Episode 301: Waiting Position

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However, Cha Eui-jae had learned something from his past part-time job experience— satisfy the customer’s expectations. And since he was here to ask for a favor, even more so. Clenching his eyes shut, he stepped onto the red carpet. Wow! Cheers and applause erupted. Trailing a step behind, Seo Min-gi whispered,

“Feels like you’re an actor, doesn’t it?”

You think this is funny?

Cha Eui-jae refused to acknowledge such a childish remark. Seo Min-gi, unfazed, continued,

“Do you know anything about Professor Jang?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll tell you in advance. The professor is generally a kind person, but due to the side effects of experimenting on himself, he’s a bit…”

“A bit?”

“He looks… different. You’ll understand when you see him.”

At the end of the red carpet stood a small figure, roughly reaching Cha Eui-jae’s waist. What the—? Tilting his head, Cha Eui-jae studied the person. A bushy white beard that reached his collarbone, a round nose, round eyes, a round, round…

“Oh my, welcome!”

A Santa doll?

“…”

Cha Eui-jae shot a questioning look at Seo Min-gi. Is this really him? Seo Min-gi gave a firm nod before turning to greet the round old man.

“Professor Jang, have you been well?”

“Hoho, I’ve been fine. Just a lot of work, as usual.”

“If you have complaints about your workload, please direct them to the Guild Leader. But first, let me introduce you. This is J-nim.”

As Cha Eui-jae bowed his head in greeting, a rosy flush spread across Professor Jang’s round face. His round eyes sparkled like a cartoon character’s. Chuckling heartily, the professor extended his hand.

“J! I’ve always wanted to meet you. You have no idea how disappointed I was when I heard you’d visited before but left before we could talk.”

“Oh, uh… I was busy back then and couldn’t stop by.”

“Well, what matters is that we’ve met now! Come, have a seat and enjoy some tea! Ah, but with that mask, I suppose you can’t drink?”

“I’ll just enjoy the aroma.”

“Yes, yes!”

At Professor Jang’s double clap, the researchers scattered, each returning to their respective tasks.

Watching the professor toddle away, Cha Eui-jae whispered to Seo Min-gi,

“…He’s quite cute, isn’t he?”  

“Indeed. If we put him in a red hat and suit, he’s Santa himself. He’s a great help during the Christmas season.”

“…Can I ask what kind of experiment caused this?”

“It’s a sad tale.”

Seo Min-gi slid a finger under his sunglasses, pretending to wipe away a tear.

“A while back, a sheep-like monster with rapidly and infinitely growing fur was discovered. It was named Dolly. The professor was trying to develop a hair growth and hair loss treatment using byproducts from that creature, and well…”

“Oh.”

“He ended up with fluffy sheep-like hair and a beard, along with a small, round, and adorable body. He used to be muscular and had a shiny bald head.”

“…Oh.”

Is that… a good thing?

Cha Eui-jae scratched his head as he watched Professor Jang scurry around the lab, gesturing energetically. Well, in the end, he had achieved thick, fluffy hair and a beard, so his goal was technically accomplished. Behind the professor, two small, fluffy sheep trotted along.

“Um, and those two following him?”

“Dolly’s offspring. They treat the professor like an uncle and follow him around. They aren’t dangerous, so we let them stay.”

Professor Jang waved them over, signaling that everything was ready. Cha Eui-jae sat down in what looked like a rolling chair borrowed from a researcher. At that moment, one of the mini Dollys leaped onto his lap. It was soft and fluffy. The kind of fluff that made you want to bury your face in it!  

Seo Min-gi shot him a look, silently urging him to get to the point. Stroking the velvety fur, Cha Eui-jae spoke.

“I came to ask about opening a closed dungeon. I heard you’ve done a lot of research on it.”

“Oh? A dungeon?”

“Yes. Have you heard about the entrances to the eroded dungeons disappearing?”

“Of course. I’m well aware. The Guild Leader being unable to return, the erosion… or rather, the whitening— I’ve been briefed on everything.”

