Ch.108A Cozy Stranger’s Home – 3

[“According to the news just received, Examiner Seojin Baek encountered The Elder and Sujin Hyun. Don’t worry. Fortunately, Rina Lee somehow tracked their trail and immediately engaged in combat, causing The Elder to retreat. Examiner Seojin Baek didn’t suffer any injuries.”]

I let out a sigh of relief upon hearing Grandfather’s words.

I was so startled by the sudden news. My heart is still racing.

‘Thank goodness. Thank goodness.’

I was about to head straight to where the Examiner was.

But Grandfather’s next words made my heart pound again.

[“However, his residence was completely destroyed. For now, Rina, that one, took Examiner Seojin Baek with her. From what I’ve heard about the situation, it seems she’s taking him directly to a hotel…”]

I didn’t hear anything after that.

Only one thing mattered now. Rina, that woman, was with the Examiner.

“Grandfather.”

[“Yes. What is it?”]

“Where does that woman live?”

[“Why are you suddenly asking that?”]

Grandfather seemed to have noticed something.

I could see a hint of uneasiness cross his face with an expression that seemed to say, “Surely not…”

[“…Perhaps, Soohyun. Are you worried about that?”]

“You said Rina took him away.”

[“Well, no matter what, she wouldn’t do anything inappropriate with people watching…”]

As expected, Grandfather’s words trailed off there.

He wasn’t certain. He wasn’t confident that Rina would think or act normally.

[“…That one, she’s certainly capable of such things.”]

I immediately agreed and asked again.

Where exactly was Rina’s house? Where should I go?

After pondering a bit more, Grandfather answered.

[“It’s where Dokyung and Jisoo are. Your cousins.”]

“So it’s in the Special Residential Zone.”

[“Yes. The exact location is…”]

Fortunately, Grandfather was acquainted with Rina’s parents.

He said he was once invited to their home and had tea with them.

Thanks to that, I could immediately know exactly where Rina’s house was.

“Thank you, Grandfather. Thank you so much. You’re always my benefactor.”

[“Y-you. What’s with that suddenly? Anyway, I hope things work out well. This old man is always supporting you. And I always love you, my granddaughter.”]

Grandfather ended the call with those words.

It seems he’s already figured out what feelings I have for the Examiner.

His words of support and all this help. That must be the reason.

‘That’s why I must rescue the Examiner from that woman’s clutches!’

Rina, that woman, is looking at the Examiner with impure intentions.

I can feel it. I can feel it very strongly. It’s definitely not the same pure feelings I have.

Like a child who’s found an amazing toy. Yes. That’s exactly Rina’s state right now.

I immediately called for a car and headed to the Special Residential Zone.

I’m very sorry to the driver and security personnel who responded to my sudden move.

But, but I have no choice. I just hope they understand this once.

It didn’t take long to reach the Special Residential Zone.

Fortunately, it was located not far from home.

And I hurried as soon as I heard the news.

“Stop!”

Several superpowered individuals standing in front blocked the vehicle.

I’m not registered as a resident of the Special Residential Zone.

Therefore, in principle, I shouldn’t be allowed entry.

But Dokyung and Jisoo, my cousins, live right here.

Because of that, I’ve occasionally visited this place to meet those two.

And Grandfather had already told me he’d taken care of it.

Thanks to that, there was no problem entering like this.

“How did you… Ah! Yes! Confirmed!”

Sliding smoothly inside, I stopped in front of an apartment building.

This is it. The place Grandfather told me where Rina’s house is.

“I’m really sorry for the late hour, everyone.”

“It’s nothing, miss. We’re just doing our job.”

“Thank you. And please don’t wait for me, go home first.”

The driver and security personnel looked surprised at my words.

Security-wise, there’s no safer place than here, so that’s understandable.

But telling the driver to go home too means I’m staying here overnight.

That wasn’t in the schedule, so their reaction is justified.

“Don’t worry. Grandfather already knows about this.”

Hearing that, they finally nodded in agreement.

“We’ll be going then, miss. We’ll come right away if you call tomorrow.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work today.”

I saw off the driver and security personnel, sending them away from here.

Afterwards, I promptly headed to the place Grandfather had told me about.

‘I hope they haven’t arrived yet and aren’t inside?’

Worried, I surveyed the outside before entering.

Fortunately, the lights weren’t on yet. But I couldn’t be at ease.

After taking the elevator up, I even put my ear to the front door.

‘…I can’t hear anything.’

What a relief. I’m not too late. Yes, they haven’t arrived yet.

What I had to do next was simple. Wait until the Examiner and Rina arrived.

After waiting about 10 more minutes, the elevator started going down to the first floor.

At the same time, I felt it. Very faintly, but it was definitely the Examiner’s energy.

