Don't Feed the Professor! - Chapter 4

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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He sounded genuinely perplexed. His reaction caught me off guard, but since things had already come this far, I decided to simply brazen my way through.
“Absolutely not. I don’t even know what kind of person you are—how could I become your student so readily? Besides, you said all your lectures have been canceled.”
“……So what should I do about it?”
His expression barely shifted, but was I imagining it? His eyes gleamed with an odd kind of resolve.
‘What is it? Does he really want to teach that badly?’
I hesitated a moment. He had helped me, that much was true, but I couldn’t bring myself to trust him completely.
Based on Kwon Tae-hyeon’s reaction, it was certain he wasn’t human. I couldn’t discuss The Agency or the Rules Manual in front of someone like that.
“Finding a solution is…… the Administrative Office’s job, just as teaching is your job as a professor.”
“…….”
Kwon Tae-hyeon, regaining his senses, quickly backed me up.
“It would be difficult for a student to speak freely in front of a professor either. Wouldn’t it be better if you stepped out for a moment?”
Mallo stared at me intently—as if asking my opinion.
“It would be best if you returned to your office, Professor. Thank you for bringing me here.”
I waved a hand in farewell to reassure him.
Mallo looked somewhat surprised, but eventually turned to leave. Just before he stepped through the door, I caught him glancing back at me with a faint smile.
“……How did you manage that?”
The moment he vanished, Team Leader Kwon Tae-hyeon plunked down heavily into his chair and asked.
“What?”
“Just now.”
Kwon Tae-hyeon gestured toward the door through which Mallo had exited.
“That professor.”
“Ah, yes. That ‘professor.'”
He let out a scoff.
“I’d been keeping my guard up for so long while he was holed up in the basement……, but then he suddenly shows up at the Administrative Office and just walks in saying he wants to teach?”
He must have been under considerable stress—he was still sweating despite his calm exterior. I understood the feeling, but shouldn’t I be the one asking questions here?
“I’m just as clueless as you are. I only just arrived here, and I heard that strange voice in the hallway before all this…….”
“Ah, that’s right. So what exactly are you?”
“What do you mean, what am I?”
“You’re not an agent, are you? And you don’t seem to be part of the Exploration Team either. Could you possibly be…… a Drifter?”
“……Yes, I am.”
“But…… you don’t seem very surprised.”
“What are you talking about?”
Team Leader Kwon Tae-hyeon folded his arms and studied me with evident suspicion.
“The existence of the Fortress is barely known to the general public. For someone who’s supposedly stumbled into this strange space by accident, you seem far too composed.”
“……Is that really what matters right now? Do you have any idea what’s down here in the basement? I’m barely holding myself together as it is.”
“Well, fine, but how did you end up in the Fortress? Was there some kind of accident—a rail derailment, perhaps?”
“You could…… say that.”
I answered while avoiding his gaze.
It was true that the Fortress was barely known to the general public, but it was common knowledge that entering the Fortress without The Agency’s permission was a criminal offense.
I’d even heard that even if you ended up drifting there by accident, failing to report it immediately could result in a petty crime conviction and a fine.
“So, Team Leader Kwon Tae-hyeon, you’re an agent with The Agency, aren’t you? If so, could you possibly let me out of here?”
Kwon Tae-hyeon sighed.
“That’s not possible right now. As you’ve probably gathered, this isn’t a place you can simply come and go from whenever you please.”
Kwon Tae-hyeon pulled a notebook from a drawer and began flipping through it. Then he tapped a certain point repeatedly with his pen.
“The fastest exit point would be…… one week from now, by this place’s time. The conditions are a bit tricky, but it’s not impossible.”
One week.
“……And what about the Return Point?”
“With more than fifty percent probability, you’ll be returned to your point of entry.”
Which meant I’d likely end up back in that warehouse where the loan sharks had shoved me in.
I had to be careful. I’d never heard of a Forced Insertion Drifter returning safely. In other words, meeting an Agency agent in the first place was practically a stroke of luck.
If I were returned to that warehouse, I’d almost certainly be shoved back in again. Would good fortune find a person twice?
I didn’t think so.
“But Team Leader, I remember seeing something about this on the news recently—people being forced into this place. You know, how illegal loan sharks shove debtors into this strange world and make them get money to pay off their debts…….”
Kwon Tae-hyeon nodded slightly.
“Well, it’s certainly possible. There’s money in it, after all. Anyone who knows about this place would never walk in of their own accord, but…….”
“Then what happens to people like that? If they could request protection from The Agency…….”
That was when it happened.
Beep-beep-beep.
Both Kwon Tae-hyeon and I jumped at the unfamiliar sound.
I frantically searched the pocket where the sound came from. What I pulled out was something I had absolutely no memory of—a thick, flat folding phone that might have belonged to the early 2000s.
A shimmering bead strap hung from it, and below the small screen was a sticker of a yawning cat.
Carefully, I opened the folding phone. Words flickered across the green main screen.
[WELCOME BACK, AMELIE!]
“Amelie……?”
I mumbled, and Team Leader Kwon Tae-hyeon lifted his head as if startled.
“May I see that for a moment?”
He held out his hand. After a moment’s hesitation, I handed him the phone. He examined the delicate phone with his rough hands, turning it this way and that, then let out a deep sigh.
“One week won’t cut it at all.”
Saying this, he returned the phone to me.
“What do you mean…….”
“I was wondering why something seemed off. There’s no way an ordinary Drifter could walk out of an underground laboratory on their own two legs.”
“Would you explain this properly?”
Kwon Tae-hyeon checked his wristwatch and gestured toward the door with a tilt of his head.
“I’ll tell you while we walk. It’s almost Lights-Out Time.”
* * *
※ Rose Apartment Regular Exploration Team Bulletin Board ※
※ Please keep it clean. ※
[Subject: Hello, Everyone]
Hello, everyone on the Exploration Team. This is Kim Min-joo, Team Leader.
This bulletin board is meant to be used for sharing information among team members.
If you take it, please use it carefully and always return it to its proper place.
Feel free to exchange opinions, but please do not mention anything from the Rules Manual.
I check this board every Wednesday and Friday.
If there is urgent information to share or you need assistance, please consult with the nearest Resident Agent.
[Subject: Please Confirm]
Hello, this is Exploration Team Member 16, assigned to Building A of Rose Apartment.
I think some of my equipment is malfunctioning. Would it be possible to request a replacement?
The hotline isn’t working, and I’m having trouble contacting any agents.
[Subject: Is Anyone Reading This?]
I’ve already checked the bulletin board three times today, but it doesn’t seem like anyone has looked at it.
I’ll say it again: I am an Exploration Team member in Building A of Rose Apartment.
I think it’s been over a month since I arrived here. When is the exploration supposed to end?
Or has my sense of time gone wrong again? I’m no longer confident I can continue the mission.
Is the Regular Rescue Team really coming?
So far, I’ve been following the rules well, and I haven’t suffered any serious damage.
But the neighboring residents I’ve encountered recently keep calling me “dear.”
They act as if they’ve known me for a long time, but I don’t know how to respond, and there are no guidelines for this, so I’m in a difficult situation.
Yesterday, the grandmother next door called me over and asked “why don’t you ■■■■ ■■ lately,” but I don’t understand what she’s talking about.
Who should I ask, and what should I ask about?
Why doesn’t the Rules Manual have any explanation for these situations?

