Chapter 53
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Photograph
A Photograph
"Why is Si-hoo keeping her? Are they close? Did she go over to his house?"
I still don't get it.
It's not like Si-hoo is living with some other girl.
This is strange.
"Well... if you had to put a label on it, probably kidnapping?"
"Huh?"
"You probably wouldn't believe me even if I told you... If you go to Ms. Lee Yoo-ram right now, she'll deny her sister's existence entirely."
What is he talking about?
"...Maybe she's not his sister?"
"No, I confirmed it with my ability, so I'm certain. I haven't told anyone, but it's clear Han Si-hoo is committing kidnapping, confinement... and even blackmail."
"Why...?"
I still don't understand.
This Seol Ha-jin... has he lost his mind?
Or am I the strange one for listening to this?
Kidnapping, confinement, blackmail?
"I knew you'd find it hard to believe. I'm only telling you because you seem to have some interest in Han Si-hoo."
"But Si-hoo lives in the dorms. In the first place..."
Let's set aside the reason for a moment.
Fine.
Where would he kidnap and confine someone?
"That guy... I think he might have a spatial movement skill. It looks like he has a lot of other hideouts and residences, too."
"There's no way the people around him wouldn't know if he was causing that much trouble."
"I don't think the people around Han Si-hoo are completely clueless. Maybe they're accomplices..."
What is he saying?
What in the world is he saying?
"S-So, what's wrong with that teacher's sister?"
"I don't know for sure. I just know she's sick. And that Han Si-hoo is using it as leverage against Ms. Lee Yoo-ram."
Everything he says is just bizarre.
"Then what do you want me to do? Are you close with this sister? Is that why you're doing this?"
"No, I've never even met her in person."
Seol Ha-jin replied slyly.
"Are you trying to mess with me?"
"Go and see for yourself. I'm telling you, it's true. You'll keep your promise to heal me, right? A promise is a promise."
"Well..."
"It's true. Han Si-hoo is a bad guy."
He seems to hate Han Si-hoo.
"No way."
"That's how people see him, but just look at that Yoo Seo-ah girl from before. It's strange, I tell you."
"......"
"Wow, you have no idea how frustrated I've been with no one to tell this to. Han Si-hoo is a terrifying guy."
Isn't this slander on the level of a conspiracy theory?
It would be easier to believe he just made this up because he hates Han Si-hoo.
This is driving me crazy.
"No, I just don't understand any of it, the kidnapping, the confinement..."
I'm not even sure what I'm hearing anymore.
Shouldn't he be the one getting treatment?
"I didn't ask Han Si-hoo directly because I thought I'd get killed, so please, Saintess, go and look into it for me. If there's no kidnapping or anything like that... you can forget about the treatment."
He said in a serious tone.
It was still just nonsense, though.
"Seriously."
He spoke again.
This time, all the playfulness was gone.
"Han Si-hoo is not normal."
*He's probably had more dealings with him than I have.*
It was novel to meet someone so hostile toward Han Si-hoo.
To even call him abnormal.
It's true that I don't know Han Si-hoo well.
We haven't gotten properly close yet.
"Alright. I'll look into the... kidnapping and all that."
Kidnapping, confining, and blackmailing a teacher's younger sister?
Han Si-hoo did that?
It doesn't fit his image.
He seems kind, good-natured, and righteous.
Is he the same type as me?
Many people assume I'm good just because of the name 'Saintess'.
But Han Si-hoo really is a good person.
Whatever.
I'll just have to get to know what I don't know.
But kidnapping and confinement... that's a bit...
There must be some misunderstanding.
The most likely possibility is that the Seol Ha-jin in front of me has lost his mind.
***
I returned home.
No matter how many times I thought it over, it was still strange.
Something had gone wrong.
I had tried to use Yoo Seo-ah to get closer to Han Si-hoo.
But somehow, a teacher's sister whose name I didn't even know had popped up.
Kidnapping, confinement, blackmail.
The more I mulled it over, the stranger it seemed.
"Why would Si-hoo do something like that..."
No, should I be suspicious?
If that girl, Seo-ah, was really a close friend, it's a mystery why he'd let her use drugs.
Could Si-hoo have a darkness I don't know about?
There are a lot of strange people in the slums.
Still, I like Si-hoo.
So I have no intention of giving up.
"I really need to get closer to him."
What's the best way to get close to someone?
By putting them in my debt?
What if I were to rescue Seo-ah?
That's a new approach.
No... just giving him information about Seo-ah would probably increase our intimacy.
I'll make Si-hoo bring it up first.
Then, after hearing about Seo-ah, I'll offer to look into it for him.
I'm not exactly lacking in information-gathering skills, after all.
*Ping.*
A message arrived.
This time, it was a photo, not a video.
"Whoa..."
She looks broken.
Was this taken right after an experiment?
But the person in question was smiling, which made it even weirder.
It's good that I have more material to give Si-hoo, but who is doing this?
I have no idea who would do such a thing.
Why aren't they sending these photos and videos directly to Han Si-hoo?
They must know I can draw him in.
