Chapter 383
Chapter 383
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 383. Love
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As soon as the branch manager finished speaking, I and the others stared at her blankly, and she gave an awkward smile while nodding as she received those gazes.
"I know, it sounds awful. But can you hear me out anyway?"
"Branch Manager..."
Before I could say anything, Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin both raised their hands.
"Branch Manager... I do think black hair is unlucky and all, but I've never once thought about killing anyone for it. If you go around killing people just because you don't like them, are you even human?"
"Me too."
Song Arin appealed to the branch manager that she wasn't that kind of person while looking at her, and Jang Chaeyeon nodded vigorously beside her.
"Ah, no. I don't think you're that kind of person either! Really!"
Then, uncharacteristically, the branch manager quickly added those words and shook her head emphatically.
"Just! You never know!"
"Even if you never know, we're not going to kill anyone...?"
"If Yoo Daon turns into a monster, we have to kill her..."
As the branch manager finished speaking, both Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin who heard it involuntarily drew in a sharp breath and furrowed their brows.
"A monster?"
"Th-that... means people like us, right?"
Song Arin and Jang Chaeyeon looked at each other's faces as if they'd made a promise.
From the way she said "people like us," she was probably referring to the Observer and the Extremist.
"Si...milar, but different."
The branch manager shook her head calmly as she spoke.
"With you two... at least some rational conversation is possible, right?"
"Um..."
The branch manager added to her words while looking at the two with bewildered expressions.
"Anyway, even if words don't get through, I could subdue you two somehow. Well, it'd take some effort."
The branch manager spoke calmly, and the expressions of the two who heard it stiffened slightly.
If I had to put it into words, it was like their pride had been a bit hurt.
I didn't bother adding anything.
When Yoo Daon had fully matured, words hadn't gotten through, but I had no desire to remind them of that right now.
"Anyway, if Yoo Daon becomes someone conversation doesn't work on, that's a problem in its own way."
The branch manager muttered in a calm voice and let out a sigh.
"Then we'd have someone next to us who doesn't understand words, can't be killed, and is a total pain in the ass."
"..."
I knew exactly what she meant, but I still didn't want to imagine that scenario.
"Just hear her out. It's not like listening will cause any harm."
"Honestly, if she told this girl to go die, don't you think she'd somehow manage to die?"
"Arin."
"Song Arin."
"Sorry."
This time, even the branch manager stepped in to stop her.
After scolding Song Arin once more, we waited for the branch manager to speak.
She let out a small sigh and then opened her mouth.
"For starters, what I'm thinking is destroying Yoo Daon's, um, so to speak... existence."
"Existence?"
What did that mean?
I stared at the branch manager, and she slowly shook her head.
"I don't think it's what Kim Jaeheon is imagining."
I didn't know what that was, but it seemed like she was saying the thing I was worried about wouldn't happen.
"So, anyway. Um, to put it simply."
The branch manager shook the incense she was holding.
"We use things like this to extract Yoo Daon's essence and then destroy it."
"That essence is like her soul, right?"
"Um, yes. That's right. It'd be easiest to understand it that way."
The branch manager nodded calmly as she spoke.
"And the one who has to do it is Kim Jaeheon."
"..."
I had a feeling that was coming.
I stared at the branch manager, and she continued.
"Kim Jaeheon can destroy it in one shot."
She didn't say what, but I knew exactly what the branch manager was referring to.
It seemed like she was talking about Critical.
"Ri...ght."
I slowly nodded, and she slowly nodded back.
"Yes, so Kim Jaeheon just has to destroy it like that."
"..."
"This is truly the last resort, and I'll handle every single step of the process up to that point. Kim Jaeheon just has to pull the trigger when needed, so I hope you won't feel too burdened."
"In the end, you're saying he has to be the one to kill her at the very last moment. Is that really okay?"
Song Arin muttered as if she couldn't understand, and the branch manager shook her head.
"Of course it's not okay."
"..."
I stayed silent, and the branch manager smiled softly.
"So I'll take full responsibility. No matter what happens."
"...Understood."
She said that, but I hoped to God this never came to pass.
"Anyway, now we just burn this incense and go to sleep each in our own places."
"Daon probably can't use it..."
"Someone just has to sleep next to her."
