Chapter 353
Chapter 353
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Encounter
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Last Supper.
"Hold on."
"Ah! Oppa, you're splashing water!"
I hurriedly set down my plate and headed toward the TV.
The news was still playing on the screen.
[This Last Supper will begin shortly, and it's already drawing massive attention, just like always. The anticipation is building.]
[That's right. They've already sold out every viewing slot. Everyone's waiting to see what kind of thrill it'll bring this time.]
...
"...This is it, right?"
"Yeah, looks like it."
Right now?
The moment the thought crossed my mind,
music started flowing from the TV.
Somber classical tunes, accompanied by the voices of singers.
A slight headache hit me, and I quickly turned it off.
"You okay?"
"You shut it off the second the singing started..."
"I'm fine for now."
"Arin."
At my words, Song Arin placed her hands on Yoo Daon's and Jang Chaeyeon's heads, eyes closed.
"They're fine."
"And you're sure you're fine too?"
"I've been doing this kind of thing and getting hit by it for ages. Of course I am."
Song Arin gave me a look like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"And even if it got me, it probably wouldn't be a big deal."
"Not a big deal?"
"Yeah. What... just some intense urge to watch that play, no matter what?"
Like with the Red Lady.
"For now... it's a good thing we all ended up gathered at my place like this."
Otherwise, it would've taken us a lifetime to regroup.
Still, it feels a bit unfair.
"At least give us some promo."
"Promo for what?"
"Up until now, they've never once announced a performance."
"Isn't it weirder to expect marketing or viral hype from a Containment Object?"
"You've got a point."
Fair enough. If it were my theater troupe, I'd sooner release a Containment Object to brainwash people than parade around with signs saying we're putting on a show.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Because I think you're the perfect talent for the theater—Ow! Headache! Headache!"
Song Arin, who had been glaring and messing with my head, sighed and continued.
"Anyway. We need to prepare."
"Right. ...I'll at least text the branch chief."
"No need. Now that the news is out, everyone at the Management Bureau who knows about this incident is already on high alert."
Song Arin muttered as she gazed out the window.
"We just need to do what we can."
"What we can do?"
Yoo Daon looked at Song Arin curiously, and I answered in her place.
"Mental prep and physical prep."
I closed the windows and drew the curtains.
Then I put on some mellow jazz from the audio player in the house.
Before long, the only sound in my home was jazz.
"No telling when or where the brainwashing might hit, so let's plug our ears first. Everyone, stay off video sites today."
I said that while glancing at Park Ye-eun.
She looked like the world was ending.
"...I have this condition where I can't sleep without watching videos before bed..."
"That fixes itself after a couple nights staying up. Just sit tight."
Can't fall asleep without doing something?
Pull a few all-nighters—two to four days—and you'll pass out the second your head hits anything.
Speaking from experience.
What else?
"It's a Management Bureau apartment, so there should be that emergency passage from before too..."
"Oh, you mean that time... when it was pouring rain, right?"
"Yeah."
There has to be some way to escape.
I also texted the branch chief.
[Branch Chief. You've probably seen it, but Act 3 has begun. If there's anything I should watch out for or need to know, please let me know.]
Sent.
When the time comes, he'll reply or give me my orders.
If not, we'll find it ourselves.
"Alright. Our goal this time is to stop Act 3."
As I said that and looked at the others, they nodded back at me.
"As for how... we'll figure it out as we go."
"You always do. You'll get it done."
"That kind of trust is more pressure than you think, Chaeyeon."
"If you fail, I'll die with you."
"You're really trying to kill me with the pressure."
Jang Chaeyeon let out a small laugh at my mutter.
"You'll do great, Jaeheon."
Yoo Daon smiled too as she grabbed and released my sleeve.
"And if anything happens, I'll help from right beside you!"
"Cut the sappy act."
Finally, Song Arin sighed deeply as she looked at us.
"This is exactly when we need to prepare."
"Right."
"Yeah. Gear and—"
"Let's rest up."
"What?"
Song Arin stared at me like I'd lost my mind, and I just shrugged back at her.
"We won't know until we run into it anyway. And my place doesn't have bombs or guns."
Well, precisely, there's just the one pistol I can use.
...
Song Arin made a complicated expression at my words, then nodded.
