Chapter 124: The Otherworlders’ Outing (２)

****

Nothing is harder than deciding what to eat. Right now, we need to pick a menu. What would Hasti want?

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

But the menu hasn’t been decided.

“Miss Hasti. What would you like to eat?”

“I don’t have any money.”

What nonsense is she talking about?

“I’ll pay, of course.”

“Oh! Then I should get something expensive.”

“Well… suit yourself.”

Foundation agents will be planted inside the building. Not many, probably. No wait, they even deployed the regular security guards, so there’s no way to know how many.

It won’t be just one or two.

“Pick whatever you want. I’m buying.”

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

“…”

That’s pitiful.

“Th-then how about we try a buffet, Miss Hasti? In an environment with everything, you can just evaluate what catches your fancy, right?”

A buffet is a difficult environment to control. The layout inevitably forces contact with an unspecified number of people. Should I change it while I still can?

“If that’s what Dr. Geum thinks is best.”

Let’s think about it the other way.

In a buffet environment, plainclothes tailing agents could come inside. The odds of something going wrong might actually drop.

“Menu’s decided, then.”

Honestly, I’d thought today’s outing would be fun. Going out, eating with a mage, taking a modest little trip around. But it was less enjoyable than I’d expected.

Now that I’d actually brought Hasti out, I kept reminding myself that she was a monster capable of causing a catastrophe at any moment.

It wasn’t that Hasti had caused any trouble or made things uncomfortable. It was just that my own mindset was wound up that way.

Hasti smiled faintly.

****

Meanwhile.

Dr. Chae was glancing around.

“Dr. Chae. There’s a ton of plainclothes tailing us behind. Did your people put them there? Or should we catch them, or shake them off?”

“It’s nothing to worry about.”

“Got it.”

An Yuri looked around.

“Where are we going?”

“Within the designated area, there’s only one place that sells the baijiu you wanted.”

“Ah-ha.”

“Just drink.”

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

“Ask her when we meet up later. I imagine she’s spending a day not much different from ours.”

“Is Hasti stuck with someone as boring as you too? Who’s her partner?”

Dr. Chae hesitated.

“She went with the Director.”

“You’re better.”

“Mm. If you say so. I’ll pour you a drink later. I’ll pick the menu for you.”

****

Hasti still looked cheerful.

The buffet was better than expected.

The plainclothes escorts had to reposition because of the sudden schedule change, but that was within expected parameters and fully manageable.

That aside.

I’d expected something to go wrong today, but surprisingly, nothing happened. I did hear word that An Yuri had noticed the tail, but only an idiot wouldn’t.

“You’ll eat anything?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… How fascinating.”

Was it because of the unfamiliar environment, because the Humanoid Division researchers had done something to make her obedient, or was it to elicit sympathy?

Hasti felt more like a little child today than ever. So much so that I felt guilty for treating her like a lab mouse all this time.

“Anyway, enjoy your meal.”

“I will!”

I let out a quiet sigh.

“This is your first time out, isn’t it, Miss Hasti?”

“Well, yes. This is my first time crossing dimensions, and I got captured the moment I arrived.”

What would be a safe answer to move past this smoothly?

“Well, you’re out today. Have fun and go back. I wasn’t planning on talking shop anyway.”

“I hold no lingering grudges.”

Hasti was chewing on something. Still, at least she’s eating well. It’s not like there was any guarantee she’d like the food of this world, right?

****

An Yuri and Dr. Chae sat in awkward silence. After a few minutes, Dr. Chae rummaged through her bag and pulled something out.

“I didn’t know the Returnee was a drinker. Still, I brought this just in case.”

“What is it?”

“This.”

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

An Yuri tilted her head.

“It’s wine I got from those creepy painter bastards. They said it’s ten million won a bottle.”

“Ah.”

It was liquor the Pluto LLC employees sent to the Director as a gift. Director Geum didn’t like alcohol, and even if she had, she’d made it clear she’d never touch anything those bastards gave her…

In the end. Dr. Chae took one bottle.

