Entwined Relationships (1)
“Fled the scene? This guy's got a real bad attitude.”
The woman grimaced at the report with Kang Ishin's photo on it.
Her skin was flawlessly white, soft and plump like glutinous rice cake. Her large, round eyes sparkled like a cute puppy's. Even her sharp bob haircut added to her innocent, fresh beauty.
Her name was Do Chae-hee. Despite her adorable looks, she was a member of the Awakener Crime Task Force, saddled with a slew of ferocious nicknames that clashed completely with her image.
Having read through the summary, Do Chae-hee spoke up.
“So, you're saying this guy's the mastermind behind it all?”
Her superior, Park Cheol-wan, who positioned himself as the team's brake, shook his head at her words.
“Chae-hee, what did I tell you? No jumping to conclusions until the full story comes out.”
“And you said the one who stands to gain the most is usually the culprit.”
“We don't know if he gained anything big. He rescued the victims and even gave them mana stones on top. It's a bit much to just slap a 'bad guy' label on him without more.”
Do Chae-hee slammed the desk with a thud at Park Cheol-wan's words.
“No. That could just be a bribe. 'Take this and scram.' 'Shut your mouth with this.'”
“Killing them to silence them would be easier, right?”
“This is his first offense. His head might still be soft. But a criminal's a criminal. He killed five right there on site.”
Killing intent flickered in Do Chae-hee's eyes. She had the cute face of a Maltese or Pomeranian, but that was exactly why her nickname Mad Dog fit. Once she sank her teeth in, she never let go—and the merest whiff of crime sent her flipping out like a rabid beast.
“Once his hands are stained with blood, he's got no chance at redemption.”
Do Chae-hee's eyes brimmed with murderous resolve as she spoke. Park Cheol-wan always pointed out her excessive hatred for criminals as a flaw. But as the man who'd watched her transform up close, he understood her all too well.
She lost her whole family to criminals.
Five years ago, infrastructure had been woefully inadequate. Park Cheol-wan, freshly appointed team leader of the new Awakener Crime Task Force, remembered that day vividly.
It wasn't a tragedy born of negligence or accident—it was man-made disaster, courtesy of complacent fools.
Awakener salaries were sky-high, and the number serving as civil servants was limited. Awakeners handled arrests, but transporting criminal awakeners fell to regular police.
Armed with artifacts, sure—but no match for a real awakener.
The escaped criminal seized a rush-hour road, turning it into a horrific hostage crisis. Only three survived. Do Chae-hee, rescued on site, had watched her family slaughtered in the most gruesome ways right before her eyes.
Finding her blood-soaked, Park Cheol-wan had collapsed in tears. He'd taken her in that day, raised and protected her ever since, but failed to fix her mindset.
How do I rein her in?
'If just one person had been as firm as you—if someone had thought criminals don't deserve human rights and gone hard on them—my family wouldn't have died like that.'
Even after repeated reprimands for excessive force, Do Chae-hee never bent.
Look at her now—dismissing presumption of innocence like dog food, her face already set on grilling the bastard.
Park Cheol-wan sighed inwardly.
But this time, he had to hold her back.
“You know Congressman Seol came by today. This case is that big. The whole country's watching.”
It had become Korea's hottest scandal.
Over a hundred presumed victims. The gate's closure erased evidence, but a witness—Red Dog Guild master Kim Myeong-cheol—had been there.
He'd stated publicly:
Unspeakable crimes inside. His secretary alone witnessed dozens of corpses. Excluding the five killed that day, the rest were presumed dead from reckless dungeon mining.
The rescued victims' wretched states hit the airwaves, fanning the flames.
No evidence meant chaos. Families of the missing swarmed, desperate for their loved ones.
Anti-awakener figurehead Congressman Seol Rokjin led the charge, decrying how even mountains of laws couldn't stop this. Do Chae-hee had turned away, wiping tears at his words.
Jeong Hosan, Red Dog's rookie investigating a friend's disappearance, had stumbled into it—going viral online again.
Either way, eyes were everywhere.
“So cool it this time, yeah?”
Park Cheol-wan half-begged. Do Chae-hee pouted but replied:
“What temper would I lose interviewing victims?”
