Chapter 152

Chapter 152

Afterwards, similar reports began to pop up one after another. However, by evening, the report corrected itself: emergency circumstances revealed that the crime was not committed by one person, but there was a helper on the murderer's side.

As soon as I saw that report, anxiety began to grip me without control-maybe the investigation team had already uncovered that I was there.

However, the reports only revealed the possibility of an accessory to the crime, and there was no proper information on that matter. I stayed up all night, anxious, but no one contacted or visited us.

"Lee-kyung-ie, you're a C-class User with no criminal record; you wouldn't be subject to investigation," Seo Dawon said, but I was still insecure. My meal barely passed through my lips, and the tips of my nails were so tattered because I had bit them in a fit of nervousness.

Eventually, Seo Dawon could no longer endure and held my hands, sitting down, and patting my fingers. Of course, I knew he was correct, but I dreamed a nightmare where the police chased me continuously whenever I began to fall asleep. Shocked, I repeatedly woke up throughout the night.

"I know, but... Haah. I'm nervous for some reason."

"If you continue like this, the state of your face will be your confession."

"Haah..."

Seo Dawon spoke in a preposterous tone, but he didn't abandon my hysterical self. Without teasing me capriciously, he comforted me so that evening I could calm down and fall asleep.

After resting like that for a few days, Koo Hui-seo and Kim Sangyoon visited our lodgings.

A while ago, through Koo Hui-seo, we had received an invitation to a party where the traitors, including Ryu Hyerin, would gather. So, we had planned on sending Kim Sangyoon as Koo Hui-seo's plus one to spy on their actions.

However, because Park Hoseok was murdered, the party was cancelled. Well, officially, the reason given was the rental site had delayed their reservation for about a month due to various circumstances, but Seo Dawon predicted that they would spare themselves until the culprit was caught-and the identity of the person claiming to be Jung Garam was revealed.

That was why we called the two to our place in order to discuss our changed plans. Of course, this time Seo Dawon was [summoned].

"Hyung-nim. How have you been faring..." Kim Sangyoon, who lived close to us, arrived first. Before leaving for Jeju Island, I asked him to take care of Lackey. Perhaps because of that, Lackey seemed to acknowledge the Warrior.

[Clack Clack.]

Lackey clacked its teeth without any threatening intent, circled around the Warrior as if it were observing him, and ran back into my embrace. Kim Sangyoon also seemed to have become used to Lackey's presence; he entered the living room without paying much attention to the skeleton.

"I missed you," Koo Hui-seo said.

"Even if you open your arms wide like that, I won't cuddle you..."

"I was going to greet you, French-style..."

"This is Korea."

"You're too much..."

About five minutes after Kim Sangyoon arrived, Koo Hui-seo also appeared. He opened his arms wide at the entrance as if he meant to hug me, but I coldly avoided him. Koo Hui-seo entered the living room, pretending [My crops have withered, my face is breaking out. This sparks no joy].

And Seo Dawon, who didn't even greet Kim Sangyoon or Koo Hui-seo even though he was the one to invite them, sat cross-legged on the sofa, adopting an arrogant posture.

Intimidated by the Mage, Kim Sangyoon sat on the edge, as far away from him as possible; Koo Hui-seo, not reading the room, sat right next to me. Only after I placed my forehead into my palm and pointed Koo Hui-seo to a seat a small distance away did the suffocating atmosphere begin to subside.

"The Jeju Island incident has become a bit inconvenient." Koo Hui-seo spoke first, cutting through the awkward 1 atmosphere. His tone was gentle, but, when he stopped sipping at his tea, his forehead was crumpled, as if he were recalling some annoyances.

"The police came to call a few times because of the pass. It was only a cursory investigation, but I still had the issue with my brother... Things nearly became quite cumbersome. If you were going to finish the job like this, then it would have been nice for you to have mentioned it in advance," Koo Hui-seo said, glancing at Seo Dawon. It seemed that our use of the pass during Park Hoseok's murder and subsequent investigation had caused a formal inquiry.

Surprised, I asked him, "Then...do the police know that we were there?"

"Of course, I've prepared documents in advance so we wouldn't run into problems. The documents state Lee-kyung-ssi as my personal trainer."

"Personal trainer?"

