Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Heavy Silence
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68.
The atmosphere feels… heavy.
The air sinks low in density.
A quiet silence floats to the surface.
This thing called silence swallows every sound, spreading an inexplicable discomfort throughout the entire space.
Until Noise's voice came through the speaker once more.
…….
I shut my mouth.
It just felt like the right thing to do.
Instinct told me I shouldn't be the first to speak.
In this suffocating silence.
The only thought that raced through my mind about the current situation was this one. That dream Park Yeon-jeong himself had…
- Noise's past.
I figured it had been about the guy's past.
Otherwise, Noise's reaction just now wouldn't make sense.
That faint voice filling the space.
That low murmur, like dredging up old memories, was the most alien tone I'd ever heard from Noise.
There was power in that voice.
It carried something called 'emotion.'
That being known as Noise… had revealed its true feelings in its voice.
Static crackled-
The familiar noise brushed my ears again, and my gaze naturally turned to the speaker.
[...People sometimes say they get sentimental, lost in memories.]
[It's new… very new! Employee Park Yeon-jeong!]
Noise's voice returned to its usual pitch.
Without the slightest deviation.
As if it had an emotion switch attached.
As if all it had to do was flip it to effortlessly change its feelings.
The one man witnessing this transformation in real time thought.
'Noise, you bastard…'
Bipolar disorder?
Noise became scary in a whole new way.
Of course, this wasn't about hating the atmosphere.
Seeing Noise back to its normal self brought an inexplicable sense of relief, like a breath I'd been holding finally released.
I could finally breathe easy.
The only hitch.
Was it the jarring shift from that abruptly reclaimed emotional line?
'Well, no need to ask about it.'
I didn't need to know what that girl called 'Eve' meant to Noise.
Static crackled-
[Well then, Employee Park Yeon-jeong! Let's pick up where we left off!]
Noise continued its explanation of the booklet in its usual cheerful tone.
Whoosh-!
The White Librarian had already opened the same booklet as Park Yeon-jeong.
[I've noted all the other details meticulously in the booklet, so just read it over.]
[If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me.]
“…….”
Meticulously, huh?
I glanced down at the booklet again.
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How to use the power of your competent and excellent boss Noise is really simple. The most important thing is……
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…….
'This is what you call "meticulously organized" by your standards?'
…Thud.
I closed the booklet I was holding and demanded further explanation from Noise.
Rather than this unreadable mess.
There was something far more important right now.
“Noise, if you don't mind, I'd like to hear what happened at the Wonderriot Circus.”
Static buzzed-!
The speaker spat a bit of noise at my question just now.
[Oh dear! Don't tell me, Employee Park Yeon-jeong… while I was kindly explaining, you were dozing off?!]
[…This can't be overlooked.]
“…….”
I'm innocent.
So correct that.
I didn't not hear it.
I couldn't hear it, Noise.
If there's a human who can stay conscious and sane through legs being ripped off and a heart being crushed in front of their eyes.
We call that a 'ghost story.'
'...Come to think of it.'
I definitely felt my heart exploding from the Smiling Mask.
My body still vividly remembers vomiting up a flood of blood.
Of course.
It was the worst sensation I never want to feel again.
-Swish.
My left hand naturally moved to my sternum, and I held my breath, waiting for the beat.
…Thump.
It beats.
My heart is beating.
Thank goodness, I'm still human.
Lately, playing 'Little Noise' in front of so many people.
Sometimes I even delude myself into thinking I'm actually a ghost story. I worried if maybe I was undead like a zombie.
But thankfully, I'm still human Park Yeon-jeong.
For now…
Static crackled-!
With the noise flowing from the speaker again, Noise's playful voice continued.
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong… I'm hurt. Truly hurt. Our first outing together, and you dozed off at that part.]
[…You haven't forgotten that I fixed your ruptured heart, have you?]
!!
What?!
The rupture I know?
'I think I just heard something pretty shocking!'
I hurriedly asked Noise to confirm if I'd heard right.
“M-My heart… ruptured?”
Static buzzed-!
The noise stabbed my eardrums again.
[Oh come on, not appreciating your boss's hard work like this really hurts. Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
[Even for a superior boss like me, fixing a ruptured heart takes a ton of energy and stamina.]
[Of course, it wasn't too hard for me. I'm a competent boss, after all.]
“…….”
