Chapter 754 – Room 302, The Curse Room – ‘Brave New World’ (24)
—
– Kim Sanghyun
— Dust in the wind ~
I woke up to the familiar sound of a song.
Since this was the second attempt, I already knew the house would be filled with loud music blasting from the speakers.
Still, the ear-piercing noise was honestly torturous.
“Ugh…”
The rest of the routine wasn’t much different from the first attempt.
After a quick wash and shower, my breakfast consisted of Campbell’s canned soup—ah, classy.
Then it was time to get ready to head out like a clueless person.
Soon, I hopped into the car and started the engine.
— Vroom!
From there, things were pretty straightforward.
Just enjoying a simple drive like an average middle-aged American man.
In the early parts of this second attempt, I had nothing special to do.
Because it turned out my daily life in Room 302 is being monitored by the Bureau.
If I pulled any crazy stunts, there was a high probability an agent or staff member would pop up, so I had to act like I was none the wiser.
Killing time like this…
— Bang!
That was the plan for when my colleague would come find me.
— Honk! Honk!
The relentless honking and curses erupted out of nowhere.
“Hey! You, idiot! Can’t you drive properly?”
Despite being the one who hit me from behind, he had the audacity to be annoyed at me.
Absurd, but in Room 302, this kind of mad behavior was the norm.
As I got out of the car, a familiar face caught my eye.
It was Agent Mooksung.
“Did your dad teach you how to drive with his toes or what?”
“…”
“What? That look in your eyes? Wanna throw down? Bring it on! Think I’d back down?”
I couldn’t help but admire Agent Mooksung’s acting skills.
He was nailing the role of a resident of Room 302 suffering from anger management issues.
— Boom!
Mooksung, glaring with bulging eyeballs, approached me as if to say a few words—
— Click!
Then out of nowhere, he pulled out a gun and aimed it at me!
Honestly, I was taken aback; this was not part of the plan.
A million thoughts raced through my mind.
Was that little stunt earlier not just an act?
Did he lose his marbles and become unhinged due to the Son of Dawn’s influence in that split second?
Instinctively trying to dodge, a message popped up.
Kim Mooksung: Stay still.
Soon after, the sound of gunfire erupted.
— Bang! Bang!
The gun that was aimed at me slightly turned sideways, and a scream echoed from behind.
“Ugh!”
This was completely unexpected.
Kim Sanghyun: What the heck is going on?
Kim Mooksung: There’s a staff member watching you.
Kim Sanghyun: Are we really allowed to shoot?
At that moment, the chat window crackled with static.
I was a bit startled, but communication was still clear enough, so let’s roll with it.
But that lingering gaze on me?
Must be a Bureau staff member.
I already knew from the first attempt that there was someone watching me.
Even so, just pulling a gun out of nowhere?
This wasn’t about some naive moral code against hurting people; if we caught too much attention from the Bureau—
At that moment, Mooksung winked at me with a sly smile instead of explaining.
“…”
I realized then.
In that short time, Mooksung had added a little improvisation to the plan!
It didn’t take long to figure out why he had just shot at the low-level staff member watching me.
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! What’s happening here?”
A familiar voice came from behind.
Glancing back, I saw Lee Eunsol, a sight I recognized in silhouette.
From her arms, she pulled out bandages and a first-aid kit as if she had been waiting for this moment.
“Stay still! I’ll help you!”
Kim Sanghyun: Is this what you two planned this morning?
Kim Mooksung: Yeah, we figured there would be a staff member nearby, so let’s repay the favor.
Eunsol’s ability, nobless oblige.
Using her obligation, she gained her rights.
So, is it really a benefit to have a colleague shoot someone and then have Eunsol come to the rescue?
It felt like a stretch to use her powers, but then again, using odd conditions to meet demands was similar to the first room too.
Kim Mooksung: I planned to shake down one of the employees to get some info. Come on, hop in.
I quickly moved over to the car Mooksung drove.
Once I got in, the tension eased a bit.
After all, there wouldn’t be any recording devices or hidden cameras in the car he brought.
— Vroom!
“The morning mission went smoothly, didn’t it?”
“Seems that way.”
If Eunsol could grill that agent for more info, everything was bound to go even smoother.
“You know, our goal this time is crystal clear.”
In this second attempt, the party centered around me had a simple job.
We needed to contact the minority faction of the Bureau in Room 302 that opposes the Son of Dawn and get them on our side!
“Just trust me. I know the Bureau inside and out.”
“…”
“What? Hey, what’s with that expression?”
If Kain had said this, I would have been more inclined to believe him. But with Mooksung saying it, it felt a bit awkward.
“Don’t you trust me?”
“Of course I do. You’re a valuable friend.”
“That almost sounds like you’re saying my ability is hard to trust. Come on, I know everything about the Bureau.”
Well, sure, but the Bureau Mooksung knew and the one in Room 302 was practically a different organization, wasn’t it?
Still, it was undoubtedly true that Mooksung knew more about the Bureau than I did, so I wasn’t going to argue.
“So how exactly are we going to go about it?”
“First, we have to get out of Austin.”
— Vroom!
The car sped smoothly down the road.
