Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 71. Run, Thousand-Mile Horse
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"You thought you'd come looking for us... but I didn't expect you'd find us this quickly."
The two women's reactions could only be described as dramatic.
Song Arin, showing her first-ever cheerful reaction toward people while having a balloon string tied to her wrist.
"...It was tough."
"The one who had it tough was me, you crazy white-hair!"
And Jang Chaeyeon approaching me with a low sigh.
She also had a balloon tied to her wrist.
Was she actually glad to see me, or did she just hate this situation?
"How can you come to a place like this and still fight like this."
"That one's acting like an idiot!"
"You're the dimwit, but you're not trying to act like some genius, are you?"
I had no idea what to say in this atmosphere.
"...What about Daon? And the Team Leader?"
...
The two women's argument paused for a moment.
"She'll be out soon."
"Soon?"
"You know you have to draw tickets."
Song Arin pulled out a golden escape ticket from her pocket.
"You got one of those from the shootout, right?"
"Yes. Sent someone else out with it, though."
"Someone else...?"
Song Arin muttered with a puzzled look, then her gaze fixed on Eileen beside me.
"...That's the Response Team Tea-"
"It's Eileen."
"...You dragged the Response Team along too?"
"Should I have come alone?"
...
Song Arin quietly stared at her, then shrugged.
"So, you don't have a single ticket?"
"No."
"But no need to worry. We've collected three tickets."
Song Arin let out a confident chuckle and pulled another ticket from her pocket.
"Two tickets?"
"One will come out with the black hair soon."
"Good. Then we'll go in, do the attraction, and get one more."
As I pointed at Eileen with my thumb, a brief silence fell.
Soon, Jang Chaeyeon furrowed her brow slightly and spoke to me.
"I could go with you."
"What bullshit."
Hearing her, Song Arin let out a deep sigh and glared at Jang Chaeyeon with wide eyes.
"If you hadn't just used your powers like a brute and actually watched properly, we could've escaped way easier!"
"The one trembling in fear in the dark without doing anything wasn't me."
"And, your social skills suck, so can you even explain properly?"
...
"...What."
This time, the atmosphere turned really serious.
"Is the team vibe always like this?"
"No."
It felt like they might actually fight, so I hurriedly stepped between them.
"Explain first. We can figure it out once Daon and the Team Leader come out."
"...Fine."
With a small exhale, Song Arin began explaining.
According to her, it went like this.
First, the two of them board the two-person train-shaped attraction called Thousand-Mile Horse.
And they just have to look around... or so it seems.
"Of course, it doesn't end with just looking around."
Song Arin raised her index finger and continued.
"Something chases from behind, and you get this compulsion to look at it."
"What if you do look?"
"Well, me and the white-hair managed not to. And then the white-hair suddenly pushed with telekinesis... so I couldn't check properly."
Song Arin glared at Jang Chaeyeon, then tapped her temple with her finger.
Meaning she got past it with hypnosis.
"Then aren't the Team Leader and Daon in danger?"
I gave her a look questioning why pair those two, and she averted her eyes like she was making excuses as she continued.
"No, but there was no choice. Out of us, she's the only one who can survive no matter what. ...And the Team Leader, well, he's got good luck."
"Yeah, that's true."
Right, she probably didn't pair with Jang Chaeyeon because she liked her.
"Then it makes sense for me and Song Arin to go in together."
Mental effects seemed like something she'd handle better.
"Right?"
Song Arin nodded triumphantly.
Jang Chaeyeon said nothing, but her expression made her dissatisfaction clear.
"But... why haven't the two of you come out?"
Quite some time had passed.
Both went silent, glancing at each other.
"...I'll go in first. Song Arin, come with me."
It didn't seem like it'd end with just getting the ticket.
The Team Leader and Yoo Daon still hadn't appeared.
"Is it okay if I don't go?"
"Eileen..."
"You're a regular person."
Song Arin replied coldly, shaking her head.
"I'm grateful you came this far, and I think it's impressive. But this is mental effects. I'd appreciate your help more at a different time."
"Sure."
She nodded slowly.
"The entrance is here."
Song Arin pointed to the iron door.
"Alright, let's go— Agh!"
She confidently opened the door and walked in, only to smash her nose into an invisible wall and let out a sharp yelp.
"Ow..."
Her face flushed red as she rubbed her nose, and I followed, reaching out to open the door.
-Creeeak...
The door opened naturally.
"The door opens fine."
"...Huh...?"
