Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 167. Feeding Time
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After finishing my conversation with Yoo Daon, the hospital director was staring at us.
...
...
Neither of them said a word.
They just stared at each other.
"Won't you come?"
...
"I understand."
The director nodded.
"You'll be shedding tears at Kangseo University Hospital."
His words were far more calm than I'd expected, sparking a question in my mind.
How could he be so composed?
No, that wasn't the important thing right now.
A translucent window popped up in front of me.
[Using Observation.]
[Critical: 2→1]
[Cannot be used.]
[Critical: 1→2]
It didn't work.
I'd thought the combined skill I'd gained with Jang Chaeyeon would let me see through it.
"Bow your head!"
At the Team Leader's command, the branch manager ducked low.
-Kwaak!
A grotesque sound echoed through the air.
"Team Leader Heo Chan, you're really a capsule freak!"
"Capsule..."
The branch manager gave a thumbs-up and stomped back into position.
The Team Leader's hair fell to the floor again.
"Team Leader!"
"Jaeheon! Hurry over here!"
Seeing me and Yoo Daon rushing over, the Team Leader's face lit up.
"The branch manager doesn't care at all about my hair and just charges around wildly!"
"Well, it's not the branch manager's hair, is it?"
"If all my hair falls out, you're dead too, you punk!"
The Team Leader bellowed, then sadly fiddled with his hair.
Spotting me, Song Arin slowly backed away.
"So, what's the plan?"
"We'll use Daon."
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
Song Arin looked at me in bewilderment, while I turned my gaze to Yoo Daon.
"Yes, Jaeheon?"
"Smell the hospital director."
"Oh, okay."
Yoo Daon nodded, and Song Arin shot me a look like she'd had enough.
"Wow, that just sounded totally pervy."
"Be quiet."
As I debated grabbing Song Arin's head and smacking it, Yoo Daon closed her eyes and sniffed.
"Hmm."
"How is it?"
"Hmm... It's mixed with the smell of blood..."
Yoo Daon furrowed her brow, and Song Arin made a face of genuine disbelief.
"No, seriously, what are you trying to do by smelling him?"
"Just watch. Daon's about to show you something amazing."
...
Song Arin's expression soured, while Yoo Daon smiled broadly, eyes still closed, sniffing even harder.
"In the meantime, let's go provide support, Arin."
"...What, while the black hair's doing that, the white hair and I should just go for a joyride?"
I looked at Song Arin as she grumbled curtly.
"What are you talking about? We have to stick together while Daon tracks the scent. We need to buy time, right?"
"...You can't do it without me, huh."
"Exactly."
Though there was someone who could sit this one out.
"...I'll find it quick."
Yoo Daon closed her eyes with a serious look and started sniffing intently, while Song Arin grinned and slapped my arm, pulling me along.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go."
"Yes, got it."
Song Arin and I ran toward Jang Chaeyeon.
Jang Chaeyeon spotted me, her face lighting up.
"What's the situation?"
"Not getting through at all."
Jang Chaeyeon muttered as she looked at me.
"Feels like punching a sandbag."
...
Oh, right.
-Kwang!
I watched the director fly back from a punch.
A translucent window appeared, still showing nothing but his name and age.
That'd be normal, I suppose.
"Chaeyeon."
"Yeah?"
Jang Chaeyeon looked at me, and as our eyes met, she nodded and pulled a steel ball from her pouch.
"Got it."
At the same moment, Yoo Daon opened her eyes and shouted.
"Jaeheon!"
"Daon, what is it!"
"It's really... uh, um...!"
Yoo Daon hesitated, squeezed her eyes shut, and yelled.
"It smells like saliva!"
"Understood!"
Instinct told me.
Now was the time.
"What? What is it?"
Song Arin muttered, looking between us.
"Like this?"
"Yes."
Jang Chaeyeon flicked the steel ball from her pouch.
"Another one of those private conversations I don't get."
Ignoring Song Arin's grumpy mutter, I looked at the translucent window that appeared.
[Using Observation.]
[Critical: 2→1]
A strange sensation washed over me, and the translucent window materialized.
"...W-What, what is it."
A bewildered voice came from Song Arin beside me.
What on earth had she seen to react like that?
The thought lasted only a moment.
The translucent window in front of me began to melt away.
[Name: Gangbuk Hospital Director]
[Age: 74]
[Talent: Predation]
[Trait: -]
[Background: Unlike Kangseo University Hospital, which focused on smell, or Gangdong University Hospital, which focused on sight, the Gangbuk side decided to specialize in taste. Thanks to that, he believes he has a more evolved sense of taste and mouth than others.]
[Weakness: -]
Jang Chaeyeon let go of my shoulder, and at the same moment, the branch manager and director both turned to look at me.
"Good job!"
"...Sight...?"
The branch manager gave a thumbs-up, while the director stared at me, muttering in confusion.
The branch manager unleashed another terrifying blow to the director's torso, sending him flying again, then pulled back toward me.
"You saw it just now, right? What do we do?"
...
"Kim Jaeheon."
Evolved sense of taste and mouth.
Yoo Daon's sense of smell came to mind.
"Branch Manager."
"Yes?"
"What's the most fundamentally tasteless thing here?"
