Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Police Questioning and the Director's Plea
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Shooting was halted, and police who had entered from the Dream World took control of the set. The bodies killed by Bram were neatly arranged and carried out, while numerous mages and aura users worked to restore the wrecked shooting location.
"Are you alright?"
A police officer sitting beside the priest of the Truth God asked in a gentle voice. The lieutenant's insignia on her neatly pressed police uniform proved she was a public servant.
But I couldn't think of her that way.
'She's an old lady.'
Old lady.
In Ardenia, elders were objects of contempt. In the medieval land, children were seen as incomplete humans, and the elderly were nothing but burdens who just ate up food.
But on the 34th Earth, it was different.
Even a drunkard deep in his cups would straighten up at the sight of a face full of wrinkles. Offending an elder and getting an earful was never some distant tale on the 34th Earth.
'No way an elder like her is a lieutenant.'
But knowing that no one had greeted her on the way to the break room, I wisely kept a calm demeanor.
"Yeah, more or less. No major issues."
"I see. It must have been tough after such a big incident, but could you recount everything from the moment the set was attacked?"
At her words, I began my story from resting in the dorm when the Giggas units aimed their guns at us.
"Good heavens! Those lunatics."
"Really?"
"My word. Impressive."
She reacted to my tale with remarkable cheer, like a grandmother listening to a child's heroic boasts.
Her way of drawing out the story without bruising my feelings was so masterful it felt trained. Thanks to that, the priest of the Truth God beside her just sat quietly, listening without a word.
'Practically perfect interrogation technique.'
Mages who could read residual thoughts scanned the scene, while the priest of the Truth God verified the statements of those involved.
There was no such thing as a perfect crime.
The 34th Earth's investigative methods were straightforward, leaving no gaps. No matter how clever the criminal, a single speck of dust as evidence meant immediate arrest.
"It's all true."
With the priest of the Truth God vouching for it, the old lady spoke in astonishment.
"Good heavens! Beating eleven Giggas units including the flagship barehanded? That's practically elder-level power, isn't it?"
There it was.
It was inevitable. The feats I'd shown weren't something an ordinary person could pull off.
"...I suppose it's around that level."
"Any chance you could tell us what kind of ability it is? It seems like fragments of an 'authority,' different from simple superhuman powers."
A sharp question. The unbelievable superhuman strength I'd displayed. The anomaly of using internal energy in a space where no one could use mana. The inexplicable healing that recovered fatal wounds in an instant.
Even on the 34th Earth, filled with top-tier ability users, my powers stood out as utterly alien—clearly not something gained through training. And I wasn't even someone with a notable background, was I?
So my answer was set.
"It won't be forced out of me, right?"
"Oh! Of course not. You're no suspect—you're the one getting an award. No grilling you like that. I'm just curious... Oh, and one last thing. Hmm, this might be uncomfortable too."
With an apologetic look, she asked.
"We saw your abilities on video. At that level, it looked like you could have subdued the terrorists before the bio-enhanced trainers died. Why wait until after?"
It was uncomfortable, as she said, but an obvious question, so I answered calmly.
"Didn't want to step in and risk the Justice God's punishment for no reason. Only after they started the massacre did I know for sure I could act."
Honest answer. With the priest of the Truth God right there, it was only natural.
The old lady in police uniform nodded as if understanding. Even the apostle of the Truth God did the same.
But one being was uniquely disappointed.
[The gaze of the Justice God withdraws.]
'It's gone.'
Without these words, the Justice God would've watched me longer. And if convinced of my righteousness, it would've granted me the Justice Armaments, the Justice Weapons, and made me its priest.
'But too risky.'
Getting the Justice Armaments now would mean significant combat boost, but carrying a god's gaze was far too dangerous.
What if that gaze followed me to Ardenia?
It'd be game over, literally. Almost everything I did there would get interfered with.
"Hmm. Good. That wraps it up."
She stood, bowing her head politely in farewell. Seeing the white-haired granny bow so formally made even me uncomfortable.
"Alright then."
The priest of the Truth God left the room first. The old lady rose to follow but closed the open door instead.
Then she turned and asked.
"Oh, right. You've probably heard about Kim Hye-young by now."
Her calm voice made me realize.
'This is her real point.'
Yeah, no matter how you sliced it, a police officer being an old lady didn't add up. I straightened up and replied.
"Yes, that she's the Game Master's niece..."
"Forget everything you've heard about her background."
Boom!
It wasn't a warning or threat. Her eyes blazed fiercely, signaling some immense [power] at work.
'Uh, what do I do?'
Of course, the ignorant ghost.
Couldn't recognize the talisman today either.
"Your answer?"
"Ah, yes. Got it."
"...Why the reaction? Resisting? She really does have some incredible innate ability."
