Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Under the Blue Moon
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A blue moon and a cloudy sky.
Looking down from the building, the crowds of people had vanished, leaving only empty roads.
I lifted my head to gaze upward.
Two staircases came into view.
"...What the hell is this?"
Eileen's words perfectly captured my feelings.
What the hell was this, really?
I stared at the staircase stretching up into the sky.
A translucent window popped up in front of me.
[Name: Stairway to the Moon]
[Age: -]
[Specialty: Stairs]
[Talent: Stairs]
[Background: Humans built stairs to reach the sky. Of course, no one knows when those stairs might collapse.]
[Weakness: If too many people climb the stairs, they will collapse.]
If too many people climbed the stairs, they would collapse.
What did that mean?
"But can we really walk up to the moon on stairs?"
"You think that works?"
I tuned out Yoo Daon and Song Arin's chatter with one ear while looking at Eileen.
"Eileen."
"Yeah."
"You've never heard anything about these stairs?"
"Nope."
Eileen shook her head.
"I didn't even know stairs like this existed until now."
"..."
I looked up at the stairs.
The endless staircase leading into the sky had no visible destination.
"Then let's go."
No point overthinking it. Better to climb fast.
I headed toward the stairs.
-Clang!
Stepping on the metal stairs produced a familiar sound, like treading on steel plating.
Soon, Eileen and Yoo Daon followed behind.
-Thud!
"Ow..."
Jang Chaeyeon, climbing after Yoo Daon, slammed her head into something with a bonk and crouched down, clutching her forehead.
"Chaeyeon?"
"...I'm fine..."
Jang Chaeyeon muttered, gripping her reddened forehead.
"..."
Song Arin, watching the scene, walked over to the stairs, clenched her fist, and tapped the entrance.
"It's blocked."
"...Pardon?"
-Thud!
Song Arin punched the stair entrance, and with a thud, a transparent wall shimmered.
"See? It's blocked."
"...Whoa, it really is."
At Song Arin's mutter, Yoo Daon punched the wall from the other side, producing the same thud, unable to get out.
"..."
"...You two want to stay here?"
At my words, Jang Chaeyeon, still clutching her forehead, and Song Arin exchanged glances.
"No."
"No way."
They answered simultaneously.
"We'll take the stairs on the opposite side."
"...Isn't that dangerous?"
"They wouldn't make two staircases for no reason."
Song Arin replied flatly and turned away.
"Besides, you'd prefer us there, right?"
"Well, sure, but..."
"Then we're off."
Song Arin headed for the stairs, and Jang Chaeyeon looked at me.
"Be careful."
"Got it."
"...Take care of her."
"Will do!"
"This kid can handle herself just fine."
Yoo Daon answered brightly, clenching her fist, while Eileen shrugged, drew her gun, and replied.
"Everyone, stay safe. And uh, let's meet alive on the moon."
"Walk to the moon? I read somewhere it'd take like ten years to walk that far."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"That's a long time..."
We all fell silent and stared at Song Arin, who muttered awkwardly under our gazes.
"...What? ...Ah, no. No way the Management Bureau's insane enough to make us walk for ten years..."
Song Arin's words slowed to a crawl.
"...If it comes to that, it was fun teaming up with you all."
"Should I say what I haven't said yet?"
Song Arin muttered, and Jang Chaeyeon stared at me, tilting her head.
"...Let's just climb for now."
Yeah. The Management Bureau wouldn't build stairs meant for a ten-year hike.
At worst, it'd be a few hours.
*
"..."
"Are your legs hurting a lot? Should we rest another ten minutes?"
"I'm fine."
I recalled everything that had happened so far.
After that, we'd been climbing the stairs for two hours now.
If it were just regular walking, two hours would be no big deal.
"..."
My legs felt like they were going to explode.
How were those two managing so well?
I gazed at Yoo Daon and Eileen with awe and incomprehension, and Eileen, meeting my eyes, answered calmly.
"I once got trapped in a murder machine factory."
"..."
"One of the manual's escape conditions was climbing the stairs without getting caught."
"Yeah."
"There were two hundred floors."
"..."
So she'd sprinted up two hundred floors.
That explained it.
But what about Yoo Daon?
"My legs hurt too..."
Yoo Daon trailed off, looking at me.
"But when they hurt too much to bear, they suddenly feel fine."
"Ah..."
She treated muscle pain like an injury and regenerated it. So enviable.
In the end, with no experience or regeneration, I had no choice but to keep walking.
