Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Serial Arsonist
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I shifted my gaze from her face to the name tag on her left chest.
Hyeon A-rin.
The name matched.
'Enchantress of Charm. So you've been working here.'
Before the war with the Demon Realm broke out.
She had caused massive chaos and enormous damage in South Korea.
No less than 13 major guilds completely wiped out.
As a result, South Korea's forces weakened dramatically.
'We had to struggle alone to hold it back, and it was a real pain.'
My comrades and I had fought desperately to block the demons pouring through the portals.
But you can't block multiple hands with one.
'If it weren't for you, South Korea wouldn't have fallen that quickly.'
In the end, most of South Korea, except for the Seoul area where I was, became demon territory.
Hyeon A-rin's abilities were that overwhelming.
As evident from the Enchantress of Charm trait, her power was seduction.
'That's why there were no guards. She could just seduce and resolve it.'
Turning the man who had been raging like fire just moments ago into a lamb was merely the tip of the iceberg.
If she wanted, she could make dozens of people throw away their lives for her.
'Hmm...'
I looked up at the CCTV camera in the corner of the ceiling.
They must have seen plenty of bizarre incidents like this here, so did Taesan not know about Hyeon A-rin's abilities?
'No. They definitely know.'
The lack of guards alone proved they knew her powers.
But they clearly didn't grasp just how dangerous she was.
If they did, they wouldn't have left her working in a place like this.
'They would have used her somewhere she could bring them even greater profits.'
So why was Hyeon A-rin working here at Taesan, taking a salary?
With her abilities, she could just seduce rich people and take their money.
'Whatever. It doesn't matter.'
She's someone I have to kill anyway.
No matter the reason she's here, I just need to kill her.
'How to kill her?'
Honestly, killing Hyeon A-rin wouldn't be hard. I could do it right now if I wanted.
The problem is afterward.
Murder here would face legal repercussions. Very severe ones.
So I had to kill her somewhere else, without witnesses or evidence.
The first place that came to mind was Utopia.
There, I was confident I could leave no traces.
'But from what I know, Hyeon A-rin hardly ever goes to Utopia.'
Pass on that.
Her seduction doesn't work on monsters, so she had no reason to go.
Even if she did go.
'I can't just keep watching until she does.'
I couldn't waste time on something uncertain.
'Then I have to kill her on Earth...'
In the end, I needed to find a way to kill Hyeon A-rin on Earth.
As I was lost in thought.
"Hello, sir."
The line had shortened before I knew it, and it was my turn.
I naturally responded to Hyeon A-rin's greeting.
"Yes, sir. Please show me your resident registration card and some proof of your cash holdings, or the cash itself."
I pulled out the three 100 million won checks I'd received from Cha Jin-hyuk and my resident registration card from my pocket.
"I'll verify that for you. Please wait a moment, sir."
Hyeon A-rin smiled and turned her gaze to the computer nearby.
Seeing that, I was slightly surprised.
'She can smile like that too?'
The Hyeon A-rin I knew?
Her smiles always carried arrogance looking down on humans.
As if gazing at insignificant animals.
But the smile on the Hyeon A-rin before me was different from my memories.
A bit tired, perhaps, but it felt like she was making an effort in her role.
This was overflowing with humanity compared to her past life.
'Well, she doesn't reveal herself until 5 years later.'
Hyeon A-rin, the Enchantress of Charm who seduced the masters of 13 major guilds and sparked a war with the world.
Her goal was singular.
The extermination of humanity.
I don't know why she developed that goal after 5 years, but she tried to kill all humans.
And that included me, of course.
"Verification complete. Lee Han, sir. The entry ticket is valid only until three days from now. You'll need to purchase another after that. The price is 1 million won."
Watching her still smiling at me like this, I kept doubting if it was the same person.
The current Hyeon A-rin showed humanity unlike my memories of her past life.
If I only saw her now, she'd honestly be a talented person I'd want.
With her power, she could even reform useless people in the future through seduction.
'But she's too dangerous.'
The issue was not knowing when she might snap.
And considering those who smash Solomon and incite interdimensional war... her ability had too many weaknesses.
'Not even suitable as a skeleton candidate.'
Her seduction required direct eye contact, and it didn't work on monsters, those with strong mental fortitude, or high resistance to abnormalities.
'It was quite tough.'
