episode_0136

“Tsk, damn it…”

Due to the sudden attack by the centaur Kentaurus, Werewolf missed the opportunity right in front of him.

Spitting out a mixture of blood and phlegm towards the fallen centaur, he immediately started running like a madman in the direction where Lamia had fled.

“Sigh… can’t let that bastard get away for real.”

Although he was trying to subdue and chase as quickly as possible, these hybrid creatures could cause irreversible accidents with just a moment’s time.

Has an accident already occurred? Werewolf, worried about this possibility, hurriedly looked ahead, but he couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

“…How could this happen.”

Not long after, a cocktail bar came into view.

Upon seeing it, Werewolf couldn’t help but grab his throbbing forehead and let out a disappointed laugh.

In a situation where it was practically considered missed, he cursed under his breath and quietly lit a cigarette.

“This is so messed up, seriously…”

The disgusting smell of Lamia was definitely leading towards the cocktail bar.

Would a sparrow just pass by a mill?

It was a perfect opportunity to shake her off, so he was sure to enter the bar, having already finished the hypnosis.

He would have to continue the pursuit, knowing that it would involve a lot of hassle.

The people under hypnosis would continue to obstruct the investigation, and when they found evidence and started the pursuit again, they would surely make things difficult by throwing themselves into the mix.

Obstruction of official duties? What could they do if they were caught? Those under hypnosis wouldn’t even care about that.

However.

“No matter how many setbacks, I can’t give up.”

Putting out his cigarette, he gathered his resolve and started walking towards the cocktail bar.

He couldn’t just give up and let go, as the being he was chasing was too dangerous.

Deceiving people with all sorts of tricks, how many ruined families were there?

Werewolf couldn’t forget the desperate cries that still echoed in his ears.

“I will definitely catch them and bring them to justice.”

To catch a tiger cub, you have to enter the tiger’s den no matter how annoying it is.

Suppressing the rising anger, Werewolf slowly approached the cocktail bar.

“Please, let nothing happen.”

It seemed like a lost cause, but he still held onto a futile hope in his heart.

Preparing for any possible situation, he nervously opened the door quietly.

And then.

“Hyungnim, please take me away from here!!! Please…!”

“…Huh?”

Seeing a sight far beyond his expectations, he was shocked.

What on earth happened inside this store to make his prey look like this?

He stared dumbfoundedly at the vampire and dragon scratching their heads awkwardly with a strange smile.

—–

Eyes completely gone haywire, and looking like a beggar for some reason.

He expected them to do something suspicious, but the reptiles that entered the store far exceeded his expectations.

“Huuk… Huuk… Soon, a monster will come here. Even if you run away, you’ll just be ravaged and eaten, so resist until the end and inflict wounds on the monster… Cough, cough…”

Lamia, spewing incomprehensible words towards the people.

Seeming like a lunatic, she was about to be kicked out of the store, but the fox beastman customer intervened, approaching the exhausted reptile first.

The serene and compassionate smile that was always present was replaced by a cold, mocking smirk that seemed to ridicule someone.

As I watched the unfamiliar figure with bated breath, the soothing voice of the fox-like guest broke the heavy silence.

“It’s quite a blow to one’s pride when a snake like a fox tries to deceive a person in front of a fox.”

Clearly displeased with the current situation, the fox-like guest crossed his arms with a stern expression.

Then, he glanced at me and whispered in my ear with a smirk.

“Take a good look, bartender lady. This is what ‘charm’ is all about.”

Snap –

Before I could even question it, the fox-like guest snapped his fingers.

As the clear sound echoed through the cocktail bar, the people who had momentarily turned into mannequins began to return to their senses one by one.

Or rather… it felt like they were released from a petrification state with a berserk buff?

Perhaps realizing the danger, the fox-like guest snapped his fingers once more.

Thanks to that, the guests were able to regain themselves, except for those who were deeply entranced by the hypnosis.

Lamia, that bastard.

