Ch.66Chapter 3. Riders Aren’t the Only Ones Who Transform! (3)

A young man and woman in their 20s staying together for three consecutive days from Friday to Sunday?

“Anyone would think that’s what’s happening, right?”

“They’d think we’re being patriotic.”

The Tavern Owner roughly organized the items from the envelope. Then she placed the two essential pieces of evidence she had bought to create an alibi—medical health supplies—under the TV shelf.

“It’s going to be tough filling all 24 of these later, isn’t it?”

“Don’t worry about that. I have ways to handle it.”

“How do you plan to do it?”

“I’ll just magically create them with my Goblin club.”

“Hmm, won’t you run low on mana?”

“Who are you worried about?”

I spread my arms wide, displaying confidence.

“I’m a Goblin. I haven’t transformed lately, and I’m at full condition after healing on Ulleungdo. I’m basically fully charged.”

“But you said you’re going to sneak around during the treasure hunt?”

“There’s still some time until then.”

There were three days left until Friday when the treasure hunt would begin.

“I can recover enough mana for 24 uses by then.”

“The fact that you’re assuming you need to recover means something important is happening at the treasure hunt? I haven’t heard any intelligence about demons appearing there, or villains showing up.”

“They might appear.”

“Hmm. Since when has Section Chief Do been so dedicated to crime prevention?”

“Are you being sarcastic?”

“Not really. It just seems quite different from your previous behavior.”

The Tavern Owner’s criticism was spot on.

“Section Chief Do always comes to resolve situations after they’ve happened. Like a hero who always arrives late to the scene.”

“That’s a statement disparaging all heroes.”

“I’m not particularly fond of heroes anyway. I belong to The Syndicate in the first place. My role is to relay missions that are convenient for Section Chief Do based on information coming through The Syndicate, but there’s no information about this treasure hunt.”

The Tavern Owner lightly covered her ears with her hands.

“If there’s information I shouldn’t know, don’t tell me. I’ll just help with creating the alibi. Okay?”

“It’s not like that. My desire to check out the treasure hunt is just for personal reasons.”

“Tell me if you want to tell me. If you don’t want to, then don’t tell me at all.”

“It’s nothing special. As you said, I’m just trying to do some prevention and patrol.”

“…Is the sun rising from the west?”

Despite my sincere answer, the Tavern Owner just tilted her head as if she couldn’t believe what I was saying.

“Section Chief Do, you’re a villain executioner, not a villain patrol. To put it extremely, let’s use a hostage situation as an example.”

The Tavern Owner pretended to strangle herself.

“…Isn’t Goblin not the person who rescues hostages from hostage-takers, but the person who goes to kill the hostage-taker after they’ve killed the hostage?”

“That’s right. That’s how it’s always been, and that’s how it will continue to be.”

Rescuing hostages is a hero’s job.

I don’t let hostage-takers who have killed hostages go unpunished.

“The treasure hunt will be a bit different.”

But this time, I want to manage things in advance to prevent a hostage situation from occurring.

“What’s caused this change of heart? Hm? Acting as a voluntary patrol when it’s not even a Syndicate mission. Isn’t that excessive manpower?”

“Because Dueoksini might appear?”

“…That’s not in my information network.”

The Tavern Owner’s expression immediately turned serious.

“Am I missing something?”

“No. If it hasn’t entered your information network, then the probability is less than 0.1%.”

“You’re going to patrol for that 0.1% probability? All day Friday? What’s your basis?”

“Intuition.”

“…When you put it that way, I have nothing to say.”

The Tavern Owner raised both hands and shook her head at my words.

“Alright. What support do you need? Anything besides creating an alibi?”

“Just let me know immediately if Dueoksini, his organization, Hwalbindang, or anyone else tries to interfere with the treasure hunt.”

“That’s obvious. But you’re leaving your Taeguk Watch here, right?”

“I have to. If any such information comes in before Friday, let me know.”

“Should I request something from the company? A communication device that won’t be detected by any radar on Sejong Island but will let you and me talk.”

“If such a thing existed, Sejong Island would have fallen into The Syndicate’s hands long ago.”

It’s inconvenient, but unavoidable.

Sejong Island is a place that attracts global attention.

Having conversations on strange frequencies or sensitive discussions, or talking through channels that The Syndicate can’t manage would cause serious problems.

“I’ll think about a method anyway. Maybe we could find and hire a telepath.”

“…That’s not impossible.”

Radio or communication might be susceptible to wiretapping, but ‘magical power’ is different.

“Even with the risks, it would be good to try. Not on Sejong Island.”

“I’ll submit a proposal to the company. Who knows? They might send more team members to support you, Section Chief Do.”

