Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Mint Chocolate Ice Cream ■■
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I received a blue card key from Se-hwa that lets me roam around the research institute.
"If this is equivalent to a Level 1 card key, does that mean there are even higher levels?"
"That's right. As far as I know, they go up to Level 5. For the record, mine's Level 3. Hehe. As a proud senior researcher should be."
Se-hwa proudly pulled out her yellow card key.
A photo of her face was affixed to one side of the yellow card key.
In the photo, Se-hwa wore a bright expression with a confident, unwavering smile.
Now, with deep dark circles under her eyes, she looked like a completely different person.
After getting the card key, we spent time chatting as usual.
"You absolutely can't cause any trouble. Got it? If anything happens, you might lose the card key."
"Yes, I understand. I've got it, so please stop nagging."
Before leaving the room, Se-hwa made one last earnest plea.
Does she see me as some kind of ticking time bomb ready to explode at any moment?
I can't understand why she's constantly lecturing someone as well-behaved as me.
With her final plea and a brief farewell, Se-hwa left the room.
A few minutes later, I judged that Se-hwa was far enough away from my room.
"Hmm, time to head out."
I used the card key to exit the room.
The three layers of thick doors opened one by one, revealing the familiar corridor.
I walked down the quiet corridor.
Unlike the first time I'd ventured out alone, the red lights were off.
As I walked the corridor, I ran into a man dressed in black, carrying a gun.
I bowed politely in greeting.
"Hello."
"Uh, oh. Ah... hello?"
The man seemed extremely flustered for a moment, making a strange face before awkwardly waving his right hand.
"What are you doing here, sir? You've been wandering nearby for a while now."
"Uh, well... I'm on surveillance."
The man furrowed his brow, carefully choosing his words.
"Surveilling what?"
"Watching for bad guys showing up."
"What happens if a bad guy shows up?"
"Th-that... I guess I'd give them a good scolding."
The man gave an awkward smile, looking troubled.
"Aha. Thanks for letting me know. Keep a close eye out for those bad guys. I'll be on my way."
"...Yeah. Take care."
I gave a slight bow in farewell.
The man stared at me with a dumbfounded expression as I walked away.
I continued down the corridor toward other areas.
As I walked, I spotted a massive door engraved with red and yellow patterns.
Time to try using the card key.
The card reader was higher than expected, so I stretched my arm up.
"Hup!"
I fully extended my arm and held the card key to the reader.
Beep-.
The door didn't open.
I stood on my tiptoes and tried again.
Beep-.
Once more, the door let out a warning sound and didn't budge.
"Hmm. Guess this one's not opening."
It seemed like an area inaccessible with a Level 1 card key.
There was no particular reason I had to explore it.
With plenty of other uncharted areas, I headed elsewhere without protest.
At the end of the corridor, I found a plain gray door.
"This is the one I always pass through with Se-hwa."
I held the card key to the familiar door we always used for walks.
Ding. Shiiiik-.
With a clear sound, the door opened, leading to another corridor.
"Ahem. There's a place I wanted to check out."
Usually, we headed straight outside for walks, so I never had a chance to explore inside the institute.
There was one spot I'd seen while moving with Se-hwa, always crowded with people.
I'd been curious about it for ages, so now was the time to satisfy that curiosity.
I headed straight there.
I started encountering more and more people in the corridor.
From those in white lab coats to moderately armed personnel, I met all sorts.
Whenever I passed, they hugged the walls or averted their gazes nervously.
'Everyone at the research institute must be really shy.'
I'd finally arrived at the staff lounge.
The lounge resembled a cafe, filled with numerous tables, and a TV broadcasting on one wall.
There were many people, but most were sitting in chairs with eye masks on, sleeping, so few noticed me.
One person spotted me and approached right away.
"Oh, Princess! Out for a walk?"
The very man who'd brought me to this research institute.
Kim Hyun-seong spoke up.
"Why are you here, sir? Not working?"
"Ugh. I was just out patrolling and got relieved right now."
Hyun-seong protested cautiously, looking aggrieved.
I ignored his whining and headed deeper into the lounge.
