The price for failing to clear the scenario was more absurd than expected.

His body had shrunk.

...So this was the penalty.

It wasn't entirely unexpected. He knew a penalty existed, but experiencing it firsthand was a different matter entirely.

Jjung stared down at his hands for a while. His body had shrunk to a size that could fit on a palm, and everything around him looked several times larger.

The sofa was excessively high, and the table legs looked like massive pillars. Since he didn't know the duration of the penalty, he would have to endure this discomfort for a while.

The sound of a door opening reached his ears.

Jjung turned his head.

His eyes met Guest's, who had stopped in their tracks and was staring this way.

....

A brief silence.

Guest's gaze slowly swept up from his feet to the top of his head.

What is that look for?

No answer came back.

However, he saw the corners of their mouth twitch upward ever so slightly.

If you're thinking of laughing, stop.

Jjung narrowed his eyes slightly.

It's just a temporary inconvenience. It will return to normal in a few hours.

He added those words for no reason.

Guest was still staring at him without saying a word.

He didn't like that look for some reason.

...You.

He had a bad feeling.

A very, very bad feeling.