Chapter 210
Chapter 210
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Translator: Crow
Chapter Title: 210. Fine Dining
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As soon as I got the ticket, all sorts of thoughts flooded my mind.
Should I run away?
Should I pass the ticket to the Team Leader?
"Team Leader, this ticket really should go to you—"
"I've already changed the reservation to your name. I don't want to owe a kid younger than me."
The Team Leader shot me down cold.
"..."
Should I just hand it off to someone from the HR Team?
I spoke to Park Ye-eun, who was sitting there shaking her leg.
"Ye-eun. Do you have any friends?"
"I do?"
Park Ye-eun tilted her head as she answered.
"Wanna go here?"
"Ugh, no thanks."
She responded with the exact same words and expression I'd used on the branch manager a few days ago.
"You're just trying to dump a bomb on me."
"I thought you said lately you like some friend or whatever..."
"There's no such thing. I'm dying from how busy every day is."
"..."
"You think it's easy carrying around combat rations for twenty people? Even I get a dislocated shoulder, a shoulder."
"..."
What the hell does this girl get up to when I'm not around?
I resolved to grab her later and have a serious discussion about Eirin and the process for becoming a full employee, then looked at Park Ye-eun with the mindset of someone clutching a lifeline.
"Wanna go with me, then?"
"Gasp!"
It wasn't me who answered—it was the Team Leader suddenly gasping from way over there.
The Team Leader stared at a single strand of hair falling from his head, then abruptly stood up and headed for the door.
"I, I, I'm just going for a walk!"
-Thud.
The door closed, and Park Ye-eun subtly got up.
"I don't have a thing for older guys."
"You like younger ones?"
"I just hate humans in general."
Park Ye-eun never gave an inch.
"Please let me go."
She looked at me with a desperate expression.
"I'm really scared, oppa."
"No, it's just that you take the ticket—"
Before I could finish, she headed for the door.
-Thud, the door closed.
Yeah. Looks like I never had a choice.
"..."
I turned to look at the three of them.
Can't I just send the two who win at rock-paper-scissors?
As that thought crossed my mind, Jang Chaeyeon spoke up.
"Do whatever's easiest."
"That's true."
Song Arin let out a deep sigh too.
"I don't even know why the Team Leader gave this to you in the first place."
I caught sight of Song Arin muttering that there was a high chance something would go wrong.
"But yeah, I get that feeling too."
Was the Team Leader really giving this out of the goodness of his heart?
No, it was probably out of goodwill.
The problem was what results that goodwill ticket would bring.
My eyes met Jang Chaeyeon's.
"What do you think will happen, Chaeyeon?"
"A crazy chef who feeds people human flesh appears."
"He'd probably call himself something like 'Gourmand.'"
"Would he torment people mentally? Or overwhelming force otherwise?"
"So how should we respond?"
"If it's force, I go. If it's mental, she goes."
"Right."
"...What are you two doing?"
Jang Chaeyeon pointed at Song Arin, who looked utterly baffled as she stared at us after overhearing the conversation.
"Making a plan."
"Because something anomalous is definitely— no, bound to happen."
"..."
Song Arin blinked at us.
"It's not impossible...!"
She let out a deep sigh.
"Then yeah, I should go."
"...That's not it."
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin looked at each other.
"...If a fight breaks out, I'd be better."
"So what? If a mental attack hits, you'd just be smashing this guy's head with your fancy telekinesis."
"And you'd just stand there watching helplessly."
"..."
They talked like I was some precious thing they absolutely had to protect. Felt a bit unfair.
I had high resistance to mental attacks anyway, and I had my own combat ability. Assuming Critical kicked in.
Rather—
"Wouldn't it make sense for me to go?"
Yoo Daon cut in, looking at them both with a genuinely puzzled expression.
"Weak to mental attacks."
"..."
Yoo Daon pointed at Jang Chaeyeon.
"Jack of all trades, master of none."
"You really wanna get wrecked?"
Song Arin glared at Yoo Daon, eyes flashing at her words.
"If push comes to shove, I can protect Jaeheon—huh?"
Yoo Daon started confidently but stood up straight into a transparent chair pose.
Soon, thick books flew through the air and stacked on her knees.
"The one weakest to mental attacks."
"Add more weight?"
"Do it."
Jang Chaeyeon nodded at Song Arin's cold words, and another thick book landed on Yoo Daon's knees.
"Wait, my thighs are gonna burst...! Muscle pain, muscle pain...!"
"You regenerate."
"Jaeheon, help!"
"I'll go find the branch manager."
Told you to play nice.
I left the bickering trio and headed out to the branch manager's office.
