Chapter 264
Chapter 264
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Arirang
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"Connect us!"
"Hold on, calm down!"
Song Arin chased after me, raising a fuss, until I finally raised my voice to stop her.
Only then did Song Arin come to a halt.
"Let's talk first. Why?"
Would she even explain it properly to me?
I stared at her blankly, and finally, she started to hesitate.
"..."
Fidgeting with her fingers in silence, she slowly began to speak.
She'd talked with the Troupe Leader, and after that conversation, she felt like she needed to link with Yoo Daon and the Method.
"..."
Even though it was the same story I'd heard from Jang Chaeyeon, hearing it again made my head hurt.
Why on earth would she make that choice?
"Arin. The Troupe Leader isn't your friend. She's not even friendly toward us."
To be precise, it was impossible to tell if she was friendly or not, but generally speaking, it's hard to feel goodwill toward someone who locked you in an isolation room.
"...That's true, but."
Song Arin mumbled in response.
"You got permission from the others, right?"
"Yeah."
Well, that was something, at least.
"Even so, you should've at least consulted us..."
It felt a bit disappointing.
Song Arin jumped in surprise at my words, then looked down, fidgeting restlessly.
It was already done, so there was no helping it.
I turned to Yoo Daon.
Yoo Daon didn't seem to have any particular thoughts about linking herself with Song Arin.
Instead, she just gazed at Song Arin with a gentle smile.
"Arin."
"...What."
Yoo Daon smiled and extended her hand to Song Arin.
"Want me to help?"
"..."
Song Arin's face crumpled at her words.
They were about to fight again.
As I pondered whether to perform the Method, someone tapped my shoulder.
Turning around, I saw Jang Chaeyeon staring at me.
"I'm heading out now."
"It's only a day early?"
Was there a reason to leave already?
Jang Chaeyeon shook her head.
"I always have to go a day ahead."
"Some kind of preparation?"
"Yeah."
"...Then let me see you off."
I wondered if it was okay to leave the two of them alone for a bit, but I decided to see Jang Chaeyeon off first.
I stepped outside with Jang Chaeyeon.
"So, what exactly are you going there for?"
"The Gangdong Branch is heading to the 'Cave.'"
A forest and now a cave. Things were really getting chaotic.
The moon had come once, so now it was time to visit underground too?
"What are you doing there?"
"If I tell you, it'll leak information..."
"...Ah."
Right. My bad for asking carelessly.
I gave a slight bow of apology, then looked at Jang Chaeyeon.
"In that case... Is there a shelter or something?"
"Shelter... Yeah, there is."
A cabin came to mind. There always seemed to be one in places like that.
"No matter what, don't lie down on the bed."
"Okay."
"And call us for sure. If anything goes wrong, call us from there."
"...If something happens to me, you'll come?"
Jang Chaeyeon stared at me intently.
Was that even a question?
"Of course. I'll drop everything and come."
"...Okay. Then I'll hold out no matter what."
Jang Chaeyeon nodded, then walked out the door of the Management Bureau.
I kept watching her figure until it disappeared under the bright sunlight.
*
As the man left with Jang Chaeyeon, Song Arin turned to Yoo Daon.
"What do you want?"
"What I want?"
Yoo Daon tilted her head as if wondering what the question was.
"I said I'd help you, Arin."
"...Why?"
Song Arin stared at her as if she genuinely couldn't comprehend, and Yoo Daon smiled softly.
"I told you, didn't I? I know you well, Arin."
Song Arin's eyebrow twitched at the words that pierced right through her, but she crossed her arms and looked at Yoo Daon.
"I'll help you."
"You know what you're talking about?"
"I do."
Without taking her eyes off Song Arin, Yoo Daon continued.
"You met with the Troupe Leader recently, right, Arin?"
"..."
Song Arin nodded slowly, and Yoo Daon smiled.
"That wasn't because you lacked the ability to meet her on your own, was it?"
"..."
To hear that from someone who'd passed the exam alongside the man.
A sense of injustice and anger boiled up inside Song Arin.
"And asking to link with me..."
Yoo Daon placed a hand on her chin with a thoughtful hum.
"You probably requested something your mind alone couldn't handle."
"...You."
Song Arin looked up at Yoo Daon.
Did she know...?
"What? Oh, because my mind is different from yours, Arin."
Yoo Daon nodded with a smile.
"But you thought if your mind assimilated with mine, you could do it, right?"
"...Yeah."
She nodded slowly.
"Then let's do it!"
Yoo Daon nodded as if it were no big deal.
"Parasites are useful when you need them, right?"
"..."
A dark sense of pleasure welled up in Song Arin's heart at Yoo Daon's words.
So her own words had hurt this girl after all.
She'd thought she was always the only one getting hurt, but that wasn't the case, and it felt a bit satisfying.
And then, the man opened the door and came in.
*
They didn't fight, right?
"Yes!"
"..."
