Chapter 121 |
It was more beautiful to willingly endure pain while expecting it to hurt, than to be hurt unknowingly. At least, that was what Song Inmyeong thought ‘sacrifice’ was.
And surprisingly, there were two such people in this place.
“…….”
For the first time in a long while, Song Inmyeong felt the urge to kill someone himself.
If only he could capture even that within his world.
***
“…You think someone killed him?”
At Detective Hong Kyungjun’s words, Kim Yeonwoo struggled to keep her voice calm.
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“There were only the child’s and a dog’s footprints on the ground. It seems the creature resembling a dog that we encountered before ultimately killed the child, but it looked like the footprints were intentionally erased.”
“There’s no definitive proof that a person used the child as bait, right?”
“We also found traces of a person there. Bloodstains as if smeared by fingers.”
At the detective’s words, Kim Yeonwoo closed her mouth tightly.
She wanted to ask if it couldn’t have been smeared there without reason, given the inexplicable phenomena occurring in this world. However, dismissing it as something so simple felt inappropriate—they were, after all, police officers. Regardless of how surreal the world might be, it was their duty to question everything they could in the name of public safety.
“As you know… we can’t find a forensics team here. You said the algae monster you saw before was over 2 meters tall, so it wouldn’t have left traces at a height of 1.6 to 1.7 meters.”
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“…To begin with, its body didn’t even have distinguishable fingers. I only saw it briefly, so I’m not certain, but that monster’s hands… were clumps of algae. I doubt it even has the intelligence to erase footprints.”
She, too, had clearly seen the culprit at the fleeting murder scene. Kim Yeonwoo, with her keen observation and memory, wouldn’t easily forget the algae monster’s appearance, and above all…
“…….”
“Have you looked into what I asked you about?”
“Yes, I’ve narrowed it down to about four people.”
It seemed that the culprit they were looking for was among these people.
Kim Yeonwoo didn’t have Hong Kyungjun’s monstrous intuition, but she excelled in observation. Though she couldn’t discern the details due to the extreme darkness of the scene and the culprit’s disguise, she remembered the culprit’s build and movements.
Confirming once more that no one was around, Kim Yeonwoo made a slightly troubled expression. Troubled, or perhaps exhausted. As an ordinary patrol officer, she wasn’t yet immune to such situations.
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“The first is Vivian, one of the university students. His gait is heavier and more casual than I remember, but his build and motions are generally similar.”
“Next.”
“Also a university student, Song Inmyeong. Actually, his movements aren’t very similar, but his atmosphere and build are, so I’ve been keeping an eye on him. I figured a criminal who hasn’t been caught yet could change their behavior.”
“Excellent judgment. Next?”
“Mr. Ha Sungyoon, the doctor you mentioned. I considered him because his build is similar, but he seems a bit taller than I remember, so it’s likely not him. Of course, I can’t be certain.”
“I also don’t think it’s him.”
Detective Hong Kyungjun asked again.
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“Next?”
“…….”
Kim Yeonwoo averted her gaze awkwardly for a moment before continuing.
“…Jung Inho. His height, movements, and atmosphere are similar.”
“The differences?”
“He seems thinner than I remember, but the culprit was wearing baggy clothes at the time. I think he could have fooled people using the clothes he was wearing.”
Saying that, Kim Yeonwoo unconsciously pressed her fingers against her eyes. She swallowed the rising curse within her, sighing at the feeling of her energy being sʊckㅌd away.
Kim Yeonwoo was a police officer like Hong Kyungjun, but she was different from him. She was building her career with the hope of becoming a detective someday, but unlike the true detective Hong Kyungjun, all Kim Yeonwoo had done so far was subdue rowdy drunks and patrol the neighborhood. She had never handled a murder case.
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The current situation felt quite overwhelming to her.
‘None of them seemed like they’d kill anyone…’
Vivian was clueless, but more than that, he was honest and naive. His cluelessness often led him to immediately apologize and ask for forgiveness if he thought he had hurt someone, which Kim Yeonwoo found quite endearing.
Song Inmyeong was often curt and sarcastic, but he always took the initiative. It was Song Inmyeong who stepped forward to protect the group every time a monster appeared, and he especially cherished his friends. He was the one who had suffered the most injuries.
Ha Sungyoon, perhaps because he was a doctor, was exceptionally considerate. She had never seen him angry, but it didn’t seem inhuman. He was the one who paid the most attention to the survivors’ injuries, and he even scolded Lee Jaehun when he came back injured. It was a rather friendly gesture.
And Jung Inho…
“…….”
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…He was desperately struggling to protect his people.
Kim Yeonwoo also understood, because she too wished to protect someone. He was constantly worried that he might fail to protect others—or worse, end up hurting them.
The problem was that, by that logic, everyone was a good person.
“…Could the culprit really be among them? Even if the culprit were really dragged into this world, they could have been wandering alone in the park… or collapsed from injuries.”
“You’re not saying they might be dead.”
“…….”
“It’s alright, I appreciate your kind heart, Yeonwoo. It’s not bad as a police officer who protects the safety of citizens.”
Hong Kyungjun tapped his thigh with his finger and stared into space. Seemingly unaware of his own actions, he continued casually.
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“So, I’ll do the proper suspecting. The evidence I’m presenting is also insufficient if I were to use it in reality. As you said, the culprit might not be among them.”
“…….”
“But the intentionally erased footprints, the finger-shaped bloodstains left as if to show off… there were several traces we could find on the body. It won’t hurt to be prepared.”
