NOVEL NEXT Chapter 218
Theater Company Chief rests her chin on her hand and nods with her right hand.
The doll jumps at me, charging with its fists, and I dodge the incoming punches as if they were flying bullets.
In response, my fist is launched like a bullet against my will.
– Bang!
With a loud sound, the doll that was rushing at me loses its head.
Of course, the opponent isn’t human.
As the doll groans and gets back up, I sidestep punches coming from elsewhere with minimal movement and swing my leg.
At the same time, strength surges into my leg as if it were propelled, smashing through the doll’s torso.
“You’re doing great, A-Rin!”
“I know!”
The method that Song Ah Rin and I adopted was simple.
Teamwork.
Song Ah Rin uses strings to block the overwhelming numbers with minimal movement while I fight independently; whenever I need strength or can’t dodge, Song Ah Rin attaches strings to my body to pull me out.
I can’t win in a battle of numbers.
No matter how much self-awareness I have, I’m still human.
Fighting against a crowd significantly lowers my chances of winning.
“Huff…!”
Song Ah Rin takes a breath, using one hand to pull me close while the other creates a net with the strings to prevent other dolls from coming.
– Thud!
After barely dodging a swinging arm, I kick out to create some distance and assess the situation.
So far, I’ve taken down ten dolls.
The number of dolls Song Ah Rin is blocking is uncountable.
“Watch out for your arms!”
“It’s still manageable!”
My right arm is completely shattered, and my left arm is creaking ominously.
Even if they’re made of wood, they’re still dolls.
I lower my waist to evade the next charging doll.
With a belief that my limp left arm would swing, I prepare my stance.
– Thud!
In response to my faith, my left arm moves and crushes another doll’s torso.
Eleven.
It’s working better than I expected for a plan concocted on the spot.
If I were in a human body, I would’ve already collapsed on the floor from exhaustion, but thankfully, my body is that of a wooden doll.
I didn’t feel the slightest bit tired.
“Aagh… aagh…”
“A-Rin, are you okay?”
“Stop worrying about me.”
Of course, Song Ah Rin didn’t seem okay.
Wiping away the sweat, she looked ahead.
“I’m still in one piece.”
“Let’s say that.”
“That’s amazing.”
The Theater Company Chief, tilting her head, gazes at Song Ah Rin, who is panting heavily.
“You’re doing better than I expected.”
“…”
In contrast, the Theater Company Chief didn’t seem troubled at all.
With her left hand still resting on her chin, she was merely observing us.
“It wouldn’t have gone this well if I were alone.”
“Are you crazy? How am I supposed to do all this by myself?”
Song Ah Rin responded with a look of disbelief to the Theater Company Chief’s mumbling.
“It’s because that guy is moving for me that I can do this. If not, I’d already be dead.”
“…”
The Theater Company Chief stares at me intently.
“Do you want to buy some time?”
“…”
– Whoosh!
I glance at the charging doll while looking back at the Theater Company Chief.
“…Talk.”
After a brief hesitation, I decide to accept her question.
To be honest, it’s strange that we can endure this right now.
It’s not because we’re doing well.
It’s because the Theater Company Chief is allowing us to.
I don’t know why, but she seemed to have some favor or curiosity towards me.
If only I understood that reason.
If from the Theater Company Chief’s perspective, I were the long-lost lover she mourned, she might have simply played along as a mad lover and returned to life, but since it was our first meeting, that wasn’t possible.
“What are you?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Song Ah Rin furrows her brows and looks at the Theater Company Chief.
“It’s fascinating.”
The Theater Company Chief quietly mutters.
“You wouldn’t have been able to crawl up here alone.”
The Theater Company Chief glances at Song Ah Rin.
Song Ah Rin says nothing.
She merely stares at the Theater Company Chief.
“You must have received someone’s help.”
Her gaze shifts to me.
“And that’s you.”
“…”
“So, I wanted to see for myself.”
