If this argument kept going, I might really have to leave one of them behind.

I quietly observed the situation, waiting for my disciple to speak—but surprisingly, Seunghyun didn’t snarl this time. Instead, he let out a long, heavy sigh and turned his body toward me.

“Hilde.”

“What?”

“There’s a mental-type Creature in the area beyond the back door.”

Ah.

That complicates things.

“It induces memories from childhood. Whether they’re happy or miserable doesn’t matter.”

Not an Ashen Mantle, then.

Something that triggers childhood memories... what kind of Creature is that?

“It doesn’t matter how old the person is. The mechanism hasn’t been identified, but anyone who encounters it vividly recalls memories from their childhood.”

“And what does it do with that? Lure people somewhere like the Ashen Mantle?”

“No. There are no symptoms other than continuous resurfacing of past memories.”

“Does it put your life in danger?”

“No.”

“Got it. Thanks for the—”

...Hm?

Wait. Don’t tell me—was that why this bastard got prickly when Yehyeon said he’d come along?

I stared at Seunghyun in disbelief. It wasn’t that I couldn’t believe his intention—it was that I couldn’t believe he had no other way to express it.

He returned my stare with a sullen look.

“It activates through sound, so it can’t be physically avoided.”

“Countermeasure?”

“You just need to not be consumed by the memories.”

“Ah. Well, my childhood was nothing but happiness.”

Seunghyun didn’t answer. He just looked at me blankly.

I blinked once and met his gaze again.

There was no way Lee Seunghyun’s childhood had been that smooth.

“You stay here too.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Do we have to deal with it together?”

At my question, he answered flatly.

“You just have to ignore the hallucinations and walk toward the crying bird.”

“A bird?”

“A blue one.”

That’s... an odd color.

It reminded me of an old fairy tale from Earth I had read with Eve.

Something about a blue bird symbolizing luck.

After studying Seunghyun for a moment, I spoke.

“Then I can just go alone. The crying must be what triggers the memories, right?”

“Yes.”

“How do you stop it from crying?”

“You give it the food in front of it.”

“That’s easy!”

Much easier to deal with than the Ashen Mantle.

And it’s not even dangerous. As long as someone’s childhood wasn’t filled with unbearable trauma, even civilians could probably handle it.

For some people, it might even be a lucky bird.

“I’ll go feed it. You two wait here.”

“That’s not the only Creature in there.”

Seunghyun’s voice carried a faint irritation.

“Do you think I’ll have a seizure just from hearing that sound?”

Hm.

Trying to persuade this stubborn bastard would take longer than just dragging him along and feeding the bird.

I made my decision based on experience.

Not that it stopped the sigh from slipping out. I exhaled, flicked my hand lazily, and gestured that if he insisted, he could follow.

Then I ignored Seunghyun, who immediately started walking, and turned my head toward Yehyeon.

He stood there, lips pressed tight.

“Yehyeon.”

“...Yes.”

He answered with a complicated expression.

“Stay in the corridor until I get back.”

He opened his mouth as if to respond.

But after hesitating, he finally answered in a resigned voice.

“Yes.”

That expression...

No wonder.

Of all things, it had to be the worst possible Creature for him.

I wanted to go over and comfort him—but I knew it wouldn’t actually help. So I just gave a small nod. No apologies, no reassurance. That kind of response would only hurt him more.

Better to move efficiently.

We needed to get out of this mess quickly.

“Guard the underground exit.”

“Yes.”

Leaving him there, I started forward.

I followed Seunghyun down the underground corridor at a brisk pace. After walking straight and turning left once, a gray back door came into view. It looked like the back entrance of an ordinary restaurant.

Security was simpler than expected.

Just a normal door lock.

Seunghyun activated the keypad without interest and entered the code.

Beep-beep-beep!

“Anything else I should know?”

“Falcon used to gather mental-type Creatures.”

That sounds like something Colton would do.

“But aside from the blue bird, the other mental Creatures are harmless as long as you don’t look at them or touch them.”

“That’s a relief.”

I stepped onto the threshold.

“Power’s out?”

Inside was pitch dark.

Using the faint light spilling in from the corridor, I scanned the interior. The sample area was surprisingly large—and cleaner than I expected.

I blinked at the sight. It reminded me of a museum after closing hours.

This feels safe enough to make my tension look stupid.

I spotted the blue bird immediately.

Just as Seunghyun said, there was a large birdcage sitting atop a display case to the right of the entrance.

Inside it was a single bird.

The moment I stepped fully inside—

SLAM!

Seunghyun shut the door behind me.

Beep-beep—

The instant it closed, the blue bird began to cry.

Chirp-chirp, chirp, chirp!

Was it crying for food?

Was that sound what triggered childhood memories in those who approached?

I didn’t know.

Without turning back, I walked toward the bird, its beak wide open as it cried.

