episode_0033
by admin#33
A while later, Zia returned to the store.
Perhaps because she felt a little better after getting some fresh air, Jia’s expression returned to its usual state.
It may seem a little bit tragic… Ah. No, I guess not.
“Okay, just 6 months. Just wait 6 months… .”
I don’t really know what you’re saying… but anyway, I’m glad you feel better.
Girls that age are delicate. I have to be careful from now on.
by the way.
“You said you had something to say… What did you mean? I thought you said that you found some strange traces in their hideout.”
I turned my head and spoke to Hwayoung and Yunseol.
Apparently, one of the reasons you came to the store today was because you had something to tell me.
“Ah. That’s right. It’s all because of you. You’re giving me such a fun spectacle.”
“… Yes?”
“Anyway, the reason we came is… ”
After that, Hwayoung’s smiling face turned serious.
“The day after we and the police left, a murdered body was found. That of a member of the Land Spider Clan.”
hmm?
“What does that mean?”
By the way, there were no deaths when Yunseol and Hwayoung subdued the guys.
That boss guy is said to have been on the verge of death, but… anyway.
“I think he’s one of the members we missed… Ah. I’m saying this just in case you misunderstand, but it wasn’t Seol and I who did it.”
“Of course I know.”
So, does that mean someone came back there and dealt with the gang members?
“Who would do something like that… ”
Are you by any chance a member of the same organization?
In the first place, is there really a need to do that when even the boss of their own organization has been caught?
Or maybe a grudge relationship…? Could it be that he was one of the people who was captured by those guys like Zia?
‘… .’
Why am I suddenly thinking of that white-haired girl?
That can’t be true. Common sense tells you that a girl who looks so fragile could never kill someone.
I don’t know if he was a person with supernatural powers, but if he was like that in the first place, he wouldn’t have been kidnapped.
As I was shaking my head, thinking that way, Hwayoung shook the glass containing ice gently and said.
“Actually, there is something that catches my eye.”
“Are you feeling it?”
“Remember when I told you a while ago that a strange villain appeared around here?”
After hearing her words, I quickly began to recall my memories.
‘Strange villain…? Ah.’
I remember that day when Gia handed me a tie.
“Okay. Now that I’ve said everything I wanted to say… I guess I should go. I have somewhere else to go.”
“What time is it now?”
Around this time, when Hwayoung came to see me alone, she thanked me for letting her have dinner with Yoonseol.
At that time, clearly…
“Yeah. I heard that a strange villain appeared in this area. Anyway, calling at this hour? I told you, you have no manners. ”
… I said.
I forgot about it because I thought it would have been caught soon anyway. It seems that wasn’t the case.
“… Why that weird villain?”
In response to my question, Hwayoung continued speaking quietly.
“I think it’s that villain’s doing. The traces left on the body are the same as the murders he’s committed before.”
“Yes?”
I was so surprised by Hwayoung’s words that I almost dropped the glass I was wiping.
‘It’s scary.’
When you said he was a strange villain, I thought he was just a petty criminal… but he was a murderer. And a serial killer at that.
And as I thought about it that way, questions naturally arose one by one.
“Why is he a ‘strange’ villain? And, if there was such a vicious criminal… it would have been on the news.”
If what Hwayoung said is true, then isn’t he a ‘vicious’ villain rather than a ‘strange’ villain?
In addition, if there was such a guy, there should have been a villain alarm, or at least a report on the news. It was also questionable that it wasn’t.
“Um… First of all, the reason I said it was strange is… ”
Hwayoung paused for a moment, then moved her lips away.
“… All five of the murders he committed involved criminals with violent criminal records.”
“Yes?”
If it’s a serious crime… I’d say murder, rape, robbery. That’s why they only targeted those guys…
“… It’s because of copycat crimes.”
“That’s right. As expected from a police officer, you’re quick-witted.”
A villain who only kills criminals.
If this becomes known to people, it’s obvious that copycats will emerge.
Even in the case of simple serial killers, there are many cases where copycats appear, and sometimes even psychopaths who call themselves followers appear.
A villain who only kills criminals would be even worse. It’s even stranger to think that he wouldn’t have a fan club or followers.
When you think about it this way, it’s not hard to see why such heinous criminals aren’t reported in the media.
‘Perhaps the police or the Hero Association requested an embargo from the press.’
… But then one more thing came to mind.
“How do you only kill criminals?”
There are very limited ways for the general public to obtain information about criminals.
Because our country protects the identity of criminals as much as that of their victims. Sometimes even more than that of their victims.
“… That’s the mystery.”
At my words, Yunseol, who had been quietly listening to Hwayoung’s story from the side, answered.
“Just killing indiscriminately… Did they happen to be criminals? Or did they somehow obtain information about criminals? The latter is more likely.”
Both are equally problematic, Yoon Seol added.
“I’m not sure if he’s a villain or not… but the people who died from him all had no defensive marks.”
“And there are marks all over my body from being cut with something like thread.”
That means,
“… There’s a high chance that he’s a villain.”
The fact that there are no defensive marks despite having cuts all over their bodies… means that the dead people were unable to put up any resistance until the moment of their death.
“Yes.”
Yunseol nodded at my words.
And after a while,
“Honey, you’re really quick-witted. Don’t you want to be my manager?”