“…You came here just to see me?”
“Overly self-aware.”
The Theater Company Chief shakes her head at my question.
“No matter how remarkable you are, I wouldn’t come here just to see you.”
In other words, it meant she didn’t come here of her own volition?
“Answer me. Then I can buy us more time.”
“…”
After a brief period of silence, Song Ah Rin finally says,
“Ha, heh. That’s absurd.”
She looks at the Theater Company Chief.
“Why do you seek answers from others when you’re the one who failed?”
She mutters quietly.
“Don’t search for your flaws in others.”
Song Ah Rin raises her eyebrows, crossing her arms as she gazes at the Theater Company Chief.
She had once sided with the Theater Company Chief.
This meant she knew the Theater Company Chief well too.
“I don’t think you’re better than me.”
After asking for an answer, Song Ah Rin unexpectedly goes on the offensive with emotionally charged remarks.
Hearing her words, the Theater Company Chief lets out a heavy sigh.
“Yeah. I’ve always been this kind of person.”
“You were just as much of a mess.”
“…”
“…”
The gazes of the two lock.
“How bothersome. I’ll just take you with me.”
The Theater Company Chief waves her hand.
Simultaneously, the strings that Song Ah Rin was using to block sever easily.
A horde of dolls rushes towards me.
“Ah, why do you have to make such a fuss just to get angry!”
“I’m not dying!”
Song Ah Rin screams, extending both her hands.
“And I believe!”
“What are you saying!”
“That annoying duo will come for us—”
– Bang!
Before Song Ah Rin could finish her sentence, someone crashes down from the sky.
“…Ouch… I think my spine broke…”
A familiar voice rings in my ears.
“Yu Da On?”
“Ah, Kim Jae Heon!”
Yu Da On rubs her waist as she rises from the ground.
“…Uh, Kim Jae Heon?”
Could she not recognize me?
“Oh, it’s me, Da On. Kim Jae Heon—”
“Yes, I know that. I could smell it…”
Yu Da On blinks at me before looking at Song Ah Rin.
“…Could you please take care of Jae Heon? He seems to be having a really tough time.”
“…”
Yu Da On gazes intensely at Song Ah Rin as if chiding her, while Song Ah Rin turns her eyes away.
Soon, Jang Chae Yeon lands softly above us.
“Hey, can you let me down?”
“I didn’t have time for that.”
Jang Chae Yeon coldly responds to Yu Da On’s whining.
And then—
– Bang!
Someone crashes down squarely, standing up while dusting off their knees.
“Ah, Branch Chief.”
The Branch Chief looks at me intently and lets out a deep sigh.
“I lost.”
“Pardon?”
“If you ask for support from now on… I will help you with everything. If there’s a real lack of people, I’ll just go myself. So can you please stop causing accidents already?”
“…”
If I could have avoided that by doing this, I would have done so already.
The Branch Chief shakes her head, then turns to look at the Theater Company Chief and Song Ah Rin.
“Goodness, things have really changed.”
She mutters in surprise and clenches her fist.
“Then just wait a moment. I’ll take out all the—”
Before the Branch Chief can finish her sentence, a multitude of dolls lunged at her.
Literally, dolls poured over her to the extent that the Branch Chief was no longer visible.
“Ah! I’m weak against numerical battles!”
With a cry of “Oh no!” the Branch Chief swings her fists, causing the dolls to crumble helplessly.
Yet, the dolls show no signs of diminishing.
“I’ll buy you some time!”
No matter how I look at it, it seemed the dolls were stalling her, but the Branch Chief shouted that while vigorously swinging her arms.
Without saying a word, Jang Chae Yeon stood next to me.
As her hand reached out, the dolls that were charging at us stopped, crashing to the floor with a loud sound.
“…Jang Chae Yeon.”
The Theater Company Chief frowned as she glared at Jang Chae Yeon, who met her gaze with an emotionless look.
“Do you know me?”
