Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 143. Minds Aligned
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Beings that surpass common sense always manage to surprise people.
Of course, the entities I've been encountering lately shatter common sense, and so do the people around me.
-Bang!
Things like robots drop from the ceiling and explode, and every time the man rolls, another robot blows up.
"M-Move...!"
"What are you saying!"
He's rolling around shouting something, but I can't make out a word.
He finally stops, looks at me, and grins.
"I'll take care of this place on the branch chief's orders!"
"Ah, okay."
"You're here for the necklace, right?"
"Yes."
"Then just stay calm and search for it. I'll keep things stirred up for you."
"Uh..."
"Curious about something?"
He gives me a puzzled look.
I feel like I should mention this.
"Please protect the necklace."
"You're saying the exact same thing as the branch chief."
He laughs.
"But don't worry. This time, we won't fail."
"This time?"
Unease creeps in.
"Hahaha!"
"Hey, wait...!"
Before I can finish, he bursts out laughing and rolls away again.
"..."
"Let's hurry and find it."
Jang Chaeyeon stares at me in disbelief, then raises her finger again, and my body floats up.
I hover in front of the mass of flesh once more.
Rows of letters float before my eyes again.
I narrow mine, scanning through the jumble for what I need.
Even the designs are all identical, making it hard to spot differences.
Amid the explosions echoing from behind as I examine the necklaces,
"Ugh..."
Song Arin clutches her head from below.
"Arin."
"I'm fine. Hurry."
She takes deep, ragged breaths, muttering to herself.
"Think. Think."
Then she closes her eyes and starts murmuring nonstop.
Should I try a method?
'It doesn't seem like a mental issue...'
Song Arin's words come to mind.
The scenery I saw earlier was different too.
"Damn."
Is it right to attempt anything without knowing more?
I reach out and grasp a necklace buried in the flesh.
Its shape finally emerges.
It looks like a cheap plated trinket, and honestly, even I—with zero fashion sense—don't find it pretty.
"Ugh..."
I shove my hand deeper into the flesh to pry it loose.
A grotesque sensation spreads through my fingers, but I ignore it and yank.
-Crack!
Necklaces rip free, and a bunch end up in my hand.
"No. No, not this one."
I toss them aside one by one, lost in thought.
Why go to the trouble of piling up all these necklaces?
It's such a hassle even for me.
As if they knew I was coming...
"..."
My hand freezes mid-reach for another.
What if they really did know?
Cold sweat trickles down my neck.
A trap tailored just for me, requiring some grasp of my eyes.
"No, no. No way."
My hands move faster, picking through the necklaces.
I reach for the next one and tear it out.
-Crack!
A headache throbs in my skull.
But relief washes over me instead.
This is it. What I'm looking for is here.
I hurriedly clear away necklaces and peer closer until—
[Name: Proof of Love]
[Age: -]
[Specialty: Whispering]
[Talent: Propagation]
[Background: No one is perfect. The necklace knows this all too well.]
[Weakness: Don't get too swayed by their whispers. If you're not wearing the necklace, make sure no one is around. If there are many people nearby, wear the necklace. Only one person needs to be sacrificed.]
"..."
The weakness is a bit odd.
Holding the necklace, a faint ache starts in my head.
But that reassures me.
The pain means this is the one.
Still clutching it, I look down at Jang Chaeyeon.
"Chaeyeon! I found it!"
"Got it."
She waves her hand, and I slowly descend to the floor.
"Thanks."
"..."
"Chaeyeon?"
Jang Chaeyeon falls silent.
I turn to look at her.
"...That."
She's staring intently at the necklace.
"It's pretty."
"Huh?"
Pretty? This?
I gape at her in disbelief.
"You think it's pretty?"
"Yeah, isn't it?"
Jang Chaeyeon blinks, reaches out,
and as I move the necklace, she blinks again and looks at me.
"Chaeyeon."
"Yeah."
"Don't you think something's off with you right now?"
"...Am I off?"
Her expression turns serious.
"You think this necklace is pretty right now, don't you? Isn't that weird?"
"Yes."
Her gaze shifts to me.
Is she about to attack?
I step back slightly, and she nods.
"Got it."
"Huh?"
"If you say I'm off, then I must be off right now."
She looks at me with utter conviction, no doubt whatsoever.
"But this thing keeps telling me in my head that I need to wear it, and it feels totally normal to me."
"..."
"Isn't that weird?"
I nod, and she tears her eyes from the necklace.
"Sorry, but could you put it away?"
"Sure."
I pocket it, and relief crosses her face.
"Yeah, better now."
"Good, then..."
I glance at the man still rolling around on the floor.
He's smashing incoming robots, laughing like a maniac.
"Come on! Hahaha! Hahahaha!"
"Ahn Sanghyeon!"
He stops rolling at my call and flashes a friendly smile, like nothing happened.
"Wow, you already got the necklace?"
"Yes."
"As expected from HR Team material."
Doesn't HR Team material mean we're supposed to fail?
"Anyway, time to escape..."
"Wait."
Song Arin, pale-faced and silent until now, eyes the man.
"There are still people here."
"Oh no."
His expression darkens too.
"We'll evacuate as many as we can."
"We have the necklace, and the white-hair's with us, so..."
"Prioritize rescuing people? Understood."
He nods at me.
"Kim Jaeheon."
"Yes."
