23 minutes later.

A guild member in a crisp black suit arrived at the house and presented a business card.

“We’re from the Phoenix Guild. We need to take Yeon Sora for further investigation of the incident.”

Even the mighty Four Elders couldn’t resist a business card from one of the Four Great Guilds. 

They granted permission for me to leave alone, under the condition that “the guild guarantees Sora’s safe return home.”

‘Freedom! Sweet, blessed freedom!’

Everything went smoothly after that.

A guild-provided limousine whisked me to the Tower, where I received the full VIP red-carpet treatment. 

Once my Tower business concluded, another luxurious limousine transported me to the Phoenix Guild Hall.

The guild hall was exactly as I’d imagined.

True to its description as “Versailles-esque,” every corner boasted chandeliers, mirrors, and gold ornaments.

“This way, please. The Deputy Guild Master awaits.”

I followed the attendant down the corridor to a room at the far end.

Knock, knock!

The door swung open immediately, revealing Ha Sunwoo.

“Sorry for calling you out here.”

Today, Ha Sunwoo was radiant.

His white uniform, threaded with gold embroidery, perfectly complemented his golden hair and blue eyes. 

Combined with that gentle yet brilliant smile, he was flawless.

“Please, come in,” he said.

“Yes, sir,” I replied.

I stepped inside, but something felt off about the room.

There were no windows, and a single sofa—resembling a massage chair—stood in the center. 

A floating lamp above cast an otherworldly glow.

“Time is short, so I’ll be direct. About that bug you mentioned…”

Ah, yes. 

That’s why I came too.

The true perpetrator behind the awakening test incident—that bug that had prowled the test site during the outbreak, releasing monsters and casting noise-canceling spells. 

This high-spec creature had been throwing around advanced magic that few humans could manage.

I’d been curious about its identity and had… well, delegated the investigation to Ha Sunwoo.

“I’d like to conduct a brief hypnosis session to gather more details about the bug’s appearance.”

“Hypnosis session?”

“Your subconscious holds more information than you realize. Would you be willing to assist?”

“Of course. Happy to help,” I said, striving to sound composed.

‘Is this what I think it is?’

Like those crime shows where they use hypnosis to uncover details about the perpetrator? 

I’ve always wanted to try that!

Containing my excitement, I settled onto the sofa as naturally as possible.

Snap!

Ha Sunwoo snapped his fingers. 

Every light except the small lamp above went dark.

“Now, close your eyes.”

I closed my eyes and tried to steady my racing heart as I let Ha Sunwoo’s voice guide me.

“Picture the inside of the cave. The dark corridors, the damp air, the musty scent hanging in the atmosphere, and the slick feeling of the ground beneath your feet with each step.”

Suddenly, the cave materialized before me—no, I was inside it.

This felt different from my previous experience with his hypnosis.

Last time was like watching a finished film. 

This time, I was on the actual set.

“You’re walking through the cave toward the test site. You’ve reached the test site. Can you see any monsters?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry. They can’t harm you.”

The goblins in the rotating device stood frozen.

Time itself seemed suspended, leaving me as the sole moving entity in this strange realm.

“Do you see the bug?”

“Not yet.”

“Let’s wait. Tell me the moment you spot it.”

I stared intently at the iron bars.

After a while, something fluorescent appeared. 

A tiny bug, like a firefly.

“There it is.”

“Can you move closer to examine it?”

The world remained motionless.

Even the bug was frozen in place.

I carefully approached and crouched down for a closer look.

“Can you describe its appearance?”

“Yes, it’s like a grasshopper, but… more like it’s made of glass. Inside the glass grasshopper, there are glowing fluorescent wires.”

“Fluorescent wires?”

It reminded me of those Edison snowflake bulbs from my previous life.

Filament-like wires glowed inside the glass grasshopper shell.

“Any other distinguishing features?”

“The body’s like that, but… its eyes and wings are like a housefly’s.”

The large reddish-brown eyes and wings were unmistakably those of a housefly.

A glass grasshopper merged with a housefly—a grotesque hybrid.

‘Wait, what’s this?’

An unsettling sense of familiarity crept over me.

I felt like I’d seen this bug before, as if I knew it somehow.

The answer lingered just beyond reach, but I chose not to probe further.

A cool, slimy sensation on my nape reminded me why—Ha Sunwoo’s skill.

If he was reading my thoughts, I didn’t want to reveal anything unnecessary.

“Do the wings have any markings?”

“No, they don’t.”

“Have you encountered a bug like this before?”

“I’m seeing it now.”

“…Prior to this incident?”

“No, never.”

Snap!

Reality rushed back.

‘What was that about?’

I’d never encountered such a grotesque hybrid before, so why did it feel so familiar?

