Chapter 191
Chapter 191
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Chapter 191 - 191. 리얼리티 체크
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Translator: crow
Chapter 191: Reality Check
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Crossing through the frame, the scenery before my eyes was exactly the same.
"...It's the same."
That was what Jang Chaeyeon said the moment she stepped through the frame.
She was right.
It was an art gallery that looked just like the path we'd walked, copied perfectly.
The only difference was...
"...There are a lot of people."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
There were far more people inside than before.
But not a single sound could be heard.
Everyone was completely focused on admiring the paintings.
It was bizarre—surrounded by so many people, yet not one of them saying a word—and my brow furrowed involuntarily.
"Arin."
"They're all the same."
Before I could even ask, Song Arin shook her head.
"They're all too absorbed in appreciating the art."
"I see."
Lost in a dream, fixated on this place over and over.
Same background, different people.
That left only one thing to try.
"Daon."
"Oh, should I shoot?"
Yoo Daon grabbed my arm with a bright voice.
"Let's go!"
"...What's with her, loving near-death experiences like that."
Song Arin muttered in bewilderment and turned away.
"Come back quick. Whitey and I will wait here."
"Got it."
I headed to the corner with Yoo Daon.
Of course, even the corner had artwork hanging, with people gazing at it in rapture, just like everywhere else.
I pulled the pistol from my pocket, and Yoo Daon nodded before taking it and pressing it to her temple.
"Here goes?"
"Go ahead."
Yoo Daon smiled and pulled the trigger.
-Bang!
With the gunshot, her body slumped to the floor again,
"Up you go."
And I caught her before she hit.
"...Hmm."
Soon, Yoo Daon opened her eyes and looked up at me.
"Ah, you caught me. You didn't have to."
"It's the least I could do."
"..."
Yoo Daon gave a small smile and stood up.
"For now, hmm. I didn't feel anything. Didn't even think it might be a dream."
"I see."
It's the same.
Fanning myself against the relentless heat, I scanned the surroundings.
Why was I the only one not hot? Why were all the others sweating except her?
Nothing came to mind yet.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah!"
Yoo Daon nodded with a smile, and we stepped back out.
"..."
Song Arin glanced at me, then looked away.
"From your face, looks like no luck."
"Correct."
"But... it's something only I can do, right?"
At Yoo Daon's words, Song Arin stared at her for a moment before approaching me.
"There might be the Team Leader among these people."
"Huh, really?"
Song Arin nodded at my question.
"Not sure, but I think I heard a voice like his."
"A voice?"
"...If you're not focusing, in a crowd this big, voices blend in."
Song Arin sighed.
"Anyway, follow me."
"Thanks."
"What're you thanking me for? It's something only I can do."
Song Arin grinned, and Yoo Daon stared at her before nodding and taking the lead.
"Then I'll go first! Just in case there's something ahead."
"Sure, got it."
She seemed more energetic now—or maybe more tense.
Shoulders squared, Yoo Daon stepped forward.
"...You know I caught you too, right?"
"Yeah...?"
"That's something only I can do."
"Right...?"
"Good enough."
Jang Chaeyeon said it with a satisfied look and followed behind Yoo Daon.
What was she trying to say, exactly?
*
We pushed through the throng of people.
The deeper we went, the more crowded it got, and every single one of them stared in the same direction.
"What are they looking at?"
"No idea. Can't see over them."
Yoo Daon stood on her tiptoes amid the crowd but couldn't spot it, and even as I strained to look, the mass of bodies blocked my view.
Then,
"Hang on."
"Whoa...!"
Jang Chaeyeon flicked her finger up, and my body floated into the air.
"Thanks."
"..."
I looked away from Jang Chaeyeon, who nodded with a smile, and peered ahead.
"..."
It was a massive portrait of the Aestheticist.
Eyes closed, sitting with a benevolent smile.
The mannequin's arms were four now, and that face from before wore a smile as if nothing had happened.
"Beautiful..."
"It's like gazing upon truth itself..."
"Incredible..."
People murmured with wide eyes.
And then, a translucent window appeared before me.
[Name: Self-Portrait]
[Human-skin canvas, ink wash painting]
[200 x 200 cm]
"...Wow..."
An ego of monstrous proportions.
Not human, so maybe not ego—but its bloated self-image left me speechless for a moment.
After safely descending and explaining the painting to the three watching me,
"...Wow."
"Ew."
"..."
For once, their reactions matched.
"Anyway, if the Team Leader's here, highest chance he's at a spot like this."
Makes sense—more people gathered in one place.
"..."
-Tap tap. Jang Chaeyeon poked my shoulder with her finger.
