Chapter 11: Secret Library
NLCG“There was a place like this in the library too?”2FVWC
kJq“When morning comes, the layout of this school changes. This is part of that.”RM4t
9Kz0gWell, considering all the surreal things that had happened, a secret area wasn’t that unusual anymore. The two hidden doors behind the shelf stood side by side. Above each door, a sign was posted.jhs
SNatM[Secret File 1]v2o8
aoXcHWa[Secret File 2]N8g
VcsN4‘They’re not even trying to hide it.’MyiVqG
CwSDayeon approached the first door and inserted the key.39K1
EvZClickXSZAor6
OnnoThough she turned the key, the door didn’t open. The same thing happened with the second door.cxMB
OVI0GClick click91t
7LRsEOJ“See that?”XWZHq0
Unl5kazDayeon turned to me and waved the key.OJRvKlK
Kb3pS“So, maybe the key’s for something else?”G1stvSt
2TdDaHN“Impossible.”EXzda4r
xc6IyShe shook her head confidently.DKJt
y5KATN“I’ve checked every locked door in this school. Around 30 of them.”y6UCZrM
fLV“You can do that?”q2lWM
5f1Dayeon didn’t answer—she just stared at me. I felt a silent pressure telling me not to make her repeat herself.EXdPCSG
GOE9“And the result was… what I think it was?”k2U
AvB“More or less.”8u9lyE
8TFYzsDayeon knocked on the secret file door with her knuckles.53not0z
8AzHGP“This door is a puzzle itself. The clue is on that sign.”xyPXJe
qL6qShe gestured elegantly toward the sign:B5Zr7
IcAO[When both hearts become one, the door will open.]QC0
J6exy1“What’s that supposed to mean?”JtZ
m2yU“Figure it out.”GzrwYG
GVMRLbi“Me?”B9Mv8E
FfAXq2pDayeon shook her head as if fed up. Her expression said, “Do I really have to explain this too?”XAbmWjJ
MM8zcx“This is a test. If you really want to work with me to escape, prove your worth.”Mlqf
aQAU2A test? That was unexpected. I didn’t understand why she was doing this.Rp3A
2OJ“And why should I?”SndmgCp
r3u1U“Curious, are you?”SSrqIP
o2esDayeon slowly approached. She tilted her head as if she might suddenly hug me.jNe
RkkjtStartled, I tried to step back.LfKE
h8WLUitBut she grabbed my sleeve to stop me. Then, she slid her index finger down my neck.VCuL
y4Vp1A tingling, prickling sensation ran through me. I inhaled involuntarily.yWBXF2
OswvJU‘Hah…’MVfDQ
ZhOpNjDayeon observed my reaction, then finally stepped back.P2W
RyE6r“You’re definitely a pervert.”3Ym
ccq“I’m not.”ecYRhBx
Dm6q“Then what’s with that face?”mvDc
zTB7TL“Shut up. Just answer the question.”t6K
ii67qBack to square one. Dayeon offered no hints on how to solve the secret file door.PJEX
rbmQcmkShe just said it was a test.1Z24oBT
f1yJhH“To escape this hellish school, you need guts. That’s why I need to see if you’ve got what it takes.”Toea
ygyt2“And if I fail the test?”fL8tr
nMf5RIK“Oh well. Give up on escaping and stay here with me forever.”ppFw
1EWHTqShe said it in a calm tone, but the content was chilling.e0trD
seBVN“Over my dead body.”gBIL
VtFhTso“Even if you want to die, you can’t. You’ll just be stuck here forever, living a dull life.”j9SEB7b
jYKeOyc“But if I do that, you won’t escape either.”UOen
ed3MeBased on what she’d said herself, escaping alone was impossible. That was why she’d been trapped for 10 years.YPEM
J4rrHWBut she also said that if I didn’t pass her test, she wouldn’t cooperate.fvut
EU6“Didn’t you say you wanted to escape too?”xSg080V
5Ch“…”pnr
ZHNFWhen I asked her directly, Dayeon went silent. She began to fidget with her hair, twisting it repeatedly. Just as I was about to press her further, she spoke.FqmlUk
