Chapter 265
Chapter 265
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 265. Water Jet
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"This goddamn Management Bureau. They can't do anything right!"
Song Arin vented her frustration by kicking a nearby utility pole.
Late at night, I called Song Arin and Yoo Daon, asking if they could help out if they had time, and fortunately, both showed up right away.
"This trash heap of an organization claims to protect the world? I can't believe human society is really okay with this!"
Song Arin shouted in an agitated voice, turning to look at me.
"Those worthless idiots from the Gangdong Branch. I should just grab one and stab him."
"Come to think of it, doesn't the Gangdong Branch have a lot of accidents?"
Yoo Daon muttered curiously, looking at us.
The moon hung brilliantly in the sky, and there was no one around.
"The Gangdong Branch... yeah, it's like that."
Song Arin muttered, shaking her head.
What did she mean by "like that"?
"Anyway, it's full of screw-loose morons."
The sleazy Gangbuk Branch, the screw-loose Gangdong Branch, the inscrutable Gangnam Branch.
"What about the Gangseo Branch?"
"A den of lunatics."
That didn't sound wrong.
"So, you called us, which means you know the way to the wedge operation, right?"
"Doesn't Arin know?"
At my question, Song Arin smacked her own forehead.
"That's why they call the Gangseo Branch a den of lunatics."
"You know the way?"
"Yeah."
Song Arin answered calmly to my question, looking at me.
"But if we go on our own like this, we might get in trouble. No, we'll definitely get chewed out."
"Probably."
Interfering in another branch's business. A wedge operation, no less. Without permission, based on a unilateral decision.
"You okay with that?"
"Just say I ordered you two to do it."
At my response, Song Arin sighed, and Yoo Daon jumped in surprise.
"Then Jaeheon'll get in trouble!"
"If I said to go, I take responsibility."
That's what responsibility is.
"No time to waste standing around."
I got into the prepared car and looked at the two of them.
"Let's go."
"...Fine. But let's at least tell Team Leader first."
Fair point. If no one shows up tomorrow morning, he'd be shocked.
I started the car, texted Team Leader, and for good measure, texted Eileen too.
The moment I sent the texts, my phone rang from Eileen.
"Yeah."
[The first text got me excited, wondering what it was, but it turns out it's just 'going to rescue someone without telling the Management Bureau, so bear with it'?]
"Can you help?"
A deep sigh came through the speaker from Eileen.
[Fine. My life's the one pawned away, not yours.]
"Sorry."
[Whatever. Buy me dinner next time. Booze too. High-proof stuff.]
"Eileen drinks well?"
[No.]
Then why ask for high-proof booze?
"Anyway, got it."
[You mean it? Hanging up.]
Then Eileen hung up.
I started driving and glanced at Song Arin to ask where we were going. She was staring at me with a sullen expression.
"High-proof booze."
"What's wrong with that?"
"Sigh. Never mind."
Song Arin sighed and looked away.
"Just keep driving for now. We have to hit the highway anyway."
"Got it."
I pressed the pedal and accelerated.
The car sped along the highway at tremendous speed, passing the capital area toward the eastern sea, when Song Arin finally spoke.
"Exit onto the national road here."
"Yes."
I glanced back at Yoo Daon.
She was sleeping soundly.
Good. She should rest.
I took the national road exit.
Soon, a road without a single streetlight appeared.
"...Go a bit further, then pull over."
"How much further?"
"A bit is a bit. Why ask more?"
Unbelievable.
How long had I been driving when Song Arin spoke.
"Stop."
I slowly brought the car to a halt.
In pitch-black darkness, only the car's headlights shone, and Song Arin slowly got out.
"Daon, wake up."
"Mmm..."
Yoo Daon yawned, opened her eyes, saw me, and widened them.
"Ah, sorry! I dozed off!"
"Better if at least one of us rests."
Especially Yoo Daon. She had nothing but hard work ahead.
As Yoo Daon and I got out, Song Arin, who had been staring at the ground with her chin in her hand, looked at us.
"First off, this isn't the official route."
"Then what is it?"
"A closed route now. Reason? A whole team got wiped out walking this path back then."
"Don't know the standard route?"
"You think I do? I'm just vaguely remembering something from long ago."
Song Arin glared at me with fierce eyes.
"Hey. Take the lead."
"Me?"
"Who else? You."
Song Arin looked at Yoo Daon, who widened her eyes then nodded.
"Got it!"
"You sure?"
"No one else to put in front but me, right?"
"..."
