A temporary imperial checkpoint outside besieged Sun-Beol under smoke-dark dawn.

The checkpoint officer challenges Tabi's authority and ability.

Tabi explains the limitation before binding the checkpoint door.

Tabi performs the checkpoint demonstration binding.

The soldiers test the binding and learn the consequence.

Tabi is allowed through and sees besieged Sun-Beol.

The city’s ordinary suffering establishes the stakes.

Tabi enters the command hall and meets General Sang Eo-jin.

Sang explains that Tabi replaces an entire dead doorman unit.

Sang gives Tabi the impossible arithmetic: sixty doors, eleven days.

Sang orders Tabi to choose, not to perform a miracle.

Tabi and Ho begin cutting through the first categories of doors.

Ho lays out the first vital targets: water, cavalry, troop movement.

Siege horns and distant enemy movement remind them the countdown is real.

The plan shifts from doors to people, and old market routes are marked for abandonment.

Madam Ho tries to spare districts through engineering substitutions, but the numbers do not hold.

Ho crosses out the Lantern District, revealing a personal cost.

Tabi remembers his mother teaching him emotional control during clause work.

The night deepens as the door list shrinks.

They make the last sacrifice and define the shrunken city.

The plan is complete; Tabi is not comforted.

Tabi reaches his assigned room above the archive.

Tabi removes the wrapped kitchen door and memory overtakes him.

Tabi sleeps with his hand on the door as the siege continues.