"Yeah, he's not wrong. Let's just... rest up a bit and go."
"Good idea."
I nodded at her words, and we all flopped onto the sofa like we'd planned it.
"Come on, giving us time to rest won't hurt."
Hearing my sigh, the others chimed in with their own agreement.
"Feels like incidents keep piling up. Busier than when I was on Containment Team."
"I thought you were possessed or something at first."
"As long as Jaeheon isn't suffering, I'm good..."
How do they all react so differently?
"At least the pay's good, right?"
And then Park Ye-eun, with zero tact, chimed in while watching us.
We all turned to stare at her, and under our gazes, she looked away and muttered.
"Sorry."
"Know better next time, and do better."
"Yes..."
Even if she's a minor, there are things you say and things you don't.
Once we've been through a few more incidents, the world stabilizes a bit, and I feel safe, I'm retiring for sure, becoming a landlord, and never working again.
Come to think of it.
"What do you all want to do after retiring?"
...
...
...
Why the silence?
I looked up at the others, and they were all staring back with baffled expressions.
What? What's the problem now?
"Wh-what? You're retiring?"
"...Retiring...?"
"Don't just spring it like that..."
The three of them stammered, looking shaken as they stared at me.
"No. Not now."
I couldn't even if I wanted to right now.
"Ah..."
"Yeah..."
"Then speak more clearly next time."
These people would grab you instead of cheering if you said you were quitting.
"...I do have something I want to do."
Jang Chaeyeon finally closed her eyes, thought for a moment, and spoke.
"What?"
"Own a flower shop."
With her looks, she could probably make even people who hate flowers suddenly want to buy some.
"Me... hmm. Maybe run a café?"
"Not unemployed?"
"What do you take me for?"
Song Arin glared at me indignantly.
Hey, you've just been mooching coffee and skipping chores, so I figured.
Finally.
"...Um..."
Yoo Daon gave a troubled smile under our gazes.
"Honestly, I don't really know."
...
Yeah, figures.
She probably never even had the luxury of dreaming.
"So I want to learn from you, Jaeheon!"
"Me?"
"Yes!"
Yoo Daon beamed brightly, meeting my eyes.
"Teach me lots, Jaeheon!"
"...I don't have any grand dreams myself."
"What is it?"
"...Landlord?"
"Landlord..."
Yoo Daon closed her eyes, pondered my words,
"Then I'll be the landlord next door!"
"Trying to compete?"
"No! Ally!"
Can't even joke back when she says it so innocently.
"If the chance comes."
All I could do was shrug and smile.
"As for me—"
"You've got more work to do. Where does a minor get off talking retirement?"
"You're such an old man. Makes me want to punch you."
As I teased Park Ye-eun, she let out a huge yawn, and I instinctively checked the time.
Already this late.
"Everyone, get some sleep."
"How about rooms?"
"I'll take the sofa. You all figure out the rest."
Good thing I bought extra spare beds after the last incident, just in case.
I headed to the sofa and lay down first.
I'll wait while the others shower.
I lay on the sofa, thinking that.
"Then Arin first..."
"Let the white-hair go first..."
"Got it. I'll..."
"Um, I'll..."
I closed my eyes briefly amid the chatter of the other four.
It'll take a while, so dozing off is fine.
Eyes shut.
...
How much time passed?
When I opened them, the blanket over me had fallen off, and the dark house greeted me.
What? Did I fall asleep without realizing?
The jazz was still playing softly, and at the same time, some sound came from outside.
Bad feeling about this.
I quietly sat up and headed to the room where the others were sleeping.
Yoo Daon and Song Arin, Jang Chaeyeon and Park Ye-eun, all sharing the bed.
Good, no one's missing or floating in water or anything.
...
I quietly parted the curtains toward the outside.
No one was out there, no tragedies.
Just woke up from sleep, then. Back to—
"Don't fall asleep."
A familiar voice rang in my ear.
...
I turned to look behind me.
Deep blue hair glowing even in the dark, eyes that looked burdened with thoughts beyond her years.
...
My childhood friend.
"You know what it means that I'm out here, right?"
She gazed at me with a calm voice.
"...Yeah."
Something's happening.
"What is it."
"Well—"
"...Who are you?"
Another familiar voice.
In the dark living room, Yoo Daon was looking at us.