Chapter 379

Episode 379

Hong Gyeong-jun was the one who most vehemently opposed Song In-myeong’s joining.

Song In-myeong was an undesirable person even from the average person’s point of view, but even more so from the detective’s point of view.

Isn’t it a job where you often have to meet the victims or their bereaved families while solving a case? It’s a job where you can go so far as to hate criminals, and Hong Gyeong-jun was a person with a particularly strong sense of duty.

Have you ever seen someone who was treated worse than an animal and couldn’t even shed tears or scream? The detective had to coax them and get clues about the culprit. Among the victims, there were people who begged me not to remember them so that I didn’t have to catch them. Hong Gyeong-jun has seen many people whose lives are ruined and fall apart even after the culprit is caught.

‘I can’t believe I have to treat Song In-myeong as a human resource.’

It was only recently that Song In-myeong was caught. None of the victims he created so far were alive, but the bereaved families could not accept the fact that the missing victims were dead. Although it may be true for victims who disappeared a long time ago, families who have recently reported disappearances have been in denial even longer.

Hong Gyeong-jun even carried a gun in a country where gun possession is illegal in order to catch Song In-myeong. Of course, he did it with permission, but it means that Hong Gyeong-jun himself had a strong will to arrest Song In-myeong.

“...Are you okay?”

“...I don’t think it’s okay.”

“I’m sorry. I think Song In-myeong came here for no reason...”

“It’s not Lee Jae-heon’s fault, so there’s no need to be sorry.”

Hong Gyeong-jun’s brow furrowed even more at Lee Jae-heon’s apology.

The world works very strangely. Innocent people apologize and the guilty person laughs. What I felt most clearly while working as a detective was that the more good people were, the more they suffered.

“I know that I can’t do anything about Song In-myeong right now. I also understood that he would be a great help to this expedition... I acknowledged everything, but I was just personally offended, so it’s okay for Lee Jae-heon not to worry about it.”

I know this is the best for now, but I just can’t shake the feeling that they are deceiving all the victims of crime and their families in the world. If there was another victim like this in real life, I couldn’t even figure out how I would meet that person’s friends or bereaved family.

‘If I didn’t have the chance to turn back time, I wouldn’t have made this choice.’

To that extent, for Hong Gyeong-jun, Song In-myeong’s joining was truly a terrible thing.

It may be a leap, but I felt like I was Song In-myeong’s accomplice.

“This is just an inevitable reaction of rejection since I am a human being and a detective.”

“I hope you don’t overdo it.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not too much.”

Even though Song In-myeong was disgusting, he had no intention of denying the fact that he was helpful, much less would he kill him. Even if Song In-myeong was killed here, a mannequin would remain that would copy his actions, and it would be impossible to commit murder under the name of a detective.

No one has the right to kill another person. There is no obligation or responsibility. The same applies even if it is the victim himself or his bereaved family. Murder was just an expression of emotion and not an action that could be given any value or meaning.

“I hope Song In-myeong doesn’t do anything foolish.”

So for now, I just hoped that Song In-myeong would cooperate properly.

They are in front of Eonhak High School.

* * *

4th floor: Jaeheon Lee, Gyeongjun Hong, Inmyeong Song.

3rd floor: Inho Jeong, Vivian, Minah Kang.

2nd floor: Garam Yoon, Han Do-yoon, and Kim Ki-jeong.

1st floor: Woo Soo-young Munsan-gun.

* * *

The purpose of this Eonhak High School exploration was to check the swimming pool on the 4th floor.

“I said I hate water.”

“Students say they don’t use it these days... Is there water?”

“Isn’t the hidden world a space where the thoughts of reality, not reality, are reflected? “I think the art teacher’s thoughts were the biggest factor, but even if it’s a swimming pool that isn’t being used, there’s a possibility that it’s full of water.”

“I hope you get up to the fourth floor safely.”

The survivors’ attention turned to Lee Jae-heon after hearing Woo Joo-young’s words from the first floor standby team.

“...What is it? “Aren’t they going to look away?”

“Are you sure you can go up to the fourth floor?”

