Episode 505
Hong Gyeong-jun closed his eyes tightly after organizing the information received from the survivors.
‘I’m bored.’
It was a cheap word, but there was no other word that could better describe my situation.
“Detective? “Why is there a problem with another team?”
“…No….”
I shook my head in response to Han Do-yoon’s question after returning to the bathroom in Building A.
“They say there is no problem.”
It was there, but it’s closer to disappearing.
‘After all, it is truly bizarre to learn of someone else’s regression when you know nothing.’
While Kim Ki-jeong and Han Do-yoon were away for a while, I called Jeong In-ho, and after hearing his story, I had no choice but to call Ha Seong-yoon as well. They said we had regressed.
As of now, the most likely final survivor appears to be Song In-myeong, and in the same vein, their main request was to call Da-young Park, Jae-heon Lee, and Yeon-hee Kwon. Hong Gyeong-jun also agreed.
“…First, I’m going to call student Dayoung Park.”
“Oh, that’s good. “I’m worried because they are young children.”
“I would appreciate it if you could contact Yeonhee Kwon using Doyoon Han’s cell phone.”
“Do not worry.”
The results were surprisingly plain.
―Ugh, I’m fine… I’m currently building a house…
Kwon Yeon-hee also steadfastly follows the rules of survival despite being dropped into a different area alone.
―Uh, this is the hallway between ‘Stream Friends’ and the feeding experience corner…? I think it is.
This is also the case with Park Da-young, who goes out of her way to meet Lee Jae-heon while handling two kindergarten students and Song In-myeong.
If there was a problem among these, it was clearly Park Da-young’s side.
“…What about Song In-myeong?”
―Just so-so…? It’s a bit strangely docile, but overall it’s okay.
“Song In-myeong is obedient.”
―What can I say after I was bitten by the monster in ‘Friends by the Stream’ earlier… Should I say I was in a daze? When we are immersed in the world behind us, we sometimes become dazed. Does it feel that way?
“Are you saying you’ve lost your mind?”
―It’s not like that at all….
―Why are you talking only among yourselves, with the person involved in front of you?
Song In-myeong’s voice, who intervened, was indeed quite gentle. It seemed like he was being sarcastic, but there were no swear words and his tone was calm, like that of a half-asleep person. Hearing that, Hong Gyeong-jun nodded inwardly.
‘It’s returned.’
I was also frustrated. It seems that Song In-myeong has become the final survivor.
But questions remained.
‘…If what Jeong In-ho and Ha Seong-yoon are saying is correct, Song In-myeong went around killing everyone else to become the final survivor… Listening to his voice, he definitely feels more energetic than usual. Was there anything that could have lowered Song In-myeong’s mental strength in the process?’
I’m sure he wouldn’t have been stressed about killing people.
‘Rather, I was like a fish out of water.’
However, Hong Gyeong-jun had doubts because he seemed to be quite calm for a guy like that. Did he have a scuffle with some monster before returning?
“…I understand for now. “I’m glad to hear that it’s progressing without any major problems.”
―…Why is the reaction a bit bitter? Why? What’s going on?
“Nothing happened. It seems like his voice was a little tired because of the situation. “I just spoke on the phone with Jeong In-ho and Ha Seong-yoon.”
-Ah, yes.
Hong Gyeong-jun instinctively sensed that Park Da-young understood the situation. It seemed like there was clearly a problem, but the words ‘situation’, ‘Jung In-ho’, and ‘Ha Seong-yoon’ seemed to be clues to Park Da-young as he tried to divert the conversation.
Park Da-young may have already suspected that Song In-myeong may be the final survivor, although she could not speak directly because she knew that Song In-myeong was listening.
-Anyway, I understand. We will proceed as carefully as possible, so please contact us periodically.
“of course.”
That was enough for now.
‘If you provoke Song In-myeong, who probably has his own plans, it could actually endanger the students. Even if Song In-myeong knew that Park Da-young had noticed her regression through the current conversation… it would be completely different for me to reveal it openly and to have a subtle fight.’
Song In-myeong is a type of criminal with a very high pride. Although he appears to enjoy variables on the outside, he is not in reality like that.
