28
Chapter 28
Time at school flew by.
Even though he didn't doze off once during the teacher's lecture—which made him wonder if the teacher's voice was an Anomaly designed to put people to sleep—school was already over because he spent the whole time glancing at Baek A-yun.
The teacher, while returning his mobile phone, spoke briefly.
"Nothing more. Class dismissed. Leave."
Rumble—
The students stood up all at once, and a loud racket filled the classroom. The sound of chairs sliding back, the footsteps of students rushing out, and the chatter of small groups...
Choi Jae-min remained seated until the end, observing Baek A-yun.
"...."
Baek A-yun stood up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and looked at Choi Jae-min. Startled, Jae-min quickly averted his eyes, but it was too late. Baek A-yun tilted her head in confusion.
"Jammin is acting weird today, isn't he?"
"M-me? I am not!"
'The thing that's really weird is...'
Swallowing the words that it was above her head, Choi Jae-min belatedly stuffed his notebook and ballpoint pen into his bag with awkward movements.
Baek A-yun tilted her head a few more times before stepping away cheerfully.
"See you tomorrow then!"
"Uh, yeah. Tomorrow."
Baek A-yun left the classroom chatting with her friends. He stared blankly at the back of her head.
The letters were still floating above her.
[Father: ]
[Mother: ]
'But...'
Ugh—
Choi Jae-min groaned. He was confused. He had watched her throughout the entire lecture, but he hadn't noticed anything strange. She was the same Baek A-yun as always.
The way she tilted her head, the rhythmic nodding when she was sleepy, and the occasional humming of a song—everything was the same.
At this point, a doubt crept in.
'Is A-yun not an Anomaly? Did A-yun's parents fall victim to an Anomaly?'
If there were something like an eraser that could erase a person's existence, and it had erased her parents' existence, wouldn't it look exactly like this? If so, A-yun would be...
As he was lost in thought, someone suddenly placed a hand on his head.
"Jammin, what are you doing?"
It was a friend. He snapped back to reality. Choi Jae-min quickly slung his bag over one shoulder and stood up.
"I'm leaving."
"PC cafe?"
"Nah, I have to get home quickly."
"Just one game before you go—"
Leaving his friend's voice behind, Choi Jae-min ran. Through the school hallways, down the stairs, and across the playground. He couldn't even wait for the bus and ran along the road.
Heading toward the only place where he could get definite help in this situation.
'Hurry, to the Investigation Team!'
***
"That's how it happened. What should I do? What do I need to do? A-yun is okay, right?"
Choi Jae-min poured out his questions without taking a breath, staring at the Chief. His eyes were pleading for hope.
Lee Yeon-woo and Yu Ji-yu also looked at the Chief, just like Choi Jae-min. They couldn't figure it out just by listening. Perhaps the experienced Chief would know something.
As if responding to their expectations, the Chief scratched his chin and asked in detail.
"I think I know what this is... When was the last time you saw your friend? Aside from that Anomaly Entity."
"Friday. I didn't see her over the weekend, so it's been about three days."
"Three days? Then there shouldn't be any major problems."
"Ah."
At those words, Choi Jae-min's tension snapped, and he slumped down on the spot. He sat on the office floor, leaning his back against a desk. His breathing gradually calmed.
Then, with a sweat-drenched face, he looked up at the Chief.
"What happened to A-yun? Or did something happen to her parents?"
"I think your friend summoned an Anomaly."
"Summoned?"
Choi Jae-min's eyes widened. The Chief grabbed his mobile phone and car keys, speaking nonchalantly.
"It's called the Demon of Sloth. Look it up on my computer."
Choi Jae-min stood up quickly and leaned over to tap away at the keyboard. Soon, a report filled the monitor.
[Demon of Sloth]
- Hostility Level: Yellow
- Risk Level: 2
- Importance Grade: D
- Details: An Anomaly that is a clone of the summoner and acts identically to them. After 13 days have passed since the summoning, the original summoner disappears from Earth.
- Countermeasures: Since the summoning method is spread through communication forms like texts, calls, and emails, AI is used to monitor networks and intercept the communications.
The Chief added an explanation.
"It's like a doppelganger, and it seems your friend set one up as a replacement. Resolving it isn't hard. The problem is your friend, who tried something like this."
"Why would she... how could she..."
While reading, the Chief finished preparing to leave. He gave Choi Jae-min, who couldn't take his eyes off the computer, a light nudge with his toe.
