The plaza had become louder.
Candidates moved constantly now, preparing for the Labyrinth Hunt before the countdown reached zero.
Weapons were sharpened.
Bags were packed.
Arguments broke out over supplies.
Some people looked terrified.
Others looked excited.
Eokimo thought those people were insane.
He sat near the fountain while Rye disappeared somewhere "important," which apparently meant leaving without explaining anything.
Dagan had gone to inspect the gate again.
Lira was somehow asleep on a bench despite the chaos around her.
And Sen—
Sen had vanished entirely.
"…Great team communication," Eokimo muttered.
The fountain water reflected the glowing system pillar above the plaza.
The countdown continued ticking downward.
10 Hours 41 Minutes Remaining.
Eokimo sighed.
Then—
Footsteps stopped in front of him.
He looked up.
The tall candidate stood there.
Up close, they looked even stranger.
Dark clothing.
No visible weapon.
Calm eyes.
Too calm.
Most candidates in the safe zone carried tension somewhere in their expression.
Fear.
Stress.
Exhaustion.
This person carried none of it.
They simply looked at him quietly.
Eokimo immediately felt uncomfortable.
"…Can I help you?"
The candidate tilted their head slightly.
"You're Eokimo."
Not a question.
Eokimo frowned.
"…And you're the reason my system won't stop yelling at me."
For the first time, the stranger smiled faintly.
"A fair complaint."
Their voice was calm. Smooth.
That somehow made them more unsettling.
Eokimo stood slowly.
"You got a name?"
"Ashen."
The system reacted instantly.
[Candidate Identified]
Name: Ashen
Status: Active Candidate
Link Status: Confirmed
Eokimo pointed upward immediately.
"See? THAT. That's exactly what I mean."
Ashen glanced at the floating system text.
"It reacts strongly to linked candidates."
"Yeah, no kidding."
A few nearby candidates had started watching them nervously.
Eokimo noticed.
"…Why is everyone acting weird?"
Ashen answered easily.
"Because linked candidates are dangerous."
"That still doesn't explain anything."
Ashen looked toward the labyrinth gate.
"The system rarely links people without reason."
"…And what reason is that?"
Silence.
For a moment, Ashen simply stared at the glowing gate.
Then—
"Usually conflict."
Eokimo's stomach dropped slightly.
"…Conflict?"
Ashen finally looked back at him.
"Sometimes rivals."
"Sometimes?"
"Sometimes only one linked candidate is allowed to survive."
Eokimo blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
Ashen's expression remained calm.
"Relax. The system hasn't declared a death condition."
"THAT is the part you tell me to relax about?!"
Ashen almost looked amused.
Almost.
Before Eokimo could say anything else—
Rye suddenly appeared beside him.
Fast.
Too fast.
Eokimo barely even saw him move.
Rye stood between them casually, though his eyes were sharp now.
"Well."
He smiled lightly.
"Looks like introductions already happened."
Ashen regarded Rye silently.
"You're experienced."
"Enough."
The air suddenly felt heavier.
Not physically.
Just tense.
Eokimo looked between them.
"…Do you two know each other?"
"No," Rye answered immediately.
"Yes," Ashen said at the same time.
Eokimo stared.
"…Okay one of you is lying."
Rye clicked his tongue.
"We crossed paths once."
Ashen corrected him.
"Twice."
"That second one barely counts."
"It counted enough for you to remember."
Eokimo looked back and forth between them.
"…Why do I feel like everyone here has hidden lore except me?"
For the first time—
Ashen laughed quietly.
Not loudly.
Not mockingly.
Just briefly.
And somehow that felt stranger than everything else.
The system notification appeared again.
[Hidden Condition Activated]
Linked Candidates entering same trial detected.
Bonus Evaluation Potential Increased.
Rye's smile disappeared instantly.
Ashen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Eokimo looked up slowly.
"…I really hate this system."
Around the plaza, several experienced candidates suddenly began whispering uneasily.
One of them muttered quietly:
"Bonus Evaluation…"
Another stepped back slightly.
"No way…"
Eokimo frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Rye answered immediately.
"It means the Labyrinth Hunt just became more dangerous."
The countdown above the gate continued falling.
10 Hours 17 Minutes Remaining.
And for the first time since arriving in the safe zone—
Eokimo truly felt like something was very wrong.