Chapter 281
Chapter 281
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: That'll Do
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Happiness..."
That's a tough question.
What should I say...
While I was pondering, the darkness faded, and Park Ye-eun groaned as she opened her eyes.
"Uh..."
"You alive?"
"Oppa...?"
She stared up at me blankly before looking at Manual.
"Oh, I must've passed out."
"What did you see?"
"Uh... um... something... really... scary..."
She trailed off, glancing around.
"Anyway, it wasn't good."
"Nothing happened, so don't worry too much."
Park Ye-eun nodded in relief, and Manual stepped forward as if asking what had happened.
"Let's go out and check now."
"That's it?"
"Probably not. There's always a reason for places like this that need managing."
She spoke calmly and headed out the door.
At the same moment, a massive gust of wind blew, forcing her back a few steps.
"I knew this would happen."
She clicked her tongue.
"What is it?"
I grabbed Manual's shoulders as she nearly toppled backward and peered outside.
A freezing wind was howling.
The corridor was completely iced over, making it hard to walk, and icicles hung thickly from the ceiling.
"At least it's just cold. Old records say the floor was once lava."
Manual said it casually as she started walking.
"Brr, it's freezing...!"
Park Ye-eun and I shivered as we followed behind her.
"O-oppa... won't you... give your coat... to your cute, freezing little sister...?"
"If I take this off, I'll freeze to death. Don't young people give coats to old guys anymore?"
"You're still holding onto that time I called you an old guy? You look so pathetic."
"Hey, give me your coat."
"Ah, wait! I'm kidding! I'm kidding! Don't take my clothes! Eek!"
"You wanna fight right now? Hurry up and follow."
We stopped bickering at Manual's words and started walking again.
"Why'd it turn into this?"
"Your team leader went into the fridge."
"Right."
"Guess the fridge door opened when it got relocated."
Manual muttered as she carefully stepped forward, seemingly unaffected by the cold.
"...Oppa."
Park Ye-eun tapped my shoulder while staring at Manual up ahead, then glanced back at me in wonder.
"She's really not human, huh?"
"...Out of nowhere?"
How'd she figure that out?
Park Ye-eun pointed at her own mouth in response.
"We've got breath fog, oppa."
She pursed her lips and blew: white vapor escaped.
"But she doesn't have any."
"...Don't tell anyone else."
"If the oppa who captures or destroys containment objects says so, I'll follow. Got it."
"You gotta add that one extra line, huh?"
Park Ye-eun grinned widely, and Manual opened a door.
"It's cold, so let's get some fire."
"..."
Beyond the door was a small heater.
A translucent window popped up.
[Name: Portable Heater]
[Age: Created 4 years ago]
[Specialty: Heat]
[Talent: Heat Zone Generation]
[Background: After this appeared, countless homes suffered mysterious fires. All units have since been recovered.]
[Weakness: Do not leave alone with children.]
What had happened, I wondered.
Before I could dwell on it, Manual approached the lone heater and fiddled with its controls.
"Oh, Noa, you know how to work that thing?"
"...Learned over someone's shoulder."
Manual shrugged at Park Ye-eun's question.
Whose shoulder, I wondered.
"The one you're thinking of. I don't really talk to anyone else anyway."
She nodded as if reading my mind, shrugged again, and pressed the heater's button.
After pressing a few times, she straightened up with a sigh.
"Done."
"Now what?"
"We get out of here. Gonna burn to death otherwise? Especially me."
Manual shook her head at my question and stood.
"Let's go."
As she rose, an ominous heat surged.
"...This safe?"
Park Ye-eun eyed Manual worriedly, and Manual looked back like it was a silly question.
"Of course it's dangerous. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be contained here."
"Oh... right..."
Park Ye-eun scratched her cheek, and the heater glowed redder.
Out in the corridor, it was somewhat bearable.
"...With all these items around, can't we borrow a few?"
"That's why you borrowed one."
Manual replied to my mutter like it was obvious.
"No, not this. Maybe lend some to others too."
"Others?"
"You know. Daon or Chaeyeon... or Arin."
"...No way for them."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Especially Yoo Daon. Absolutely not."
"Why not for Daon?"
"Her... ...never mind. Better you don't know right now."
Manual trailed off.
"Mess with her wrong, and she'll blow things up bigger."
The corridor ice began melting bit by bit.
"Anyway. Since we're out, I wanted to warn you about the dangers."
"Dangers?"
"...Hey. High school girl."
"Yeah?"
Manual called Park Ye-eun, who approached beaming.
"What's up?"
"Go two blocks ahead, right-side door. Big bag there."
"Okay."
"Bring it. Normal person couldn't carry it. But you can."
"...Uh..."
"You can, right?"
"...Yeah, but."
She answered hesitantly, and Manual smiled.
"Yeah. Take it... and go to the branch chief."
"Branch chief? He won't meet me."
"No. He will."
Manual said it like it was a given.
"And don't bring it back here."
"Uh, okay...?"
