a-1 - Murder in Wonderland

Ah. I had another weird dream.

The heroine crawled out of bed weakly and turned off the alarm.

As always, it was a dream so realistic it was almost eerie.

When you're in the middle of a dream, all five senses are so vivid that you can't even doubt whether it's a dream. (Strictly speaking, you don't remember the sensations themselves, but rather "the fact that you felt that way.")

But waking up like this made me feel like I was floating, as if it was a dream.

It's not that the memories are vague, but they all lack realism. (The fact that the lizard speaks is clear evidence that the dream wasn't realistic.)

It's close to the feeling of watching a movie or reading a novel.

No matter how clearly you feel it, you must be aware that it is not reality.

By the way, why do I only dream of a world inhabited by such insane people and animals?

I know a lot about that world, but I can't remember where it is.

While dreaming, you don't even wonder, 'Where am I?'

Well, it's a dream, so anything can happen.

People often say we forget our dreams immediately after waking, but I still remember them. The feeling of reality fades, but the events that occurred remain vivid in my mind.

Is this a special caisson?

I've been having this dream all my life lately. Is this something I dream about every day? No way.

I dreamed of that world yesterday. It's impossible to have the same dream two days in a row.

The day before yesterday... I had a dream about that world.

How was it the other day?

I feel like I dreamed of that world, though I have no proof.

…..

The heroine suddenly became anxious.

Is this okay? Is it okay?

I don't know much about psychology, but I've heard that recurring dreams have meaning.

Clearly, that world is a symbol of my unconscious, and it may have a very important meaning. That's why my unconscious is trying to tell me this.

So when did you start having this dream?

Hmm... I think I've been dreaming this for quite some time, but it's hard to pinpoint the exact moment.

Now, let's change perspective. Are there any other dreams you remember besides this one?

…..

I can't think of anything.

Have I ever had any other dreams besides that one?

No matter what, that doesn't make sense. I just don't remember right now.

The heroine bit her lip.

It's just a dream, but it's so disturbing. If I had known this would happen, I should have kept a dream diary.

Yeah, dream diary.

Should I start writing it down now? It might yield some meaningful results.

The heroine searched through the bookshelf and took out a random notebook.

[May 25 - The White Rabbit runs. He hears the secret message from Bill: "The Snark was a sack." Humpty Dumpty is murdered.]

What does it mean that "Snack was a dot"? Snack, being a dot, has been and will always be a dot.

… No. If I were to try to make sense of every one of Bill's idiotic words, 24 hours wouldn't be enough.

Oops, time... If I don't hurry, I might be really late. Did you reserve the experimental equipment for today?

The female protagonist fed the hamster she was raising and hurried out of the room.

When the heroine arrived at the university lab, the building was strangely chaotic.

Employees whose faces you normally rarely see walked up and down the hallway, and strangers and police officers were also seen.

김여주

What's going on?

The female protagonist asked Dino, a graduate student one year older than her.

디노

I heard that Professor Woo Ji's lab's D8 passed away.

김여주

to?

The heroine couldn't believe her ears. She hadn't been particularly close to The Eight, but hearing the news that someone who had been alive and well until yesterday had suddenly died was a shock.

디노

I was surprised too.

김여주

By any chance... death from overwork... (carefully)

디노

It's not surprising that I'd think that way, since I always have dark circles and a gloomy aura around me. But no. It's a fall.

김여주

Crash? Like a plane crash?

디노

(whispering) I fell off the roof.

김여주

Surely not, suicide..?

디노

Well, that's under investigation, but witnesses say he was sitting on the edge of the roof swinging his legs.

김여주

Are there any witnesses?

디노

Yeah. They said they called an ambulance right away, but it was already too late.. I guess the area was a bit chaotic for a while because the ambulances and police cars came.

Hasn't something similar happened recently?

The heroine suddenly had an idea.

What was it?

디노

It's definitely not suicide.

김여주

why?

디노

He's not the type of person to commit suicide, is he?

김여주

I'm not that close with Mr. D8...

디노

Mr. D8 is indifferent. He's not interested in what's going on around him. Sitting on the edge of the rooftop is typical of him. Perhaps he didn't think it was dangerous.

김여주

Do you think it was an accident caused by carelessness?

디노

My thoughts are... Anyway, I don't think today is the right time to experiment.

김여주

Huh? That's really tricky. I reserved the deposition device today. If not today, it'll be available in three weeks.

디노

I understand your circumstances, but I received a message today saying the experiment is being suspended. (Shows his text messages)

김여주

Sigh... I guess it won't work at night either?

디노

Nighttime experiments require permission. Even if you apply now, it won't be possible until tonight.

김여주

I'm screwed. I don't think I'll be able to make it to the conference presentation date.

디노

Hmm... Then try asking someone else who has a reservation this week to borrow it. Maybe someone else has some spare time.