"I'm entrusting you with the necklace. I saw it while I wasn't rolling—nasty piece of work. Never in my life thought a necklace was pretty. Hahaha!"
He laughs and salutes me.
"I'll go save the others then. That cool?"
"...Sure."
It's always like this.
The branch chief, Song Arin, this guy—all of them.
They throw themselves into danger without a second thought if lives are at stake.
"See you later! I'll clear the path for your exit!"
He bows deeply and rolls off faster than before.
Flames erupt as he speeds across the floor.
"...Ugh."
I support Song Arin beside me as she drapes an arm over my shoulder and whispers.
"Sorry."
"It's fine. Let's go."
Supporting Song Arin, with Jang Chaeyeon following behind.
"Pull yourself together, Arin."
"I'm still okay."
She rasps, breathing heavily.
"Chaeyeon, you good?"
"..."
"Chaeyeon?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine."
Jang Chaeyeon snaps out of a daze and nods.
Everyone's in rough shape.
We need to get out fast...
-Shraaap!
While supporting Song Arin, the manual slips from my pocket and flips open.
[Office Manual]
TG - Elements Composing a Person
1. The elements composing a person are body, mind, and <CENSORED>.
2. Among these, body and mind can be restored even if lost.
3. But <CENSORED> must never be lost.
4. Moreover, things that damage this <CENSORED> are hard to overcome with ordinary mental strength, and prolonged exposure...
"Augh..."
Song Arin clutches her head and shakes it.
"Arin."
"...Got it."
"Huh?"
"I get it now. Why you were told to bring only me and the white-hair."
Song Arin mutters, plugging her ears.
"Black-hairs... can't handle this."
"Arin?"
Before I finish, she whips around to glare at Jang Chaeyeon.
"..."
The necklace floats through the air, drifting slowly toward Jang Chaeyeon. Their eyes meet, and Jang Chaeyeon's face goes blank, frozen like a soulless doll.
Thud. The necklace drops to the floor.
"Tough bitch. Held out way longer than expected. No mental barriers or suggestions..."
Song Arin mutters in disgust, gestures, and Jang Chaeyeon resumes following me.
"...Listen up."
"Arin."
"This necklace doesn't mess with the mind."
She points at it, murmuring.
"It interferes with something deeper than mind or body."
"Deeper?"
"Too hard to explain, so let's call it the soul for now."
She reaches out, murmuring.
"And."
"..."
"This necklace—I'll wear it."
"You?"
"You wouldn't know, but the whispers got worse the moment you pulled it out. White-hair heard them too. She just stayed quiet so you wouldn't worry."
"..."
"It's fine."
Song Arin forces a smile at me.
"I'll just sleep it off. Guide me right, get me to the exit."
[Only one person needs to be sacrificed.]
The weakness flashes in my mind,
'And only you can touch the necklace.'
A familiar voice echoes in my ear.
Before Song Arin can reach for it with trembling hands,
"..."
"Hey."
I snatch it first.
"What are you doing?"
Before she can respond, I put on the necklace.
"You...!"
"Urk...!"
My head starts pounding.
Like an endless rollercoaster.
A headache unlike the one from the aesthete crashes over me.
-Feel it.
-The you who always fails no matter what.
-The you who always dies.
-The you who'll fail again this time.
Mysterious voices reverberate in my skull, dizziness forcing me to my knees.
Is this what Song Arin was hearing?
"You're gonna die if you keep...!"
Song Arin reaches desperately for my neck,
-Slap!
I swat her hand away.
"...This is something I should do."
"You're bleeding from your nose...!"
Warm blood trickles from it.
Ignoring the whispers in my ears, I look at Song Arin.
"How's your condition?"
"This isn't the time to worry about me...!"
"Looks like you're okay."
-Another failure here?
-Even if you succeed here, all that awaits is more suffering.
"Sorry, but..."
My legs give out, head ready to explode.
"Take me with you."
And my consciousness cuts off there.
*
"Hey! Hey!"
Song Arin catches the collapsing man and yells urgently.
She checks his face.
Pale.
"Necklace—gotta remove the necklace...! The necklace...!"
Her hands shake violently as she reaches for the one around his neck,
-Shraaap!
His manual slips out and flips open.
[Manual for Central Division Team Members]
1. Assimilate.
2. Right now. With the person around you that you trust most.
"..."
Song Arin inhales sharply and looks at Jang Chaeyeon.
"...Ah."
Awareness returns to Jang Chaeyeon's eyes.
"...What's wrong."
"He's in danger. We need to assimilate. You and me."
She explains bluntly, skipping details.
"Do it."
Jang Chaeyeon doesn't hesitate.
Doesn't matter if she doesn't get the full picture. The guy on the floor is the one she knows, and Song Arin says they need to assimilate.
Song Arin nods, grabs Jang Chaeyeon's head, and presses their foreheads together.
"Like old times?"
"Yeah. Just like back then."
Song Arin replies to Jang Chaeyeon's question.
They press foreheads together, lock eyes,
then close them and collapse in an embrace.
*
Both open their eyes at once.
"Where's this?"
"No idea."
Jang Chaeyeon mutters in response to Song Arin's question.
"...What."
She gazes up at the sky, murmuring.
"What's... ...Huh?"
Song Arin follows her gaze skyward and widens her eyes.
The sky shimmers and ripples like an emerald sea,
with the sun setting.