LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Thanks to Kang Ji-woo’s timely intervention, the quarrel ended smoothly.
Both Ban Yo-han and On Raon didn’t take the rather intense scuffle too seriously.
Regardless of what they thought of each other, neither was the type to dwell on such matters.
On Raon was unaware that this nonchalance made them seem close, but Ban Yo-han knew.
Anyway, by the time they were heading home, they had united in a shared activity: subtly mocking Kang Ji-woo, who, despite his age, was incredibly mature, or in other words, exceptionally upright and rigid.
“How can someone be so inflexible?”
“He’s such a hypocrite. He complained about Yo-han hyung the other day too…”
“Why do you talk as if you didn’t join in, On Raon?”
“Sorry.”
“I’ll let it slide.”
Kang Ji-woo also didn’t mind the childish criticisms directed at him.
‘I can always vent with Seong-ha about Ban Yo-han.’
It was an incredibly solid friendship.
When they finally lay down in their bunks at the dorm.
“Hanging out with him makes me feel like… I lose my mind too,” Ban Yo-han said softly.
He had no hesitation in saying something that might upset the person involved, even though that person was lying right next to him.
Ban Yo-han knew from experience that as soon as On Raon’s head hit the pillow, he would fall into a deep sleep.
Sometimes it was amazing how quickly he fell asleep.
‘He wouldn’t even know if someone carried him away while he was asleep.’
Kang Ji-woo, who had finally settled into his place closer to the wall, responded quietly.
“You’re really harsh.”
“…Fine. Let me rephrase. Hanging out with him makes me feel like my mind clears up.”
“What’s the difference from what you said earlier?”
“The elegance of the sentence?”
“…Go to sleep.”
It was so absurd that it was laughable.
However, Kang Ji-woo somehow understood the meaning behind Ban Yo-han’s playful remark about On Raon, despite not knowing him for long.
* * *
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’m fine, really.”
“You suffered a traumatic event that made you lose your memory. Are you sure you’re okay going back there? We can change the location to our company.”
“Can we even do that?”
Seeing my indifferent reaction, as if I considered ‘On Raon’ a stranger, Kang Ji-woo turned his attention to Ban Yo-han.
“Ban Yo-han, why didn’t you stop this when it was being decided?”
“Well, he said he was fine…”
This was just stubbornness.
How could Ban Yo-han have known enough about ‘On Raon’ at the time to prevent this?
Kang Ji-woo seemed to have more to say but ultimately remained silent.
Still, frustrated, he muttered, “You’re both so frustrating,” and tapped his chest repeatedly.
“Anyone would think I’m being dragged there against my will.”
“On Raon, you’re driving me crazy. Stop talking!”
“Okay.”
“…Do you want more rice?”
“No, just give me more side dishes.”
“You need to be well-fed if you’re going to fight. Eat more rice.”
“You’re so stubborn. Who’s going to fight… Ah, that’s too much! Take some back!”
“Don’t waste it, eat it all!”
“Kang Ji-woo, I told you to eat in moderation.”
After a noisy breakfast, Ban Yo-han and I got into a car driven by Kwak Sang-hyun and headed to the True building.
“Call me immediately if anything happens.”
Even Kwak Sang-hyun, who I was only meeting for the second time, said this while checking my expression.
I didn’t know what he could do if something really happened, but nodding wasn’t hard.
“Yes. I’ll be back.”
“Why do you make me worry so much? Be careful and don’t lose your nerve!”
Eventually, the car stopped near the True building, and Ban Yo-han and I got out quickly.
True to its reputation as a large agency, a grand building stood tall in the middle of the city.
There was a café on the first floor of the building, but it was still early, and the lights were off.
Ban Yo-han seemed to be watching me carefully, so I calmly described how I felt.
“It’s just something I saw. I don’t feel anything.”
“…I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t have to.”
At that moment, a text message came from an unknown number.
[Come to Dance H]
It was likely from Oh Hyun-jin.
I saved the number and thought,
‘Where’s Dance H?’
Considering Koreans love abbreviating everything, it’s probably ‘Dance Practice Room H,’ but I had no idea where that was.
Since ‘On Raon’ had been a trainee here, the sender might have skipped detailed explanations.
Thinking it’s better to get inside out of the cold, I pushed the door open and took a step inside.
[Main Quest Triggered!
What now?
[▶ Quest Description: Since entering this world, you have occasionally, perhaps frequently, encountered past connections and will continue to do so. However, you can no longer respond ambiguously as you have. This world has undoubtedly become your reality, even if you still wish to deny it. (Omitted) Confront and fully accept memories that occasionally surface. Through this, you will find your rightful place and path forward.]
