Chapter 263
Chapter 263
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 263. Connect Us
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"Where's Arin?"
"Who knows?"
After work wrapped up, Yoo Daon tilted her head at my question and replied.
Song Arin had been busy lately.
She was still doing her job at the company, but every time work ended, she vanished somewhere and didn't show up again.
Where on earth could she be going?
Jang Chaeyeon seemed to know, but since she wasn't volunteering the information, it felt like she was politely refusing to tell me, which made it awkward to pry.
It was tricky to dig into.
"But I don't think you need to worry!"
Yoo Daon smiled softly and patted my arm.
Ever since the Love Zoo incident, Yoo Daon had started touching my body without any hesitation in a strangely casual way.
It didn't feel bad or anything, but seeing this side of her that I hadn't before left a peculiar sensation. That was about it.
"I doubt it's anything for Jaeheon to worry about that much!"
"How would you know that, Daon?"
She wasn't Song Arin, after all, so it was hard for her to give such a firm answer on something like this.
"Hmm, a hunch?"
She smiled like that.
...
Yeah. If it's a hunch, nothing I can do about it. No point racking my brain over something I don't know anyway.
I looked at Jang Chaeyeon.
Jang Chaeyeon was acting a bit off too.
She used to chat with me a lot before, but lately, she'd been spending more time alone.
I had no idea what was going on with everyone, but it felt like some kind of change was happening.
Had they figured out something about the exam? If so, they might be feeling inferior or anxious.
It was only natural to feel upset if others got promoted ahead of you when you were always together.
So what should I say to comfort them? Wait, was it even right for me to comfort them in the first place?
Anyone else maybe, but shouldn't I avoid that? It'd be like pouring oil on a fire.
As I pondered deeply, someone opened the door and came in.
"Not heading home?"
It was Eileen.
She came and went from the HR Team like it was her own house now. I wondered if this was okay, but she looked much happier than before and had blended well into the Response Team, so there wasn't much reason to stop her.
"Guess I should."
"You look worried about something."
Eileen stared straight at my face.
I swear, before joining the company, people couldn't read my expressions this easily, but now everyone was a pro at it.
"Yeah, just curious about something."
"What?"
"Eileen, did you..."
"Yeah?"
"...Ah, never mind."
On second thought, asking Eileen if she'd taken some kind of exam for her promotion or what merits she'd been recognized for would be a cruel thing to do.
Especially to someone who'd lost her memories.
"What is it."
She smirked and looked at Yoo Daon.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"Before we clock out, let's spar a bit."
"Hmm..."
Yoo Daon fell into thought at Eileen's words.
Ever since that fight, Eileen occasionally came to Yoo Daon to learn combat techniques.
Of course, Eileen was better at fighting overall, but she said there were things she could learn.
'There might come a time when I have to fight non-humans.'
That's what she'd told me.
"What's going on?"
"...No, I'll head out first."
I shook my head at Yoo Daon, who was looking at me, packed my bag, and soon Jang Chaeyeon stood beside me with her bag in hand.
"Heading out?"
"Yeah."
Jang Chaeyeon nodded, and we left the office together.
...
...
She didn't say a word until we exited the elevator and stepped outside.
She was just walking quietly.
"Chaeyeon."
"Yeah."
Jang Chaeyeon, who had been staring at the ground, looked up at me.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
She nodded at my question.
The problem was she always said she was fine.
Normally, I'd let it slide with "I see," but not today.
"You're not."
"...Huh?"
Jang Chaeyeon blinked in surprise at my words.
"You're not okay."
"...Well..."
"I've been around you enough to tell. What's bothering you?"
...
At my words, Jang Chaeyeon kept glancing at the ground and back at me before finally nodding.
"Yeah, there is."
"What is it?"
...
Jang Chaeyeon closed her eyes and opened them again.
"I'm weak."
"Pardon?"
Jang Chaeyeon was weak?
It didn't really hit home coming from someone who could snap our necks like twigs.
Soon, Jang Chaeyeon sighed and began explaining.
She'd seen the CCTV footage and heard from the man in sunglasses that she lacked capability.
...
I didn't say a word until she finished speaking.
She must have agonized a lot over telling me this.
"...You've been through a lot."
"...No."
Jang Chaeyeon slowly shook her head at my words.
"But hmm, I don't think that's true."
The era of judging people solely by capability is over.
Sure, individuals can differ in skills.
"Leave me alone, and I'm useless too."
No telekinesis. Die if something brushes me. Can't read minds.
Alone, I'm just someone with good eyesight.
...
What to say.
After a moment's thought, I opened my mouth.
"I like you the way you are now, Chaeyeon."
...
Jang Chaeyeon fell silent.
