Chapter 331
Chapter 331
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 331. You Promised, Didn't You?
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A vast plain.
It was a landscape hard to imagine finding in a hotel, especially one infested with aestheticism.
And unfortunately, we didn't have the leisure or time to enjoy it.
"Anything you're looking for?"
"Nope."
"Nothing here either."
Both Yoo Daon and Ailin shook their heads at my question.
"Me neither."
Jang Chaeyeon shook her head as well.
After I checked the manual, the second thing we did was look for a place to spend the night.
The first thing, naturally, was to quickly find the exit.
The problem was we had no idea how vast this plain was, so we didn't know which way to go.
And there was another problem.
I looked up at the sky.
The sun, which had been high in the midday sky before we knew it, was now sinking rapidly.
"It's only been about an hour, right?"
"Yes."
The issue was the sun setting at an incredible speed, even though barely an hour had passed.
"Time must pass faster here."
"It was like that when we met the Ringmaster too."
Back then, night had fallen suddenly, then day had returned just as abruptly.
"...Heh heh."
Song Arin, who had been listening to us until then, flashed a smug smile.
"I found it."
"Huh?"
"There's something like a cave over there."
She crossed her arms and looked at the others with her chin raised.
"What do you think? That's me."
"We just did rock-paper-scissors to divide directions, and you got lucky."
"Yeah, yeah. Say whatever you want. Winners get to hear the losers' complaints."
Song Arin puffed out her chest as Yoo Daon grumbled, and everyone else looked at her with clear displeasure.
"Got something to say?"
Then Song Arin stared straight at me, and I just shrugged as I looked back at her.
"Come on. Aren't you supposed to guide us?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll guide you."
How could she be so thrilled about that?
Song Arin snorted and started walking, and the four of us followed behind her.
Even as I kept following Song Arin, my eyes stayed glued to the manual.
When would the next entry after 1 appear?
"Hey, show me more already."
I needed the next entry to know what to prepare for.
But the manual showed no sign of noticing my impatience, sticking to just one entry.
The single instruction: find shelter before nightfall.
"Why are you picking a fight with me too?"
What had I ever done to the manual? Ignored it? Treated it roughly? Disrespected it somehow?
Or was it just refusing to show more? If so, why?
I had no answers, but right now, we had no other options.
Our only sources of information here were my two eyes and the manual.
"Here it is."
Before I knew it, Song Arin was pointing to a small cave and looking at us.
"Ooh."
It really was a cave.
"For now, shall we take a moment to organize the info?"
I'd scouted around too, so I needed to report.
"I didn't find anything."
Nothing visible to my eyes either.
I'd looked around as best I could, but came up empty.
"Me neither."
Yoo Daon shook her head too.
"I saw something, but it was too far away to make out."
Ailin muttered with a furrowed brow.
"I..."
Jang Chaeyeon trailed off.
"I saw something."
"What?"
"...Like a window?"
"A window..."
"That might be the exit."
Jang Chaeyeon nodded, and Song Arin looked even more triumphant.
"So, I'm the only one with a real accomplishment?"
"Finding one cave doesn't seem worth bragging about."
"Just one cave?"
Song Arin snorted at Ailin.
"You couldn't even find that one—"
"That's enough."
They're fighting again. They really hold grudges.
I sighed, stopped the two of them, and opened the manual.
[Office Manual]
[Floor 3 - Plains]
1. Finding a safe place before nightfall is the top priority.
2. Once you've found a safe place, wait until daybreak.
3. You may look outside, but do not go out or take action. You never know what might target you.
4. Additionally, if you spot other people, approach them first and ask their names. If you remember the names, the Management Bureau will guide them through proper procedures. If you don't remember, just leave them be.
No empathy at all.
"So, waiting is all we can do."
"That's how it seems."
"This isn't easy, not easy at all."
Song Arin sighed and stretched out her legs inside the cave, lying down. The others began resting in their own ways too.
Surprisingly, the sun was already starting to set.
"..."
As I watched the sun head toward the horizon, Yoo Daon came over and tapped my arm.
"Jaeheon."
"Yeah?"
"You seem angry. You okay?"
"..."
I had been angry.
