Chapter 317
Chapter 317
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 317. No Shame
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"Not hearing from you despite all the news had me a bit worried."
Ailin glances at me soon after arriving at my summons.
"I've just been busy."
Honestly, I should have reached out more.
I owe her a real debt, after all.
It feels like I'm constantly racking up debts these days. Sure, I've helped her out too, but...
"That happens."
Ailin shrugs and looks at me.
"So, what's the reason you called?"
"Ah, I was wondering if there are any no-entry zones."
The Management Bureau must have some.
"Way too many."
But Ailin's response exceeded my expectations.
"Too many?"
"Not just many. A ton."
She looks at me like I'm asking something obvious.
"I could compile a list, and it'd probably exceed twenty just for Gangseo."
"Just in Gangseo?"
"Yeah. Gangseo only."
"..."
What kind of lives have we been living until now?
"Then, among those, are there any related to art?"
"Art?"
"Yeah. Paintings or... art galleries or..."
"...Hold on..."
Ailin furrows her brow slightly, then pulls out a laptop from who-knows-where and starts typing.
"Hmm..."
I listen closely to her mutterings.
"Hyeseong Villa... no... Polar Star Trading... no... Human Tire... server room... not here either..."
She mumbles while flipping through files.
"Doesn't seem like any directly related to art."
I couldn't hide my disappointment at her words.
"Is that so?"
Maybe check other branches.
As I think that, Ailin goes "Ah" and clicks on a file.
"There's one."
"What?"
"Not exactly related to art, but the people who went in were all found in pretty weird states."
"...Where?"
"Here."
Ailin shows me the laptop screen.
An image of a rundown hotel appears.
"It's a hotel."
"I half-joked when you said you were going on a real hotel vacation, but this is actually happening..."
Song Arin sighs from behind me.
"What happened here?"
"For a no-entry zone, it wasn't a huge incident."
Ailin answers my question nonchalantly.
"Just an extremely low survival rate."
"Low enough it wouldn't be in the manual?"
"It's probably in the manual."
She pulls the manual from her pocket.
"But from what I know, the info isn't complete."
"So the Response Team just decided to seal it off."
"Our job is to save people, but... looking at the records here, the sacrifices were too great, so for now, they've gone with no-entry and abandoning rescues for anyone who goes in."
At that level, even the Management Bureau is in a minimize-sacrifices-only mood.
I turn to look at the three of them.
Song Arin sighs, Jang Chaeyeon looks at me indifferently, and Yoo Daon smiles brightly.
"If we said we were going there, you'd try to stop us, right?"
"Of course."
Ailin stares at me like it's a silly question.
"The Management Bureau doesn't ban places without reason. Low survival rate or... whatever."
"..."
Should I call the branch chief? Or the Containment Team.
Maybe seeing me deep in thought, Ailin tilts her head.
"Why? Got a must-go reason? Like the church?"
"If you're asking if it's the same reason as the church, no."
My gaze shifts to Jang Chaeyeon, and she tilts her head.
"Why?"
"Nothing."
I look away from Jang Chaeyeon.
She doesn't seem to remember our talk with the Observer, and bringing it up feels off. No, but not saying anything feels weird too.
"Got a reason you have to go?"
"There... is one."
"What?"
"To protect the peace of this world...?"
"..."
Ailin stares at me in disbelief, and the other three do the same.
"That's really it?"
"Yes."
"Then just tell the branch chief."
"...Hmm..."
What do I even say?
Truth is, the Observer—Jang Chaeyeon's other future self who destroys the world—possessed her body, and she said that in the future she saw, Aestheticism is plotting a big incident.
So before that, I'm planning to raid their bases one by one—mind if I do?
She'd probably look at me like I'm insane.
No, her seeing me as insane is fine, but Jang Chaeyeon would get hurt too. And I don't like that.
Dragging Jang Chaeyeon somewhere would be bad in its own way too.
"Seeing you agonize, it must be hard to say."
Ailin mutters, hand on her chin, reading my expression.
"Yes. Exactly."
"But I can't just let you sneak in."
"Eh, really?"
Doesn't she usually let us sneak in like last time?