“…”
With a different attitude than when she was facing Song Ah Rin, the Branch Chief stared at Jang Chae Yeon for a moment, soon ignoring her to look at me.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
She gazes at me with concern before looking ahead.
“I’ll help.”
“I need to find my body first.”
“…I’ll handle that.”
“…That would be correct.”
The only person here who could bring in an adult man’s body was Jang Chae Yeon.
Jang Chae Yeon nods.
“Where should I go?”
“Well, the thing is.”
How should I explain this?
“…Just watch closely.”
While I pondered, Song Ah Rin muttered and placed a hand on Jang Chae Yeon’s forehead.
“…”
Jang Chae Yeon stands still for a moment before nodding.
“Got it. I’ll go.”
“What can I do?”
“You just…”
“You can take a beating next to this guy.”
Song Ah Rin says in a sharp tone, and Yu Da On nods.
“With Jae Heon? Got it!”
“…Really?”
Yu Da On nods, while Song Ah Rin looks at her with a begrudging expression.
“You’re not a wooden doll, so it’s going to hurt.”
“But if I don’t, Jae Heon is going to take it all alone, right?”
“…”
At Yu Da On’s blinking question, Song Ah Rin seemed momentarily speechless.
“Anyway, here’s the plan.”
I look at Yu Da On and Song Ah Rin.
“We’ll try to break through at a single point and take down the Theater Company Chief.”
“I understand!”
“Is that really possible?”
Nodding Yu Da On and Song Ah Rin, who looks worriedly at me.
“If it doesn’t work, we just have to make it work somehow.”
“…”
Song Ah Rin sighs, and Yu Da On loosens up.
It’s going to hurt for sure.
“Da On.”
“Yes?”
“…If it hurts, just say so.”
“It’s not too painful as long as I’m with Jae Heon!”
Yu Da On beams as she says that, while Song Ah Rin looks around, raising her hands.
Soon, my body begins to move, and Yu Da On’s body starts to move with the strings as well.
I lift my head and look ahead.
Thanks to the Branch Chief, we were much closer than expected to the Theater Company Chief.
“You won’t hold back against me.”
“Please focus on Jae Heon first! I’m fine not being held back.”
Yu Da On responds nonchalantly to Song Ah Rin’s words and leaps out to start fighting the dolls.
– Crack!
When she hits a doll, her hand swells red, but soon returns to its original shape.
“Da On, watch your hands!”
“Yes!”
Yu Da On yells back to me.
I hurriedly follow in her footsteps.
Just like earlier, I’ll move what I can, and if not, I’ll leave it to Song Ah Rin.
Those I can’t handle come directly to Yu Da On, moving forward step by step.
Forward, and then forward again.
From the sounds I hear behind, it seems the Branch Chief is also managing to shake off the dolls.
How far have we moved?
I lock eyes with the Theater Company Chief, who gazes at me with a neutral expression.
Comparing to earlier, she seemed much closer now.
“…”
“Doesn’t it remind you a lot of A-Rin?”
Yu Da On murmurs, looking at the Theater Company Chief.
“Those eyes, that atmosphere.”
“…It’s way too different, though.”
What exactly should I say that resembles her?
“I think they’re the same.”
Yu Da On softly smiles as she looks at Song Ah Rin.
“That means their weaknesses are also the same.”
“Wait, Da On—”
“You bad A-Rin!”
Hearing Yu Da On’s words, the Theater Company Chief turns to her.
“I understand A-Rin perfectly!”
Yu Da On shouts with a smile.
“I understand that reckless desire for others even though you can’t even take care of yourself, and I understand that if you don’t, you’ll suffer too much!”
“…”
The Theater Company Chief’s expression hardens.
But it didn’t seem that only her expression was stiffening.
“But the more you do that, the more you need to be aware of yourself!”
“…”
“Always remember!”
With those words, Yu Da On beams widely.
“Acknowledge your own shortcomings!”
Awful silence filled the air.