episode_0112

An apartment outside an apartment.

Everyone stood in the entrance of the apartment building, each carrying a piece of luggage.

It is structured with two houses per floor, with one door on each side.

“What is it?”

Seok Hyun-min discovered something.

This is a flyer stuck on the front door.

[Inhwa Mart Electronics Great Discount]

“This is Korea, right?”

“Yes. It’s Korea. The time period is roughly 2010s.”

“There might be other people too.”

It was a fact that could be quickly discovered without having to use the librarian’s abilities.

Because there was a calendar that the security guard had posted at the entrance of the apartment.

[2011.4.11]

“April eleventh, two thousand eleven.”

Yebin reads the dates written on the calendar.

It’s a sunny spring day.

Enough to make you want to go on an outing right away.

I felt the spring breeze blowing through the crack in the door and walked towards Jeong Hae-won for no reason.

“Hey. What were you doing in 2011?”

“I was looking at the elementary school entrance exams.”

“Jammin is the real deal.”

“Isn’t it that my older sister is being too picky?”

“Ah.”

I couldn’t even find my principal and ended up losing the deal.

In front of the apartment entrance, Heo Yoon is already preparing to go out.

“Dabin! Is it really safe here? I’m going outside? ”

“Yes, it’s okay to go out.”

No dangerous entities have been seen yet.

If it’s night, I don’t know. It’s still safe.

“Wow. It’s been a really long time. I’ve been to a place like this.”

Heo Yun is very excited and runs down the stairs in an instant, spreading his arms and spinning around.

The pleasant spring sunshine was shining.

“Hey! Seok Hyun-min! You too, come out.”

Heo Yun smiles and gestures this way.

“Look here. Put down your luggage.”

“Hey, you can do it later.”

“Ugh.”

In the end, Seok Hyeon-min is dragged out.

Yun Da-ju and Rico quietly watch the scene.

“I’m so jealous.”

“I’m jealous.”

They mutter the same thing absentmindedly and then look at each other in surprise.

“Why.”

“What? I was just saying.”

As I was watching everyone resting, someone called out to me from the side.

“Ms. Dabin.”

Robin, a member of the Foundation’s Council.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“It seems like there aren’t many clues yet. Is there anything else you want to talk about?”

“Still, you have to find out everything you can. Do you know of any incidents or strange phenomena that occurred in Korea in April 2011?”

“Um… … .”

I can’t think of anything, even if I think about it.

Even though it was a day I experienced firsthand, it was such a long time ago.

“Nothing comes to mind.”

No matter how I think about it, it’s true.

It’s just one of those countless days.

“Then should I just think that the date is just a coincidence?”

Just as Robin is about to give up on his thoughts, Rico intervenes with a raised hand.

“Oh, there’s one in Japan. It was a month ago, but it was the Great East Japan Earthquake.”

“I remember that too. There was a major earthquake at that time, and there was a leak at the nuclear power plant.”

“Yeah! That was exactly a month ago.”

I recalled my memories.

The Great East Japan Earthquake. I don’t even remember exactly when it happened, but I vaguely remember seeing it on the news.

I also remember the talk about radiation in Fukushima.

“It was exactly a month ago… …. This might give us some clues.”

“Right? It’s amazing how the dates fall exactly together.”

While I was talking to Rico, Robin didn’t let it go either.

“I’ll remember that for now.”

Next, a new layer was investigated.

No matter where you look, it’s an ordinary apartment. An apartment outside an apartment.

I went up the stairs and pressed the elevator button on the second floor.

Kkuk-

The elevator opens normally on the second floor.

This time, I pressed the button on the first floor again and boarded the elevator that arrived.

[!@$%#^&]

Unknown symbols pass through my field of vision.

When I stepped inside, the elevator had changed its appearance again.

“The elevator only changes when we get on it, and it seems like a normal elevator otherwise.”

“This is just one of the many ‘floors’ of an apartment building, after all.”

“Yes. When you leave later, just use the elevator.”

I was talking to Robin in the first floor lobby.

“What? Are you traveling?”

“Huh? Yes?”

An unfamiliar voice suddenly appeared behind me.

“Are you traveling? Are you from abroad?”

The security guard opened the door and came in, looking intently at our group.

Robin and Dan, and Rico too.

There are just too many foreigners to just ignore.

“Are you an international student? I don’t think I’ve seen you around here. No. If you were from abroad, you would have seen me here and there.”

A security guard who constantly asks questions as if meddling in other people’s business is the last fun he has left in life.

