Ch.131The Investigation Doesn’t End

“You’re here.”

With a clatter, Starlight opened the door and entered, looking the same as always.

Her hero suit and body still bore traces of the battle she had just fought.

Her slowly fading special ability completely subsided, and her hair, which had been dyed red from the influence of her power, settled down.

“Hyena? Why are you here?”

“Sis…”

“What’s this? Did you contact Hyena when arresting Park Deun-deun?”

“Well, during the identity verification of Park—I mean, Han Mu-ryo.”

Slightly surprised to find Yu Hyena here, Starlight then turned a cold gaze toward me.

“So, Mr. Park Deun-deun.”

That look—perhaps it’s because I’m keeping my monster core suppressed as much as possible.

Starlight hasn’t noticed that I’m Black Cat.

“Nice to meet you—well, not exactly. It’s been a while.”

“Hm?”

“Surely you haven’t forgotten? We met before in Kowloon Walled City.”

“Huh? Mu-ryo was in Kowloon Walled City?”

Ah, that time.

Since I often meet Starlight when I’m Black Cat, it took me a moment to understand what she meant.

The last time I encountered Starlight in human form was at Kowloon Walled City.

It’s been quite a while.

“I see.”

“My little sister has been imposing on you every weekend. Thank you.”

“Hmm.”

All I have to do is be there and they give me food—shouldn’t I be the one thanking her?

Feeling awkward about Starlight’s greeting, I shook her outstretched hand.

About half the size of mine, her hand—not wrapped in the ominous flames that usually surround it—was so small.

“Don’t worry, I roughly know that Park Deun-deun is innocent. I also know he’s someone who does a lot of… strange things.”

“Yes, Mu-ryo isn’t a bad person, just… well, a strange one.”

“I’ve been hearing about you from Hyena through Might. You went to A City because you were hungry?”

“That’s right.”

“And then, when the city collapsed from monster damage, you walked back to W City… how did you avoid the surveillance cameras?”

“There were places where I wasn’t recorded.”

“Sounds like the smuggling routes villains used to use.”

“You mean those routes that keep popping up no matter how many times they’re eliminated because corrupt officials take bribes? How did you know about those routes?”

“Gu Seo-ryong taught me.”

“…I guess you heard about it while in Kowloon Walled City.”

With a sigh, Starlight sat down across from me.

“Mr. Park Deun-deun, you seem to be doing too many strange things.”

“That’s unfair.”

“Considering what you’ve been doing, you shouldn’t feel unfair, right? These days, only monsters or villains walk alone outside the city. On top of that, your reason was the absurd excuse that you were hungry, and this time you caused a disturbance also because you were hungry… Sigh, of course, we understand your food intake, but if you’re hungry, you should work to earn money.”

“That’s not possible.”

“That’s right, sis. With the Black Cat special situation, many jobs have disappeared. Mu-ryo was just starving because there was no work. We should eliminate the problem itself rather than punishing people.”

“So, I’m saying I’ll consider mitigating circumstances. But separately, this person needs some education.”

“Education?”

“You’re an A-rank superhuman, right?”

Starlight manipulated her tablet and handed it to me.

The screen displayed “Basic Education for A-rank Superhumans.”

“The disturbance you caused this time and sneaking out to A City—these can only be seen as actions taken while intoxicated by your own power. You need to learn what power an A-rank superhuman has and what damage they can cause if misused. Take some education for a while. Since you go to the soup kitchen every weekend to guard Hyena anyway, watch these videos then and have Hyena test you.”

“Huh? Is that the extent of the punishment? Just completing education?”

“He hasn’t really done anything wrong. He uses aliases a lot and does many strange things, but that just seems like someone who needs social education.”

The punishment for becoming the central figure in this disturbance was very light.

Yu Hyena stood behind me with relief, patting my shoulders.

“That’s right, Mu-ryo just doesn’t know much because he was confined for a long time. He’s someone who does well when taught.”

“Wait, what’s this about? What do you mean confined?”