1JEFH“It doesn’t matter.”CnfTH
VS26An unexpected answer.2zS0C
AKq“What?”R4pv2
4Y5Hi“I mean, whether I escape or stay here—it doesn’t matter to me.”90fa
g4jNcVaHer face remained expressionless.313M1r
BtEMxShe didn’t seem to be lying.w8Dm6
5eSUh5“But you said you’ve been here ten years.”kb6a
Krf5e4“Yeah, to be exact, ten years and thirty-two days.”RCLk
MYHjk“And you still don’t want to leave?”NQyKME
q9kxqLC“I never said I didn’t want to. I said it doesn’t matter.”nOWfR
BQa9XIsn’t that the same thing? She left me confused. Seeing my expression, Dayeon continued.xWYI5
BMBI0“At first, I desperately wanted to escape. I wandered everywhere, trembling with fear. Though I can’t even remember what that felt like anymore.”LLny
BaJ3Dayeon trembling in fear—it was impossible to imagine.FJNllc
zqW‘So she did have emotions once.’TdWu2
UWu2beI pictured Dayeon hiding in the janitor’s closet, crying silently to avoid being found by the guard.IQy
bbidmENStep step step step.WyOP
Kuwe5Footsteps echoed while Jin Dayeon covered her mouth, weeping silently.Htw
SNxmf‘Hmph.’gIpe
bg5The image was so different from how she was now that it felt disorienting.mf3k
n1v“Stop thinking weird things.”LgZpe
0zs“I didn’t say anything.”ds2x
DSigOw4“Your face says it all.”Cg2lrK
hOc“…Then why bring up your past?”2BP
WyzXXKKI averted my gaze to avoid her eyes. Dayeon shook her head and continued.3jw
WdNHL“That’s how I ended up here in the library. But I couldn’t go any further.”40XWcRg
1X0Bd“Because you didn’t solve the puzzle?”Ktn9aH
dAi“Yeah. At first, I was desperate, but after staying still long enough… I got used to it.”stkeMz
teLRy6When she said she got used to it, it sounded different to me.ZDEekN
lruB‘She’s insane.’CEhIv0X
fWAIt wasn’t a figure of speech. Her mind had literally broken.VDQ3
PWP“One day, two days, a week, a month, a year… little by little, I fully adapted to life here.”Te5S3k
WY5RhK5Her expression was as calm as a doll’s. Maybe that was necessary to blend into a school that had gone completely insane.dLK7P
gEz0e“I don’t get happy or sad anymore. I’m not surprised or anxious either.”CxAkYj
6Fiqq“So you’re completely adapted to school life.”7jnAcd
tMFeuB“Seems that way. Thanks for the compliment.”nizUN
VynOSo0…It wasn’t a compliment.Q2c
N5bzRs9Dayeon shrugged indifferently. Had she lost her ability to read the room along with her emotions?8nChDml
uu4“Living here, a thought suddenly came to me. Do I really want to escape this school? And the more I thought about it, I realized maybe I didn’t care that much, so I stopped.”Q5otdod
lveyfBoI figured out what she meant by “I stopped.” That was probably when she gave up on self-harming too.i5b
dtrfJp“So, what are you going to do? Escape? Or live here with me?”Jmlm
PFWs6“Don’t say “live with me.” It sounds weird.”WTj
W6EGOm“It’s not technically wrong, you know?”catB2W
A4WBDayeon tilted her head.quU
BLpNX“So, what’s your answer?”JnX8
wiwUcCuAnswer or not, there was only one choice from the beginning. I responded as if it were obvious.QmQobA
IJdw“Escape.”y9zNG
9RA“Why?”1WhyUu
nHs3“Because I don’t want to go insane like you.”KACblY
3GsBgxn“Good answer.”4A526S
XfroWith that, Dayeon abruptly turned her head and went back to the table where she had been sitting before. Without looking at me, she said:2ZWeJ
EEa“Let me know when you solve the puzzle.”kfLq9v
O84yShe opened the book—the same one she’d been reading when I first entered the library.DACAnYb
