Chapter 377: Nurse
"Hmm..."
The doctor stares intently at me.
What now? What is it this time?
"There's something in your stomach."
"Excuse me?"
Why are you saying it so ominously?
"Don't tell me you have to cut me open?"
"Cutting open a stomach isn't that easy."
I speak with clear worry, but the doctor just shakes his head and answers calmly.
"Well, it seems like there's something like ink."
"Ink...?"
Why would you suddenly say 'ink'? What does that even mean?
"However, aside from that, there doesn't seem to be anything else dangerous."
"Isn't it dangerous to have ink inside your body?"
"Ah, ink is actually on the better side. It's not like it's acid or scrap metal, right?"
No wonder people don't want to work for the Management Bureau.
I think this as I look at the doctor, and the doctor nods back with a smile.
"Please don't worry. You are perfectly safe."
"..."
How absurd.
Thinking that, I head back to the room, only to be met with...
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
...an overwhelming silence waiting for me.
"What's going on?"
"...You don't need to know."
At my question, Eileen answers flatly and avoids my gaze.
I look at the others, but they just avert their eyes too.
Seriously, what happened?
Why are you all making faces like kids who just had a fight the moment I was gone?
"...Anyway."
Ahem. I clear my throat, and the others look at me.
"I've been doing some thinking."
While I was out getting checked, I thought about the people here.
Is my desire to watch over these people really just because Yu Daon wants me to?
It was a contemplation on that fundamental point.
I have to admit the truth.
Honestly, I can't say Yu Daon's influence isn't a factor.
It makes sense; as Song A-rin said, I am a bit soft on Yu Daon.
But more than that...
"...Let's just watch for one more day."
The people in this hospital are fundamentally sick.
Most of them are here regardless of their own will.
If we can resolve this amicably, it would be best to do so.
"..."
Song A-rin bites her lip but says nothing, while Jang Chae-yeon and Eileen nod.
"I figured you'd say that."
"I expected as much."
"Shall we roll out the welcome mat?"
Saying this, I look at Yu Daon, and she, meeting my gaze, forces a smile.
"..."
"..."
We'll have to resolve this someday.
I thought we had resolved it last time.
No. It's because I still have the Yu Daon from back then in my heart. That's entirely my fault.
"I'm sorry to both of you as well."
I bow my head slightly in apology to Song A-rin and Yu Daon, and both of them shake their heads.
"...Forget it. I was the one getting annoyed and angry all by myself, so you don't need to worry about it."
"...M-me too."
Fortunately, they both accept my apology.
But this isn't a problem that will be solved just by talking.
The problem lies with me.
I need to do better.
Feeling a slight ache in my stomach, I speak up.
"Then, for now, let's get some sleep."
If we have to wake up at 4 a.m., we should get some rest starting now.
Saying that, I lie down on the bed and close my eyes. The others also go to their respective spots and start lying down.
"...You should go home and rest."
"And what if an incident breaks out while we're gone?"
"What, do you see me as some crazy person who drags incidents around with them?"
"Don't you?"
"Do I?"
I'd like to believe the answer is no.
"Still, an incident of this scale is relatively manageable."
"No wonder the HR team calls you Gangseo Branch's secret weapon within the Bureau."
"..."
But isn't it really manageable?
It's not like we're seeing strange phenomena. It's not directly connected to the end of the world.
But Eileen looks at me as if she can't understand.
"...Let's just get some sleep."
In the end, I decide to just go to sleep.
*
In the end, no one went to their own home to sleep.
"...Ugh."
At 4 a.m., a loud alarm rings. Rubbing my tired eyes, I barely manage to get up. The others also rise with groans.
"But why does it have to be 4 a.m...."
"You said it..."
I look at Song A-rin, who mumbles sleepily, and let out a long yawn myself before peeking outside.
People were all bustling about, seemingly happy.
"...Huh?"
Then, Song A-rin mutters with a baffled expression.
"...What? I'm fine?"
"Excuse me?"
"No, look. I haven't changed."
She taps her chest area as she mumbles.
And next to her, Yu Daon also mutters with a confused face.
"Uh, me too."
"..."
Then what about the other two?
"This body feels light."
"Wow, how am I supposed to run around in a body like this?"
But Eileen and Jang Chae-yeon were different.
Jang Chae-yeon mumbles with a relieved expression, and Eileen looks uncomfortable with her own body—
Yikes.
I quickly avert my eyes, and Song A-rin lets out a sigh and speaks.
"Are you the only one using this room?"
"Ah, sorry."
So, do I have to divide the room again this time?
It's not difficult, but...
After mentally dividing the space for the two of them, I grab the doorknob.
"Everyone ready?"
"I'm not even surprised anymore."