“You’re sufficient, Tavern Owner.”

“I appreciate you saying that, but the more the merrier, right?”

“Then go ahead and push for it. Though it’s not quite a replacement…”

I crossed my hands in an X shape.

“No men.”

“…You’re even making gestures, which doesn’t suit you? Is it that you dislike male team members, or that you want female team members?”

“As they say, a red skirt is better, right?”

“……”

The Tavern Owner frowned deeply for a moment.

“…Fine. Let’s say we get more female team members. Then you’ll create alibis with them like you did with me?”

“That wasn’t my intention for calling them, but they could be used that way.”

“Section Chief Do, aren’t you going to get stabbed repeatedly later?”

“What? What a harsh thing to say. Why would I get stabbed?”

Not at all.

“Who just said that?”

But the Tavern Owner glared at me like I was a man who let a confession from a woman he likes go in one ear and out the other, repeatedly saying “Huh? What did you say?”

“My prediction is that later, they’ll all want to divide you up. One takes the legs, one takes the breast meat, one takes the neck.”

“Am I a chicken?”

“It would be fortunate if you were just cut up like chicken. You’re already on the verge of being divided, and isn’t Do the librarian also hanging by a thread?”

“Do Ji-hwan? Me?”

“Yes.”

The Tavern Owner pulled up a screen on her smartphone.

“First of all, aren’t you having a thing with this student?”

“…A thing?”

The photo the Tavern Owner showed me was of Ymir and me walking late at night—specifically, after Ymir had visited my home for dinner and I was escorting her back to her dormitory.

“More importantly, where was this photo taken?”

“It’s circulating on the dark web. They’re saying the E-class ability user from Canada and the parachute librarian are having a thing.”

“It’s more like counseling than a thing.”

“Well, it’s not like you’re making a public announcement. People who can only judge by photos will all think this way. It’s definitely a thing. Spring romance. Everyone’s expecting you two to go cherry blossom viewing together when they bloom in April.”

“Ymir and I aren’t like that.”

Public and private matters must be strictly separated.

“And even if we were, I have no intention of stopping creating alibis with you.”

“…Wow. I’m the Westerner here, but your view on relationships is Hollywood style, Section Chief Do.”

“That’s right.”

Since coming to this world, I decided to become a villain.

“It’s not like I’m a hero who needs to worry about my social image. Is there some law saying I have to be with just one woman?”

“Bravo.”

The Tavern Owner even clapped her hands in admiration.

“Planning to build a harem as Goblin later?”

“No. Goblin has an owner. I’m talking about the person Do Ji-hwan. The ordinary librarian Do Ji-hwan, not the ability user.”

“What’s the difference?”

“For missions, I can meet various women, but Goblin, which is my identity, belongs to only one person.”

“Perhaps…the Chairwoman?”

I shrugged my shoulders lightly.

“All of this is done with the Chairwoman’s permission.”

“Why did the Chairwoman allow this?”

“It’s part of the Chairwoman’s grand plan for The Syndicate’s world domination.”

“That seems like a picture difficult to understand with a criminal’s mindset. Fine. I don’t get it, so you handle everything, Section Chief Do. I’ll focus on my mission.”

“I’ll do my best to ensure you don’t suffer any harm…oh, wait a moment.”

I answered a call coming through on my Taeguk Watch.

[Hello?]

“Ah, yes. Ms. Seol-hee.”

“……”

The Tavern Owner immediately covered her mouth with her hand.

Just from the name Seol-hee, the Tavern Owner immediately realized who I was talking to.

[Can you talk now? Are you outside?]

“Yes, yes. I’m just outside for a moment.”

[I see. Do you have any plans for the weekend?]

“You’re asking what I’m doing this weekend? I’ve taken days off for Friday and Saturday and plan to rest at home. Thanks to that, I have four days off—Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.”

[Oh, really?]

Baek Seol-hee’s voice brightened at my response.

“What about you, Ms. Seol-hee?”

[I’m going to provide field support on Friday. For the treasure hunt.]

“…You’re going to support the treasure hunt? Wow. That’s amazing.”

I signaled to the Tavern Owner, who immediately picked up a pen and started taking notes.

-Snow White, not on the support teacher list.

“…But is it necessary to mobilize even you, Ms. Seol-hee? I thought it was just a light event for students.”

[I thought so too, but they seem to be doing things differently this time.]

“Differently?”

[Yes. If you look at the official document, you’ll see…]

Baek Seol-hee paused slightly and carefully said to me.

[It seems the treasure they’re looking for this time is Goblin.]

“……Who?”

[Goblin.]

“……”

?