Chapter 179
Chapter 179
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 179. Back to the Starting Point
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Have you ever screamed in a soundproof room?
It feels like something is swallowing the sound.
Right now, it's exactly like yelling at a sound barrier.
"Hey! Where are you!"
My voice echoes through the darkness.
But the sound doesn't spread; it vanishes as if devoured by something, without lingering.
Something's off.
I strain my ears in the darkness.
Not even the sound of a single insect.
Was it like this when I was walking with that girl earlier?
I gaze at the sign in front of me, lost in thought.
I touch the sign with my hand.
-Ting!
A metallic clang rings out.
Just ordinary metal.
I had no memory of this sign.
Which means this is a warning and a milestone.
Showing me how many attempts I have left.
For a trial, it's almost merciful.
I sigh and continue my thoughts.
I have two chances left.
What would young me have done in this situation?
I stare at the sign, deep in thought.
Should I hurry my steps?
No, think first.
How did I escape this place back then?
With that kid's help?
Or someone passing by?
Recalling my younger self, I wasn't that clever.
More like an ordinary kid you'd find anywhere.
[Come here and eat!]
Lost in thought as my mother's voice, laced with noise, echoes.
Let's think about the layout of our neighborhood.
Simply put, it feels like this.
I walked straight to the tunnel.
Going up from here leads to our house.
The school is...
...
Why did I even mark the school on my mental map?
Note it for now.
I turn around.
Endless darkness, as expected.
I've been here quite a while, but still no sounds.
Is the area behind this sign the so-called starting line?
Crossing it restarts the trial.
...
If I get swallowed by the darkness, my body disappears. In other words, I die.
Going straight to the tunnel means death.
If time passes, something follows.
So this time...
I force my heavy legs to move.
I step back into the darkness.
[Where are you!]
My mother's voice, full of noise, rings in my ears.
*
...
Having a vague memory means it's a clue in itself.
Only fragments remain. Meaning I did something there.
-Clunk!
I open the school door and step inside.
This reminds me of that nightmare from the volunteer work.
No, if anything, this place feels more like a nightmare.
I walk past the lockers, now all shorter than eye level.
What would child me have done?
What else? Run away.
The problem is I don't know how I escaped through that darkness.
No, if it's a trial, they should give hints solvable enough.
I grumble inwardly as I walk.
Trash scattered on the floor.
I glance around; a trash can is tipped over.
Without thinking, I lift my leg to step over it, then freeze.
The school I attended wasn't abandoned. It still isn't.
Meaning someone cleans it every morning.
Could be the cleaning duty student or a janitor, but no one would leave a tipped trash can in a closed school.
...
Meaning someone was here.
I reach into my pocket.
No gun.
I suppress a sigh and proceed cautiously.
The more I walk, the more I realize.
It's not just trash in the hallway.
Sometimes a flower vase on the floor, another trash can tipped over.
...
Annoying obstacles, but minor ones.
Trash cans, flower vases, brooms.
None of these would stop an adult.
If it were me, I'd at least topple a locker or supply cabinet.
I touch the low lockers, lost in thought.
These are plenty topple-able, so why didn't I?
Unless I'm not a child...
The girl I was with earlier flashes in my mind.
...
My steps quicken.
"Hey! Where are you!"
I shout loudly as I walk the halls, calling for her.
"Hey!"
No response.
...
I carefully follow the traces.
Small props keep toppling along the way.
Soon, the trail leads to the boys' restroom.
A mop lying in front of the boys' restroom.
Boys' restroom?
Even in a hurry, why go to the boys' instead of the girls' next door?
...
I open the restroom door and enter.
An open small window, and a chair.
Someone placed the chair and climbed out the small window.
I climb on the chair and peer out the tiny window, too small for me to fit.
Nothing but a scrap of paper; no other signs of people.
-Swaa...
A sound comes from far away.
...
Gather as much info as possible.
I hurriedly exit the restroom and head to the hall.
Including this one, two chances left.
Don't get hasty.
Maximize information.
I open a window and go outside.
Unpleasant air brushes my skin,
And I rush toward the spot I saw beyond the restroom window.
A small scrap of paper on the ground.
...
[Manual for Office Workers]
A single line written on the page.
A manual page?
-Swaa...
The sound comes again from the school entrance.
