Minsu and Hyowon barely breathed as the footsteps stopped just outside the door. A long, heavy silence followed.
Then—knock, knock.
A slow, deliberate tapping against the wooden frame.
Hyowon tensed, shifting closer to Minsu. She swallowed hard, forcing her voice to stay steady. "Who is it?"
No answer.
Another knock, this time softer.
Minsu exchanged a glance with Hyowon before cautiously stepping forward. She hesitated, then slowly slid the door open—
The night wind swept in, carrying the scent of damp earth. But there was no one there.
Minsu's heart pounded. She stepped onto the porch, scanning the empty yard. The faint flicker of lanterns from neighboring houses was the only source of light. No sign of movement.
"Is someone playing a trick on us?" Hyowon whispered, stepping beside her.
Minsu wasn't so sure. She crouched down, her sharp eyes catching something on the wooden floor near the doorway—a folded piece of paper.
She picked it up, unfolding it with cautious fingers. The handwriting was hurried, almost frantic.
"Stop asking questions. Run while you still can."
The breath caught in Minsu's throat.
Hyowon read over her shoulder, his face darkening. "They know."
Minsu clenched the note, her pulse quickening. Someone was watching them. Someone didn't want them to uncover the truth.
But Minsu wasn't the type to run. If anything, this only made her more determined.
She took a deep breath, meeting Hyowon's gaze. "We're not stopping now."
Hyowon studied Minsu's expression and let out a small sigh. "I had a feeling you'd say that."
Minsu smirked despite the tension. "I didn't come all this way to turn back at the first warning."
She carefully folded the note and tucked it into the journal. Then, stepping back inside, she closed the door behind them, bolting it shut.
"We need to think this through," Hyowon said, rubbing his temples. "Someone wants us gone, but they didn't attack. That means they're still trying to scare us off first."
Minsu nodded. "Which also means we're getting close to something."
She sat down, flipping through the journal once more, determined to find anything she might have overlooked. Then, a certain name caught her attention—Baek Ilho.
Her eyes widened. "Hyowon, look at this." She pointed at a passage written near the end of the journal:
"Ilho said he would try to get more information, but I don't know if I trust him. Something about him feels… off. Even though he is my son,there was something wrong with him."
Hyowon's expression darkened. "So she didn't fully even trust her son?"
Minsu bit her lip. Baek Ilho had been helping them, but what if he had his own reasons?
A sudden chill ran down her spine. Was he in danger right now—or was he leading them into a trap?
Before she could voice her thoughts, a faint sound came from outside. Footsteps—returning.
Then, a hurried knock.
Hyowon and Minsu stiffened.
This time, a voice came with it.
"It's me. Open up."
Baek Ilho.
But something was wrong. His voice was rushed—and he sounded afraid.
Minsu and Hyowon exchanged tense glances. The knocking grew more frantic.
"Hurry," Baek Ilho's voice was barely above a whisper. "They're coming."
Minsu's breath caught. Who was coming?
Hyowon hesitated only for a second before stepping forward and unlocking the door. Baek Ilho stumbled inside, his face pale and damp with sweat. He shut the door quickly, his hands trembling.
"They know I spoke to you," he panted, his eyes darting between them. "They're watching everything."
Minsu narrowed her eyes. "Who?"
Baek Ilho swallowed hard, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "The headman… and the others."
Hyowon's jaw clenched. "You mean—"
Baek Ilho grabbed Minsu's wrist, his grip tight. "You have to leave. Both of you. Tonight."
Minsu pulled her hand free, her mind racing. "What did you tell them?"
Baek Ilho hesitated. "Nothing. But it doesn't matter. They don't need proof—they just need a reason."
Hyowon's expression darkened. "You knew something all along, didn't you?"
Baek Ilho opened his mouth but closed it again. He looked over his shoulder, as if expecting someone to be lurking in the shadows. "I… I thought I could help, but it's bigger than I realized."
Minsu's heart pounded. Something about his fear was real. But was it fear for them—or for himself?
Then—a distant shout outside.
The three of them froze.
The warning had been clear. They had run out of time.