She touched the door with a blank look while rubbing her nose.
Thud! Her hand stopped as if blocked by something.
"...Don't tell me retries aren't allowed?"
"Could be."
Maybe it doesn't let people who already went in again.
"Then... only one person can go?"
My gaze turned to Eileen, and she shrugged in response.
"Got it. I'll try."
"Seems like we have to."
Was our guess right? Her hand went through the door like nothing was there.
"...Looks like it's got to be the two of us."
"...No helping it."
Song Arin sighed.
"I wanted to tell you more, but as the white-hair says again—"
"I get it."
Seeing Jang Chaeyeon's face darken, I quickly cut Song Arin off.
"It's fine. I can handle mental attacks well too."
"...Got it. See you after."
"Take care."
I watched Song Arin nod and Jang Chaeyeon wave, then stepped inside.
"Did you just laugh?"
"No."
"Don't lie. You laughed."
"I didn't."
"You really deserve a beating—"
Their voices cut off as the door closed.
"...They get along well."
"Not quite."
That was all I could say to Eileen, who spoke in wonder.
*
The inside of the attraction was cleaner than expected.
Just images of a western wasteland with trains drawn continuously.
And in front, a small train-shaped ride with a safety bar.
Designed for exactly two people.
The opposite side had an exit, with a headless figure standing mechanically.
Maybe it hands out tickets there after.
No sign of anything arriving yet.
Did something happen to Yoo Daon and the Team Leader? Otherwise, they should've been here by now.
"...Let's get on quick."
Anxious, I hurriedly boarded the attraction.
No one but me and Song Arin had any real resistance to mental attacks.
Still, nothing visible.
[Departing!]
The mechanical female voice from before rang in my ears, and the attraction began moving slowly.
"You heard, but they say you feel like something's behind you."
"Usually, that means something bad happens if you turn around. I'll be careful too."
"If it gets bad, say something to me. Or... plug your ears, or..."
"Or break my finger, I guess."
She glanced at my finger and smiled faintly.
"Not that..."
"I've had it done plenty. It's fine."
She shrugged.
The attraction began moving slowly.
After passing a dark tunnel, what appeared before us—
"...Costume heads?"
Countless costume heads.
The eyeless rabbit doll head I'd seen once, the earless puppy head, and finally the duck head with its grotesquely wide-open mouth—five heads staring at us.
"...Those eyes are moving."
Eileen, examining the heads calmly, spoke.
"Don't look too closely. But don't look away either."
A contradictory instruction, but I followed her lead, glancing at the heads.
The attraction passed the heads and moved slowly on.
At that moment, my temple throbbed, and Eileen grabbed my wrist.
"...I feel it."
"Yeah, seems so."
My headache meant she felt something too.
"Something's chasing us from behind. Be careful. I hear sounds."
I strained my ears.
No sounds.
"Nothing's chasing."
I rubbed my throbbing temple and replied.
"Right. Nothing's chasing us. But still... something is chasing us."
She started rambling incoherently.
"If I don't check right now, something bad will happen."
"Pull yourself together."
"I hear sounds."
"Eileen."
"I hear sounds!"
I reached out and gripped the back of her neck firmly to stop her from moving.
"You'll die if you turn around."
She bit her lip hard.
The attraction jolted and moved forward slowly.
Soon, something familiar yet off appeared before us.
...
A single-person ride.
A burly man blocking his ears with both hands, muttering the same words over and over.
"I can't hear it. I can't hear it, I can't hear it..."
A familiar voice.
"...Team Leader?"
At my words, the Team Leader startled and looked back.
"You... how'd you get here..."
"Came to find you. ...Where's Daon?"
.....There!
The Team Leader pointed ahead.
On a wooden stage, Yoo Daon was dancing with a bright smile.
Like ladies in old movies, stepping gracefully.
The only difference: blood flowed nonstop from her ankle.
Her mouth gaped grotesquely as she laughed.
Soon, a translucent window appeared above her head.
[Name: Yoo Daon]
[Age: 23]
[Talent: Immortality]
[Talent: Regeneration (Undefined)]
[Background: She loves dancing so much!]
[Weakness: When machines break, adults used to fix them by smacking them with their palm.]
Smack the machine?
I pondered, rubbing my throbbing temple.
"Ahaha, ahahaha! Ahahahaha!"
Yoo Daon's joyful laughter rang in my eardrums.
With a small sigh, I rolled up my sleeves.
Gotta fix it.