Chapter 330
Chapter 330
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 330. A Reason to Kill
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"So, what was that meadow all about?"
"Who knows?"
We chatted as we followed behind the old man leading the way.
Eileen shrugged at my mutterings, saying she had no idea either.
"Maybe it was just a painting?"
"I don't think it was just a painting."
"It wasn't a painting, and it wasn't reality either."
Song Arin, who'd been listening to our conversation, replied in a calm voice.
"Then what was it?"
"The subtle boundary between a delicate reality and a painting."
"Don't you think that sounds contradictory even as you're saying it?"
"If you're going to nitpick logic in this world, start by explaining that black hair of yours that won't die even if your head explodes."
"That seems tough! A lot of people tried dissecting me to figure me out, but they all failed in the end!"
"...Sorry."
Song Arin shrank back at Yoo Daon's innocent words, leaving just Eileen and me to continue the talk.
"Didn't you feel anything, Eileen?"
"You're not singling me out as the only normal person here, right?"
"Huh?"
"I'm kidding."
I stared at her in flustered confusion for a second, and she chuckled, lightly tapping my arm.
"Your face looked bad."
"Won't hearing that make my face look even worse?"
"Then I'll apologize."
Eileen tapped my arm again with a laugh, then hummed thoughtfully.
"Honestly, my old memories aren't perfect, so I can't say for sure..."
"But?"
"If it's just a gut feeling, then it feels like something we should remember."
"What does that mean?"
"You know my memories are full of holes, right?"
"..."
Why is everyone here so... lacking in some way?
I especially felt sorry toward Eileen.
"Don't make that face."
She poked my cheek with her finger and continued.
"So, what I remember is you, and the dead people."
"Right..."
"I remember how the dead people died."
Her face was composed, but her voice betrayed a sadness she couldn't hide as she went on.
"It's like a wrong-answer notebook."
"A wrong-answer notebook."
"Yeah. What they did to die, and what they said to me. Those kinds of things stick around."
Eileen let out a small sigh and smiled faintly.
"Anyway, when I think back on those memories... surprisingly, the big things aren't the problem."
"Huh?"
"The obvious ones are surprisingly safe."
She raised the finger that had been poking my cheek.
"For example, we saw the meadow here, but what we really need to watch out for is something like that old man following us."
"You mean it's no big deal?"
"It could be."
Eileen shrugged, and maybe because she'd heard, Jang Chaeyeon suddenly wedged herself between us.
"I don't think so."
"Chaeyeon?"
"She agrees with me."
Jang Chaeyeon pointed at Song Arin, who was trailing dejectedly behind us.
"We should remember it."
"Who said not to remember? I just said it's not as big a deal as you think."
"What if something really does go wrong? You gonna take responsibility?"
"..."
"..."
The two stared each other down before turning to me.
"...Whatever happens, it'll work out."
I looked at them both, hoping to convey *don't fight*, and they seemed to get it, stepping back.
At the same time, the old man leading us stopped.
"..."
I looked where he'd halted, and there was a frame just big enough for one person to fit through.
The old man pointed at it with a finger.
"You want us to go in?"
The old man nodded at my words.
"I'll go first."
Yoo Daon took the lead.
"Call if anything happens."
"Don't worry."
Yoo Daon smiled and stepped out of the frame without hesitation, vanishing instantly.
"..."
"..."
"..."
We all waited for her to do something, but she didn't.
To be precise, we couldn't see outside the frame, so we had no idea what she was doing.
"I'll go."
Eileen stepped forward without hesitation.
"I should be the one. It's best to leave someone who can handle things to the end."
"Arin or Chaeyeon should stay."
Eileen nodded and stepped out of the frame.
She vanished too.
"..."
Now it was Song Arin's turn.
"If that old man tries anything, you snap his neck. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Alright. I'm going."
Song Arin stepped out, and Jang Chaeyeon looked at me.
"Go on. I'll go last."
"Got i—"
Before I could finish, the old man grabbed my shoulder.
Jang Chaeyeon tensed up, glaring at him, but the old man just stared at me while gripping my shoulder.
"..."
The old man looked at me, then at Jang Chaeyeon, who raised her hand.
"Hold on."
"...Why."
Jang Chaeyeon glanced at me, and I looked above the old man's head.