Yoo Daon smiled and nodded, while Song Arin looked at me with her mouth shut.
"So, Daon-"
"I'm fine."
Yoo Daon approached me with a gentle smile.
"You came because Arin needs this, right?"
"..."
I couldn't give a firm yes to that. It wasn't my place to say—it was Song Arin's.
I looked at Song Arin, and she squeezed her eyes shut before nodding.
"...Yeah."
"...She says yes. You okay with it, Daon?"
"I'm fine!"
Yoo Daon smiled at me.
"I'm ready!"
"Got it."
[Method: 1->0]
A purple thread emerged from above Song Arin's head, connecting to Yoo Daon.
Yoo Daon shuddered as if doused with cold water, and Song Arin squeezed her eyes shut in response.
"Ugh..."
Then, she covered her mouth, retching again.
After a few dry heaves, she stared blankly at the office wall.
"..."
Silently gazing at the wall, she reached out her hand.
Then,
"...Whoa!"
Yoo Daon's eyes widened, and I couldn't hold back my admiration at the sight before me.
The wall was bending.
Defying the laws of physics, like a theater stage curtain.
Soon, Song Arin exhaled sharply and pulled her hand back. At the same moment, the thread above Yoo Daon's head snapped with a sound.
"Ugh, ugh..."
She rubbed her arms, goosebumps covering her body as if it felt unpleasant.
"...Did it work properly?"
"It worked properly. But..."
Song Arin glanced at Yoo Daon and muttered.
"Feels gross."
"Ahaha..."
Yoo Daon laughed awkwardly.
"...Anyway, we've got a lead."
She nodded.
"You worked hard too, Daon."
"Me? I just lent my body and mind, that's all."
"That's more than enough."
"Still, hearing Jaeheon say I worked hard feels nice!"
Yoo Daon smiled and grabbed my arm. Song Arin watched us, arms crossed, staring at the two of us.
"No wonder you two have been touchy lately."
"It's just-"
"We've been through a lot of trials together, so maybe that's why."
Before I could speak, Yoo Daon smiled awkwardly at Song Arin.
"The zoo, the wedge—it's always just me and Jaeheon getting stuck."
"..."
Song Arin looked at us both, then slowly turned and walked out the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Underground."
"Don't stay too long, and be careful always."
"...Got it."
With that, she closed the door. It shut with a thud.
"Shall we head out?"
"Yes!"
There was no way to follow her anyway. I hadn't even applied to meet the Troupe Leader.
I packed my bag while chatting with Yoo Daon.
*
"Cough... cough..."
Soaked to the bone, Jang Chaeyeon pressed her hand against the wall.
Blood kept seeping from her side.
Wiped out.
At least her squad had been wiped out. Not that it was much of a squad—just two others besides her.
Her legs felt heavy. Her body wouldn't listen, heavy as cotton soaked in water.
Should she just collapse? The thought swirled in her mind.
If she fell now, she could rest easy. She was so exhausted.
*Of course. I'll drop everything and come.*
The man's voice echoed in her head.
"..."
Dragging her legs like stones, Jang Chaeyeon took a step forward.
How far had she walked?
The cave's light was fading, and water was rising.
-Splash... splash...
"...Found... it."
Looking up, Jang Chaeyeon saw a cabin with stairs.
The same cabin she'd seen in the mountains and on the moon.
Dragging her heavy legs, she climbed the stairs and entered the cabin.
-Thud.
As tension released, her knees hit the floor, and drowsiness overwhelmed her.
She'd lost too much blood.
She needed to stop the bleeding.
Fortunately, the cabin's interior was just as she'd always seen it.
Bed and pillow, chair and desk.
Jang Chaeyeon slowly pulled the pillow to her side and pressed it against her wound.
"Ugh..."
Her lips clenched at the sharp pain, but she desperately stayed conscious and pulled out her phone.
Of course, there was no signal.
"..."
Was this the end?
Breathing raggedly, she leaned against the wall. The cold surface felt like her last anchor.
He didn't need to come rescue her. It was too dangerous here.
But if he did come—
Please arrive safely.
*
"..."
Lately, it had become routine to fall asleep reading the Manual.
This time was no different.
Except for one thing.
"..."
The child was looking at me.
"Long time no see."
"Something happened."
The child sighed at my words and snapped her fingers.
Suddenly, we were inside the cabin.
Jang Chaeyeon was there, clutching a pillow to her side, breathing laboriously in agony.
"Guide me."
"...Dangerous."
She looked at me, and I looked back at her.
"You could die."
"When has it not been?"
"That's true, but—"
"No time."
I took a step, and she sighed again.
"You'd still go even if—"
"Of course I'm going. Get ready."
"...Ah, okay."
My eyes snapped open.
A bookmark was suddenly in my hand.
I tucked the Manual into my pocket and made a call.
"Yes. Arin, it's me. Yeah. Come out. Call Daon too."
I hung up.
Let's go.
The moonlight shone brilliantly, illuminating the path.