Chapter 223
Chapter 223
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Easiest Person
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My head throbs.
It wasn't because someone had launched a mental attack at me. The situation itself was just giving me a headache.
Not only did they want me to pick one, but what the hell was I supposed to say to that person?
'Actually, you just looked like the easiest one.'
Even thinking it was horrifying.
It was something you couldn't say to someone's face, and definitely not what I wanted to say.
...
[Everyone, please do your best from your own positions.]
As soon as those words came to mind, the world cleared up again.
We were back on the university campus.
Had everyone read their own missions?
Some people were looking around with serious expressions, while others shrugged indifferently.
But one thing was certain.
"Team Leader."
"Yeah, what?"
"...With me..."
"Huh?"
"...Never mind."
No matter what, they wouldn't think I was crazy.
Who should I even ask?
Yeeun was too young. And Eileen...
"...We just started dating and you're already breaking up, ex-boyfriend."
Eileen looked at me playfully.
I felt unnecessarily sorry.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
Eileen met my eyes and gave a small smile, waving her hand.
"Anyway, it's all just roles in the end."
"Still, ending it like this feels a bit off."
"Everything ends up disappointing in some way."
Eileen smiled faintly at my words.
"Anyway, let me know if you need anything. I'll help."
"What about you, Eileen? What's your mission?"
She was in the same position as me, so she probably got something similar.
"Curious?"
Eileen looked at me.
"...You don't have to say if you don't want to."
"Nah, it's not that hard."
Eileen smiled faintly and waved her hand.
"Mine says I wore rubber shoes crookedly, and because of that, a lot of people will hate me."
...
"So, live quietly at school. That's the content."
...
"You're making that death-flag face again."
"Isn't this a total death flag?"
Turning someone into trash out of nowhere.
"I was the one who wore the rubber shoes crookedly in the first place, so why are you worrying?"
"There's no buildup, no process."
If it were a real deep relationship with Eileen that ended, sure. But breaking up right after a short school life score-farming stint? No immersion, just guilt.
"Anyway, don't stress too much."
Eileen waved her hand.
"You too, let me know if you need anything."
"...I don't think there's anything you could help with, Eileen."
Anyone else maybe, but Eileen was someone who absolutely couldn't help with this.
"You're saying it that emphatically, so it's something related to me."
Eileen smirked.
"...You're quick on the uptake."
"You have to be quick, or you die in this team."
She patted my shoulder.
"Got it. I'm heading out first."
Then she shoved her hands in her pockets and walked off somewhere.
An Sang-hyun—
Was already gone, rolled off somewhere.
Team Leader had vanished too.
Park Yeeun had been grabbed by someone who seemed like a professor and disappeared with a desperate cry for help.
In the end, it was just the four of us left again.
"...You look bad. You okay?"
"No."
Anyone could see my expression was the worst.
Jang Chaeyeon, who had been watching my face, grew even more worried at my answer.
"If it's tough, I can help."
...
What should I say here?
That she should date me?
...
"You were about to say something, why stop?"
Jang Chaeyeon tilted her head, looking at me.
"Well..."
"Yeah."
"Um..."
"Yeah."
Jang Chaeyeon looked at me.
Our eyes met, and I finally thought I had to say it.
"Actually—"
"Hey!"
Before I could finish, Song Arin stormed over, yelling angrily.
"W-Why?"
I nearly jumped.
As I clutched my startled chest and looked at Song Arin, she raised one eyebrow at me.
"Help me out!"
"Sure, what? It's not hard."
Was it worth yelling that loud?
As I looked at her dubiously, Song Arin nodded.
"Mine says I have to stop the professor from making me stay another year as a grad student."
"Is that even possible?"
Isn't that a death sentence?
"Just hypnotize him?"
"If it works?"
"Oh, then it'll be fine. Thanks."
With that, Song Arin turned and walked off briskly.
"Right, Arin."
"What."
...
Was Song Arin really the easiest?
Somehow, I doubted it.
"What? Spit it out."
"...Never mind."
"...Is it something I can't do?"
Her perceptiveness was uncanny again; Song Arin glanced at me slyly, raising her eyes like she was gauging my reaction.
"...Yeah, it might not suit you, Arin."
"...Too bad."
She muttered that and walked off in another direction.
What the hell.
...
Jang Chaeyeon was staring intently at Song Arin.
"...Gonna tell me?"
"Well..."
Thinking it over again, it still seemed tough.
"...Nah."
...
At my words, Jang Chaeyeon looked back where Song Arin had gone, then waved her hand sharply, and Song Arin clutched her head like she'd been hit and crouched down.
"You crazy bitch!"
Song Arin shrieked from afar, but Jang Chaeyeon ignored it completely and stared at me.