[Name: Hand of Midas]
[Age: Created 54 years ago]
[Specialty: Plaster]
[Talent: None]
[Background: For no reason, he was imprisoned. For no reason, he was cursed with his hands. For no reason, he was made to kill people.]
[Weakness: Burn the main body.]
"...Chaeyeon, you go first."
"What are you planning?"
"Just wanna talk for a sec."
"I'm coming too."
"...You sure that's okay?"
I looked at the old man, who pondered briefly before reaching out and tapping Jang Chaeyeon's arm.
Nothing happened, and he let out a long sigh.
"Hoo..."
Then he handed me the lantern.
"...What am I supposed to do with this?"
I asked, but he shook his head and placed the lantern in my hand.
"..."
Then he brought the lantern close to his own face.
"What does that mean?"
Jang Chaeyeon tilted her head at me, and he opened his mouth.
Where his tongue should have been was just hardened plaster.
"...I understand."
I slowly took the lantern from the old man.
He nodded, then turned his back to us and shuffled away.
"..."
I looked at the lantern in my hand.
[Name: Lantern of Truth]
[Age: Created N years ago]
[Specialty: Illumination]
[Talent: None]
[Background: When this lantern went out, people always had to find a safe place. Otherwise, the end was never good.]
[Weakness: -]
"Let's go for now."
Jang Chaeyeon wasn't leaving till I did, so I had to move first.
I stepped out of the frame, a slight dizziness hitting me as I found myself in the hotel corridor.
"Jaeheon!"
Yoo Daon rushed over, and the others looked at me worriedly too.
"Why'd you take so long? Something happen?"
"Something did, but nothing to worry about."
As I raised both hands to calm everyone, Jang Chaeyeon emerged from the frame.
"...What?"
She stared at me with my hands up.
"No, just clearing up a misunderstanding."
"You two had a fun time."
"Chaeyeon, that's not funny."
"Isn't it fun hanging out with me?"
"That's not what I meant. You only learned the bad stuff, huh?"
Jang Chaeyeon gave a small laugh and shook her head at my words.
"Nothing happened."
"Figured."
Song Arin clicked her tongue and looked at me.
"So, what is that?"
"Oh. This?"
I looked at the lantern in my hand.
"It grants wishes."
"That lantern grants wishes too?"
"No. I grant the wishes."
I looked at the frame.
An old man stood there.
His hands pure white, mouth agape.
"..."
I slowly read the title of the piece.
[Hand of Midas]
[Canvas, 68-year-old man]
I raised the lantern.
I held the flameless lantern up to the canvas.
"Huh?"
Yoo Daon widened her eyes in surprise.
It was only natural.
The lantern still had no flame at all.
In stark contrast, the painting in front of me was blazing fiercely.
"Wasn't... there no fire?"
"There wasn't."
"Then how'd you do it?"
"Who knows. Maybe that was the right way."
"Huh?"
Yoo Daon blinked in confusion at my words, then nodded.
"Then that must be the right way!"
"..."
I stared at the fiercely burning painting.
Staring at it, a wave of irritation washed over me.
"Yeah, we have to kill them."
"Huh? Yeah?"
This time Song Arin widened her eyes at me.
"W-What'd you say?"
"Aestheticism."
There might be a line they don't cross, which is why the Management Bureau hasn't sent anyone to wipe out the aesthetes yet.
But by my standards, it's different.
"If they get their pleasure from others' suffering, I think that's wrong."
"That's obvious."
"Right?"
So we have to kill the aesthetes.
I looked up and to the side.
It was a short hallway.
The stairs we'd come up were right there, and visible ahead were stairs going up.
"Let's head up."
"You mad?"
"Yeah. A little."
I started walking, and the others followed.
We kept going up the stairs.
Third floor now, I guess.
I opened the door to the third floor,
"..."
And a vast meadow greeted me.
"This looks familiar."
"...You said it wasn't important."
"...I said it might not be."
Jang Chaeyeon and Eileen started bickering again, and at the same time, the manual unfolded.
-Shrrrrk!
[Manual for Office Workers]
[3rd Floor - Meadow]
1. Finding a safe place before nightfall is the top priority.
I looked up at the sky.
The sun was still high in the midday sky.