Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 151. The Old Man
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[Office Manual]
[Myeongil Apartment]
[0-6. Once you've entered Myeongil Apartment, it's impossible to exit through the glass doors. Absolutely do not try to leave through the glass doors.]
As expected, there was no way out the way we'd come in.
"Shall I give it a try?"
"No."
Yoo Daon gazed at me with an innocent expression.
"Even if it's just a penalty..."
"There's no need for you to get hurt, Daon."
Yoo Daon closed her mouth and smiled at my words.
"If you say so, Jaeheon."
Her voice, oddly cheerful, tickled my ear.
It was best not to do what I told her not to. Even if Yoo Daon couldn't die, there was no reason for her to suffer needlessly.
I placed my hand on the stair railing, and Yoo Daon followed suit, resting hers on it too.
"Daon, don't let go of the railing."
"Okay."
We climbed the stairs together.
"Room 402, right?"
"Yes."
Yoo Daon furrowed her brow slightly as she looked ahead.
"There's a faint burnt smell."
Unfortunately, I couldn't detect it.
"Is Arin okay?"
"We can only hope so."
"We'll have to move a bit faster."
Yoo Daon muttered as she quickened her pace.
A sign reading [2nd Floor] appeared before us.
"..."
"Where would Arin have gone?"
"If it's the Arin I know..."
Where would Song Arin have headed?
It depended on whether she'd arrived here of her own will or been dragged in.
"She probably went to the exit."
Yoo Daon murmured.
"Pardon?"
"Arin would've gone to the exit."
She smiled as she looked up the stairs.
"Are you sure?"
It wasn't often that Yoo Daon spoke so definitively about someone else.
The smile on Yoo Daon's face deepened at my words.
"Arin... paradoxically loves herself too much."
"..."
There was conviction in Yoo Daon's voice.
"You can trust me on this, Jaeheon."
Yoo Daon nodded with a smile.
"I'm absolutely right."
"...Understood."
I nodded at Yoo Daon's words.
I had no idea where it was safe, so we'd check the exit first.
"Let's head up."
"Okay."
One hand on the railing, the other holding the manual, I took a step.
[Office Manual]
[Myeongil Apartment - 4th Floor]
[1. The 4th floor is considered the safest place in Myeongil Apartment. In fact, many survivors escaped or were found on the 4th floor.]
[2. Upon arriving on the 4th floor, first check the floor's nameplate.]
"We're here!"
At Yoo Daon's words, I looked up ahead.
A nameplate reading [4th Floor] hung there.
The silver metal plate gleamed as if meticulously maintained.
[3. If the nameplate is dirty, it's safe.]
[4. If the nameplate is clean, it's dangerous, but manageable with caution. Remove your shoes before entering.]
[5. If there's no nameplate, escape through that floor is impossible. Aim for the 2nd floor instead.]
Yoo Daon and I both took off our shoes.
"What does taking off our shoes mean? Like, don't make noise, or show respect? Not sure."
I peered into the 4th-floor hallway.
The long corridor had room 401 on the left, and 410 at the right end.
Five units per side.
With 401 at the far end, we'd have to pass three other doors to reach 402.
"...They're open."
Yoo Daon murmured, staring at the doors.
Just as she said, two doors stood ajar.
I opened the manual.
[Office Manual]
[Myeongil Apartment - 4th Floor]
[4-1. If the nameplate is clean, a few residents are currently living on the 4th floor. Be careful not to upset them.]
[4-2. If doors are open, check which rooms. Any doors except 401 are fine even if open. But if 401's door is open, give up immediately and head to the 2nd floor.]
Which ones were open?
403 and 405.
I drew my gun from inside my coat and proceeded.
[4-5. Room 405 was home to a kindly old couple before the incident. They enjoyed inviting people over for meals.]
[4-6. Never refuse their invitation. However, if they offer food, refuse as best you can. Pretend to eat if necessary. A normal person will die if they eat it.]
[4-7. Politely decline the food, but never leave first until they say you can go.]
[4-8. Sometimes they'll mention their son and daughter visiting. Do whatever it takes to leave before they arrive. If impossible, refer to the [T-Suicide Method] section.]
Yoo Daon, reading the manual over my shoulder, blinked and murmured.
"Refusing... might not be easy. Should we prepare to fight if needed?"
"If fighting worked, the branch chief would've come and smashed everything."
In theory, the branch chief's fists could demolish the building.
"If we can't take them down, we'd be fleeing with unknown monsters on our tail, trying to plot an escape route. I don't have the confidence for that."
"Hmm..."