It wasn’t like a wine bottle could kill Dr. Chae anyway. And who was going to complain if she didn’t drink it? When would she ever get to try ten-million-won liquor?

Dr. Chae slowly poured the wine into a glass. An Yuri watched her. After a moment. The glass was about half full.

“I won’t be drinking, but please, Returnee, help yourself.”

“Why aren’t you drinking?”

“I can’t drink while on duty.”

The Returnee nodded.

“Does it taste different?”

“No idea. Pour me another.”

Dr. Chae nodded.

****

I’m bad at small talk.

At least, I’m bad at small talk with people I’ve nearly killed. What kind of casual conversation could I have with Hasti… *Has the skull I stabbed with a tool healed well?*

Honestly, it’s a bit weird.

At least Hasti doesn’t seem to be thinking about it.

“What’s this?”

“I ordered you an affogato. Ice cream with espresso. Use the spoon.”

“Mm, thank you.”

Hasti tilted the cup and slowly poured the espresso over the ice cream.

They couldn’t exactly bring her out in the patient gowns from the containment wing, so Hasti and the Returnee had been dressed in hoodies and jeans.

To anyone watching, they’d look like perfectly ordinary civilians. Their behavior was a bit unusual, though.

For one, they carried no phones, nothing. And they kept looking around as if they’d never seen any of this before. Well, to be fair, they really hadn’t.

“If Miss Hasti would like, I can have a resident registration card made for you. In case there’s a next time you come out…”

“Then I’d be grateful.”

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

“This world is fascinating. Should I call it abundant? Can all the ordinary people here live like we are today?”

“They’d be working on a normal day.”

“On their days off.”

That’s how it is in our country.

“Speaking of which… everything visible outside that window must be Dr. Geum’s kingdom. There’s nowhere the Foundation’s reach doesn’t extend.”

“I don’t think of it that way.”

“Why not?”

Hasti looked out the window.

“I wonder. Is there anyone who knows my name, any flag of the Foundation hanging anywhere? A king of the shadows ultimately dwells only in the shadows.”

“That’s what real power is. Not a name or a symbol, but the pure, unadulterated power to have everyone beneath your feet.”

Is that so…

Sometimes I’m reminded.

That Hasti, setting everything else aside, is an extremely dangerous humanoid anomaly.

Beneath the girlish appearance and speech lies an apostle of the ancient gods, a great sage. Though I still consider her a manageable problem.

“After the café, what are you doing?”

“After coffee? We’re going to watch a movie. It’s like a play, except instead of actors, they project light onto a screen to show images.”

“I know what that is.”

True enough — the humanoid containment wing has plenty of screens. Televisions, tablets, that sort of thing. Having something to pass the time with, even a little, makes things better.

I nodded.

****

[Operation Two Lures. Mission Report]

[Filed by: Section Chief, Recovery Division 3]

[The operation proceeded without issue.]

[There was no indication whatsoever that anyone intended to seize the two humanoid anomalies. No similar intelligence came in either.]

[The Precognition Division did say nothing would happen during this operation. Of course, we don’t take the Precognition Division’s word at face value.]

[We considered it unlikely regardless. It’s doubtful any Group of Interest has the nerve to approach Director Geum’s vicinity. There’s also the exposure to public authority to consider.]

[I do question whether going this far for the humanoid anomalies is necessary.]

[The stated goal of a bait operation for Groups of Interest was just talk, wasn’t it? To quiet complaints about the operation.]

[It’s a wise plan, though.]

****

[Operation Two Lures — Observation Results]

[Filed by: Dr. Ahn]

[Neither Miss Hasti nor Miss An Yuri showed any attempt to escape. Though, to be fair, escaping from a Foundation containment cell might be easier than running away with the Director or Dr. Chae right beside you.]

[That’s the rational view.]

[Still, I had my reservations. Keeping two hostile humanoid anomalies contained is a serious waste of resources.]

[I believe today’s operation was the right call on multiple fronts. Both practically and humanely.]