Ryomensukuna Project
Presentation
김여주
...What is this?
On the desk between me and Manager Min sat a small black knife. A matte blade, a finely carved handle, and a twisted cross-section. Could it be?
김여주
Sir, this is a survival knife.
민윤기
How, I know.
김여주
...Why are you doing this to me?
The manager washed his face dry. His slurred speech and awkward smile made me shiver.
Are you laying me off? Or are you trying to harm me?
How on earth did he get on board with a knife? Was there a check-in error, or was the company really trying to harm me?
김여주
What did I, what did I do so wrong?
민윤기
...I don't know what you're talking about,
김여주
So, I asked him if he had come with a knife to hurt me.
I want to get home safely. Fear creeps in. My hands are shaking, and the manager sighs.
His complicated speech makes him seem even more drunk than usual.
민윤기
...Pioneer headquarters decided to have our team take on the Ryomensukuna project. And here's the details.
민윤기
The Ryomensukuna Project is...
The field breathes.
민윤기
It's a project where you have to take up arms against each other... stab and injure your teammates, and some of them even die.
김여주
What do you mean?
민윤기
I don't want to follow orders like that either. I just... just do as I'm told.
This is ridiculous. A groan of grief flowed from his mouth, gaping in shock. Manager Min couldn't even meet my eyes. Again, this is ridiculous. This is... ridiculous.
민윤기
Agent Kim Yeo-ju is the final candidate for this experiment to hear this announcement. Yeo-ju must kill everyone and live alone.
김여주
So, I kill people? Hey, I like scary stuff, so I don't even flinch at jokes like that.
김여주
...Why is your expression like that? Do you think I should kill you? Me?
I had a dream when I was so young I can't even remember it. I was stabbing someone I knew in a desperate situation, staring into their eyes...
김여주
...That's ridiculous. Seriously. Sir, please don't do that...
I have to repeat that nightmare. But this is real. I am alone. I will mercilessly attack anyone who attacks me...
... Oh, it's so fucking horrible. I didn't want to live like that.
김여주
You seem serious. I never agreed to such an experiment. You didn't say anything like that when I joined the company.
민윤기
It's the representative's instructions.
김여주
But that's too...
I covered my face with my shaking hands. I was so frightened I couldn't handle it, and even flinched when the manager patted my shoulder.
민윤기
Miss Yeoju.
김여주
...don't call me so kindly.
A murder experiment involving the entire department, that's what it is.
김여주
Don't make eye contact. Don't show any pity. You're going to kill me anyway when the time comes.
민윤기
Assistant Manager Kim Yeo-ju. Is that... something you should say to your boss?
김여주
I'm about to be dropped on an island and have to play a survival game right away, but where's the boss or anything?
김여주
I want to live. I want to live tenaciously.
김여주
Now that I know this project exists... I'm not going to be the only one who dies. You get it?
I quickly sheathed my survival knife and tucked it into my coat pocket. Manager Min looked up at me, his expression uneasy, as I stood up.
I felt a sense of absurdity creeping in. Seriously, are you the one who just told me to kill all the department members?
김여주
why.
민윤기
Miss Yeoju, you're talking really funny.
김여주
What does that mean?
민윤기
Listen carefully. Even if I wanted to kill Yeoju, I couldn't. It's not just Yeoju. Whoever it is, I... absolutely can't kill them.
김여주
...Are you letting me down your guard now?
민윤기
I was careless...
The manager clicked his tongue and laughed bitterly. I thought I could hear that sound every now and then. "No, no," he muttered.
Soon, as I was about to turn the doorknob and leave, his low, quiet words echoed in my mind.
민윤기
I'm the one letting my guard down.
After leaving the small break room, I stopped by the public bathhouse to cool my head and drink some cold water.
전정국
uh.
김여주
Uh... Uh!
I was quite surprised, but there was already a customer in the steam room. Jeongguk met my eyes and nodded in greeting.
He holds two small pills in his hand, and a cup of water.
김여주
What is that?
전정국
...because I'm sleepy.
김여주
I guess I'm the type of person who needs to take medicine to fall asleep.
전정국
Well, sometimes.
Jeongguk pours the medicine into his mouth and swallows it. "He brought sleeping pills. I was scared because it felt like he had another weapon I didn't have."
김여주
Oh, are you crazy?
전정국
yes?
김여주
No, he said that to me. To me.
What kind of nonsense is this to someone who can't sleep and wants to take medicine to sleep? It's medicine for insomnia, so what kind of weapon is it...
I guess I didn't get enough sleep either.
김여주
Good night! See you in Miyado.
전정국
You too.
With a quick bow, Jeong-guk left the bathroom. His body, frozen in fear, relaxed slightly.
By the way, just one title.
김여주
...and you're the same agent!