Leo pushed the door open.
The wood creaked softly.
For a moment, neither he nor Null spoke.
They stepped outside.
And froze.
They were standing at the entrance of Clockwork Town.
Again.
The same iron sign.
The same mechanical lamps.
The same streets stretching forward.
Leo's eyes widened.
"…No way."
Null slowly turned around.
Behind them was the road they had just walked through.
But when Leo looked back toward the town—
It was still there.
Exactly the same.
They had exited the building…
Yet somehow returned to the town entrance.
Leo rubbed his eyes.
"Did we just—"
"Yes," Null said quietly.
They stared at the sign again.
WELCOME TO CLOCKWORK TOWN
A cold feeling spread through Leo's chest.
"…This place is playing with us."
Null didn't respond.
His expression remained calm, but tension built in his shoulders.
Then suddenly—
"Tower."
Leo looked at him.
Null was already moving.
They ran.
The tower stood exactly where it had before.
Tall.
Silent.
Its giant clock hands moved slowly.
Tick. Tock.
Leo pushed the door open.
They stepped inside.
Waiting for them—
The assassin.
Standing exactly where he had been before.
Alive.
Unharmed.
He smiled beneath his mask.
"…Welcome back."
Leo's stomach tightened.
"You died."
The assassin tilted his head slightly.
"Did I?"
Null stepped forward slowly.
The assassin's eyes shifted toward Leo.
And then he noticed something.
Leo stood slightly outside the invisible boundary surrounding Null.
The assassin's eyes sharpened.
Opportunity.
He moved instantly.
His hand flashed forward—
A glowing blue structure appeared around Leo.
CLANG!
A metal-like cage formed instantly.
Leo slammed against the invisible barrier.
"What the—?!"
The cage lifted from the ground.
Floating.
Null rushed forward.
But the cage reacted immediately.
It slid backward across the room, maintaining distance.
Then it began shrinking.
Leo grabbed the bars.
"Null!"
Null stopped moving.
His fists tightened.
Anger slowly built in his chest.
The assassin dusted his hands calmly.
"Now this is fair."
Null stared at him.
"…Let him go."
The assassin laughed quietly.
"No."
Then he stepped forward.
"How about something fun instead?"
He stretched his arms slightly.
"Hand-to-hand combat."
Null didn't hesitate.
"Fine."
The assassin nodded approvingly.
"Good."
They moved at the same time.
Null attacked first.
A straight punch aimed at the assassin's face.
The assassin tilted his head and the punch missed by centimeters.
A counterattack came instantly.
A sharp elbow struck Null's ribs.
The impact forced air from his lungs.
But Null didn't stop.
He swung again.
Another punch.
Another dodge.
The assassin moved like flowing water.
Efficient.
Precise.
He stepped inside Null's range and delivered a fast hook to the jaw.
Null staggered back.
The assassin followed with a knee strike to the stomach.
Pain exploded through Null's body.
Still, Null kept fighting.
He rushed forward again, grabbing the assassin's arm.
For a moment it looked like he might overpower him—
But the assassin twisted smoothly, redirecting the force.
Null's momentum worked against him.
A heavy kick struck his chest.
CRASH!
Null slammed into the wall.
Cracks spread through the stone behind him.
He slid to the floor.
The assassin rolled his shoulders casually.
"…What did you expect?"
He walked forward slowly.
"I am far smarter… and far stronger than you."
He raised his hand to finish the fight.
Then—
BANG!
The sound exploded through the room.
The assassin's sentence cut off.
A red mark appeared on his forehead.
His eyes widened.
Then his body collapsed.
Silence.
Leo blinked.
The cage around him vanished instantly.
He stepped forward slowly.
"…What just happened?"
Null looked toward the broken window.
Far across the street—
On the rooftop of another building—
A figure stood.
A tall silhouette dressed completely in black.
A long sniper rifle rested in their hands.
For a brief moment, the mysterious shooter looked directly at them.
Then—
The figure dissolved into the air.
Gone.
Leo exhaled slowly.
"…Did that just happen?"
Null stood up carefully.
"Yes."
They both looked at the assassin's body again.
Dead.
Again.
Leo scratched his head.
"Okay… new plan."
"What?"
"Leaving this town."
Null nodded.
For once, they agreed completely.
They walked to the tower entrance.
Leo grabbed the door handle.
"Ready?"
Null nodded.
The door opened.
They stepped outside.
And froze.
Clockwork Town's entrance sign stood in front of them.
Again.
Leo slowly turned around.
"…You have got to be kidding me."
They stepped backward.
Two steps.
Three.
And suddenly—
They were again standing at the same entrance.
Facing the town.
Leo stared at the ground.
"…We didn't even walk anywhere."
Null's mind felt heavy.
Even thinking clearly became difficult.
They tried again.
They walked out another street.
Turned a corner.
Exited the town road.
But every single time—
They returned to the same place.
The entrance of Clockwork Town.
After the third attempt, they stopped.
Null remained silent.
His mind felt strangely numb.
Leo sat on a small metal crate nearby.
"…Okay."
He rubbed his chin.
"If brute force doesn't work… we think."
Null didn't respond.
Leo glanced at him.
"You're being really quiet."
Null stared at the town ahead.
"…Thinking is difficult right now."
Leo sighed.
"Same."
He looked at the clock tower in the distance.
Then something clicked in his mind.
"…Wait."
He stood up suddenly.
"I think we can try something."
Null looked at him.
"What?"
Leo pointed toward the tower.
"You stay here."
"I go inside alone."
Null frowned immediately.
"That is dangerous."
Leo shrugged casually.
"Yeah."
Then he grinned.
"But remember something."
He tapped his chest.
"I can't die."
Null hesitated.
"But—"
Leo waved his hand.
"Relax."
He started walking.
"I'll just check something."
Null watched him carefully.
"…Alright."
He leaned against a nearby wall.
"I will wait."
Leo gave a thumbs up.
Then walked toward the clock tower alone.
The metal door stood slightly open.
He pushed it slowly.
The door creaked.
Leo stepped inside.
And immediately stopped.
Someone was already waiting.
The assassin.
Standing in the same place.
Alive.
Again.
The masked man smiled slowly.
"…Welcome back."