"We've come pretty far, though."
Eileen turned to look outside.
I gazed at the view beyond the precarious railing.
The roads had long vanished from sight.
Now, all that was visible ahead were clouds at our level.
We'd already ascended to dizzying heights.
"I wonder if Chaeyeon and Arin are doing okay."
"They'll be behind us."
Song Arin had no regeneration, and Jang Chaeyeon had the worst stamina of us all.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
-Clang... Clang...
As I took a step, something suddenly occurred to me.
"Right. Eileen."
"Yeah."
"A few weeks ago, we fought the 'Church.'"
-Clang!
Eileen's step halted abruptly at my words, and she turned to me.
"Tell me everything."
"..."
I explained to Eileen what had happened.
The priest, the events, and finally, the prophet.
"...Prophet."
She muttered, looking at me.
"They called you a prophet?"
"..."
Her voice was deadly serious, and before I could respond, Yoo Daon stepped between us.
"..."
I couldn't see Yoo Daon's expression, but she quietly stared at Eileen before speaking.
"Jaeheon is fine."
"...I know."
Eileen muttered and turned away.
"After this incident ends."
"Pardon?"
"After this incident ends, grant me one wish."
Eileen turned back to me.
"Please. I'll do anything. Whatever you ask, I'll make it happen, even if I can't."
Her gaze was.
"So please. Can you just grant me this one request?"
So desperate that I had no choice but to nod.
*
We passed through the clouds.
Soon, the sky darkened, and more stars became visible.
"We've climbed high."
Eileen muttered, looking around, and Yoo Daon curiously stretched her arm out.
Shouldn't breathing be hard by now?
Then, I spotted an old metal sign attached midway up the stairs.
[Do not stick your body outside the railing.]
[You will die from lack of oxygen.]
"That's what it says."
"Got to be careful."
I hurriedly turned to Yoo Daon.
"Yeah?"
"You're not thinking of sticking your face out past the railing to breathe, are you?"
"Jaeheon! I'm not a child!"
"Just making sure."
We chatted lightly as we continued climbing.
-Clang...
"Huff... Hah..."
Finally, we reached the end of the stairs.
"...Hah... Hah... How... many hours... did we climb...?"
"Nine hours and fourteen minutes!"
"..."
I felt like I was dying.
I collapsed flat on the floor and stared at the sky.
The moon was now close enough to touch.
Blue light shone on my face, it was so near.
"..."
The moon glowed an eerie color.
-Keeeen...!
Tinnitus rang in my ears, and a sharp headache pierced my skull.
"Urk..."
Soon, a translucent window appeared.
[Name: Moon]
[Age: -]
[Specialty: -]
[Talent: -]
[Background: For a long time, the moon inspired awe or fear in everyone. There must be a reason for that.]
[Weakness: -]
I hurriedly looked at Yoo Daon and Eileen.
"..."
"..."
Both were staring blankly at the moon.
Blue light illuminated their eyes, turning even their irises blue as they looked at me.
"Jaeheon."
"..."
"Did you see that light?"
"You're not about to say the moon is beautiful, are you?"
"No."
Yoo Daon muttered, looking at me.
"How are we supposed to beat something like that?"
"..."
"This is a fight we just have to forfeit."
"Exactly."
Eileen nodded in agreement with Yoo Daon.
"I get it now. Humanity can't win against this."
"..."
"It's easier to just give up."
"Everyone, snap out of it—"
"You need to snap out of it."
At that moment, Yoo Daon charged lightly at me.
"Don't worry! I won't let you get hurt! Not from that moon, not from stupid choices!"
"Damn—"
I hurriedly drew my gun and raised the barrel toward Yoo Daon.
"Oh my."
At the same time, a familiar voice came from above.
-Thud!
Something dropped from the air, crushing Yoo Daon and slamming her into the steel floor.
"...!"
-Bang!
Eileen drew her gun and fired instantly at the person who'd pinned Yoo Daon.
"Oh dear."
But the person simply swung their hand and 'caught' the bullet.
They opened their hand.
-Clink...!
The crumpled bullet fell to the floor.
"It's misconduct to shoot your boss, normally..."
A familiar voice rang out.
Blue moonlight illuminated the floor brightly.
"But since you're not in your right mind, I'll let it slide."
Brown hair fluttered in the wind, half-closed eyes smiled at me—
"You're ignoring my words again? Trying to kill me?"
Red eyes flashed open, staring at me.
The branch chief stood before my eyes.