The forest opened into a small clearing, the ground covered in short grass and patches of mud. That's where we saw other people gathered in a semicircle, turning over fallen logs and digging the soil like they were expecting to find something buried.
They were so focused they took a few seconds to notice we were coming.
Kim Jiwon was the first to speak up, his social instincts overcoming his nerves.
"Hey! Looks like we're not the only ones here."
The three men stopped what they were doing and turned. The tallest one, broad-shouldered with short hair shaved at the sides, stepped forward, studying us in silence for a few moments before answering.
"You're part of the tutorial too, right?"
"Yes," Dong Minseok said, walking to a safe but friendly distance. "I'm Dong Minseok. These are Kim Jiwon, Yi Yerin and…" he glanced at me quickly, "Choi Haejun."
"Lee Hyunsik," the tall man replied, tapping his chest lightly. Then he pointed to his companions. "These two are Park Jinho and Kang Doyun."
There was a brief nod from both sides, an attempt at civility amid the obvious awkwardness.
"Did you find anything?" Kim Jiwon asked bluntly, too anxious to pretend indifference.
Lee Hyunsik shook his head; a shadow of frustration crossed his face.
"Nothing yet. This place is too big, and it seems like every step has a different trap. We almost lost Jinho when he fell into a hole full of stakes."
The shortest of the group, who must be Park Jinho, laughed awkwardly, rubbing his leg like he was still feeling phantom pain.
"If Doyun hadn't pulled me out, I wouldn't be here now."
Yi Yerin frowned, her voice analytical.
"So the traps are everywhere."
"You guys didn't find anything either, right?"
Kang Doyun spoke for the first time, deep voice but surprisingly calm.
"Not yet," Dong Minseok answered, keeping his tone steady and polite. "But at least we've avoided accidents so far. The problem is nobody said exactly what the tokens look like. If they're buried, stuck in trees, hidden in structures… it could be anything."
"Maybe that's the point," Kim Jiwon added, "to make us waste time and wear ourselves out before we actually find anything."
The three men exchanged looks, agreeing silently. They were pretending to ask each other's opinions, but the other two were really waiting for Lee Hyunsik to say something.
Their confusion seemed so amateurish I wondered why they were even trying.
I, on the other hand, spoke little. Just a few polite words — "nice to meet you" — and nothing more.
My attention was on Lee Hyunsik. His profile and the way he squinted reminded me of someone familiar. I'd seen that face before, years ago, when I was younger.
At that time, he wasn't anywhere near this tall.
He didn't seem to notice. In fact, I noticed he didn't hold my gaze very long, looking away quickly as if there was no reason to keep eye contact.
I didn't press it. It wasn't the time to dive into old memories, and it wasn't something I wanted to pursue.
"So," Lee Hyunsik said, folding his arms, his posture made more imposing by the serious tone in his voice, "let's be honest. We all know there are only ten tokens for thirty people. Eventually, this is going to become a problem."
The clearing fell silent for a few seconds.
It was the truth nobody wanted to say out loud.
Maybe out of habit or nerves, Kim Jiwon forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"For now, we can still cooperate. If one of us finds a token, at least we'll know what we're looking for."
It sounded diplomatic, but in my head the word "cooperate" rang like a fake bell, an artificial echo announcing a pact that was doomed to fall apart at the first chance.
It was a terrible idea for a bunch of reasons.
Human instinct always overrides rationality when survival is at stake. People can cooperate in times of plenty, but when resources are scarce, need beats morality every time.
Just remember the whole panic over toilet paper during the pandemic. If everyone went crazy over rolls of paper, why would anyone hesitate to spill blood for a token that literally meant the difference between living and being thrown away?
The illusion of alliance couldn't be much more than a temporary measure.
Larger groups give an initial sense of security, but only until someone realizes they're carrying dead weight.
And the math here is simple. There are seven of us and only ten tokens. Given the size of this place, it's hard to imagine we could monopolize two point one thirds of the tokens when there are still twenty-three other people out there.
