Chapter 124

Episode 124. The Otherworlders’ Picnic (2)

****

There’s nothing as difficult as deciding what to eat. Right now, we have to decide on a meal. I wonder what Hasti wants.

The building where we’ll eat is already decided. Since the helicopter and the escort team’s positions are set, we can’t just go anywhere.

But the menu isn’t decided yet.

“Miss Hasti, what do you want to eat?”

“I don’t have any money.”

What nonsense is this?

“Of course, I’m paying.”

“Oh, then I’ll pick something expensive.”

“Well… go ahead.”

There will be Foundation staff inside the building. Not many, but… no, since they’ve deployed the regular security team, there’s no way to know how many there are.

It won’t just be one or two.

“Pick a menu. I’ll pay.”

“What’s there? The only food from this world I’ve had is what the Foundation served.”

“……”

That’s sad.

“Then… how about a buffet, Miss Hasti? You can evaluate what you like in an environment where everything’s available.”

A buffet is a hard-to-control environment. It’s inevitable to come into contact with an unspecified number of people. Should we change plans even now?

“If Dr. Kim thinks so.”

Let’s think the opposite way.

In a buffet environment, plainclothes followers might enter the buffet. The probability of causing trouble might actually decrease.

“The menu’s decided.”

Honestly, I thought today’s outing would be fun. Going out, eating with a mage, and having a little fun. But it’s less fun than I expected.

Once I actually brought Hasti out, I kept reminding myself that she’s a monster who could cause a catastrophe at any moment.

It’s not that Hasti caused any problems or made things uncomfortable. It’s just that my mindset was tense like that.

Hasti smiled faintly.

****

Meanwhile.

Dr. Chae was looking around.

“Dr. Chae. There are a lot of plainclothes followers behind us. Did you guys send them? Or should we shake them off?”

“It’s probably nothing.”

“Got it.”

Ahn Yuri looked around.

“Where are we going?”

“There’s only one place in the assigned area that sells the strong liquor you wanted.”

“Ah.”

“Just drink it.”

“One thing. I heard Hasti went out today too. Where is she and what’s she doing?”

“Ask her when we meet later. She’s probably having a day not much different from ours.”

“Is Hasti also hanging out with someone as boring as you? Who’s her partner?”

Dr. Chae pondered.

“She went with the Director.”

“You’re better off.”

“Hmm. Sure. Let’s have a drink later. I’ll pick the menu.”

****

Hasti still looked happy.

The buffet was better than expected.

Even though the plainclothes escorts had to move due to the sudden schedule change, it was within the expected range and manageable.

That aside.

I thought something would go wrong today, but surprisingly, nothing happened. I did hear that Ahn Yuri noticed the tailing, but anyone who’s not a fool would notice that.

“Eat anything?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… interesting.”

Maybe it’s because of the new environment, or maybe the Humanoid Research Department staff did something to make her cooperative, or maybe it’s to evoke sympathy.

Hasti felt even more like a child today. To the point where I felt sorry for treating her like a lab rat until now.

“Anyway, enjoy your meal.”

“Okay!”

I quietly sighed.

“Miss Hasti, is this your first time out?”

“Well, yes. This is the first time I’ve crossed dimensions, and I was captured as soon as I arrived.”

What should I say to smoothly move past this?

“Since you’re out today, have fun. I wasn’t planning to talk about work anyway.”

“I don’t hold any grudges.”

Hasti was mumbling something. Still, it’s good that she’s eating well. There’s no guarantee that otherworldly food would suit her taste, right?

****

Ahn Yuri and Dr. Chae were sitting awkwardly. After a few minutes of silence, Dr. Chae rummaged through his bag and pulled something out.

“I didn’t know you were a drinker, Returnee. But I brought this just in case.”

“What is it?”

“This.”

“I’m not a drinker. It’s just that I couldn’t have a drink in the containment room, so it crossed my mind.”

Ahn Yuri tilted her head.

“It’s wine I got from those annoying Foundation guys. They said it’s worth ten million won per bottle.”

