At Choi Sangwon’s words, the people nodded as though in agreement.

At first glance, it seemed like a reasonable approach, but Seo Kangrim could not accept it.

That shadow was unmistakably his, and he had no time to be detained here.

“That would be problematic.”

At those words, the people wore expressions of betrayal.

Some even resented him.

“So…… you were that shadow?”

“Were you deceiving us this whole time?”

One by one, people picked up their weapons and rose from their seats.

Seo Kangrim watched them in silence.

‘Fighting would only be a waste of time. This is troublesome.’

There was no time to persuade them with words, nor to fight through them—every second was urgent.

As Seo Kangrim assessed the situation, Choi Sangwon shouted.

“Everyone, grab him!”

As if that shout were a trigger, the people charged at Seo Kangrim in unison.

But in that instant, Seo Kangrim vanished.

“Wh-what? Where did he go?”

“What kind of special ability did he use?”

While the people looked around in confusion, the door on the left swung open and then shut.

One person pointed and shouted.

“There! Over there! Seo Kangrim ran that way!”

They scrambled frantically toward the open door.

Seo Kangrim stood in a corner of the room, silently watching them in his ‘Hidden One’ state.

Once everyone had rushed out, he quickly slipped back through the door he had originally entered.

As he exhaled, the ‘Hidden One’ ability deactivated.

‘This is exactly why I wanted to enter late. Can’t be helped.’

He had already anticipated the possibility of his ability being discovered.

It wasn’t particularly surprising, but it wasn’t a situation to feel relieved about either.

When he hurried back to the herb room, Yoon Bom and Jang Taeheon greeted him.

“Hyung! You took longer than expected.”

“I was worried something had happened since you didn’t come back, Master.”

Their faces showed a mix of relief and concern.

Despite the warmth of their feelings, Seo Kangrim felt a wave of anxiety.

‘How would these two react if they learned about my ability?’

In his past life, Jang Taeheon had still associated with him even after learning his ability—but then again, he couldn’t be certain.

They might feel outraged and betrayed by the fact that he had been hiding his ability.

‘It would be troublesome if I run into Choi Sangwon or anyone else and they learn about my ability.’

Even if his ability were to be revealed, it needed to happen after he had gotten Shin Sooa out.

Seo Kangrim spoke urgently.

“I was late because I met with the others to find out the location of Ms. Sooa’s Identification Tag. It’s somewhere around here.”

“What? Really! Then let’s go right now!”

Jang Taeheon and Yoon Bom sprang to their feet.

Seo Kangrim led the two and quickened his pace toward the Garden.

Various forms of anxiety quickened his steps.

Following the directions marked on Choi Sangwon’s map, he opened the door and was greeted by a pleasant fragrance from within.

【Oh, what’s this? Did we come outside?】

【No, not outside. Looks like an indoor garden?】

【Wow, it’s huge. You’d believe it if someone said we were outside.】

The indoor garden was vast enough to momentarily create the illusion of being outdoors.

The ceiling was covered with glass, and sunlight streamed through from above—though it had to be an illusion.

It was three or four times larger than other rooms in the Demon Realm, and large trees were planted throughout the garden.

The flowers growing in the beds displayed vibrant colors and a lustrous sheen, as though they had been tended for a long time.

“Let’s search as quickly as possible. We don’t have time.”

“Understood, Master!”

The three split up and began frantically searching for the Identification Tag.

Seo Kangrim checked the time repeatedly, his expression growing grim.

【Man, this place is seriously huge.】

【Right? It’s going to take a while to search.】

【Wouldn’t it be fun if we ran into the Zone 2 people like this?】

【Wonder what Yoon Bom and Jang Taeheon will say when they find out about Seo Kangrim?】

If they were to learn about him…….

Seo Kangrim forced himself to stop the anxious thoughts from spiraling further.

He had more pressing matters at hand.

‘I need to find the Identification Tag quickly. It’ll take time just to get back to the entrance.’

They had ventured quite deep into the Demon Realm, making the return trip itself a challenge.

Encountering demon beasts or members of other zones along the way would only cause further delays.

Which was why he had to find the Identification Tag as quickly as possible.

After scouring the Demon Realm for some time, Yoon Bom’s urgent cry rang out.

“I-I found it! Sooa’s Identification Tag! It was hidden up in the tree!”

Yoon Bom was shouting, covered head to toe in dirt.

Shin Sooa’s Identification Tag was placed atop a massive tree.

Hearing that, Seo Kangrim let out a sigh of relief and stood up.

“Good work. Now we just need to go back and bring Ms. Sooa…….”

-du-ung…… du-ung…….

Before Seo Kangrim could even catch his breath, the sound of drums arrived.

Shadows began to fall over the sunlit garden, as though night had suddenly descended.

【Tch, look at the timing.】

【They won’t give it up easily!】

【Doesn’t the interval between drum beats seem shorter?】

【How many are going to come out this time?】

【Hope it’s just one.】

While the gods chattered, shadows began forming throughout the garden.

There were roughly four or five of them.

Jang Taeheon looked inwardly relieved at the sight.

“Thank goodness. There aren’t that many, right?”

