Chapter 390
Chapter 390
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 390. Real or Fake
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"This is a bit unexpected."
Song Arin nodded at my mutter.
"Yeah. I figured we'd end up in a hospital for sure."
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon sighed after hearing me and Song Arin, and we all followed suit, looking around.
It was a place with striking yellow wallpaper.
Like some... old basement. Specifically, the kind from the 80s or 90s.
"Anyone getting a vague sense of this place?"
"Not the Management Bureau manual—the weird one you're holding. But there was something in the internal Bureau files."
Song Arin rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought at my question.
"What was it? Anyway, it's been around since way back. Even the Bureau doesn't have proper records."
"No survivors?"
"No, there are survivors—plenty, actually. But they all say different things."
Song Arin shrugged.
"Some say they lived in an old Western town before coming here, others mention a basement, and some... a lighthouse? Stuff like that."
"I see."
"But the one thing they all have in common is this place."
Song Arin pointed at the floor.
"They say they stopped by here at least once."
"..."
Not particularly helpful.
"So, how do we get out of here..."
"We'll have to look."
Song Arin shrugged calmly.
"Alright."
I hadn't expected it to be easy anyway. Or rather, if this has something to do with resolving Yoo Daon's parents, maybe coming here was inevitable.
"Daon."
"Yes?"
"Anything about this place feel familiar? Or jog any memories?"
"..."
Yoo Daon closed her eyes at my words, deep in thought.
"...No."
She slowly shook her head.
"I do remember going on a trip with my parents. It was... um, like a villa, an empty one with no one else around."
An empty villa?
Jang Chaeyeon, who'd been listening, touched her chin and then let go.
She seemed to have an idea but didn't say more, clearly thinking it over.
"...Got it for now."
I said, opening the manual.
[Office Manual]
[Basement Escape Guidelines]
1. Many unexpected events occur in the basement. Most commonly, encounters with monsters that are no longer human.
2. Upon discovering survivors, first confirm whether they are human.
3. To determine if they are not human, observe discrepancies between what they say and their apparent age.
This should be easy. Skip.
My eyes moved to the next item.
4. When searching for an exit or moving, we recommend sticking together as a group. Otherwise, even if you find an exit, some may not make it back.
5. If you find an exit or door, never forget: The view when you open the door and peer through may differ from the scene once you step inside.
What does this mean?
I showed the section to the others, and Yoo Daon spoke up after reading it.
"Isn't it literal?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, um. When we open the HR office door, we see the HR office, right?"
Yoo Daon began explaining slowly.
"But once we step in assuming it's the HR office, it might not be."
"...I get the gist."
In other words, it changes once you step through. Got it.
"That's why it says to stick together."
"..."
Makes sense.
"Fine. Manuals haven't steered me wrong yet."
"Not you, anyway."
I let Song Arin's barbed comment slide and kept reading.
5. Finally, we've confirmed that renegades who escaped the Management Bureau or members of opposing groups are using this place as a base. Please exercise caution.
6. The Bureau renegades currently residing in the basement area are linked to a massive evacuation incident 70 years ago. Survivor testimonies indicate they inhabit a place with a massive cathedral.
7. Additionally, about 20 years ago, some who fled after attempting human-containment fusion experiments using internal Bureau data are also here. They reportedly inhabit a massive factory-like area in the basement.
"...Daon's parents might be here."
"Twenty years ago lines up perfectly."
"But my parents... I mean, from what I remember, we lived in an apartment. A small one."
Yoo Daon shook her head, cutting into me and Jang Chaeyeon.
"Really?"
"Do you remember what kind of apartment?"
"Not perfectly, but..."
Yoo Daon tilted her head at our questions.
"When we went out... it wasn't beautiful, but there was a playground... and I'd play there while my parents always stood watching me."
"...Hold on."
Song Arin approached Yoo Daon and fiddled with her temples.
"Sorry, but can I check if you're remembering things right?"
"..."