[Subject: To the Anonymous Exploration Team Member in Rose Apartment]
Hello, I’m Kim Sang-hoon, an Exploration Team Member assigned to the nearby Hwayoung Shopping Center.
Since the bulletin board looks old, you don’t seem to be from the same class as me, but I have no other way, so I’m leaving this message.
I think I’ve been left behind.
It’s already been a week since I’ve been unable to reach the team leader, and no agents have shown up at the rendezvous point no matter how long I wait.
I mistook the number of stairs in the shopping center and lost my Rules Manual.
I haven’t slept in two days, and my food supplies are running out.
Please, someone help me.

[Subject: Kim Sang-hoon]
Hello, this is Team Leader Kim Min-joo.
Kim Sang-hoon.
The rescue team is on the way.
Where are you right now?
Tell
me?
[Subject: This is Kim Sang-hoon]
Hello, Team Leader, this is Kim Sang-hoon again.
I’m in the guard station of Building B in Rose Apartment right now. I’m planning to wait a bit longer for rescue here.
But, Team Leader, I have a question—do there really exist things we can call “neighboring residents” in Rose Apartment?
Building A probably isn’t much different, but does something like a grandmother next door really exist?
[Subject: KimSanghoonThisisTeamLeaderKimMinjoo]
TherescueteamhasarrivedPleaseopentheodor.
Pleaseopentheodor.KimSanghoonThisisTeamLeaderKimMinjoo.Pleaseopentheodor.
[Subject: My Name Has Been Exposed]
D■fying con■■■■■■■.
B■■ter off ■■■■.
(Error)
(Error)
■■■ is expected.
■■■■ ■■. ■■■■ ■■. ■■■■.
■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■.
■■.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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