I had no related skills, so I don't know how much effort it took to kill her without meeting her eyes.
'No choice.'
Regrettable, but Hyeon A-rin probably has to die by my hand in this life too. A bit earlier.
There were too many things I needed to focus on to keep her alive by my side.
I took my resident registration card, the checks, and the entry ticket card that Hyeon A-rin handed me.
"Here you go."
Then I pulled out the 1 million won I'd prepared in advance.
'I need to look for a chance to kill her up close.'
But lingering after finishing my business would invite suspicion later if I committed murder.
"Thanks for your help."
"Goodbye, sir."
I naturally turned away.
At that moment, Hyeon A-rin stood from her seat and spoke in a businesslike tone.
"Customers, from 12 o'clock, it's lunchtime, so please come back at 1."
Only a few quietly turned at her words.
"Just do mine! I've waited an hour."
"No! Do mine too, miss. What's wrong with eating lunch a bit late!"
"Yeah! Customers are waiting like this, and you're going to eat?"
"If you're like this, just don't let us in! What are you doing!"
Most raised their voices, making unreasonable demands of Hyeon A-rin.
'Would they say that if they were in Hyeon A-rin's position?'
I could only shake my head at humanity's selfishness.
"On second thought, I'll come back in an hour."
"Enjoy your meal, miss."
"Customers are important, but so are employees. Eat first, then work! See you!"
"From next time, restrict entry 20 minutes early. I'll come in an hour."
Hyeon A-rin's seduction quieted their voices.
It was a sufficiently strange situation.
People who were angry suddenly changed their minds to defend Hyeon A-rin.
But no one seemed interested in digging into it.
'Who would have known.'
This was a time when no one could imagine traits that manipulated human minds existed.
I blended into the crowd surging out.
'I can tail her naturally.'
With so many people for the elevator, I kept getting pushed back, taking one step at a time behind.
Unless she ate a packed lunch, she'd go out.
'Here she comes.'
As expected, Hyeon A-rin left the office and stood in front of the elevator.
Just one step away from me.
'Too bad.'
If I swung the dagger in my pocket now, I could kill her before she used seduction.
I pushed aside the regret and followed Hyeon A-rin into the elevator.
'Not going to the company cafeteria? Eating outside?'
The company cafeteria was B1.
She pressed the button for the 1st floor.
'Even better.'
Open outdoors were much easier for tailing than enclosed spaces.
Ding!
I got off on the 1st floor with Hyeon A-rin. Then, keeping some distance, I quietly followed.
'She has an appointment. Her mom?'
I saw Hyeon A-rin waving happily to a middle-aged woman and running over.
I followed the two into a Korean restaurant. It was crowded due to lunchtime.
I naturally took a seat right behind where Hyeon A-rin sat.
After roughly ordering food, I tuned into their conversation.
"I'm so pissed off, auntie."
The woman was Hyeon A-rin's aunt.
"Why? More difficult customers?"
"Yeah. I really feel like killing them all."
Hyeon A-rin's extreme words about wanting to kill.
Was this when the demon started growing in her heart?
"You could do it easily, A-rin."
No.
'What's with this woman? Is she really the aunt?'
The demon wasn't growing inside Hyeon A-rin's heart; it was whispering from beside her.
"Just slaughter them. Quietly."
And the woman clearly knew about Hyeon A-rin's trait.
"Come on, auntie. Don't say scary things like that. I was just venting. And if I did, I'd get caught! Taesan hired me knowing my abilities."
"Just stage it as suicide, right? And Taesan doesn't know your real power anyway."
As I thought.
Taishan definitely thought her seduction was just enough to turn away troublesome customers.
"Sigh. I can't say anything to you, auntie."
"Exactly. So don't say things like wanting to kill people."
By the way, this aunt.
Cunning.
At first listen, it seemed like she was deliberately saying extreme things to calm Hyeon A-rin's anger.
But the reality was different.
It was practically giving her direction.
'Teaching her how to vent her anger.'
Reminding her she had the power to kill them anytime.
"Anyway, have you thought about what I said?"
"You mean coming to the church you attend?"
"Yes. Quit getting stressed at Taesan and come to church with me. You can make way more money."
Making money at church? What was she trying to say now?
"I don't mind going to church, but swaying people's hearts next to the pastor feels wrong. Earning money like that is fraud, auntie."
Everything clicked the moment I heard Hyeon A-rin's words.
