Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Hospital
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After work, I headed out for drinks with Yoo Daon.
"Urgh..."
Yoo Daon shook her head as always. If this wasn't déjà vu, what was?
But it was exactly what I'd hoped for.
Looking at Yoo Daon shaking her head, I asked in a subtle tone.
"Daon."
"Yes?"
"Anything tough going on lately?"
"Hmm..."
I fell into thought watching her ponder.
This feels just like a team leader encouraging a subordinate.
"I'm actually enjoying it these days."
Yoo Daon gave a small smile, swirled her glass, and met my eyes.
"I told you. I've never been this happy in my life."
"Why are you so happy?"
"Uh..."
Her face flushed from the alcohol, she sank into thought, then gave a troubled smile.
"Well, I wasn't really happy back then either..."
"The hospital, right."
"..."
For a moment, it felt like time had stopped for Yoo Daon.
Soon, her face went pale, and her hands trembled as she looked at me.
"How did you..."
"That doesn't matter."
At my words, Yoo Daon lowered her gaze and whispered.
"Are you worried that I'm causing you trouble, Jaeheon?"
"That's not what I'm worried about."
"Huh?"
"I'm worried about you, Daon."
Yoo Daon fell silent at my words, then looked at me.
"Me?"
"Who else?"
I met Yoo Daon's eyes.
"Like I said last time, HR doesn't abandon colleagues. Daon, would you abandon me if I were in danger?"
"Of course not!"
Yoo Daon shot to her feet shouting, and the people around us went quiet, staring at her.
Was that really worth such a strong reaction?
I quickly gestured for her to sit and continued.
"It's the same principle. I'm not planning to abandon you either."
"..."
Yoo Daon shut her mouth.
"Whether it's Chaeyeon or Arin, we'll help each other as much as we can."
"..."
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"Jaeheon, how much do you know about the 'hospital'?"
"Honestly, just what I told you."
It creates and cures diseases. Curing alone would make them just doctors, but creating them? That's enough to mark them as completely insane.
What was the Management Bureau doing, not hauling these guys away?
"It's... um, a dangerous place. Very."
"..."
"It's not just about creating and curing diseases. Wherever a 'hospital' appears, it turns into a place no human should enter."
"You mean it becomes another world?"
"It's different from other worlds. It exists in reality. Even the Management Bureau can't touch it recklessly—they respond by creating escape routes via manuals."
"If you can't escape..."
"You become one of the test subjects."
"..."
"I was what they call a test subject at Gangseo University Hospital."
Yoo Daon smiled.
"It's convenient, right? You don't die, so you don't have to worry about using various drugs or antidotes."
She spoke casually, as if it were everyday conversation.
"If you die, they just dump you somewhere and you come back to life. No need to feed you either. Even starvation just leads to death and revival."
"..."
I listened to her in silence.
"And somehow I escaped... but the Management Bureau found me."
"They said I'd be safe if I joined... But on my first day, an incident happened, and I met you, Jaeheon."
So that's what the Management Bureau told Yoo Daon—safety. For me, it was money.
She scratched her cheek with a smile, then looked at me.
"I have a question."
"Am I being helpful to you right now, Jaeheon?"
Now I got it.
Why Yoo Daon always threw her life away like it was nothing. Why she never cared about the pain.
It was the only thing she knew how to do, the only way she knew to be acknowledged.
I looked above her head.
[Name: Yoo Daon]
[Age: 23]
[Trait: Immortality]
[Talent: Regeneration (Undefined)]
[Background: She has refused death and endured far too many things in a short time. But meeting someone different from the countless people who used her simply because she wouldn't die, she wants to risk her life once more.]
[Weakness: -]
Eyes aren't much use in times like this.
Was it right to tell her she was useful here? She wasn't an item.
"...I'm always in your debt."
I couldn't tell if she was satisfied, but she smiled softly.
"...Shall we go now?"
"I'll walk you home."
"Really? I'm always just grateful to you, Jaeheon."
Yoo Daon smiled and nodded at my words.
We left the bar and walked in silence.
"This should be fine."
At an empty intersection, she smiled at me.
"You're sure you don't want me to go further?"
"I'm fine! Honestly, no one from HR walks alone and gets in danger."
She laughed, hummed a tune, and started walking.
With perfect steps, no staggering, she turned back, waved at me, and soon vanished from sight.
The next day, Yoo Daon didn't come to work.
*
"Going AWOL is still crossing a line, no matter what."
Song Arin clicked her tongue at Yoo Daon's empty seat.
"It happens. I'll mark it as paid leave, so give her a call. Tell her to let us know if she's sick."
The Team Leader waved it off casually, tapped at his computer, then turned on the radio, and the news came on.
[Next up. A gas explosion in an apartment in Gangseo has caused a residential area to burn down completely. No casualties, but a 23-year-old woman surnamed Yoo is missing...]
The radio gave an address. An apartment near the Management Bureau.
Four pairs of eyes turned to the radio at once.
I shot up from my seat without thinking.
"I'll be right back."
Before the three could respond, I bolted out.
The housing the Management Bureau assigns is always nearby, and Yoo Daon's was no exception.
I ran until my lungs burned.
