Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 141. Rippling Sky
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...
Jang Chaeyeon quietly stared at the bed,
then turned to me.
"Are you going?"
"Uh..."
I shot Song Arin a troubled look.
As if to ask when she'd even looked up at me, she kept clutching my sleeve without letting go, averting her gaze elsewhere.
To be honest.
Even if I ended up sleeping next to Song Arin right now, I doubted anything would happen.
My mental strength and stamina had both hit their limits, and she was in the same boat.
Sure, nothing at all would happen, but...
"Arin."
At my words, Song Arin hesitated before looking up at me.
"Did something happen?"
I was just curious.
Song Arin was a strong person.
Or more accurately, someone who could put on a strong front.
Everyone goes through rough patches.
Some, like Jang Chaeyeon, face that pain with a bit more stoicism than most. Others, like Yoo Daon, just grin and bear it. And some, like Song Arin, grit their teeth with a confident look and ride out the storm.
Even people like that sometimes see their masks crack.
...
At my words, Song Arin let go of my sleeve.
...Just had some bad thoughts.
...
I turned to Jang Chaeyeon.
She just looked at me, silent.
...I said something weird earlier.
Her voice was far more steady now as Song Arin muttered and glanced my way.
Let's just sleep.
"If something comes up, you can bunk with Chaeyeon..."
"No."
"Absolutely not."
...Okay.
Their replies came at the same time, before I even finished, leaving me to just shrug helplessly.
*
Shhh...
Water ran in the bathroom.
I was so exhausted I could've passed out on the spot, but the foul stench coming off my body was too revolting. Lying down like this would've made it impossible to get any real sleep.
In the end, we compromised: Song Arin would wash first, then Jang Chaeyeon and I.
Facing each other as we sat, we listened to the water running on the other side of the door.
"When's that guy showing up?"
Unlike Song Arin, who looked utterly wrecked, Jang Chaeyeon just seemed tired—nothing more agonizing than that.
"That guy?"
"The annoying one."
"Oh. Ahn Sanghyeon... y'know, the roller?"
"Yeah."
No point in names since she'd probably forget anyway, so we kept it simple.
"He said he'd link up when the time was right."
"And when's that?"
"When he finds the necklace."
"That's it?"
"Shouldn't take as long as we think."
It had to be quick.
Dragging this out any longer, and Song Arin might snap first.
"Got it. I'll pitch in if needed."
"You're always so reliable, Chaeyeon."
"Yeah."
Jang Chaeyeon nodded my way.
"I'm there when you need me most."
Smooth self-pitch.
Bang!
The door flew open as Song Arin emerged from the bathroom.
She rubbed her hair with a towel, spotted us, paused awkwardly, then flopped onto her bed and eyed Jang Chaeyeon.
"What're you waiting for, white-hair? Go wash up."
"I will."
Jang Chaeyeon nodded and headed into the bathroom.
...
...
The door shut. Silence fell.
An awkward silence.
It suited Jang Chaeyeon just fine, but Song Arin wasn't the type.
...Nothing to say?
In the end, Song Arin cracked first.
She stared straight at me.
"Dunno."
What was I supposed to say?
Nothing came to mind, but I had a question.
"What kind of sound was it?"
What was that noise she'd heard—the one that got to her so bad?
...Just screams.
Song Arin hugged her knees and mumbled.
Screams.
...Might sound weird to say, but I figured you were used to noises like that, Arin.
She stared right at me.
"You're not wrong."
"But what made it so..."
"It was different."
Song Arin shook her head.
"Remember what I told you?"
"What you said?"
"Back at my place."
...
A self-mocking smile crossed Song Arin's face.
If it was just screams, yeah—like you said, I've heard 'em so much I'm numb to it.
She hugged her knees tighter and looked my way.
But ones I hate? Still can't stand hearing those.
Her voice dripped with bone-deep exhaustion.
"Song Arin."
...I'm beat. Mind if I crash first?
...
Ignoring my response, Song Arin lay down facing the wall.
"Night."
Silence stretched on.
Gazing at the stained wall—what was going through her head?
...
I rose slowly and sat on the edge of her bed.
Song Arin's body flinched.
I had no plans to lie down.
I was just sitting there, pressing my body against her back.
In the still-sweltering night, a gentle warmth bloomed between us,
...Thanks.
"Don't mention it."
Song Arin murmured softly, and I brushed it off like it was nothing.