Inevitably, some of us would be left behind.
Who, exactly, would volunteer to be sacrificed? No one. And that fact turns every potential ally into an enemy waiting in the wings.
Most importantly, group psychology tends toward betrayal.
Human history is a never-ending catalog: political factions splitting, siblings killing each other over inheritance, coworkers sabotaging each other for a promotion.
Proximity raises the risk, it doesn't lower it. The moment someone finds a token, the first impulse won't be to share — it'll be to keep it.
And, inevitably, to eliminate anyone who can't contribute.
If Lee Hyunsik were like his older brother, I wouldn't have to worry about that possibility.
But after all these years I can only project, not be certain, what kind of people they've become.
Still, I said nothing. Maybe it was just another paranoia from my cursed mind.
Either way, we moved on. Our now-larger group pressed through the forest with a little more confidence, seven people moving together.
The wary silence from the first exchange gave way to a forced attempt at cooperation, as if everyone needed to convince themselves that collaborating, for now, was more useful than watching each other's backs.
Kim Jiwon was the first to really join in. It came almost naturally to him, a personality trait that showed itself even under pressure.
"So, Hyunsik-ssi, do you think these tokens will be buried or stuck in trees? I keep imagining some kind of magic chest, you know? Something so obvious it'd seem like a trap."
Lee Hyunsik let out a short, humorless laugh, still scanning the forest as if expecting an answer to appear out of the air.
"If it were that easy, we'd have found them already. I'm betting on hard-to-reach spots. Tall trees, heavy rocks. Places that require physical effort."
"I agree," Kang Doyun added, his deep voice echoing between the trunks. "If they were just on the ground, half the people here would already have a token, and we haven't seen anyone come back happy with one yet."
As always, Yi Yerin stepped in with her methodical, problem-solving tone.
"They're more likely near landmarks. The forest repeats itself, but if you pay attention there are subtle differences: bigger trunks, clearings, trees with marks. Spots someone could identify even if they have no sense of direction."
"In other words," Dong Minseok summarized, "it's no use wandering around aimlessly. We need to observe the environment."
Park Jinho, who'd been quiet until then, gave a tired smile, almost resigned.
"You guys make it sound simple. But every time I look at these trees, they all look the same."
Kim Jiwon laughed and shook his head.
"It's just like a game tutorial. You think you're lost, but there's always a hidden detail. The difference is you can't save and try again here."
The comparison got a few stifled laughs, enough to ease the tension for a few seconds, like a thin crack running through the pressure.
From that point on, the dynamic shifted a bit. The group started trading tips more naturally. They helped each other spot potential traps, pointed out suspicious trees, and talked aloud about each risky step.
It was a collective effort to keep the illusion of safety. Even subtle jokes popped up, barely hiding the fatigue, like suddenly we were all old friends on some school trip.
And so we kept going.
The forest, which had felt oppressive before, began to open up. The dense corridor of trees thinned little by little, letting the golden evening light slip through the canopy and paint bright patches on the wet ground.
It wasn't the first time I noticed time here didn't match time in Seoul, it was already getting dark there when we left.
That's when something grabbed my attention: a faint blue glint, almost shy, but unmistakable against the constant green and damp brown.
It was in the direction Yi Yerin was walking.
I stopped for a moment and just watched as she bent down slowly, brushing aside some large wet leaves.
Then, with the stunned look of someone who's finally found what they'd been searching for for hours, Yi Yerin picked up a small gleaming object from the ground.
No words were needed to confirm it. We all recognized it at once, even though none of us had seen one before.
It was one of the ten tokens the evaluator had mentioned.
Saying the silence swallowed whatever joy we might've felt isn't wrong. It was as if the weight of that little glow was heavier than any celebration.
"This is a good start."
Dong Minseok finally broke the silence, his calm voice trying to lift the group's spirits.
Still, everyone's eyes were on Yi Yerin. She walked silently to Dong Minseok's side, holding the blue token carefully, like it was something sacred.
She said nothing, made no triumphant move; she just stood next to him.