“Ah, well…”

Yu Hyena gave me an apologetic look, asking if it was okay to tell.

I nodded that it was fine, and she summarized our conversation for Starlight.

“Illegal human experimentation? Was that the one from the superhuman soldier era?”

“Wow, so that urban legend was actually true?”

“It’s not in the archives, but Teacher Yeo Un-jae and Sister Yeoryeong once told me they went to suppress it. Sigh, then he’s truly a victim who went through something terrible…”

“Hmm… I suddenly understand why this person is so strange. If he was confined in an illegal laboratory for a long time, it would be strange if he were normal.”

“Now I feel too sorry to ask him to become a hero.”

“Park Deun-deun as a hero?”

“Now that we know, we can’t just leave an A-rank superhuman alone. And… this person has a high possibility of becoming S-rank. Teacher guaranteed it.”

Starlight opened a flat metal case attached to her waist and took out a notebook.

With Yeo Un-jae’s memories, I immediately recognized what Starlight had taken out.

It was the diary that Yeo Un-jae had been writing by hand.

“He doesn’t listen, but he has genius talent. He can copy techniques just by watching them. He has monster-level reflexes and sometimes moves like a beast. When I had my disciples treat him to meals, the food bill was enormous… The diary says he could show A-rank or higher skills if properly taught.”

“Wait, this person was taught by Teacher Yeo Un-jae?”

“It seems he tried hard to recruit him as a disciple. He showed him many techniques too.”

“Ah, that’s why his movements…”

With a tap, Starlight closed the diary and looked at me.

“I’m asking just in case, but do you have any interest in becoming a hero?”

“No.”

“I thought so. It’s disappointing, but can’t be helped.”

Starlight’s desire for me to become a hero was quite strong, but it disappeared without lingering as soon as I refused.

Yu Hyena and Iron Might were the same; I wondered about their clean abandonment.

“You’re not going to force me more?”

“Honestly, I was planning to hold you here to ask a bit more. But it doesn’t feel right to cling to someone who’s been through such experiences.”

“I thought you’d force me to become a hero.”

“…I detest conscripting someone against their will.”

“And forcing someone to be a hero wouldn’t make them a proper hero anyway.”

At Starlight’s answer, I sensed a dark, sweet emotion from Yu Hyena.

As if something unpleasant had happened, Iron Might’s expression wasn’t good either.

“Anyway… that concludes the important investigation regarding Mr. Park Deun-deun. You’re free to go.”

“I hope you’ll continue to be a cooperative superhuman to heroes in the future. Even if not a definite ally, definitely not an enemy.”

“Is it over?”

“Yes, it’s over.”

“Mu-ryo, good job! You must be hungry, let’s go eat something delicious together!”

With that, the investigation about me was concluded.

Just as I was about to get up from my seat.

“By the way, Park Deun-deun, what’s your relationship with my little sister?”

Yu Anna frowned at the sight of Yu Hyena linking her arm with mine as I stood up.

“Hyena, you’ve been saying ‘our Mu-ryo,’ ‘our Mu-ryo’… what’s going on?”

“Huh? Um? Did I… say that?”

“You did. What’s really going on? What’s between you two?”

“We’re nothing.”

“Urgh.”

When I calmly stated the truth, both Yu Hyena and Yu Anna’s moods worsened simultaneously.

“Nothing? You’re nothing, yet Hyena follows you around like this?”

“St-stop it, sis…”

“Has Yu Hyena been following me?”

“If following you to the interrogation room and insisting you’re innocent isn’t following, then what is it? Hyena, you’ve never been like this. What’s going on?”

“What is it?”

“Stop it! Stop, stooop!”

When I asked Yu Hyena out of curiosity, her face turned red as she grabbed Starlight and shook her, creating a mirage that had escaped her control.

“Whatever is between Mu-ryo and me is none of your business, sis!”

“You stay quiet. You, tell me straight what’s between you and Hyena. Even if I know you’re not a bad person, if you’re using Hyena, I won’t let it slide as her sister.”