"We saw plenty yesterday. What's there to be surprised about if it changes one more time?"
At Eileen's words, I shrug and open the door.
As expected this time as well, people were actively moving about.
"Let's go."
I know no one pays us any mind, but I wonder why we still feel the need to be cautious.
We all move forward, watching our step, and no one paid us any attention.
Soon after, we stood before the clock.
"Okay, so."
Song A-rin crosses her arms and looks back at us.
"Aside from breaking this thing, what genius method are you planning to use, huh?"
"..."
Honestly, she's right.
As I stand there alone, groaning as I stare at the clock, Eileen slowly walks towards it.
"This is it?"
"Yes."
"..."
Eileen stares silently at the clock for a moment, then raises her fist and brings it down.
-THUD!
The clock shook with a tremendous sound.
"Ms. Eileen! Are you insane?"
"I'm perfectly sane."
At my exclamation, Eileen answers calmly and continues to punch the clock.
-THUD! THUD! THUD!
She hits the clock several times, the loud thudding sounds echoing.
"Hey, Ms. Eileen! People are going to come!"
"They're not coming."
"..."
She answers flatly and looks at me.
"They're not coming, right?"
"Huh?"
It was true.
They weren't coming.
Why aren't they coming?
Weren't these people really protective of the clock?
After hitting the clock a few more times, Eileen looks at me with a sigh.
"I thought it was strange."
"..."
"On the first day, the three people besides you changed."
That's right.
"But today, you, Yu Daon, and Song A-rin didn't change, while me and Jang Chae-yeon did."
True.
"And, before you came, Yu Daon and Song A-rin had a huge fight."
"...!"
"Hey...!"
Before Song A-rin can even finish her protest, Yu Daon hurriedly looks at Eileen, and Song A-rin also glares at her.
"And it wasn't just any fight. They went at each other like they wouldn't be satisfied until the other was dead. It was so noisy that—"
Eileen continues matter-of-factly, and both Song A-rin and Yu Daon are rolling their eyes around like children who don't know where to look.
"So, what do you think?"
"..."
I understand what Eileen is trying to say.
"Are you talking about emotional wounds?"
"It might be an exaggeration to call it an 'emotional wound,' but yeah, that's the gist of it."
She nods calmly.
"You were in pain, right?"
"I... was?"
Was I? Hearing about ink filling my stomach is new to me.
"And those two were in pain too."
"No, I mean, how can you judge that?"
"Right. How would one judge that?"
Eileen stares straight at me, and I hurriedly start recalling the events that happened.
At first, the patients looked at us as if we were a threat.
After talking to the nurse, they looked at me... and then I went and collapsed...
"Wait a second."
"Hmm?"
"You said they had a noisy fight earlier?"
"..."
At my question, Eileen smiles and nods.
To be precise, it was Jang Chae-yeon's body, but still.
"It was very noisy."
"...Let's go."
At my words, Song A-rin starts walking with her head hung low, while Jang Chae-yeon keeps tilting her head in confusion.
"I don't get what you're talking about."
"You'll understand if you follow."
I lead the others down the hallway.
Sure enough, just like before, no one paid us any attention.
Even though we hit the clock hard enough to break it.
"Ms. Chae-yeon."
"Yeah."
"Ah, sorry. I mean... Ms. Eileen, who is inside Ms. Chae-yeon's body."
At my words, Eileen blinks and looks at me. I point to the clock.
"Can you use your strength to smash that clock over there?"
"Uh, well..."
I look at Eileen, who seems troubled and flexes her fist here and there, but Jang Chae-yeon shakes her head. To be precise, it's Jang Chae-yeon inside Eileen's body.
"It's not something that can be done so easily. Telekinesis requires quite precise calculations, or..."
-SMASH!
Before Jang Chae-yeon can even finish speaking, Eileen extends her hand, clenches her fist, and simultaneously, a tremendous sound echoes through the hallway, accompanied by the sound of something breaking from the clock.
"It's easy."
"..."
At Eileen's comment, delivered as if it were nothing, Jang Chae-yeon bites her lip, then presses her lips into a straight line and closes her mouth.
"...Well, no one's coming for now."
For now, that is.
Thinking that, I cross the hallway.
"What are you looking for?"
Yu Daon asks, following behind me. I open my mouth.
"The nurse."
Saying that, we hadn't walked far when we saw a nurse tidying up the area.
It was the nurse we saw yesterday.
"...Hmm?"
The nurse looks at us.
I immediately pull out my gun and aim it at the nurse's forehead.
"Hey...!"
Song A-rin jumps in surprise and calls out to me, but I ignore her and speak.
"Care to explain?"
"..."
The nurse gives a wide, beaming smile.