The brief wait felt like an eternity.

What if that woman Rina had already been disrespectful to the Examiner?

While biting my lip and waiting, the elevator doors finally opened.

“…Ah! You scared me! Who are you?!”

Rina shouted and then covered her mouth by herself.

But I had no time to pay attention to that woman.

Ignoring Rina, I checked behind her.

…Thank goodness. He’s completely fine.

“Examiner.”

“Soohyun?”

The Examiner looks very surprised.

It seems he didn’t expect to see me here.

‘Thank goodness.’

Yes, thank goodness. That you’re not hurt.

And really thank goodness. That I wasn’t too late.

*

The Special Residential Zone, and within it, the home of Rina, said to be South Korea’s strongest.

I had been somewhat curious about what such a place would look like, but…

“…”

“…”

Right now, there was a bigger problem facing me than that curiosity.

Three people sitting around a table.

One is Rina, one is Soohyun, and the other is naturally me.

Somehow, the three of us were having an extremely uncomfortable three-way confrontation.

‘How on earth did the situation come to this?’

Yes. All of this is because of Sujin Hyun. Because of The Elder, the villain!

She came to tell me about the secret of my birth or some ugly truth, but…

Damn, I’d like to decline this kind of ordeal that comes with it!

“Okay. Let’s sort this out first.”

I should take the initiative, it would be good for both of them.

So I turned to Soohyun and continued.

“So, Soohyun. You came here… because you were worried about me, right?”

“Yes. I was worried about Examiner, I couldn’t just sit still.”

I see. Yes, this Examiner completely understands what you’re saying.

Encountering The Elder again, the house collapsing, and coming to Rina’s house.

I understand. More than understand. Anyone else would have done the same.

But what can I do? Our Rina sitting next to me doesn’t seem willing to understand?

“Wow. This is really ridiculous. Hey. Kim Soohyun. Do you think I’m going to eat Seojin oppa or something?”

“Yes.”

Soohyun answers immediately as soon as Rina finishes speaking.

A rather sharp voice, and eyes clearly full of wariness.

From Rina’s perspective, who isn’t particularly benevolent to others, this could be behavior that makes her angry.

So I tried to give Soohyun a warning look, but once again, Soohyun’s reaction was faster than my action.

“Aren’t you?”

Um, Soohyun. I know you don’t like Rina.

But surely Rina wouldn’t try to eat me…

“…”

What’s this? Why aren’t you answering? You can answer, can’t you?

Rina, you weren’t really trying to eat me, were you?

“You’re not answering. Can’t you?”

Soohyun also presses Rina by pointing that out.

As if finally coming to her senses, Rina slams the table with a bang!

…Didn’t that crack? I thought it would break immediately, but it’s quite sturdy.

“Hey. You keep making me out to be some weird person. This is disrespectful.”

“Disrespectful.”

“Of course.”

“Forcibly bringing someone who lost their home here is disrespectful.”

“Since he lost his home, our home… Argh! Fine! My home! Happy?!”

Yes, well done, Rina. This isn’t our home, it’s your home.

From my perspective, it’s thoroughly someone else’s house. Someone. Else’s. House.

“Anyway! I was going to let him stay for a night. Since Seojin oppa is moving here tomorrow anyway! As a future neighbor, I was showing some goodwill, and you call that disrespectful? This is defamation!”

“If that was the case, there are hotels and other safe houses.”

“Oh really? Listen, miss? The Elder came and went. That shadow who is unparalleled in stealth. That traitor woman the government curses so much came and went!”

To be precise, rather than a traitor, she’s more like a vengeful ghost.

But there’s no need to mention that right now, so I just sat quietly.

“In that situation, where do you think would be the safest place? Right here, my house.”

“…”

“See? You can’t refute that either. Because I’m right. Right?”

Honestly, looking at just that aspect, I don’t have the confidence to refute it either.

In a situation where The Elder is showing interest in me, a safe place?

As Rina said, her house was the only such place.

“…I admit it. Yes, I’ll admit it.”

“Right? Then apologize right now and…”

“So, I’ll also stay here briefly until tomorrow.”

Both Rina and I almost simultaneously asked, “What?”

“I’ll stay here together until tomorrow. When the Examiner leaves, I’ll leave with him.”

“What nonsense are you suddenly…”

“If you can show such goodwill to the Examiner, you can show it to others too, right? I sent the driver back and everything, so you can do that, can’t you?”

If she truly brought me here out of pure intentions, pure goodwill.

Then she should be able to accommodate her as well.

Rina couldn’t say anything to Soohyun’s question.

‘She’s cornered.’

Incredible. The Crimson Witch just got thoroughly outmaneuvered by The Yellow Madwoman.