"Yes. Ah, don't worry. We're not talking about a gym trainer, but a mental health counselor. Well, if they dig deep, I suppose they'll notice that Lee-kyung-ssi doesn't have any of the related necessary licenses, but... You aren't prescribing medicine, and I'm merely mentally dependent on you. Paying money for various services like that-that's not illegal, is it?"

I was grateful to Koo Hui-seo for making a far more nuanced document than I had expected. We'd received help from him once again; I felt a little sorry for putting him in trouble...

Seo Dawon smiled haughtily, as if he heard something ridiculous. "Learn your place well. Did you forget that we rescued you from something 'cumbersome' as well?"

Confidently...he treated Koo Hui-seo like a tool to be used.

I was flustered, alternating staring between the two, but Koo Hui-seo didn't seem to be offended. That didn't mean he seemed to be cowed and unable to speak back, however.

Koo Hui-seo maintained his calm tone but continued to say everything he had to say, "Yes...but isn't there a problem with how much noise you've made? I'm unsure if this is the correct timing to draw so much attention..."

"There's no evidence anyway; it's no use to whining here. This matter should be solved by lawyers, anyway."

"I'm saying, the problem is that there are a few people that are clinging to me."

"Where?"

"The Police."

That was why Koo Hui-seo arrived here in a different car for camouflauge. He implored us to be careful when we did something under his name in the future. He probably came here today to convey this message to us-he was so resolute.

'It'll be difficult for Koo Hui-seo to be an active force until he's cleared of all charges from the Koo Kyungman matter...'

It couldn't be helped, but it was indeed quite regrettable since we still relied a lot on Koo Hui-seo's support. However Seo Dawon immediately looked towards Kim Sangyoon, who had been listening to the entire conversation as if it were another's trouble. "Then, why don't you leave all the money-laundering to him?"

"Huh?"

"Him?"

"Mhmm. I think Sangyoon-ie will want to help us."

"What? Ah... Yes. O-Of course.... Ha. Ha. Ha." Kim Sangyoon looked disconcerted, but after laughing awkwardly he shifted his posture. "In the first place, my tax accountant advised me to open a business... Shall we ask them?" He responded, without a sign of reluctance.

I hadn't mentioned to Kim Sangyoon that we planned to murder Park Hoseok, but based on the series of events, there was no way he couldn't have known we were the culprits.

However, Kim Sangyoon didn't even seem to be curious about Park Hoseok's fate and, although he was still intimidated by the Mage, his attitude was quite cooperative. It seemed like his 'brain' underwent some transformation... But, wasn't it more normal to become even more afraid when someone, who had already been threatening death, committed a murder? What was this? What was this subtly lax attitude...

However, before I could puzzle out the incongruity, Seo Dawon spoke first, "There's something I should point out before all that; I didn't kill Park Hoseok."

"......"

"......"

Of course, it was Jung Garam who killed Park Hoseok, and Seo Dawon didn't kill him directly, but...

'Why on earth would you reveal that?'

Koo Hui-seo and Kim Sangyoon inevitably looked towards Seo Dawon, speechless at the Mage's unexpected words. Kim Sangyoon looked a little confused, but soon his eyes widened as if he noticed the implications. Seemingly startled by the thought that popped into his head, he hurriedly asked with a squeak, "W-well then, maybe... Just like Dawon-nim, did Jung Garam also..."

"That's right."

"Gasp..."

It seems that Kim Sangyoon was operating under the same misunderstanding he made with Seo Dawon-that Jung Garam had somehow secretly survived. Since he had already seen Seo Dawon once, he didn't even doubt Seo Dawon's claims and more readily accepted Jung Garam's survival.

Of course, the two hadn't actually returned to life fully, but...I was still insecure in explaining the circumstances of their resurrection and the role of the Necromancer to the Warrior, so I kept my mouth shut.

However, Seo Dawon didn't stop there. "And, in the future, all the members of the [Red Lotus] guild that have said to have died will return."

"Hurk...R-Really?"

"...."

At those words, Koo Hui-seo paused briefly, teacup placed at his lips.

TL: Lee-kyung has gotten so good at rebuffing Koo Hui-seo's advances.

As always it's the latter half of the semester so I'm slowing down just a tiny bit bc of work >.<

Thanks as always for reading <3

Footnotes