Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: No-DPS Duo
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Chapter 11
11화
If we imagined me and Yoo Daon as game characters teaming up, it could be summed up in two simple words.
No DPS.
A tank with top-tier defense and healing but damage output converging on zero, paired with a sub-DPS/debuffer who could only scout except for that one critical hit.
Catching a fugitive with these two on our side—especially a telekinetic—was impossible no matter how you sliced it.
Naturally, I passed that thought along to the Gangdong Branch Incident Response Team Leader, who nodded emphatically as if agreeing.
"But even so, you prevented the downfall of an entire branch. I think that's the mark of true skill."
This guy doesn't get reason.
In the end, against my will, I ended up walking the bustling streets with Yoo Daon.
"What was the suspect's info again?"
At my question, Yoo Daon pulled out her smartphone and started reading it off.
"Hang on... Name's Jang Chaeyeon, age 25. She used to be on the Gangdong Branch Containment Team. Handled subduing containment objects, then one day transferred to the Accounting Team due to her strong personal conviction. A few months later, she grabbed a Cube and bolted."
"What’s this Cube thing?"
"Cube..."
Yoo Daon muttered as she scrolled down with her finger.
"Cube: One of the management entities held by the Gangdong Branch Management Bureau. Appears as an unsolved puzzle cube. However, completing one face triggers major or minor reality alterations, and finishing all faces causes a massive reality alteration. The most recent one turned an entire city into an uninhabited island, starving all its citizens to death."
"You’re telling the two of us to catch someone running off with something that terrifying?"
What the hell is the Containment Team doing? Just sending people like me and Yoo Daon.
"Yeah... What’s up with that? Where are they, anyway?"
Yoo Daon muttered in a puzzled tone.
What if all the Containment Teams are gathered somewhere on some massive project?
The absurd thought flashed through my mind, but I shook it off. If that were true, Earth would already be done for. They must figure I'm the best at finding people, so they're using me to track Jang Chaeyeon.
In that case, we just search half-heartedly, call the Containment Team or branch, and let them handle it.
I settled on that plan in my head.
"Anyway, let's look around. Her appearance is pretty distinctive."
"Yeah. Hard to miss an adult walking around with a puzzle cube... ni... ka...?"
Yoo Daon's words slowed to a crawl, then she grabbed my sleeve and pointed with her index finger.
"Over there! Isn't that Jang Chaeyeon?"
"No way. Don't joke like that. Someone that distinctive wouldn't show up so easily..."
I looked where Yoo Daon was pointing.
White hair, icy eyes, and expression. A loose white shirt couldn't hide her presence. And crowning it all, a Cube in her hand.
Without thinking, I checked above the woman's head.
[Name: Jang Chaeyeon]
[Age: 25]
[Trait: Telekinesis]
[Talent: -]
[Background: Simply because she gained abilities, she had to devote herself to the Management Bureau for far too long. Now she seeks freedom. To a place where no one can find her.]
[Weakness: Her telekinesis is coordinate-designation type.]
"It's Jang Chaeyeon."
"See? Told you!"
Yoo Daon bounced excitedly as she looked at me.
"Let's grab her right—"
"You don't know what kind of damage that could cause bystanders. For now, let's tail her to somewhere less crowded..."
She wouldn't stick to busy areas forever. On the run, she'd have to leave and head far away.
With that in mind, we started following Jang Chaeyeon from a safe distance.
Guess I should call the Gangdong Branch while I'm at it.
I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed the Incident Response Team Leader whose number I'd gotten earlier. After a few rings, he picked up.
"You found her already?"
"Already? She's walking around bold as brass. Send backup this way, and we can wrap it up."
"Ah... Backup, right."
The Team Leader trailed off.
Why does that make me uneasy?
"You're coming, right?"
"Yes, yes, we're on it. But we're short-handed right now... Sorry, but could you buy us a little time?"
"What? How much time?"
"...Two days?"
Is this the same guy who called me in a panic?
"No, not two hours—two days?"
"Please! Backup will definitely arrive in two days! If it's too much, go ahead and take her down and secure her early!"
He said his piece and hung up.
Is this for real?
I tried calling back several times, but after hearing "The person you are calling is unavailable—" about five times, I gave up.
Fine. Tail her for exactly two days. Act like normal people, and she won't notice. If she goes too far or somewhere hard to follow, I'll bail.
I filled Yoo Daon in on the talk with the Team Leader, and she looked shocked too.
"Two days? How are we supposed to tail without getting spotted for two whole days? We don't even know where she'll bolt!"
"That's what I've been saying."
"...Still... Kinda exciting. You look like a seasoned field agent."
This woman says scary stuff casually.
*
In the end, our tail went off without a hitch.
