Lea stared at the bowl of bibimbap set before her with a sour expression.

'It’s meant to be eaten, right?'

She glanced around the cafeteria—everyone else was busy mixing their food.

But her hand, holding the spoon, wouldn’t move easily.

The three around her kept sneaking glances.

So Lea steeled her resolve and scooped up a heaping spoonful of bibimbap.

For a moment she just glared at the spoon, while the Miseongnyun-z watched her with the air of cheering her on.

Right. Refusing food here would be rude.

She squeezed her eyes shut and shoved the spoonful into her mouth.

She’d thought that mixing everything together would taste awful. But the chewy rice grains and crunchy vegetables weren’t bad at all.

Her eyes opened as she chewed slowly, savoring. The nutty, spicy flavor slid down her throat.

That lingering kick of flavor on her tongue made her crave another bite.

'...Just one more spoonful...'

One spoon, then another. Lea soon found herself eating without hesitation, and smiles spread across the kids’ faces.

They pushed the bowls toward her, urging her to try this and that, and she kept eating, chewing happily.

A bite of braised short ribs made her cover her mouth, unable to stop smiling at the sweet and savory flavor.

“It’s delicious.”

Soon laughter blossomed all over the table.

***

At that time, the Maltese tied to a garden post lay quietly, carrying a hamster and a rabbit on her back.

Some passing employees reached out, cooing at how cute she was, but Yurian only turned her head away with a sigh.

Her mind was filled with only one thought: escape this place quickly and return to her Master.

But right now, she was nothing more than an ordinary dog.

'There must be another way...'

With a groan, Yurian rested her chin on her paws.

“Hm...”

As she brooded, Veilach, enjoying the fresh outdoor air for the first time in a while, rested his own chin in thought as he studied the subdued Yurian.

He had sensed it since arriving at Hyeonak, and the longer he watched, the more certain he became.

He whispered to Lukshifer.

“Myu.” (The mount’s condition isn’t right.)

“Kkyu?”

Lukshifer’s ears perked.

“Myu.” (From the moment we entered Hyeonak, she hasn’t barked or trembled with anger.)

“Kkyuuu?”

Isn’t that a good thing? Lukshifer seemed to ask. But for Veilach, it was anything but.

“Myumyumyu? Myu myut.” (A Maltese that even snapped at On Jurim suddenly stopped showing anger? That means something’s wrong.)

Hoooh! Lukshifer nodded, convinced.

Veilach sat cross-legged with his stubby legs, arms folded, head tilted.

He had a few suspicions, but one worst-case scenario stood above the rest.

Veilach said gravely,

“Myumyumyut.” (The skill’s duration might be running out.)

The reason Yurian had become a Maltese in the first place was because Mephisto had bounced back her own skill.

He hadn’t told Guru or Mephisto, but a mere human skill could never last forever.

Lukshifer looked flustered.

“Kkyuutt...!”

“Myu...” (Yes. If that happens...)

Veilach clenched his tiny paw into a fist.

“Myu!” (Our mount will disappear!)

“Kkyu, kkyuuu?!”

“Myufuuut...”

Veilach gnashed his teeth in frustration.

“Myu.” (We must find a way to fix this. Otherwise we’ll be forced back into the bag.)

“Kkyu kkyu...” (But...)

“Myutmyut?” (Do you want to fight Mephisto for a spot on our master’s head?)

Remembering Mephisto’s jealous “kicks,” Lukshifer shook his head rapidly.

“Myu!” (Exactly. That’s why this Maltese must stay a Maltese for us!)

Veilach raised his voice like he was giving a speech.

Naive Lukshifer was completely swayed.

“Myu. Myumyumyu.” (So steal some [Filial Piety Snacks]. You know where the master hides them, right?)

“Kkyu...!” (How did you...!)

Lukshifer covered his mouth with both paws in shock.

“Myumyumyu myu myumyumyu.” (We’ll feed her the snacks and amplify the skill’s effect—so she can’t turn back into a human.)

Lukshifer trembled.

To think this ugly hamster could hatch such an evil plan.

“Kkyuu...!” (You evil genius hamster...!)

Kekeke! Hahaha! The ugly hamster cackled wickedly.

