Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 187. No Exit
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"Aigoo, it's over."
"It ended sooner than I thought."
Not long after the exam wrapped up, month-end rolled around.
And month-end rolling around meant, in other words, more work piling up for us.
*Tap!*
The moment I hit enter with a sip of spit, the spreadsheet finalized.
"Ughhh..."
Month-end payroll was finally done.
Well, not finally—more like just now.
I stretched and gazed out the window.
The sun dipping low in the sky.
And then,
"Hoo..."
"Tired..."
"Ugh..."
Song Arin, Jang Chaeyeon, and Yoo Daon slumped in their chairs like soggy cabbage.
"Head hurts."
"It's great that paperwork's gotten faster, but... it feels even more exhausting..."
"That's 'cause you two weren't doing it properly before."
Even for someone as mild-mannered as me, this needed addressing.
"You two have to help out properly from now on, got it?"
"Yeah..."
"Yes..."
I watched them mumble their drained replies, then turned at the voice from behind.
"This payroll run was brutal."
"There were promotions and personnel shifts."
I glanced at Song Arin as she muttered, picking up the thread.
She seemed a bit better than a few days ago, at least.
After training ended, there'd been a ton of personnel moves.
I'd heard some got pulled from accounting to management, and others yanked from Containment Team to marketing, of all places.
"Anyway, we made it through another quarter."
I let out a sigh of relief, shut off the monitor, and checked the clock.
Six fifteen.
Fifteen minutes past six wasn't really overtime.
I'd left a query with the branch chief about the exam.
Problem was, she was off on a business trip to the Australia branch—with Containment Team in tow.
She just up and left like that—what if something blew up? Who's handling incidents?
...Not us, I hope.
I shook my head and pulled my smartphone from my pocket.
There was one text from the branch chief—what was it again?
Her message popped up on the screen.
[Hey Kim Jaeheon~ *^^* Hope you're having a great day *^^*.]
[Like I said last time, even the bureau chief is getting worried.]
[But incidents always find their hero~^^]
[The bureau chief knows full well you attract them, Kim Jaeheon.]
[If anything happens, reach out to the bureau chief through my card. *^^*]
[Stay healthy always~!~! *^^*]
[Smile and good fortune follows~ *^^*]
Below it, a falling maple leaf emoticon.
Picturing the branch chief—who looked like she was in her twenties—sending texts like this felt downright weird.
She doesn't sound her age when she talks, so why do her texts make her seem so old?
I pocketed the phone and started packing my bag when,
"Hey, Jaeheon."
"Yes, Team Leader."
Team Leader waved me over.
"You know anything about art?"
"Art?"
Art out of nowhere?
"I mean, like, the arts."
"The arts..."
I didn't know squat about art.
But I did know about containment objects obsessed with art.
The memory hit me, turning my stomach.
"Not really."
"Yeah? Well, some artist's putting on a pop-up exhibit, and it's insanely popular."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Obscure artist or something. Anyway."
"..."
Something felt off.
"Team Leader."
"Yeah."
"When you think about this artist, don't you get a super bad vibe? Like you wanna run away or just bail entirely?"
"...Hmm."
Team Leader closed his eyes, focused, then shook his head.
"Nah, nothing like that."
"Really?"
Lately, anything art-related turned into nightmares, so worry hit first.
"Hey, don't overthink it."
Reading my face, Team Leader grinned broadly and waved it off.
"Musicals are playing everywhere right this second."
"..."
"And there are art galleries galore—why worry? Thinking everything's tied to containment objects is paranoia."
"Th-that's true, but..."
Not a word he said was wrong, but hearing it from him when I'm Kim Jaeheon? Bad vibes.
Call me pathetic, but I get dragged into incidents way too often.
"Anyway, no creepy feelings like last time, so relax."
"For real?"
"For real. We've even done family art outings without you plenty of times."
He nodded confidently.
"Saw pics of the paintings—gorgeous. I get why they call it art."
"You saw pics?"
"In this day and age, it'd be weirder if there weren't pics."
Fair point.
I searched online at his words.
Sunflower paintings, stunning landscapes.
I knew zilch about art, but these were good.