Dino comforted the dead heroine.

김여주

Hmm... I'll try that. Thanks.

디노

No, what? What did I do for you?

The heroine decided to go around the lab and ask people who seemed like they would give in after looking at the reservation list Dino had given her.

In every lab I went to, students and researchers were muttering about Dietz's death.

But right now, the only thoughts on the experiment were on the heroine's mind. She felt sorry for Mr. D8, but she had no time to mourn his death.

김여주

You reserved a deposition device for Thursday. Could you share it with me? I absolutely need it for a conference presentation.

Yeoju asked a graduate student from another lab.

Sorry. I'm also under pressure. What's with the conference presentation? My doctoral dissertation is due soon.

김여주

Does anyone know if their schedule is flexible?

Leisure? That kind of person... Oh, not really...

김여주

Anyone is fine. Right now, I'm not in a position to be picky about whether it's hot or cold water.

Well, if that's the case, I know someone who feels relaxed.

김여주

Do you have the time or not?

Well, he's a bit of a weirdo.

김여주

Who is it?

Wonwoo, Jeon Wonwoo. No?

I know his name. We're in the same grade, but we're not that close because we transferred midway through from different departments.

Now that I think about it, I think I felt somewhat relaxed in that relaxed atmosphere.

김여주

Let me ask you this first. Do you know where you are now?

I don't know about that. But I think it'd be best to find him quickly. As far as I know, he was on good terms with Mr. D8, so I think the police are looking for him too.

Well, there's no time. We have to find it before the police do.

김여주

Thank you! I'll be going now!

The heroine hurriedly went out to find Wonwoo.

Luckily, Wonwoo was able to find it quickly.

He was blankly watching TV in the restaurant.

김여주

Jeon Won-woo!

Yeoju found Wonwoo and ran to him, calling him in a loud voice.

Wonwoo slowly turned towards the female lead and tilted his head slightly.

김여주

Hi? You reserved a sand deposition device, right? Can you give it to me?

Wonwoo tilted his head again.

김여주

Does your throat hurt?

원우

To think about it.

김여주

what?

원우

Various things. First, reserve the device. Yeah. I'm probably going to use the deposition device the day after tomorrow.

김여주

Maybe? It's the day after tomorrow, so why are you so vague?

원우

Because tomorrow is the day after tomorrow. I'm already busy with just what I have to do today.

김여주

..What are you watching on TV right now?

원우

One of the things to do today.

김여주

Can I just relax and watch TV?

원우

Why? Is something so urgent that you can't watch TV?

김여주

Um... I heard your close friend... died.

원우

hmm?

Wonwoo tilted his head again.

김여주

What else?

원우

There's one more thing to think about.

김여주

I'm talking about Mr. The8.

원우

The eight?

김여주

huh

원우

You're my close friend? That's the first time I've heard that. Maybe I've forgotten.

김여주

Then I was mistaken. I guess we were just friends.

원우

hmm..

김여주

Aren't you even friends?

원우

Well, I might have forgotten.

김여주

What do you think your relationship is with Mr. D8?

원우

Someone I know. I'm closer to him than you. At least we say hello when we run into each other in the hallway.

김여주

Didn't you say hello to me?

원우

That's a pretty difficult question. Do I even have to answer whether or not I greet you?

김여주

You don't have to. Of course, if you want to put it out, you can, but let's leave that for later.

Sigh, I feel like I've heard this kind of meaningless conversation again recently.

원우

Oh, I remembered! (Looks straight into the heroine's eyes)

김여주

What, what is it... (Avoiding eye contact, embarrassed)

원우

You are Kim Yeo-ju.

김여주

(As if in absurd) Were you thinking about that the whole time?

원우

Yeah, but there's one more thing to think about. It's more important.

김여주

Are you talking about reserving a deposition device?

원우

I already remembered that. I'm planning to use the deposition reservation window.

김여주

Can you change it for me?

원우

It's a bit tricky. I have to take care of other groups' depositions too. I wouldn't know if I were doing the experiment alone.

김여주

Ahhh... (drops head) What should I do, really...

원우

What experiment are you going to do?

The female protagonist briefly explained the details of her experiment, clutching at straws.

원우

Aha. All I have to do is form the electrodes.

김여주

Yeah, that's right.

원우

Then you can use the spitter equipment.

김여주

Spitter equipment? Isn't that a bit grand?

원우

It's grandiose, but there's no other way. If it's spitter equipment, it should be available this week.

김여주

(He relaxes and smiles slightly) You don't remember when you reserved your experiment, but you know the reservation status of other devices?

원우

(Slurringly) It's not that I didn't remember, it just took me a little while to remember.

김여주

That's it.

Certainly, since the goal is to make electrodes, using spitter equipment shouldn't be a problem. I have experience using it, so there shouldn't be any major issues.