Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Why Are You Speaking Informally?
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Su-hyeon had trusted her professor implicitly, only to be abandoned by him just like that.
Su-hyeon was now wandering timidly through the exhibition hall, listening to the man who had introduced himself as the manager.
"From here on, it's the section displaying stuffed magical beasts. Honestly, it's embarrassing to even call them stuffed. They're basically just skinned and draped over plaster mannequins."
As they entered the taxidermy exhibit, the head of a vicious-looking magical beast greeted them.
Curiously, magical beasts didn't have hearts—instead, a stone called a magic core filled that role.
Even more astonishing was that even if the magic core was destroyed, they could be revived by inserting another one, or simply by leaving them in a gate thick with demonic energy for a while.
"Even if they're stuffed, we have to prepare for any potential accidents. Maintaining temperature and humidity is crucial, as is minimizing any material exchange with the outside world. We also have to handle the magic cores with extreme care."
"So, magical beasts can't be completely killed?"
"That's not the case. If their bodies are excessively damaged or their magic cores are destroyed, they die just like anything else. A recent paper suggests that revived magical beasts are akin to golems or zombies. They treat corpses from other beasts—or even artificial objects—as if they were their own limbs. Therefore, we must classify revived beasts as entirely different entities from their originals."
"That's fascinating..."
It was an extension of what she'd learned in her freshman year.
Back then, she'd just skimmed over it, but after actually entering a gate once, she found herself intrigued.
'None of them look like the beasts I saw.'
There were no hideous, grotesque creatures like the ones from the department store.
Instead, with only parts like claws or full taxidermies on display, they just seemed like unusually exotic animals.
"This next section is for plant-type magical beasts. Their cells are plant-like, yet they move as actively as animals, which makes them highly valuable for research. Unlike animal-types, which are hard to mass-produce due to inconsistent quality, these have greater potential applications, so we're conducting ongoing studies."
"Yeah, it's not like we can farm magical beasts..."
As she followed the manager and gazed at the displayed corpses, Su-hyeon suddenly halted.
Treant.
A tree giant of a beast.
Its expression looked pained, or perhaps irritated.
The furrowed face and bark wrinkled like creases made it seem particularly ill-tempered.
Come to think of it, was it right to call a plant a magical beast? Maybe it should be a magic creature instead.
She reined in her wandering thoughts and pressed on, only to notice something strange.
"Huh?"
The manager's cheerful explanations had abruptly stopped.
Whish, whish.
Su-hyeon glanced around and spotted light green hair darting quickly in pursuit.
"Ah!"
There he was.
Thank goodness he hadn't gone far.
She spotted the manager's back weaving through the crowd and hurried after him.
As she drew close, Su-hyeon instinctively grabbed his collar.
The man turned around with a puzzled expression, as if to say, What the...?
"Huh?"
It was a young man who looked freshly into adulthood.
Not the manager who'd been guiding her.
He glanced back, spotted Su-hyeon, and beamed down at her.
"Hey there? What's wrong?"
"Uh, um...!"
Spin, pat-pat-pat-pat!
Too flustered to speak, Su-hyeon bolted away.
"Ah."
The man wore a slightly hurt look.
His friends, who seemed like buddies, immediately started ribbing him excitedly.
"Pfft, she ran off the second she saw your face."
"What, did she think you were her dad or something? Heh heh heh."
"Man, that's harsh. Scaring kids on purpose with that creepy mug."
"...Screw you guys."
He grumbled the words, but it was his little secret that he later snuck searches for "how men should groom," "how to be kind to kids," and "practicing expressions kids like."
Trudge, trudge...
Su-hyeon finally stopped running once she reached a spot out of sight.
'Where'd he go...? Should've gotten his number.'
Professor's contact flashed in her mind, but she didn't want to bother him while he was busy, so she decided to wait.
He had to be somewhere in the exhibition hall.
Once the professor finished his business and learned the situation, he'd call. Worst case, the manager might notice she was gone and make an announcement.
And so, Su-hyeon wandered aimlessly until she spotted two men in fluorescent vests and caps.
From the tubs they were carrying, they looked like janitors?
Their cart was loaded with cleaning supplies and what seemed like disinfectant gas canisters.
'If they're staff, I can ask them to contact the manager...?'
Even if they didn't know, they'd at least point her to someone who could help.
But...
"Ex, excuse me......"
"?"
Forcing her reluctant legs forward, she approached them.
The two in fluorescent vests startled at the sight of her but said nothing.