As I frowned in confusion, I noticed Ha Sunwoo watching me with that kind smile of his.

“Well done. Shall we continue this discussion in my office?”

#

Ha Sunwoo’s office greeted me with an extravagant tea party.

A three-tiered tray displayed an array of colorful macarons, cookies, tarts, cupcakes, and scones. 

The tableware featured delicate rose patterns. 

Quite the presentation.

“These come from the Tower’s most renowned dessert shop. Please, help yourself,” Ha Sunwoo said warmly, sipping his tea with perfect grace.

“Actually, there’s a specific reason I called you here today.”

“Oh?”

“After our conversation, I visited the test site immediately. I wanted to see this bug for myself.”

As diligent as ever! 

Truly deserving of his top-tier ranking in my favorites list!

“But it wasn’t there.”

“What?”

“I searched the entire test site and cave thoroughly, but found no trace of the bug.”

How could it vanish? 

Dead bugs don’t just crawl away.

“So I wanted to ask—when you left the test site, was the corpse still there?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t check after killing it…”

I know I killed it.

I heard the crunch, saw the glowing liquid ooze from beneath my shoe.

Since resurrection magic doesn’t exist here, it couldn’t have revived and escaped.

Which means…

‘Someone took it.’

Goosebumps prickled across my skin.

The glass grasshopper wasn’t the mastermind.

It was a weapon used to kill 51 people.

And that murder weapon had vanished from the crime scene.

Who could have taken it?

Obviously, the real culprit.

“Could it have been one of the guild members…?”

My first suspicion fell on the Phoenix Guild staff.

They could have stolen evidence while pretending to clean up.

But Ha Sunwoo shook his head.

“No one in the guild saw the bug.”

“How can you be certain…?”

Ah, right.

With his lie-detection ability, Ha Sunwoo must have personally verified each guild member’s statement.

Then…

“Could someone have sneaked in to retrieve it?”

The culprit might have lurked in the shadows, waiting for my team to leave before collecting the bug.

But Ha Sunwoo shook his head again.

“There’s no evidence of an intruder. We have records of everyone who entered the test site.”

Another dead end.

Leaving only one possibility—one I’d hoped wasn’t true.

I shook my head in denial, but Ha Sunwoo’s sharp voice shattered my hopes.

“Only six people could have accessed the bug’s corpse: Examiner Ham Sobong and your team. The examiner has been cleared.”

“Then…”

“Yes. Most likely, one of the five students who were in that test site with you took the bug.”

The culprit was closer than I’d imagined.

One of my teammates.

‘Who could it be?’

Certainly not Yeom Juwan. 

My boy would never harbor such twisted interests.

Then who?

No Ji-tae or Lee Hyo-jun, who risked their lives distracting the goblins?

Or Park Ra-hee, who tearfully tended my wounds?

Could they have been plotting betrayal all along?

“Do you suspect anyone?”

“No, I don’t. I was unconscious at the time…”

How could I know? 

I was passed out with a severed arm.

“Shouldn’t we bring everyone in for questioning?”

“That’s not possible. Without evidence, I can’t summon them.”

‘That’s a lie.’

With Ha Sunwoo’s authority, he could summon anyone at will. 

He’s choosing not to.

The reason is obvious.

If he calls them in asking, “Do you know anything about the bug?” the culprit will realize Ha Sunwoo is aware of it.

Ha Sunwoo doesn’t conduct sloppy investigations.

Clink.

Ha Sunwoo set down his empty teacup, poured fresh tea, and fixed his gaze on me.

“Be careful around your teammates. You could be in danger.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I was the only witness who had seen the bug.

That’s why Ha Sunwoo called me here.

To warn me against approaching or questioning the suspects directly.

“And if anyone starts asking questions, don’t handle it alone. Contact me first. It’s too dangerous by yourself. Understood?”

His clear, ocean-blue eyes locked onto mine.

Gratitude welled up, bringing tears to my eyes.

As expected of Ha Sunwoo!

Just hearing his words made me feel protected.

‘Wait.’

No, something’s off.

This isn’t like Ha Sunwoo at all.

He’s not the type to look out for everyone.

Ha Sunwoo’s character revolves around the Phoenix Guild.

He’s someone who’ll do anything for the guild’s sake.

Viewed through that lens, his actions take on new meaning.

‘He’s using me.’

Ha Sunwoo must be determined to find whoever sabotaged the Phoenix Guild’s operations.

He’s probably planning to use me as both bait and informant.

Well, I’m willing to do whatever my favorite character asks.

I need to investigate the bug anyway, so our goals align.

But if I’m going to be used, I might as well get something in return.

“I’ll follow your instructions.”

I met his gaze directly.

“But I have one condition.”