"See? Pretty great, right?"
"Yeah... they are."
Couldn't argue.
They really were well-painted.
"Anyway, I'm off tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Why not? Month-end's done—no reason not to."
"Fair enough."
That quick?
He shrugged at my look.
"My kid's been dying to go, so I snagged tickets—just enough for the family."
"...You're not gonna hand any extras to me, are you?"
Tickets coming my way usually spelled trouble.
I glanced at Song Arin.
"...What."
She remembered the Red Lady fiasco and looked away, muttering.
"Nah. Barely enough for my family—where would I get spares for you guys?"
"Thanks."
Yeah, Team Leader wasn't offering any.
I nodded at his puzzled stare.
"Have a good trip anyway."
"Right—steal some overtime pay from the office tomorrow."
And so, a day without month-end work or Team Leader arrived.
*
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Coffee?"
"Sure..."
"Yeah."
"Go for it..."
Coming in the day after wrapping a massive project? Bliss.
No real work, everyone riding high from slaying the big beast—good vibes all around.
"Arin."
"Yeah."
Song Arin turned to me.
"Wanna grab coffee, just us?"
"I can go."
"Me too!"
"I'll go with Arin."
They sat back down at my firm tone.
As Song Arin and I headed out,
"Arin."
Yoo Daon called after her.
"Fighting."
She grinned and pumped her fist.
Song Arin's face crumpled; she stomped off.
"Hang on, Arin!"
I followed.
She marched down the hall, irritation etched deep for a full minute, then whipped around.
"Daon was just worried about you."
"...Doubt it."
Song Arin sighed, muttering, and eyed me.
"You're too soft on black-haired girls."
"Don't think so..."
"Nah. You're soft on black-haired girls."
"On me?"
"Specifically, you're way too nice to me."
"When have I been?"
"If it feels harsh, it is."
She glared with axe eyes.
"You're sweet to white-hairs and black-hairs—be sweet to me too."
Had she finally lost it?
The thought flashed, but she shoulder-checked me and snickered.
"I'm fine."
"You do look better than before."
"..."
She smiled at my words.
"I'm trying."
"..."
"Maybe the black-hair's right, hate to admit it."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
She muttered something, circled behind, and shoved my back.
"What're you doing? Let's go."
"Hang on, Arin—"
"Come on!"
I turned to check her face.
[Name: Song Arin]
[Age: 21]
[Specialty: Hypnosis]
[Talent: Manipulation]
[Background: Leave her be for now. That's her wish.]
[Weakness: Let's watch a bit longer.]
Even my eyes weren't much help this time.
Still, her expression as she pushed me looked better than last week.
*
Next day.
"..."
"It's past ten in the morning, and Team Leader still isn't here..."
Yoo Daon muttered, staring at his desk.
She was right.
Team Leader hadn't shown.
I called him.
Ringing, but no pickup.
"...Hold on."
Time to try the branch chief.
Called her number.
Ringing, no answer.
"..."
"Should we look for him?"
I shook my head at Jang Chaeyeon's words.
"Let's wait a bit more."
He'd been late before.
It was still morning—just an hour past start time.
No harm waiting longer.
*
Lunch passed, still no Team Leader.
I looked up the exhibit location on my smartphone.
Confirmed the National Art Museum address, then eyed the others.
"...I'm heading to the National Art Museum real quick."
"I'll come."
Jang Chaeyeon stood by me without hesitation.
"Me too!"
"Me as well."
Yoo Daon and Song Arin joined.
"..."
Honestly, just grateful these three always tagged along.
"Let's go."
Team Leader, please—no incidents.
*
"...Wow."
Jang Chaeyeon let out an exclamation.
Same thought here.
"So... many people...?"
Yoo Daon murmured.
Agreed.
Hordes milling at the entrance.
Felt just like the Red Lady lineup.
Crowds flashed tickets and filed in.
"Shall we go in?"
"No tickets?"
Jang Chaeyeon was right.
No tickets, no entry.
So.
"...Let's wait a bit."
Even past closing, people lingered at the entrance.
No Team Leader.
No one from the museum at all.
Until sunset, not a single soul emerged from the art museum.