"Yes?"
The branch manager looked at me like I'd said something crazy.
"What are you—"
[Chronos's Shield: 10 seconds]
-Kwang!
The director opened his mouth, but Yoo Daon, now right beside me, extended her hand to block the attack.
"Then, what's the oldest, strangest thing that could drive something like that mad?"
...
The branch manager blinked.
"...The Manual?"
"Ah."
"It must be ancient. Even when I was a newbie, the Manual... well, it wasn't called that back then, but it existed."
"What was it called?"
"Secret."
The branch manager nodded, eyeing the Manual in my hand.
"Then, Branch Manager."
"Yes."
"Let's feed it the Manual."
-Chwarararak!
The Manual unfurled.
[Office Manual]
[HLP - Code of Conduct for Employees in Dangerous Situations]
1. Working at the Management Bureau inevitably exposes you to various dangerous situations.
2. In such cases, hold thorough discussions with nearby superiors and make the best possible choices.
3. In particular, using the Manual always by your side as bait is not the right...
"...Is that really all there is?"
The branch manager looked at me with worry.
"Yes."
I nodded confidently at her question.
"...Ugh."
She groaned,
"Good... idea."
And nodded.
-Chwararara... Thud!
I caught the Manual as it unfurled again.
...
The branch manager stared at the Manual with horror, then looked at me.
"Kim Jaeheon."
"Yes."
"But is it okay to handle the Manual so roughly?"
"Is there any reason it wouldn't be?"
The branch manager squeezed her eyes shut and opened them.
"I don't know. No, leave me out of this conversation. You'll be the one throwing it, right, Kim Jaeheon?"
"Yes."
"Alright, then we'll go with that."
The branch manager sighed in relief and clenched her fist.
"How do we feed it?"
"Should I hold it and let it eat me?"
Yoo Daon shot her hand up.
"That could be trouble if you don't come back."
"Get down!"
At the Team Leader's shout, we all dropped flat,
-Kwajik!
And a gruesome sound came from above.
"The surest way is to hold it and shove it right in its mouth."
"What about ripping space and feeding it through?"
...
-Kwajik!
The moment the director opened his mouth, I hurled the Manual,
-Thud...
But it fell limply to the floor.
"No good."
"Looks like it can be picky about what it eats."
The branch manager sighed.
"Want to do it, Branch Manager?"
"Oh, I can't. Yoo Daon can't either."
The branch manager looked at me.
"You have to do it, Kim Jaeheon."
...
"Because the Manual will perform its role best if you're holding it."
...
"You know that, right?"
I knew what she meant.
I'd sensed sometimes that the Manual showed me more information when I had it.
From the start, I'd noticed my Manual was special.
Seeing my expression, the branch manager nodded.
"I'll deliver it right to its mouth, so you shove it in yourself, Kim Jaeheon."
"Got it."
I turned to the HR team members.
All four nodded.
"Then I'll escort Kim Jaeheon, so everyone else clear a path."
"Please do."
My muscles tensed all over.
"Alright then..."
The branch manager dusted her hands and pushed my back.
"Go!"
She sounded like a kid pushing a sled.
Even as I thought that, I started running honestly.
My target: the director right in front of me.
With the Manual tucked under my arm, I sprinted at full speed.
"Roll right!"
At the Team Leader's shout from behind, I kicked off the floor and rolled sideways,
-Kwajik!
Something shattered, and a horrific sound ripped through the air.
-Kwang!
I looked ahead to see the branch manager clench her fist and charge the director again.
The director recoiled, opening his mouth once more,
-Kwajik!
And the floor where I'd stood crumbled.
"Whoa!"
My body dipped into the floor, but an unknown force caught me, gently setting me back down.
Jang Chaeyeon was holding up her hand, watching me.
At the same time, my legs started moving on their own.
Faster than before.
I couldn't run like this normally.
Looking back, Song Arin had her eyes closed, fingers extended like she was playing an instrument.
She was controlling my legs now?
The director opened his mouth again,
[Chronos's Shield: 8 seconds]
-Jjeong!
A massive sound rang out as Yoo Daon deflected the attack.
"Roll!"
Following the Team Leader's orders, I rolled across the floor, sometimes leaping high.
Unavoidable attacks were twisted away by Song Arin and Jang Chaeyeon's teamwork, then dodged with Yoo Daon's combined skill.
Before I knew it, the director was right in front of me.
I pulled the Manual from my bosom.
Just shove this in its mouth.
"Open wide!"
Suddenly, the branch manager was beside me, grabbing the director's jaw with both hands and yanking it open.
A crunching sound, and its mouth gaped,
-Hwaak!
Space compressed.
Another attack through the gap?
"How...!"
The branch manager's eyes widened as she reached out, but she was too slow.
But I had a counter ready.
[Critical: 1→0]
The world turned black and white, slowing down.
I drew the pistol I'd prepared alongside the Manual,
And a red light flashed in the air.
I glanced at the director, but no red glow on his body.
As expected, Critical didn't work on him.
No need to hesitate, then.
I raised the gun and fired at the red light in the air,
-Pushik!
Like a balloon popping, the warped space snapped back.
The director's eyes flew wide,
"Hup!"
And I jammed the Manual straight into its mouth.