For the first time, the quiet between us didn't feel off.
*
An alarm jolted me awake.
[Time for morning duty.]
The mechanical voice filled the room.
"Ugh..."
My whole body throbbed.
I always felt it, but the day after grinding through tough work was the real killer.
Groaning, I dragged myself up and checked on the other two.
...Ugh...
Song Arin grumbled in pain but hauled herself upright in her pajamas.
And then,
...
Jang Chaeyeon lay there stock-still, not a peep.
"Chaeyeon?"
...Go...
"Huh?"
"Leave... me...
Her voice was barely a whisper as she peered up at me.
Right—Jang Chaeyeon had the weakest stamina of us all.
"Come on, Chaeyeon. Up you go."
"Ugh..."
I hauled her upright by force, and we started changing.
"Starting today, we're hunting that necklace for real."
Both of them nodded.
"Problem is figuring out where it is."
My eyes drifted to Song Arin. She sighed and slumped her shoulders.
"Yeah. That's on me, huh?"
"Tough ask, I know. But could you?"
"No choice."
Song Arin shuffled off with a groan.
"Hang in there a bit longer too, Chaeyeon."
...Yeah.
She said she got it, but she looked so drained I worried she'd drop dead mid-shift.
*
Splash!
An arm slotted in.
This wasn't a person.
I repeated it to myself over and over.
If it were human, it'd show up in my sight.
But I couldn't keep at this forever either.
...
I glanced sidelong at Song Arin.
She frowned as she silently fitted a leg into place, saying nothing.
"Arin."
"I'm good."
She mumbled and shook her head.
"Just a bit more time. There's gotta be a spot where it's louder."
"Got i—"
Crash!
Something toppled in the distance,
followed by a man's voice.
"Stop! I wanna stop!"
"Aaagh! Stop! Shut up!"
I whipped toward the noise and locked eyes with Jang Chaeyeon.
"Chaeyeon."
"Yeah."
"I'll..."
"Arin, you stay put."
Song Arin had bigger fish to fry right now.
"Got it?"
...
Song Arin nodded, and Jang Chaeyeon and I bolted toward the commotion.
A guy in the same uniform writhed on the floor.
"Stop it! Please make it stop!"
Two others flanked him, blankly slotting a head into place.
Like they couldn't hear a thing—they just kept at their tasks.
A semitransparent window popped up over his head.
[Name: Gil Taeseong]
[Age: 25]
[Talents: None]
[Abilities: None]
[Background: He is undergoing contamination, which will soon become a major factor enabling him to perceive objects from diverse perspectives. Through this, he—]
Crackle!
The window flickered.
Like it'd been deliberately severed, the background blanked out to reveal a weakness.
[Weakness: Same as any normal person.]
"Hey! Get a grip!"
I rushed to the guy.
"Argh, uwaa...!"
He clutched his head, mumbling nonsense.
Then he started clawing at his face like a maniac.
Nails raked skin, blood welled up,
"Chaeyeon."
Jang Chaeyeon shot her hands out, pinning both his arms to the floor.
"Argh, ah...!"
He thrashed his head a few times,
then...
...
went still.
Jang Chaeyeon and I exchanged looks.
Something was off.
"I'll sweep the inside."
"I'll take the outside."
"Thirty minutes."
"Back at the work area?"
"Yeah."
"Got it."
Like we'd rehearsed, she headed out while I pushed deeper in.
...
I hurried through the space echoing with mechanical drones.
A headache would've at least pointed the way.
No signs on my body either—just endless legwork.
I roamed the interior nonstop.
...Twenty-five minutes.
Smartphone check.
Time to head back—
As I turned,
a flash of purple hair caught my eye.
"Arin?"
Song Arin staggered along.
She looked up at my voice.
Dark circles ringed her eyes, her face vacant like her soul had fled—and she lurched toward me,
wrapping me in a hug.
"Arin!"
Our eyes met.
Rippling sky, sea split beautifully asunder, blazing sunset, morning sun dipping low.
Shhhk!
The manual tumbled from my pocket, clipping Song Arin's head,
and my memory cut off there.
*
...
I opened my eyes.
Song Arin held me tight, and after that...
"Hey."
A familiar voice.
Childish tone, but the vibe was always so grown-up.
A friend, yet somehow always at arm's length.
I turned.
A familiar face met my gaze.
"Long time no see."
Years had passed, but the kid looked unchanged as ever—nodding awkwardly at me.