Crisis Escape
"Hello, you're Lee Hyun, right?"
A man in a pure white uniform. If my memory served me right, that was definitely the mana detection unit's uniform. Not your average cops or detectives, but a team made up of at least C-rank hunters or higher—their showing up at my place meant they'd pegged me, an awakener, as a flight risk.
Fuck, what the hell are they here for?
I figured it out quick. The guy pulled an ID from his pocket and opened his mouth.
"I'm Kim Hyun-su from the Republic of Korea Mana Detection Unit. I came to ask you a few questions... You know Bu Ye-ji, right?"
"Ah..."
"We'll need your cooperation for the investigation. You can refuse, but if you do, you'll probably get a formal warrant later and have to come down to the station."
Fuck. It's that bitch's fault. How the hell did they find out? Shit. Gotta buy some time to think. Time stop!!
I froze time first. Needed a moment to assess the situation. One wrong word, and I could end up dragged to prison.
Just kill 'em? The thought flashed through my mind. No matter how C-rank hunter level they were, in my room they'd be bugs I could squash.
But that was a last resort. Kill them now out of laziness, and I might be stuck holed up in this room forever. No sex, trapped in my studio forever? Fuck that. I'd rather rot in jail.
That's too lame.
No, more importantly, how the fuck did they connect me to her? Diorama contact shouldn't leave mana traces...
Right, the phone.
I remembered Bu Ye-ji ditching her phone. By now, it was probably in police hands. That phone had my KakaoTalk messages and call logs, so they'd traced it from there.
Fuck, hope the calls weren't recorded.
A chill ran down my spine. The KakaoTalks to Ye-ji were whatever, but call logs could screw me hard. I definitely mentioned awakening her back then, right? Probably.
If that got recorded and fell into police hands...?
No, too early to panic.
Odds weren't high anyway. Her phone was a Y-Phone, latest model. Y-Phones' perks: gaming and security. Their security was so tight even Waffle Corp couldn't crack it. Server-stored call logs or KakaoTalks? Maybe they could cooperate with domestic companies. But local storage on the phone? Tough nut.
I checked the KakaoTalks I'd sent Ye-ji. Luckily, nothing sketchy. Just stuff like "go to school at night" or "meet tomorrow." Good thing she hadn't replied much—could spin some excuse.
Gotta bullshit my way through.
I brainstormed excuses in my head, took a deep breath, and restarted time.
Time resumes.
The gray-scale man regained color with a weird hum. I looked at him like nothing happened.
"Ye-ji... yeah, I know her. But why? Something up?"
"What's your relationship with Bu Ye-ji?"
"Eh, nothing much yet."
"Around 10:30 last night, you called her, right? And sent KakaoTalk around midnight."
"Yeah. So what?"
The prickly asshole grilling me. Gonna file a complaint later. Can they intimidate citizens like this?
"Mind saying what the call was about?"
"Nothing big. Just... got her number on the street and called."
"Her number?"
...The guy's eyes changed. Like he was staring at a horny trash dog chasing high school girls now that he's a hunter. Fucking prick, gonna complaint the shit out of him later.
"Yeah, her number. Problem?"
I pushed shamelessly. Sucks being treated like trash, but if it clears suspicion, worth it.
He didn't dig deeper. Back to questions.
"During the call, notice anything weird?"
"Weird? Nah. Why?"
They kept probing without spilling Ye-ji was a murderer. Testing me? More complaint fodder. Face the people's judgment, you shitty public servant fuck.
Mana unit or whatever, bureaucrats can't dodge complaints. No real punishment, but it'll piss him off good.
"Hmm, so just got the number, never met?"
"Yeah. Supposed to meet tonight, but she didn't pick up."
"Got it. Station might call later—don't freak."
"What, again?"
"Maybe not."
Lazy prick leaves. I flipped him off behind his back and shut the door.
"Whew."
That was close as fuck. Lucky my lies stuck. Almost exposed my powers. He might suspect bullshit, but forcing Ye-ji's awakening? No way they'd prove it unless she blabbed.
She wouldn't rat, right? She's not that dumb.
Probably...
I sat at the computer. Gonna file that complaint—5700 characters of nonstop roast.
But actually doing it? Too lazy. Me getting annoyed to annoy him? Nah.
Just smack him upside the head and bounce.
Opened Diorama, found the mana guy. Just leaving the villa, starting his car.
Let's fuck you up.
Car exits university road onto main. I intervened, slammed his accelerator full throttle.
50 SP consumed.
Vroooom!
"Wh-what? What's this?"
BAM!!
"Kyaaak!"
"What the—?"
"Car crash?"
His car smashes straight into the signal light. Steam billows from the crumpled hood. Hunter handling mana, so he didn't die from a crash, but staggered out, banged up.
"Heh heh."
Hyundai too, so he'll think sudden acceleration. No mana trace—perfect crime.
Revenge done, back to Ye-ji?
Refreshed, I switched Diorama to her. In the short time away, she was chatting with some dude. Tall lanky fuck with yellow-dyed hair, total thug.
Bitch swore to guard her virginity—what's this shit?
Anxious, I zoomed in. If needed, SP to handle him.
"No way, you actually came? Runaway?"
"Kinda."
"Wouldn't come when I sweet-talked ya. Changed your mind?"
What the fuck? They know each other. Sinlim 4-dong full of runaways, makes sense for ex-delinquent like her. Modern delinquents treat running away like a badge.
"What crew you with again?"
"Black Bear. Top dog in Sinlim-dong."
"Hmm, yeah?"
"Wasn't taking randos, but..."
Swipe. Thug eyes her body lecherously. Obvious perv grin.
"Do me one favor, I'll pull strings. Haha."
He scratched his crotch. Boner, probably.
"You know what I mean, right? Huh?"
Th-that fucker—?! Smirking, he reaches for her shoulder. Luckily, she slaps his arm away with a scoff.
"Sorry, not into handing it to trash like you."
"Oh yeah? Whatever..."
Crack. He grins and grabs her arm.
"I prefer rape anyway... Gaaahhh!!!"
Blue electricity crackles from his body. Zapped by Static Electricity (E), thug rolls screaming on the ground. Survived mana-charged shock, so mana user too. Figures—thuggin' in Sinlim needs mana basics.
"Gaaah!! Fuck, what the fuuuck!!!"
"Heh heh. Retard."
Squish. Ye-ji stomps his flopping head. Pulls cig from pocket, lights with spark.
Exhale~. Deep drag, smoke out. Looks down at him like a bug.
"Lead the way. To your crew. I'm taking it over."