ALL NOVEL Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Once upon a time, I saw a movie.
It was about a protagonist looping through a specific timeframe, constantly trying to resolve something.
And now, I felt like I had become the protagonist of that film.
Clang!
Jang Chae Yeon deflects a deadly strike aimed at Yu Da On using telekinesis.
Clang! Clang!
However, as the relentless strikes keep coming, Yu Da On sighs and takes a step back.
“This isn’t going to work.”
“…”
Jang Chae Yeon wears a dejected expression.
She looked like her pride had been punctured right through the core.
And honestly, who could blame her?
She had caused trouble here not once, but twice in such a short time.
Clap, clap. With that sound, both their gazes turned toward me.
“Let’s find another way.”
Holding onto something that doesn’t work is pointless.
It’s better to let it go quickly and search for a different path.
“What have we tried so far?”
“…Following the manual, making a hole in the wall, trying to force our way up.”
“That’s right.”
The first thing we did was obey the manual, of course.
Though, bending my waist in half was conveniently left out.
After going around a couple of times, we found ourselves back at the same spot.
Next, we tried breaking the wall.
Jang Chae Yeon ended up with a nosebleed from smashing the wall, but nothing came out of it.
I hoped there’d be some space behind the wall, but instead of that, an endless stream of concrete poured out, forcing us to give up.
The last attempt was avoiding blades.
The spectacle Yu Da On and Jang Chae Yeon were putting on just a moment ago.
By narrowly dodging the blades, we were able to send Yu Da On up, and now we wait for the rescue team to arrive.
The conclusion is clear: there’s a limit to how many blades we can fend off, making it impossible.
“…I can’t think of anything else.”
Yu Da On plops down on the stairs with a tired expression.
“…”
Jang Chae Yeon’s face expresses something beyond mere core issues.
As always, it fell to me to come up with the ideas.
“I’ll think a little more.”
I start piecing the information together.
This place can only be navigated through the manual.
Ultimately, the three of us ended up trapped here because we couldn’t follow the manual.
However, calling this situation a phenomenon created by the manual feels a bit off.
What is a manual, after all?
A manual serves as a guideline.
“If you don’t follow the manual, you’re in big trouble.”
The reason is the horrific end that comes from not adhering to it.
A stark example is what would happen if someone touched the iron door on the basement first floor during the Dream of the Butterfly incident while not human.
In other words, ignoring the manual results in irreversible incidents.
If this was genuinely an ordinary Management Agency-type manual, it would be normal for Jang Chae Yeon’s head to roll the moment she nodded, leaving Jang/Chae Yeon behind. At the very least, an equivalent incident should have occurred.
I glance at the title of the manual again.
[Manual for Those Who Cannot Follow the Manual]
It shouldn’t end this smoothly.
This sort of manual shouldn’t even exist. It shouldn’t be a punitive manual; there had to be hints of an ending indicating one could be trapped forever for violating it.
“As we delve deeper, information pollution worsens, causing many casualties. Therefore, the Management Agency has decided to formulate new measures.”
What if this manual I’m reading is a fake? What if the information is already polluted?
Then what should I trust?
Well, what else but my own eyes?
I look around the basement once more.
[Name: Basement]
[Age: -]
[Characteristics: Loop-type]
[Talent: -]
[Background: Why do these madmen, who think they can create art as humans, exist everywhere? Those who blame the material for their lack of aesthetic sense will never achieve greatness, yet they set up workshops to prove their stubbornness.]
[Weakness: The space disappears with the owner’s demise.]
Let’s think about the basement.
It disappears with the owner’s demise.
In other words, the best method is to find the owner and take them down.
The problem is we have no way of knowing if the owner is here or not.
The thought of hunting down an unknown owner seems overly ambitious, no matter how I think about it.
The weakness is clear but also utterly unrealistic.
Weakness like this is a problem.
“…”
I read the text carefully.
Art. Material. Workshop.
Art Museum.
A thought shot through my mind like lightning.
I jumped up, and hope flickered back into Yu Da On and Jang Chae Yeon’s eyes.
“Got a good idea?”
“I do.”
“Is it another free fall?”
“No, instead, let’s go break some artwork.”
The two tilted their heads in confusion.
*
In the end, the three of us stood once again in front of the starting room.
“Listen closely.”
I gather the two and start explaining.
“Our goal is simple. Whatever we see when we enter that room, we absolutely break it.”
“Just break it?”
“Yep.”
“Even the insane dance we just did?”
“That’s our focus.”
“Excuse me?”
Yu Da On tilts her head in confusion but soon nods as if she understands.
“If Jae Heon has an idea, then it must be good.”
“…Once we enter, both of you hit the ground.”
And there’s one person whose enthusiasm is through the roof.
Hope returns to Jang Chae Yeon’s eyes; it’s clear that her moment to shine has finally come.
I open the door.
The same darkness as before.
“Are we actually hitting the ground as soon as we enter?”
“Yeah.”
With her eyes wide open, Jang Chae Yeon nods.
In their enthusiasm, Yu Da On and I just exchanged glances and shrugged our shoulders.
“I’ll go first.”
