Pre-dawn command annex. Maps, door lists, and crossed-out districts cover the walls as day six begins after the failed sally-port.

Day six at the powder-room. Tabi prepares a binding under the eyes of soldiers still judging him for the sally-port deaths.

Tabi binds and tests the day-six powder-room door. The door holds, but no one cheers.

That night, the success is recorded as only one mark among many remaining threats.

Day seven at a watchtower stair during an enemy probe. Sang observes as Tabi works under pressure.

The watchtower stair binding holds during a live pressure test.

Between bindings, the city’s hunger becomes visible in the streets.

At evening council, officers praise the granary clause as brilliant.

Tabi leaves the council under the sound of adult approval.

Day nine. Tabi binds an old culvert that engineers claim is too small for adults but still dangerous.

After day nine, Tabi returns to his room and realizes the kitchen door is missing from under his pillow.

Sang waits in Tabi’s room with Yeon’s kitchen door unwrapped in his hands.

Sang reveals that he knows Yeon’s final binding and what kind of punishment she intended.

Tabi demands why Sang came now. Sang states that he is asking forgiveness, not claiming innocence.

After a long pause, Yeon’s kitchen door recognizes Sang’s blood and request for forgiveness.

Inside the impossible space waits a small wooden box.

The box contains a folded paper. Sang reads it first and goes white.

Tabi reads the three unseen words, and his certainty breaks into frightened uncertainty.