"Yeah, I was angry, but it's not because of you, Daon. No need to worry."
"It's because of the aestheticism, right?"
She looked out at the expanse with me.
"Yeah."
"I don't get why it just torments people for fun either."
"Even if there's a reason, tormenting people isn't okay."
"Ahaha, true."
Yoo Daon smiled faintly and looked at me.
"It's just... surprising."
"Hm?"
"It's the first time I've seen you that mad."
"Not the first time."
"Really?"
"Yeah. When have I ever gotten mad?"
When did I ever get mad?
Even fighting the regressor, or when Yoo Daon was kidnapped.
"Just thinking of things related to you, there's at least one or two."
"Really? I thought you weren't the type to show it much."
"I don't show it much."
"Right? You could express it more to us."
If I said I don't because you don't take jokes well, she'd get hurt again.
"I'll try."
As I tried to brush it off with a light laugh, Yoo Daon stopped smiling and looked away from me, out at the plain.
"Daon?"
"Something's there."
I followed her gaze.
"..."
I saw it too.
Countless animals were gathered, walking together.
Zebras, giraffes, rhinos at times.
But the difference was...
"...People?"
Yoo Daon muttered with a furrowed brow.
"What?"
The others rushed over to us too.
"...What the hell."
Song Arin muttered in confusion at the sight.
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon stared with wide eyes.
"Are the people the sacrifices?"
Ailin muttered as she watched.
Countless animals marched in a line, followed by other animals with human heads.
"..."
And the giraffe at the front began chanting something like a song.
"You promised to save my mother!"
"You promised to return my child!"
"You promised to make my dreams come true!"
The human-headed animals kept shouting.
"...What are they saying?"
"Something about promises."
"Maybe they made some kind of deal with the aestheticism?"
It was possible with aestheticism.
If so, were they paintings too? Was I inside a painting?
"..."
Out of the painting again?
-Shrrrr!
At that moment, the manual flipped open again.
[Office Manual]
[Floor 3 - Plains]
1. Finding a safe place before nightfall is the top priority.
2. Once you've found a safe place, wait until daybreak.
3. You may look outside, but do not go out or take action. You never know what might target you.
4. Additionally, if you spot other people, approach them first and ask their names. If you remember the names, the Management Bureau will guide them through proper procedures. If you don't remember, just leave them be.
5. Did you see animals walking at night? Listen carefully to what they say. And relay it. We will collect it as dying words within the Management Bureau.
6. It's fine if they see you. Since you're outside the moonlight's range anyway, they can't harm you.
7. But if you're within the moonlight's range, refer to [T - Suicide Methods].
They kept muttering something as they walked on, and we silently watched.
Good thing they won't come at us.
"..."
At that moment, moonlight poured down brightly, illuminating everywhere except our cave.
And.
Those animals looked at us.
"...Promise."
The giraffe at the front muttered.
They charged toward us.
"Fall back!"
At my shout, everyone retreated into the cave depths as if on cue.
-Rumble!
The giraffe's neck hit the cave entrance, and something collapsed with a crash.
A lion swung its paw.
A zebra stamped its hooves furiously.
"Promise!"
"You promised to keep it!"
"You promised to save us!"
They shouted.
Animal roars mixed with human voices echoed inside the cave.
"..."
Song Arin covered her ears, squeezed her eyes shut, and screamed.
"What... is this...!"
Yoo Daon reached out an arm, and Jang Chaeyeon hurriedly grabbed and pinned it down.
"Snap out of it!"
"..."
Yoo Daon stared blankly ahead, then stabbed her own hand with an awl.
Crack! Blood sprayed.
"I'm fine!"
I stood at the front, blocking the others, and opened the manual.
There had to be a way to resolve this here—
Then a headache hit.
-Ping!
With a strange sound, translucent windows started appearing before my eyes.
[Name: Animals]
[Age: X]
[Specialty: ]
[Talent: ]
[Trait: ]
[Weakness: ]
"..."
I closed my eyes.
A way... I need to think of a way.
"...Arin."
"Huh?"
Song Arin came to my side, and I placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Cover your ears."
"Okay...?"
Her confused voice reached me.