Just then, Kain’s hypothesis from the meeting the other day flitted through my mind.
‘Earlier, you wondered about David. Where the hell did he go? Where did he actually go?’
‘All the agents who contributed to the Sons of Dawn’s descent became six-winged angels. Except for David, that is. Why is that?’
‘At first, I thought he probably died before the end, but that doesn’t add up. Even in heaven, the deceased are resurrected.’
‘After thinking it over, this thought struck me. What if David betrayed the Son of Dawn? Just like you.’
‘If that’s the case, it could explain why he didn’t become one of the six-winged guardians despite participating in the ritual. He’s a traitor.’
“… David.”
One of the five agents who participated in the Son of Dawn’s descent ceremony.
The only one who didn’t reincarnate as a six-winged angel after the end.
“Is Kain’s hypothesis coming to mind for you too?”
“…”
“Hmmm, it makes sense. What do you think? After all, you’re the one who met him, not Kain.”
“It’s a while back, so my memories are a bit hazy. But…”
“But?”
“I get the feeling he holds many keys to Room 302. Perhaps he knows a way to turn back time.”
“…”
“Let’s make finding David our top priority.”
—
– Park Seungyub (Primordial Human)
“Yawn…!”
Ah, I’m so sleepy.
I honestly just want to skip school and play League…
Do I really have to go to school?
It’s not like I’m learning anything there.
To be frank, the notion that I have to go to school seems like some ridiculous rule made up by moronic adults.
It’s just like the guys caught in rigid strategies in League.
Why can’t Yasuo just be a support?
There’s no logic to it, no logic!
Ah~ just thinking about it makes me want to rage again.
Yesterday, those noob teammates totally couldn’t play a game but had their pride all inflated—
Just as I was lost in that thought, something utterly baffling happened!
“Huh? Huh? Wha… what’s going on?”
The way to the school gate has vanished?
This isn’t a dream, is it? Am I still sleeping in my bed?
After two years of going to school every morning.
Honestly, I could probably arrive with my eyes closed!
But now I’m lost due to some bizarre illusion.
…
By the time I reached school, I was already late.
“Park Seungyub! What were you doing that made you this late? Did you oversleep?”
“I… I got lost…!”
“What? Come on, that’s nonsense. Are you a transfer student or what?”
“I swear, the path got weird all of a sudden, and I didn’t know where to go—”
“Shut it! Just kneel down already!”
Ah, what a terrible start to the day.
… Sadly, this was just the beginning of a horrendous day.
In the first-period Korean class, ridiculously, I had no textbook.
“Park Seungyub! Why aren’t you pulling out your book?”
“Uh? It should’ve been in my drawer?”
“Come on, Seungyub. You have to bring your textbook!”
“I swear, it was in my drawer!”
Just yesterday, my textbook was there, but now it’s gone, and my desk is filled with nasty scribbles mocking me.
As this ridiculous amount of stuff happened all morning, not just the teacher, but the kids around me started snickering.
“…”
I hated school.
More than the studying, more than the teachers, I hated those kids.
I just wanted to do what I wanted to do.
So, I slouched over and pulled out my phone.
—
‘At this point, I thought I’d at least hear them scream, but they’re holding up way better than expected?’
‘… Well, they seem pretty used to this level of harassment.’
‘Wait! Ahri, isn’t that a bit sad—what’s going on?’
‘Why?’
‘What is that kid even doing with his phone?’
‘Probably engaged in something. Kids these days just can’t let go of their phones for a second.’
‘Oh come on, do you really want to sound like a grandma? Can you please stop?’
‘…’
‘Those are the games played on computers. Can you do that on your phone too?’
‘Looks like it.’
‘Wait, so after staying up all night, you’re back at school playing again? Is it even fun? Like, I swear, even if you spent 20 hours a day for 10 years playing, how can it still be entertaining?’
‘Guess so.’
‘Oh come on, you clearly have no idea about games, do you? Talking to you makes no sense at all.’
‘…’
‘Gotta help him out~!’
‘What for?’
‘You know what’s the one thing people hate the most while gaming?’
‘…’
‘Like, of course you don’t know. Why would you?’
—
The mobile version of League of Legends, Wild Rift.
The outcome of a match lasting over ten minutes hangs in the balance in this one tiny moment.
With overwhelming tension, I concentrated all my mental energy!
Then, a voice came from behind.
“Hey, hey! Seungyub, use Q in the bushes!”
“… Why would I use a skill there—”
“Ah— so frustrating. We need to catch that blue guy behind us!”
“It’s not the right time to catch him.”
“Seriously?! You missed again. Are you deliberately aiming for the wrong targets? Hey, maybe it’s some kind of mind game? Pretending to be a total noob on purpose?”
“…”
Please… Please stop!
If you keep talking, it’s clear you know nothing about Wild Rift!
“Whoa, whoa? The red one! Catch the red one!”
“Th-that’s our ally—”
“Wow… you missed again. Dude, maybe you should try another game? Ah, I guess you just started playing then? If that’s the case, I’ll let that slide!”
“…”
“Oh? Your games played… 3,200 games? But your rank is…”
I wanted to die.
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