Editor’s Survival Guide - Chapter 49

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Editor’s Survival Rules Episode 49

 

ep9. Identifying the Fake (10)

 

“How did you get here?”

 

I asked because I was genuinely happy to see her.

 

But for some reason, Baek Sa-ra looked at me and let out a big sigh.

 

“Inappropriate.”

 

“What do you mean inappropriate?”

 

“Why are you acting like a host greeting guests?”

 

Oh, was that a bit strange?

 

After living here for about a week, I unconsciously…

 

When I belatedly recognized the strangeness, Baek Sa-ra sighed again and said.

 

“You should come out when told to come out. Or at least do things moderately and then come out. What if you get hurt doing this?”

 

At the instructor’s reproach, I briefly read the room.

 

Then I subtly expressed my opinion.

 

“I think I’m actually quite strong now though.”

 

“No way.”

 

Baek Sa-ra laughed like an iron wall, as if it was absurd.

 

I took that opportunity to subtly change the subject.

 

“But really, how did you come here?”

 

“I got permission to come. Agent deployment approval came through an hour ago.”

 

Baek Sa-ra answered while opening her bag.

 

Then she took out a rustling paper bag and handed it to me.

 

A somehow warm paper bag.

 

When I opened it without knowing why, inside was a hamburger set.

 

“…!”

 

“I came in a hurry so I just bought something quickly. …Otter seems more happy about that than seeing me.”

 

My expression must have been too earnest, as Baek Sa-ra muttered while looking at me.

 

No, of course I’m happy about both.

 

It’s just different territories.

 

Ms. Baek Sa-ra is someone I should greet while maintaining social dignity, but the hamburger set is an object my primal desires are allowed to target!

 

I was almost overwhelmed by the surging appetite, then came to my senses again and said.

 

“But eating this all by myself…”

 

“What’s wrong with that? Compared to all the hardship Otter has endured, this much isn’t even a privilege.”

 

Choi Sang-eun went through that hardship together too.

 

Choi Sang-eun is even still in rookie training right now.

 

“The person named Choi Sang-eun will leave today, and he can eat something more delicious outside, so hurry up and eat. …It’s too late even if you look at me with those eyes now.”

 

Baek Sa-ra spoke as if it was ridiculous, but I was truly grateful to Baek Sa-ra.

 

So I didn’t decline further and took out the hamburger to eat.

 

The taste of civilization felt after so long…

 

“Otter is also leaving today.”

 

Baek Sa-ra said while watching me eat the hamburger.

 

“When Otter leaves, I’ll capture that contaminated one.”

 

Baek Sa-ra, sitting on the sofa, slightly lifted her voluminous skirt.

 

Quite ominously, a large knife was tied to Baek Sa-ra’s calf.

 

I was momentarily surprised by that sight, then smiled.

 

“That puts my mind at ease.”

 

Really reassuring.

 

At first I wondered why only Baek Sa-ra came alone.

 

Even dressed up prettily.

 

But thinking about it again, this was right.

 

This “National Theater” has many restrictions on firearm use because of “Alpha” and “Delta”.

 

Moreover, that Teddy Bear has intense antipathy toward the Management Bureau and Cha Si-eon.

 

In this situation, deploying armed agents would be out of the question.

 

So the most suitable for the current situation would be Baek Sa-ra, who specializes in close combat and is also skilled at disguise.

 

I swallowed what was in my mouth and continued speaking.

 

“It usually takes about two hours from when we catch the ‘fake human’ until we leave. We teach the newcomers about ‘fake humans’ and then move. But today, since Mr. Choi Sang-eun and I are also leaving, we’ll need other handovers too, so it might take a bit longer. Will that be okay?”

 

If I don’t leave quickly, Baek Sa-ra’s waiting time will be that much longer too.

 

So I was asking for understanding, but Baek Sa-ra stared at me intently.

 

Then she asked as if truly curious.

 

“Why do you go that far, Otter?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Some people say it’s because you’re drunk on money. Is that right?”

 

“Drunk on money?”

 

“As of yesterday, you rescued 9 citizens. That would all be included in performance bonuses too, right?”

 

“Oh…!”

 

I hadn’t even thought about this, but performance bonuses would come in again?

 

Maybe I could buy a house in Seoul soon?

 

When I was startled, Baek Sa-ra chuckled as if she knew it.

 

Then she added again.

 

“There’s also talk that you’re too absorbed in playing hero.”

 

“That’s really not it though…”

 

At such an absurd statement, I just laughed.