The branch manager spoke calmly, and my mind started turning.
Those two would probably both refuse, right? Then I'd end up having to take Yoo Daon with me—
"I'll do it."
"I'll do it."
But contrary to my expectations, both Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin raised their hands, and as soon as their eyes met, they both lowered them as if they'd made a promise.
"If you want to do it, you do it."
"No, you seem like you want to, so why don't you?"
What was I supposed to do?
As I stared at the two in disbelief, Song Arin looked at Jang Chaeyeon with a deep sigh.
"I'll do it."
"...Thanks."
No, if both were willing, great. What was there to thank?
I looked at the two as if I couldn't comprehend, but neither turned their gaze to me.
"Good things are good."
And the branch manager smiling.
What was I supposed to do?
"So... we don't need to stay together separately or anything, right?"
"Yes, no need."
The branch manager smiled and shook her head at my question, then distributed incense to me and the others.
"I just twist the black hair senses with this, right?"
"That works fine too."
She placed the incense in my hand and smiled softly.
"See you alive tomorrow?"
"The way you're talking makes it sound like something's definitely going to happen tomorrow, and it's scaring me."
"If anything happens, I'll take responsibility and help!"
It was reassuring, but I'd prefer nothing happened at all.
With those thoughts, I took the incense and headed home.
Just in case, I should get fully geared up for dispatch, hug my weapons and manual, and sleep like that.
*
"Ah, it doesn't smell like anything."
"Then you endure the smell."
"How am I supposed to endure that smell...? It was seriously overpowering."
Song Arin rubbed her temples while thinking that girl probably wasn't really a containment object.
Twisting Yoo Daon's sense of smell wasn't difficult.
She just wouldn't be able to smell anything for a while, like a stuffy nose.
Song Arin, who had come to Yoo Daon's house, clicked her tongue and looked around.
Still the same barren, empty place.
She snorted in disapproval and perched on the edge of the bed.
"At least there's a bed to sleep on."
"If there wasn't, I wouldn't have invited you."
Yoo Daon gave an awkward smile in response to Song Arin's words.
As she said, they were originally supposed to sleep at Song Arin's place, but due to Yoo Daon's strong insistence, they'd ended up at hers.
"You're not planning anything weird, right?"
"Absolutely not!"
Song Arin narrowed her eyes at Yoo Daon, who jumped up and shook her head vigorously.
"Really! Why would I do anything to you, Arin!"
"..."
Song Arin shook her head with a sigh.
Yeah. She's unlucky, can't hold her tongue, and has a real talent for pissing people off—on the level of an actual ability user—but she's not a bad person at heart.
That's why it was so infuriating.
If she were just trash, at least she'd curse outright.
Suppressing a sigh, Song Arin looked at Yoo Daon, who gave an embarrassed smile.
"I bought all sorts of things to make sure you're comfortable!"
"..."
No wonder there were so many things that looked like they'd just been unpacked.
Song Arin sighed again and plopped down on the spot, then lifted her head to look at Yoo Daon.
"Hey, black hair."
"Yes?"
"Are you hiding something from me?"
At Song Arin's question, Yoo Daon froze for a moment, and Song Arin lifted one corner of her mouth upon seeing it.
Knew it.
Even though she'd known Yoo Daon for quite a while now.
Yoo Daon wasn't the type to hide something or act all chummy with Song Arin like this.
If that guy were coming, sure...
She probably would've remodeled the whole house. Song Arin continued her deduction with that thought.
She knew full well that her relationship with Yoo Daon wasn't as good as Yoo Daon's with Jang Chaeyeon, so there was no reason for Yoo Daon to prepare this diligently just for her.
She was probably acting like this because she was hiding something.
And if it was that kind of behavior, there was only one thing Song Arin could infer.
"It's because of what happened at the hospital, right?"
Song Arin continued, and Yoo Daon averted her gaze.
"What's the reason you can't tell me?"
It looked uncomfortable, but that wasn't her problem.
Her curiosity came first.
"Th-that..."
Yoo Daon slowly opened her mouth, but Song Arin cut her off.
"Explain it briefly."
"..."
After staying silent for a moment, Yoo Daon opened her mouth again.
"Jaeheon seems to love another me."
"Sorry. Explain it in detail."