Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 102. Gangbuk Branch
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"...There's a weird smell, huh?"
When I showed the invitation to the others, Yoo Daon wrinkled her nose as she sniffed around and spoke up.
"A smell?"
"Yeah. It reeks of paint. Especially here."
Yoo Daon muttered while looking at the red stain.
Paint smell...
The monster from my vision came to mind.
The woman's head attached to the mannequin's torso.
And the statue safely tucked in my pocket.
...
"Jaeheon, your face looks pale."
"It's just..."
Should I tell them?
It'd just make them worry for no reason.
As I hesitated, Jang Chaeyeon, who had been watching me, spoke up.
"It's fine."
...
"We'll hold up."
Jang Chaeyeon said that as she looked at the other two.
"Right!"
Yoo Daon smiled trustingly, not even noticing Jang Chaeyeon's gaze.
"...It's not about holding up. This is nothing. I don't care-"
Song Arin was crossing her arms and grumbling on when someone cut her off.
"I do care, so hear me out first."
Team Leader appeared from behind and shoved a paper in my face.
"...What's this?"
"Your business trip itinerary."
"Mine?"
"You're heading to the Gangbuk Branch, right?"
"Yeah."
"The branch chief just emailed the itinerary."
Team Leader showed me the email.
[Today was another hard day's work.]
[I've sent the business trip itinerary, so please take a look. ^^]
...
I read the itinerary.
Gangbuk Branch trip. Personnel...
"Kim Jaeheon, Yoo Daon, Jang Chaeyeon, Song Arin..."
"Huh, us too?"
Yoo Daon widened her eyes and pointed at herself with her finger.
"Yeah?"
"...This feels ominous."
Song Arin muttered from behind, and I couldn't help but agree.
"When should we go?"
"Tomorrow."
"...Pardon?"
"Tomorrow."
Team Leader handed me the paper and blinked.
"But I still have to sort the payroll..."
"I already did that."
"And... um, the bonuses and insurance..."
"Handled that too."
"Or, uh, the general affairs stuff..."
"Yeah, I took care of it."
Team Leader snorted and crossed his arms.
"Jaeheon. Whatever you say, I've already done it all. Just go."
...
In the end, thanks to Team Leader's consideration—or lack thereof—the four of us were off on the trip.
*
"So, what were you trying to say?"
As quitting time came and I packed up, the three of them approached and looked at me.
"Oh, right."
I started explaining about the aesthete to them.
Naturally, Yoo Daon listened with an innocent, wide-eyed look like it was all new to her. Song Arin narrowed her eyes like she'd heard the name before. And finally...
...
Jang Chaeyeon, listening intently with a serious expression.
"Chaeyeon?"
"I know."
She replied softly.
"...How?"
"We chased one once at the Gangdong Branch."
"Why didn't I know?"
Song Arin jumped in suddenly, and Jang Chaeyeon closed her mouth before slowly opening it again.
"You weren't there then."
"...So after that incident?"
...
Jang Chaeyeon shut her mouth at Song Arin's words, and Song Arin just stared at her, sighed, and shrugged.
"Shall we go?"
Before the mood got heavier, I hurriedly grabbed my bag and spoke up. The others nodded and packed theirs too.
Before heading out, a sudden question made me turn back to the others.
"But where do we catch our flight?"
"Where do we catch it?"
Song Arin looked at me like it was a dumb question.
"The airport."
"...Does the airport have a place to board flights?"
Song Arin pulled out her manual, tapped it, and walked out without answering.
"Heading out first. See you tomorrow."
"Uh, okay."
"Me too."
"I'll go too, Jaeheon! See you at the airport tomorrow!"
The other two waved and headed out. I watched them scatter in different directions, then pulled out my manual and started reading.
So how do we get there?
[Office Manual for Desk Workers]
[GB - Transportation to Gangbuk Branch]
1. You cannot reach the Gangbuk Branch by normal means.
2. Head to the airport. Then, at the domestic terminal gate's rightmost line, submit your manual instead of ID. You'll receive a ticket.