He was a control freak who felt a strong reluctance if the variables were not within the range he could derive or understand.
So this level was just right. Rather than speaking about Song In-myeong openly, it is better to spin things around and make comments like this.
-If you find out what kind of situation he is in, please let me know.
“I was already planning to contact Jaeheon Lee after Dayoung Park.”
-I’m worried that he might be doing something strange again, so hurry up.
It was fortunate that Park Da-young was quick to notice.
Park Da-young, who was convinced of Song In-myeong’s ideals even though she didn’t say anything, clearly had a high level of insight. Even though I was a minor, I felt quite reassured. Hong Gyeong-jun hung up the phone feeling a little relieved.
“What about Dayoung’s family?”
“…You’re asking that after hearing everything.”
Hong Gyeong-jun answered Han Do-yoon, who asked a question in a friendly manner.
“I am currently at Dreamcatcher Aquarium with Jang Seo-ah, Choi Min-hong, Park Da-hoon, and Song In-myeong. Do you know that it is located in the hallway between ‘Stream Friends’ and the feeding experience corner?”
“It seems like the detective is very kind, as he gives me information regularly even though he is being harsh… Well, when it comes to ‘Friends from the Stream,’ it’s quite early days. “I think it’s between the second and third corners.”
“And they say there’s Jaeheon Lee at the concert hall.”
“A concert hall? It’s really close to the exit, right? After passing the concert hall, you will find a souvenir shop, and the souvenir shop is right outside. “I remember buying something and going out like that.”
“I see, the souvenir shop…”
Unlike Hong Gyeong-jun, who couldn’t be at the aquarium due to work at the time, Do-yoon Han remembered the structure of the Dreamcatcher Aquarium quite well.
When Hong Gyeong-jun nodded, Do-yoon Han joked and said.
“Then, if we do well, Lee Jae-heon will be the first to escape? Oh no. You’ll have to take the kids out with you. “There’s no way that guy would come out alone and leave the kids behind.”
“That too.”
Kim Ki-jeong, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the two, intervened with a tired look on his face.
“…is that all they say about So Song In-myeong being with them…? They say that crazy bastard is with them? “Why is everyone so calm?”
Han Do-yoon answered those words with a serious expression.
“Our trustworthy Dayoung will never lose to a murderer.”
“Children Choi Min-hong are not the kind of people who would be discouraged by a murderer. “I don’t think you need to worry.”
“What kind of nonsense are these guys talking about now…?”
Han Do-yoon smiled at Kim Ki-jeong’s embarrassed appearance and put a hand on his shoulder.
“To be precise, you can’t help but worry. “Isn’t that right?”
“Uh… that’s…”
“This isn’t a situation where we can teleport and go help the students.”
It wasn’t that they weren’t anxious.
The people with Song In-myeong were very young kindergarten students and immature high school students, and Song In-myeong was a violent criminal whose methods were so cruel that they were not even made public on the news. It would be strange if you weren’t worried.
However, all they could do right now was the smooth transfer of information using cell phones, and the behind-the-scenes world was a place of poor quality where even worries about others were used as a means of lowering one’s mental strength.
“So just buy it and don’t worry.”
Kim Ki-jeong must have realized that Han Do-yoon’s smile did not look as comfortable as it seemed on the outside, so he kept his mouth shut. Then he nodded slowly and avoided eye contact.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Oh, you’re saying something strange again. What’s the point of being sorry? Anyway, I’m really timid.”
“Just that. “I feel like I’m the only one who doesn’t understand the mood…”
“I know how soft our Kim Ki-jeong is, so you say things like that.”
“No, no matter what, I’m not soft…!”
“Is that really true? “Is that really the case?”
“profit…!”
Hong Gyeong-jun stopped paying attention as he saw the two starting to argue by the bathroom door.
‘I think things will be resolved on their own.’
Among the survivors, Kim Ki-jeong had unusually thin nerves, but on the other hand, his abilities were very useful. It was a much better choice to let them bicker and bicker than to worry about something they couldn’t do anything about right away.
This was also the case for Hong Gyeong-jun.
