Don't Feed the Professor! - Chapter 48

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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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Amelie:
‘Don’t look straight ahead’……. Could that have meant not to look at the camera?
BB:
What?
Amelie:
Nothing. Anyway, how far did we get?
Amelie opens the Bedroom and Guest Room doors in turn.
Both are spacious, refined, and beautiful.
Much like their owner, Canaria.
Amelie:
(gazing into empty space) Hm.
BB watches her with a puzzled expression.
Amelie opens the Study door.
At the sight of the Study’s interior, both Amelie and BB let out a gasp of wonder.
Amelie:
……I’ve never gasped at anything before.
BB:
(watches Amelie with a bewildered look)
Canaria:
Ha ha, a bit embarrassing. To make an excuse, I didn’t decorate it like this myself.
Amelie:
Sorry? Then…….
Canaria:
Everyone assumes actors are full of narcissism. But even I wouldn’t plaster my Study with posters of my own work.
BB:
When the Agency requested that we move in, the Nest Building already knew about Canaria. By the time she arrived, it was already……like this.
Amelie:
So they’re fans?
Canaria:
(face reddening) Ha ha.
Watching Canaria’s bashful demeanor, Amelie understands.
Ah, seeing such genuine innocence and that beautiful smile—any being would become a fan.
Amelie:
(gives a soft laugh)
The three of them cross the Living Room again and stand before the Emergency Exit.
The camera follows them.
Amelie:
(pointing to the Emergency Exit door, to Canaria) Where does this door lead? It looks locked.
Canaria:
(smiling) That’s not a door.
Amelie:
Sorry?
Canaria:
It doesn’t open. It shouldn’t be opened either. So it’s not really a door at all.
BB:
You read the regulations handbook.
Amelie:
That’s true, but…….
Amelie suddenly recalls something and turns toward the elevator.
On the wall beside the elevator, like any high-rise building, there’s a floor plan showing evacuation routes in case of fire.
BB:
(stepping closer behind Amelie) See something strange?
Amelie:
‘The Nest Building promises eternal safety and peace to authorized residents. In exchange, residents may not leave their dwelling without the building’s consent.’
What exactly does ‘dwelling’ refer to?
BB:
The assigned unit, obviously.
Amelie:
That’s just what the Agency inferred.
BB:
They inferred it based on actual cases.
Amelie:
You can’t call it inference when the conclusion’s already been decided.
BB:
(sighing) What’s your point?
Amelie:
(looking up at BB for a moment, then resolute) April 2nd, 201○. External Agent Yoon ○ Il, conducting reconnaissance around the Nest Building, received the building’s summons and entered the Lobby.
BB:
(looks at Amelie in shock)
Amelie:
Yoon ○ Il had concealed his identity as a member of the pseudo-religious group Cheongsin Truth Research Association and volunteered for regular expeditions. Seeking a place to hide amid internal conflicts within the group, Yoon ○ Il accepted the Nest Building’s proposal and moved into the 8th Floor.
BB:
You memorized all of that?
Amelie:
Shortly after moving into the Nest Building, Yoon ○ Il learned of a rival’s death and attempted to escape the residence to return to reality. Below are the attempts recorded in Yoon ○ Il’s journal.
April 14th: Attempted to summon the elevator during a lapse in surveillance, but immediately entered a Trance State and became immobile.
April 17th: Through a transaction with Entity Classification Number A7802, purchased an item called Mind-Alert Gum at the Black Market within the fortress.
Canaria:
(admiringly) That’s impressive. Have you considered starting an acting career?
Amelie:
(embarrassed) I can only memorize things by rote.
Anyway, continuing: that same afternoon, Yoon ○ Il successfully boarded the elevator. But the moment the elevator left the 8th Floor, contact with the Agency was severed.
April 21st: The regular expedition team discovered Yoon ○ Il’s remains—or rather, what was left of them—inside the Nest Building’s elevator.
BB:
I understand you have an excellent memory. But what does any of this have to do with us right now?
Amelie:
Yoon ○ Il entered a Trance State the moment he approached the elevator. What’s odd is that once he actually boarded it, he faced no resistance.
BB:
No resistance……, but all that remained was a sternum and part of the scalp.
Amelie:
True. But he left a clear audio recording before the elevator left the 8th Floor.
BB:
What on earth…….
Amelie:
Miss Canaria, you said earlier that this place is your ‘stage’, correct?
Canaria:
Yes, I did.
Amelie:
Is it possible you were unconsciously thinking of this apartment as a kind of stage set?
Canaria:
That could be. Is there a problem with that?
Amelie:
Not a problem, exactly…….
Amelie steps toward the Emergency Exit.
She looks directly at the camera once more.
Amelie:
It’s a Setup.
Canaria:
A Setup?
Amelie:
We were all making one small mistake. When we arrived on the 12th Floor, the very first thing we saw was S#1—a Scene Number.
Canaria:
A Scene Number? (realization dawning) Then could it be…….
Amelie:
Exactly. (pointing at empty air before her) This isn’t a play—it’s a script for film.
BB:
I don’t follow.
Amelie:
We’re inside a movie right now, not a play.
BB:
(furrowing his brow) I know the Viewer enjoys role-play. My point is, what does that have to do with us? A movie or a play…….
Amelie:
There’s a huge difference! Miss Canaria thought of this apartment as a single unified stage. But in a film, there are no stage sets.
You can skip across any space depending on how the story flows!
BB:
But that still…….
Amelie:
The bigger difference is this.
Amelie points at the camera.
But BB and Canaria still look bewildered.
Amelie:
(smiling) I’ve been studying film theory recently. There’s a rule called Setup and Payoff—any Setup presented early in a story must be resolved.
See how the camera has already given this Emergency Exit a close-up twice?
Amelie……knocks on the Emergency Exit.
Amelie:
Which means this can’t possibly have no function.
…….
…….
……Something annoying came in.
Amelie:
Hm?
Click. The Emergency Exit door opens.
* * *
[Conversation Record with Entity Classification Number A7802, commonly known as The Viewer.]
※ Internal Agent A was at that time negotiating with The Viewer to entrust the safety of Lee ○ Young, who was under Witness Protection Program protection, and the record contains a dispute over entrustment conditions between the two parties.
※ This record was directly transmitted into the recording medium and subsequently partially decrypted after reception.
Internal Agent A: “So you are in agreement?”
The Viewer: “Comprehension impossible.”
Internal Agent A: “What I am requesting is an entrustment. Not permanent possession.”
The Viewer: “Difference in perspective. Cohabitation by agreement. Lee ○ Young’s affirmative intent.”
Internal Agent A: “You’re asking for the entrustment target’s consent?”
(Indecipherable section partially removed – 47 seconds)
The Viewer: “Conversation with Lee ○ Young. Request direct and exclusive dialogue.”
Internal Agent A: “‘Dialogue’……?”
The Viewer: “Face-to-face dialogue. Promise appropriate and peaceful conversation. Wish to see Lee ○ Young smile. Will permanently record and preserve alongside Lee ○ Young’s song.”
Internal Agent A: “……Further discussion of entrustment details may be possible later.”
The Viewer: “Have observed Lee ○ Young for a long time. Exceptionally, extraordinarily beautiful life form. This request from the ‘Agency’ is like fate.”
(Recording gap – 08 seconds)
(Indecipherable section partially removed – 2 minutes 39 seconds)

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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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