Instead of coming here to do some shady business, isn’t he just a crazy terrorist?

But Lamia has never had any dealings with us, so why would he do something so outrageous?

It’s truly a ridiculous situation.

Feeling helpless, I suddenly remembered something and asked Yejin.

“Yejin.”

“Yes, what is it, unnie?”

“The suspicious person you mentioned, could it be him?”

“It seems likely, doesn’t it?”

If the suspicious person mentioned by our esteemed dragon is indeed the lunatic Lamia, then everything makes sense.

The sporadic gaps in memory, the uneasy feeling when we first met, and the claim that what happened here was as clear as day.

…Perhaps he sensed an unknown danger and moved to eliminate it, only to fall under hypnosis without realizing it.

Nevertheless, it’s a bit strange that a dragon would fall under hypnosis.

Was Lamia’s hypnosis ability exceptional? Or did Yejin let her guard down too much?

Whatever the reason, I should add a note to the notebook. Even dragons are not completely invincible.

Anyway.

Lamia, whose carefully laid plan was easily thwarted, tried to escape from the cocktail bar but was caught by Yejin.

Since she had already been hypnotized, it was self-defense to use violence.

Did we really beat Lamia to a pulp in the pouring rain?

As Lamia was about to lose consciousness from the beating, another shabby-looking guest entered the bar.

Lamia greeted him warmly, as if he were a comrade.

I gave him a suspicious look, but when the reptilian man spoke, Yejin and I discreetly put away the fists we had raised.

“Detective? Please, take me away!!! Please…!”

“…What is this?”

Feigning a surprised expression, the werewolf began to prove his identity.

His clear gaze reassured us that he was not an enemy after all!

Awkwardly smiling, I warmly welcomed the werewolf into the cocktail bar.

“Welcome! This is Midnight! Can I get you a drink?”

“No, thank you, I’ll just take your hospitality. Unfortunately, I look a bit out of place in such an elegant establishment. Next time, I’ll come with my team for a drink.”

“Oh, um, so why are you here at our bar…?”

I’ve never seen the police up close like this before, as I’ve always lived a proper life.

Without realizing it, I blurted out random words in nervousness, causing Werewolf to grab Lamia’s tail and chuckle.

“The police… well, if you think about it, they’re all the same, so let’s just call them the police. So… what do you think the main job of the police is?”

“Um, catching criminals?”

“Correct, that’s exactly why I’m here. Thanks to all of you, I was able to relieve some stress. I’ll come to express my gratitude soon. Well then, I’m busy so I’ll take my leave.”

Werewolf struck Lamia on the back of her head, knocking her out, and then dragged her away.

As the muscular and fierce werewolf disappeared, the atmosphere in the cocktail bar lightened.

But at the same time, did the excitement fade? The fox beastman guest and dwarf mentor began to pack up with a sense of regret.

“Hmm, it ended a bit boringly. We should have caused a bit more trouble to make it really fun.”

“…Please, I beg you, don’t say such things even as a joke, guest.”

“Oh my, I’m sorry. I blurted out something pointless because I felt disappointed too. I’ll be more careful next time? Hehe ~”

“I support the opinion of the lady beastman. A man should have perseverance, right? If you give up so easily, what’s the point? Tsk…”

“Pfft… A man with perseverance is attractive. Oh, and thank you for thinking I’m young, but I’m actually a middle-aged woman, mentor. Even though I may not look like it, I have three kids, you know?”

“A patriot, huh? Haha, these days, not having kids is a big problem…”

“Let me help with the bill. Both of you, will you give me your cards?”

The unexpected combination of the old man and the sassy fox turned out to be a good match.

Feeling like I would suffer if I let their conversation continue, I quickly paid and bid them farewell.

As the two chatty individuals disappeared, the serene atmosphere returned.

Even though it was a short time, I felt a lot of fatigue building up, so I sat down heavily and let out a sigh.

“I miss Jaehyuk.”

I’ll go home and check on his condition.

If he’s okay, I’ll just let it go.