Yoo Daon's apartment came into view, and I headed straight there.
No fire, no smoke, no firefighters or police cars around.
Just a few guys in suits nearby.
As I approached, someone walked over.
A young man in a sharp suit and sunglasses.
"No entry."
"Out of my way."
"Guess you didn't hear me. No entry here."
"I'm from HR."
I pulled out my manual and showed him. He glanced at it and scoffed.
"Get real. What does some office drone from HR think they're doing here?"
"One of our HR members is—"
"We'll handle it. Mind your own business!"
He shoved me, barking.
"There's no time for this—"
"He's here."
A familiar voice came from behind.
The sunglasses guy with the sporty haircut I'd gotten to know looked at me.
"Hello, sir!"
The guy who'd shoved me bowed hastily, and he waved it off casually before turning to me.
"One of our team members is—"
"I know."
"I have to go."
"Yeah. You first."
The man gaped at him in shock.
"He's office staff!"
"Office staff, sure. But I guarantee you, he's far more capable than you."
The man's lips tightened, pride wounded, but he said nothing.
"Follow behind. The Management Bureau's deploying people too, but it'll take time to prep. We don't want to lose an Immortality or Regeneration user either."
"..."
"You're just wasting time. You got the marble?"
"Yes."
"Then get going."
No sooner had he finished than a van slid in smoothly.
The window rolled down, and a familiar face looked at me.
"Get in!"
"Team Leader?"
It was the Team Leader.
Song Arin and Jang Chaeyeon were crammed in the back.
The sunglasses guy gave a slight bow to the Team Leader, who returned it.
"You got the location?"
"Yes."
"Drive the safest route, please."
"Of course."
After they talked, the guy looked at me.
The door slid open with a rumble, and without time to think, I climbed into the back of the van.
"I'll say it again, you're just wasting time."
"Wouldn't it be fine if I go ahead and rescue her?"
The guy grinned like he was enjoying it.
"Hearing you say that makes me think it might work. Go on."
He waved, and the Team Leader hit the gas, peeling out.
Inside the roaring van, Song Arin pulled out a gun from behind with her usual expression.
"Here."
She handed me a gun.
"You don't need a big one anyway, right?"
It was my usual pistol. I looked at Jang Chaeyeon, but she shook her head.
"Don't need it."
"Wasn't gonna give you one."
I glanced at the Team Leader driving.
He caught my eye in the rearview.
"What."
"...How did you know?"
He sighed at my loaded question.
"Kid, I've been with the Management Bureau over 20 years. Like it or not, you pick up experience."
The van weaved fantastically through alleys.
"..."
Would she be okay?
As I pondered, someone tapped my shoulder.
"...She'll be fine."
It was Jang Chaeyeon.
"I'll help."
"...Thank you."
"Ugh! Always flirting whenever there's a gap, you silver fox!"
Song Arin butted in irritably, smacking my back with a loud slap.
"Don't chicken out! This ain't my or silver fox's first rodeo."
"Thanks for the pep talk."
"It's not pep talk. Just advice 'cause you look too stiff."
After zigzagging through streets, a massive hospital loomed ahead.
When was a place like this here? I'd never seen it before.
Song Arin tapped my shoulder as I stared blankly.
"Hey, you going or not?"
"I'm going."
I opened the back door, and the Team Leader said confidently.
"They won't have spotted us."
"Team Leader—"
"I'd just get in the way. Might even make it worse."
"..."
The Team Leader waved at me.
"In the org chart, you're second to me in power. So go do your thing."
"...I'll be back."
"Yeah. I'll wait here. Not leaving till you return. Save me if you wanna live."
I bowed to the Team Leader and got out.
Jang Chaeyeon stood there as always, unarmed, and—
"...What."
Song Arin, shotgun on her back, pistols at her hips.
"Nothing."
I shook my head and looked at the hospital.
The creepy hospital had a sign with the Management Bureau's mark nearby.
[Warning!]
[This is your last path back. Turn around now.]
I took a step. Another Management Bureau sign.
[You cannot turn back from here. Proceed forward with steady steps. Do not look behind under any circumstances.]
Soon, the hospital entrance appeared.
A weathered sign.
[Welcome to Gangseo University Hospital. Your satisfaction is guaranteed with our doctors and nurses on standby, fully prepared to assist you.]
My manual opened automatically.
[Office Manual]
[Gangseo University Hospital Manual]
[0. First, our condolences for your misfortune in coming here. If you came on your own, applause for your courage. We hope you safely retrieve who you're looking for.]
[0-1. Gangseo University Hospital is divided into Wings A, B, and C. Wing A: Patient Rooms. Wing B: Practice Rooms. Wing C: Morgue.]
[0-2. Escape probability decreases in order B -> A -> C, so we'll explain B first. If you're looking for someone, open A.]
No need.
I quickly opened the A section.
[2-1. Entering Wing A means you're likely here to find someone.]
[2-2. First, convince the doctors and nurses you're here for a visit. Under no circumstances reveal you're from the Management Bureau. If discovered, refer to T for suicide methods.]
Wing A, huh.
I gripped my gun, staring at the eerie hospital.
Time to go.