Chapter 149

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What kind of test would a kid who hates studying give?

It was truly something only a child could come up with.

“What do I like the most!?”

The child’s excited voice echoed through the passage. We answered in unison.

“Playing outside.”

“Playing.”

Then the floor moved a little faster forward.

It seemed like the correct answer.

“Good! Then what do I hate the most!?”

This one was easy too.

“Playing instruments?”

“Studying.”

“The liberal arts studies Mom makes me do.”

The answers came simultaneously.

If it kept going like this, passing through the passage wouldn’t be too hard.

“You guys know me well! Then people who are good at the things I hate can’t come in!”

I froze at those words.

So artists who draw well or pianists are out?

No way, right?

Hunter So Yeri and I turned worried glances toward Mr. Joo Yian and Shin Jae-heon.

Still, with their warnings at 0 and 1, they should be fine for one more…

“From now on, anyone who gets it wrong multiple times can’t come!”

Rifen’s innocent voice rang through the passage again.

Just let us meet again! Let us in!

As I barely swallowed a curse, the next question came.

“There aren’t any good students here, right?”

At that question, Shin Jae-heon and I sighed in unison.

At least we’re not.

That’s when Hunter So Yeri hesitated.

“What’s the standard for ‘good’?”

Exactly. Hunter So Yeri and Hunter Joo Yian were a bit dangerous.

Was she going to give math problems here? Full brainpower to avoid stepping on traps?

But Rifen’s “verification” was far more illogical and absurd than I’d imagined.

“Hmm! I can tell just by looking!”

Just by looking? Don’t tell me she’s reading faces again?

The moment I raised an eyebrow.

“Big bro looks like he only studies! You’re not really sent by Mom, are you?”

Before Hunter Joo Yian could even protest, the debuff hit.

I could see Hunter Joo Yian’s HP had dropped to half.

He was healing himself, but his face showed panic.

Normally, I’d laugh, but we were all serious now.

If she’s judging by faces and handing out penalties randomly, there’s no way to be careful enough.

“Next!”

Rifen’s voice echoed again. Could we dodge the iron plates from above to avoid warnings?

Probably not.

That’s what I was thinking when.

“Mom told me to drink milk today to grow taller! I hate milk!”

“Anyone bring milk?”

At my question, Shin Jae-heon and Hunter So Yeri shook their heads immediately.

Of course, none of us three, including me, had reason to carry milk around.

But Hunter Joo Yian… there was a chance…

“I don’t have any either.”

Mr. Joo Yian quickly showed both hands.

The moment I sighed in relief.

“My servant said you can grow tall without drinking milk! I hate tall people!”

A curveball came flying. What did you say?

The system window popped up. Hunter So Yeri and I passed naturally.

The problem was the two men.

The two men walking ahead of Hunter So Yeri and me exchanged glances.

Hunter Joo Yian looked worried, Shin Jae-heon looked dubious.

What were those expressions?

The moment I thought that, an absurd sound came from Shin Jae-heon’s mouth.

“…Are you over?”

This guy doesn’t know Mr. Joo Yian’s height, even though it’s on his knowledge tree page?

No, they’ve been together for years, he might not know… but is that the question!?

He’s obviously tall! They’re not that different!

“Uh…”

The moment Hunter Joo Yian faltered.

Iron plates slammed down on both their foreheads simultaneously.

The two tall men clutched their foreheads side by side.

Normally I’d laugh, but now I couldn’t even smile.

This counts as a warning?

Warning 2 appeared on both their debuff windows simultaneously.

My mouth felt parched.

Now everyone except me had 2 warnings.

“Then the final question!”

Rifen’s voice rang out without pause.

We had to get this one right. Otherwise, it was straight to the basement.

As my nape went cold, the final question echoed.

“If you’re my friend, you know my birthday, right?”

How would we know that!?

Blood drained from my face in an instant.

I could afford not to know. But the other three couldn’t.

Do any of you know?

Looking around quickly, Shin Jae-heon and Hunter Joo Yian’s faces were pale too.

Hunter So Yeri had frozen as well.

“No way…”

Not a single one of us knows?

It felt like cold water had been dumped over me.

Really?

I recalled the mage who vanished on the 3rd floor.

‘Ah, no!’

All that was left was a scream.

[Has died.]

The cold system window that had popped up.

No way… piled up warnings from something this ridiculous…

The floor kept moving forward quickly meanwhile.

The red light curtain was drawing closer. Instinctively, I realized.

If we didn’t give the right answer before reaching there, we’d get a warning.

Then.

“This…”

I couldn’t continue. Really like this? So absurdly?

“……”

“……”

Everyone seemed at a loss for words. That’s when.

“…I know it.”

Hunter So Yeri spoke up. Our gazes snapped to her like lightning.

The red light section was closing in.

“How…?”

“Earlier… I saw it earlier.”

If only she’d said to look together…! She stomped her feet.

I didn’t know where, but it was already too late.

Ah… no way, before entering the maze, what Hunter So Yeri was looking at…?

As I bit my lip.

“Rifen’s birthday is—”

“Wait a moment.”

Then Hunter Joo Yian covered Hunter So Yeri’s mouth.

He wasn’t the type to touch people casually unless it was urgent.

That meant it was that desperate.

“If Hunter So Yeri says it, you’ll violate the mansion’s rules.”

My eyes widened at his words.

Right. Rule not to speak any information obtained inside the mansion outside.

Was it number 3?

Hunter So Yeri had even gotten a warning for it before.

Her warnings were already at 2.

One more rule violation would make it 3.

“……”

But Hunter So Yeri just looked at us calmly.

Like she had no intention of staying silent.

The crimson light was drawing nearer.

Hunter So Yeri’s gaze swept over each of us.

“……”

Silence fell. We’d shared so many words over long times, but now there were none.

It felt like my thoughts had stopped.

The only thing moving against our will was the floor carrying us forward.

With walls right behind us, we couldn’t retreat.

“Yeri unni.”

At my words, Hunter So Yeri smiled.

She raised her hand slightly, like waving goodbye.

“Rifen’s birthday is…”

Even with Hunter Joo Yian’s hand still over her mouth, she spoke.

Her judgment that not all three of us could die.

It was the right call. If saving more lives was the best outcome.

If that was the only best outcome.

In the passage heavy with silence.

“April 13th.”

Her voice rang out clearly.

That instant.

“…!”

Our eyes met one last time.

With a dark crimson light, Hunter So Yeri vanished from the spot.