Chapter 316
Chapter 316
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 316. Wish
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Another country...?
"Observer...?"
Jang Chaeyeon nods at my words.
"How?"
If Jang Chaeyeon suddenly ripped off her own head here or started acting strange, I'd be pretty scared.
"I don't know what it is exactly, but it's not what you're thinking."
Jang Chaeyeon answers quietly.
Lately, everyone seems to read my thoughts way too easily. I wasn't someone whose mind got read that effortlessly anywhere else.
"It's nothing much."
She glances around.
"...You showed me your secret, so it felt right to show you mine."
Fair enough. They couldn't install cameras in a room you can't leave without saying "XX." It's a containment object, after all.
Either way, this is pretty touching.
"Chaeyeon..."
"You can stare all you want with that look on your face."
Jang Chaeyeon puffs out her chest proudly and closes her eyes.
A translucent window appears above her head.
[Name: Jang Chaeyeon]
[Age: 25]
[Talent: Telekinesis]
[Abilities: --]
[Background: ------><>><>]
Suddenly, the translucent window shakes, and a new one appears.
[Name: Jang Chaeyeon (Observer)]
[Age: 25]
[Talent: Telekinesis]
[Abilities: Observe]
[Background: She could alleviate her boredom alone, but another self could not bear to simply watch. Thus, a dramatic deal was struck.]
[Weakness: Remind her of old memories. Seeing you, she will grieve for the one who loved her until the end—the one she still loves.]
"...There."
She lowers her gaze from the translucent window and gives me an awkward smile, her aura somehow different from before.
"Hi."
"...Hello."
I nod slightly.
For a moment, I wonder if I should speak casually, but it feels like that would only reopen old wounds for her.
"Things ended up like this somehow."
"It's somewhat by chance, but... how did you get here?"
"I'm not really here."
She scratches her cheek as she replies.
"If I had to put it one way, it's more like I borrowed this."
"Possession? Or are you inside Chaeyeon's body?"
"If anything, transplant would be closer..."
She smiles awkwardly, looking troubled.
"Explaining it would take forever."
-Click!
At that moment, the sign moves.
[A room you can't leave without saying what you want to say to him]
What does she want to say so badly?
"...Ahem."
The Observer clears her throat and looks at me.
"First off, I wanted to say thank you."
"I already got that last time."
"We were both too busy back then."
She smiles faintly.
"Fair enough. ...So, what you wanted to say was..."
"You always get straight to the point. Some things never change."
She smiles sadly, and I shut my mouth for a moment.
This is tough. No matter what I say, it reminds her of that other me she cared for, making her sad.
"It's okay. That's kinda why I miss it."
She shakes her head slightly and speaks.
"I heard your sister is alive."
"You didn't know?"
"I got caught by the Cube before I could figure that out."
Right.
The Observer gives a wry smile.
"When the Aesthete took her, I spent about a year trying to rescue her. I requested a subjugation team, even tried going in myself."
She mutters with a chuckle that every time, Arin stopped me, calling me crazy.
"But as time passed, I realized it. It might be better if she just died."
"..."
"But she's alive after all."
She lets out a small sigh and looks at me.
"The Aesthete is a vicious bastard."
"I know that well."
"It scratches at the Management Bureau's nerves but never goes far enough to provoke a full subjugation. They know about the manpower shortage, and it never crosses that line too badly."
Then she closes her eyes.
"But that's a lie."
"Huh?"
"Mad artists like that always have outlandish imaginations."
Hearing my question, the Observer continues with her eyes closed.
"It's greed. They want their paintings to be cooler, more beautiful, to satisfy everyone. That's how they think."
"...Yeah."
The Aesthete definitely had that tendency.
"And it's planning to turn even more people into artworks at once."
"...How do you know that?"
"I've seen all sorts of sights I wished I hadn't."
She taps her temple with a smile.
"Sorry."
I had no choice but to apologize.
"No, I'm the one who's sorry."
"Huh?"
"Honestly, I wasn't in my right mind back then, so I don't remember everything clearly."
She smiles apologetically.
"And this is also a request from me to you."
"A request?"
"Jaeheon."
"Ahem."
For an instant, my heart skips a beat.
With her eyes still closed, the Observer continues.
"I know you're the type who, once you take responsibility, always works to fulfill it."
"..."
"I also know you're the kind of person who kept your word enough to free me, even taking on that responsibility."
"..."
What should I say?
I'm not that person.
I just handle the tasks given to me.