Park Cheol-wan exhaled, watching her.
He could only pray for no trouble.
“I'm Lieutenant Do Chae-hee of the Awakener Crime Task Force. Could I speak with Han Jo-hee for a moment?”
Do Chae-hee already knew the basics. She was here for one reason:
The only link to prime suspect Kang Ishin was Han Jo-hee.
She'd heard he was dying soon, but as the sole victim stable enough for life-support interview, it made sense.
But her attempt crashed immediately. A student in Hunter Academy uniform blocked her.
“She's already told everything she knows.”
The boy, face half-hidden by shaggy bangs, blocked her with a droopy, gloomy voice.
Probably Han Jo-hee's brother, Han Seohyun.
Do Chae-hee recalled his profile.
Seventeen this year, at Hunter Academy. His voice was so depressingly listless it drained her energy.
With the family breadwinner like that, no wonder.
“I have some follow-ups for the investigation.”
“She said she knows nothing. Just like it says—he has no idea why Kang Ishin did it.”
Answered before she could ask. Do Chae-hee narrowed her eyes.
“I get the situation, but I really need to confirm with her personally...”
“She's not doing well.”
Han Seohyun cut her off sharply. The raw ache in his voice silenced even Do Chae-hee.
“Her only family came back with a death sentence. Is it too much to ask for quiet time that might be her last?”
Do Chae-hee bit her lip, realizing her mistake.
“I'm sorry. That was my error.”
Ferocious to criminals, gentle as a breeze to victims—that was Do Chae-hee.
Han Seohyun nodded, her sincerity softening him.
Even rushing, she'd slipped up. Clicking her tongue inwardly, Do Chae-hee jotted questions on a notepad and handed it over.
“I'll leave this. If you can answer later, please. I really want to catch that bastard.”
With no gains, Do Chae-hee left the hospital.
One more knew Kang Ishin best:
His best friend on site, Jeong Hosan.
Hidden under Red Dog Guild protection till now—but not anymore.
Do Chae-hee bulged her eyes and headed for Red Dog Guild.
After Do Chae-hee left, Han Seohyun sat by the bed. Han Jo-hee, feigning sleep, cracked her eyes.
“Gone?”
“Yeah. Left her card and interview sheet.”
Han Seohyun checked it and tsked.
“Did you know about the crimes in advance? Cooperate on site? Any separate contact? Jeez, thinks we'll answer honestly?”
He crumpled it into the trash. Han Jo-hee winced at the aggression.
“Seohyun.”
“Ignore that crap. Just rest and recover.”
Han Jo-hee sighed at his words. He'd dragged her here sobbing; she stayed reluctantly, but it felt like sitting on thorns.
“Let's discharge now. Know how much this hospital costs?”
“I know. But how long outside? A day? Two?”
She bit her lip. He was right—she'd collapse immediately.
Without thrice-daily mana extraction, the mana in her marrow would melt her organs. But she couldn't stay forever.
Damn money.
“How'd you pay?”
“Red Dog gave some compensation. Focus on recovery.”
“They should've spent it on you. Academy...”
“Even now, that's your worry?”
Pent-up emotion boiled over; Han Seohyun scowled and yelled.
“If not for that godforsaken academy training fee, you wouldn't be like this!”
Han Jo-hee saw only his knuckles, white and raw. Must hurt.
“Not your fault.”
Her weak words didn't reach him.
He shot up.
“Don't worry about money. Just focus on treatment.”
Han Seohyun shut the door behind him. Chest tight.
Told her to recover worry-free, but prepaid funds lasted 2-3 weeks max. Only thanks to her mana stones and their house deposit.
Red Dog's pittance wouldn't cover the bills.
Had to scrape for massive future costs.
Follow Kang Ishin—maybe get something.
People called him a monstrous killer, but sparing his brother? Not all bad.
Quit the academy—tuition black hole.
Brother would rage, but not worth his life. Talent-shaming creeps anyway.
Kneeling in an alley corner, Han Seohyun unleashed black mana from his fingertips. A dead rat in the trash gap absorbed it, reviving. Eyes glowing red, it heard:
“Find him. That man.”
The rat squeaked into the dark alley.