The Demon and the Inspector (2)
First period ended. As the professor left, Seha slumped right over his desk. Dahong approached him.
"Seha, let's hit the cafeteria."
"It's only the end of first period, though...?"
"Heard new bread just came in."
"Where'd you even hear that...?"
Seha grumbled like that, but he still hauled himself up with a groan. Dahong hurried him along as he shuffled slowly out into the hallway.
"Hurry up. The new stuff might sell out."
"Nyaah—."
"Even so, they won't go out right after first period...?"
"You just don't get the power of the new."
"Hearing that from a demon like you feels kinda fresh."
The two weaved through the students pouring out into the hall one by one, heading for the cafeteria. At that moment—
A neatly dressed man passed by Dahong and Seha.
"......"
The man glanced at Dahong. She didn't seem to notice him at all, showing zero interest.
Demon... A summoned beast, huh.
The man, Hyunho, thought that. She hadn't even sensed his presence. No doubt about it—low-rank. Not worth eating.
Hyunho turned his gaze away.
"......"
Dahong twitched her nose. A familiar scent. The smell of hell. The man who'd just passed. A demon.
For a split second, she considered killing him, but she felt no hostility. No fear of her, either.
That's unusual.
It had been ages since she'd seen a demon who didn't run at the sight of her. Had he been in the human world too long?
Eh, doesn't matter anyway.
Dahong erased the demon from her mind. Right now, the new bread was way more important.
Knock knock.
The door to the staff room rang twice. Seoyeun looked up. The door opened, and a man stood there.
Tall and upright. Immaculately pressed suit. Tie perfectly straight. Briefcase in one hand.
"You're Investigator Kang Seoyeun, right."
A low, businesslike voice.
"Management Bureau Inspector Woo Hyunho."
He flashed his badge. Seoyeun checked it and nodded.
"Have a seat."
Hyunho sat in the chair opposite. He set his briefcase beside it—no intention of staying long.
"Straight to business."
"Fine by me."
Hyunho pulled a single sheet from his briefcase. Seoyeun's report.
"I read the report."
"......"
"Alleyway dismemberment murder. Hellhound escape. And finally, Iron Claw Guild wiped out. Three incidents, and you've been on-site for three weeks."
Hyunho recited the details without even opening the page.
"Report states: suspect unidentified. Further investigation required."
Thud.
He set the paper down on the desk.
"Too late."
"......"
Seoyeun's expression didn't change.
"The scene's more complicated than expected. Suspect's behavior lacks consistency, so identification's taking time."
"Three weeks without consistency—isn't that a pattern in itself?"
"......"
Seoyeun didn't reply. It wasn't wrong.
Hyunho continued undeterred by the silence.
"That's why I'm here to check personally. I'll stick around for a bit and monitor progress."
"How long?"
"Depends on the situation."
"......"
Seoyeun showed no flicker of unease. Hyunho added one more thing.
"Appreciate your cooperation."
"Understood."
Hyunho stood.
"Mind if I tour the school facilities? Want to get a feel for the investigation environment."
"I'll show you around."
"No need."
Hyunho picked up his briefcase.
"I'll look on my own."
A perfunctory smile.
"Excuse me, then."
Creak.
The door opened and closed. Footsteps faded: tap tap tap.
"......"
Seoyeun stared at the closed door for a long while. Then she clenched the hand resting on her knee.
Class was about to start. Everyone waited for the professor when Dahong suddenly stood up. Eyes from the back row focused on her instantly.
Seha asked, "Where are you going?"
"Out for a bit of fun."
"Class is starting."
"Theory lesson, right? You don't need me."
"True, but..."
No real counterargument came to mind. Honestly, from Seha's perspective, class was easier to focus on without her. Dahong kept poking him whenever she got bored—nudging his foot, jabbing his side.
"Please don't cause any trouble. Like crashing another class or... "
"Yeah, yeah."
Dahong gave a half-hearted reply and headed out.
"Meow."
Ruby came along too.
***
Hyunho strolled slowly down the hallway. With classes in session, it was quiet. Only muffled voices leaked from classrooms now and then.
Impeccable facilities. Wide corridors. Well-kept windows. Posters on the walls.
His gaze flicked past a classroom window. Students in lesson. Awakener eggs. Not even hatched yet.
All so feeble. And delicious.
Lick.
Hyunho licked his lips unconsciously.
"Oops."
He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Had to hold back. Devouring eggs indiscriminately would get him caught. Not yet.
He was a wise demon. Better to pick the ripest one and savor it slowly.
Hyunho walked on, satisfied. No need to rush. The finest hides always waited at the end of patience.
Then—
Something stark white caught his eye.
"......?"
The low-rank demon from before.
What's this? Wandering without her summoner? Why stay manifested anyway?
