Chapter 22: Loop
For me, Critical is my last bastion.
You could also think of it as a golden ticket that's hard to get back once you use it.
It feels different from Yu Daon, who possesses an infinite number of tickets.
The moment I raised my gun and aimed it,
“!”
Before I could even react, it jumped at me. Yu Daon was the first to react, hooking her right arm against its right arm to deflect it, then blocking the scalpel it thrust forward with her left arm.
“Keut…!”
Blood spurted from her arm, and in that instant, Jang Chae-yeon, who had now reacted, extended her hand. Its body was sent flying backward by a powerful impact.
Is it worth fighting?
“…Strange.”
Jang Chae-yeon muttered, looking at her own hand.
“There’s no impact.”
“…And it’s fast.”
Yu Daon said, stroking her own arm. By now, there wasn't a single trace of a wound on her arm.
“It’s not like I can keep blocking it forever.”
“I’ll block it for you then.”
“…But you can’t do that for a lifetime either.”
I wish they’d stop fighting.
I looked at it.
“Deceive me. Deceive me. Deceive me. Deceive me.”
It kept muttering the same phrase, shaking its head over and over.
Should I shoot?
Using Critical would be the surest way to finish it.
But the phrase I saw earlier floated into my mind.
[Your understanding of ??? has increased.]
[Name: Basement]
[Age: - ]
[Trait: Repetitive]
[Talent: - ]
[Background: Why on earth do madmen who want to try art using humans exist everywhere? Even though those who blame their lack of aesthetic sense on their materials can never achieve greatness in their lifetime, he set up a workshop to prove his own stubbornness.]
[Weakness: This space will disappear along with the owner's demise.]
[Critical: 0->1]
The information I read earlier about the basement was bothering me.
If I use it now, I have a feeling something will go seriously wrong when it really matters.
Should I save it?
Unconsciously, my expression turned serious.
And, as if misinterpreting my expression, Yu Daon went ‘Hmph!’ and took a hair tie from her pocket, tying up my hair.
Her black hair was tied up into a perfect ponytail.
“It’s okay! I can handle it alone! Don’t worry!”
“…I can do it too.”
Jang Chae-yeon also looked at me and nodded slowly.
“Just stand there and count the stains on the ceiling, and it’ll all be over!”
Is that even the right expression to use?
Yu Daon declared confidently and rushed forward.
-Thwack!
As she rushed in, it stabbed the scalpel into her arm again, and a spray of blood erupted.
But without even flinching, she pushed forward. Yu Daon threw her head back, then slammed her forehead into it.
-Crack!
With the sound of something shattering, it staggered back a few steps. Seizing the opportunity, Jang Chae-yeon widened her eyes, reached out, and grabbed hold.
-Bang!
It was flung backward again.
“…It’s still strange.”
She frowned.
“The impact feels faint.”
“See? I told you.”
Yu Daon replied nonchalantly as she returned to our side.
This time, too, her clothes were in tatters.
I really think the Management Bureau should give her some new clothes.
“It feels like… hmm. Like I’m hitting something that’s somewhere else.”
“…”
Something somewhere else?
Somewhere else.
Jang Chae-yeon seemed to have the same thought as me, and our eyes met.
“Are we thinking the same thing?”
“Seems like it.”
“…Are you two having a cozy chat again, leaving me out?”
Yu Daon grumbled at our exchange.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Daon. I’m truly sorry, but could you fight that thing one-on-one for a moment?”
“…It’s not hard.”
“When I give the signal, drop to the ground immediately.”
…Okay.”
Yu Daon answered in a sulky tone and stepped forward.
“What’s the plan?”
Soon, Yu Daon rushed at it. With the sound of something tearing, Jang Chae-yeon looked at me calmly and asked,
“If I pinpoint the coordinates, can you use your ability to… scratch and tear at it?”
“Got it.”
As if understanding me, Jang Chae-yeon nodded.
Honestly, is ‘scratching’ the right word? I’m not even sure if ‘scratching’ is the correct term verbally either. Let’s just follow the saying that any road leads to Seoul if you keep going.
I drew my gun.
“Now!”
The moment Yu Daon heard me, she dropped to the ground.
[Coordinate Tear: 1->0]
[Coordinate Tear: 0]
[Time until Coordinate Tear recovers: 24:00:00]
Fortunately, this one recovers over time.
Soon, graph paper overlayed the world.
This time, the target isn't a pinpoint.
A wider range.
Yet something that normally couldn't be grasped.
A new sheet of graph paper was layered over the existing one.