 

Playing hero? As I said again, what I did wasn’t anything special.

 

If I had spent my own money it might be different, but I readily used the Management Bureau’s budget for the money too.

 

“I just did what I could do since I knew the situation here.”

 

“I thought that would be the case. But just because you do something with good intentions doesn’t mean everyone sees it favorably.”

 

“Do they need to see it favorably? The people watching are just outsiders who only watch anyway.”

 

“If you put it that way, the people here are outsiders too, aren’t they?”

 

“Hmm, that’s true.”

 

At my quick agreement, Baek Sa-ra let out a deep sigh.

 

Then she asked back in a much lower voice.

 

“Then at the ‘Train Station’ too, you just did what you could do?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Giving the ticket to Lee Sol. Was that also ‘something you could do’?”

 

I thought for a moment, then answered.

 

“That’s closer to ‘something I ended up doing’.”

 

“Hah…”

 

At my answer, Baek Sa-ra sighed and cupped her chin with both hands.

 

She stayed in that position looking somewhat sullen, then muttered as if to herself.

 

“Inappropriate.”

 

“What now…”

 

“That my life’s savior is someone who does that for just anyone.”

 

Baek Sa-ra looked up at me with only her eyes while covering both cheeks.

 

I was quite flustered by her somehow coy gaze.

 

What should I say to this?

 

“Would you like some french fries?”

 

It was something I said mustering up courage, but whether it backfired, Baek Sa-ra’s sighs only got deeper.

 

I was tactfully finishing the hamburger in front of her when.

 

A sound that shattered the rare peace came from my smartwatch.

 

-Mr. Seo Do-un.

 

Cha Si-eon’s voice.

 

-Kim Hae-seong discovered Mr. Seo Do-un’s vest in the performance hall.

 

Vest? Ah, the one I took off on the first day…!

 

Damn, I couldn’t retrieve it so I just shoved it under a performance hall chair!

 

“How did he find that now?”

 

-It seems he was trying to steal wallets and such from citizens who died in the performance hall.

 

This bastard, he’s doing all sorts of things because he’s desperate.

 

Baek Sa-ra, who had also become serious, asked Cha Si-eon.

 

“What should we do?”

 

-Kim Hae-seong’s current location is the 1st Floor Performance Hall. Since he knows the Management Bureau has been deployed, there’s a high probability he’ll occupy the performance hall as is.

 

That makes sense. There’s a rule that you can’t cause a disturbance in the performance hall.

 

But if that guy holds out there, people can’t get out.

 

The exit is at the backstage of the performance hall.

 

-Mr. Seo Do-un, go down and draw Kim Hae-seong’s attention. Baek Sa-ra, you enter through the opposite door in the meantime and subdue Kim Hae-seong.

 

“You want me to catch Kim Hae-seong in the performance hall?”

 

-If it’s not during a performance, some noise is fine.

 

Cha Si-eon answered my surprised question.

 

-Just be careful not to dirty the performance hall or damage any equipment.

 

I wish that were as easy as it sounds.

 

I have no choice but to trust Ms. Baek Sa-ra.

 

“Otter, wait a moment.”

 

As I hurriedly stood up, Baek Sa-ra called out to stop me.

 

Then she took something out from under her skirt and handed it to me.

 

An object that gave me a strange sense of déjà vu.

 

It was a pistol.

 

* * *

 

I entered the performance hall through the side door.

 

The empty performance hall with soft lighting coming down.

 

Teddy Bear was standing on that stage.

 

And he was on a phone call with someone.

 

“Please give me one more chance, hyung-nim… Please just once more, I really have nowhere else to go now…”

 

Teddy Bear, who had been pleading desperately, turned toward me at the sound.

 

Then, without hanging up the phone, he asked me.

 

“Are you really a Management Bureau guy…?”

 

Rustle-

 

The guy asked while lifting up my vest.

 

A voice filled more with fear than hostility.

 

“Hyung-nim says he’s going to kill you.”

 

Teddy Bear muttered in terror.

 

“He says he’ll kill you by any means necessary. He says he’ll never leave you alone…”

 

A threat full of malice.

 

Why? What did I do?

 

Because I interfered with your business?

 

It wasn’t business to begin with but unjust exploitation, and you’re angry that your money-making was interfered with?

 

It’s all bullshit from start to finish.

 

I ignored that bullshit and called out to Teddy Bear.

 

“Kim Hae-seong.”

 

Teddy Bear, Kim Hae-seong, flinched when his name was called.

