Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 35. Method
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People really are sly creatures—just one week off, and everything loosens up.
And I'm paying the price for it, thoroughly.
"You should've run away or something."
"What?"
"Nothing."
I answered Yoo Daon, who was straightening her clothes.
Next time, this absolutely cannot happen.
"I'm ready."
While I was whipping my foggy mind back into focus over and over, Yoo Daon's words pulled me back to reality.
Yoo Daon nodded as she adjusted her own clothes.
There wasn't much of a plan yet, so we'd agreed to be as cautious as possible.
"You never know what might be waiting outside the door. We don't even know if this is an anomaly in the first place."
"Don't worry."
Yoo Daon gripped the doorknob and flashed a bright smile.
"I don't die, remember?"
That's exactly what makes it a problem.
After Song Arin—or whatever had been masquerading as her—left, the conclusion Yoo Daon and I had reached was that we needed someone who could project physical firepower.
In the worst case, assuming everyone nearby, starting with the lodge owner, had lost their minds, someone had to subdue them.
"You said your room is two doors down on the right from Chaeyeon-ssi’s, so we rush straight to the second door on the left as soon as we exit."
"If it's locked, we break it down, right?"
"If we have to."
Yoo Daon nodded again and looked at me.
"Say when you're ready. I'll open it."
"I'm ready."
The moment I finished speaking, Yoo Daon seized the doorknob, flung the door open, and bolted toward Jang Chaeyeon's room like a shot.
Sneaking workouts or something? She's seriously fast.
I followed behind her, inwardly clicking my tongue in amazement.
-Bang!
Something shattered, and Yoo Daon kicked the door in. Jang Chaeyeon leaped out immediately, scanning the surroundings.
"Enemies?"
"None so far."
"Song Arin knocked earlier, and it felt off."
"She knocked on your door too, Chaeyeon-ssi? How'd you know it wasn't her?"
"She called my name all friendly-like."
A highly personal litmus test.
"What now? Sweep 'em?"
"Possible?"
"Assuming they're all civilians, not hard."
Jang Chaeyeon scanned the area and raised her hand.
"I could bring the whole building down."
"Team Leader and Song Arin-ssi are MIA, so hold off."
What if those two got caught in the crossfire.
Jang Chaeyeon lowered her hand with obvious regret and turned to me.
"You've got a plan."
"You left it to me?"
"Nah. But you do, right?"
"Yeah."
Lately, it felt like whenever shit hit the fan, I became the planner and leader.
"No time, so quick rundown."
Yoo Daon and Jang Chaeyeon positioned themselves around me and nodded.
"First off, no going outside. Avoid looking out as much as possible."
I recalled the lodge owner's words.
'And the forest scenery at night is breathtaking!'
"Second, don't trust anyone but the three of us from here on. Song Arin-ssi, Team Leader—if you see them, suspect first."
I recalled what happened earlier.
When Yoo Daon, Jang Chaeyeon, and I had descended the stairs, there was noise.
But Team Leader and Song Arin had moved silently.
No clue if they were impostors from the start or assimilated, brainwashed—whatever.
Better safe than sorry.
"Especially watch Song Arin-ssi."
If it was just mimicking her, no big deal. But if the real Song Arin was brainwashed, that changed everything.
A brainwashed hypnotist. If Yoo Daon or Jang Chaeyeon fell under, I wouldn't last.
"Mental attacks are rough."
"If we blow my head open, think it'd snap the brainwashing?"
Jang Chaeyeon nodded like she got it, while Yoo Daon mulled over her signature bizarre fix.
"Got it. So, plan?"
"Hunt the cause first. Info's too thin."
Even with hunches or evidence, we lacked a solid backstory on why this was happening.
No better way to get firm intel?
"Man, it'd be perfect if someone just tossed us some info and bailed..."
"That's it."
"Huh?"
Yoo Daon's frustrated mutter sparked something.
"Let's go ask directly."
"Another weird idea? Cube vibes?"
Yoo Daon wore a nauseated expression.
But hey, she was always the one feeding me the gold ideas.
"Chaeyeon-ssi, know Song Arin-ssi or Team Leader's rooms?"
"...No. Can't recall."
Jang Chaeyeon shook her head slowly.
"Then we make them come to—"
"Who? Me?"
Song Arin's voice came from behind. I whipped around fast.
She stood there beaming at the three of us.
"Looking for me? Why?"
I checked above Song Arin's head.
