We soon arrived on the floor where the lounge was.

When the elevator doors opened, a scene like a hotel lobby spread before me. The floor felt deserted. Beneath dim lighting sat luxurious ivory-colored sofas. Behind the lobby stretched a long corridor.

Ami, who had hopped out first, turned back to me.

“Give me the trash.”

She held out her hand, eyeing the hamburger bag I was still carrying.

I shook my hand.

“No. I’ll throw it away when I see a bin.”

“There’s one right there.”

She pointed at a silver column.

That was a trash can?

I tossed the plastic bag inside, then turned to look at the small woman. Ami’s round eyes were fixed on me.

She was still wearing the clothes I had first seen her in.

Looking down at someone who did not seem a day over twenty-two — let alone seventy — I said what I wanted to say.

“The hamburger was really delicious. Thank you.”

Ami’s eyes grew even rounder.

She stared up at me, then curved her eyes in a smile.

“Next time, I’ll buy you something even tastier.”

A good person.

Perhaps my moved expression was obvious, for Ami let out a cheerful laugh. Even her laughter sounded childish. Despite the gun and knife hanging at her waist, her youthful air did not fade.

“The room is over there. It’s the kind of place the leadership uses to catch sleep when they’re too busy to go home. It’s always kept spotless, so you won’t be uncomfortable.”

“Thank you very much.”

It must have been thanks to the Personnel Director’s favorable assessment that I was allowed to stay here. As I walked the corridor, I recalled the man who had supposedly gone home and then returned.

He had only exchanged a few words with me. How had he judged so quickly?

Following after Ami, I carefully broached the subject.

“But the Personnel Director...”

“You’re wondering how he could decide so quickly?”

Sharp.

I nodded, and Ami turned her head to explain.

“He’s naturally gifted in that area. He may have plenty of holes, but when it comes to judging people, no one’s more accurate. He can tell exactly where someone belongs, and what method will raise their morale. That’s why he can leave work on time every day and still keep his position. Even if his paperwork is often full of holes... Even if during the war he was infamous for dating indiscriminately — men, women, young, old — and causing scandals... Oh, and of course, he’s a skilled fighter too.”

I felt like I had just heard several outrageous things at once.

I widened my eyes at her, but Ami offered no further clarification. Instead, she skipped ahead, opened the door at the end of the corridor, and gestured me inside.

A huge bed. Smooth glass walls in place of stone. Beyond them, a dazzlingly beautiful night view. Beneath the dark blue sky spread countless clusters of lights.

Come to think of it, since waking up, I had not once looked outside. I had never properly seen this world.

I stepped in, staring blankly at the window.

Noticing my reaction, Ami let out a small “Ah.”

“Do you want to see outside?”

“Yes. If that’s possible.”

“Of course it is! I’ll open the window. The weather’s nice.”

She walked to the central pane of glass and pushed the upper window open. A cool night breeze rushed against my face, and I stepped forward.

I stopped at the window.

Ami stepped back.

“I’ll be here in the morning too. I’ll sit on the lobby sofa by the elevator, so come out whenever you wake up. And if you suddenly feel sick or anything urgent happens at night, press the emergency button next to the bed.”

I nodded and looked outside. The wind against my cheeks carried a distinct night scent.

Smell and wind triggered memory.

A night view, my white hair fluttering in the breeze. An endless city spread beneath my feet.

The memory overlapped with my vision, and I was shaken.

I was standing on a rooftop. At the edge, in black shoes, gazing down at the city.

Someone in fluttering white clothes stood beside me.

‘What do you think?’

The figure spoke.

‘Isn’t it beautiful?’

Slowly, I turned my head. Car lights fading, replaced by the night sky.

And then, in a soft, androgynous voice, calling my name...

“Hilde.”

Ami’s voice snapped me back.

“Y-yes?”

“Leaning out like that is dangerous.”

Ami came closer.

Her hand tugged my shirt. With strength far greater than expected, my half-hanging body was yanked back inside.

I nodded hastily.

“Thank you.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes. Of course.”

I carefully closed the window.

The night wind stopped. Coolness faded, replaced by the warmth of the room wrapping my face. Tilting my head, I met Ami’s eyes watching me.

A strange room. Strange people.

I was their unforeseen variable, and for now, the one who had to sleep here quietly.

The pain of not recalling the memory clearly lingered. But if the night view had triggered this, perhaps more would return bit by bit.

I calmed myself with the thought.

I steadied my voice and smiled.

“Thank you for all your kindness.”

Ami stared up at me, then gave a wide smile.

She went outside, came back with a bag of clothes ordered by Ju, and left me with a cheerful “Good night.”

***

I slept a dreamless sleep.

When I woke, I lay staring at the ceiling for a long time. I half-hoped something would change if I closed and opened my eyes again. But nothing had. Only my name and fragmented memories remained.

Lying in the soft blanket, I realized I was hungry. I remembered Ami might be waiting in the lobby.

I jumped up to check the time.

9 a.m.

Bright sunlight streamed onto the bed.

