[Search for a treasure chest. Time remaining: 1 hour 23 minutes.]0

The brisk sea breeze brushed against our damp hair as we returned to the sandy shore, returning from our brief moment of leisure. Seawater trickled from my clothes and pooled around my feet. 0

Ha Hee-Jeong turned to wring out her wet hair, bending at the waist before squeezing the ends of her hair to shed excess water.0

“How long has it been since we last had fun in the sea together?” 0

“Feels like two years, right? We went to Busan[1] with everyone a couple of years back, right?”0

“Two years ago… Yeah, that was in 2018.”1

She seemed a tad melancholic, and her tone seemed regretful. Guessing this was likely related to her regression, I refrained from asking any further. 0

I was only on the twenty-eighth floor, yet life on Earth already felt like a distant memory. For Ha Hee-Jeong, that sensation likely felt even more profound.0

Instead of responding, I retrieved a bottle of water from the mimic and handed it to her.0

“Hmm? Oh, thanks.”0

“I should’ve packed some refreshments too.”0

“Water’s fine.” 0

She drank about half before passing the bottle back to me. The salty seawater had left my throat parched as well, and the cool water provided a welcome refreshment.0

“You know, wasn’t that cheating earlier?” 0

“What was?”0

“I mean, you’re supposed...0