"No choice. HR Team has strict orders from above: never send personnel into forbidden zones, no matter what."
"..."
Then they should handle stuff like Aestheticism themselves.
How busy are they that they can't?
"Got it."
"...You really get it?"
"Yes. I won't let it cause you trouble, Ailin."
"Trouble for me is fine."
Ailin sighs deeply at my words.
"I'm worried you'll get hurt."
"Have I not survived near-death experiences plenty of times?"
"You think only one or two die like that? Several in my memory alone."
"..."
At Ailin's words, I'm at a loss when her phone rings, and she answers.
"Yeah, it's me. ...Got it. On my way."
She hangs up and stands.
"Team's calling. Gotta go."
"Ah, sorry for calling when you're busy."
"Don't worry about that. Call anytime. And..."
Ailin stares at me intently.
"I don't care what mess you make. But call me."
"Huh?"
"Messes are better when it's two people, not one."
"It's already two."
"Three?"
"Four!"
Jang Chaeyeon replies coldly to Ailin, Song Arin nods, and Yoo Daon chimes in brightly.
Ailin grimaces at the sight, then looks back at me.
"Anyway, call me. Got it?"
"Got it."
As I wonder if I really should, Ailin heads out the door.
Thud!
The door closes, and the three look at me.
Song Arin crosses her arms and speaks.
"So why suddenly ask about a hotel?"
"..."
My gaze shifts to Jang Chaeyeon, and Song Arin glares.
"What the hell did you two talk about to change the vibe like this?"
"I don't know what you're thinking, but nothing happened."
"Yeah. Nothing."
"Liar."
Yoo Daon smiles and mutters after hearing us.
"..."
"It's fine! I think even if Jaeheon lies, he has a good reason."
"...Sorry."
I sigh softly while looking at Jang Chaeyeon.
Guess I have to explain after all.
"Everyone... this too—"
"We won't tell anyone."
Before I finish, Yoo Daon smiles at me.
"Absolutely."
"Yeah. Won't say a word."
"Sure. Worst case, I'll wipe their memories."
Jang Chaeyeon nods, and Song Arin speaks confidently.
"Got it."
I nod and explain about meeting the Observer to the three.
And about Aestheticism too.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three fall silent after my story.
"That's a big scale."
Song Arin speaks first.
"We've been through a lot, sure... but stuff tied to world-ending events isn't just once or twice."
"Right."
"But us directly fighting a containment object the Management Bureau marked as dangerous is..."
"Dangerous?"
"Yeah."
She has a point.
No, she's completely right.
"But."
She slowly opens her mouth.
"I owe her a debt too."
Song Arin mutters, looking at Jang Chaeyeon.
"How many years has it been?"
"...Six years."
"Yeah. Living without dying for that time is no different from hell."
Song Arin mutters, looking at me.
"I'll help."
"Got it."
I look at Yoo Daon, and she smiles gently.
"Well, I'm always with Jaeheon anyway."
"Thanks."
"And dying when you can is a blessing."
"..."
Her words carry extra weight because of who she is.
I look at Jang Chaeyeon.
She stares right back.
"You sure you're okay?"
"With what?"
"You don't know about our sister."
"But I know about you, Chaeyeon."
And they all helped when I went to the church for my little sister.
You have to go out to come back.
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon chews her lip several times, then nods.
"I... want to help my sister."
"Good."
Our plan is set.
Raid Aestheticism.
Already sounds tough.
Come to think of it...
I slowly pull out the manual.
Wonder if it's better now.
"Feeling okay?"
"...Talking to a book is still too weird."
"I remember the smell."
"What smell?"
"Old paper smell."
"Yeah."
I half-listen to Song Arin and Yoo Daon's talk while looking at the manual.
The still manual suddenly flips open with a rustle.
[Office Manual for Desk Workers]
It's better. Good.
[BT - How Not to Toy with People's Hearts]
1. Do not toy with people's pure feelings.
2. Especially, do not hug just anyone.
3. Even more so, do not hug just because they have a nice figure.
4. You must agree to the above to access the item you want.
"What does it say?"
-Slap!
"Guess it's still hurting."
I close the manual.