“Ah.”

It’s wine that Pluto Limited Company employees sent as a gift to the Director. Director Kim doesn’t like alcohol, and even if he did, he wouldn’t touch anything from those guys…

In the end, Dr. Chae got a bottle.

It’s not like you can kill Dr. Chae with a wine bottle. Who’s going to give you anything if you don’t drink it? When else would you get to drink a ten-million-won wine?

Dr. Chae slowly poured the wine into a glass. Ahn Yuri looked at him. A moment later, the glass was half full.

“I won’t drink, but you go ahead, Returnee.”

“Why aren’t you drinking?”

“I can’t drink while on duty.”

The Returnee nodded.

“Does it taste different?”

“Not sure. Pour me another.”

Dr. Chae nodded.

****

I’m bad at small talk.

At least, small talk with people I’ve half-killed. What kind of casual conversation can I have with Hasti… Did the skull I crushed with an extension tool heal well?

Honestly, it’s a bit weird.

It’s a good thing Hasti doesn’t seem to mind.

“What’s this?”

“I ordered you an affogato. Ice cream with espresso. Eat it with a spoon.”

“Hmm, thanks.”

Hasti tilted the cup, slowly pouring the espresso over the ice cream.

We couldn’t let her go out in the patient clothes from the containment wing. So Hasti and the Returnee were dressed in hoodies and jeans.

To the surroundings, they’d look like perfectly ordinary people. Their behavior was a bit unusual, though.

They’re not carrying phones or anything. They’re looking around like they’ve never seen the place before. Well, it’s true that they haven’t.

“If you want, Miss Hasti, I can get you a resident registration card. For the next time you go out…”

“I’d appreciate that.”

Hasti poked the affogato with a small spoon. Her expression unchanged from before.

“This world is fascinating. It’s abundant, isn’t it? Can ordinary people here live like we are today?”

“They usually work.”

“It’s a day off.”

In our country, that’s how it is.

“That aside… everything outside the window must be Dr. Kim’s kingdom. There’s no place the Foundation’s hand doesn’t reach.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

Hasti looked out the window.

“I wonder. Does anyone know my name? Is the Foundation’s flag hanging anywhere? A king in the shadows remains only in the shadows.”

“That’s real power. Not names or symbols, but the pure power to have everyone under your feet.”

Is that so…

Sometimes I realize it.

Hasti is, above all else, an extremely dangerous humanoid supernatural phenomenon.

Beneath her girlish appearance and speech lies an apostle and sage of ancient gods. We still consider it a manageable issue, though.

“What are we doing after the café?”

“Drinking coffee? We’ll watch a movie. It’s like a play, but instead of actors, they project light onto a screen to show images.”

“I know what it is.”

Well, there are screens in the Humanoid Containment Wing too. TVs, tablets. It’s better to have something to pass the time.

I nodded.

****

[Two Lures. Operation Report]

[Author: Retrieval Team 3 Section Chief]

[The operation proceeded smoothly.]

[There was no sign of anyone trying to abduct the two humanoid supernatural phenomena. No similar intelligence came in either.]

[The Precognition Department also said nothing would happen during this operation. Of course, we don’t take their word at face value.]

[I didn’t think there was any possibility of that happening. I doubt there’s any hostile group bold enough to approach Director Kim’s vicinity. And exposing themselves to public authority is another matter.]

[I question whether we need to go this far for the humanoid supernatural phenomena.]

[Was the goal of using them as bait for hostile groups just a lie? To quell dissatisfaction with the operation.]

[It’s a wise plan, though.]

****

[Observation Results of Two Lures]

[Author: Dr. An]

[Neither Miss Hasti nor Miss Ahn Yuri showed any signs of trying to escape. Well, escaping from the Foundation’s containment room might be easier than running away with the Director or Dr. Chae right next to you.]

[That’s reasonable.]

[I did think it was a bit much. It’s a waste of resources to keep two hostile humanoid supernatural phenomena.]

[I think today’s operation was the right thing to do, both practically and humanely.]

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