Whoever it is, they even emphasized that Yoo Seo-ah and Han Si-hoo are friends when they sent it...
I don't understand their motive.
I really don't get it.
I'd been trying to ignore it, but who really is this?
It was a woman's voice.
A voice I'd probably never heard before.
Who are you, really?
Ah.
My head hurts.
Why are you doing this to me?
Last time, I panicked and used the drug.
Even if I can self-heal, I should refrain from using the drug.
I might do something crazy if I get too worked up.
"...Though it does feel good to use it."
Maybe the Yoo Seo-ah in the photo had no complaints either.
There are plenty of people who would do anything like a dog if you just gave them drugs.
"Poor Si-hoo. To have a friend like this..."
But why are they even friends?
What did Si-hoo do to make Seo-ah end up like that?
Han Si-hoo is someone who believes in protecting his friends.
When I first met Seo-ah, she didn't seem like the type to have any friends.
Did Si-hoo abandon her?
No, that's strange too.
"Maybe... it's better to just ask Si-hoo directly after all."
My thoughts are too jumbled.
So many unrealistic stories.
"What if, by some chance..."
What's the worst-case scenario?
"What if Si-hoo really is a piece of trash who abandoned his friend from the slums and is kidnapping, confining, and blackmailing a teacher's family?"
I can't imagine why he'd do such a thing.
But if, just if, by some miracle of a chance.
"Then could bringing up Seo-ah be counterproductive...?"
I have no way of knowing what happened between them.
This whole mess is happening because I don't know anything.
"I thought we were at least a little close, but I guess not."
Then again, no matter how close you are, it's hard to tell someone you have a friend like Seo-ah.
Or that you're kidnapping and confining someone somewhere.
Everything I know is just what I've heard from others.
To find out the truth...
Ah, right.
I don't have to be the one to leak information about Seo-ah.
What if I pretend to be an anonymous source, pass on the information about Seo-ah, and see his reaction?
That's a good idea.
I'll do it right away.
***
Reclaiming the number one rank.
Ending Cheon Yu-hwa's reign, Han Si-hoo officially became number one.
The ranking chart was posted on the bulletin board.
You could check the rankings on your device, but seeing it printed and posted like this felt different.
The problem wasn't the ranking chart.
Pinned to the bulletin board was a photograph.
"...Who would do this..."
It was a photo of him eating with Seo-ah.
The reason it was on the bulletin board was unknown.
There was no one else near the bulletin board besides Han Si-hoo.
The photo had been placed there with him in mind.
*Tink.* A thumbtack fell to the ground.
It was the first time he'd seen the photo, but he knew when it was taken.
Something was written on the back.
"Outside the Academy, to the alley next to the bookstore. 6:30 PM."
He didn't know who did it.
Very few people even knew of Seo-ah's existence.
"Are they proposing a secret meeting?"
Just what he wanted.
He had to find out who was behind this.
"...I have someone to meet at 7 anyway."
He had an appointment with the Saintess.
He could stop by an alley before the meeting.
Did he really have to wait until 6:30 PM?
Really?
As if it were the most natural thing to do, Han Si-hoo immediately skipped class.
He arrived at the alley at 1 PM.
For the number one ranker, classes were largely meaningless.
No teacher, no one, could stop him.
And then, he waited.
There was nothing unusual in the alley yet.
He went inside the bookstore and sat in a chair.
He planned to observe who came to the alley.
From inside the bookstore, he could detect anyone coming and going in the nearby alley.
For the current Han Si-hoo, it was possible.
He could just wait while casually reading a book.
2 PM.
No one.
3 PM.
Still no one.
It was a deserted alley.
Even the bookstore itself was nearly empty.
No, not anymore.
The Saintess.
The Saintess had come to the bookstore.
"Oh, Si-hoo?"
"Hello."
"Ah, we're seeing each other a bit early. What about your classes?"
"Don't have any."
He had gotten rid of them.
On his own.
"I see. I came here to wait for you."
"Okay."
"Were you in the middle of something?"
I was.
Surveillance.
"It's nothing important."
He opened the bookstore door and went outside.
To check if anything was in the alley.
"Someone's playing a prank."
A ventilation fan was located in the middle of the alley.
There was a letter that hadn't been there before.
"A prank?"
The Saintess followed him.
"They told me to come here. I wonder who it is."
He tore open the newly discovered letter.
The recipient's name was Han Si-hoo.
Inside was another photograph.
Han Si-hoo stared at the photo.
He didn't say anything for a long time.
"...What."
It was a picture of a smiling Seo-ah.
She seemed to be lying on the floor.
Several empty syringes were scattered beside her.
Someone was stepping on Yoo Seo-ah's stomach.
As if needing to hold her still for the shot, they had taken the picture with their foot on her.
The one being stepped on didn't seem to have any complaints.
After all, she was smiling happily.
"......"
Is that... really Seo-ah?
When, who, where, how did they take a photo like this.
Why?
Is the photo doctored?
No, it doesn't matter.
He just had to ask the prankster.
And she happened to be right next to him.
The Saintess.
Should I step on her?
He wondered if the same pose as the photo would suffice.