Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Into the Dream
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"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Hey."
While I was gazing at the artwork in the gallery, Song Arin finally couldn't hold back. She poked my side and whispered.
"What."
"Are you, like, anxious or something? Why are you scanning the surroundings so intensely?"
She was right.
Ever since we entered the gallery, I'd been obsessively checking every painting and the area around it.
Watching for a translucent window to pop up above the artwork, or not.
Making sure that distant figure who looked like a person wasn't actually a containment object.
Before we even came in, I'd called the other two.
Jang Chaeyeon, who'd said she'd head out if anything happened.
And Yoo Daon, who'd set off the moment she picked up my call.
No matter how many times I told Yoo Daon it might be nothing and it was fine, she insisted she'd already left and would wait outside the gallery. There was no stopping her.
"Honestly, wouldn't it be weird if I wasn't anxious?"
"..."
Song Arin pursed her lips at my words.
"That's true, but."
"Exactly."
"...Damn it. It's all my fault, so I can't even complain."
Song Arin grumbled as she grabbed my arm and tugged.
"Fine. Come on, hurry up."
"Got it."
I'd done everything I could.
Now, I was more or less prepared for whatever might happen.
Time to enjoy the art with Song Arin.
To be honest, I didn't have much of an artistic sensibility to begin with.
"Look at this painting."
Song Arin grabbed my arm, murmuring in a delighted voice.
"The background behind it is so detailed. And the clothes on the figure are drawn incredibly well."
"Yeah, it is."
She was appreciating the art, sure.
"But they probably hated people."
"Huh?"
"It's not like they lacked skill."
"Right."
"But they deliberately smeared the face. See?"
Song Arin murmured as she pulled my arm, pressing me against her body.
A plum scent wafted from her.
"They probably despised people. Or maybe feared them."
"...I see."
"And yet they couldn't give up drawing them. That's the irony."
Song Arin murmured, smiling happily.
"But overall, even accounting for all that, it's still an outstanding piece."
"..."
And just like that, she dragged me around, happily explaining the paintings.
"Look at this one. Drawn so cutely, right?"
"Yeah."
Her eyes would sparkle at paintings I couldn't quite get.
"This one's a true masterpiece."
"Really?"
"Oh, you don't know? This painting..."
She'd explain them with a child's bright smile.
And then,
"Wow, look at this. It's drawn so... lewd..."
"..."
"...Sorry."
She'd whisper an apology in a small voice after glancing at the painting in front of us.
I'd gotten to see all sorts of sides to Song Arin that I hadn't expected.
"That was really fun."
After about two hours of her cheerful chatter, Song Arin sipped her drink through a straw and looked at me.
"Yeah."
"...Wasn't it fun for you?"
She let go of the straw and glanced up at me with just her eyes.
Watching her like that, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"...What? Why are you laughing."
"Just... I realized you have way more expressions than I thought, Arin."
"..."
The ones I usually saw were her pouty face or her irritated scowl.
Song Arin rolled her eyes this way and that, then stuck the straw back in her mouth.
"...So, what. You didn't like it?"
"What wouldn't I like?"
Seeing different sides of someone is usually a good thing.
It means they've chosen to show you those parts of themselves.
Of course, the twist where the nice-seeming person turns out to be a psycho isn't my favorite.
"But seeing you like this? I love it."
"..."
Song Arin's mouth snapped shut.
She just sucked on her straw again.
"Is the coffee here that good?"
"Uh, y-yeah. It is. Strong acidity, totally my style."
She stammered in response to my question.
What we'd ordered was definitely a bean with a heavy body, not strong acidity.
If she thought this had strong acidity, I should get her some really full-bodied beans next time.
I gazed at her sipping her coffee, lost in thought.
I still couldn't shake that video file from my mind.
How did she remember that incident?
No, was it even a good idea to bring it up?
What would she gain from me mentioning it?
Guilt, self-loathing.
Better to leave it alone.
As long as the branch chief and I stayed quiet, she could get past it without issue.
So—
"...Hey."
Song Arin's voice reached my ear.
"Yeah?"
She leaned forward and placed her hand on my forehead.
It felt cool.
"I always notice this. When you're thinking, it's so obvious."
"...Is it?"
"First off, your eyes get all intense like this..."
She pointed to her own pupils as she murmured.
"Like they're super focused. That's how I know right away."
"...I see."
Jang Chaeyeon was the same. Yoo Daon too. Was I that easy to read?
I'd never heard I was easy to read before, but around these three, I felt like an open book.
"Anyway."
She pulled her hand back and looked at me.
"I don't know what you're worried about, but if it's tough, talk to me."
"..."
"I know. I'm not the type to listen quietly like some white-haired sage, or empathize deeply like a black-haired confidante."
Song Arin murmured, avoiding my gaze.