[Name: Song Arin]
[Age: 21]
[Specialty: Hypnosis]
[Talent: -]
[Background: After twists and turns even she can't comprehend, she parachuted into the HR Team. And now, fresh off arriving at the workshop, she's in deep shit.]
[Weakness: Breaking the brainwashing requires stronger brainwashing.]
My temple throbbed.
If it was hitting me this hard, the two behind me were done for.
I dove to the floor. Sure enough, Yoo Daon's fist whooshed past my head's former spot, cratering the lodge wall.
Staying low, I rolled sideways, brain racing desperately.
'Breaking brainwashing requires stronger brainwashing.'
How the hell was I supposed to brainwash anyone? I didn't have hypnosis...
...Wait, I did?
A translucent window materialized automatically.
[Method - Perfectly assimilate with someone to mimic their traits. Appearance unchanged.]
[Method - 1]
Perfectly assimilate with someone.
Mimic her, and wouldn't that overwrite the brainwashing?
No time for second thoughts.
I sprang up, mentally yelling "Method."
My vision shifted. A thick purple thread protruded from above Song Arin's head.
Look left, thread veers left. Right, it follows.
Instinct screamed the truth.
Connect this thread to someone, and Method links us.
So connect it to—
...How do I connect it to myself?
No mirror, no way to see my own eyes.
I glanced down at my chest—the thread hit it like repelled, bouncing off.
Didn't see that coming.
No breather. Rolled again, eyes on the other two.
No choice. Plug it into one of them.
*Stick it in quick,* I thought, and the thread rocketed out.
"Huh."
"Uh!"
It pierced Jang Chaeyeon's head and dissolved from view.
She shivered like hit by chills. Song Arin froze, eyes bulging.
"...Uh...!"
Awakening? Yoo Daon clutched her head, groaning.
"Tried to off myself, but body won't obey."
"At least you resisted."
"...Why're those two frozen?"
Yoo Daon cocked her head at the statuesque pair. I mumbled something vague.
Jang Chaeyeon snapped out first.
"...Feels like cold ice got shoved in my skull."
She scowled, shaking her head.
"You okay?"
"Sorry. Mental stuff never gets easier."
"...You."
Mid-check on Jang Chaeyeon, Song Arin rebooted. Jang Chaeyeon and Yoo Daon tensed, eyes locked on her.
"...You always this hot?"
"...Crazy?"
Freshly lucid, Song Arin jabbed a finger at me, babbling nonsense.
"No, hold up. What'd you do to my head?"
"What do you think?"
"Spill. No, don't."
Song Arin slapped a hand over her face, head dropping.
Her ears burned crimson.
"No idea what you pulled, but my emotions are haywire? Thanks for the wake-up, but someone else interrogate."
"Gotcha."
I chin-nodded at Song Arin. Yoo Daon asked questions, looking queasy.
Composure returning, Song Arin answered slowly—still facing away.
"Someone knocked. Opened up, total dissonance vibe."
"Long neck, hair over the face?"
"Spot on. And seriously, don't talk to me. Begging you."
Hand on chest, she deep-breathed repeatedly.
"Anyway, waited till I stepped out. Said stuff, handed me something... woke up like this."
"What'd they hand you?"
"Fuck—don't—"
Song Arin flinched through the answer. Jang Chaeyeon's glare across from her iced over.
No wonder I wanna see her face.
"...Phew. Statue thing, if memory's right."
A statue.
"Chaeyeon-ssi, mountain spirit case closed for sure?"
"Records say terminated."
Still so damn uneasy.
Target locked anyway.
"Grab that woman."
"..."
"Not splitting up, right Song Arin-ssi?"
"...We are."
Song Arin fished something from her bosom, offered it—still back-turned.
"What's this?"
"Your gun. You left it."
"Why'd you have my gun?"
"Just in case."
Her handing it backward tickled mischief.
"Thanks."
Clomped over, snatched it from her grip, seized her shoulder, forced eye contact.
"!"
Her face went nuclear red. Speechless, she reeled back, thunked her head on the wall, clutched it, and squat-squirmed.
"Ughhhh..."
"...Situation's dire. Remember?"
Jang Chaeyeon grumped and strode ahead.
This is fun.
Glanced at quaking Song Arin cradling her skull, then pocketed the gun and stood.
First goal down. Grill her, answers flow.
Eyed the wall Jang Chaeyeon had smashed.
Find that woman first. Squeeze every scrap of intel on this mess.
Cloudless sky outside, but eerily, not a sliver of moonlight pierced from beyond the wall.