Dan is scratching his chin awkwardly, while Rico and Robin mumble, avoiding the old man’s gaze.

“Huh, Dabin? What should I do?”

“I think it’ll work out if we kiss for now. I think Dabin and Selim need to do something about it.”

“Okay, so just stay quiet for a moment. I’m thinking about it too.”

A situation where locals have no choice but to step forward.

Yebin is too vague to be called a local, and Yoon Daju is running around outside, unable to bear it any longer.

Jeong Hae-won was also dragged away by Yoon Da-joo, so the only one left by her side is Choi Se-rim.

Choi Se-rim also looks very awkward about the situation.

That’s because I was born and raised in an apartment after the apocalypse, not in Korea.

It would have been nice if Heo Yoon, who would have been there to help at times like this, was there. But Heo Yoon is outside, bickering with Seok Hyeon-min.

“Wow. The young lady speaks English well. How many years have you lived abroad?”

The security guard keeps asking me questions without knowing my speed.

I guess it sounds to other people like I’m speaking in English.

“Uh, about 11 years.”

“My grandson got 900 on TOEIC, but he has never been abroad. Did you take TOEIC, Miss?”

“Ahahaha… … . No.”

The conversation keeps going in strange directions.

“She’s really pretty. She has a good impression. She studies well and speaks English well.”

“Thank you… … .”

I’m really annoyed by the way he talks like a young lady.

In an apartment, strange things were almost a daily occurrence, so I could say that he was originally a man, but that wasn’t possible here.

It’s a much stranger feeling than you might think to feel the way other people look at you.

It feels like I’ve finally hit it off now that I’ve come out of the apartment after being trapped there.

If everything is over and I escape from here, will I have to get used to this feeling too?

I turned around to quickly end the conversation.

“Then let’s go now!”

“Huh? You’re not from here?”

“Ah. Right! I’m a person here, but that’s it.”

“Come to think of it, I didn’t see you bring your luggage in. Where did you get your luggage from?”

My heart sank as the security guard tilted his head and muttered.

I think I’m starting to sense that things are getting a little strange.

In times like these, you need to think quickly.

“That’s because we stopped by a friend’s house for a quick night and are now on our way to the dorm.”

“But I didn’t see any foreigners coming in yesterday.”

“At dawn! I came yesterday at dawn. That’s why you didn’t see me.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Fortunately, it seems like it passed safely.

“Anyway, take care. Study hard.”

“Yes, thank you!”

As I nod, Rico, Robin, and Dan follow suit.

“Ah. Thank you.”

“Goodbye.”

The security guard responds in broken English, wondering if the foreigner’s words are being heard in English.

“Yes. Thank you. Goodbye.”

He even helps me move my luggage by waving my hand.

“After… … .”

As soon as I leave the apartment, I feel completely exhausted.

“I naturally assumed there wouldn’t be anyone there.”

I was planning to break into the house and raid it when I ran into the security guard.

Maybe that’s a good thing. If there’s someone inside or you call the police, things could get tricky.

I took a deep breath.

“What should I do?”

“This time it’s difficult in a different sense. I have to find a place to stay here. And I don’t have any money.”

Choi Se-rim is also gloomy.

“Dabin, should we just go back?”

“But wouldn’t it be better to sleep here than risk your life?”

“Homelessness is something you can do when you’re young.”

Dan leans on the carrier and grins.

“If I were 10 years younger, I wouldn’t have any problems. These days, if I sleep wrong, my back gets stiff and it’s no use.”

It seems like Robin and Rico don’t have any particularly sharp numbers either.

Asphalt parking lot outside the apartment.

As they huddled together on top of it, covering their heads, the group that had gone outside first also joined them.

“What? You guys got kicked out?”

“Yes. I was going to help you out.”

I responded to Heo Yoon, who was approaching me with a bright smile, with a loud voice.

“Now I have no place to stay.”

“Ah~. Is that the problem?”

“Yes. We have to sleep out.”

“That’s not it.”

Heo Yun answers nonchalantly.

“This is Mokdong. I used to live alone around here.”

“Huh?”

“What did you say?”

While everyone was surprised, Seok Hyun-min had a different reaction.

“Oh.”

Heo Yun hits Seok Hyeon Min on the back of the head with his palm.

“Aaak!”

“What are you talking about? Anyway, my house is just a short bus ride from here. You can stay there.”

“… … .”

Come to think of it, Heo Yoon was living in the old time period and was swept into the apartment.

The current setting here is 2011, so it overlaps with the time period in which Heo Yoon lived.