Yoo Daon was right, but hearing it straight like that made me feel a bit guilty.
Yoo Daon smiled and stepped forward.
"Which way?"
"...Straight for now."
Yoo Daon strode ahead confidently at Song Arin's direction.
"What exactly happened?"
"If my memory's right, it was the team that came after us."
Leaving the national road, an open field pitch-black ahead appeared.
I shone my smartphone light and started walking slowly.
"Then contact suddenly cut off, and the last thing they said was something like that."
"What'd they say?"
"Something like, 'The water's rising.' I think?"
"The water's rising?"
It had an inseparable bond with water.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and kept walking.
"So, we just keep going like this to the end?"
"Nope."
Song Arin shook her head and looked around.
"Ah, about here."
Then, she stomped hard.
-Thud!
With a sound like stepping on sheet metal, wind blew from behind.
I turned my head.
"...Whoa."
A cave had suddenly appeared before us.
"What is this?"
"Management Bureau set up perception blocking so civilians can't get in."
"Like a hologram?"
"I don't know details. Don't ask."
Song Arin walked into the cave as she said that.
"...Tch."
She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Failed."
...
-Splash!
Following Song Arin, a splashing sound echoed as I stepped in a puddle.
"Careful."
Song Arin grabbed my shoulder.
"Don't look at the floor. Just walk."
"Mental attack?"
"No, for your mental health."
What?
I looked at Song Arin puzzled, but she started walking forward slowly.
Soon, Yoo Daon, bringing up the rear, entered the cave and exclaimed in surprise.
"Wow! There are tons of people in the water?"
"Argh, where'd she sell her sense for?"
Song Arin muttered irritably, and I, hearing Yoo Daon, looked at the floor too.
Couldn't call them people.
If you call those things in the water during that heavy rain incident people, sure.
But this...
"...What is it?"
Indescribable.
Sometimes they looked like people, sometimes just unknown lumps.
Why did Yoo Daon call this people?
"This totally looks like people, right...?"
Not Yoo Daon? she muttered, looking at me.
No idea.
"Stop looking and follow, both of you."
Song Arin, having heard us, grabbed our shoulders and started dragging us along.
"Why, Arin?"
"When I say don't look, just don't."
Song Arin sighed deeply again.
I glanced down at the water below.
Gradually, the water was turning red.
*
After that, it was much the same, with Song Arin dragging us around.
She roamed the cave freely, busily searching for something.
"Not looking for the cabin?"
"Sorry, now's not the time to hunt for a cabin."
Song Arin muttered, starting to fiddle with the wall.
"Come on, tell us and we'll help."
...
Only then did Song Arin turn to look at me.
"Fine. You go. Take her with you."
"Me?"
Yoo Daon pointed at herself with a finger.
"Yeah. You're fine, but black hair won't hold up alone."
"...Got it. What do I do?"
Song Arin kept fiddling with the wall as she answered.
"You'll feel a round handle while touching the wall."
"Yes."
"Pull it. Then call me."
"That's it?"
"No."
Song Arin stopped touching the wall, looked at me, then at Yoo Daon.
"Black hair."
"Yes."
Yoo Daon's face turned serious at Song Arin's expression.
"When the water rises to your chest, you carry him."
"Got it."
"Don't forget. He absolutely can't let water touch his chest."
"Yes."
Yoo Daon nodded seriously and looked at me.
"Let's go, Jaeheon."
"...We'll see."
Song Arin nodded and resumed fiddling with the wall.
Leaving Song Arin behind, Yoo Daon and I started feeling along the wall.
"Hmm..."
After feeling the wall several times, Yoo Daon looked at me.
"Doesn't it smell a bit?"
"What smell?"
As I felt the wall and asked Yoo Daon, she continued.
"Bloody fishy smell...?"
Fishy?
I sniffed, but smelled nothing.
Should I check the manual?
I slowly opened the manual, but no text appeared.
What.
"Let's focus on the wall first."
"Yes!"
How long had we been feeling the wall.
Just as my hand started to hurt, something round caught on my fingertip.
...
This?
"Daon, found it."
"Really?"
Yoo Daon hurried over to me, and I slowly pulled the handle.
She said to call Song Arin after pulling it.
"Arin! Pulled the handle!"
I thought I heard Song Arin shouting something from afar.
But...
-Rush...
The pouring sound drowned out Song Arin's voice properly.
"Arin! Can't hear-"
Before I finished, Yoo Daon hurriedly hugged me.
"Jaeheon!"
What, suddenly.
At the same time,
-Splash!