How much? We took the same bus as Jang Chaeyeon, and she didn't notice. We rode the same intercity bus out of the capital region, still no clue. Even when we checked into the same hotel, nada.
And the Incident Response Team Leader still wasn't picking up.
Lying alone on the bed, lost in thought. I'd sent Yoo Daon, who'd been chattering beside me, off to her own room to sleep. Felt like my first alone time in ages.
Just a week ago, I was fiddling with files in the office. How'd I end up living this field-agent life so suddenly?
Come to think of it, I haven't properly checked myself since that incident.
I shot up and looked in the mirror.
A tired-looking guy from all the walking stared back.
At some point, I could recall my own info without looking directly, but staring in the mirror still helped me focus better.
[Name: Kim Jaeheon]
[Age: 27]
[Trait: -]
[Talent: Insight]
[Background: His eyes are very different from others'.]
[Weakness: Gouge out his eyes.]
[Critical: 1->0]
I examined myself slowly.
Insight as Talent. But why is Trait still blank?
I thought of Yoo Daon. It definitely said...
[Talent: Regeneration (Undefined)]
What's a Talent, what's a Trait? And what's Undefined?
How did my eyes suddenly start seeing this stuff anyway?
Back then—
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked.
"...Who's there?"
No answer.
Knock, knock.
"Who is it?"
Knock, knock.
"Who is it, I said?"
Knock, knock.
An ominous feeling crept in.
I slowly backed away from the door.
Dumbasses open the door out of curiosity and pay for it. Not me.
I'd answered anyway, so she knew I was here. If I just stayed put—
-Click.
The door creaked open slowly.
I never gave her a key.
Then the person I'd seen all day stepped into view.
"...Who are you?"
White hair, cold expression, emotionless lips, eyes glaring at me.
It was Jang Chaeyeon.
"Who are you, following me around?"
"..."
Shit.
"Don't wanna talk? Want me to make you?"
Jang Chaeyeon lightly raised her hand.
"What—"
Something invisible grabbed my collar and slowly pulled me toward her.
I touched my collar—nothing there. Kicking and thrashing did nothing.
I was dragged right in front of her.
Jang Chaeyeon stared straight at me.
Stay calm.
I glanced above Jang Chaeyeon's head.
[Name: Jang Chaeyeon]
[Age: 25]
[Trait: Telekinesis]
[Talent: -]
[Background: Simply because she gained abilities, she had to devote herself to the Management Bureau for far too long. Now she seeks freedom. To a place where no one can find her. ...That was the plan. Until someone bodied her.]
[Weakness: Her telekinesis is coordinate-designation type.]
"You from the Management Bureau?"
"..."
Bodied her?
Who?
"No answer? I'll break your fingers one by one."
Taking my silence as defiance, Jang Chaeyeon raised her hand.
Damn it. What do I say?
And in that moment,
Yoo Daon suddenly appeared and shouldered into Jang Chaeyeon.
Jang Chaeyeon tumbled to the floor. Thanks to that, I dropped from midair and collapsed.
"Jaeheon! Run—"
Crack.
As Yoo Daon yelled while looking at me, her neck twisted 180 degrees.
Unable to finish, she crumpled to the floor.
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon raised her hand with a cold expression.
What now? How do I get out of this?
Then, that phrase from earlier flashed in my mind.
[Weakness: Her telekinesis is coordinate-designation type.]
No way?
I checked her eyes.
Her blue eyes, filled with hostility, locked clearly on me.
I rolled aside fast, and the floor where I'd been cratered.
"..."
Got it.
Jang Chaeyeon stared at me.
"What are you?"
"..."
No answer as I desperately thought.
Next attack when? Can she spam telekinesis? If not, what's the cooldown?
This room's the worst place. Narrow and long. Fighting here, my win chance is zilch.
I quickly turned toward the room's interior, and Jang Chaeyeon's gaze followed.
Eyes are faster than movement, obviously. She had plenty of time to lock on, and I couldn't escape her sight this time.
If not for Yoo Daon.
Revived in the meantime, Yoo Daon spread her arms in front of me, blocking.
-Crack.
This time, Yoo Daon's arm twisted grotesquely.
"...What?"
Jang Chaeyeon looked shocked again.
We slipped past into the room.
Like we'd planned, Yoo Daon grabbed the door while I dragged the bed to block it.
This should hold.
"What now!"
Yoo Daon yelled at me.
Her arm was already regenerating.
I looked at Yoo Daon, and she met my eyes.
"...Can you cover me a bit?"
We had to turn this around.
Yoo Daon nodded, eyes locked on mine.
"I can die for free about three hundred times."
"Nice."
Coordinate-designation telekinesis, and not instantly spammable.
I pulled my pistol from the bag.
This'll do.