All those who boarded the elevator were subdued.
Those who removed their masks collapsed onto the cold elevator floor, unable to endure the narrowing prayer and signs of bizarre symptoms in their cerebellums. Meanwhile, those who kept their masks on were fainted by the evil spirit directly squeezing their prayers.
The foolish ones who dared to intrude into the shaman’s dwelling without even understanding the gravity of the situation met a fitting end.
And likewise, those who went for the stairs faced a similar fate.
An unavoidable destiny awaited them as well.
[ Hm. Did they use materials that disrupt signals when constructing this building? It’s just one wall, and I can’t hear the elevator noises. ]
[ Why would they use such materials? This isn’t a military facility. If they used materials that prevent communication in a regular building, wouldn’t they face complaints? You wouldn’t be able to make calls, use the internet, or even use your smartphone during a break in the stairwell. ]
[ Could it be… just poor workmanship? ]
[ Sure, the people of this land are those who live by “fast-fast.” So focused on quickly building without craftsmanship, they might have constructed it strangely with defects. ]
[ Or maybe there’s been some construction scandal. ]
[ Hehe. That could be it. ]
Those who moved to the stairs maintained a sense of appropriate tension while talking among themselves, gauging the situation through their masks. Their conversation began with the fact that they couldn’t hear anything from the elevator team, but as usual, it ended with gossip.
[ But seriously, wasn’t there a construction scandal? What kind of stairs are these? ]
However, they didn’t dismiss it as mere gossip. The things they discussed had credibility, and there was surely evidence to back it up.
What’s the evidence, you ask?
The windows scattered throughout the staircase were it.
[ Looks like they really used cheap glass. Or maybe they installed it upside down. It’s basic to have it so you can see out from the inside and not look in from the outside… but what in the world is with these windows that act like mirrors? ]
[ It reminds me of our nephew. He’d always assemble his toys wrong. ]
[ Tsk tsk. They need to learn our Japanese craftsmanship. Or, we could teach them. ]
The windows they were staring at had transformed into mirrors. The dark staircase was engulfed in shadows, and the sensor lights didn’t activate even when they moved. Logically, it should have displayed the bright scenery of streetlights and the lights of an office building outside, but rather, this shoddy building was the opposite.
It should’ve been normal to see well when looking from a dark space to a bright one.
Yet, this building was absurdly brighter outside while being dark inside, with windows that merely took up space like mirrors.
So it was impossible to suppress their laughter.
[ Second floor. ]
[ Let’s send in a scouting team easily. ]
[ According to the manual, two members. If we get a signal, add one more. ]
[ Okay. ]
Thus, they climbed the stairs so peacefully, reaching the second floor.
The soft light of the emergency exit shone in the dark void, beckoning them with its glow like a bug zapper enticing insects to their doom.
Creeeak.
They sent two in through the second floor’s interior. The wizard used his equipment to employ a makeshift EMP to disable any possible security devices, and they cast a magical barrier using an artifact to ensure no noise escaped.
Carefully, they opened the door so as not to make a sound and deployed the two.
The two men adopted their manual positions and darted in like lightning, bravely throwing themselves into the waiting darkness.
The shoddy gear they wore looked as impressive as the equipment used by special forces, and their vanishing act using footwork made them resemble seasoned mercenaries.
Reliable.
They felt confident watching the flawless operation of the two, resolving to showcase an even more perfect posture when their turn came, aiming to earn envious looks from others.
[ It’s completely empty. ]
[ The second floor is a bust. ]
The two returned not long after.
Even though they had to carry the burden of being the first to enter, no trace of tension was visible on their faces, and they swaggered back as if they had taken a leisurely stroll, completely dry without a hint of sweat.
And just look at their demeanor.
Even after inspecting the second floor, they maintained their stealthy approach until the very end.
Truly, they were exemplary warriors, a model for combatants!
[ Ahem. It’s my turn for the next floor. ]
With the pressure to search the third floor, those who were to go were ignited by a competitive spirit since the previous two had kicked things off so excellently. They aimed to search more perfectly than the others and flaunt their results upon return.
So they joined up with those who had returned from the second floor and headed back up to the third floor.
Using footwork, they were fast and nimble, swift as the wind.
[ Go. ]
Third floor.
Emergency exit sign.
Soft light.
As those before them had, this time too, two entered the third floor.
Silent as shadows, they delved into the darkness with courage.
The hollow corridor was cloaked in deep shadows, dense enough that the enhanced light barely cut through.
A dangerous place where traps could be waiting.
But the two plunged in bravely, undaunted by the perilous location.
And like those from the second floor, they too successfully completed their search and returned.
[ Nothing unusual. ]
Their demeanor was as proud as could be.
With smiles adorning their faces that were lightly illuminated in the dark.
What a provocation for those tasked with the next fourth floor!
Seeing their smiles, those next-in-line bristled, resolved to show them an even more flawless search.
As if playing a game, they sped to the fourth floor, searching before they even reached it.
Fourth floor.
Two deployed.
Nothing unusual.
Fifth floor.
Two deployed.
Nothing unusual.
Sixth floor.
Two deployed.
Nothing unusual…
They continually ascended the stairs and proceeded with their search.
Following the manual.
Exactly as it was written in the manual.
[ …What’s going on? ]
One warrior felt an odd sense of incongruity.
But it felt strange.
Too smooth, too peaceful.
Peacefulness isn’t inherently bad.
No one was hurt, and nothing special happened.
There shouldn’t be anything strange.
Unless one considers the fact that three of their companions were trapped in this building.
[ Why is it that nothing is being discovered? ]
Peaceful?
Just a regular building?
That can’t be right.
Even regular buildings have security systems, and in pricier ones, they even use artifacts.
Thick firewalls that can’t be easily breached, even with magical infusion; non-lethal electric shock weapons like tasers to incapacitate intruders; or formidable nets that are launched to ensnare; and sticky goo that traps you firmly…
That’s the standard for a regular building.
Yet, this is the dwelling of a shaman, and it’s like this?
No matter how barren the magic desert, or how much of a rookie shaman it may be…
Isn’t this too bizarre?
It’s not merely shoddy security but a total lack of security.
Even decades-old buildings would provide better security than this.
[ Something feels off. ]
The stairs can be dismissed.
Given it’s an empty building, the only occupant is Shaman Park Jinseong.
Thus, he might not feel the need to waste electricity keeping sensor lights on.
A sensor can easily be triggered by a bug, right?
If Park Jinseong is frugal, it could be understood.
If not, maybe he has no interest in management whatsoever.
The sensor lights breaking?
Isn’t that common?
Perhaps before Park Jinseong arrived, there was a fire or similar accident that broke all the sensors, and he simply hasn’t replaced them.
There were many assumptions to make.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
But…
If not just one staircase is like this, but everywhere else is the same, then that’s strange.
Is it even possible not to find a single strange point going from the second to the sixth floor?
No matter how empty it is, even without a shop or an office, shouldn’t there at least have been something?
To find a security system, or traces of people.
At least while searching, they should have seen signs of life outside.
They should have been able to mention something like that.
Yet…
Yet…!
[ Huh? ]
Wait a minute.
It’s bizarre.
The building is strange, but more than that…
People.
[ Wait a second… ]
The people standing before the emergency exit of the seventh floor.
They now seemed to look at him, as if it was his turn.
Something is off.