3. Board the next departing flight. Your seat will be prepared.
4. If the flight is full, take the next one.
5. The flight will arrive at the destination within 30 minutes. The other passengers won't notice you getting off.
6. You'll end up at the Gangbuk Branch's main gate.
7. If you land somewhere gloomy like an orphanage or a place called 'Happy Apartments' instead, do not get off. Refer to the manual.
I flicked the manual's page like a knuckle rap.
Why end with something so ominous?
-Flutter!
The manual snapped shut, unmoving like it was protesting.
"Well, you're the one saying ominous stuff."
Tch.
I pretended to swing at the manual, felt the others' stares, cleared my throat, pocketed it, and headed home.
I tore up the invitation and threw it away right away, but another one was waiting in my mailbox like it was the most natural thing.
*
By the time I got to the airport, the others were already there with their bags.
"You're early."
"We are early, aren't we?"
I replied calmly to Song Arin, who glared at me.
I was actually five minutes early.
"Always gotta say something."
I ignored Song Arin's grumbling and lined up at the far right.
People ahead handed over tickets and passed through the gate. A man extended his hand.
"Ticket, please."
...
I handed him the manual. He took it like it was routine, looked it over, pulled a ticket from his back pocket, and gave it to me.
"Nearest flight boards in 15 minutes."
"Thanks."
He whispered to me, then called out loudly while looking behind.
"Next!"
The others got their tickets and came in. Yoo Daon looked at me excitedly, eyes sparkling.
"Doesn't this feel like secret agents?"
"Secret agents... yeah, kinda."
The Management Bureau hides the world's secrets, so its employees are basically secret agents.
"Let's go. 12 minutes till boarding."
While Yoo Daon and I bantered, Jang Chaeyeon checked her watch and muttered.
"Oh, really? Hurry up then."
We hurried to the gate on our tickets. Everyone else was already aboard; only stewardesses checked their watches.
"Um..."
One in a stewardess uniform looked at my ticket, nodded, and beckoned us.
"This way."
Following her, we saw the plane entrance and four seats by the door.
...
As far as I knew, planes didn't have seats like that.
It looked like they'd crammed an extra seat into a standard layout.
The weird part? No passengers batted an eye.
We sat cautiously. Yoo Daon did too.
Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin buckled up like it was normal.
Soon, the captain's announcement began.
[This flight is bound for Busan.]
[Expect heavy turbulence en route. Please keep your seatbelts fastened.]
The announcement ended, and soon the plane took off.
Way more uncomfortable than the subway.
I'd barely settled in when, less than 20 minutes later, someone tapped my shoulder.
"...Yes?"
The stewardess beckoned.
"Follow me."
"Already-"
"Shh."
She put a finger to her lips. I shut up and followed.
Past the passengers, to the cockpit at the front.
The other three were already waiting by the door.
The stewardess gripped the handle.
"Step right out when I open it."
"Uh..."
"Got it?"
"Y-Yes, understood."
"I'll go first!"
The stewardess opened the door.
Pitch-black darkness swirled. Yoo Daon stepped in without hesitation and vanished into it.
"Next..."
"I'll go."
Better to get it over with.
She opened the door again. I stepped forward.
A brief floating sensation in the dark.
"Jaeheon! Over here!"
Yoo Daon's voice snapped me out of it.
A familiar hallway design, but with subtle differences.
"I hate this part."
"Me too."
Song Arin and Jang Chaeyeon's grumbling voices followed.
This must be the Gangbuk Branch.
"Next time..."
Come to think of it, they said just meet someone, but didn't say who.
As I pondered, an aged voice came from behind.
"Ah, aren't these the deities from the Gangseo Branch?"
A voice just like the "old serpent" from books.
I turned to the source.
An elderly man stood there.
Stooped over, eyes full of greed, scanning us.
"Greetings. Name's Kim Pil-su."
A translucent window appeared over his head.
[Name: Kim Pil-su]
[Age: 73]
[Talent: Greed]
[Trait: Greed]
[Background: No organization in the world is spotless. That's why people like him are still around.]
[Weakness: Every greed has its hoard to satisfy it.]
"The Gangbuk Branch chief, right?"
He grinned unpleasantly and met my eyes.