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It goes without saying, but Kang Mina had never handled a hamr enough to get used to it.
Like any typical office worker in South Korea, she had rarely dealt with tools directly. Occasionally, she had climbed up on a chair to change a light bulb at ho, but she never had occasion to use a blunt tool like the hamr she was holding now.
Especially not using the hamr as a weapon like she was doing now.
Thunk.
Ha.
Her breath trembled as it escaped.
Was there more ivy?
Yes, its hard to see because it blends in with the grass and leaves.
We need to move as quickly as possible.
At Yoon Garams words, Kang Mina nodded silently.
Although it was still daylight, based on yesterdays experience, there was a high probability that even this would darken quickly. It was like adding black paint to murky water, turning evening into night in an instant. Today wouldnt be much different.
How much farther do we have to go? Im not familiar with the way, so I keep having to ask.
Its okay. The park itself is big, and many people dont know their way around, especially since its changed so much. We would have arrived at the small lake within three minutes in the past, but.
.
As I ntioned earlier, the park has changed a lot.
In response to her words, Kang Mina replied in a soft voice.
Yes.
Kang Mina was timid and easily frightened, but she wasnt stupid.
She was curious and often observed her surroundings. Kang Mina had a decent level of perceptiveness, and she wouldnt have made it to the position of a team leader in a large corporation if she had a poor ability to assess situations. Taking care of difficult bosses and naive employees required a certain level of judgnt.
To her, the current situation was filled with a deep sense of unease.
How does she know the way?
She hoped this wasnt just suspicion but a genuine question.
Its strange. Even thoughshe knows the park has changed a lot, can she confidently guide us like this? Does that make sense?
It was odd.
In her view, Yoon Garam was displaying contradictory behavior.
She had already ntioned that the park had changed significantly. She clearly knew it wasnt the sa park she rembered, so why could she guide us so confidently?
There should have been at least so hesitation or unease on his part, but there wasnt. It wasnt like she was acting absent-mindedly or chanically leading the way like a guide robot, but there was definitely a sense of unease as she led us to the lake, even though she seed to be finding her way with ease. Suddenly, there was a chilling unease.
But the problem wasnt the unease emanating from Yoon Garam herself.
.
Oh, there it is. Just cross this wooden bridge, and youll reach the small lake.
Thats a relief.
The question was whether the origin of that unease was conscious or unconscious.
Of course, if that unease arose consciously, then what the outco of that would be, or if it was unconscious, what value calculation should co out of it, was unknown. There was no ti to figure out such things. Already, my head was spinning and I was panting.
But instinctively, and at the sa ti almost absent-mindedly, such a thought ca to .
Monsters.
Surely not?
Watch your step. I rember there were so rotten parts.
Oh, thank you.
Kang Mina forced herself to look away and glanced at the intern who was following behind them.
Yeonseok, be careful too.
Yes.
I should have let you take a break if you were feeling really uncomfortable. Im sorry.
As she expressed unnecessary remorse and offered a small apology, he shook his head with a pale face.
No, no, no! How could I just let you go alone, Team Leader!
Its not just
Oh, anyway. But Im the strongest, so
Awkwardly, Kang Mina chuckled at his words, as if making excuses.
Yeah, thanks.
When soones emotions were so transparent, it was always embarrassing and awkward, no matter when it happened. Especially when that person was a student much younger than oneself.
Noh Yeonseok was an intern who ca through the connection between our company and the university. Of course, we were told that this was an exceptional trial because our company wasnt your average company, and if it didnt have any significant effect, it would be discontinued within one or two tries. But still, he was sent to our departnt as an intern. Kang Mina couldnt help but pay attention.
There were tis when it was awkward and confusing at the company, but the truth was, in situations like this, she found strength in him and his deanor.
I also.
It ant having the responsibility to protect and lead soone.
As she absentmindedly stroked the hamr stained red with ivy sap, a voice she had grown accustod to suddenly ca between them. It was a voice filled with mild curiosity.
You two seem close. Noh Yeonseok-ssi, youre an intern, right?
Oh, yes. Im learning a lot from Team Leader Kang.
Look at Mina-ssi, taking care of people. Shes really sweet.
At the mildly teasing remark that wasnt rude enough to be impolite, the intern blushed, and Kang Mina chuckled awkwardly once again. It was surprising how not bad she felt, to the point where she herself was embarrassed.
Yeonseok has a good personality. He does his tasks well
T-Thank you.
To be honest, I was a little surprised. Mina-ssi, Ive never heard of interns at your company before. Dont you usually not hire interns?
Thats right, most of them co in as experienced hires.
Yeah, I heard that our school really put in a lot of effort this ti. They wanted to try sothing in collaboration
If thats really the case, it might give the students a chance. Especially since its such a big company, right?
Ive felt it before, but separate from the current unease, Yoon Garam was a good conversationalist. Rather than crossing the line or not approaching at all, her deanor allowed her to feel Yoon Garams consideration without overstepping boundaries.
Her voice was just the right volu, reasonably calm, and her actions of not unnecessarily making eye contact eased the atmosphere naturally.
Just as the conversation was becoming casual, Yoon Garam slowed her steps.
So, this is
.
Yes, were here.
Thud.
The sound of footsteps stopping echoed.
This is the small lake.
Ah.
Thats how breathtaking it was.
Breathless, the clear waters scent gnawed at her lungs. The lake, illuminated by the entirely white sky, sparkled with an eerie bright light.