She tilted her head, peering into my eyes.
I desperately feigned a dazed look. Staring into them steadily, she soon nodded.
"Well, seems it worked. You probably won't remember this anyway."
Before leaving, she bowed again, her tone completely different now.
"Thanks for protecting the young miss."
Click.
After the old lady left, I sat still for a moment. Fortunately, no one else came.
'I see. She's 'Kim Hee-jeong.''
Scarlett had once introduced herself as the great-granddaughter of Elder Kim Hee-jeong.
Obviously a lie.
If she were really the Game Master's niece, there'd be no living great-grandmother. And if that family had an elder to revere, it'd be the Game Master himself.
In other words, Kim Hee-jeong was.
'She called her 'young miss.' Probably from a palace maid lineage or butler family. Gotta watch my step from now on.'
I'd grown strong. Even bungling a mental spell, catching an 8th-class mage proved I had combat power viable even in the greater universe!
But even so, caution was key on the 34th Earth.
This was a demon realm where even transcendents got arrested by police if they broke the law.
"Ah! Jaeyeon!"
As I left the room, Allen, who'd been pacing nearby, rushed over.
My face instinctively scowled.
"No thanks."
"Hey, don't say it like that—you're hurting my feelings. I haven't even said anything yet!"
"Don't use the footage of me fighting the terrorists."
His eyes twitched at my firm, precise refusal, but he shook it off and grinned brazenly.
"Come on, hear me out. I've got some great tea. This is All-Souls Tea—an amazing elixir, right?"
Allen trailed behind me, whispering.
His whispers burned with such heat that even I felt flushed.
"I can make you a star! Even as an extra, you'll be one of the leads! I stake my filmmaking career on it—this one's a guaranteed hit!"
"No thanks."
"It could be the masterpiece of my life! Your name could spread across the universe!"
"Not interested."
Faced with my iron wall, the middle-aged man grabbed my arm and whined.
"Aw, come on, don't do this. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance! Any actor would kill for—"
"I'm not an actor. Just here on Scarlett's request."
"Ah, so that's why you did that stunt with your freakish abilities. Hye-young brought us a lucky charm!"
I glanced at Allen. He was one of those who'd heard Scarlett's true identity from Bram.
But now, he seemed utterly clueless.
'Memory wiped. And he's a 7th-class high mage...'
Chilling, but I shook my head and moved on.
It was inevitable—anything involving the Present Human God, the Game Master.
"W-well, then lots of pay. 200 million! What about 200 million? Nothing compared to superstardom..."
"..."
I hesitated. And Allen noticed.
"Eh? Whoa? You wavered just now, right?"
"...No can do. My personal info would spread everywhere."
"250 million."
"People recognizing me would be inconvenient all around..."
"300 million!"
"Immigrants might hold grudges..."
"Ugh, budget won't stretch more... Ah! Okay, if you let us use that footage for the documentary too, I can squeeze 400 million. And safety? No worries! Police HQ and Justice Temple are already on it."
"Hmm..."
"I'll cover it from my own pocket. 500 million! Now it's really tough..."
Pleading eyes. I made up my mind.
"No deal."
"Aargh! Why are you like this! You trying to kill me? Ah! Please! Please let me use it! Let me use it!!"
Allen flopped to the floor, throwing a full tantrum.
I stared in disbelief. Was this really a 7th-class high mage?
"Alright then."
As I tried to leave without a care, Allen sprang up like he'd never fallen and kept persuading.
"I'll add running guarantee to the contract! Better than world-class actors! This film's a sure blockbuster! You'll rake in at least a billion!"
"..."
A billion.
Enough to buy 100,000 class cards. Arm myself in legendary gear, learn multiple legendary skills. Even buy a restaurant, build a mythic-grade castle.
'Ah, no...'
Seeing me waver, Allen said.
"Come on, listen. The lead actress Hye-young gets 100 million flat plus 100 won per extra viewer past break-even. Top star Sung-jae gets 200 million flat plus 200 won per extra. You? 500 million flat plus 100 won per extra! Insane terms! Investors would strangle me if they knew!"
His desperate pitch dragged a question out of me.
"...Why go this far?"
"Because your fight scene's worth it!"
Allen's eyes gleamed at me, borderline manic.
'He's really movie-obsessed...'
A 7th-class mage. Revered in any greater universe civilization.
If he'd lived elsewhere, he might've been wealthier and more respected than here.
At least no begging a younger guy over one scene.
"Ha..."
I raised my hand. And grabbed Allen's.
A sigh escaped me.
"Wonder if this is smart..."
"You'll never regret it!"
Hearing his bursting cheer, I had a premonition.
In all sorts of ways.
My life was about to change dramatically.