Naturally, Yu Da On steps ahead into the dark.
“…Then I’m going.”
“Yeah, just assume we’re okay.”
Following Yu Da On, I walk in.
As soon as I enter, a darkness I’ve seen at least three times unfolds before me.
I jump to the right and hit the ground.
Soon, chaos begins to spread around us.
Bang!
Thud!
Crash!
An overwhelming force sweeps through the inside.
Random items inside start flying around.
“Wooha, uh-huh?”
“Ahhhh~!”
Whatever was dancing a moment ago is quite literally ‘shredded’.
You could definitely call it a storm.
Nervously, I shield my head with both arms.
Has it been about three minutes? Finally, the storm subsides.
“…”
I look around.
There’s nothing to see.
Should we leave?
Bending halfway and praying nothing went wrong, I tiptoe out the door, only to find Jang Chae Yeon, drenched in sweat, with Yu Da On fanning her.
“…Did we do it?”
“Looks like it.”
Jang Chae Yeon leans against the wall and takes a deep breath.
Her white hair sticking to her face gave off an oddly alluring vibe.
I feel like I shouldn’t be looking.
I avert my gaze and wait until Jang Chae Yeon calms down before speaking again.
“Let’s go.”
We pass the familiar Operating Room and stand in front of the stairs where Yu Da On’s neck had fallen at least twice.
“…Shall we go?”
Yu Da On asks nervously as she fidgets with her neck.
“Not yet.”
I step ahead, pulling out my gun.
Let’s assume this place is an art museum.
The reason an art museum can exist as an art museum is because there are artworks inside.
Conversely, if the artworks disappear from the museum, it can no longer call itself a museum.
We just eliminated two pieces of artwork.
But one remains.
The real threats in this place were three in total.
First, the crazy ones performing the dance.
Second, the crazy one who thinks he’s a doctor.
Third,
I gaze at the stair landing where Yu Da On’s neck had nearly been severed.
[Critical: 1->0]
The world turns black and white, revealing a hidden presence on the stairs.
A giant human with a grotesque, twisted face.
Dressed in rags, it held a massive axe in its hands.
[Name: Executor]
[Age: Created 5 years ago]
[Characteristics: x]
[Talent: Axe-wielding]
[Background: This creature guards the basement, precisely and neatly decapitating those who attempt to escape from the darkness.]
[Weakness: Be fast or be strong.]
Its brow glows a bright red.
Bang!
Without hesitation, I fire my gun, and the bullet pierces its brow.
Thud!
With a great noise, the massive body tumbles off the stairs, and
Screech!
I hear something shatter as the three of us find ourselves standing in the familiar subway of the Management Agency.
“…Phew.”
Now, it’s finally over.
Just as I sighed in relief, Jang Chae Yeon suddenly bowed her head deeply.
“…I’m sorry.”
She seems genuinely troubled.
“I took too long just because of me when it could have ended quickly. I really have no words.”
“Well, I mean…”
Thanks to her, we did manage to capture those dancers easily.
“I’ll do anything in return. If that’s the case, you can hit me.”
But where exactly could she strike?
Before I could even respond, Jang Chae Yeon continued to lower her head.
In this space, there’s hardly any wide area to hit other than her chest.
“That’s enough—”
“I think it’s fair to do so.”
Yu Da On interrupted my words.
“…”
“In situations like this, it’s best to finish it cleanly. Coolly!”
“Oh, um, right.”
Yu Da On looked at Jang Chae Yeon and reached out her hand.
“Stand up straight.”
“…Okay.”
Jang Chae Yeon closes her eyes.
I’ve seen this scene countless times before.
Usually, right after this, Yu Da On gives Jang Chae Yeon a comforting hug and says it’s okay, reinforcing their friendship—
Before I can finish that thought, Yu Da On wildly swings her arm and delivers a punch squarely to the top of Jang Chae Yeon’s head.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
With a sound that suggested something broke, Jang Chae Yeon crouched down, clutching her head and letting out an inappropriate noise.
“Be careful next time.”
“…Yes…”
Yu Da On flexes her fist, her eyes gleaming, while tears well up in Jang Chae Yeon’s eyes.
Looks like there’s a lot of pent-up frustration.
Yeah, I can totally understand that. If I had a friend who ripped off my arm, tore open my side, and turned my neck 180 degrees, I would probably feel the same way.
In any case, we’ve survived yet again.
*
“…So, what happens if I quit?”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Team Leader drops the coffee he was drinking.
[Name: Heo Chan]
[Age: 49 years old]
[Characteristics: Complacent]
[Talent: Crisis detection]
[Background: Living as a breadwinner, he is currently facing the risk of job loss while working late for his family’s dinner.]
[Weakness: Let’s just keep this up.]
“If you quit, I die.”
“What can you do for me then?”
“…Fine, I’ll set up paperwork for you. I promise I will. Please don’t quit.”
Looks like I can take a break for a while.
Feeling good about it behind me, a radio broadcast spills into my ears.
[Recently, the musical 'Red Lady' has been gaining explosive popularity, hitting national success. It has set the best record in South Korean history—]