Slower than before.
In the tunnel, the darkness chased me right after I entered, but here it only follows after I investigate the school.
Is there logic to what's chasing me?
Harder to find people indoors?
More questions pile up.
Where to next?
Can't go to the tunnel. School's done.
Only home left.
...
Let's go.
I start running toward home.
-Swaa...
The sound is closer now.
*
The way home was familiar, etched in my mind despite the years.
No more of my mother's voice from home,
-Bang!
The moment I open the door, a dark living room greets me.
Only my little sister's room has the light on.
-Creak...
I open her door; an empty room welcomes me.
A backpack suitable for an elementary kid hangs on the wall, dolls kids would like scattered on the floor.
I used to play here with her sometimes.
"You here?"
I call out loudly, but no reply.
Of course, she wouldn't be in a place like this.
I reach for the switch to turn off the light,
-Click.
It doesn't turn off.
...
Something's wrong.
I look around.
...
A page lies there.
Not a manual page, but scribbled handwriting on sketch paper.
And it's my handwriting.
[Containment Object - Trial of the Cross - Containment Team Kim Jaeheon's Record]
1. Describe the object's trial.
2. The object's trial is a perfect recreation of the past.
3. If you can't recall memories, infer the situation and think. They don't want creative answers.
...
The writing on the page scatters like smoke.
A perfect recreation of the past.
...
I glance at the lit room, then head outside.
Even as darkness swallows everything, my sister's room shines brightly.
"Huff... huff..."
Outside,
-Swaa...
The sound is closer now.
I dash toward the tunnel.
I've thought of everything possible. Got the info; time to bet on the last chance.
But to escape here, I need the most crucial thing.
I sprint full speed toward the tunnel.
At the entrance, a girl is huddled against the wall, eyes squeezed shut, ears covered, trembling.
"Hey!"
She doesn't hear my shout.
I rush over, grab her wrist,
"Huh...?"
She looks at me in surprise.
"H-How?"
"Come on."
"Huh?"
I pull her arm; she stands.
"W-Where are we going?"
"Entrance."
"Y-Yeah...? No, it's too late already...!"
She grabs my sleeve, speaking as if she knows something.
"If we don't do it right from the start—"
"No, with you, I can do it right."
...
She looks at me, bewildered.
I hadn't thought of it.
From her reaction, this is one of my definite graves.
A place even the me who's come this far couldn't solve properly.
What was the reason?
'You always try to solve incidents alone first.'
Her voice from earlier echoes in my head.
I don't know what other me would do now.
But from past actions and words, I'd try to handle it solo.
Even if beyond my capacity, if it's my duty.
But not now.
Holding her hand, I sprint down the street.
-Swaa...!
Darkness is already close.
"Listen."
"Yeah?"
I speak to her stunned face.
"If I die, run to where you see the sign."
"...Yeah...?"
"Wait for me there."
Through all this, I've realized.
More things in the world can't be solved alone than can.
-Swaa!
Darkness swallows my legs,
-Thud!
I tumble clumsily to the ground.
"No!"
"Don't look back!"
I yell back at her terrified, reaching hand.
"Run! Wait for me there!"
"...!"
...
I catch my breath.
Like she comforted me, I need to stay composed too.
I lower my voice, put on a confident face.
"We'll clear it together next time."
...
"It's okay. Trust me."
"...O-Okay, I'll trust you."
She nods and runs ahead.
She soon leaves my sight,
-Swaa!
Sensation vanishes from my lower body.
I thought I was the only one with biased memory loss about this.
But no.
She's wrong too.
She thinks this is a 'trial.'
But they didn't ask for a 'trial' solution.
Things you can't solve alone, solve together.
Young me must have done that.
Back then, she led me because I was a kid; now, I lead her.
My mouth disappears.
Ears gone,
Eyes gone.
But until then, my gaze stayed fixed ahead.
*
...
I open my eyes.
The sign in front of me.
One chance left.
And,
"...You okay?"
The girl touches me worriedly here and there.
"Does it hurt? Scared or anything?"
"I'm fine."
I look ahead.
[Jaeheon!]
What would young me have done hearing this?
Throw a kid into darkness and play parents' voices.
Even distorted by noise, would a child grasp the hidden intent and be cautious?
"Let's go home."
The answer is no.