"Let's go. We might as well solve this quickly."
"Ah, yes. Let's go."
Choi Jae-min straightened up. The Chief walked ahead and spoke to Lee Yeon-woo and Yu Ji-yu.
"I need to handle one thing with this kid. Ji-yu, kill some time and then head home. Rookie, you're coming with me."
"Me? Understood."
Suddenly called upon, Lee Yeon-woo was puzzled but obediently took off his slippers and changed into sneakers. He had his doubts, but he figured the Chief was just teaching a rookie the ropes...
Click—
The Chief opened his mouth as he grabbed the office door handle. Since his back was turned, his expression was invisible. Their gazes met in different directions.
"It's nothing much, just that it's easier with one more person. You don't think another accident is about to happen, do you? If another accident happens, I'll have to suspect that you're an Anomaly. Haha."
He spoke as if joking and laughed loudly, stepping out of the office first. Choi Jae-min ran after him. Lee Yeon-woo quickly followed them, barely finishing tying his sneakers.
Yu Ji-yu watched them leave and pulled her chair closer, leaning against the desk.
"I'll do my best to guard the office."
"Sure. Just don't leave too early! Someone from upstairs might contact us."
The booming voice echoed through the closed door.
"Yes, yes."
Yu Ji-yu nodded half-heartedly. She was searching for a video on her mobile phone. Soon, the sound of the video Yu Ji-yu played filled the empty office.
***
They decided to move in the Chief's car.
Since the passenger seat was filled with a cardboard box overflowing with all sorts of junk, Lee Yeon-woo and Choi Jae-min sat in the back.
The car was idling.
The Chief, sitting in the driver's seat, turned around and reached deep into the cardboard box, rummaging through the clutter. Trash, towels, and tools shifted around.
"Let's see... to hunt and kill a demon... Student, take this."
The Chief reached out between the driver's and passenger's seats. In his hand were leftover soju and an electric drill that looked like a pistol.
Choi Jae-min quickly grabbed the electric drill, his eyes sparkling. He brought it close to his face and turned it back and forth.
"A drill? Wow, I've never seen one like this."
He pretended to aim it at the passenger seat's headrest, then aimed it out the window.
Watching the drill move frantically, Lee Yeon-woo gave a silent nod. It made sense that if they couldn't use a gun, a tool would have to do...
The Chief let out a dry laugh, as if the sheer absurdity of the reality hit him anew.
"I can't believe you're actually using this as a weapon... Whatever. Take this."
He shook the soju bottle from side to side, the liquid inside sloshing around. Lee Yeon-woo quietly took the bottle.
At that moment, the electric drill, which had been moving excitedly, settled calmly onto Choi Jae-min's lap. Jae-min hesitated, then spoke in an uneasy voice.
"So, with this... we're going to kill A-yun? I mean, that thing that looks like A-yun?"
"Exactly. Just press it against her forehead, and it's over."
His words were blunt.
Choi Jae-min stared down at the electric drill. The drill bit was long and sharp, like a large nail. He could clearly imagine Baek A-yun's face as the drill pierced through her forehead.
'What if A-yun isn't the Anomaly? What if her parents were the ones targeted by an Anomaly?'
His hesitation was written all over his face. His lips were tightly shut, his eyes drooping and wavering.
The Chief glanced at Choi Jae-min through the rearview mirror and spoke firmly.
"Don't hesitate. You said her parents weren't there. That means she's an Anomaly."
"But—"
"Do you want to watch your friend vanish from the face of the earth? With that Anomaly Entity taking her place?"
"No..."
Choi Jae-min spoke weakly and set the electric drill aside. The drill now rested in the middle of the seat.
The Chief tapped the navigation system and spoke.
"Tell me where that friend of yours would be right now if she were living normally."
"She's probably at home."
"Address."
"We live in the same apartment complex—"
Before Choi Jae-min could even finish, the Chief stopped tapping the navigation and grabbed the steering wheel. He didn't need the GPS. He already knew where Choi Jae-min lived.
The car smoothly left the parking lot and hit the road.
Choi Jae-min looked out the window, but with his mind in such chaos, he couldn't even process the cityscape painted red by the evening sunset.
'The Chief is probably right, right? But why would A-yun do such a thing—'
He couldn't shake the doubt.
While Choi Jae-min wavered, flipping his thoughts back and forth, the car arrived at its destination.
