Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Poison Immunity #3
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Receiving that gaze, I started to feel the pressure building.
Tension rose rapidly.
What is it?
Did I just say something I shouldn't have?
Suddenly, I recalled how, during the Giant Apocalypse, when I mentioned regression to Jaaldi, she tried to grab my throat. Only after speaking did I remember the need to watch my words.
"Why think like that?"
"Y-Yes?"
"Don't use negatives. Words plant seeds."
"Uh... Yes. Understood."
Jaaldi leaned back against the chair.
Only then did the pressure lift.
"The lights in the Underground Isolation Facility never go out."
Her words continued.
"All sorts of anomalies are contained there. It's the highest-security facility, equipped with every imaginable—or unimaginable—defense system. The lights going out would be no different from the Management Bureau's total collapse."
What?
What the hell is this?
So what was that time the lights went out when I went down?
"I understand. So it's even more secure than a nuclear bunker?"
"Think bigger. The lights going out? Impossible."
Hearing Jaaldi's words only amplified the doubts inside me. The Underground Isolation Facility has insane defenses. So the lights can't go out.
Then why the hell did they go out when I went down?
And once again, I pondered... What the hell is this Reality Recognition Device?
"Looks like I was overthinking it. I just got worried that the lights might suddenly go out right after I went down, so I asked. I'll assume it won't happen."
"Right."
"But now that you've explained, I'm curious. If the lights really did go out, what could cause it? That'd be a true Management Bureau emergency, right?"
"You're not wrong. It'd be a massive crisis."
Jaaldi fiddled with her neck.
"Well, if the lights went out... maybe some overwhelming force invaded the Underground Isolation Facility? That could do it."
What?
"Of course, nothing like that could invade. It's prepared for everything. Anomalies can't even be moved there unless fully subdued, and it requires incredibly complex safety protocols."
"..."
The more Jaaldi spoke, the more my doubts grew.
Is this true?
Now that I'm an official agent, is she telling me everything straight? Or just bullshitting about what she can't say?
I don't fully trust the Management Bureau.
After what happened underground, how could I? I died five times experiencing that horror. Yet Jaaldi claims the lights never go out.
What do I believe?
"Team Leader, reservations are set. Time to head out."
"Grong. Any other questions? If not, let's go. Or ask anytime later."
"No more questions for now. I'll bring it up next time doubts arise."
No way I could ask more in this situation.
True information comes from discovering and experiencing it yourself, not from what others tell you.
At least I can trust what I've seen and lived through.
"Got it. Let's move."
"Come on, Grong. Let's eat something delicious. Not pig guts—real good stuff."
"I'm really looking forward to it. Wonder what we'll have."
She seems like the tteokbokki type, image-wise.
"Heh heh heh, expect the best. Congrats on becoming official."
Time to eat first.
"I'm worried, though. A newbie already official? No matter how I look at it."
"Huh."
Then Spandal sidled up close and whispered. So near that her pleasant scent kept wafting over—oddly soothing.
"Grong. Always be aware you're a scaredy-cat. Official or not, only your title changed. Don't cry to me if trouble hits later."
"Understood. But I'll always trust and follow you. Honestly, with Senior Spandal by my side, I fear nothing."
"Ah, no... don't trust me that much..."
"Infinite trust and faith! That's what I have!"
"This is tricky... You need to stand on your own..."
Then don't hug me like that.
The dinner spot was a classy restaurant with an impressively old-world interior.
The menu was mainly Western dishes and salads, but surprisingly, they even had tteokbokki.
By desserts, it listed macarons, ice cream—everything. A fusion place like this? First time ever.
"Never been to a spot like this."
"We'll come often! No more pig guts!"
Truth is, I don't eat that stuff either.
"Jamtree. Don't spoil the newbie."
"So what? We're teammates now. Better to be nice."
"Just order."
"Okay, okay."
But what to get? My idea of dinner is piling up samgyeopsal and chugging somak.
Luckily, Jamtree grabbed the menu. Couldn't have done it myself. And why's the damn menu in squiggly English? If the owner's Korean, I'd deck him.
"Grong's a guy, so he can eat a lot, right?"
"I do eat quite a bit."
"Good, good. Very useful. Team Leader, okay to add more? Gotta try everything I've wanted."
"Sounds good."
Jamtree beamed, picking dishes left and right, ordering... how many? We eating all this?
"Senior Jamtree? Isn't that too much?"
"Nah. More's better. Variety's key, right? And you're a guy—perfect."
Chatting amid doubts, the food arrived in waves.
