Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Trip to the Moon
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When I was little, I heard a story that there was a rabbit living on the moon.
Back then, I believed without a doubt that there really was a rabbit up there.
Now that I think about it, I remember what my childhood friend said when I told her about it. Unlike her usual self, she awkwardly avoided my gaze.
"There are... living creatures on the moon."
I can picture her desperately looking away as she said it.
Maybe. No, she definitely knew.
"No pain anywhere?"
"Nope."
"Me neither!"
"..."
After sorting out the chaos of people piled up like a mountain on the bed, the Branch Manager headed off to report to the Headquarters Director—or get utterly demolished.
For the first time unlike her usual self, in response to my question of whether she was okay, she pleaded with me:
"No. Save me."
"You seem fine."
"Please, seriously, save me!"
But she grabbed her phone and went anyway.
Thanks to that, the three of us were now walking on the moon.
According to the Branch Manager, the world would be in chaos under the moon's influence for a day or two, so there was no need to go down just yet.
"But what about you."
As everyone sighed in relief after confirming we were all okay, Song Arin spoke up curtly, looking at me.
"Your eyes burst, your legs were smashed, and anyway, you weren't exactly normal either."
No sooner had Song Arin finished than Jang Chaeyeon and Yoo Daon whipped their heads around to stare at me with a whoosh.
"Really?"
"Is that true?"
"..."
I shot Song Arin a resentful glare, but she was already avoiding my eyes, looking elsewhere.
"...Yeah, well. But I'm fine now."
"You should've said something sooner!"
"Exactly."
Yoo Daon rushed over and shoved her face right up to mine.
At this breath-close distance, she peered seriously into my eyes.
"Does it hurt? Anything like that?"
"No, it's fine. Daon, you're too cl—"
"What about your legs? Your legs— Kyaa!"
As Yoo Daon jerked her head down to check my legs, someone grabbed the back of her neck, sending her crashing butt-first to the ground.
"He's uncomfortable. Don't do that."
Jang Chaeyeon looked down at Yoo Daon, who was rubbing her tailbone, then walked over to me.
"You okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"..."
Her gaze lingered on my eyes and legs.
"Later, I'll take a good lo—"
"Bullshit. Total bullshit."
Song Arin snapped her fingers, cutting Jang Chaeyeon off. Jang Chaeyeon froze in attention stance, then marched over to Song Arin like a soldier at ease.
"What's that make you, then, different from the black hair over there?"
"...I don't touch him."
Jang Chaeyeon replied curtly, and Song Arin clicked her tongue in disbelief.
"Cut the crap. We're all fine, so he'll be fine too."
"..."
Song Arin glanced at me then looked away.
"I'm totally fine."
"...I got it already."
Song Arin muttered in a dragging voice and turned her gaze elsewhere.
"For now, let's walk around a bit."
While the Branch Manager was in her meeting—more accurately, a disguised report session where she'd get torn apart by the Headquarters Director—we decided to take a stroll to avoid witnessing the carnage.
We also needed a change of pace.
After all, we'd just survived a brutally murderous schedule over the past day or two. Everyone must be exhausted.
"Honestly, I have no idea if walking on the shell of a larva that could end the world anytime is the right way to refresh, but whatever."
"Arin, shh."
I tapped Song Arin's shoulder, signaling her to quiet down.
The mood was good; no need to ruin it.
"...Fine."
Song Arin muttered and looked down.
Above us stretched the pitch-black expanse of space.
"By the way."
"Yeah."
"How are we breathing?"
Song Arin looked at me, genuinely curious.
"Shouldn't we not be able to breathe? People can't breathe in space, right?"
"...Good point?"
"..."
"..."
Song Arin and I locked eyes for a moment.
"Let's just not think about it."
"Yeah. Some things in the world are better left unknown."
We shrugged and decided to ignore it.
"Anyway, Arin."
"Yeah."
"I'm sorry."
"..."
Song Arin fell silent at my words.
"It's not that I didn't trust you."
If anything, the opposite.
Song Arin would have held out to the end.
Until she went mad.
"I just didn't want you making an irreversible choice."
"..."
"I didn't want to see you like that."
"...I see."
Song Arin murmured softly.
What more could I say for her?
"Oh, and if it weren't for you—"
"Enough."
Song Arin cut me off gently and patted my shoulder.
"I think your judgment was right."
"..."
"I was just stubborn, so you don't need to feel guilty about it."