At the mention of finger-shaped bloodstains, Kim Yeonwoo reflexively thought of the people with blood on their hands, but she quickly stopped. Given the circumstances, the people without blood on their fingers were fewer, especially among the adult men.
“Have you considered Ms. Seo Janghwa?”
“Ah… Ms. Janghwa is definitely not it. She’s tall, but she doesn’t resemble the figure I remember at all. Especially, I think it would have been difficult to hide that long hair.”
“That’s also true. Excellent judgment.”
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And then, abruptly, Detective Hong Kyungjun’s finger stopped.
“Then, what about me?”
“…Yes?”
Instinctively understood what he meant, Kim Yeonwoo couldn’t stop her expression from twisting.
“I’m certain I’m not the culprit, but you don’t know that, do you? My build isn’t that different either.”
“…….”
“If you truly want to protect them, it’s best to eliminate as much bias as possible.”
He added,
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“There’s no guarantee that someone related to the police won’t become a criminal.”
Kim Yeonwoo couldn’t refute his words.
She knew she was still too inexperienced to be a detective. She became a police officer because she wanted to protect as many people as possible, but she was also naive, unable to easily handle even rowdy drunks. Ultimately, it was because hurting others ended up actually hurting herself.
But as a police officer, as a detective, she had to be able to be suspicous without bias. Especially in a dangerous environment like this, within a strained relationship, anything beyond imagination could happen.
“…I’ll do that. Thank you for the advice.”
“It’s nothing to thank me for.”
“No.”
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Even so, Kim Yeonwoo wouldn’t crumble.
“I’ll try my best too.”
She was stronger than she looked, too resilient to break down or get hurt just because she was doing something against her nature. She had the capacity and conviction to overcome and grow.
Hong Kyungjun, quietly observing Kim Yeonwoo, smiled faintly.
“…You’re admirable.”
“Thank you.”
In her opinion, the more admirable one was Detective Hong Kyungjun.
He left, perhaps having nothing more to say. After all, staying away from the group in a place where some monster might jump out of the darkness at any moment, even if it was within the reach of the light, wasn’t a wise choice.
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Rubbing her face with both hands, Kim Yeonwoo was about to move as well—
“…….”
…But something caught her eye, making her blink.
Her eyes widening, she muttered involuntarily,
“…Just now…”
Was that a person?
“…….”
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She decided it couldn’t be.
She hadn’t felt any human presence, nor had she heard any sounds. The park was mostly filled with the faint chirping of insects and the rustling of animals.
Yet, she felt as if she had seen a pale white arm.
“…Scary.”
Facing her fear head-on, she left.
A fanged vine passed behind her, but Kim Yeonwoo didn’t notice. It moved too quietly, and the darkness was too thick.
By the time she entered the light, the vine had disappeared without a trace.
“Ah, Officer Kim.”
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“Mr. Jung Inho…”
Just moments ago, she had been discussing her suspicions of him, and she was still subtly wary, but Kim Yeonwoo wasn’t foolish enough to be flustered by that.
She blinked twice at his call and approached him.
“Do you need any help?”
“Help… Yes, could you keep an eye on the Manager for a bit?”
“You’re asking me to look after him?”
“Just while I talk to the students.”
“Talk…”
Muttering softly, Kim Yeonwoo followed Jung Inho’s gaze towards the students. To be precise, the high school siblings in school uniforms.
‘Judging from the way they speak, they seem to be pretty well-behaved kids.’
Kim Yeonwoo had actually assumed these siblings would be quite rebellious.
There were no high schools near here, and the time she and her group met these children was still during school hours. She thought they must dislike rules if they skipped school to come all the way here.
But contrary to her expectations, the kids were friendly and obedient, although a little shy. She was now thinking they must have had unavoidable circumstances that brought them this far.
“…Well, the students must be still anxious. Please comfort them.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
She didn’t even suspect that the relationship between Jung Inho and the siblings was worse than it seemed.
Jung Inho was a reasonable person who knew how to respect others, and there were no significant changes in his or the siblings’ expressions, so Kim Yeonwoo couldn’t grasp the true nature of their relationship. The students even seemed relieved when he approached them.
Quietly watching the three of them talk, Kim Yeonwoo looked at Lee Jaehun, who had fallen asleep using a neatly folded coat as a pillow. Judging by the dark gray coat, it was probably Dr. Ha Sungyoon’s consideration.
‘Well, he should be treated well of after being injured so badly.’
Despite having only known him for a short time, Kim Yeonwoo respected Lee Jaehun.
She found it difficult to see anyone in pain or suffering. It was only because of her sharp and cold impression that she didn’t seem approachable, but her friends were always worried that she would get taken advantage of. Of course, Kim Yeonwoo wasn’t a fool who was unaware that others perceive her as easygoing, she wouldn’t let people take her lightly.
There wasn’t much she could do. Even during her school days, she didn’t actively intervene when someone was being bullied, instead resorting to cowardly responses. Like pretending not to see and bringing a teacher over, or secretly putting snacks in the victim’s bag. She always blamed herself for not sharing the burden of someone’s pain.
Lee Jaehun was an admirable adult, completely different from Kim Yeonwoo.
“…He must have been in so much pain.”
Yet, he always worried about others first.
In truth, Kim Yeonwoo was still suspicious of Jung Inho and his group. Sometimes, victims themselves were driven to the edge of a cliff without even realizing it. She couldn’t stop wondering if his nature of readily sacrificing himself for others might have been exploited.
In her eyes, everyone always seemed like good people.
“…….”
…So she always had to be suspicious.
The world wouldn’t always be as beautiful as she wished.