Chapter 336
Chapter 336
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 336. Art
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-Bam!
-Crack!
Watching the two of them fight with everything they had, I came to a conclusion.
I had no idea.
Part of me wanted to shout that I was sorry, but that would mean abandoning their hope.
And above all, since I'd promised to kill that thing, I had a duty to do it.
It was a promise with Jang Chaeyeon—the Observer.
...
I had to think.
Why it feared Criticals even though it had never been hit by one.
-Bam!
Yoo Daon took a hit from the Masterpiece's arm and flew off into the distance, somehow regaining her footing midair with a bizarre twist before landing on the ground.
-Thud!
"Black hair! You okay?!"
"My cartilage just popped out!"
Listening to their exchange, I turned my gaze to Jang Chaeyeon.
Jang Chaeyeon—no, the Observer—was swinging her arms to hurl statues at it, and Ailin was firing her gun in sync with the movements.
A perfect stalemate.
"Whoa!"
The moment that thought crossed my mind, the Masterpiece swung its arm, severing both of Yoo Daon's legs and cleanly decapitating her.
Then, as if anticipating it, threads bound her legs and head, pulling them back into place, and her body returned to normal like nothing had happened.
"That was probably a new record!"
"Kehok...!"
Yoo Daon chatting cheerfully, Song Arin breathing hard with a face gone pale.
Yoo Daon stared quietly at Song Arin, who spat on the floor and muttered.
"We could do this all day."
All day, and Song Arin would collapse from exhaustion.
I needed to think fast.
-Bang!
As the Masterpiece lunged, I fired my gun, forcing it to recoil with excessive motion.
It was still dodging my shots somehow.
Maybe try one more thing.
"Ailin."
At my words, Ailin nodded and opened fire.
-Rat-tat-tat!
Gunfire echoed as it twisted desperately to avoid the bullets, but not as dramatically as it did with mine.
A few rounds embedded in its body before dropping off.
"It doesn't dodge yours completely either."
Ailin muttered like her head hurt.
She was right.
No consistent pattern to its actions.
I stared at the Masterpiece, fired my gun, tried every trick I could think of to figure it out, but nothing clicked.
If anything, it just seemed to dodge my attacks.
"Should I go stab it with a spike myself?"
"No."
"No way."
"Absolutely not."
"No!"
The others shot me down the second I suggested it.
They weren't even listening.
"By the way."
The Observer, who'd been hurling statues relentlessly, walked over and whispered.
"Doesn't that thing seem stronger?"
"Pardon?"
What kind of nonsense was that?
"Didn't you notice anything weird with your own eyes?"
"Nope."
If I had, I'd have exploited it already.
No—stronger? What did that even mean?
Catching my gaze, the Observer cleared her throat awkwardly and continued.
"But it has gotten stronger."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Can't you tell just by looking?"
I'd said I couldn't.
I stared at her, and she sighed.
"Ah... right. You wouldn't."
Why did she keep bringing up stuff I didn't know while looking all wistful?
"Stop giving me that dissatisfied look."
"When did I?"
"You are."
Couldn't win against her.
How much did my counterpart from that world put up with from Jang Chaeyeon? Anyway, arguing was pointless.
No matter what I said, she just looked amused.
...
For now, I watched the Masterpiece rampaging freely, just as the Observer said.
Yoo Daon and Song Arin were throwing everything they had at it, but even I could see them gradually being overpowered.
"Ugh...!"
"Arin, snap out of it! I'm the one taking hits while moving—why are you the one looking beat?!"
"Not... beat at all...!"
Watching them, then back to the Masterpiece.
She was right.
It was faster now.
-Bang!
I aimed and fired, and it dodged with far smoother motions than before.
"It's true."
How?
"You really didn't notice anything?"
The Observer swung at the Masterpiece while looking at me.
Her calm eyes met mine.
...
I glanced up at the Masterpiece's head again.
[Name: Masterpiece]
[Age: Created a few months ago]
[Talent: Art]
[Specialty: Art]
[Background: This has ultimately become a magnificent work.]
[Weakness: The only way to destroy this work is with strength. Fight with strength and shatter it.]
Only one thing stood out now.
Talent and Specialty: Art.
Art.
"Hey, what exactly is art?"
"Art?"
Hearing me, the Observer hmm'ed and tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Art is art."
"Not that textbook answer."
"Your question's textbook—how am I supposed to give a multidimensional reply?"
She really wouldn't let up.
As I opened my mouth to respond, she chuckled softly and continued.
"You know, art's always been subjective to me."
...
"Something hideous today might look beautiful tomorrow. Or vice versa."
She gazed at me while saying something vague.
"Isn't that what art is? Different today and tomorrow."
...
I closed my eyes and mulled over her words.
Not by my standards.
Art was art. Talented people expressing themselves.
And others being awestruck by it. Wasn't that art?
"Hmm..."
But that was too vague.
Talent and Specialty: Art.
...
I watched the Masterpiece, now displaying even more graceful movements.
"What's the endgame of art? Its ultimate purpose?"
...
The ultimate purpose of art.
"Agh!"
"Black hair! You okay?!"
"I'm fine!"
Hearing Song Arin and Yoo Daon, I looked their way.
Both looked exhausted.
I needed an answer, fast.
*
"...But doesn't that thing seem kinda weird?"
"...Weird how."
Song Arin shot back curtly at Yoo Daon's mutter, meeting her eyes.
After all those hits, she stood tall without a hint of intimidation, staring straight ahead.
Honestly, Song Arin found it baffling.
"Isn't she pretty?"
"...Pretty?"
Song Arin knew her, so she didn't deny the beauty. Even back at the Management Bureau, everyone praised her looks.
But now she was just a mannequin with only its head left—where was the beauty in that?
Thinking that, Song Arin turned to the Masterpiece.
"...She's beautiful."
She had no choice but to say it.
No mental manipulation. She was linked to the man, mimicking his speech and mannerisms to block other interference.
So Song Arin could say for sure.
This was pure beauty.
Like the awe from witnessing something majestic, or the reverence for the unseen.
She felt it too.
The mannequin hadn't changed.
Only the gaze of those watching it had.
As the two gaped at the mannequin,
-Thud!
It charged, kicking Yoo Daon far away. She rolled across the ground with a groan.
"Urk...!"
Something needed to be done.
Song Arin knew that.
But staring at it, she couldn't speak or think.
Because it was just so beautiful.
The moment that thought hit her,
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out, a sharp voice piercing her ear.
"Snap out of it!"
A familiar yet unfamiliar voice.
Turning, she saw dull blonde hair whipping by.
-Thud!
"Ack!"
A fist crashed onto her head.
Song Arin glared wide-eyed at Ailin, who glared back with narrowed eyes before pointing ahead.
"Look at the enemy. Don't get charmed."
"...Not charmed."
Song Arin muttered, looking forward again.
Ailin sighed lowly.
"Yeah, better off with amnesia. In this place."
Muttering that, she swapped magazines and kept firing while eyeing the man.
He was staring blankly at the mannequin too, just like Song Arin.
And next to him, Jang Chaeyeon—no, the dual-personality Jang Chaeyeon...
...
She smiled with her eyes at Ailin, who nodded back awkwardly before returning her gaze to the mannequin.
Only she and that weird Jang Chaeyeon were sane. They needed to team up—
"Look."
Right then, the man muttered and addressed the nearby statue.
What? Was he crazy?
Before she could dwell, he spoke softly to the bisected statue.
"That beauty. Hasn't it finally surpassed its creator?"
A sly whisper, like a serpent from scripture.
Ailin just stared at him in disbelief.