"I swear I won’t touch a rat again."  

"I swear I won’t touch a rat again."  

Only after taking this solemn oath did Midsummer release me from the hellish face-washing session. Even as I swore, she continued scrubbing my face, leaving my words garbled.  

"Did anyone else touch the rat?"  

"..."  

Levinas and Saebyeok both shook their heads frantically. Levinas even shook her entire upper body as if to emphasize her innocence.  

It was clear—they were determined to avoid the same fate as me. After witnessing firsthand what it looked like to be treated …