Her expression was clear: she wasn't planning to leave Dong Minseok's side until the end of the tutorial. It was as if she'd decided being next to him meant safety.
She was probably right.
"Yeah… at least now we know what to look for," Lee Hyunsik was the first from the other group to break the silence.
Even so, his eyes stayed on the token a little too long. It wasn't open desire, but you couldn't miss the calculation behind that look.
He glanced at me for a second, then looked away.
"Hmm…" Park Jinho leaned in to look at the token, biting his lower lip before speaking. "I think this area's probably clear now that we found one here."
"Or maybe they put another one right here because they knew we'd think that," Kim Jiwon shot back quickly, the tone a little excited, like he was in the middle of a classroom debate.
The whole group exchanged looks for a moment.
Both lines of thinking made sense, but nobody was willing to risk leaving anything behind.
From there, the dynamic shifted a bit. Everyone crouched down and spread out across the clearing. Hands moved roots aside, fingers poked into cracks between stones, branches were used as makeshift sticks to probe the wet soil.
Lee Hyunsik and Kang Doyun rolled over fallen logs, heaving them aside to check for anything shiny underneath. Park Jinho used a piece of wood like a probe, poking the ground as if searching for something buried.
Dong Minseok did the same, but always with an eye on Yi Yerin. Kim Jiwon, meanwhile, worked with an almost boundless energy, checking every detail with an almost obsessive intensity.
I moved too, mimicking their motions while the contrast of their voices filled the clearing.
"Nothing here."
"Check that tree."
"Maybe something's buried near the bigger roots."
"If I were hiding something, I'd put it up high where few can reach."
The cacophony of opinions felt like a distraction. While they argued out loud, I ran through my own mental map, marking the exact spot where Yi Yerin had picked up the token.
I would need to test two or three options first, but if there was some pattern as to where the chips were hidden, I should find out soon.
…
In a secluded room, metal walls reflected the cold glow of dozens of screens suspended in the air, each showing different angles of the forest. Lighting was minimal so all attention would be pulled to the projections.
Each screen displayed a different part of the forest where the tutorial was happening. The images came from floating cameras, small translucent spheres that hovered at a steady height, beyond the participants' line of sight.
That detail alone illustrated the gap between Earth and the Another World or, as the Outsiders called it, Eden.
Three figures watched everything in the room.
Chae Eunbyul had short, caramel-colored hair framing a soft-featured face. She kept a gentle smile, the kind that conveyed charisma and control.
She was the master of the Orion Guild, the organization responsible for that tutorial.
Beside her was Cha Sooah, the vice-master. Long purple hair draped over her shoulders like a cloak, and a scar running down her left eye added a rough edge to her features.
Unlike Chae Eunbyul, Cha Sooah's smile was broad, almost mocking, as if she was amused even by things that might panic others.
And finally, at the central panel, sitting relaxed but with watchful eyes, was Han Daewon, the evaluator for Section 1's tutorial. The monocle over his eye reflected the screen light, and his immaculate dark suit contrasted with an expression of calculated calm.
Chae Eunbyul broke the silence first, her soft voice filling the room.
"So, Daewon-ssi, how exactly did you distribute the tokens?"
The man adjusted his monocle and answered with the calm of someone explaining an easy puzzle.
"I used an inverted-star pattern to set the directions. Each point and intersection defines a location. That way, the tokens are spread so they balance at opposite distances."
He leaned back in his chair; the soft creak of the upholstery accompanied the motion.
"Unless the participants have an exact map of the terrain, which they don't, the discovery of each token depends on attention, luck, or sheer persistence, even if they guess the pattern."
Cha Sooah crossed her arms, her smile sharpening a bit.
"So even the most attentive can be led astray."
"Exactly," Han Daewon confirmed, giving a half-smile. "The idea is to eliminate easy confidence."
Chae Eunbyul let her gentle smile widen, though her eyes stayed serious.
"And how many have been found so far?"
"Three," Han Daewon answered without hesitation. "Three hours, forty-seven minutes, and thirty-eight seconds since the start."