***
"Student. Go get her."
"Yes..."
Choi Jae-min opened the car door slowly and walked with heavy steps. His mind was a mess. He was so lost in thought that he didn't even remember how he had moved.
Before he knew it, he had stepped off the elevator and was standing before Baek A-yun's front door. He pressed the doorbell instinctively.
Ding-dong, ding-dong—
- Yes, who is it?
"Uh, yeah. It's me, Jae-min."
In the end, he faced Baek A-yun before he could even organize his thoughts.
Beep—
Beyond the opening door, Baek A-yun, dressed in comfortable pajamas, greeted Choi Jae-min with a puzzled look.
"Jammin? Why are you at my house?"
"Oh, well. Uh. The, homework! You know, the homework! I thought we could do it together."
"At my house?"
"At a cafe!"
His behavior was awkward and suspicious, but Baek A-yun blinked a few times and then nodded.
"Hold on. Let me just change my clothes."
Baek A-yun disappeared into her room. Choi Jae-min, unable to bring himself to step past the threshold, stood by the door, when it suddenly dawned on him.
The house was silent, with A-yun being the only sign of life.
'Where did her parents go...? Why is A-yun the only one home...?'
It was around the time people usually left work, so her father might be late, but her mother had always been there.
Just as Choi Jae-min was about to step inside, Baek A-yun appeared after changing. With her bag on her back, she stepped out in slippers and closed the front door.
"Let's go! ...By the way, where's your bag?"
"I left it downstairs. Anyway, where are your parents? It seemed like you were home alone."
"They went on a trip. I guess they're having fun; they haven't even called."
She grumbled as she pressed the elevator button. Doubt deepened in Choi Jae-min's mind.
'As I thought, her parents...?'
As the two rode down in the cramped elevator, his suspicions reached a peak.
"Hmm, hmmm, hmmm—"
She hummed to herself, nodding her head. It was a sight Jae-min had seen many times. He watched her, swallowed hard, and then asked.
"That song, you said it's from an indie band you like? What was the band's name?"
"Hey! I told you before! Have you still not listened to them?"
"No, I just can't remember the name... what was it?"
"Lego-flavored Ice Cream. Their songs are so, so—"
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke about her favorite band. Her voice and gestures were full of genuine passion.
Choi Jae-min watched her blankly and finally reached a conclusion.
'It's really A-yun. No matter how identically the Demon of Sloth acts, there's no way it could mimic these emotions.'
The elevator arrived at the first floor.
In front of the building exit, Choi Jae-min stopped Baek A-yun. She had been walking energetically but came to a halt.
"What is it?"
"Hold on. I'll go grab my bag."
***
The Chief and Lee Yeon-woo waited in the car, watching as Choi Jae-min walked back alone, leaving Baek A-yun at the entrance. His emotions were plain to see on his face.
The Chief clicked his tongue.
"Good grief, this is frustrating as hell. Does he think I'll just kill her without checking first?"
'Well, I think both of them have their own separate thoughts they aren't sharing.'
While Lee Yeon-woo kept his thoughts to himself, the Chief started to say something more then let out a deep sigh.
"Rookie. Give me the soju bottle and the drill."
Lee Yeon-woo immediately handed over the two items with both hands, his eyes lingering on the soju bottle.
"What is this?"
"A liquid-type Anomaly that causes an allergic reaction in specific Anomaly Entities. In short, Holy Water."
"Holy Water?"
"I ripped it off an Exorcist a long time ago. Now's not the time for questions. Rookie, come along. Stop Jae-min if he tries anything stupid."
Clang—
The Chief opened the car door and strode forward, approaching Baek A-yun.
"Chief, listen, about A-yun—"
Choi Jae-min reached out to stop the Chief, but Lee Yeon-woo stepped in and was grabbed instead. The Chief walked without hesitation and stopped right in front of Baek A-yun.
Baek A-yun shrank back slightly. A man with a soju bottle in one hand and an electric drill in the other. Her voice sounded frightened.
"Who are you?"
The Chief didn't answer. He tilted the soju bottle over Baek A-yun's head and poured the Holy Water directly onto her.
Sizzle—
In the next instant, red blisters erupted all over Baek A-yun's face. Her skin became hideous, and her face contorted in pain. Just as her swollen lips parted to let out a scream.
The electric drill aimed for her forehead, and the bit began to spin.