Chapter 43.2
Would she be tricked or caught up in something by doing this?
Go Yeongeun hesitated for a moment but then reached out.
So far, there hadnāt been anything suspicious or unpleasant about Kim Soleumās actions, and objectively speaking, he had always treated her with goodwill.
āLetās try it.ā
Her brain, which she trusted as a reliable data processor, urged her forward.
She flipped over one of the scattered cards on the floor without much hesitation.
The cardās face depicted a vibrant blue figure raising one hand. At the top of the image, a white star sparkled like a jewel.
[Honor]
A faint smile appeared on Kim Soleumās face.
“You picked well.”
Did she?
āI donāt think I particularly need honor right nowā¦ā
Anyway, if he said it was good, that was a relief.
Kim Soleum then turned his head and, in a voice that sounded less than enthusiastic, called out to Baek Saheon.
“Pick a card.”
“ā¦ā¦”
Baek Saheon seemed to be calculating the situation in his head, narrowing his eyes as he reached out his hand.
The card he flipped over showed a grinning mouth and a red iron cage.
[Interference]
“Suits you.”
“What?”
Kim Soleum ignored him and continued with the process!
“I will now flip over the remaining cards.”
“Yes, yes.”
Whatever it was, letās just do it!
Go Yeongeun watched as Kim Soleum swiftly flipped over the cards with his precise movements.
There were ten cards left.
Confusion, Healing, Meditation, Wound, Deceit, Dream, Rage, Protection, Strike, and Gazeā¦ the ten remaining cards were revealed and laid out on the floor.
āWhat in the world is this?ā
After having them draw cards as if it were some kind of tarot reading, why reveal all of them at the end?
Seeing Kim Soleumās next action, she understood.
The last card could be chosen directly.
[Deceit]
Kim Soleum picked out a card with a golden gear drawn next to a black heart.
He then burned all three cards they had chosen using a lighter.
Flames burst into vivid colors as the cards turned into shimmering ashes.
“ā¦ā¦!”
Gathering the ashes from the cards, he carefully spread them over the crayon-drawn candle outline he had created earlier and folded the paper.
“Itāll need about 30 minutes to set now.”
Kim Soleum lifted the folded paper off the floor, tucked it neatly into the front pocket of his suit, and gave a faint smile.
“This thing you just madeā¦”
“This candle will help us get out of here.”
“ā¦ā¦!”
“If it doesnāt work, I was planning to try again a few more times, but the keywords turned out well on the first attemptā”
Screeeeeeeeeeeechā
“ā¦ā¦”
“ā¦ā¦”
All three of them turned their heads at once.
In the distance, under the bronze light, a massive shadow emerged.
Eight straight legs resembling those of a spider.
And thenā¦
Screeeechā
The glowing eyes of a machine, leaking light like that of a gas lamp.
“ā¦ā¦”
“ā¦ā¦”
“Run!”
The three of them immediately bolted in the opposite direction at full speed.
I knew.
Even in a lounge, the machines could appear.
Still, I guessed that they would patrol less strictly than in the exhibition hall and had been willing to take the riskā¦
āThere wasnāt even anywhere to hide like in the vents, but why now of all times!ā
Clenching my teeth, I sprinted across the corridor.
Once weāre detected, even hiding in another vent wouldnāt helpāthe machine would simply follow.
It was equipped with that level of tracking capability!
“Should we keep going straight?!”
“For now!”
Straight ahead led to the main exhibition hall.
Once there, they could only hope to draw the machineās attention away with a higher-priority problemā¦
āBut who knows how much more dangerous the exhibitions have become now that weāre in the basement!ā
And then.
Fwickā
“ā¦ā¦!”
Baek Saheon grabbed for my suit.
āWhat now, you lunatic?!ā
The punk shouted right at me,
“That item! The candle! Letās offer it up! Itās valuable, isnāt it?”
I slapped his hand away and yelled back.
“No, you idiot!”
“What?!”
“Look at the exhibition theme!”
+++
This exhibition is being conducted free of charge for one hour under the open spirit of admiration for art.
+++
“Art!!”
“ā¦ā¦!”
“Specifically, living beings, civilization, and history!!”
I shouted at the top of my lungs.
“What does this item have to do with that? Why would they accept it as payment?!”
If items had any real value, wouldnāt the employees of our company have already offered their own equipment before getting their eyes gouged out?!
Besides, the candle wasnāt even finished yet!
But Baek Saheon once again reached for my bag, and Go Yeongeun, clearly fed up, let out an exasperated groan.
“Letās at least try! Whatās the alternativeādying here?!”
“Ugh! Seriously! Stop it and just keep runningā”
I turned my head.
At that moment, our feetā¦
ā¦crossed through the large doors into the main exhibition hall.
“ā¦ā¦”
Catching my breath, I lifted my gaze.
Starlight Ā twinkled Ā everywhere
No Ā . Ā . Ā . Ā were Ā those Ā fragments Ā of Ā stone Ā ?
Countless Ā pairs Ā of Ā glowing Ā circles, Ā all Ā the Ā same Ā color, Ā lined Ā the Ā walls Ā and ceilings, Ā gazing Ā down Ā at Ā us
The walls were packed, covered in countless human eyes staring back at meā¦
The eyesā¦ taken by the usher machines.
“Eekā”
I stopped in my tracks and lowered my head. Beside me, I could hear Baek Saheon striking his remaining eye in frustration.
My chaotic thoughts slowly settled.
– Ah. Theyāve arranged them like stars in the universe. Itās called āGlistening Gazeā. A rather clichĆ© yet popular name! They must have been mindful of the contributors to the materials for this piece.
“ā¦ā¦”
Three walls of the vast black exhibition hall were completely covered in eyeballs, with not a single gap visible.
The only entrance or exit was the door we had just come through.
And through that very door, the usher machine was steadily advancingā¦ without pause.
We were trapped.
– Mr. Roe Deer, your choices intrigue me! Youāre at a dead end now. A place to runā¦ Hmm, seems like thereās none. Fascinating!
– But my friend, you can escape anytime, anywhere. Because you have me, Braun!
That muchā¦ I already knew.
If I were alone.
I could escape safely anytime.
Braun would gladly use his ability, which he called āLights Outā, to erase my presence entirely.
Then, while the others drew its attention, getting their eyes and ears gouged out, I could carefully slip away.
– In that case, wouldnāt it be fitting for Mr. Baek Saheon to pay the price? After all, he doesnāt have much of a life left anyway!
True. We successfully created the candle, which required a recommended group of three, so Baek Saheon was no longer necessary.
āI mean, I only kept him along to avoid a mental breakdown after all.ā
Honestly, would it even matter if he died? In fact, his death might even be a net positive for society.
In the chaos, perhaps Go Yeongeun might also manage to escapeā¦
ā¦Wait.
Hold on.