“Well, in a way, it seems like my sister escaped from the apartment.”

“Is that so? I don’t know. I’ll contact my mom and visit my family. Then it’ll feel real.”

“I guess so… … .”

This is not right.

That would be a really great thing.

I keep getting more and more anxious.

Even if Heo Yoon decides not to return from here, I have to catch him and take him back into the apartment.

Into that terrible space.

In order for the story to progress, each person has a role to play.

Only then can we prevent the apocalypse and protect the world line.

I need Heo Yoon.

Just like everyone else around me right now.

“But I don’t expect much. There’s no way that’ll happen since we’re still inside the apartment.”

“I guess so.”

I was just repeating the same thing.

Behind him, Dan is leaning on his carrier bag and talking nonsense.

“The problem has changed again. Homelessness or living cramped together in a small room?”

“I’m homeless.”

“I have a small room.”

“Huh? Of course I have to stay in my room!”

Jeong Hae-won, Yoon Da-joo, and Rico are also together.

In particular, Daju seems ready to decide the outcome at any moment.

“Then shall we decide with rock-paper-scissors?”

“Is that so?”

“Right here and now.”

I chewed my nails by myself.

“Dabin.”

“Dabin.”

At the same time, Yebin and Serim, the older sisters, take care of me from both sides.

For a moment, tears welled up in my eyes, but I swallowed them without anyone knowing.

I have to push everyone into danger. I have to do that to prevent the destruction of the universe.

Everyone is so friendly.

“What are you standing there for? Let’s take a bus and see how far we can go.”

Heo Yoon walks briskly, fixing his bag on his back.

“Maybe it will make it to Mokdong.”

“First, go to your studio and check if you have any cash. See if you can contact someone nearby. Then, something will work out.”

“Somehow… … .”

“Just follow me and don’t say anything weird!”

Heo Yoon seems to be just talking, but his voice resonates throughout the apartment complex.

Even the people who were doing other things all follow Heo Yun, dragging their luggage.

“Anyone here with cash?”

“Me. I packed it just in case.”

Choi Se-rim took out a few bills from her bag.

“Oh~ Se-rim~.”

“I think I have a little over 50,000 won, but that’s all I’ve saved up so far.”

“That’s enough.”

Rattling-

The fare is seven adults and three youths.

Jeong Hae-won is originally a school lunch, and Ye-bin is also a teenager in terms of physical age. I lied about my age.

It was Da-ju who first suggested lying about her age, but when Heo-yoon joined in and insisted, there was really nothing she could do.

It actually worked.

“These guys are real. Come in quickly!”

I got on the bus, hugging my luggage like a refugee, while listening to the driver’s orders.

There were a few foreigners mixed in, so it was enough to monopolize people’s attention.

“Ugh… … . What is it.”

Choi Se-rim covers her face with her palm, as if she is not used to this.

On the other hand, Heo Yoon doesn’t seem to care at all. Whether other people are looking or not.

“Don’t worry about it. They won’t see you anyway.”

And after a while.

A point in space and time that has been affixed by someone.

April 11, 2011. Korea.

We took the bus and arrived at Heo Yun’s studio apartment.

“Ah. I don’t think I cleaned it then. Can I go in first?”

There was a brief scuffle, but eventually everyone gathered in the small room.

When everyone had unpacked their bags and started to relax, even in the small room.

“Just a minute. I’m going out.”

Heo Yun passed the people and went out of the house.

“Where are you going, Sister?”

“Contact. Try using a public phone.”

“Then let’s go together.”

I also got up from my seat.

“It’s not like there’s no danger here either, so come with me.”

“… … Okay. Got it.”

Heo Yoon nods with a somewhat reluctant expression.

“What? Where are you two going?”

“Daju is here. It’s dangerous to talk privately, so Dabin is the only one going.”

“No, sis. You should go with me for this.”

“You stay still too.”

After shaking off Seok Hyeon-min, Heo Yun goes out the door.

I followed closely behind.

“You brought me here because you only look for dangerous things? Don’t listen to the conversation. Got it?”

“Yes.”

I nod my head, but my feelings are complicated.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t send Heo Yun away alone.

Although he made excuses saying it was dangerous to go alone, there was another real reason.

The so-called [essential characters].

Heo Yun is absolutely necessary for the story to progress.

While I was lost in my own thoughts, Heo Yoon found a public phone booth and went inside.

After a while.

Doo, doo-

There was a brief connection tone inside the public phone booth,

Click.

The call was connected.