"But I can always mull it over with you, help you make the best choice from your perspective."
"...Thank you."
But how could I say, "Your past is weighing on my mind," right to her face?
"So, what is it."
"It's a secret."
"Even when I ask straight up, huh?"
She grumbled and stuck the straw back in her mouth.
*
It was bothering me.
Song Arin subtly lifted her head while sucking on her straw, checking the man's complexion.
Lately—no, ever since the painting incident—he'd been staring at her with these intense, pensive eyes.
And he'd always look like he was about to say something, then hold back.
If she didn't know, it wouldn't matter.
But how could she not know?
Song Arin slurped up the rest of her coffee through the straw, sighing inwardly.
She hated to admit it, but her gaze kept drifting to him no matter what. How could she not notice?
She was openly staring at him sipping his coffee, and she sure as hell noticed the complicated look on his face when he saw her.
Should I just ask?
No. What if he gets mad?
But I'm curious.
What if I ask and get hurt beyond repair?
She gripped and released her cup repeatedly.
"Let's go."
"Huh? Oh. Yeah."
The man's voice snapped Song Arin out of it.
She jumped up from her seat.
"We really don't have to grab dinner together?"
"Uh, no. It's fine."
I'd dragged him to the gallery since morning and wanted to eat dinner too, but...
Of all days, the regressor's final mental unlock procedure was today.
She ground her teeth inwardly and nodded.
"But you came early for me."
"Fair enough."
The man shrugged, and Song Arin screamed inwardly with regret as she started walking.
"What are you doing? Hurry up."
"Oh, right."
As they left the gallery, a familiar head of black hair flashed in her vision.
Song Arin whipped her head around to look behind them.
"..."
No one was there.
My head must really be messing with me lately.
With a sigh, Song Arin headed toward the Management Bureau.
*
After catching my breath, I headed off to meet the person from the Gangdong Branch that Jang Chaeyeon had asked about.
On the subway to the Gangdong Branch, I opened the manual.
[Office Manual]
"..."
No numbers showing up anymore.
"You still looking at that?"
"Huh? You two still not made up?"
Jang Chaeyeon poked her head over from beside me, and Yoo Daon did the same from the other side to peek at the manual.
"She seems even more pissed."
Even after I apologized.
"That's a bad habit, you know."
Song Arin sighed as she looked at me.
"What's going on?"
And Park Ye-eun watching me curiously from next to her.
This time, I'd brought her along for a branch visit and info input.
"Oh. Well, see..."
I slowly explained to Park Ye-eun.
About shoving the manual in her mouth and the sulking afterward.
"...From my perspective, I don't get why she'd sulk over an inanimate object..."
Park Ye-eun murmured after hearing me out, then sighed.
"This one's on you, oppa."
"Me?"
"She said no, and you shoved it in her mouth."
"It was the only way to save our lives. What was I supposed to do?"
"That's one thing. This is another."
Park Ye-eun stared at me sharply.
"Reason and emotion are separate. Even if it's to save someone else and you go through hell, you can't just treat it like it's normal."
"...You're right."
"Exactly."
She was so spot-on, I had nothing to say.
"You're right."
"That's not for me to hear."
Park Ye-eun pointed at the manual.
"Apologize properly."
"...Ahem."
I cleared my throat and opened my mouth to apologize, but she smacked my arm.
"Do it in another car! God, no sense at all."
"Fine, fine."
Was it right to get schooled by someone ten years younger? But she made the most sense, so no choice.
I moved to another car, putting some distance, then held the manual with both hands.
"...Sorry."
What should I say?
"Even if it was necessary, you must've had a hard time. I was too rough."
Thinking of that kid, the words flowed more easily than expected.
"But thanks to you, we survived. Otherwise, we'd be dead."
Ahem. I cleared my throat and bowed my head.
"Thanks."
After a bit,
-Shrrrk!
The manual opened.
[Office Manual]
1. Nothing beats a warm hug at the end.
"..."
Demanding a lot, huh.
Do I really have to?
Suppressing a sigh, I cradled the manual gently in both arms.
Not much different from keeping it in my pocket, honestly.
"Sorry."
After holding it for about a minute, I let go.
-Shrrrk!
The manual opened.
[Office Manual!]
QD - On the Way to Gangdong Branch
1. Take the subway to get to Gangdong Branch!
2. It's bumpy, so please be careful!
Why the exclamation points?
*
"You're here."
The wizened old man glanced at Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin, then at me.
"Putting those two on the same team and still being sane? You've got some solid survival skills."
"Grandpa!"
"..."
Song Arin yelled, and Jang Chaeyeon glared at the man.
"Thanks for the compliment."
The man chuckled at my words and spoke.
"No time to waste, so straight to the point."
"Yes."
"Go take a trip into a dream."
"Yes?"
We all could only wear baffled expressions at the man's words.