The lake, shining in a color of jade rarely seen in reality, resembled a work of art made of glass, and the surface of the lake, undisturbed by the wind, was so unrealistically serene.
Beautiful. Fresh and clean. Surprisingly, within that transparent lake, there were pebbles bubbling with water, resembling the sky and the lakes color, white and transparent.
Kang Mina, who had been montarily speechless, struggled to speak.
Its beautiful.
It was the first adjective she had uttered since arriving in this world.
Yes, it is beautiful.
.
It didnt sparkle like this before.
There was a hint of regret in Yoon Garams voice as she spoke.
Perhaps she missed the world before it changed like this. If that was the case, Kang Mina could easily sympathize with her thoughts. Wanting the comfortable and peaceful reality rather than the unreal beauty in front of her wasnt that strange at all.
However, feeling the strange unease at her fingertips, Kang Mina kept silent.
.
It has really beco beautiful.
Because the voice had a vague, dreamy quality to it unlike before, she couldnt quite grasp what exactly was being regretted.
Kang Mina slowly spoke up.
Lets fill the bottle with water for now.
Sohow, they had to bring themselves back to reality.
Yeonseok, could you hand the bottle you picked up earlier?
Oh, Ill do it. Itll get heavy once its filled with water.
The intern said, holding a 2-liter drink bottle in his hand.
Its the kind of bottle that, when you go to the mart, is placed at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator, just in a cool place.
Seeing that, Yoon Garam said, Its fortunate that we have a bottle like this.
Its definitely fortunate since it would be difficult to keep coming back here
If theres a problem, its that we havent found any cans yet.
She interjected.
Is there a glass bottle? Why?
She seed a bit flustered.
But why would there be?
Actually, now that she thought about it, the 2-liter drink bottle they picked up on the way here was also strange. Normally, when you drink in the park, you drink from a can from a vending machine, not a bottle this big.
In the sa vein, it was odd that Yoon Garam was examining the bottle as if it were unusual. In the past, glass was often used for bottles containing cola or cider, but nowadays, isnt even that made of plastic? Moreover, wide-necked containers like that were usually used for jam in bakeries.
.
.
Well, good things are good, right?
Yoon Garam concluded their speculation.
After all, in a yard where crawling ivy exists, this isnt too surprising.
Yes, its not really that strange.
As Kang Mina and the intern nodded, Yoon Garam smiled sowhat awkwardly and said, Thats right. Besides, cans can be a bit worriso.
Why?
Because theyre so thin, Im afraid they might lt in the fire.
I dont think it would be that bad, though?
A doubtful expression automatically ford.
How strong would the heat of a campfire have to be for an aluminum can to lt? Even if you tried, it would be impossible to lt it. At most, it might get a little wrinkled or soft.
When they sent him a questioning look for his worry, Yoon Garam gave an awkward smile.
Well, when you boil water, sotis it can taste like tal, right?
Thats true.
That was a bit worrying.
While nodding, Kang Mina gestured to the intern, and Noh Yeonseok followed her to the lake. Soon, Yoon Garam joined them as well.
.
The water of the lake rippled calmly, but there was no sign of any monsters nearby.
Didnt they say there were fish here?
Yes, although were not sure about the bigger lake due to algae, but there should be so in the small lake.
But theres nothing here.
Only the sparkling water of the lake was there.
Upon hearing that, Yoon Garam remained silent, and Noh Yeonseok, the intern, looked back at her, but there was no particular plan. Whatever the case, they couldnt just leave without filling the water.
Kang Mina looked at the intern while adjusting her grip on the hamr.
Yeonseok, could you fill the water?
Yes, sure.
He carefully subrged the mouth of the bottle into the lake.
.
As the water filled the bottle, it was as silent as if transparent pebbles were rolling into it. There was not even the usual gurgling sound when filling a narrow-necked bottle with water.
Perhaps due to the mood, the clattering sound of his own utensil could be heard, and within the transparent bottle, the flow of water ca in like blossoming flowers. Along with the flow, water droplets lightly sparkled.
Carefully lifting the bottle filled with water, Ah.
The shimr of the lake disappeared.
A bit disappointing.
Yes, it was beautiful.
The intern Noh Yeonseok set the bottle aside and received another bottle from Yoon Garam. Since they were already there, they wanted to take as much water as possible, so they intended to fill both the empty water bottle they had and the glass bottle they had just picked up.
As the empty water bottle was filled with clear lake water, and after rinsing the glass bottle once and filling it with water again, they had already fulfilled their purpose of coming to the lake.
Kang Mina nodded and stepped back.
Then lets go back before it gets dark.
Well, its also difficult to make a campfire here.
And we dont even know how to make a portable fire.
Before coming here, they had received a lighter from Director Lee Jaehun, but it was more of a precautionary asure, not sothing they hoped to use. They had to return before evening ca.
They gathered their containers filled with water and quickly left the spot, but just before stepping onto the wooden bridge.
Kang Mina turned around once to look at the small lake.
.
It was strangely transparent and white.
Underneath the lake, which was brightly illuminated, were countless pebbles, giving it a glassy appearance with the color of the grass leaves. The trees surrounding such a lake drew the gaze like a painting on the surface of the water.
It was indescribably beautiful, but.
.
Team Leader?
Lets go, Yeonseok.
It was unnaturally clean.
A little bit frightening.
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