Growing Seeds of Suspicion #3
“Jihyeok… how are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. Everything’s completely normal.”
“That’s a relief…”
Her voice carried the weight of some unspoken worry. I was driving, so when the light turned red I stepped on the brake and turned to look at her.
“Is something the matter? You don’t look well.”
“There is… Silvia unnie is acting strange.”
“Strange how?”
“She keeps touching the back of her neck and avoiding my eyes…”
With a frightened expression, Adele explained everything that had happened the day before. After listening to the full story, I chuckled quietly to myself. I could perfectly picture the panicked look on Silvia’s face. She must have been utterly flustered. That was probably why she had deliberately turned the atmosphere icy and chased Adele away. Hard to keep up the act, wasn’t it? I knew exactly how she felt.
“Silvia went through a lot looking after me in the Grand Canyon. She even sustained injuries from a monster. It seems her mind and body are simply exhausted.”
“I thought the same thing, but… her behavior is so out of character. I can’t make sense of it. Why would she act like that?”
“Who knows… perhaps the psychological trauma…?”
“Did anything else happen in the Grand Canyon?”
“Nothing beyond what I already told you.”
“I see…”
I reached over and gently but firmly took the anxious Adele’s hand. I couldn’t afford to seem overly protective. That would only make me look suspicious. Best to act normal.
We stopped at a restaurant and placed our orders. Then I excused myself, claiming I had a work call, and stepped outside to phone Silvia.
“Hello, Silvia.”
“Hi. Why are you calling? Aren’t you on a date right now?”
“I stepped out for a moment because I had something to tell you. What exactly did you do yesterday that has Adele so worried?”
After a long silence, Silvia answered, clearly embarrassed.
“I must have unconsciously kept touching the back of my neck… Because of… the scar you left…”
The scar I left. The words sent a strange thrill through me. Was I getting aroused? I’d have to recharge properly with Adele tonight.
“Who was it that called me untrustworthy again?”
“…Me.”
“And now the same person is making Adele suspicious? You’re only making things harder for yourself.”
“Are you threatening me right now? Mind your own business!”
Silvia’s sudden outburst suggested my tone had wounded her pride.
“I’m genuinely concerned, so why are you getting angry? I’m handling things just fine.”
“Did you treat the back of my neck yesterday? No, you didn’t.”
“That’s because I forgot—”
“Then don’t say you’re handling things fine! If you had just removed the scar, none of this would have happened. Besides, Adele is only worried about me, so stop being paranoid. Who’s the one feeling anxious right now? Even if I get caught, I can slip out of it easily.”
“Are you shifting the blame? This is disappointing…”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it? Let’s drop this and just tell me how to use the medical device. She seems to be trying to erase the mark herself.”
I couldn’t tell her. She needed to stay flustered for at least another day.
“Why the medical device?”
“To remove the scar.”
“If an unskilled person handles it, there’s a serious risk of complications. The device has been used extensively lately, so we need to wait until the medical compounds replenish. Come to the lab tomorrow morning. I’ll treat you then.”
“So it can’t be done today?”
“Correct. There’s no other way.”
“Haah… This is driving me insane… Fine. You must treat it tomorrow. Understood?”
Though she agreed reluctantly, her distress was so thick I could feel it through the phone. Of course it was all a lie. The device worked perfectly. Tormenting her like this was far too entertaining.
“Getting caught would be awkward for me too, so I’ll definitely treat you.”
“Good… Where are you on your date right now?”
“A Western-style restaurant.”
“Alright… Oh, and delete the call history. You know that, right?”
“Of course.”
“Have fun.”
“I will. Take care.”
I ended the call and barely managed to stifle the laughter bubbling up as I left the restroom.
After a perfectly ordinary dinner and a movie, Adele and I walked hand in hand through the streets. We paused when we noticed a large electronic billboard atop a tall building broadcasting the news.
As Adele listened to the announcer’s crisp, rapid delivery, her eyes slowly widened. She had realized the truth: the events at the Grand Canyon had been buried because of these people. This was all orchestrated by me and Marcela. It served the dual purpose of distracting the possessive doctor while planting tiny seeds of distrust toward humanity in Adele’s heart. As for Pierre himself… he had nothing to do with this particular scheme, but the man was corrupt through and through. His reputation was already in tatters and the circumstantial evidence was ironclad. No one would believe his protests of innocence. The World Coalition would move quickly to appease the enraged doctor. They would likely seek the death penalty for the red-notice fugitives and life imprisonment—or worse—for Pierre.
You should have lived honestly. If you had, I might have framed someone else.
I slipped an arm around the shoulder of the panicking Adele.
“How unfortunate.”
“…This can’t be true. How could people living on the same Earth commit such shameless acts? To cooperate with monsters while belonging to the World Coalition—an organization of justice… I don’t want to believe it. It must be a false report.”
