I raised my head.
Water was filling the resort corridor.
It was slightly cloudy, not entirely clear, like disinfected water in a theme-park pool.
A form like rainwater.
Rumbleeeee…
Water poured in, waves surging.
Strangely, I watched the thick currents—currents that did not enter the open management office—lap and flow down the dark corridors of Flower Golden Resort.
That rolling spectacle.
And then….
good child
I approached the water’s edge in the corridor.
And because I could think of no title more appropriate, I called out like this.
“…Elder?”
come here
The rainwater rippled, took on a contour, and splashed up into the air of the corridor.
As if beckoning me.
“…….”
I put my hand into the current.
My cloth hand soaked through and was pulled heavily down into the water.
Strangely deep.
“…!!”
Splash!
Just like that, I sank.
My breath… my breath was not a problem.
It was peaceful.
‘Ah.’
I lowered my head.
I saw the scale I was holding against my chest shimmering even in the murky water, then melting away….
And then.
Rumbleeeee…
The current began flowing heavily and violently toward the far side of the corridor.
‘…!’
The scenery of the corridor whipped past and changed.
Thanks to the water surrounding me, I did not collide with anything. Even half-submerged, with forms blurred, I saw it.
‘The Baekilmong character!’
The dragon character of Baekilmong, holding office scissors, was finally engulfed by the great wave it had met head-on, its stuffing thoroughly soaked as it sank.
‘Ah.’
I could see its outline in the rushing water.
The dark golden liquid covering the character was being washed loose and diluted by the water as well.
The Baekilmong character, its haphazardly stitched-up form fully exposed, found me in the water and seemed about to raise its scissors—but was swept away by the stronger current…