Yoo Daon glanced at me, Jang Chaeyeon, and Song Arin, then nodded.
"Sure."
"Okay."
Song Arin placed her hands on Yoo Daon's temples and closed her eyes. Yoo Daon grimaced, enduring it.
Every time Song Arin hummed, Yoo Daon flinched with her eyes shut. After about five minutes, Song Arin pulled away.
"...Hm."
"...Ugh..."
Song Arin looked thoughtful, while Yoo Daon clutched her head, shaking it as if it felt awful.
"Daon?"
"Feels like someone shoved a blender in my head and turned it on..."
"Yeah, I went fast."
Song Arin replied casually to Yoo Daon, then looked at us.
"Something's off with her."
"Huh?"
"Not brainwashed or anything."
Song Arin trailed off.
"Too many holes in her memories."
"..."
"Childhood memories usually solidify around a certain point. We don't remember our first couple years, but once we hit elementary school, stuff starts sticking."
You get it? Song Arin continued.
"But hers... way too many gaps."
"...Meaning..."
"Could be a few things."
Song Arin answered flatly.
"Brain damage from too much torture at the hospital, or maybe someone wiped them on purpose."
"..."
"Her hospital memories... ...Nah, let's not go there."
Song Arin made a bitter face, zipping her lips and shaking her head.
"That stuff's traumatic just to dig into."
"...Understood."
I nodded, and Yoo Daon looked away from me, silent.
"...Anyway."
Jang Chaeyeon broke the awkward air slowly.
"Let's find a way out. Once we're out, we can sort something out."
"I'd love that."
I replied calmly, scanning around.
Yellow walls without a single mark. Even the yellow floor made it hard to tell directions.
"...Headache."
I muttered, and Song Arin, who'd had her eyes closed till then, nodded too.
"No signs of people either."
"...Nothing visible here."
Jang Chaeyeon shook her head,
"..."
And quiet Yoo Daon sniffed and looked up.
"I smell something."
"What kind?"
"Uh, um..."
Yoo Daon furrowed her brow at my question.
"How to describe it..."
She muttered, puzzled, then spoke.
"Like... balm?"
"Balm?"
No balm smell at all.
I sniffed, but Yoo Daon shook her head.
"You and the others probably can't smell it. It's not exactly a smell—more like the scent from that person?"
Isn't that the same?
But I didn't press.
"As expected. Our team's trusty pup!"
"Watch it."
Jang Chaeyeon pinched Song Arin's side with a sigh, and Song Arin just clutched her waist, grimacing without complaint.
They get along great like this.
"This way."
Yoo Daon took the lead, Jang Chaeyeon brought up the rear as usual, Song Arin stayed by my side, and we moved.
How long had we walked?
A small room appeared.
"..."
Yoo Daon gripped the doorknob and looked back at us.
"Opening it."
"Yeah."
We nodded, and she opened the door.
A plain yellow room greeted us.
"G-Good. Everyone together, then..."
Yoo Daon looked at us, and we clustered beside her.
Soon, the four of us—two guys, two girls—linked arms in a ridiculous formation and stepped forward.
We crossed into the room.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Nothing happened.
We were just standing in the small room, the four of us.
"...Manual got it wrong?"
"No way. Probably—"
"Hey!"
Someone's cheerful voice cut us off.
"People!"
A middle-aged man in a sharp suit.
Hair slicked back perfectly, shoes matching flawlessly—stylish getup.
He smiled.
"Wow, so glad to see people!"
A translucent panel appeared above his head,
[Name: X]
[Age: 209]
[Trait: X]
[Talent: X]
[Background: Born wearing another's face, lives by devouring others.]
[Weakness: Possesses an ordinary body.]
"Anyway—"
*Bang!*
Before he could finish, I drew my pistol and put a hole in his forehead. The three behind me praised me in their own ways.
"Quick draw."
"Nice shot."
"So cool!"
"..."
Everyone's gotten a bit weird.