▶ Confirmed Reward: ???
▶ Penalty for Failure: ???
[This is a mandatory quest.]
[It will proceed automatically.]
Alright, fine. Keep barking. I’m moving.
I decisively closed the quest window that had been spouting nonsense from start to finish.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. There was a fly.”
As we moved further inside, where only minimal lighting was on, we saw a security gate that required a card to pass.
With no one around and unsure what to do, we stopped and pondered.
An older security guard emerged from the security booth next to the gate.
“Is that you, Raon?”
He approached me, looking closely at my face, and seemed a bit doubtful.
“Hello.”
Ignoring his suspicion, I greeted him with a bow, and he chuckled.
“Maybe it’s the darkness, but something seems different. Anyway, what brings you here after so long?”
“I’m here to shoot something. But I returned my card when I left.”
“Ah, a few others came in earlier. Your friend too?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, both of you write your names here.”
We filled out the visitor log and received visitor badges to wear around our necks.
The guard looked at me with a slightly sympathetic expression as I followed Ban Yo-han in signing the log.
Well… it must seem a bit sad for a dismissed trainee to return like this.
“It’s good to see you’re doing well.”
“Yes. I’m doing well.”
I emphasized that I was doing well, which seemed to ease the guard’s expression.
[Security Guard Park Man-yeol is relieved to hear about your well-being. Favorability +3, current favorability +14]
“Alright. I won’t be here when you leave later, so be careful on your way out.”
He said this as he let us through.
“By the way, do you know where Dance Practice Room H is? It’s been so long, I don’t quite remember.”
“How long has it been? It’s probably on the second basement level.”
“Thank you.”
I heard him mutter, “The kid has brightened up,” as we walked away.
Following the guard’s directions, we headed to the second basement level via the stairs.
“It’s dark, so be careful.”
Ban Yo-han warned after seeing the pitch-black emergency exit.
I was about to retort that I wasn’t that foolish, but once the door closed, it became pitch dark, making me reconsider.
“….”
Each step down the dimly lit staircase felt like descending into a bottomless abyss.
My breath grew shallow.
The unusually loud echoes of our footsteps felt like a warning bell urging me to flee.
[You have entered a location deeply tied to the player’s past. Status: Anxious.]
[Due to anxiety, all stats will be reduced by 20% and fatigue will accumulate faster until you leave this area.]
Damn it. This isn’t my past.
Sensing something was off with me, Ban Yo-han turned to look at me.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“…Yeah.”
I had to be okay. I wasn’t the real On Raon, so I couldn’t afford not to be okay.
I wiped the cold sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand.
Despite the poor visibility, Ban Yo-han kept glancing back while descending two steps ahead until he finally threw open the door to the second basement level.
Leaving the stairs behind felt like escaping a long tunnel, only to enter a soundless white prison.
The walls, doors, floor, and even the clock on the wall were unnaturally white.
Who designed this place?
‘It’s perfect for driving someone insane.’
Ban Yo-han, who also seemed to think the same, frowned slightly.
Knowing I wasn’t the only one who felt this way was somewhat comforting.
We walked briskly to find and enter Dance Practice Room H.
“You’re here?”
Other trainees from our team were already there warming up.
Ban Yo-han and I quickly started stretching our stiff bodies.
The practice that followed went smoothly.
Our team still lacked cohesion, like oil and water that wouldn’t mix.
Ban Yo-han, Han Da-hoon, and I were the floating oil, while the rest were water.
To me, this was the best our team could achieve.
Forcing friendships would only back
fire and break the team.
“What should we name our team?”
“Good question.”
Besides practice, we also had to decide on a team name and slogan for the competition.
Several suggestions were made.
First, because we were the first team to form, ‘First.’ Then, since our song was TOXIC, ‘Poison.’
Even I, who had no talent for such things, could tell these names were no good.
After all the suggestions were filtered out for various reasons and silence fell, I hesitated before speaking.
“How about Healer?”
“Healer?”
“Our song is unhealthy, so it’s a bit ironic.”
Even I thought it was a very gamer-like choice of word.
Surprisingly, my suggestion was accepted without much fuss, probably because everyone was tired of the pointless names.
Once the team name was decided, the slogan was quickly agreed upon.
“Healing all your pain with a blow, hello! We are Healers, healing your body and soul!”
Given the team’s atmosphere, I felt that a slogan like “One, two, three, Business!” might work too, but I didn’t bother to mention it.