Professor Jang adjusted his round glasses.

“And the reason? Is it for resource acquisition?”

“No.”

Cha Eui-jae gently scratched behind the little sheep’s ear as he replied,

“I’m trying to get someone out.”

“…”

Professor Jang’s round eyes widened. Then, a warm smile spread across his face.

“I see… Don’t worry. I’ll do everything I can to help.”

That easily? Cha Eui-jae blinked in surprise. Meanwhile, Professor Jang rubbed his small, round hands together and started mumbling at lightning speed.

“This is perfect timing. No, really, I spent years researching this, and just when I thought it was finally ready for clinical trials, J-nim boldly returned, meaning I never got to test it. Oh, not that I blame you! If we had been faster, that wouldn’t have happened. Haha.”

“Haha… ha.”

“Anyway, I will assist you with all my heart!”

“Oh, thank you. That’s reassuring.”

“But, would you like to know how it works? Aren’t you curious? Hmm?”

Round eyes sparkled brightly. Just as Cha Eui-jae was about to respond, something tugged at the hem of his pants. He glanced down. A small shadow puppet was desperately yanking at the fabric, shaking its head furiously. He looked to the side. Behind his sunglasses, Seo Min-gi’s eyes were glaringly wide open. Even the densest person would have understood the message loud and clear.

‘Don’t even think about asking for an explanation.’

…It was best to listen to Seo Min-gi. Cha Eui-jae politely shook his head.

“Oh, no need for an explanation.”

“Oh dear, is that so…”

Disappointment was unmistakable on the round, cherubic face. Cha Eui-jae did his best to ignore the pangs of guilt poking at him. Seo Min-gi smoothly shifted the conversation.

“J-nim, why don’t you tell us about the Guild Leader? You two are quite close, after all. Opening the dungeon is all for his rescue, isn’t it?”

“Oh-ho, then the rumors about you two playing ‘Catch Me If You Can’ at headquarters must be true?”

The hand stroking the wool froze in place. He had nearly managed to forget. But now, memories of that nightmare began to resurface. Just as a dangerous aura started to seep from Cha Eui-jae, Professor Jang chuckled, stroking his beard.

“Funny, that’s exactly what the Guild Leader said.”

“…Pardon?”

“Ah, right. Could you follow me for a moment?”

Professor Jang trotted off somewhere.  

Seo Min-gi gave a nod, signaling Cha Eui-jae to go after him.  

Cradling the small lamb in his arms, Cha Eui-jae followed the professor. They passed through a space filled with researchers and continued down a long corridor. Eventually, they reached a heavy iron door. Professor Jang unlocked it with an old key.  

A musty scent of aged paper and dust filled the air. The room was like a storage archive. Stacks of bound papers towered over plastic boxes filled haphazardly with videotapes, CDs, and portable storage devices.

Professor Jang gestured at the piles.

“These are the materials the Guild Leader gathered before and after forming the research team.”

“He was researching? Researching what?”

“The frequency and composition of rifts, the phenomena that occur when they close… Even information on the West Sea rift. He collected everything he could get his hands on.”

“…Personally? All of this?”

“Yes. He brought them when he came to see me.”

Cha Eui-jae picked up the topmost document from the pile. It was a file of newspaper clippings.

[West Sea Rift, Completely Disappeared?]

Accompanying the article was a photo of the sea, its surface caved in where the rift entrance had once been. Cha Eui-jae sifted through more files. Every single one was related to the West Sea rift.

[The Death of a Hero—Who Bears the Responsibility?]

There were multiple pictures of Ham Seok-jeong bowing in apology, as well as several featuring J. Here and there, Cha Eui-jae spotted neat, familiar handwriting. Lee Sa-young must have written these notes himself.

Professor Jang murmured,

“Reopening a closed rift… It’s absurd, really. No one would even consider such a thing. Once a rift is shut, it’s gone forever.”

“…”

“But when the Guild Leader came to me, he was absolutely convinced. That it was possible. That J couldn’t have died.”