If it's really a Containment Object we end up meeting, bringing the branch manager would be the biggest win. She could crush it with one punch.
The branch manager looked at me under the shining sunlight.
"Isn't that an overreaction?"
"..."
She gave me a troubled smile after hearing me out.
"I know you've been through a ton of incidents, Kim Jaeheon..."
"But if I get caught in another one, won't you be the one getting summoned by headquarters?"
Her smiling face cracked at my words.
"...W-Well, that's true..."
"So come with?"
"No, even so, there haven't been any reports of incidents at the Gangseo Hotel yet..."
"Anything like a 'Gourmand' Containment Object or anomaly?"
"Nothing like that..."
The branch manager answered with a troubled look.
"Honestly, I'd love to go, but I'm busy too. I've got a business trip to the Australia branch this afternoon."
"Australia?"
"Don't ever try being a branch manager, Jaeheon."
The branch manager sighed deeply and looked at me.
"You got tickets to the Gangseo Hotel restaurant, right?"
"Yes."
"...Alright, just in case, I'll send someone undercover. I'll say there's something Containment Object-like there."
"Thanks."
"Normally I'd never allow it, but with you, Kim Jaeheon, it feels like you could manifest a nonexistent Containment Object."
The branch manager sighed.
"Anyway, I can't go. Who're you taking?"
"..."
Who to take.
Several faces flashed through my mind.
Didn't take long to decide.
*
I figured I should pack some decent clothes, so I rummaged through my closet, but no matter what, the suit was the best I had.
In other words, the same as my work outfit.
I ended up putting on the suit and stepping out, and the person waiting for me sighed like the ground was caving in upon seeing me.
"You heading to work?"
"If something happens, work starts right away."
"Get my permission before you dress like that from now on."
Song Arin sighed as she looked at me.
"You dressed up nice, Arin."
"Just followed the dress code."
It felt more like she'd packed dresses instead of her usual suits.
"...Anyway."
"Yeah."
"You sure I'm okay?"
Song Arin muttered, looking away from me.
"Back then, I was just heated and went along saying yes or no, but if you think about it the other way, instead of me, white hair or... ...black hair's kinda no."
I pondered as I watched her mutter.
When I said I'd take Song Arin, reactions were mixed.
'...Fine.'
Jang Chaeyeon, furrowing her brow.
'...Jack of all trades still means lots of talents...'
Yoo Daon, mumbling like she got it.
Either way, they both accepted it.
"I'm not picking for a specific role."
"...Then why?"
Song Arin looked at me.
I recalled the expression she'd made on the moon.
"Just... yeah. A thank-you."
"Thank-you? Don't you owe thanks to the others too?"
"Of course I plan to thank the others too."
To Jang Chaeyeon, to Yoo Daon.
"But this felt right with you, Arin."
"..."
Song Arin fell silent after hearing me.
"Let's go."
She grabbed my sleeve.
"Hurry. I'm hungry."
"Fine dining isn't exactly for filling your stomach."
"Come if I say come. Let's go."
The way she pulled me along.
"Hurry!"
She was smiling.
*
"...Whoa."
This must be what being overwhelmed feels like.
Chandeliers sparkled from the ceiling, and every person entering was dressed to the nines.
Some looked like rich folks, others tense like they were facing a life-defining moment.
Either way, they all knew it wasn't easy to come here.
But we couldn't fully enjoy it like that.
"..."
"..."
Amid couples whispering sweet nothings at candlelit tables swaying romantically, we couldn't do the same.
Song Arin and I stared at each other with serious faces.
"Alright, let's plan."
"Yeah."
"First, check the appetizers closely."
"...But how do we know if it's weird after eating it?"
"...Texture?"
"It's too late once it's in your mouth...!"
Song Arin looked horrified, and just then, the waiter approached us.
Song Arin tensed up, and I immediately checked above his head.
[Name: Han Sang-beom]
[Age: 23]
[Talent: None]
[Specialty: None]
[Background: Once this part-time gig ends, I'm going on a trip with my girlfriend, he thinks.]
[Weakness: Ordinary human. Strike a vital spot and he dies.]
Just a normal guy.
"The appetizer, salad topped with octopus."
Octopus?
Song Arin and I exchanged glances.
"...Tell us now."
Song Arin stared him down intently, and his expression vanished.
"...Yes."
"What's this octopus."
"Fresh from the fish market..."
"Tell the truth."
"Actually..."
Song Arin's eyes gleamed, and I slipped my hand into my pocket.
Actually?
"Octopus from the fish market yesterday..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Song Arin quietly snapped her fingers, light returned to the man's eyes, and he blinked, rubbed his temple, and walked off.
"...Should we eat?"
"...Yeah."
The salad was delicious.