“Oh, you said that if that bastard doesn’t come with me, I’m going to make a fuss.”

“So are you sure it’s okay, Manager?”

Just as it is common sense that the injured should rest, the survivors had no intention of including Lee Jae-heon in this expedition. Although Song In-myeong’s threats, and Lee Jae-heon’s strong arguments, eventually led to the investigation team being on the 4th floor.

Hong Gyeong-jun looked at Song In-myeong as if he wanted to kill him.

“This is putting the criminal and the victim in the same room.”

“I told you to shut up 16 times since I came into school.”

“Ah, how the fuck can I do something so boring?”

Of course, Song In-myeong kept muttering, ‘I’m bored,’ as if I was in pain because I was worried about when the teacher monster would bother me. For Song In-myeong, who craves extreme pleasure, it seemed like a really painful thing to just sit around with nothing to do while dressed neatly.

Every time Song In-myeong made a joke, it was Hong Gyeong-jun who died.

“....”

“Uh-huh.”

“...Only one...”

“Calm down, you detective.”

“Even for the sake of world peace....”

“They said it couldn’t be done. “If he messes up and messes up, how are you going to fix it?”

“....”

Jeong In-ho just kept his mouth shut with an ambiguous expression, feeling sorry for his bad friend going through a hard time but at the same time happy. Vivian looked away, as if she couldn’t stand the bullshit of her serial killer friend. In the end, it was Lee Jae-heon’s job to calm Hong Gyeong-jun, who was glaring at Song In-myeong with his fists clenched.

When I managed to get the teacher monster’s ‘elevator ticket’ and barely made it to the 4th floor.

“...Hmm.”

“If you have something to say, say it.”

“No, just.”

Song In-myeong glanced at Lee Jae-heon as if he was very disappointed.

He blocked Lee Jae-heon’s path with such blatant gaze that Hong Gyeong-jun could feel it, but Song In-myeong did not show any special action. Except for walking around with your lips pouting.

That made Lee Jae-heon’s guess more certain.

‘I guess I’m suffocating because nothing happens to me.’

He tried to make a good impression on ‘Lee Jae-heon’ by saving him like a prince on a white horse, but Song In-myeong’s motivation seemed to have faded as there were no major incidents while climbing up to the difficult fourth floor. And from the perspective of Lee Jae-heon, who was trying to appropriately patronize Song In-myeong by using his interest in me as bait, this was not a good situation.

‘If you’re too picky, the attention might go back to Munsan-gun or Kim Yeon-woo.’

And just in time, the perfect material was right in front of Jaeheon Lee.

“This way...”

Their destination was not the art room at the end of Building B on the 4th floor, but the swimming pool in the annex, and the door leading there was close to the elevator. After getting off the elevator and confirming that there were no other monsters around, Hong Gyeong-jun led Lee Jae-heon and Song In-myeong into the annex.

After safely entering the annex and locking the door, they turned to look at the pool door.

“...Do you know if there is water in it? “We just look at the structure and then go back.”

“There is a high possibility that there are monsters, so we need to be careful. “I think I’ve said it all along, but if a space that isn’t used often in reality exists in the secret world, there’s a high probability that it’s dangerous.”

“I remember.”

Luckily, we reached our destination without any trouble so far, but that destination was the most dangerous place in this school. Hong Gyeong-jun had an expression full of skepticism, as if he was continuously considering whether it was really the right thing for this member to explore the 4th floor swimming pool.

Before Hong Gyeong-jun took advantage of that opportunity, Lee Jae-heon opened the swimming pool door first.

“....”

A space filled with water from floor to ceiling.

‘...also.’

Jaeheon Lee stiffened.

“...Jaeheon Lee?”

“....”

“Mr. Lee Jae-heon.”

The water in the swimming pool undulates like a barrier and does not flow out even when the door is opened, as if it is not under the force of gravity.

A closed facility with dark light illuminating the smooth tiles. Vibrating moisture. The fishy smell of blood.

What is this room for?

“Jaeheon Lee.”

He unconsciously groped his neck with his hand.

“...ah.”

It wasn’t tied up.

(Continued in the next part)