episode_0139

In front of the elevator door.

We all gathered together and waited for the final inspection.

First, let’s start with the weapons needed for the upcoming battle.

“Sigh.”

Dan gathered all the weapons and placed them in front of the elevator.

‘Weapons’ pouring down onto the floor with a rumbling sound.

Robin bends over the pile of things.

“I think this is what Dabin wrote.”

What Robin handed me was a small pistol.

When I actually used it, it was an incredibly quiet weapon. However, its power was a bit disappointing.

So it’s a weapon better suited for assassination rather than a frontal gunfight.

“Among us, Dabin is in poor physical condition, so it would be better to avoid a head-on fight.”

That’s true.

Although the librarian’s authority slightly enhances physical abilities, the extent of this is not that great in normal times.

It only helps you breathe less when jumping. It doesn’t help you much in combat.

First of all, in terms of basic physical strength, they cannot keep up with men.

Besides, even though they are both women, their origins are different.

Daju, who was a test subject, is practically flying in combat, not to mention Robin, who was a member of the Foundation’s leadership.

Even the relatively ordinary Heo Yun has survived in the apartment much longer than me.

If you were to pick the weakest, it wouldn’t be strange at all for me to be included.

“Here. Take it.”

Without saying a word, he accepted the gun Robin gave him.

We brought two of these little silenced pistols.

I just received one. The other one goes to Rico, who is also the weakest.

“Ugh… … .”

Rico looks nervous. He’s almost lost in thought, perhaps because he’s thinking about meeting the professor again.

He even grabs Robin and starts a fight with him.

“Uh, Uh, Mr. Robin… … . Should I not go?”

“Why?”

“I’ve been telling you this. There aren’t just researchers in the lab. There are a lot of combat personnel in case of an emergency. Of course, they’re not like a mobile task force, but still.”

Rico gulps, almost sobbing.

“Still, we are somewhat prepared for battle. There are a lot of them. A few ordinary people like us will be able to easily subdue them.”

“Yes. Rico stays here.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But I’ll be left alone. Is that okay?”

“Yes!?”

At Robin’s firm answer, Rico’s eyes widen.

“We will most likely not be able to come back here again. Rico will probably be left here alone.”

“You’re not coming back to get it? Are you abandoning me!?”

“Yes. Even if I could go, I wouldn’t go.”

“Ouch. Ugh… … . Ugh.”

Eventually, Rico also received the gun and held it in his hand.

I felt sorry for him as he trembled and held the gun tightly, so I quietly approached Rico.

“Uh. Dabin?”

As soon as Rico sees me, he grabs my sleeve and starts peppering me with questions.

“I won’t die, right? Can this work?”

“It’ll be okay.”

“I’ll only trust Dabin. Since you’re a librarian. You can see the future, right? I won’t die in the future, right?”

He nodded with a smile.

“Yes. I won’t die.”

Of course, it is not certain.

Not only can we not see the future perfectly, we can’t even read what will happen next.

Well, it’s just empty words. If it just gives you peace of mind, then it’s okay, right?

After calming down Rico, I turned my gaze towards Se-rim this time.

“That’s right. But is Se-rim okay?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Sister, you don’t have any weapons.”

“Ah… … . I’m okay with just knocking them out with my ability. That’s why I think it’s like that. I don’t have many weapons either. ”

“Still. If you use too much of your ability, won’t it become difficult?”

“Hmm. Well?”

Sister Se-rim glances at me and smiles.

And then, the way he gradually narrows the distance between us is so… … seductive.

After holding his breath for a moment, he spoke as if sighing.

“If you can’t stand it, join me. Just in case.”

“Yeah. I will.”

Next is Yoon Da-joo’s side.

Da-ju picks up the weapon by herself and admires it before Robin even hands it to her.

It’s a shotgun that looks dangerous even at first glance.

Clank, clank.

Yoon Da-ju handles the shotgun without fear.

I’ve seen it used a few times during practice, but I still can’t shake off my anxiety.