Hb6nDm‘So she’s not going to help. She’s telling me to figure it out on my own.’eIW1z2
K9ihDI got the message. I approached the secret files.xpqm8
iBphSsThe two doors still stood, imposing.sLG
4WK[Secret File 1]p5hL
rcxp4[Secret File 2]NfYy
t73Click click.U8jCWsp
8XGmUOmStill locked.Yah7
SISymcAI read the sign in the middle:7IVGrYw
Wccf[When both hearts become one, the door will open.]OBMgV6
FDKuDpTwo becoming one. That seemed to be the meaning.m8C0Vt9
oMwYU‘Two becoming one, huh…’AoadWMA
jxcSMDyI thought about what came in pairs in the library.zFl
W8WfK‘…Could it be a person?’UkhiOzg
44LI glanced sideways at Dayeon. She was still reading, unfazed. And of course, wearing her usual expression.f1NBsK
yE6mIt had nothing to do with the book—she’d simply lost her emotions after going mad.SgFbKTK
RIoOGXW“Do I have something on my face?”R74
qHh“…Don’t worry about it.”C7y
I0D2Maybe I’d stared too long. I shook the weird thoughts out of my head.19Gj
CGgQ‘Then there’s only one possibility left.’GDj
No5qS5I opened my inventory and took out Key Number 2—the one I received in the file room.MNMNqFX
DzKvP[Key Number 2]Yu5
Q9GhWr【A small key. The number 2 is engraved on it.】U0jN
5EIQDayeon also had one of these keys. I remembered she’d found it while checking a drawer in the center of the library.cPcO
NsG6IaoUnlike mine, which was engraved with the number 2, hers had the number 1.tE8UM
DO4LJ6Key 1 and Key 2. It wasn’t hard to guess their meaning.YujML
Iq0MZ8[Secret File 1]aOxIFh
cYA[Secret File 2]YRFyLf
gPR0‘It has to be this.’KwbLEX
A1KG7oEach key opened its corresponding door. It all fit perfectly. The only thing left was solving the hidden message on the warning sign.nwwErY
HexithH[When both hearts become one, the door will open.]OhoJ
hiNAFXEThat kind of message is usually abstract, and this was no exception. My interpretation: insert each key into its respective door and turn them simultaneously. Only then would the doors open.wRqYA3I
4ihLhxzThe reason Dayeon hadn’t solved the puzzle in ten years was because she was alone.0tHVLD
EMvShe had said it herself—it was impossible to escape the school alone.ogPj
yJ005EThis puzzle required two people, so she never could’ve opened the doors by herself.9WC
ijiKYm‘And she probably gave up.’Y2Sau
ClS7Endlessly waiting in front of a door that wouldn’t open, until her mind broke. That was Jin Dayeon’s tragic fate.iVGu
Egl1‘My deduction is perfect.’9k23
1mkEl3Even I had to admit—it was a flawless interpretation.Wbn
lfvI was about to approach Dayeon to suggest turning the keys together when a sense of unease crept over me. Like I’d left the gas on at home.G1o
rCZZ4As if I’d forgotten something.RXGmx
LNmNwN‘First, Key Number 2.’KVNi
InquM[Key Number 2]xKqw
04dR【A small key. The number 2 is engraved on it.】faGg
iwrCWThe item description didn’t say much. But something was suspicious.uSmy82
AZKfEth‘Why doesn’t it say where it’s used?’BRo7m0
QCxpNormally, keys have clearly defined uses. Like the Art Room Key, which specifies its corresponding location.wzoS9pw
Vg7uIBut Key Number 2 didn’t. It just said it was a small key.vl8IX
aauAwLOThere was a lack of background info.lyxXCJe
VwoLProbably the same with Key Number 1.B1LBg63
0SKyYIr‘I need to see the description for Key Number 1 too.’56bl
JgYfbsmBut I didn’t have it. I looked back at the desk. Dayeon was still reading, just like before.oaOIKpP