“Ami.”

Without even washing my face, I hurriedly flung open the door and ran to the lobby.

“Sorry! I forgot you might be waiting—”

“Oh, you’re up? Good morning!”

“Hilde~.”

It was not only Ami who greeted me, still in my pajamas.

Ricardo waved lazily, his green eyes curving softly. He was lounging on the sofa. I blinked at him.

You don’t have to go to work?

I still had no idea what he actually did for a living.

My thoughts must have shown. Ricardo chuckled, one arm draped on the backrest.

“I did go to work. Then the order came down to stick by your side.... Works out fine for me. Even if it hadn’t, I’d have made time to check how you’re doing.~”

“Ah... So today I’ll be with you instead of Ami?”

“Drop the ‘Mr.’ already.”

“I’ll be with you too.”

As Ricardo replied seriously, Ami popped her head in and added.

I looked down at her beside Ricardo. She was dressed far more casually than yesterday — white sneakers, light blue jeans, an ivory sweatshirt.

“Is that all right?”

She asked, and I nodded.

“Of course. In fact, I should be the one asking. I’m sorry for waking late. Did you wait long?”

“No! And don’t use honorifics with me either, just call me by name. We don’t care about age because of what we are, only ranks matter.”

“Hmm... If you both say so...” 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Should I drop polite speech too?

I hesitated, but then recalled Ricardo had only told me to drop the ‘Mr.,’ not polite language altogether.

Better to be cautious. I decided: I’d call them by name, but still speak respectfully.

“Ricardo... Ami. I look forward to your help today.”

“Good.... First, breakfast.~ Yehyeon won’t be available until the afternoon...”

“Brunch! Brunch!”

Ami hopped off the sofa.

Ricardo smiled beside her excitement.

“First you need to change out of those pajamas.... They do suit you, though.”

“Ah.”

I had forgotten I was still wearing the black silk pajamas Ju had bought.

I looked down at the dark fabric, then answered naturally.

“The Personnel Director has excellent taste. Thanks to him, I slept well.”

Smiles spread faintly across their faces.

Determined not to keep them waiting longer, I quickly added:

“I’ll change and be right out. Please wait just a moment.”

“Take your time~.”

“Today we’ll buy you new clothes too!”

Ami’s clear voice rang out.

I felt more and more like I was accumulating debts hard to repay....

As I headed back to the room, I thought of all I had received from them. I did not know when I could repay it, but true favors must not be forgotten.

A hamburger meal. Pajamas and underwear. A comfortable place to sleep.

If the chance ever came, I would repay it.

Running down the corridor, I opened the door. Sunlight poured through the open window. Crossing the too-large room, I headed into the bathroom.

I turned on the shower and searched for the amenities. Moving briskly in the hot water, I found the shampoo set and a plastic pouch beside it.

Hm.

It looked like something someone had left behind by mistake.

It was a medicine bag.

I picked it up, flipping it over. Strange drug names I could not understand were written on it. Inside the transparent pouch were individually wrapped pills, green-and-white and red-and-white.

Whoever used this room last must have left it.

I should take it to Ami and Ricardo. They might know who it belongs to.

I set the pouch in a noticeable place and finished showering.

***

The strangeness hit after I had dressed and shoved the medicine bag into my pocket.

Clang!

A loud sound echoed in the room.

What?

Towel-drying my hair, I froze.

I blinked and whipped my head around.

Where had that come from? Was it Ami or Ricardo looking for me?

I scanned the spacious room. Nothing unusual. The door was shut. I sensed no presence inside.

A bed big enough for two. A mahogany desk, a mirror on the wall. My pajamas folded neatly on a chair.

Nothing odd.

Was there construction outside?

Casting my gaze about, I stepped past the bed, intending to leave. My hair was still damp, but I did not want to keep the two waiting longer.

It would dry in the sun. I hung the towel on the chair’s armrest.

Then I started for the door.

Thud!

Another loud sound stopped me in my tracks.

Seriously, what the hell.

I frowned and turned back.

Where was it coming fro—

Oh.

The window.

Something was stuck to it. Not an insect. A shadow covering half the giant glass pane.

Sunlight behind it turned it into a silhouette, casting its shadow long across the room.

I forgot to breathe.

What was that?

What the... No, what was that? Was it alive?

A machine? Or had some new species emerged while my memory was gone?

Its shape was too grotesque. Eight legs like a spider’s clung to the window with suction-cup ends. From the furry body jutted those legs, and on the body sat a horse-like head. On the forehead of that horse head were clustered multiple eyes.

...Was this a horror movie set?

The instant I tried to rationalize it, the window shattered.

Glass splintered, and a leg thrust in.

A black suction cup lunged toward me with shocking speed. Panicked, I shouted.

“What the hell is this?!”

The monster’s leg coiled /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ around me, yanking me toward the broken window.

At the same time, the door burst open.

“Hilde!”

“Grab the frame!”

Ami and Ricardo’s desperate voices rang out, but before I could answer, my body was pulled through the window into open air.