“Dajuya. You know how to shoot that properly, right?”

“Hey, oppa, I saw you shoot that gun before too.”

Yoon Da-ju laughs slyly.

“Want to see it again?”

Then he pointed the gun towards the end of the hallway where there was no one –

Boom!

-Pull the trigger to fire.

Dust spreads in all directions with a tremendous noise, and debris that was still suspended in the air later falls to the ground with a thud.

“… … .”

Even after doing that, Dazhu looks fine.

My arms didn’t move because of the recoil, and I didn’t move back from where I was standing. Even my posture was the same as before.

His build is similar to mine, but his physique is just ridiculous.

“Hey, hey! Are you crazy?”

“Huh? You said you wouldn’t be able to come back here anyway.”

“No. That’s not it. What about the bullets?”

“… … .”

Daju rolls her eyes.

“Uh. If you miss by one less step, wouldn’t that be okay?”

“You’re really crazy.”

I can’t stand being around him, he’s so annoying.

Heo Yun, who was standing next to her, blurts out a word to Da-ju.

“Dajuya. Don’t be so excited.”

“Yes, Sister.”

Heo Yun is skillfully checking the condition of the rifle.

The rest of the people also checked their guns and made final preparations.

Slurp-

The elevator door finally opens, with a sound more sinister than usual.

The number to head to the lab where the ‘professor’ is waiting is known by Rico, a former researcher.

“I’m going to press the button now.”

Rico speaks while somehow noticing my expression.

Is it because of what I said?

I nodded too.

“Yes.”

Knock-knock-knock-

As you press the numbers in order, the wall rotates and a keypad appears.

Rico quickly entered a combination of numbers and letters, leaving only the last letter.

Just as she was catching her breath, a calm voice broke through the gap.

It was Robin.

“Mr. Rico, please check the number again.”

“Huh? Huh? Isn’t this it?”

“No. I meant to check carefully.”

“Okay, I got it. Let’s see… … .”

Rico recites the entered letters one by one.

1. A. 3… … .

The voice reading the text continued. It was a string of considerable length.

“I checked everything.”

“Then let’s go now. What’s the last number?”

“7. Seven.”

“Yes. Be careful not to make a mistake. Press it.”

A moment after Robin’s words fell, Rico entered the last number.

7. Seven.

Is it just a coincidence that it’s the last number?

The button to enter the lab was pressed.

The elevator moved without any noise, almost as if it was gliding.

Everyone is quiet. Even Dazhu is silent. No. Are they too busy playing with their new weapons?

anyway.

As I always did, I looked around.

Jeong Hae-won is frozen, leaning against the wall, very nervous, while Heo Yoon and Seok Hyeon-min are holding each other’s hands tightly.

And next to me is Se-rim noona. Ye-bin too.

I poked Se-rim’s cheek as if it was a joke.

“Why aren’t you in the corner this time?”

“Huh? I just wanted to be here.”

My older sister smiling brightly.

If you’ve seen this much, you probably don’t need to ask what I’m feeling.

Now, my sister’s face is half nervousness and half excitement.

“When we get out of here, let’s all stay together.”

My older sister speaks first in an excited voice.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Then, all of a sudden, he started clapping his hands and laughing at me.

“That’s right! When we go out, Dabin, you have to call me unnie?”

“Uh… … . Is that so?”

“Of course. People around me will all look at me strangely. It’ll be weird if I keep calling you “sister.””

“Huh?”

I was a little embarrassed.

“I guess so.”

“Dabin, you haven’t found a way to go back to being a man.”

“… … Yes. Well, there are many ways to do it. If I go back to being a man, the world will be ruined.”

“It’s still like that after everything is over?”

“Once this is all over, there will be no method or anything.”

In the past, I would have blushed and everything, but now I can just laugh it off.

Actually, it’s not really that important of an issue. It’s better than the world going to ruin.

Still, I feel a little bit wronged.

“Since you did something so great that it would save the world from ruin, the current information will be fixed. So, from the beginning, you were a woman, ”

“Ahaha!”