“Stop it! Mu-ryo really doesn’t know anything!”

“Doesn’t know anything? That’s a problem in itself, isn’t it? You’re showing such obvious signs, and he—mmph!”

“Kyaaaah! Be quiet!”

Yu Hyena rushed to Starlight and covered her mouth with both hands.

Starlight didn’t forcibly push Yu Hyena away but just tried to avoid her by turning her head this way and that.

“Hyena? Wait, I’m not trying to say anything, but Park Deun-deun has many strange points.”

“He’s strange but not a bad person, like you said! Don’t interfere!”

“Mmph…! I hate to say this, but! Park Deun-deun! He was suspected of being Gu Seo-ryong’s lover! Though we decided that wasn’t the case, what if he’s just someone who uses women!”

“Gu Seo-ryong’s l-lover?! Mu-ryo isn’t that kind of promiscuous person!”

“That’s why! Why are you so blindly…! That person…! M-Might! Don’t let Park Deun-deun go! I need to investigate more!”

“Um, isn’t that abuse of power?”

“It’s not abuse! If anything, turning a blind eye to some questions because of Hyena’s friendship is the abuse!”

Yu Hyena wrapped her arms around Starlight’s neck and choked her, while Starlight, looking troubled, ordered Iron Might to hold me.

Iron Might sighed and moved a chair next to me to sit down.

“I probably couldn’t hold you even if I tried, but could you please wait a bit?”

“I’m hungry.”

“He says he’s hungry! We’re going to eat together, so mind your own business, sis! Mu-ryo hasn’t eaten anything since lunch today!”

“Wait a minute? All those payments at the park during lunch were for feeding him? Then maybe all those strange charges that occasionally appeared were…?!”

“Why are you stealing my payment history! Sis, this is invasion of privacy!”

“Hyena! Stop choking my neck! Your sister is struggling! You’ll get hurt doing that!”

An S-rank hero’s body is a weapon that can tear a human body like tissue with just a slight mistake.

Because of this, Starlight couldn’t properly resist and was being held by her younger sister.

“Mr. Han Mu-ryo, if you’re hungry, do you like seolleongtang?”

“Seolleongtang?”

“Shall I order some for you?”

As the two rolled on the floor, Iron Might calmly handed me his tablet.

The screen showed a food delivery site.

“How much do you eat? I eat about 20 servings per meal.”

“Are you on a diet?”

“No, I’m actually trying to bulk up… What do you do to have such a good physique, Mu-ryo?”

“Eat a lot and sleep a lot.”

“Ha, I’m jealous…”

“Hyena, let go! Let go! It’s dangerous! Your sister is really getting angry!”

“You think I’m not angry?!”

“Kyaaah! Don’t poke my eyes!”

I took the tablet from Iron Might and carefully entered the amount I wanted to eat.

“…Is this even human?”

#

“Slurp slurp slurp!”

I scooped up broth from a pot full of seolleongtang with a large ladle.

Why hadn’t I thought of this before?

Eating like this eliminates the need to order multiple bowls.

Iron Might is a genius.

“Wow, he really eats well.”

“Mmm.”

“Is it delicious?”

“This is a great restaurant.”

“…It’s a place heroes often visit.”

Starlight, Yu Hyena, Iron Might, and I.

The four of us were now sitting not in the narrow, dark interrogation room but at a table in the underground cafeteria.

The reason was that the interrogation room table was too small for the four of us to eat together.

Yu Hyena watched me eat with a smile as she moved her spoon.

Beside her, Starlight, with rare injuries on her face, wore a sullen expression as she lifted her bowl to drink the soup.

“You know how to drink it.”

“Hmph, is that how you seduced Hyena?”

“Sis, does that sound like seduction to you? Even with no dating experience, come on.”

“What?! You’re one to talk, you’ve only watched dramas!”

“You don’t even watch dramas.”

“Haha, heroes have no time for dating or watching dramas.”

“Hmm.”

Finding something strange, I stared at him, and Iron Might slowly averted his gaze.