Employees passing by muttered as they saw the hamster laughing atop the Maltese.

“Ratatouille?”

***

Lea felt like the world was spinning.

“Hello Guru! Hi Dani! Hi Serhi! Looks like you brought a friend too~”

Everywhere they went, the three were greeted warmly—and Lea, swept up in it, was greeted too, joining in the Hyeonak tour.

'Why?!'

The kids must have really thought she was just another tour guest.

From the training hall to the break room, the lounge, the playroom—dragged around by the Miseongnyun-z, Lea’s next stop was the simulation room.

“Jurim hyung gave me grief, told me I had to earn my own credits if I wanted to use the sim room.”

Lea’s eyes widened.

In the glass-walled center stood a stern-looking man with gray hair.

Around him shimmered a galaxy of half-solid, glittering motes.

“Amakusa Kazuki?!”

“Cool, huh?”

Lea nodded blankly.

The only S-Rank crafter in the world. If her heart wasn’t pounding, she wouldn’t be a Hunter.

“So he’s making a new series?”

“Yeah. Guess he got inspired seeing a new S+ come out.”

Naturally, Gidan and Serhi’s eyes shifted toward Guru.

Guru puffed her cheeks like walnuts and nodded proudly.

Meanwhile, Lea never even imagined that Guru could have made the S+. She craned her neck, hoping maybe she’d spot Jjapso somewhere.

When Lea, who had been so stiff at first, began showing signs of genuine enjoyment, Gidan and Guru shared a smile.

The next destination was Serhi’s office.

One side of the office looked like a game room, with a giant TV and several consoles.

Gidan picked up a controller and shoved it into Lea’s hands.

On screen, the title “OVERCOOKED 2” appeared.

“Guru’s on my team. Lea, you’re with Serhi.”

He arbitrarily split the teams, calling his side the “Patriotic Conservative Team,” and high-fived Guru.

Lea blinked as she pressed the buttons.

“Sorry... I don’t really know how to play games.”

“You just need fingers. Don’t worry.”

At Serhi’s words, Lea nodded faintly.

And then Serhi immediately regretted them.

On screen, Lea’s character wandered aimlessly, lost.

“No! You’re supposed to hand that to me!”

Serhi roared. Lea was worse than he ever imagined.

“S-Sorryyy!”

Lea wailed in apology, bringing laughter from Gidan and Guru.

Still apologizing under Serhi’s scolding, Lea happened to glance at Guru, who was giggling uncontrollably.

“...?”

The child’s smile was so pure and lovely that Lea was struck speechless.

'Wait. What am I even doing right now?'

This wasn’t the time to be playing.

The moment she remembered why she had come, her head went blank—then doubts flooded in like a tide.

Hyeonak looked so ordinary. Like a normal company full of kind, good people.

'Could I have been wrong?'

If something terrible were happening here, could a child laugh like that?

Could such horrors really happen in such a bright, kind place?

Lea gripped her controller tighter, trying to hide her confusion.

Yet as the children laughed and played, her suspicions gradually blurred.

“How can you be worse than Guru?!”

At Serhi’s words, Guru puffed up in protest.

“Gwuu ish good at it!”

“Let’s play another game. Maybe you’ll be better at a shooting one.”

At Gidan’s suggestion, Serhi crossed his arms again and fell silent.

The TV lit up with a dark title screen. Lea blinked.

It was some multiplayer horror game, the kind where you had to survive against monsters.

—Huff, huff...

On screen, Lea’s character awoke in a pitch-black room, gasping for breath.

Old tiled walls, a dingy little room barely lit by a single bulb.

Moving her character around, Lea shivered, shoulders trembling.

This place wasn’t unfamiliar.

'But why...'

Why could she hear the trickling sound of water flowing down drains?

“......”

A memory she had buried long ago came rushing back. Lea froze, gripping the controller.

Her breathing turned ragged.

Young Lea’s home had been a ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) square room, no larger than three pyeong.

Its walls were often stained with damp, and the air stank of water and cold.

Drip drip. Sometimes liquid would trickle down a groove in the wall.

Sometimes it was blood.

And in the corner of that square room, sat a girl who looked exactly like her.

A twin, identical to herself.