Yoo Daon placed a hand on her chin, as if thinking, but soon nodded and positioned herself behind me.
"Then let's go."
"Okay."
With Yoo Daon at my back, I advanced slowly.
I now stood before the faded yellow nameplate reading <405>.
The moment I glanced inside,
My eyes met those of the people staring back at me.
Two elderly folks.
Both wore kindly smiles, the sort of friendly neighborhood old couple you'd see anywhere.
Except their faces were inverted.
Lips where eyes should be, eyes where lips should be.
"...Look, dear. We have a guest."
"You're right! So many visitors lately, Imja. And they even took off their shoes. So polite."
The two chuckled as they chatted, and the grandmother waved.
So many visitors?
"Hey, guest. Why not chat with us a bit? We've prepared a meal."
"...Sure. I'd be happy to."
I nodded slowly, and a smile spread across the old man's face.
"Good. Very good. This way."
I slowly followed the old man, with Yoo Daon close behind.
"Should I go ahead?"
"It's fine."
A translucent window appeared above the two elders' heads.
Curiously, a single window hovered over both.
[Name: Loving Couple]
[Age: Created 15 years ago]
[Specialty: Cooking]
[Talent: Cooking]
[Background: They've always loved cooking for others, and they still do.]
[Weakness: If the apartment vanishes, so will they.]
So, the two were gone, and only the phenomenon remained.
"This way."
I followed the old man, scanning our surroundings.
The interior was like any normal home. Bedroom, bathroom, kitchen...
"Ugh..."
I couldn't help but hold my breath against the stench wafting from the kitchen.
An indescribable horror.
The smell of something severely rotted.
I glanced back at Yoo Daon.
She'd caught it too and was holding her breath.
"Please, help yourselves."
Soon, the couple led us to the living room.
It felt just like a relative's house. A large table in the center, with grandma serving food.
Same here.
Food covered the six-person table, and two chairs held people.
Except, the "food" wasn't recognizable as such.
Pitch-black, mold-ridden dishes so old not even bugs would touch them.
Some even topped with the thick, black goo we'd seen in the elevator.
No one could survive eating that.
I turned to the two seated in chairs.
A corpse in a blue shirt, another in a pink dress.
Both mummified, long dead.
"Oh dear, spilling food again."
The grandmother murmured kindly, spooning food into the corpse's mouth.
But after who knows how long, the mouth was full, and the food spilled back out onto the floor.
"...Hoo..."
Beside me, Yoo Daon stopped holding her breath and exhaled through her mouth.
"Sit down, dear."
The two kindly offered chairs.
In the end, Yoo Daon and I exchanged glances and sat.
The two elders sat facing us.
For a moment, I thought the corpse next to me moved.
"Now, eat up."
The old man kindly offered the food.
"We just ate before coming here, actually."
"Oh my."
Disappointment filled the old man's voice.
"But young folks need strength. How about just one bite?"
"No, really, we ate plenty. But I can keep you company and chat."
"Aw, what a shame."
The grandmother sighed.
"Oh, right."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Did... anyone stop by here earlier by chance?"
"Oh... yes, she did. Our little Arin, after so long."
"..."
The couple smiled.
"Last time we saw her, she was just a tiny girl. Now she's all grown up. Time flies, doesn't it?"
"You're right, Imja. Maybe it's our time to go."
I quickly exchanged looks with Yoo Daon.
Song Arin had been here. Just recently.
And she'd escaped.
Song Arin knew about this place.
"Well then, that's our cue to..."
Was it ending easier than expected?
As tension eased and I began to stand,
"Oh, wait a sec."
The grandfather, who'd been quiet, murmured as if realizing something.
"Imja, the kids are coming—our son and daughter."
"Oh, really?"
The two smiled with their inverted faces.
-Flutter!
The manual beside me flipped open.
[4-8. Sometimes they'll mention their son and daughter visiting. Do whatever it takes to leave before they arrive. If impossible, refer to the [T-Suicide Method] section.]
[4-9. This home's children joined the Management Bureau after the incident, determined to find their parents. They ended up on the response team, visited the apartment, and are now sitting beside you. The arriving son and daughter are someone else.]
I turned to the mummified corpses.
The blue shirt and pink dress were frayed, their gaping mouths stuffed with dry food.
"Then we'll be going..."
"Don't go. Stay and see the kids."
"Come on, we wouldn't want to intrude on a family reunion..."
"Stay."
Their gazes fixed on Yoo Daon and me.
Yoo Daon slipped on her gloves.
-Drip...
Only the sound of food falling from mouths echoed.