Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: She's Crazier Than Me
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Today, as always, I headed to work without fail.
*Ding*
'Haa...'
The anxiety-inducing alert that had now been etched into my brain.
'...'
As expected, it was a message from the Prison Warden.
"What incident is about to blow up this time..."
It felt like some kind of curse now.
I couldn't help but feel that way because every time a message from her came, an incident was sure to follow.
[Before heading to your duty station, stop by the warden's office first.]
A terribly short and curt message.
The lack of any explanation made it all the more frightening.
"Please, at least write down the reason why you're calling me..."
I wanted to complain, but what could I do? She was my superior...
With heavy steps, I made my way to the prison.
'Feels just like I'm the criminal being dragged in...'
*Knock knock*
"It's Yoo Seo-hyun. I'm coming in."
"...You're here... Have a seat..."
The Prison Warden looked different from usual.
Her expression was incredibly dark.
She seemed deep in thought, which only amplified my fear of what she might say.
"Um... What did you want to talk about...?"
"Haa..."
With a troubled face, she let out a deep sigh, lost in contemplation.
"Well..."
"Yes, go ahead."
"It's a request you can refuse if you don't want to. But... there's no one else who can handle it but you..."
This incident seemed like no easy matter.
The usually cheerful and tough Prison Warden looking like this? It was unnerving.
My anxiety just kept building.
"Just tell me, Warden. I need to hear it first before we can move forward, right?"
"Haa... I was hoping you could meet with one of the inmates..."
"Pardon? That's... not a big deal, is it?"
"It's not an ordinary inmate..."
"Then what?"
Here's what the Prison Warden said.
An inmate from Underground 3rd Floor named Kim Dain had requested a meeting.
The problem was, she refused to meet with anyone but me.
And there was a good reason she absolutely needed this meeting.
She had already raped and murdered seven men in society.
The issue was that while six bodies had been found, one was still missing.
In that situation, she promised to reveal the location of the last body if she met with me.
"But it's just a meeting inside the prison. What's the problem?"
"She made some demands."
"Like what?"
"First, no surveillance—just the two of us alone. Second, shut down the CCTV as well."
"Ah..."
"See? Her intentions are obvious. She's definitely plotting something. I feel bad even asking you, but..."
"But?"
"The government is pressuring us to find out about that last body quickly, and the public outcry isn't helping..."
That was the situation.
This place had a male population ratio of just 0.01%.
For her to have killed seven men in that environment was already absurd.
Naturally, various facilities were hounding the Prison Warden to locate the bodies somehow.
"Do you think meeting her would be dangerous, Warden?"
"On the surface, no major risks."
"Pardon?"
"There'll be bulletproof glass between you and the inmate during the meeting, and she has no abilities anyway."
"Isn't Underground 3rd Floor only for those with abilities?"
"She's the one who murdered seven men. Even if it was for show, we had no choice but to lock her up on 3rd Floor instead of 2nd."
The Prison Warden seemed quite sensitive to public opinion.
"Then it should be fine. With bulletproof glass and her being a regular human, she can't harm me anyway."
"True. But... my gut just keeps telling me something's off."
"Could you give me her files then? I'll decide by the end of the day and let you know."
"Yes, thank you for even considering it. It's been so recent since the kidnapping, and I haven't done anything for you... I'm sorry."
With that, I stood up and headed to my duty station.
On the way, I checked Kim Dain's files.
'Killed seven men... and powerless... Impressive feat.'
The more I read, the more curious it got.
She was clearly labeled as powerless.
Aren't men supposed to be specially protected?
Yet she, a powerless woman, had killed seven? It didn't add up.
"Hubby, you're here?!"
Lost in the files, I'd arrived at my station before I knew it.
"Hello."
Seo-rin was still blushing at the sight of me.
'How long is she going to keep this up?'
Lately, she barely even talked to me, which was baffling.
"Um... do any of you know Kim Dain?"
"Kim Dain?"
At that moment, Ian spoke up in a startled tone.
"How do you know her? She's on a different floor."
"Oh, just... something came up. Do you know her, Ian?"
"Her..."
"You know something, right...?"
Ian wore an expression like she was hiding something.
"Don't even mention her name. You shouldn't associate with her."
"I really need to know. If you know anything, please tell me?"
"Hubby! I know who she is!"
"You too, Seol?"
"Yeah. The government once asked my family for help catching her."
Ian continued.
"She's just... horrific. Killing seven men... So why her all of a sudden?"
"Well..."
Judging by their reactions, I figured I should keep the meeting part secret.
Ian clammed up after that, and Seol didn't know more, so I headed into the room.
'Haa... Tough decision...'
In my old world, I wasn't the type to take risks.
Just simple good deeds at most.
But my mindset had shifted here.
Why was I brought to this world...?
The criminal who killed me...
After hearing about Kim Dain from the Prison Warden, memories of my own murder kept flashing back.
The burning pain.
My breath stopping.
Thinking seven others suffered like me made me want to at least help the families recover the bodies.
'But... haa...'
The Warden's intuition nagged at me.
She was a Sword Master, stronger than Ian, Seol, or Seo-rin.
If even she felt uneasy, it complicated things.
'...'
'...'
'...'
Five minutes, ten minutes of deliberation passed.
"Alright, I'll follow my heart and regret it later if I must."
I opened the door and stepped out.
Then headed for the elevator.
"Hubby!"
"Yes?"
"Where to? It's work hours."
Seol called out to stop me.
"Oh, I need to stop by the warden's office. Anything you need?"
"..."
Her expression was odd.
Like she was worried about someone.
"Come here."
She suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled.
"Ah!"
Sudden sharp pain in my arm.
The moment she grabbed it, a white star-shaped mark appeared.
"Th-this isn't weird like Park Seo-rin's. It's not weird at all, and it'll definitely help."
"Huh? Why do this all of a sudden?"
"Your face... it looked like you'd resolved to do something reckless..."
Guess my inner turmoil showed on my face.
"What does this mark do?"
"Hard to explain in detail, but... it'll help if you're in danger."
"Mm... Thanks anyway."
I wanted more details, but time was pressing, so I gave her a quick thanks and boarded the elevator.
On the way to the warden's office, I thought:
'Hope my choice doesn't lead to regrets.'
Entering the warden's office, I found her looking even more haggard than before.
"Coming here during work hours... You've made up your mind?"
"Yes, Warden. I'll do the meeting."
"You sure? We'll station plenty of guards outside the interview room, but I'm still worried..."
"It's fine. I want to help."
"...Thank you..."
After her sincere thanks, another guard led me to Underground 3rd Floor.
*Step step*
Tension built.
The closer to the interview room, the more worries surfaced.
Calm down.
She's powerless, so I'm stronger.
If it comes to a fight, I'll win.
Such thoughts eased my nerves.
"We're here."
The guiding guard stopped.
"Whoa... this many...?"
The corridor before the interview room was lined with at least ten guards in a row.
They all turned to look at me.
Not the usual reaction to a man, but varied ones.
Tense faces. Bored ones. Blank stares.
All sorts.
"Go on in. If anything seems off at all, just yell."
The guide kept staring at me, worried despite my powerlessness.
"Don't worry."
"...Even if nothing's wrong but feels like it might be, call us. We'll rush in."
Her treating me like a superior was awkward but appreciated.
"Thanks."
*Click*
With bated breath, I entered.
"Whoa, what the—?! You really came?!"