Chae Eunbyul tilted her head slightly, real surprise showing on her face.
"Only three?"
"Only three," he repeated, tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair. "There have been many accidents. Natural traps, some set by other participants. The current number of competitors is twenty-seven."
Cha Sooah let out a dry murmur.
"Three casualties."
"Three casualties," Han Daewon confirmed. "Nothing unexpected."
Silence fell again, like a blanket. Only the soft hum of the floating screens filled the air. On the displays, groups wandered the forest, some hesitant, others already showing signs of alliances.
None of them, of course, knew that every move was being measured, every choice calculated.
Running a tutorial meant being the first to vet the "newcomers." Orion paid a lot of attention to that, they needed new talent in their ranks.
Every skill was valuable in Eden, especially right now.
Then the suspended screens trembled slightly as one of the images was enlarged.
The image filled the room, projecting a close-up of a larger group gathered around a specific spot.
The three figures in the control room leaned forward instinctively.
A group of seven was moving together through the forest, cutting through the undergrowth with more confidence than most other competitors.
They had just picked up a token, their second, and were moving as a block, their steps almost disciplined.
In the observation room, Cha Sooah uncrossed her arms only to fold them again immediately. The wide smile on her face couldn't hide the irony in her voice.
"Well… looks like your little trick was discovered, Daewon."
Han Daewon didn't answer right away. He watched silently with Chae Eunbyul, eyes fixed on the screens showing the group.
Normally, when someone found a token they scattered, tried to hide, or headed off in a different direction to throw off possible rivals.
But not these seven. Instead of backing off, they moved in a near-straight line as if they knew exactly where to go.
Han Daewon frowned and tapped at the panel. A holographic map projected in front of them, with ten blue markers showing where the tokens had been placed across the terrain.
He scanned it quickly, adjusting map layers like someone disassembling a puzzle.
A low sound escaped his throat, almost a note of frustration.
"They're following the most advisable route."
Cha Sooah raised an eyebrow.
"So they figured it out."
Han Daewon, however, stayed calm.
"Not yet," he said, tapping the arm of the chair. "A coincidence proves nothing. Even following that direction, they could've just been lucky. The method isn't that obvious."
Chae Eunbyul tilted her head, her gentle smile never leaving.
"You're saying finding two tokens in a row means nothing?"
"It could mean efficiency, maybe attention," Han Daewon replied. "But it doesn't prove they understand the pattern. Their route so far could've been instinct or sheer chance."
On the screen, the seven advanced without hesitation, the forest opening before them. Still some distance away, but their path led straight to the spot where the third token was hidden.
"At this rate, they'd get there before the others," Chae Eunbyul commented, resting her chin on her hand.
But none of them looked convinced yet. It was too early to say someone had cracked the puzzle's logic.
Only some time later, when the screens showed that same group arriving exactly where the third token was hidden, did the air in the room change.
They didn't hesitate or rummage randomly like the others. They came, searched the right spots, and found it.
Cha Sooah laughed, her smile turning into a clear-out laugh.
"Well, now it doesn't look like a coincidence, does it?"
Chae Eunbyul let curiosity light up her caramel eyes.
"Who are they, Daewon-ssi?"
The evaluator adjusted his monocle before answering, no list needed.
"Lee Hyunsik, Park Jinho, and Kang Doyun. One guest and two hires. The others… Kim Jiwon brought them, using a golden ticket to pull the other three along."
There was a short silence in the room, like everyone recognized some of the names. It was hard not to — those two brothers were always bragging about their younger siblings.
Cha Sooah raised an eyebrow, her smile widening as her eyes flashed with amusement.
"Lee Hyunsik and Kim Jiwon, huh. Looks like the younger brothers finally decided to show up…"
Chae Eunbyul leaned back in her chair, her soft smile still in place, but the light in her eyes was brighter than before.
"We do have some notable presences here."
The screens showed the group disappearing into the trees, each step they took now carrying more weight than before. Han Daewon's board had finally been read.