With no response, Su-hyeon timidly looked up—only to meet two pairs of intensely glowing eyes. She quickly dropped her gaze.
"I, I... got l-lost. Do you know... the m-ma-manager...?"
Despite mustering the courage to speak first, they just stood there, staring piercingly without a word.
Su-hyeon shrank back instinctively.
Her already small voice trailed off smaller still until it stopped entirely.
'Argh, why are they staring so intimidatingly...? Did I do something wrong...?'
It wasn't just poor communication skills—the vibe felt off.
Just then, as time seemed frozen, one of the men slowly reached into his pocket.
Su-hyeon, eyes fixed on the ground, didn't notice.
A voice rang out to save her.
"Su-hyeon...?"
A gruff, low timbre.
"Huh...?"
It was Chan-seong, dressed not in a suit but work clothes.
She hadn't spoken much with him before, but desperate to escape the awkwardness, Su-hyeon shot him a pleading glance and hurried over.
"H-hi.... What brings you here...?"
"Mm. Too many guildmates in trouble—can't enter gates. Doing side work like this."
"Ah.... That's rough..."
"No issues since then?"
"Yeah, nothing. Body's fine. Um, do you know the way to the exhibit halls?"
'Please get me out of here!'
Su-hyeon signaled for them to step aside, just the two of them.
She wanted away from those creepy guys fast.
Chan-seong seemed to get the hint and nodded, leading her off.
"Never been inside the hall myself, unfortunately. But I'll take you to a staffer who knows the way."
Once Su-hyeon was gone, the two men finally spoke.
"...As reported. She was here."
"Inform Gilliyon for now. Press on with the plan."
"Yeah. Can't have her spooked into hiding."
"Humans here have zero fear of beasts. We're here to awaken their vigilance."
Their eyes resembled those of the cultists who'd grabbed Su-hyeon before.
Now in a new spot away from the fluorescent-vested men, Su-hyeon and Chan-seong resumed talking.
"Thanks. They had a weird vibe."
"I see. Figured you were in a bind. Pedophiles, maybe? Dangerous."
"Yes...? Pedophiles?"
What the hell is this guy saying?
She stared up at him in bewilderment, but he continued undeterred.
"Weren't they hunting you? You say you're an adult, but you look like a kid. Perfect fit for those criminals' tastes."
"......"
It was a chilling hypothesis.
But too absurd to dismiss outright—it actually seemed plausible.
'Ughhh!!'
Su-hyeon shivered briefly at the grim imaginings sparked by his words.
"Eww, enough. Where are the other staff?"
"Mm, around here somewhere. Oh, here comes one."
Chan-seong led her to a lanky elderly man in similar work clothes.
"Sir."
"Oh, Kang. Delivered it? Eh, who's the little miss?"
"Acquaintance. She's lost."
"H-hi..."
"A little miss as an acquaintance? Niece or your sister's friend or what?"
"I'm younger than her, sir."
"Eh?"
"Yes?"
"Yes."
"?????"
It was shocking.
Not in her thirties?
No, younger than her?
"H-how old... are you?"
"Twenty-two."
...How was this face early twenties? Younger than her meant definitely twenties since not teen, but still utterly unbelievable.
"Aigoo, Kang... Heard your mom's sick, you've suffered.... Wait, so the miss is older than twenty-two?"
"I'm twenty-three..."
At least according to her ID.
The old man blinked open and shut several times before incredulously rubbing his chin.
"Well, damn... Live long enough, you see it all. Did Kang steal your years? Kahahaha!"
"Hahaha."
"......"
Even his laughter was stiff as a board.
Su-hyeon sidled up to Chan-seong and poked his log-like thigh.
It felt like prodding a boulder.
"Um."
He didn't notice the poke but registered her voice.
"What is it, Su-hyeon."
"You're really twenty-two...?"
"Yes."
Glare.
She shot him a protesting stare.
"B-but why keep using informal speech...? I'm older."
This guy had known she was older for ages and still used banmal the whole time.
"Mm, sorry. Honorifics just won't come out looking at you."
"That's..."
If it were anyone else, she'd vent with a pork cutlet punch, but hitting this boulder of a man would just hurt her hand.
"Anyway, miss got lost? No lost kids center, but lost and found can make an announcement."
"Thank you, sir. Where's the lost and found?"
"Elevator to second floor—right there."
"...Thank you."
Chan-seong scooped up her limp form and slung her over his arm like a waiter with a tray.
They headed off in that state to find the elevator.
She caught sight of her own legs dangling limply.