Hyunho approached.
"Pardon the interruption."
Dahong turned. Red eyes met his.
"Not a student, so who might you be?"
"Demon."
"......"
The curt reply shut Hyunho up. He quickly schooled his expression.
"A summoned beast, then. I'm Management Bureau Inspector Woo Hyunho. Touring the academy for an investigation."
"Okay."
Dahong started to turn away, utterly uninterested. He'd announced himself as inspector, and she didn't even bother with politeness.
Hyunho grabbed for the next topic fast—the black creature in her arms. A cat with horns and wings.
"That one's a summon too?"
"Hiss!"
As his finger pointed, Ruby arched her back, fur bristling. A menacing growl escaped her tiny mouth.
"Whoa, startled her."
Hyunho stepped back with a smile.
"Not your average cat, I see."
"Right. She's a Behemoth."
"...!"
Hyunho's poker face cracked for a moment.
"......A Behemoth?"
"Yep. Name's Ruby."
"Nya!"
Ruby kept glaring, fur still up, pupils narrowed to slits.
Dahong stroked her head once. The fur slowly settled. But her eyes stayed locked on Hyunho.
Hyunho regained composure. "Your summoner's in class?"
"Yeah."
"......"
A summoned beast wandering off without her summoner. Speaking casually to an inspector without a hint of tension. Odd one.
As Hyunho opened his mouth—
"Catch you later."
Dahong turned first.
"Wait—!"
She ignored his call. White hair swayed. Ruby's head popped over her shoulder. Golden eyes glared.
Hyunho stood alone in the empty hall.
"......"
Poorly trained. Or maybe not used to Earth yet.
His expression chilled. That arrogant attitude—it'd been a while. He didn't like it.
"Found him quicker than expected, though."
Hyunho pulled a paper from his inner pocket and checked again.
Yu Seha. First-year. Class A. Ability: Summoning (Demon).
Summon ①: Dahong (Demon-type presumed). Details unknown.
Summon ②: Ruby. Behemoth juvenile. Contract complete.
"Yu Seha, huh..."
Better meet him in person.
Slurp.
He tucked the paper away.
***
Screech. Crack.
Forcing the locked doorknob turned broke something, and the door swung open.
Whoosh.
A breeze ruffled her hair. The rooftop.
Dahong climbed onto the railing. The whole academy sprawled below.
"Nyaaang."
Ruby looked up at her with a small mew. Amid her pitch-black fur, even her silhouette invisible, only her muzzle peeked out.
"Why'd I let him go?"
"Meow."
"I don't touch 'em first unless they start something."
(Unless I bait them into it.) She skipped that part.
"Nyang."
"He seemed interested in you, though."
"Hiss!"
Ruby puffed up, spazzing. Dahong giggled and ruffled her head roughly.
"Eh, you're our housecat. I'll protect ya."
"Nyong."
Gazing down for a while, Dahong suddenly felt... empty. Not hungry, but something missing.
Rustle.
She pulled a bread from her pocket. The extra new one she'd snuck past Seha.
Choco-melon bread.
Rustle.
Dahong took a bite.
Chew.
"Pizza bread's better."
Not her taste.
Fwoosh.
The wrapper vanished in purple flames.
Gulp.
She crammed the rest in. Even another bread didn't fill the odd void.
"Kinda hungry."
"Nyong?"
"Maybe eat you instead."
Waaang.
"Nyaaak!"
Dahong buried her face in Ruby's belly. Ruby pawed at her face futilely.
***
In class, Seha propped his chin, staring at the board. Eyes forward, but nothing sank in. The professor's voice sounded distant.
"Mana control basics rely on breathing and focus. For summoners especially, mana direction is key—"
Seha's gaze drifted sideways. Empty seat. Where Dahong should be.
Wonder what she's up to now.
A sigh escaped. Then Ruby came to mind. Saving Isol's sister. Breathing fire, per Dahong. A Behemoth. His contracted summon chasing off a C-rank field boss. Without him there.
Seha looked at the back of his hand. Nothing visible, but the contract with Ruby was real. Horns, wings, gem.
I need to do something too.
Dahong said summoners hung back, ordering beasts into battle. But he couldn't even do that. Wasn't there when Ruby fought. Hell, did Ruby even see him as master?
Stuck in place.
Seha clenched his fist. Noah called him a genius, but he could do nothing yet.
Gotta get stronger fast.
Be a master they wouldn't be ashamed of. One Dahong would listen to seriously, Ruby wouldn't ignore.
Someone like that—
"Yu Seha."
"Y-yes!?"
Seha jumped at the professor's voice.
"No daydreaming in class. Especially you—this part matters."
"S-sorry!"
Seha fumbled his textbook open. Snickers rippled around him. Face burning, he ducked his head.
...Focus on studying for now.