Sister Se-rim bursts into laughter.

“You were a woman from the beginning? Really?”

“Yes, that’s what happened.”

“Is it better to think about what other people think? I don’t know.”

“Of course it didn’t work out! Of course it would be best to go back to being a man!”

Clank. Clank.

Next to him, Da-ju is looking intently at the weapon.

No matter how much I look at it, there’s always a new side to it.

Heo Yoon quietly watches Da-ju like that and scolds her every now and then.

“Dajuya. Be careful.”

“Yes, Sister.”

The ridiculously tense atmosphere only lasted for a moment. The atmosphere inside the elevator returned to its usual state.

Rico, Dan, and Robin. Only the three who joined later are completely frozen.

“Dabin, let’s practice in advance. Sister. Do it. Sister. Ni.”

“Ah. I don’t like it.”

I don’t know when Se-rim became like this.

It could be because you’re nervous, or it could be because you’re comfortable next to me.

Sister Se-rim has lived her life being swayed by other people’s opinions for quite some time, so she’s probably still in the process of deciding which of the many aspects to choose.

Yebin, who was standing next to him without saying a word, also chuckled.

Why did we end up with such a conversation? This time, my face burned red without a doubt.

Phew, he exhaled.

At first I was really nervous, but now I just want to get there quickly.

After a while.

“Dabin. Look over there.”

Yebin quietly pointed ahead.

The elevator had reached its destination, just before the doors opened.

Only then does it occur to me that the elevator has stopped.

Without a single noise or rattle, we arrived in front of the professor’s laboratory.

Slurp-

I walked towards the elevator doors that were just beginning to open.

There are no special abnormalities yet.

Lower your voice and listen to the sounds outside.

I looked around at everyone.

“Everyone get ready.”

Slowly, the lab where the professor resides is revealed.

Between the elevator doors, a dazzling light continues to pour out from the gap that has opened slightly.

If there is a heavenly light, could it be this?

The light that warms my heart actually makes me feel uncomfortable.

Because I have to be nervous now.

Without saying who should go first, each person readjusts the weapon in their hand.

Daju is carrying a shotgun.

Other people have rifles.

“The professor is on a different level from any monster I’ve ever met.”

And Robin gave his final request.

“If you see him, shoot him immediately.”

“But Mr. Robin.”

A deep voice cut in amidst the serious atmosphere.

It was Dan.

“Yes, go ahead.”

“I wonder if I can get through the guards before then. I think I’d be moved just by seeing the face of the professor or something.”

“I have to try. As much as I can.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

While the two were arguing, I hurried to take care of the others.

“Hey, Yoon Da-ju. Aren’t you nervous?”

“I’m so excited right now.”

“Yebin?”

“I’m okay. Dabin.”

“Serim, are you ready?”

“Yeah. Dabin. But, you’re my sister?”

“Sister! Se-rim sister. You don’t seem nervous.”

After taking care of each person one by one, this time I turned my gaze towards Jeong Hae-won.

“Haewon… … . It’s really freezing.”

“Yes.”

“Take good care of Daju.”

“Yes, brother.”

Heo Yoon and Seok Hyeon-min were too busy flirting to take care of each other.

If you look closely, the two of them seem almost like a married couple.

The personnel check is complete, but the door isn’t even half-open yet.

It’s definitely moving much slower than usual.

As if trying to get the timing right.

The elevator finally adjusts the detailed view.

Tick tock.

The sound of clock hands is heard from somewhere.

Tick, tick.

Soon a giant bell will ring.

Starting with the sound of a bell, a single story that runs through all the stories begins to rise.

No one can dare predict what will happen next.

and.

Finally, at the open door, there was no one.

***

It felt like swimming in a river of fatigue.

Sitting at his desk in his office, the ‘Professor’ wrote a short document.

A document that is only about three lines long.

The page count is a bit longer because there are a few photos attached.

But even so, anyone can skim through the content in about a minute.

The document ends like this:

We will not be defeated.