Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Value of Promises
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“I forgot and ended up digesting it.”
The Black Princess said that, then slyly averted her eyes.
I carefully asked her.
“Digested? So you can’t spit the gourmet back out?”
“...”
The Black Princess gave a small reply, turning her head away to avoid my gaze.
Did she even realize she’d done something wrong?
Fortunately, the Solitary Gourmet Who Is Not Lonely wasn’t a critical anomaly, so its loss wouldn’t cause any major issues.
“It’s fine. Just keep it safe next time. Got it?”
“Yes.”
She answered promptly enough.
As I let out a small sigh, the Black Princess straightened up brazenly, as if wondering what the problem was.
“D-Did that thing really die just like that?”
The researcher in charge of the gourmet voiced his disbelief.
I’d felt the same way at first.
I’d encountered plenty of anomalies that defied common sense by now, but the Black Princess was the first I’d seen kill another anomaly so effortlessly.
Anomalies fighting each other was rare to begin with.
“Yes. The Black Princess ate it, so the gourmet’s gone. She says herself she can’t bring it back up.”
I glanced at the Black Princess, and she slyly turned her head away.
She looked just like a kid caught red-handed.
The researcher took in my words, then approached her and crouched down to meet her eyes.
The Black Princess took a cautious step back, clearly bracing for a scolding.
“Thank you, Princess! You’ve finally freed me from that damn thing!”
The researcher shouted his gratitude.
The Black Princess blinked in bewilderment at the unexpected response.
“You’ve got no idea how much hell that thing put me through. Near-death every single day—the stress was unreal. You liberated me, Princess! Thank you!”
He kept heaping on the praise, heedless of her confusion.
She started flustered but soon puffed up with smug satisfaction.
“Hehe! That was nothing. I’m a good person, after all!”
She put extra emphasis on “good person” and strutted her stuff.
She must really want that card key.
The researcher’s praise fest and the Black Princess’s preening went on for a bit.
“Seriously, thank you, Princess!”
“Make sure to spread word of my good deed to everyone else. Got it?”
“You bet. I’ll tell all my colleagues!”
The Black Princess was clearly working to boost her reputation around the institute.
She had the energy of someone running for president.
“Princess, enough of that. Time to go. We’ve got guide content to write, right?”
“Right. Then I’ll head out first. Goodbye.”
“Take care, Princess! You’re my lifesaver!”
We exchanged brief goodbyes and parted ways with the gourmet researcher.
He knew exactly how to handle kids.
Work done, we headed back to the Black Princess’s isolation room.
“Figured out how to write the guide?”
“I’ve got a rough draft. But it feels a little lacking. One more thing would perfect it, but nothing’s coming to mind.”
The Black Princess walked lost in thought.
It was a new sight—her so intently focused.
In the corridor, we ran into a familiar face.
Park Cheolwoong, the Reacquisition Squad Leader, in plain clothes.
“Hello, Team Leader. Been a while.”
“Haha, good to see you. Researcher Lee Sehwa’s out with the Princess again today, I see.”
“Ahaha, same as always.”
We traded simple greetings with Park Cheolwoong Team Leader.
The Black Princess gave a slight bow in greeting too.
“What brings you to the institute in plain clothes, anyway?”
“Oh, left something behind. No work today, so I dropped by for a stroll. Heading out now.”
I was used to seeing him in black combat gear bristling with weapons, so the casual look felt novel.
Pretty stylish, compared to his usual vibe.
Come to think of it, despite his weathered appearance, he was surprisingly young.
Staff joked that all the hardship had aged him prematurely.
“Then I’ll be off. Keep up the good work, Researcher Lee Sehwa.”
We bid him a light farewell.
Just as we were parting naturally.
“Ah! I just got a great idea.”
The Black Princess piped up like she’d had an epiphany.
Park Cheolwoong Team Leader and I halted, turning to her.
“What great idea?”
“I figured out the final piece to complete the Princess Guide.”
The Black Princess smiled faintly.
Park Cheolwoong Team Leader spoke up in a rush.
“I’m in a hurry, so I’ll head out. Take care, Princess.”
He tried to bolt after spitting that out.
“Mister, you’ve got time, right?”
The Black Princess cut him off.
“Uh, y-yeah? Not really.”
“You said earlier you had nothing to do and came for a walk.”
“That was then. Got an appointment now.”
Park Cheolwoong Team Leader looked flustered for a split second but played it off smoothly.
The Black Princess showed open disappointment.
“Oh? I had a favor to ask. Too bad.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then, resolved, he opened them and addressed her.
“Let’s hear the favor.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’ve got time for that much.”
Hats off to Park Cheolwoong Team Leader’s guts.
Never imagined she’d target him. Pure respect.
The Black Princess smiled softly and went on.
“I want your opinion in the guide I’m writing.”
“Guide... You mean the Princess Guide?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Park Cheolwoong Team Leader tilted his head, baffled.
“Why my opinion in your guide? Isn’t it just your thoughts, Princess?”
“Multiple people’s takes boost the credibility big time.”
“Hmm. Fair point.”
“So I want yours in the Princess Guide too.”
Once she finished explaining, he nodded along.
That convinced him?
“Princess, why Team Leader Park specifically? Plenty of other people.”
I wondered why him of all people.
The Black Princess continued earnestly.
“I saw you eating food once. Felt it then.”
“Felt what?”
I asked lightly, and she puffed out her chest proudly.
“That you know good food when you taste it!”
I glanced his way—our eyes met.
He looked utterly lost.
“You saw me eat? When?”
“When you had the grilled flesh.”
“Ah, that time.”
Park Cheolwoong Team Leader let out a small sound of recognition.
“So that’s why you want my opinion in the guide?”
“Yes. It’ll make the Princess Guide way more trustworthy.”
The Black Princess launched into her plan with confidence.
“First, remake part one with your take on that flesh from before.”
“That’s doable.”
“Then from now on, we eat together and add both opinions! Perfect guide, right?”
“Eat together?”
“Yes.”
She nodded with full conviction.
Park Cheolwoong Team Leader kept a straight face, picking his words with care.
“Uh, well. Work keeps me busy. If I find time, sure.”
“Hmm. That’s a promise?”
“...Yeah, promise. I’ll help when I can. Anyway, got business—heading out.”
“Don’t forget the promise. Goodbye!”
With that, Park Cheolwoong Team Leader made a quick exit.
The Black Princess beamed, thrilled at sealing the deal.
Thank God it wasn’t me.
Thanks a ton, Team Leader.
So relieved the promise fell on someone else.
These things always work out fine as long as it’s not me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Dark night sea.
Dead silent, not a soul stirring.
A pale shape rose, slicing through the waves.
Woooong—.
A whale’s cry reverberated through the air.
The white whale soared over the blackened waters.
Screams echoed.
The whale heard the cries of friends trapped in tanks, wings clipped, freedom stolen.
The white whale lumbered forth with its massive frame.
To reclaim their freedom.