Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: If You're Grateful, Show Some Sincerity
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"Again. Uh. Right there. Rewind to that part. Play that part again."
"This bit? You already saw everything in person. Why bother? Let's just skim it."
"Argh. Do it if I tell you to, punk. It's different seeing it live versus on a screen."
"I'll do this once, then I'm out."
The woman who replied with a "fine, whatever" stared at the changing footage. What appeared on the screen was steel beams plummeting with tremendous force, followed by monsters exploding.
Brains and guts spilling out. Even gazing at the gruesome scene that made lunch seem impossible, the woman didn't blink.
She was focused on one thing: where the man who dropped those steel beams had gone. But...
"Why does the footage end here?"
"That's the end. You know the department store was a total wreck, right? It's a miracle any CCTV survived."
Tsk. The woman clicked her tongue. Why did it have to cut off right there? If she could just know where he went—or at least the direction...
"Why are you so obsessed with this kid? The Association called for you yesterday. Why not handle that instead?"
"Shut up, punk. It's my soul that's talking. Pointing right here. What does that guy have that Julia, hero of detectives, has to chase him down?"
"Ah. Sure."
The man fiddling with the footage replied with utter exasperation, but Julia didn't stop. Self-praise was her specialty.
Most of it was stuff he already knew. But if he didn't respond, she'd get annoying, so he kept up half-hearted replies.
The same old lines he always heard.
About how she'd pioneered a new path as the hero of detectives.
About how many people sought her out.
About how there was no case she couldn't solve.
Nothing but the most grating self-boasting.
The "hero of detectives" title was just because she couldn't give up being either a hero or a detective, and the reason so many people called her was simply her innate mana gift—thoughts like that stayed swallowed as the man forced a bitter smile.
"Listen. You know those three Justitia candidates who protected civilians until the heroes arrived that day, right?"
"Yeah."
Julia grinned at his nod, her face brimming with confidence.
"Their statements all match. There were two more candidates. Someone blocked the drakes from the opposite side."
Julia said that, then held up one finger.
"But when you ask the people on the opposite side, they say no one was there. They just dodged the drakes and ran. Plus, this candidate vanished without a trace. Somehow made it back to the dorm? A candidate? During a monster attack?"
"That does seem suspicious."
"Right?" She nodded, pleased with his reaction.
"Assistant. That's not the end of it. The weird part about this incident is..."
"How old do you think I am to be called 'assistant'? Just use my name—"
Nope. Julia cut him off with a raised finger, making the assistant furrow his brow.
"No fatalities. A full-blown monster attack! Assistant, have you ever seen a monster raid with zero deaths?!"
"...No. It doesn't happen often, but if a burst dungeon pops up in the city, it's usually tens of thousands dead."
"Exactly!!"
Clap.
The sharp clap echoed loudly. She sure has great reactions, the assistant thought.
"And this is from statements by both civilians and candidates. The drakes didn't launch any strong attacks. It felt like they were luring everyone somewhere. Weird, right? Weird?"
"Yeah, that—"
"But look at this!"
Before the assistant could reply, Julia pointed at the screen. There lay a drake impaled by countless steel beams, dead.
"A candidate who kills a drake this easily! Then suddenly heads home? Doesn't add up. My instincts are screaming. The truth behind this incident lies with that boy!"
It made sense. A monster attack with no deaths, a skilled person vanishing, monsters luring people somewhere.
Definitely suspicious. He could kind of see why this slightly crazy woman was obsessed.
"The Association takes priority, doesn't it? I get the obsession, but let's handle them first—"
"Nope."
"......"
"I've dug up so much already!! I don't wanna quit now~ Don't wanna~ Don't wanna~ His name's Lee Seong-hoon. Now I gotta gather more statements and scour the place with psychometry! No time! The Association's call? That's just a side gig. I'm Julia, detective who walks her own path."
Wow. Did this woman eat her age out her ass? The thought flashed through his mind, but he didn't voice it. No point; she wouldn't listen.
"Huh?"
As he skimmed the Association's files to refuse somehow, the assistant spotted a familiar name. This might work?
"Senior."
"What! I'm busy!! Praise your future self who's gonna psychometry every floor from 1 to 100!!"