"Take the bag, exit the door, go right only. No matter what, whatever sounds you hear, never go left."
"Ah, okay... but what's in the bag...?"
"What you've always wanted."
"..."
Park Ye-eun stared at Manual, who stared right back.
"How'd you know?"
"..."
Manual just smiled, and Park Ye-eun looked uneasy.
"I'll go with her if-"
"You stay here."
Manual cut me off sharply and fixed me with her gaze.
"Have to?"
"Have to."
"...Sorry, Ye-eun."
"...What's your deal that oppa's groveling like that?"
"Relationship where we can't live without each other."
"..."
"Watch your words."
Park Ye-eun gaped at Manual, and I hurriedly nudged Manual's shoulder before turning to Park Ye-eun.
"Just friends."
"...If oppa says so."
She muttered something like "whatever now" and walked off.
"Won't tell the unnies. She's kinda cute, so I'll let it slide."
"..."
"Heading out?"
Park Ye-eun started walking, and Manual spoke as we watched.
"But consult before using it."
"...With who?"
"Someone you trust."
"He says so, oppa. I'll consult before using."
"Hey."
"Bye!"
She waved without acknowledging my call and ran off into the distance.
"Young."
"Saying that in a kid's body feels off."
"Next time, come bigger?"
"That works?"
"With effort."
Manual grinned playfully, then turned serious.
"Since it's just us now."
"Yeah."
"...You're doing well."
She looked away.
"I know you're suffering a lot, and carrying useless baggage as team members doesn't help."
"They're not baggage. It's fun."
"...Right."
Manual paused, then continued.
"Anyway, after this, check out where Butterfly's Dream was."
"Where Butterfly's Dream was?"
The basement?
I gave her a puzzled look, but she shook her head.
"More would be a variable. Just go."
"...Got it."
"Have... fun there."
She watched me with cryptic words.
"Then... about your little sister."
"...Listening."
"Hope you'll respect her choice. It's what we all decided after talking."
"We all?"
"You'll find out. Sorry."
She bowed her head slightly, genuinely apologetic.
She had a way of leaving you hanging.
"Yeah. Got it."
But she'd saved my life countless times, so listening couldn't hurt.
I nodded, and she smiled.
"Yeah. And the important last thing."
"Yeah."
"You didn't answer my question earlier."
"Question?"
"Are you happy?"
"..."
I'd noticed it last time too, but Manual had been oddly concerned about my happiness lately.
Had to choose my words carefully.
After a moment's thought, I spoke slowly.
"If you're asking if I'm happy, honestly, it's hard to just say yes."
That's how people are.
They sense unhappiness like ghosts but rarely feel happiness in the moment. Only realize it looking back.
Ah, that was nice. Together.
Of course, exceptions like Yoo Daon exist... but for me, yeah.
Manual's calm eyes looked up at me.
"But I don't think I'm unhappy now."
That was the best answer I could give her.
"I see."
Manual smiled faintly.
"That'll do."
Then she took my hand.
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"Exit. Been a while since we walked together."
Team Leader popped into mind, but I trusted he'd make it out fine, so I left it.
"Sure."
*
We walked the dark corridor together.
"But is your name really Min Noa?"
"Nope?"
"Then what is it?"
"Doesn't matter."
We chatted idly too.
"So Chaeyeon said..."
"..."
"Listening?"
"Too well. It's annoying how clear it is."
"Right. Keep listening well. So Arin..."
"..."
We talked,
And before long, we stood before a massive elevator.
"End of the line."
She muttered, releasing my hand.
"See ya."
"You're staying here?"
"Nah? Gotta go back in your pocket."
She answered like it was obvious, then hit the button.
The doors opened, and she pushed my back.
"Go on. Hurry."
"Ah, wait. Hey!"
She shoved me in, and as I turned, she waved from beyond the doors.
"..."
"..."
After a brief eye contact, Manual spoke.
"Hearing your answer today really put me at ease."
"At ease? Why?"
"You know what you always answered to my usual question?"
"...No clue?"
"You'd say 'happy' to comfort me, or admit unhappiness when you had no strength left."
She blinked.
"First different answer."
She waved with a bright smile as the doors began closing.
"You're doing well. Let's keep it up just a bit more. Not much left."
She kept smiling and waving,
And the doors shut.
Then, a heavy weight in my pocket.
I reached in and pulled out Manual.
My signature in small gold letters gleamed on the cover.
*
Team Leader returned soon after. Park Ye-eun waited outside with an absurdly heavy-looking bag.
Luckily, he'd come out quick, thinking something happened when he saw we were gone.
And a few days later.
"Why the basement all of a sudden."
Song Arin brushed back her hair, eyeing the elevator.
"Just sightseeing."
"Got permission?"
"Arin didn't approve?"
"...Yeah, I did."
Song Arin sighed, leaning against the wall, while Jang Chaeyeon and Yoo Daon silently leaned against the opposite walls.
-Ding!
The elevator opened with a crisp chime.
"Let's go."