It seemed the story had taken root nicely. Still, even if I detonated a few more incidents like this, Adele would not break. The colossal presence known as Rosario would always steady her heart.
I need to replace Rosario’s role.
I had to become the one who steadied Adele’s heart, not Rosario. I would use every method at my disposal to drag the deity from the pedestal inside her chest.
“I don’t want to believe it either… but absurd things like this happen more often than we’d like.”
“You were one of the victims in that incident…!”
Adele nearly shouted, but she fell silent at my quieting gesture. Once she had calmed, I whispered.
“We’re in the middle of the street. Please keep your voice down.”
“Ah… right.”
With nervous eyes darting around, Adele lowered her voice.
“You were directly involved in that incident. How can you remain so calm? You nearly died at the hands of a monster… Is ‘unfortunate’ truly all you feel? I’m trembling with rage…”
“It’s already over. The mastermind has been arrested. Once the doctor returns, we can investigate the monster collaboration in detail, so—”
“You really are a fool…! With that optimistic personality, you’ll never survive this harsh world!”
Who was lecturing whom? The irony was almost too much. I barely held back a laugh and replied with a straight face.
“Do not waver.”
At that, Adele buried herself in my arms. My words must have touched her deeply. I hoped she would trust me—the one always by her side—more than Rosario, who only drifted down from the heavens to dispense oracles when the mood struck her.
“Still… my heart aches. Does yours not hurt as well?”
“Of course it does. A person who would betray humanity and side with monsters… it’s horrifying. But those of us with power must uphold righteous convictions. Only then can the world change.”
“…Jihyeok, you are a believer with so much to teach me. Stay by my side always and support me.”
“I will.”
This Demon King felt sadder about sacrificing monsters than about those kinds of humans. In that sense, perhaps it was time to recharge.
I patted Adele’s back and asked.
“How much Aether is left?”
“Ah… I checked yesterday. Forty-two percent remains…”
We had used quite a lot. I felt rather proud.
“I see. Shall we head back now?”
“Already…? Well, after seeing that news, the shock must have been immense. I understand.”
Who said anything about going back? We were going to a hotel.
22nd Floor
I took Adele’s hand—she had been staring at the floor the entire time—and led her down the corridor. She hadn’t spoken a single word since we entered the hotel. Not even while I paid for the suite at the reception desk. The fact that she only looked embarrassed and made no attempt to stop me told me she held no real aversion to what was coming. If anything, she might even be looking forward to it.
For Adele’s sake, I had skipped the bellboy or manager’s guidance and opened the suite door with the key card myself. A living room with modern interiors that somehow evoked a classical atmosphere greeted us. Once inside the private space, Adele seemed to relax. She finally opened the mouth she had kept tightly shut until now.
“Um… Jihyeok.”
“Yes?”
“A-are we… staying the night?”
“If that’s what you want, Adele.”
“Then… let’s rest a little before returning to Uijeongbu. I’m worried about Silvia unnie…”
“Understood.”
Relieved by my obedient answer, Adele cautiously walked to the sofa and sat down.
“Order the strawberry soufflé through room service…”
“The phone is right next to you, isn’t it?”
“I gave you an order. Do it without talking back…”
I replied that I understood, placed the order, and sat beside her. Then I stared at her intently, wearing a deeply concerned expression.
“You seem uncomfortable. Should we just leave after the soufflé arrives?”
“W-who said I was uncomfortable? Didn’t I clearly tell you not to read too far ahead? Have you forgotten that you are currently under discipline?”
“You just looked so restless that I grew worried. Why are you acting like this…?”
“Well…”
Adele took a sharp breath. It seemed embarrassing to voice what was about to happen. After fidgeting with her lips, she spoke in a tiny, shrinking voice.
“M-my chest feels… uneasy…”
Oh? So that’s how it is?
I smirked and gently pressed two fingers against the area near her heart.
“Hup!”
The moment my fingers touched the upper curve of her cleavage she flinched, body twitching. As always, Adele’s reactions were delightfully vivid. I asked with a benevolent expression.
“Is it uncomfortable here?”
“No…”
“Then here?”
My fingers slid between her breasts and pressed lightly against her solar plexus. Adele clutched my sleeve tightly.
“J-Jihyeok… I’d rather eat the soufflé first…”
“You said your insides felt uneasy. I’m simply checking your condition.”
“…It suddenly feels better. Could you turn on that news? I want to focus on it until room service arrives…”
Watching Adele speak without daring to meet my eyes, I knew today was going to be very entertaining. This time I would push things much further than I had in Jeju Island. So far only you have felt pleasure. Don’t you think that’s terribly unfair? So this time, satisfy me as well.
“Are you really okay? You must be honest…”
“I said I’m fine, didn’t I? Do you not trust me?”
“Of course I trust you.”
I withdrew my hand from her body, picked up the remote, and turned on the TV.