If what I’ve seen so far was space, what I’m seeing now is something beyond space.
Jang Chae-yeon seemed to understand my gaze too. She widened her eyes, stared at the spot I was looking at, and reached out her hand.
Soon, that area was cleanly carved out, revealing a monster with a flustered expression.
“How di-”
I quickly drew my gun and fired several shots.
Flames spewed from the pistol, causing it to flinch.
As expected, ordinary weapons are useless.
But the people I’m with aren’t ordinary.
Yu Daon widened her eyes, jumped at it, and wrapped her arms around its waist.
“Now!”
And Jang Chae-yeon, without hesitation, looked at that spot, clenched her fist, and twisted it in the opposite direction.
-Squelch!
Its waist folded grotesquely and then, with a snap, was severed.
And Yu Daon’s arms, which were holding it, up to her shoulders, were also twisted grotesquely, making a terrible sound.
“Ggyah…k…!”
It died without even being able to scream, and Yu Daon bit her lip and writhed in pain.
“Ms. Daon!”
I quickly ran to her.
“…I-I’m… okay.”
Yu Daon answered haltingly, breathing heavily.
Soon, her arm began to return to its original state.
“Are you okay?”
“…It hurts.”
Yu Daon groaned, touching her now perfectly restored arm.
“That one really hurt.”
“…Sorry.”
“It’s fine. I was going to grab it anyway.”
Jang Chae-yeon bowed her head to her again. Yu Daon stared at her intently, then sighed once more and shook her head.
“…More than that.”
Yu Daon, having seemingly recovered from her injuries, opened her eyes sharply and looked at me.
“Now you have to explain. How did you two get so close? And! That thing from the Cube incident… what was it… anyway, that!”
She seems to be talking about the Joint Technique.
“…”
“You’re not going to tear a person’s body apart like that and not say anything, are you?”
“…”
In the end, as if she had a conscience, Jang Chae-yeon slowly nodded and turned her gaze to me.
“…It’s not difficult.”
In the end, I briefly explained to Yu Daon about the incident during the Cube case. After hearing the story, Yu Daon puckered her lips several times, looking wronged.
“Where does that happen…! I want one too… that kind of… thing we use together! Make one for me!”
“Do I make it?”
And even if telekinesis and eyes might match, how do my eyes match with immortality?
No matter how much I rack my brains, no ideas come to mind.
“…Let’s go for now.”
It’s not something I decide anyway.
When the time comes, my eyes will decide on their own, or else… well, there probably won't be anything. Sorry, Yu Daon.
I took the lead and started walking.
When communication seems impossible, the original plan is to run away.
I opened the door. This time, the same corridor was visible,
and the stairs.
“…Is it over?”
Yu Daon let out a sigh of relief, and Jang Chae-yeon also seemed to relax a bit, her expression lightening.
“Shall we go up then?”
Yu Daon said lightly and stepped onto the stairs.
-Swish!
Her neck was sliced off by something and fell.
“Whoa, that startled me.”
As if experiencing déjà vu, she picked up her head.
Her neck returned to its original state.
“…Huh? Aren’t we leaving?”
Yu Daon touched her neck and looked at me in confusion.
I felt the same way.
Why can’t we leave?
Did something go wrong?
A cold sweat ran down my back.
“…Ah, don’t tell me.”
Jang Chae-yeon’s face turned pale.
“…Did you think of something?”
Looking at her expression, a foreboding feeling surged ahead.
“…I’m sorry.”
She bowed her head.
“…It’s possible that I made a mistake.”
“A mistake? Ah-”
A phrase popped into my head.
[4. If you have carefully checked the above manual, please nod.]
Yu Daon, who was holding both of my cheeks, came to mind.
Did Jang Chae-yeon nod her head back then?
She did.
-Flllrrrk.
The manual unfolded.
[Manual for Those Who Have Violated the Manual]
1. Finding this manual means you have taken a wrong turn and descended into the basement.
2. We urge you to act according to the manual. Actions not following the manual may cause significant harm to your body or mind, for which the Management Bureau takes no responsibility.
3. Open the door ahead and enter, but absolutely do not respond to anything that speaks to you.
4. If you responded when something spoke to you, close your eyes, crouch down on the spot, and wait until it passes.
5. Please check the subsequent manual on the bulletin board visible after passing through the room.
6. Absolutely do not attempt to go back up the stairs.
“…I’m sorry.”
Silence fell along with Jang Chae-yeon’s apology.
Something had gone wrong.
And seriously so.