Hwayoung, who is still wondering if the manager position is vacant, offers me the job once again.
I felt a little awkward because it felt like I was flying an airplane…
“… Sorry.”
Carefully, I declined her offer.
Then, Hwayoung smiled slightly as if she had expected this and continued speaking.
“What a shame. Anyway. Just in case… If you feel it’s dangerous, contact me like this. Or you can contact me when you’re bored.”
“… .”
Hwayoung speaks in her usual playful tone.
But I already know from experience during my time at Jia that it’s not just empty words.
… At this point, I’m starting to get a little curious.
“Over there.”
“Huh?”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
The expression may seem a little strange, but… that’s right.
It’s amazing that Hwayoung, a famous hero, is being so kind to me, a simple shop owner.
‘…You just want to make me your manager?’
If that’s the case, I’m sorry, but I have no choice but to bow my head.
As you can see from the number of times I’ve turned you down, that’s a request I can’t grant.
“Um… .”
After hearing what I said, Hwayoung stared at the empty glass for a moment as if lost in thought.
‘…I shouldn’t have asked.’
If you think about it, Hwayoung’s feelings might be hurt.
Even though I did a favor, all I got in return was, ‘Why are you being so kind to me?’
“That… I wonder why someone like Hwayoung would be kind to someone like me… There’s no other meaning to it.”
Having thought about it that far, I belatedly added an excuse that wasn’t really an excuse.
But Hwayoung still has no answer.
“… .”
Suddenly, even Yunseol and Ji-ah next to me are watching this person closely.
‘Ah. You idiot. Think before you speak.’
At that time, I was cursing myself like that.
Swish.
‘…uh?’
Hwayoung, who had been quietly looking at me, tilted her upper body toward me.
Hwayoung and I were facing each other across a bar table.
In that situation, when Hwayoung tilted her upper body, her face naturally came closer,
‘uh?’
Soon, Hwayoung and I were making eye contact, standing about a foot apart.
“Excuse me, Hwayoung?”
A distance where even Hwayoung’s breathing could be heard.
Her long eyelashes, her black eyes that seem to hold the night sky, and even her slightly curved eye tails like crescent moons.
Because each and every one of them is so beautiful that it is admirable…
‘Calm down, Dohan.’
Before I knew it, my heart was beating faster than usual.
“Hey, hey?! Hwa, Hwayoung?!”
“Sister?!”
The people around her also looked bewildered by Hwayoung’s sudden actions. I was the same.
“Um… .”
Whatever.
Hwayoung, who was still lost in thought and looking at me silently, finally opened her mouth.
“… That’s right. Why?”
“Yes?”
Just as I was momentarily taken aback by Hwayoung’s words… she whispered softly in my ear.
“… I don’t know either. Maybe it’s because you were doing a great job as a manager back then?”
A sudden whisper.
“Oh, I see.”
While I was trying to calm my pounding heart, Hwayoung returned to her seat.
“Ah. I guess I’m drunk. I guess I should go now. Seol-ah.”
Soon, she put the hat and sunglasses she had worn to the store back on her face and got up from her seat.
“… .”
Yunseol also appears to be biting her lips slightly, as if lost in thought.
“Okay, see you next time, honey.”
“… Goodbye.”
After a while, the two left the store.
.
“… .”
Even after the two of them left the store, I was lost in thought, recalling Hwayoung’s meaningful appearance.
“Sir. What are you doing? I have to prepare for the deadline.”
Jia’s voice was heard from the side.
But I guess his anger has subsided since he no longer avoids my gaze.
“… I was completely drenched. Just now?”
“Huh?”
“No. I’ll go wipe that table.”
Isn’t it? It seems like you’re feeling a little offended. I don’t think so.
After that, while I was closing up the store with Jia.
Tiring
Once again, the store door opened─
“Well, sir. There’s something I forgot to tell you… .”
─Yoon Seol, with a slightly pale face, came back into the store.
After that, Yunseol strides towards me.
‘What didn’t you say?’
At the moment when I was questioning myself like that, Yunseol came right up to me and said.
“There, there.”
“Yes?”
“You can contact me too, Mr. Hwayoung.”
‘hmm?’
When I was momentarily speechless at Yoonseol’s words, which I could not understand, she immediately continued speaking.
“I also owe you a favor… This time too, Hwayoung and I ended up taking down a criminal organization, so in a way, we benefited from it… .”
“Anyway. That’s what I came to say. Well, bye!”
Dadada.
Yunseol leaves the store right after.
‘… I don’t have a phone number.’
It was the same last time I brought watermelon, and it was the same this time too.
It seems that Yunseol doesn’t like being indebted to others.
… I guess you came all the way to the store just to say that.
“… .”
Thinking about it that way, a happy smile naturally came out of my mouth.
“Hey, sir. What did that guy just say?”
Meanwhile, Jia came next to me and gently grabbed my collar.
“Well, well… .”
“Oh, sir. Your face is a little red…? What did you hear?”
Your face is red?
I definitely feel like something is heating up.
My heart also seems to be beating a little faster. And this dizzy feeling.
No way, me…
‘Are you in love?’
***
The next morning.
“Are you okay, Oppa? Your fever is a little high.”
“Coloc. Coloc.”
The dizziness and fever I had been feeling since yesterday got worse, and I ended up lying in bed.
“Ah. I had a cold… .”
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