Her aunt belonged to a cult. Hyeon A-rin's power was a fruit they coveted.
"Fraud? Are you calling your aunt a con artist right now?"
The woman's voice rose slightly.
"No... that's not it."
Hyeon A-rin immediately shrank, unable to speak properly.
Why couldn't she stand up to her aunt?
One seduction skill would silence her.
'Well, from the conversation, she knows seduction is dangerous herself. And she has a conscience.'
She was showing quite a human side.
To the point the witch from her past life didn't come to mind.
"A-rin, you're all I have in this world. Me and you."
"...I know."
I understood why Hyeon A-rin was intimidated.
"Do you think I'd lead you down the wrong path? You're like my daughter. It's all for our good. How long will you live stressed day by day? Huh?"
To her, the aunt was like a parent.
"Okay, auntie. Let me think a bit more."
"Good. I just want you to be comfortable. You get it, right? It breaks my heart seeing you suffer."
Definitely a cult.
Perfect pacing.
"I get it."
"Yes. That's enough of that! Now, eat up quick. Gotta be back by 1."
"Yeah, you eat too, auntie."
The two ate while chatting amiably.
Mostly ordinary daily life topics.
'So Hyeon A-rin lives alone, not with her aunt. She just goes home after work.'
I quickly pieced together Hyeon A-rin's info.
Her being human now was no reason not to kill her. She went through this same situation in her past life and became the witch anyway.
People can change with circumstances, but not everyone does.
'Sneak into her house and kill her?'
No.
How many CCTVs are there?
Without stealth skills or a way to leave no traces, it's hard.
"Auntie, I'm going to the bathroom quick."
"Okay, go ahead."
After finishing her meal, Hyeon A-rin headed to the bathroom.
Meanwhile, the aunt glanced to confirm Hyeon A-rin was gone, then took out her phone and made a call.
With so many people, I straightened my back and leaned as close as possible to hear. Amid the noise, to catch the call.
"Not yet. Huh! I thought sending her to Taesan would stress her into seeking easier work, but she's holding out. I know! Just wait a bit. And get meds for two. My niece and one more might need it."
Put her in Taesan on purpose? To make her feel society's filth directly?
"Yeah. The woman I mentioned. I'll meet and check her today. If she's real, it's a huge treasure in our hands. Got it. Tell the pastor not to worry. Yeah. She's coming, bye."
'Another woman? Collecting people with traits like Hyeon A-rin? And meds...'
Who knows.
I'd seen and experienced how ugly humans could get in the collapsing world countless times.
Hyeon A-rin returned before long.
"Let's go, auntie."
"Sure. I'll pay."
"No, I should."
"I'm not so broke I need handouts from my niece yet?"
"Okay then. Thanks for the meal, auntie!"
After a small tussle, the two left the restaurant.
I paid and followed.
Tailing ends here.
Watching them part, I turned away too.
Following Hyeon A-rin back to Taesan Auction House would arouse suspicion.
'No need to worry about Hyeon A-rin's aunt.'
Whatever she schemes next to Hyeon A-rin, once Hyeon A-rin dies, it's meaningless wasted time.
Back home.
I stopped before opening the door.
'Could it work?'
A method to kill Hyeon A-rin had come to mind.
Summon Kkaebi right across from the door and unsummon him.
If that worked, after finding Hyeon A-rin's house.
'Summon Kkaebi inside in advance and wait from afar.'
When she returns home, have Kkaebi kill her, then go downstairs and unsummon.
Perfect murder with no evidence or witnesses.
[Can only summon where the summoner's gaze reaches.]
Tsk. Failed, regrettably.
'How to kill her.'
Who knew killing someone would be this difficult and annoying.
Unimaginable in my past life.
I entered, took out the checks and resident registration, and stored them separately.
I planned to enter Utopia until the auction for the [Phoenix's Tear].
'No word on Jeong Sia yet?'
I checked my phone briefly.
Not even a hint of Pure White Saintess.
Then an article caught my eye.
[Serial Arson at Olympic Park Station.]
[Ignition point: bathroom.]
[Suspect confirmed to possess fire-type trait.]
Fire-type trait holder.
It was about time the media highlighted trait holders' negative impacts to build public opinion for regulation laws.
'Wait, serial arson...'
Found it.
The way to kill Hyeon A-rin.