Chapter 392
Chapter 392
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 392. Déjà Vu
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-Crash!
The Observer stepped forward, crunching on a piece of stone,
"Quiet."
"It's not my fault. What can I do if Chaeyeon doesn't exercise?"
"Anyone hearing that would think you work out a lot yourself."
"More than Chaeyeon, at least."
She never lets even a single remark slide.
I thought that as I moved forward.
"But do you know those guys?"
The Observer tilted her head at me, so after a moment's hesitation, I explained to her about the church.
That bizarre paradise we'd seen there, and... well, similar things.
"..."
The Observer narrowed her eyes at my explanation, letting out a groan as if lost in thought.
"Hmm. I think I get what you're saying, but there was no info linking the Rapture Incident directly to the church, right?"
"But it's the same religion?"
"Don't say stuff that'd get you stabbed by believers. You're always so cynical about religion."
"I didn't know that side of me was like that."
"People change?"
"Not changing doesn't mean they're the same."
"Really, you still never yield a word."
The Observer muttered with a laugh in her voice.
"For now, I'll dig through my memories."
"Yeah. Thanks."
"So..."
The Observer paused for a moment, then looked at me.
"What are we gonna do? We can't just stay like this. Arin and that creepy friend—"
"Yoo Daon."
"—Yoo Daon aren't here either."
"What can we do?"
I looked at the Observer, and she smiled, tilting her head.
"We should look for the exit."
"Yeah, you're right."
The Observer smiled and started walking.
"First, find a door—"
At that exact moment, music blared out.
It was a grand hymn.
The Observer hurriedly plugged her ears, and I tensed up, unsure if something might happen, but nothing did.
"..."
I slowly removed my hands from my ears, and the Observer did the same as we exchanged glances.
Then, the people who'd been smiling up until then— not many of them— began slowly walking away, and the Observer and I stayed hidden, watching them go.
"Let's go."
After they vanished, she nodded at my words, and the two of us walked through the now-empty cathedral.
"..."
Well, with nothing catching my eye, I had no idea what to look for or where to go.
I sighed and kept walking, soon spotting a large door.
"Of all the doors to find, it's this huge, ominous one."
The Observer shook her head with a delighted laugh at my mutter.
"Thrilling. Let's go."
"Give me Chaeyeon back."
"Really?"
"Chaeyeon."
"You're so heartless."
The Observer laughed like a sigh at my call.
"But knowing that prickliness is you putting on an act makes me even more grateful."
"..."
I didn't respond to that, and soon the Observer closed her eyes and opened them, her gaze softening as it turned to me.
"Am I more comfortable?"
"Of course."
"Then why the formal speech?"
"Because you're comfortable."
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon stared at me with a sulky expression at my fluid reply, then started walking.
"Let's hurry."
"Yes."
Honestly, this does feel more comfortable.
We faced the door together, and as I reached out to grab the handle, Jang Chaeyeon suddenly spoke.
"I've heard a lot about you from the Observer."
"..."
"You know, your personality... or what you hate..."
"Chaeyeon."
I cut her off calmly and looked at her; Jang Chaeyeon looked back with a puzzled expression.
"Yeah?"
"You're the one who knows me best, Chaeyeon. The Observer's Kim Jaeheon isn't me, just like the Observer isn't you."
They might be similar, but I couldn't say the Jang Chaeyeon in front of me was the same as her.
Jang Chaeyeon paused at my words, then smiled and stood beside me.
"Yeah, got it."
The two of us opened the door,
and what appeared before us was a sky filled with countless people ascending.
At the same time,
-Rustle!
The manual unfurled.
[Office Manual]
[Rapture Incident Occurrence]
1. Localized Rapture Incidents may occur continuously.
2. In such cases, you must take care not to get caught up in the incident.
3. First, if the person identified as the leader of the Rapture Incident floats into the sky, avoid them.
4. Additionally, there are no cases of survival or even return after death among those caught in the current Rapture Incident. Be extremely cautious not to get involved.
It's pretty scary stuff.
I hesitated for a moment.
The Rapture Incident, and Yoo Daon.
Was it right to move like this without knowing where Yoo Daon and Song Arin were now, or even if I should try to stop it? As those doubts swirled,
I felt an unfamiliar sensation in my hand.
Looking down hurriedly, Jang Chaeyeon was holding my hand, gazing at me.