EB5sJdShe wasn’t even paying attention to me. It seemed like she didn’t care whether I solved the puzzle or not.2a0WSej
3jH‘Was she always like this?’Lkc4hVa
vBDQlQbI had a feeling of déjà vu. When we discovered the secret file room, Dayeon had tried her key on the door.3tS
NjWEven though it hadn’t worked, it led me to believe that those keys were meant for that location. She told me she’d checked thirty locked doors throughout the school. Then she told me to solve the puzzle.HWpby2g
pyVozvDHer intentions were confusing. It was like…GJ3r
ztwD1‘She wanted me to believe that the keys needed to be turned simultaneously.’RXgHI2F
lnyiIf what Dayeon said was a lie, then my entire theory fell apart.gw3U
k1nAeCXMaybe Key 1 and Key 2 were for something else entirely,
and the real keys for the file room were somewhere else.TVzX17t
1lDZXNT…Something like that.iCT
0wDIK‘Nah, can’t be.’J9f7
t1nDTeGFor now, it was just a suspicion. I couldn’t jump to conclusions without proof.pIr8s
XLZWThe answer had to be in Key Number 1.rDhJ0O
QH5MyuI approached Dayeon’s desk.UbCVo
ZgF2“Already solved it?”PnMK6L
dJJPDayeon didn’t even look up, her eyes fixed on her book. It was impossible not to doubt her like this.4eYePhr
6jErDPN“Could you at least look at me?”Elkk
HKNePhI snatched the book from her hands.4rg6Vf
LtoVDayeon didn’t even flinch. She blinked slowly, a bit dazed.zEheR
j70fM“That was just getting interesting.”kcBToP
4r0D1“As if you could enjoy it.”NqT
udcAzF“True. You know me well.”MXZJ
Je2cSShe answered indifferently and stared at me, clearly asking why I was here.jGqY6
PmPiwv“Did you find the solution to the puzzle?”vGSJ
jVJ“No, not yet.”29M
sNM“Then stop wasting time with me.”Jg6M
KrD“Cut the crap and hand it over.”ckQpv
Fbum92I held out my hand.f57QJ
13zZpShe tilted her head, puzzled.LUSljjp
qzBmKgF“My hand?”pGy
UexmFEAnd placed her hand in mine. A warm, soft sensation spread through my palm.fLPBu
cIENQ“This good enough?”F3o
O8nm1Hv“…Not what I meant.”OVJBb
8b4VI pulled back immediately. Though for a moment I thought, ‘So this is what a girl’s hand feels like,’ I let it slide.Yxqx
rSoLS“Then what do you want?”4SkD6iZ
2HU“The key. Number 1.”3pLj
sSCz1Zn“Oh, this?”3X7hr4
D1mShe pulled a small key from within her clothes. The number 1 was engraved on its surface.FrRm
DxiNo doubt, it was Key Number 1.urJ
AcJO“Give it here.”NbXdqAJ
GCUI wiggled my fingers impatiently. But Dayeon didn’t seem eager to give it up.k79xgr
26YH“Hmm, should I give it to you or not?”LZV
EGeU6f“Didn’t you say there’s no time to waste?”F6Bq
1bVCPGShe held the key between her thumb and forefinger, waving it lightly.kh3Rzg
zuHY“Oh, I just had an idea.”hCx4
b2e0kShe tucked the key between her thighs.f7v6
A5OpVcx“If you want it, come get it.”yMQ9GZ
V80vuThe small key was now caught between her pale legs. To grab it, I’d have to reach in there.RbfW6dB
xO5LM‘…She thinks I won’t do it.’8jj2ED
aSKWRFJI opened a book, placed it over her legs, and quickly shut it—only catching the key.TjQw
ReDpy[You obtained Key Number 1.]N4JdC
uHu8R‘Done.’liSu
tmrzGfDayeon let out a soft murmur, seemingly impressed.sNuz
3BUEP“I thought you were a pervert, but I guess not.”yEj
J7NG“Told you I’m not.”F2f
VSTiI ignored her and checked the key. It was still a bit warm.VK1
7GVY‘Let’s see.’cDum
AZyI opened Key Number 1’s description—and couldn’t help letting out a dry chuckle.NhOkdz
pK6i5u‘…I knew it.’fsisvIo
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