Song Arin looked up at the sky.
A star twinkled in the deep darkness, reflecting in her eyes, making them shine.
"Still. Mind if I ask one thing?"
"Sure."
Song Arin turned to face me.
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Did I... help you this time?"
"...What a silly question."
I smiled at Song Arin, who flinched.
"Of course you were the best."
Song Arin's face lit up at my words.
"Good—"
"What are you doing?"
Jang Chaeyeon shoved her face between us, cutting off Song Arin's smile.
"...Nothing."
Song Arin hurriedly shook her head.
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon stared at Song Arin, then turned to me.
"You okay?"
"I said I am."
"Besides that."
Jang Chaeyeon slowly shook her head at my response.
"Anything you shouldn't think about popping up? Horrific thoughts, or procedures invading your head?"
"...Hmm."
I closed my eyes, deep in thought.
Just like she said, there were things I'd heard from it earlier.
Honestly, most of them—no, not most, I couldn't understand any of it. Just bizarre ramblings.
Thinking about them didn't make my head hurt, though.
"Seems fine?"
"...Good."
Jang Chaeyeon sighed in relief, hand on her chest.
"I heard a lot of stories."
"Stories?"
"After encountering beings beyond common sense, tons of people went insane."
Jang Chaeyeon continued.
"Muttering incomprehensible tales or doing weird stuff, ending up in psych wards."
"..."
"I was worried you'd end up like that."
Jang Chaeyeon murmured, looking at me before turning to Song Arin.
"You, just forget it."
"I wasn't even expecting you to worry about me, but do you have to piss me off like this?"
Song Arin grumbled at Jang Chaeyeon and looked away.
"Wow! The sky's so pretty!"
Far off, Yoo Daon was bouncing around on the moon's surface with a delighted expression.
"Sometimes I have no clue what that one's thinking."
"Read her mind."
"I'm not a mind reader, you dumb white-hair."
"Didn't care enough to know."
"Fair, I thought you were some kinda loser nerd at fir— Hey! Don't poke my back with telekinesis!"
Leaving the bickering pair behind, I walked over to Yoo Daon.
"Daon."
"Yeah, Jaeheon!"
Yoo Daon ran over smiling.
Moon dust clung to her feet, fluttering in the airless void.
"Isn't it too pretty to be a monster's egg?"
"Yeah, it is."
I glanced down at the ground.
Standing on the shell of the egg I'd sealed gave me less a sense of beauty and more a strange triumph, but positive emotions were positive.
"Like you said, we're sightseeing the moon country. How is it?"
"I love it!"
Yoo Daon beamed at me.
"Not just seeing the moon country, but seeing it with you makes it fun!"
"..."
Our eyes met, and I couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Oh, right. Jaeheon, you too—"
"Kim Jaeheon!"
-Boom!
A booming voice rang out as someone landed heavily beside me.
"...Branch Manager?"
The Branch Manager stood next to me.
"When did you get here?"
"Just ran over."
She muttered with a tired face.
"Get chewed out good?"
"Honestly, I got nothing to say this time."
She let out a deep sigh and continued.
"If I just did my job right, but I couldn't, so what can you do."
"No one succeeds every time."
Old folks forget stuff sometimes. I get it. Even I occasionally take the elevator with the manual in hand.
"Anyway, I need to talk urgently."
The Branch Manager looked at Yoo Daon.
"Daon, sorry, mind if I borrow Jaeheon for a bit?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, sure."
Yoo Daon nodded blankly, and the Branch Manager started marching off somewhere.
"Come on, Kim Jaeheon."
"Got it."
I followed behind her.
Silence.
She said nothing as I trailed her.
Once the three of us were out of sight, she finally spoke.
"Whew."
She turned to me.
A smile lit up her face.
"Thanks."
"Huh?"
"Honestly, I was the one in charge, but I wasn't confident this time."
The Branch Manager smiled awkwardly and went on.
"It was my first time handling one solo."
"..."
"But a sorry is a sorry."
She paused, looking at me.
"So, Kim Jaeheon, I have a request—no, a proposal for you."
"...Yes."
She looked at me with a serious expression.
Her cheeks flushed, silence stretched.
Her moist eyes met mine, she cleared her throat, then spoke.
"Um, so."
"Yes."
"...Wanna work with me...? Under me...?"
She whispered shyly.
My answer was set.
"Ew, no thanks."
Despair washed over the Branch Manager's face.