"W-wait! Princess, wanna try this?"
Hyun-seong held out the transparent cup in his hand.
Inside the cup was half-eaten mint-colored ice cream.
"You want me to eat something you've already had?"
This guy is definitely as dangerous as I thought. Better keep my distance.
Hyun-seong flinched at my words and quickly pulled back the cup.
"No, that's not what I meant! I was just offering ice cream. My wording was off. Uh, what I mean is, I'll get you a fresh one just like this."
"...You're buying it for me?"
"Of course."
"Okay then. I'll have some ice cream."
The meals came reliably every time, like clockwork.
But stimulating treats like ice cream didn't show up often.
I followed Hyun-seong to a corner of the lounge.
"Here, this machine is the famous Mint-Choco ice cream dispenser."
"Mint-Choco ice cream machine?"
Hyun-seong proudly placed his hand on what looked like a soft-serve machine you'd see at a buffet.
He continued confidently.
"Turn this on, and you get mint chocolate ice cream. Unlimited supply! It dispenses endlessly without even needing anything inserted or electricity connected."
Hyun-seong gazed at the ice cream machine with affectionate eyes, like it was something precious.
"Infinite Mint-Choco ice cream. This has to be a divine blessing."
I ignored Hyun-seong stroking the machine and stepped forward.
The machine trembled faintly.
"Can I eat this?"
"Sure, go ahead. Here, cup—."
I took a small bite of the ice cream machine and put it in my mouth.
Crunch crunch.
Being an anomaly that makes ice cream, the body itself was surprisingly sweet and tasty.
"Wh-what?! What are you doing?!"
"Huh? What?"
I replied to Hyun-seong's question while chewing the anomaly.
For some reason, he looked utterly panicked.
"M-my Mint-Choco machine!"
Hyun-seong hurriedly held his cup to the machine and activated it.
The anomaly strained and spat out ice cream.
"Phew, ha. Good, it's not totally broken."
Hyun-seong filled the cup with mint chocolate ice cream and thrust it toward me.
"Don't eat the machine—eat this ice cream..."
"Can't eat the machine?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Well... can't you just think of it as a favor to me? Mint-Choco is the joy of my life."
"Got it. I won't eat the machine."
I took the cup from Hyun-seong and ate the mint chocolate ice cream.
It wasn't as good as the anomaly I'd just tasted.
But since Hyun-seong asked, I guess that anomaly is off-limits.
I filled my stomach simply with the ice cream, chatted briefly with Hyun-seong, and parted ways.
Where to next?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In a silent building somewhere.
A man in a black suit solemnly recited a pledge.
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. I solemnly pledge to engrave this declaration in my heart for life."
"Welcome to the Humanity Liberation Alliance."
The two men shook hands.
The man in white clothes bared his teeth in a bright smile.
"What a joyous day! To think a high-ranking figure from Ansong Research Institute would join the Humanity Liberation Alliance. Hahaha!"
The white-clad man laughed heartily, genuinely delighted.
"What prompted your change of heart? Ah, no need to answer if you'd rather not. What matters more to us is true brotherhood."
"I merely follow the will of God."
The black-suited man said expressionlessly.
The white-clad man's lips curved in satisfaction.
"Ahh, the will of God! Well, whatever the reason, it doesn't matter. What's important is that you're human. Pure human, unlike those bizarre and grotesque anomalies."
The white-clad man raised both arms high.
"Until the day all anomalies vanish from this world! The Humanity Liberation Alliance welcomes all humans."
For a moment, madness flared in the white-clad man's eyes.
His impassioned voice echoed through the room.
"Anomalies aren't meant to be contained and observed! They're all creatures fit only to be killed. We'll slaughter them all and remake this world into one for humans alone. That is the long-cherished aspiration of the Humanity Liberation Alliance."
The white-clad man calmed his flushed face and continued evenly.
"Looking forward to working with you, esteemed figure from Ansong Research Institute. I eagerly await your brilliant exploits. Let's start by killing the anomalies at Ansong Research Institute."
The Humanity Liberation Alliance began to move.