency.

Everything about the descriptions was utterly chilling.

While staring blankly at the manual, Yu Da On stood beside me, looking curious.

“What does it say?”

“It basically tells us to do our best?”

“Yeah?”

I summarized what I had just read for Yu Da On.

“So, in other words…”

“Do your best, I guess.”

“Then it’s my turn to shine!”

Yu Da On grinned, clenched her fist, and lightly punched her chest.

When she talks like that, she usually comes up with something that’s a bit out of my common sense.

“Da On, are you really confident about this?”

“Not at all!”

“…”

I was already starting to worry about what kind of answer I would get.

Then why is she so confident?

Noticing my gaze, Yu Da On beamed and responded.

“If things go wrong, I can just die and solve it, right?”

Just as expected.

“Somehow, I had a feeling that would be your answer, but let’s at least be careful.”

“Got it!”

With an expression that looked utterly clueless, Yu Da On nodded along as we headed inside.

The Hall of Art had a bizarre entrance.

“…Ugh.”

Song Ah Rin gazed at the entrance with her eyes tightly squeezed shut.

Before us stood a massive door made of long bones.

It seemed we could enter only after opening the door, as behind it, there was nothing to see.

“Is this… a human bone?”

“I really don’t want to know.”

I answered Song Ah Rin’s question, who looked pale as she stared at the doorknob, and then grasped the doorknob.

I couldn’t help but scrunch up my face at the sensation in my hand, but I ignored it and opened the door.

-Creeeeak…

With a strange sound, the door opened.

“Ugh…”

The murmuring behind me from Song Ah Rin perfectly mirrored my own feelings.

While I had never walked on a massive pile of flesh in my life, I felt like I could brag about it now.

-Thump, thump.

The floor pulsed as if my heart was beating.

“This… it’s flesh, right?”

“Hey, don’t say it like that.”

In response to Yu Da On’s comment, Song Ah Rin sharply replied, continuing forward.

Is this thing itself a living entity?

Squinting and looking around, I saw no translucent windows coming into view.

“There’s art here as well.”

Yu Da On announced as she walked along.

“I’m not sure if this should even be considered art, but…”

She reached out and pointed at something.

A man was buried in a wall made of flesh.

With only the right side of his body entangled in the mass, he was groaning, and soon a translucent window appeared before my eyes.

[Name: Buried Man]

[Age: Created 6 years ago]

[Specialty: X]

[Talent: X]

[Background: This man from the Management Agency challenged, and he was defeated. Now, he is merely a display piece of Aestheticism.]

[Weakness: He is already a being bound to the art museum. Even if you feel sorry for him, it is better to leave him be than to offer any awkward pity.]

Management Agency, huh?

I turned back to look at the others.

“Anyone recognize him?”

All three shook their heads in unison.

“Got it. Then, Da On, don’t recklessly touch anything…”

I said as Yu Da On nodded and pulled back, and the groaning man opened his eyes.

“Ugh…”

As if he regained consciousness, the man looked at us.

“Th-that…”

He opened his mouth and shouted.

“THEY HAVE COME!!!!”

With a loud scream, he grabbed Yu Da On by the neck with both hands.

“Ugh…!”

Yu Da On gasped for air, gripping the man’s arms.

-Bang!

-Crash!

I immediately drew my gun and shot a hole into his forehead, while Jang Chae Yeon snapped his neck.

“Ugh.”

With a gasp, the figure was once again buried into the wall.

“Cough, cough!”

Yu Da On knelt and breathed harshly.

There were bright red marks left on her neck.

“…What was that?”

Song Ah Rin muttered, squinting in pain.

“…I don’t know.”

Was that just a scream, or…?

Why did it have to be—

The content of the manual popped into my head.

[Making noise here is definitely a no-go, but in the Hall of Art, it takes a long time for the guides to come after you, so if you’re close to escaping, making loud noises and running as fast as you can is recommended.]

Could it be—

“Everyone, let’s go. Quickly.”

“Why?”

“That just screamed, didn’t it?”

“Oh!”

As Yu Da On rubbed her neck, her eyes widened.

“We have to hurry!”

“Explain while we run.”

Jang Chae Yeon and Song Ah Rin immediately began to move their legs.

I too forced my legs, buried in the flesh, to follow suit.

The air inside, similar to human body heat, was making me feel increasingly uneasy.

 

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