"Don't overthink it."
She smiled calmly as she spoke.
"If it's somewhere else on the other side, oh well. And if the scenery doesn't change even after we go through, we can stop it then."
"You're sounding just like me, Chaeyeon."
"They say you become like the ones you're with."
Jang Chaeyeon laughed at my words, and I sighed, stepping forward.
Yeah. Worrying won't change anything. Let's just go.
With that thought, the moment Jang Chaeyeon and I crossed the threshold,
we were in an unfamiliar factory.
"..."
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon and I exchanged glances for a moment.
Something feels off.
"About that Rapture Incident."
"Yeah."
"Will it come back to bite us big time later?"
"Worrying won't make it go away."
"No, why are you answering just like me?"
"Because I'm mimicking you."
Jang Chaeyeon laughed at my words, and I could only give a wry smile at her face.
Anyway.
"I wish Daon were here. Arin too. Or that the two of them safely escaped the church."
"..."
Jang Chaeyeon paused at my words, then spoke.
"Well, we'll find out if we look—"
"I'm here."
A voice full of irritation cut off Jang Chaeyeon.
Turning around,
Song Arin stood there with arms crossed, glaring at Jang Chaeyeon and me, while Yoo Daon looked awkward as she gazed at us too.
"While some of us were dying to find a way out, looks like you two were having a grand old flirt."
"Sorry, but we were dying to find a—"
"It was the Observer, not me."
Before I could deny Song Arin's words, Jang Chaeyeon shook her head, and I was left speechless, just standing there.
"Look at her shutting up. Guess something did happen."
"Excuse me, I didn't do anyth—"
"You did. Your face all flushed at night..."
"So you heard that too..."
As I sighed at Jang Chaeyeon and Song Arin's words, Yoo Daon gave a wry smile and stepped between us.
"Should we find a way out first? We can't stay here forever..."
"...Yeah, you're right."
I nodded at Yoo Daon's words, and the four of us resumed walking, sorting out the situation.
"So, you two dropped into some cathedral or whatever?"
"Yes."
"And we dropped into a factory."
"Right."
"But why's my manual not saying anything?"
"Who knows?"
I shrugged, glancing at my already open manual.
"Mine's already showing."
[Office Manual]
[Basement - Factory]
1. The basement contains various failed experiments.
"Failed experiments."
"Like the ones that white-hair and I killed earlier?"
"Probably."
"What, a den of madmen?"
No wonder we got kicked out of the Management Bureau. Song Arin muttered as she looked around.
2. Avoid the failed experiments, but be even more cautious of those who create them.
"...Isn't this like a hospital?"
Jang Chaeyeon muttered as she read the description beside me.
Just like she said, it didn't seem much different from a hospital.
Just kidnapping people for experiments, and if they're no good, labeling them failures.
"..."
I read the next item silently.
3. These are individuals who caused major incidents at the Management Bureau and are extremely dangerous. Please be careful.
"So my black-haired one's parents are probably here?"
"...Likely."
I closed the book after replying.
"..."
Yoo Daon's parents.
The deeper you dig, the uglier it gets— is this what they mean?
Of course, I'd thought they weren't proper parents ever since learning they'd handed her over to the hospital.
"..."
I closed my eyes, lost in thought.
"Jaeheon?"
Yoo Daon tilted her head at me, and I looked back at her.
"Daon. Um, really... sorry, but."
"...Yes."
"Really, is that all you remember about your parents?"
"..."
Yoo Daon froze at my question.
"...That's really it."
She muttered uncertainly,
"Hey."
Song Arin poked my arm.
"It's true, right, Daon?"
"...I'd like to think it is."
Yoo Daon murmured.
"Hey."
Song Arin poked my arm again.
"Look at that."
"...What?"
Can't you see we're talking? I thought, looking ahead,
"..."
I tilted my head at the scene before us.
"A set?"
It was a set.
One that looked like an ordinary house.
"Why's something like this here?"
"..."
Song Arin didn't answer my mutter, just looked at Yoo Daon, and Jang Chaeyeon did the same.
"...Wait."
A chilling thought hit me.
Yoo Daon said she remembered living with her family in a house when she was little...
"..."
Yoo Daon covered her mouth with both hands, staring at the set,
"Wow."
Her mouth opened,
"It's exactly the same as the house I lived in."
Yoo Daon smiled.