It was a number that three people could handle without much difficulty.

Among them was one that appeared injured.

That shadow collapsed to the ground the moment it formed, barely managing to crawl.

Despite knowing it was a demon beast, it was enough to evoke pity.

Seo Kangrim looked at the shadow and muttered.

“……Don’t tell me, Ms. Sooa?”

The shadow, which looked to be on the verge of death, had a red band wrapped around its left arm.

The same location as Shin Sooa’s.

It had no facial features, but its agonized appearance was reminiscent of Shin Sooa in the prison.

【Isn’t that really Shin Sooa’s shadow?】

【Why does it look so pitiful?】

【At least it’s weakened. Otherwise, it would’ve been serious.】

‘I need to kill it quickly and go back.’

The inaudible ticking of a clock seemed to echo breathlessly in his ears.

He had to dispatch these things and return to Shin Sooa as fast as possible.

‘At this level, there’s still enough time. If I bring Shin Sooa here, grab the Identification Tag, and get out immediately……!’

Fueled by the hope that he could get everyone out safely, his movements grew even faster.

The moment he swung his blade at the shadow, aiming for a vital point—

-kkaang!

The blade that struck Shin Sooa’s shadow bounced off.

A stinging pain shot through his hands, as if he had struck solid stone.

A transparent barrier had formed around the shadow without him noticing.

[Special Ability ‘Barrier’ activates!]

It was a barrier he had seen somewhere before—one that was all too familiar.

The shadow beside it reached out its hand toward Shin Sooa’s shadow.

Sacred white light began pouring from its fingertips.

[Special Ability ‘Healing Hand’ activates!]

Jang Taeheon and Yoon Bom’s eyes went wide at the sight.

It was clear that everyone was thinking the same thing.

【That ability, don’t tell me……?】

【Isn’t that Father Yohan’s shadow?】

【Yeah, yeah. It has a band on its little finger too.】

‘The two I least wanted to encounter together have met.’

Seo Kangrim cursed inwardly and launched another attack.

The healing light was growing brighter.

‘I have to finish it off before it heals Shin Sooa’s shadow!’

As he rushed forward to shatter the barrier, two more shadows leaped out in front.

A gun barrel and a bowstring were aimed at Seo Kangrim simultaneously.

They were shadows with builds similar to twins.

【Ah, damn it, that’s Yoon Bom and Yoon Gyeoul!】

【Why are they all gathered here?】

-taang! taang!

Sharp gunshots rang out from behind Seo Kangrim, and a bullet hole appeared between the eyes of the shadow holding the bow.

Yoon Bom was already standing behind him.

Smoke curled from the muzzle of the rifle she held.

“Yoon Bom, Jang Taeheon! Cover me while I break the barrier!”

“Yes, Master!”

Yoon Bom’s shadow staggered from a hit to the shoulder but immediately raised its gun.

Amid the firefight, an unusually large shadow stepped forward.

Seo Kangrim let out a hollow laugh.

He instinctively knew it was Jang Taeheon’s shadow.

The shadow charged at Seo Kangrim with enough force to shatter bone.

Its movements were slightly faster and slightly more powerful than the original.

And into that gap, Jang Taeheon threw himself.

-kwakwang!

Jang Taeheon and the shadow’s fists collided simultaneously.

The sound of something crunching echoed through the air, but Jang Taeheon paid it no mind.

“Don’t get in Hyung’s way……!”

While Jang Taeheon dealt with his own shadow, Seo Kangrim dashed quickly to the side.

Father Yohan and Shin Sooa’s shadows were still inside the barrier.

-kkang, kkang!

Seo Kangrim struck the barrier with all his might, again and again.

Ignoring the recoil traveling up his arm, he swung his blade like a madman until the sound of cracking slowly began to reach his ears.

-jjaeng!

The moment the barrier finally shattered, Seo Kangrim’s blade sent Father Yohan’s shadow’s head flying.

The shadow staggered and collapsed where it stood.

And as if taking its turn, Shin Sooa’s shadow was slowly rising to its feet.

‘Am I already too late……!’

Shin Sooa’s shadow, which had looked near death just moments ago, now appeared far lighter on its feet.

Its featureless black face seemed as deep as a well.

The instant the shadow extended its hand, Seo Kangrim felt the shift in the air currents with his entire body.

[Special Ability ‘Tree Leaf Seed Technique’ activates!]

[The ability’s effect is amplified by environmental influence!]

-chwaak!

As the ‘Tree Leaf Seed Technique’ activated, the plants growing throughout the garden began to proliferate in an instant.

Of all places, they had encountered it in the Garden.

It was the optimal environment for Shin Sooa.

-seogeok!

Seo Kangrim slashed at the branches snaking toward him like serpents, but their regeneration was too powerful.

He frantically hacked through the branches, barely managing to see ahead.

Before he could even catch his breath, the shadow’s face appeared through the gap.

-chaeng!

After clearing the branches, this time the shadow charged at him with a sword.

Seo Kangrim raised his blade and blocked the attack, but found himself involuntarily stumbling backward.

‘It’s far stronger than the original Shin Sooa……!’