Its clear voice echoed throughout the vast sample area.

Just like when I faced the Ashen Mantle, memories surged in like waves.

Warm memories.

The color of silver stars. The quiet murmurs of the priests. Leaves swaying in the wind. The gentle flow of a stream.

The sacred tree that glowed white.

The times I would sneak out at night to embrace it...

“You eat some pretty big nuts.”

I picked up a nut from the feed dish and held it out.

“Hungry?”

The bird took off from its perch.

Then it snatched the nut from between my fingers.

At that exact moment—

Click.

The lights in the sample area flickered on.

As Seunghyun had said, I watched the blue-feathered bird chew the nut for a moment.

That color’s nice.

If he hadn’t told me, I would never have guessed this was a Creature. It looked like nothing more than an ordinary bird.

I couldn’t help but wonder how humans had figured it out.

Still, it’s a relief it’s not dangerous.

If I hadn’t been warned, I’d probably have been overwhelmed by those resurfacing memories, left dazed and unsure what to do.

Would I have ever guessed it was because of the bird’s cry?

“Seunghyun.”

As I handed the bird a second nut, I spoke.

My disciple approached without making a sound.

“You were being prickly because you were worried about Yehyeon, weren’t you?”

“It would obviously interfere with entering the area.”

“Try softening your tone a little.”

I offered the advice carefully.

At the same time, I decided I’d set up a meeting between them once we got out so he could apologize.

He wasn’t like Lin. Rather than discipline, he’d respond better to gentle persuasion.

I handled that wrong earlier.

Letting out a small sigh, I turned my head and saw my disciple frowning.

“Can’t ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) do it?”

“I wasn’t being that sharp.”

“You don’t talk like that to me.”

“I don’t see any particular difference.”

Ah.

So that’s where we start.

“It’s probably a habit. You’re especially sharp when you talk to Yehyeon.”

A sullen look.

“Just think for three seconds before you speak.”

As expected, no answer came back.

But he wasn’t ignoring me either. If I took the time to explain it properly later, he’d probably respond.

Yeah. I should set that meeting up as soon as we get out.

With that in mind, I asked him to cover me and headed back toward the closed door.

Seunghyun’s displeased voice followed.

“Are you bringing him in?”

“It’s not good to keep too much distance.”

I opened the door and looked at Yehyeon, who was guarding the corridor entrance.

“Yehyeon.”

He turned toward me with a surprisingly composed face.

“Guard the entrance to the sample area.”

“Yes.”

He walked over with a businesslike expression.

Then he stepped inside, positioned himself at the threshold, and took up a guard stance.

But before he turned his gaze back to the corridor, I caught him glancing at Seunghyun.

The moment he looked at him, complicated emotions flickered in his eyes and disappeared.

We need to grab Kairos and get out of here fast.

“Where was Jack last seen?”

“K-Zone.”

At Yehyeon’s answer, I turned—and Seunghyun gave a small nod.

He’d guide us there.

“Where exactly is that?”

“Eleven o’clock. If you go through the turn, there’s a map posted.”

Seunghyun answered.

“Use that.”

“Got it.”

The sample area hadn’t suffered as much damage as expected.

And unlike the Colosseum, the stored Creatures didn’t seem aggressive. The air wasn’t tense, either.

I relaxed slightly and checked my phone.

I hadn’t realized I’d put it on silent when we came in, but there was a notification.

A green message alert.

The moment I saw Kairos’s short status update, relief washed over me.

“Kai: All clear.”

It had arrived just a minute ago.

He must have heard us come in.

With how quiet it was, even the blue bird’s cry could’ve carried.

I considered replying for a moment, then stopped.

He’d be staying put. It’d be faster if I went to him.

“Lee Seunghyun.”

I opened my mouth—

Hm?

Before I could call him, someone else spoke first.

I widened my eyes and looked at Yehyeon.

He was standing by the back door, watching the underground corridor.

Did he just call Lee Seunghyun by name?

Oh.

...Judging by the tone, it wasn’t out of defiance.

Well, someone under the Elders doesn’t really have a proper title anyway.

Does Yehyeon normally call him by name in formal settings?

“Did Spitfire call?”

Still facing away, Yehyeon spoke.

I couldn’t see his expression.

Only Seunghyun’s.

He was staring blankly at Yehyeon’s back.

“No.”

When I kept looking at him, Seunghyun—who had been about to respond irritably—flicked his eyes toward me for a split second.

Then he answered shortly.

“Think for a second.”

Ah. So that’s him trying.

At least it’s not as sharp...

BANG!

A gunshot rang out.

Yehyeon fired.

RATATATAT!

“Ambush.”

He reported briefly and pulled the trigger again.

“Five at the underground entrance!”

BANG!

Before he even finished speaking, gunfire erupted from inside the sample area as well.