"Wow."
Western plates, salads, bread, pasta, even tteokbokki. Like a buffet? This is dinner? And wine too.
"Too good!"
Jamtree snapped photos gleefully. Jaaldi watched arms crossed; Spandal propped her chin.
"Jamtree. Stop shooting."
"Just a sec!"
"Jamtree. I wanna eat."
"Wait a bit!"
Photos before food...!
"Enough. Alright, Grong. Dish out portions of everything."
"Yes."
Everyone started plating up.
This felt so fresh. They'd ordered all this just to sample everything—like a personal buffet.
Totally different from picking one main and a shared dish.
And the prices? Two friends could get jeyuk and mandu cheaper.
"Grong, maknae pours drinks, right?"
As I plated, Spandal beside me said.
"Ah, yes. Right away. But I've never poured wine. How?"
"I'll show you. Watch and learn, Grong."
"Yes."
Jamtree poured for everyone.
Wine's poured like that, huh.
"Toast to our new official."
"Cheers."
*Clink.*
In this unfamiliar scene, I downed the wine.
Makes me crave beer.
"But agents dining out publicly like this okay?"
"Fine. Perception dampener's on."
"Huh? Perception lowered?"
What?
"It's in the suit."
"The suit has that?"
"Not standard issue for nothing."
Explanation: Management Bureau suits have perception dampening. We look ordinary, forgettable. Can even vanish smoothly if needed.
"Not normal tech, huh."
"Nope."
Nodding, I cut steak, ate pasta. Steak was killer. Pasta tasty, but that price? Insane.
Bread's definitely premium. And this soup? Last soup I knew was cafeteria slop. Risotto's Western fried rice? Culture shock.
Everyone eats well.
Desserts: macarons, ice cream, pudding—all devoured.
Satisfied.
"Man. Samgyeopsal, beer, then Melona on the way home? Night and day. Today's feast was amazing."
"Heh, that's your usual?"
"Yeah. Great time."
"Come again. Menu changes seasonally—tons to try, and you eat big. Perfect."
Jamtree patted my head, thrilled she could order more thanks to me.
"Glad you're happy. Alright, call it. Head home."
"Thanks for the hard work. Safe travels."
"Get home safe, Grong."
Dinner over.
Parted ways, hailed a taxi.
Agent life, but normal dinner. Different from my usual booze-fests, but ordinary enough.
Not bad.
Home, I mulled Jaaldi's words.
Underground lights never out—unless Bureau falls.
If they did? Some massive invader caused it.
Not the only possibility, sure. Just an example.
But wrong guess anyway.
Only Spandal and I went down. No massive invader—just routine. She goes often; newbies too.
Must be another reason.
"Can't know for sure."
Big deal, but details fuzzy.
Still... barely escaped that blackout basement.
Fun dinner—crash hard tonight.
"..."
Timeline-wise.
Vampire shows tomorrow.
Everything I've experienced proven real. If vampire appears tomorrow... total proof.
Assume it happens, plan accordingly.
"Vampire."
If we meet again.
What happens?
-You! Wake up! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!!!
That shout lingers.
Why'd the vampire do that? What'd it sense to wake me like that?
Stopped turning me Ghoul mid-bite. Otherwise, bitten and Ghoul-ified.
Be careful.
Change actions based on experience, eliminate risks.
And above all.
"Jin-seobi."
Save that bastard Jin-seop.
No clue why he was with Fake Bureau. But if I do nothing, he dies again.
Must save him.
Bonus: Gorgodio too.
Vampire's a powerhouse. Transformed Gorgodio one-shotted mid-air, even teabagged by splitting him. Can't solo that psycho mosquito-man. Drag in Jaaldi or Spandal?
"Oh, right!"
Lightning idea!
Yeah!
Bureau's not the only vampire foe!
I jumped up, dressed, shoed.
Blaret Nun.
Half-vampire, hates vamps. Vatican too. A nun like her could chew vamps like gum. Vatican means exorcism; exorcism means Vatican. Legendary hunter Van Helsing? Vatican guy.
Meet and talk first.
Help? Ideal.
Bureau says no religious contacts... but experience says they're fine. No harm chatting.
Thinking that, reached the Christian shop.
"Ah."
Late? Door shut.
"..."
Now what?
Wanna talk tonight.
Contact way?
Phone map for number—called, but off-hours, dead.
No options.
Fine.
Agents have agent ways.
*Crash!*
Smashed window, slipped in.
Something inside.
"Eek! Who's there!"