"If something's up, tell me."
"...Got it."
"Good. Then—"
"Kyaa! Chaeyeon!!"
Before she could finish, someone came running and tackled her, and Jang Chaeyeon hurriedly grabbed my arm.
A swarm of people rushed toward her.
With a clamor, people surrounded Jang Chaeyeon again.
"Chaeyeon! What are we doing today?"
"What're you eating? Lunch with me?"
"Then dinner with me?"
Wow.
...
Jang Chaeyeon looked at the ground with a fed-up expression.
"Doesn't suit you at all."
"Yeah."
"Who's this guy? Boyfriend?"
People murmured, looking at me.
"Chaeyeon's boyfriend?"
"Not even that striking a face."
"Chaeyeon would be wasting herself dating him."
People buzzed, staring at me.
This isn't easy at all. Is this the life of a social butterfly?
I want no part of being one.
"Quiet."
While I was thinking that, Jang Chaeyeon spoke in a firm voice.
Everyone fell silent at her words.
"...Let's go."
Jang Chaeyeon glanced around, then grabbed my wrist.
"Sure, let's go."
I followed her plainly.
It was just a game anyway.
After pushing through the crowd, Jang Chaeyeon looked at me.
...Whew.
She sighed.
"Tough, huh?"
"...Yeah."
Unlike her, she answered honestly.
"Doesn't suit me."
"Seems that way."
How did the biggest introvert among us end up with this role?
"...Then, help me with my mission."
Jang Chaeyeon glanced at me.
"Ah, sure. Tell me."
My own nose was made of stone right now, but this wasn't something pondering would solve anyway.
...
Jang Chaeyeon seemed to hesitate for a moment, closing and opening her eyes repeatedly.
"Well..."
"Yeah."
"...It's like..."
Jang Chaeyeon muttered, then let out a deep sigh.
"...Become someone I can share my true feelings with."
"...Huh."
Not dating?
Someone to share true feelings with?
That's incredibly vague.
As I pondered, Jang Chaeyeon hurriedly continued.
"It's just... I feel the same, but I don't have many people to open up to..."
A very long sentence, uncharacteristic of Jang Chaeyeon.
"...Nah, it's fine with me."
That meshed well.
"Actually, I have something to say too."
"...Yeah."
"...Chaeyeon."
"Yeah."
Jang Chaeyeon met my eyes.
Her white hair shone in the sunlight, her eyes facing mine.
"W-Will you go out with me?"
"...Huh?"
Jang Chaeyeon's eyes widened for a moment,
and a chill ran through my body.
What?
I looked around, but felt nothing.
"...Um, h-ha, just one question."
Hearing me, Jang Chaeyeon visibly flustered and continued.
"Th-There's, um."
"Yeah."
"Uh... by any chance."
"Yeah."
"Is this, um, a m-m-mission?"
"Yeah."
"...Ah..."
At my words, Jang Chaeyeon's expression shifted rapidly.
First, her eyes widened in shock.
Then, she closed them in despair.
Then, she shook her head.
Finally.
"...Yeah, sure."
She slowly smiled at me.
"...I-It's okay, right?"
This emotional side of Jang Chaeyeon was a first for me.
"Yeah, sure."
She smiled.
...
Was Jang Chaeyeon the easiest person?
I didn't know the definition of "easy," but if asked if she was one of the people I felt most comfortable with, then yes.
At the same time.
-Ding-ding-ding!
A cheerful sound rang out, and a window popped up in front of me.
[You have succeeded in the mission!]
[You obtain 100 points!]
[Kim Jaeheon: 130 points]
Oh.
It even calculates scores like this.
I looked at the screen, then at Jang Chaeyeon.
She was staring blankly at her screen too, probably going through something similar.
"Got points?"
"...Yeah."
She smiled faintly at my words.
"Phew, thanks. At least our ideas matched, so it ended quick."
Jang Chaeyeon smiled again at my words.
"It's not over yet."
"...Huh?"
"It didn't say the role is finished."
Jang Chaeyeon smiled and took my hand.
A soft touch wrapped around mine.
-Ding-ding-ding!
10 points up.
"I heard it's a life game that goes to the end."
Jang Chaeyeon smiled.
"So, shouldn't I go all the way with you?"
"...Uh."
What should I say? As I was pondering,
"...Uh, Jaeheon. Chaeyeon!"
A familiar voice called.
"What are you doing here?"
Yoo Daon appeared, looking at us.
Yoo Daon stared at our joined hands, and I tried to pull away,
-Thud!
Jang Chaeyeon held on tight.
"...Seems like Jaeheon is uncomfortable."
"I doubt it."
The two started talking to each other.
This is getting scary.