After hearing Noise's grandiose explanation.
I shut my mouth.
…Thump.
Feeling my heart's beat through my left hand once more, I bowed my head.
And screamed inside.
'I… I really almost died!'
This time, I really almost died.
No, I did die.
'Died and came back' fit the situation perfectly.
If Noise's words were all true, without its help at the circus.
I'd have dropped dead right there.
Instead of riding that ferry to meet the kid in the red robe, I'd have met the afterlife.
So what I needed to do now.
Was express 'overwhelming gratitude' to Noise.
'Thank you so much! Noise!'
No, Noise sir!!
You saved this frail mortal. I'll cast aside all the impure feelings I've ever had toward you right here.
I'll devote myself to you!
Ah, of course, only as long as my life isn't at risk… and if I get the chance, I plan to escape this place…
Anyway!
I felt confident I could kowtow to Noise a hundred times right now.
The fact that it saved me when I was on the brink of death remained unchanged.
“Truly, thank you. Noise.”
I tried my best to suppress these boiling emotions.
If I didn't…
I'd probably burst into ugly sobs right here, clutching at Noise's nonexistent pant leg.
It'd be an utterly pathetic display.
Of course, I had hardly any dignity left anyway.
But by not showing my emotions here, I could just listen well to Noise from now on.
While Noise, knowingly or not, was stacking up more loyalty from this guy named Park Yeon-jeong.
Static crackled-
The noise settled back to stability, and its voice calmed down too.
[But since you told me about 'that dream' without lies, I'll let it slide just this once.]
Static crackled-
[Next time, it'll be straight to disciplinary action, so be careful. Employee Park Yeon-jeong.]
“…Understood.”
At least no disciplinary action for this incident.
Noise then gave me a simple rundown of what happened at the circus ghost story.
[Since you didn't hear it then, I'll explain it very briefly.]
The story that came through Noise's voice went like this.
- About Noise's own power.
- New way to use the quill pen.
- Capturing the Smiling Mask.
Thankfully, while I was unconscious, Noise had captured the Smiling Mask for me.
That A-rank thing.
This confirmed Noise wasn't just F-rank anymore.
It also explained that Noise could enter the Wonderriot Circus thanks to Park Yeon-jeong's left arm, taken for disciplinary reasons.
It didn't go into details. Probably wouldn't even if I asked.
Finally, I heard about the quill pen's usage…
But I still didn't fully grasp the exact method.
[Do you understand everything, Employee Park Yeon-jeong?]
“Yes, thanks to your clear explanation, Noise, I get it all.”
More or less.
But Noise seemed satisfied with my answer. Its voice started carrying that signature cheer again.
[As expected of our company's star employee, quick on the uptake.]
[Just keep doing what you're doing, Employee Park Yeon-jeong. Just like always, sticking to your principles:) ]
Noise's final words carried a subtle laugh, and in the atmosphere of things wrapping up.
Park Yeon-jeong subtly realized that time was approaching.
The oasis that excites every office worker's heart. The moment he himself had been longing for.
Quitting time.
I was waiting for Noise to naturally bring up those two letters, 'quit.'
And if possible, hand over our battered Bear Doll Trio from this ghost story to Soi, like last time.
Soi's sewing skills are top-notch.
Throb-
…For some reason, a faint pain pulsed near my legs.
Static crackled-
And when the noise brushed my ears.
I thought the moment had finally arrived.
[Employee Park Yeon-jeong, then…]
Yes, time to go home, right?
“Good work ha….”
[Today's customer service is on you.]
“…Pardon?”
For a moment, I thought I'd misheard.
But Noise's returning voice carried a deep, businesslike tone.
[The customer specifically requested Employee Park Yeon-jeong again.]
[They said they'd wait while you were in treatment.]
Static crackled-
Noise's voice held a touch of calm.
[This is what they call 'alpha male,' right? As expected of a star employee.]
After Noise's backhanded praise.
The man asked in a trembling voice.
“W-Wait, have I… been out for days?”
Static crackled-
With the noise in my ears, Noise said precisely.
[Hm, about 136 hours and 11 minutes… make that 12 now.]
…136 hours?
That's five days and.
16 hours ago.
If my sense of time wasn't off, today was…
The start of a new week.
Monday.
Skipping the holiday, Park Yeon-jeong's energetic new week began.
…Fuck.