"So don't feel burdened. Just having you by my side is enough for me."
She said nothing at first, then sighed again and spoke.
"Got it."
"...You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah."
Doesn't seem like it.
"I—"
As I eyed her suspiciously, Jang Chaeyeon spoke up.
"There's something at the Gangdong Branch asking for help, so I need to go."
"Asking for help?"
"Wedge operation."
"...Ah."
The image of Yoo Daon in her adult form flashed in my mind.
"Want me to come along?"
"I'd like that, but."
Jang Chaeyeon looked at me with eyes full of regret.
"Wedge operations at Gangdong Branch require prior registration and checks."
"Like a procedure?"
"...Something like that. Hard to rush it."
What kind of procedure could it be?
Jang Chaeyeon didn't seem keen on elaborating either.
"...Understood. When do you go?"
"Day after tomorrow."
"You told the Team Leader?"
"Yeah."
"Got it."
I nodded, thought for a bit, then looked at Jang Chaeyeon.
"If anything happens, you have to call me. Promise."
"Yeah, don't worry."
"No pride, no matter what. Got it?"
"...Hehe."
Jang Chaeyeon smiled as she listened to my plea.
"What?"
"Feels nice that you're worried."
"...Anyway, you have to tell me. Promise."
"Yeah. Promise."
Jang Chaeyeon held out her pinky, and after a moment's hesitation, I hooked mine with hers.
She smiled softly, then let out an "Ah" and opened her mouth.
What now?
"Song Arin's training with the Troupe Leader."
"What did you say?"
*
-Drip.
Blood dripped from Song Arin's nose.
"That's not how you do it."
The Troupe Leader shook her head as she looked at her.
"You can't just extend the threads without thinking."
"...I'm trying..."
"Then do more."
"I will."
Song Arin wiped the nosebleed roughly with the back of her hand and replied.
It had taken four full days of persuasion.
She'd yelled, begged, appealed to emotions, but the Troupe Leader wouldn't budge.
At least the Troupe Leader was unusually, no, exceptionally favorable toward the Management Bureau. Otherwise, Song Arin might have lost the right to even meet her.
In the end, the Troupe Leader hadn't given in to Song Arin's persuasion, and only agreed to help after Song Arin spat out words from the depths of her heart, as if vomiting blood.
What did she say?
Something so shameful she'd rather bash her head against the wall and die than recall it.
"Again."
Song Arin extended her hand, and threads shot out, embedding into the wall.
"Pull."
She pulled the wall, and it wobbled before stopping.
"Again."
"...How the hell am I supposed to do this?"
The Troupe Leader had said one thing.
View the world like a play.
Make the boundary between reality and theater as thin as possible.
Easier said than done. It was basically telling her to go insane.
Anyone else would have lost it.
Song Arin was managing only because she could hypnotize herself.
"...Something's lacking."
The Troupe Leader, who had been training her nonstop, closed her eyes with a hum.
Not that she needed to move much, bound in restraints with both arms and legs secured.
"What's lacking?"
"Your life's wrong."
...
She hadn't expected her own life to be denied like that out of nowhere.
Song Arin stared at the Troupe Leader in disbelief, but the Troupe Leader looked back as if to say, "What're you looking at?"
"It's true."
"...Fine. Say it's wrong."
Don't get annoyed. I'm the lesser one here.
Song Arin desperately calmed herself and looked at the Troupe Leader.
"What'd I do wrong?"
"How old are you?"
"...21."
"Me, 26."
The Troupe Leader nodded.
"Had friends, but they're all dead. You?"
"I don't have friends—"
Song Arin stopped there.
She did have some.
The HR Team folks could be called friends, sort of.
"You've lived too happily."
The Troupe Leader told Song Arin in a calm voice.
"That's why reality and theater are so distinct for you."
"...So what do I do?"
Song Arin's energy drained away.
If her whole life up to now was wrong and she couldn't follow because of it, didn't that mean everything was a mistake?
Should she just give up?
As a heavy sense of defeat settled in her heart, the Troupe Leader spoke again.
"But there's a way. I can always do it."
"...You can always do it?"
What did that even mean?
Unless they completely swapped her with someone else—
...
"Got it?"
The Troupe Leader looked at Song Arin, and Song Arin shot up from her seat.
"Where you going?"
"I'll come tomorrow."
"Okay."
Song Arin glanced at the Troupe Leader's face as she closed the door.
She just stared back with an expressionless face.
*
"Hey. Connect me with her."
"Pardon?"
The moment I got to work, it was Song Arin who called me over.
Song Arin pointed at Yoo Daon, who widened her eyes.
"Me?"
"Connect us."
Song Arin stared straight at me.