"How's that? I can do stuff like this too."
She puffed out her chest confidently.
"...Thanks."
Unable to meet her eyes, I could only offer my gratitude.
*
Finding the Team Leader turned out easier than expected.
In that sea of faces, there was only one I recognized.
The Team Leader stood there.
Beside him was a student who oddly resembled him, and a kindly-looking woman.
His family?
"Team Leader!"
In the silence, I called out.
Naturally, he didn't respond.
"Arin."
"Got it. But as you know, I can't hold it long."
Song Arin nodded and approached the Team Leader, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Huh?!"
His eyes flew open wide, he shook his head, then looked at me.
"J-Jaeheon. What is this place? And why's it so damn hot?"
"It's an art gallery."
"Art gallery...?"
The Team Leader blinked,
"Gasp..."
And his face went pale.
"This is weird, Jaeheon."
"What's weird?"
"Before entering the gallery, I didn't feel any danger at all..."
"..."
Why hadn't he sensed the danger?
Honestly, I had a hunch.
When you look at that painting, what others feel isn't fear or危機.
Joy from beauty, awe. Things like that.
So the Team Leader hadn't sensed danger either.
'Crisis Detection' detects crises, not the roundabout way ecstasy from art could lead to one.
"Even now, it doesn't feel off. That painting is just so beautiful... so..."
The Team Leader stared at the painting, eyes glazing over, when
-Crunch!
He bit his lip hard.
Blood trickled from it, and he turned, grabbing my shoulders.
"Jaeheon, my memory's spotty, but I'll tell you what I can."
"Understood."
"What I saw when I entered was that woman in the painting."
The Team Leader nodded and continued.
"Then she waved her hand, the frame grew huge, and we all got sucked inside."
"Got it."
"After that, memories are patchy, but..."
He trailed off.
"If my memory's right, people went even deeper in."
"..."
"And that's where I saw it."
"Saw what?"
"An enormous studio."
The Team Leader exhaled in terror.
"Inside..."
"Inside?"
"...Beautiful things were happening."
He murmured that and looked ahead.
His gaze fixed back on the painting.
"...Not working."
Song Arin shook her head and looked at me.
"Still, for a Management Bureau guy, he held out impressively."
"I know."
Better pull him out quick.
I looked at the Team Leader, then back at the painting.
Still those unseeing eyes, and the sweltering air.
"..."
One hypothesis flashed through my mind.
Should I test it?
First, something else.
"Daon."
"Yeah?"
"You're really not hot at all, right?"
"...Right?"
Yoo Daon nodded.
"How's the temperature now?"
"Honestly, more people means it's warmer than before... but not insanely so? The place is basically cool anyway..."
She trailed off.
"What about you, Arin?"
"Hot. Isn't it blazing?"
Song Arin flapped her collar, muttering.
"You, Chaeyeon?"
"..."
"...Got it."
My eyes met Jang Chaeyeon's, who'd been unbuttoning her shirt, and I had nothing more to say.
I drew my pistol.
"Whoa, again, Jaeheon?"
"Why do it right in front of us this time."
Yoo Daon blinked, Song Arin sighed deeply.
"That's not it."
I raised the pistol to my temple, and instantly my hand flew open, the gun clattering down.
"Are you insane?"
Song Arin stared at me, hand outstretched.
"Are you in your right mind? What the hell!"
"I'm perfectly sane."
I picked up the pistol again.
"...Listen up."
I explained the Dreamweaver to the others.
"..."
Song Arin's face hardened, and Jang Chaeyeon's did too.
"What if this isn't a dream? You'll just die."
"Only one way to find out."
I couldn't very well shoot Jang Chaeyeon or Song Arin.
And acting on just the heat felt off too...
"...Damn it, if only we'd brought that old man..."
"Old man?"
"You know, the Gangdong grandpa who's great at reality checks."
Song Arin stomped her foot, muttering.
"..."
Come to think of it.
Reality check.
Something to distinguish reality from dream.
I bent my finger.
It didn't snap grotesquely like in a dream.
Expected that much.
If it were that easy, someone would've figured it out.
Something else. Like, my eyes seeing—
"..."
My eyes?
I looked back at the painting.
[Name: Self-Portrait]
[Human-skin canvas, ink wash painting]
[200 x 200 cm]
"..."
I gripped the pistol.
"Hey!"
"Trust me."
Song Arin froze at my words, and Jang Chaeyeon watched me with worry.
"It's fine."
I'd confirmed it with what I just saw.
I pulled the trigger.
-Bang!
The sound echoed, something pierced my temple with sharp pain,
And my vision went black.