“….”
Hong Gyeong-jun closed his eyes and slowly took a deep breath.
‘…Song In-myeong hasn’t done anything yet. Even though he knew about the regression, he’s cooperative for now. He’s not someone who won’t abuse regression in the future, but the important thing right now is to prevent Song In-myeong from harming students, so there shouldn’t be any problems yet.’
To be honest, Song In-myeong becoming the final survivor was also shocking to Hong Gyeong-jun.
My heart was still racing and I felt like I was going to vomit. This strange feeling of deprivation and impatience that cannot be described in words.
It has been like this ever since Song In-myeong was convinced that he was the final survivor.
“…I’ll have to call Jaeheon Lee too.”
Do-yoon Han and Ki-jeong Kim reacted to Hong Gyeong-jun’s words.
“Oh, that’s right. “Do it quickly.”
“Obviously, if that person is left alone, there are a lot of things to worry about…”
“You both have low trust in Lee Jae-heon.”
Actually, considering what Lee Jae-heon had done so far, it was inevitable that his trust was a bit low. Hong Gyeong-jun, who secretly agreed, looked through the contact information on his cell phone and called Jae-heon Lee.
A long call tone continued and the person on the other end answered the phone.
“…Jaeheon Lee?”
―Yes, this is Jaeheon Lee’s cell phone.
“….”
All three people in the bathroom were taken aback by the unfamiliar voice.
“who are you?”
―This is Jeong Eun-woo, who is with Lee Jae-heon.
“Jung Eun-woo?”
―Yes, the manager is currently busy with work, so I am answering the phone instead. Is there anything else you would like to convey?
“….”
Hong Gyeong-jun thought as he took the phone off his ear and looked at the screen.
‘It’s not a monster, is it?’
Such a businesslike and clean tone in the extreme situation of the secret world.
It was clearly a human voice, but I was suspicious for no reason. Monsters that imitate human voices are probably widespread in this world.
But I soon realized that wasn’t the case.
‘…Ah, is this the other survivor of the concert hall that In-ho Jeong was talking about?’
Jeong In-ho shared as much information as he could about the previous episode, and it seemed like this person named Jeong Eun-woo was the secretary of Lee Dang Group Chairman, who is currently with Lee Jae-heon. He asked, nodding inwardly.
“Where is the manager currently?”
―You were just in room 5… Oh, you’re out now. Would you like me to change your phone?
“Yes please.”
As I waited for someone to change the phone, wondering what ‘Room 5’ meant, the person named Jeong Eun-woo, who had paused for a moment, continued to speak in a casual tone.
-I’ll tell you in advance, but I hope you won’t be too surprised.
“yes?”
―Take care.
“Wait a minute, what do you mean…”
Before I could even ask what that meant, the person on the phone changed.
-hello?
“….”
Hong Gyeong-jun took the phone away from his ear once again and looked at the screen.
“…?”
He then exchanged glances with the other two survivors, and both Kim Ki-jeong and Han Do-yoon also had slightly embarrassed faces. It was a reaction that showed that all three felt the same way.
It’s definitely the voice we know, but it’s true…
“…Are you Jaeheon Lee?”
-you’re right.
“…Jaeheon Lee?”
―Yes, please say so.
“….”
What is this?
Jaeheon Lee’s voice was definitely right. That didn’t mean it was wrong. However, the tone in which he spoke, the smoothness of it, and the straight pitch that reminded me of an announcer felt a little bizarre.
‘Definitely…’
It was like a monster clumsily imitating Lee Jae-heon’s voice.
It was an even more bizarre situation than the voice I had just heard from Jung Eun-woo. Hong Gyeong-jun opened his mouth with difficulty, losing his characteristic waxy expression.
“…I’m sorry, but who are you?”
―…Am I not Lee Jae-heon?
“….”
―It’s strange. I said it was Lee Jae-heon. I’m Jaeheon Lee.
“…Now….”
―Who am I? Oh right. I…I see.
“Jaeheon Lee.”
―I know who you are, junior.
“….”
My breath stopped for a moment.
-long time no see.
(Continued in the next part)