There wasn't any special reason. Not many grand thoughts like "I'll solve this big problem."
"It's fine. You never knew, right up to the end."
She opens her eyes and smiles.
"And this is my request to you. No—mine, not Chaeyeon's."
Slowly, she takes my hand.
Her white hair gleams under the fluorescent lights.
"Chaeyeon would never ask you for anything."
"She's not the type."
"Yeah, but she's also the type to charge in alone to save her sister someday."
"That's true too."
Jang Chaeyeon would totally do that.
"So I'm asking in advance."
"Yes."
"Free her sister."
"..."
"Not save her. At least let her die."
She looks at me with a serious voice.
"And if you get the chance, eliminate the Aesthete. The longer it takes, the bigger the threat."
"..."
Eliminate the Aesthete?
We've never even landed a solid hit—we just get played every time. How?
"I'm not trying to burden you."
She hurriedly continues, as if reading my expression.
"I'll help as much as I can. And there'll be a lot of support."
"A lot of support..."
Right now, the only one coming to mind is the branch chief.
"Even Arin looks insanely different compared to the one I knew..."
Song Arin has gotten stronger, sure.
"More than anything..."
The Observer trails off.
"That black-haired woman by your side..."
"Daon?"
"Yeah, she's really... different."
Different how?
"Anyway, with people like that around you, I believe you can do it."
"That's a pretty irresponsible thing to say."
"You're right."
She smiles bitterly at my words.
"But my world is already gone. I just hope yours stays intact."
"..."
In the end, it means if I don't want the world to end, I need to hunt down the Aesthete someday.
"...I'll give it a shot."
She's not holding a knife to my throat, but if it's a prophecy like "one day someone will," it's smart to prepare.
"Yeah, I'll help too."
"By borrowing Chaeyeon's body?"
With the Observer's abilities, I could trust her completely.
"It's not even my body anyway."
She smiles faintly, as if reading my mind.
"I'll help in my own way instead."
"...Okay. Got it."
"Yeah, you can count on me."
I nod, and she smiles.
After a brief silence, the Observer tilts her head awkwardly.
"Uh... why isn't the door opening?"
"Hm..."
I look back at the door.
[A room you can't leave without saying what you want to say to him]
"You still have something to say?"
"..."
She hesitates at my words.
"It really won't let us out until we've said everything."
"It's the branch's claim to fame, in its own way."
"I wouldn't know."
She lets out a dry laugh, then spreads her arms.
"Hug me."
"Huh?"
"Just hug me without saying anything."
"Uh..."
"Or the door won't open."
"..."
Playing dirty, using the door as leverage.
Chaeyeon already hugged me earlier—
A sudden whiff of citrus hits me, making me clear my throat as I nod.
"Guess I have no choice if we want to leave."
"Honestly, a hug from me should be a steal. No reason to hold back."
"Good thing you don't take after Chaeyeon's personality."
"I'll start resembling her bit by bit from now on."
She grins playfully, and as I approach slowly, she sighs and yanks my arm.
"Ugh!"
She hugs me tight, and just as my breath catches, she whispers in my ear.
"Thank you."
"..."
What do I say?
No need to think.
"...Huh...?"
Because Jang Chaeyeon's drowsy voice rings out at the same time.
"Wh-what...?"
Confused, she fumbles with the arms around me, stroking my back.
"Wh-why...? Suddenly...?"
Her voice trembles.
I've never heard Jang Chaeyeon this flustered in my life.
Finally, mischief stirs in me after so long.
"Isn't this your wish, Chaeyeon?"
"...M-my... wish...?"
I pull back slightly to look at her, and she stares back, face beet red.
"R-really...?"
"Lying."
"..."
Soon, with a smack on my forehead, I end up rolling on the floor.
*
"We need to look into the Aesthete."
"Where've you been that you're spouting nonsense again."
After returning with Jang Chaeyeon, Song Arin sighs deeply at my mutter, while Yoo Daon nods.
"If Jaeheon is looking into it, I'll help."
"How?"
"Art gallery field trip?"
"You shut your mouth."
I sink into thought listening to them.
An art gallery...
"..."
Time like this, there's someone to ask.
As I stand, all three look at me.
"Where are you going?"
"To ask someone."
"The branch chief?"
"Nope."
Isn't there a team that specializes in weird places?
They even pick up the phone reliably.
I call, and soon the HR Team door opens with a reply that they're coming.
"You called?"
Eileen brushes back her blonde hair and looks at me.