 

“Stop this now. You know this won’t work out well either.”

 

“…Then what should I do.”

 

Kim Hae-seong muttered in a dejected voice.

 

Then he burst out in frustration again and shouted at me.

 

“This is the only thing I can do, so what should I do! You didn’t do anything while I was becoming like this, so why are you only giving me shit now! Fuck!”

 

Sharp tentacles poured out from under Kim Hae-seong’s costume.

 

I couldn’t tell if he was trying to vent his anger on me or take me hostage.

 

However, one thing was certain: this was Kim Hae-seong’s last chance.

 

Just as Kim Hae-seong’s tentacles were about to fly toward me.

 

Swish-!

 

Baek Sa-ra appeared behind Kim Hae-seong and slashed his throat with a knife.

 

“Urgh…!”

 

Kim Hae-seong staggered in confusion and blood gushed from his throat.

 

Drip drip-

 

Baek Sa-ra caught all the falling blood with her skirt.

 

Then she stabbed Kim Hae-seong’s body repeatedly again.

 

Stab stab stab stab-!

 

Kim Hae-seong shook helplessly against the mercilessly piercing blade.

 

“Ugh, aaaaah…!”

 

Kim Hae-seong screamed while coughing up blood.

 

Whoosh-!

 

Kim Hae-seong’s tentacles cut through the air and flew toward Baek Sa-ra.

 

Baek Sa-ra lightly rolled her body to dodge.

 

When Baek Sa-ra, who had briefly retreated, kicked off the floor and charged again, the terrified Kim Hae-seong made the worst mistake.

 

Crash-!

 

The tentacles trying to catch Baek Sa-ra struck down on the stage floor.

 

Crack-!

 

The hard tentacles pierced straight through the wooden floor, and we froze instantly.

 

“Ugh, aaaah…”

 

Flash- Flash- Flash-!

 

Lights turned on toward Kim Hae-seong who realized his mistake.

 

“S-save me…”

 

Thunk-!

 

A bolt that flew from somewhere pierced through Kim Hae-seong’s throat.

 

Kim Hae-seong collapsed.

 

Lightly like paper blown by the wind, and quietly.

 

“Contaminator Kim Hae-seong, silenced.”

 

As the light illuminating Kim Hae-seong gradually went out, Baek Sa-ra muttered into her earpiece.

 

Then, as she approached to check Kim Hae-seong’s corpse.

 

-Are you Baek Sa-ra?

 

A strange man’s voice echoed from Kim Hae-seong’s hand.

 

It was the sound coming from the smartphone Kim Hae-seong was holding, still on a call.

 

Baek Sa-ra, who had been accurately identified, stopped dead in her tracks.

 

-I heard rumors and it was really true. You look good, hey.

 

“Who are you?”

 

-Hey, don’t you remember oppa’s voice? That’s disappointing. We used to hang out together, you know. In that place soaked with blood.

 

Sharp venom appeared in Baek Sa-ra’s eyes.

 

What? Do they really know each other?

 

-Anyway, you really did a proper identity laundering, you monster-like thing. Don’t the Management Bureau guys know? That you killed your own sister…

 

Baek Sa-ra tried to snatch that smartphone with a murderous expression.

 

-Don’t come closer!

 

That’s when Cha Si-eon shouted, and Baek Sa-ra belatedly hesitated.

 

At that critical moment, the smartphone exploded.

 

Bang-!

 

“Ugh…!”

 

Sharp fragments flew toward Baek Sa-ra.

 

Still, thanks to stopping her steps at the last moment, she avoided serious injury.

 

However, a new problem arose.

 

Pat- Pat- Pat-!

 

Did it judge that this explosion was Baek Sa-ra’s doing?

 

The lights focused on Baek Sa-ra.

 

Pak-!

 

The firing sound followed.

 

But as soon as the light turned on, Baek Sa-ra rolled her body to dodge.

 

The light chased after her when the snipe failed.

 

Pababaak-!

 

Baek Sa-ra dodged the flying bolts one after another and ran toward the exit.

 

But when Baek Sa-ra tried to leave the performance hall, the light suddenly went out.

 

Thump thump thump thump thump-!

 

Instead, heavy footsteps echoed.

 

Kwang-!

 

Something that fell from above blocked Baek Sa-ra’s path.

 

It was a man who appeared to be at least 190cm tall.

 

It was a face I knew well, but the short hair made me recognize him a bit late.

 

It was none other than Cha Si-eon.

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