"No, not that. The Justitia investigation target this time is a half-demon group and this Lee Seong-hoon guy—what are you doing?"
Julia, who had been listening, was already packing her bags.
"What're you waiting for? Warp gate to Justitia won't stay open forever."
Poke.
Isia, dark circles under her eyes from a night of her father's nagging, peeked from behind a wall at one man.
During Justitia's morning run training, all the other kids had finished thirty minutes ago and were resting. But one guy was still running.
With a golden-haired beauty.
Eavesdropping on their conversation...
—How long do I have to keep running? It's hard matching your pace, Seong-hoon. Mind if I go ahead?
—Who was it that carried you back yesterday? Don't repay kindness with ingratitude. That's not how people act. Where you going? Don't ditch me! Hey!!
—Sigh. So, where's the master headed today?
—Magic Research Club. The club president's nabbed, so it's empty. Perfect time to swoop in and take over. House raids are all about timing.
—Gotta admit, your mindset's something else. You're the scummiest guy I've ever met.
"Magic Research Club?!"
Isia yelped in surprise and tumbled backward. It was her club. Because of me?! But she shook her head.
No way. Not with that guy's limits. Thinking of his usual behavior, absolutely not.
No one around to worry or help her up, she awkwardly stood and brushed dirt off her clothes.
Then watched Lee Seong-hoon's run again. Anyone could see he was slow and exhausted.
Whispers from nearby: "What a nuisance." "Run at a normal pace."
Still, he kept going until everyone finished.
To an onlooker, it might look like a lovestruck girl gazing at her crush. But reality was different.
Isia just wanted to say "thank you for saving me." But whenever she tried, words failed her. She was just biding her time.
Come to think of it, wasn't he the one who should thank her for all her maid duties? Or at least call it even and move on—
The thought crossed her mind. No, that's not it.
Isia recalled yesterday's words.
—It was chaos. Sleep magic knocked out the whole academy. Consider yourself lucky to be saved.
"Sleep Magic"
She knew it well. With her deep magic knowledge, Isia understood its dangers.
And the danger of the one who cast it over the entire academy undetected.
If they were half-demons, not getting kidnapped was pure luck. If caught, she might never return.
So, thanking her savior was only natural.
Isia swallowed hard and grabbed a bottled water from the vending machine. She approached Lee Seong-hoon, who had finished his run and was resting.
Slowly, very slowly, she held out the bottle without a word. Planning her thanks, she felt oddly shy, staring at the sky with pursed lips.
One hand hidden behind her, fidgeting as she waited for him to take it.
"Oh? What's this? Water? Thanks. Doing unasked favors now? Kidnapped yesterday and you've leveled up as a maid."
Crack. Heat rushed to her face the moment he spoke, but Isia held back. He was her lifesaver. Forcing a smile with that in mind.
Fine. Say it quick and be done. Clearing her throat...
"Th—"
"Hey! Why're you drinking alone? Crazy? I'm thirsty too!! Who made me run extra long!!"
"What's your deal? This is from our maid! Huh? Don't touch! Don't touch! Touch it and I'll enlist and chug it right now!!"
The blonde appeared out of nowhere, ruining her flow. She could've said it just then! Glaring at the annoying blonde, their eyes met.
"Huh? Seong-hoon. Looks like she has something to say."
"What? For real? No maid escapes. No redos. Anything else, I'll hear it."
"...."
Not that. Isia tucked in her protruding lip and spoke up.
Embarrassing in front of the blonde, but they wouldn't separate even for a second. How could she say it alone?
Just do it and end it.
"Th—"
"Th? 'Thank you'? Yeah, you should. But I don't do words. Gratitude's shown through actions, see. If you're grateful, show some sincerity."
Lee Seong-hoon rubbed his fingers like money with a grin. Isia smiled back. A bright smile, but her mouth wasn't smiling at all.
She couldn't say it.
Why did this guy always rile her up so much?
"Standing there quiet makes me look like a sucker?"
As she said it, Isia thought:
Ah. I wanna die.
"Perfect."
"Perfect what? All you did was pass out in class and drag everyone down in training."
Her words had thorns. True, but it stung.
"Not that. Probably someone came looking for me today. Dodged 'em good."
He'd hidden like crazy today. Outside of class, never in the classroom. Hid in empty spots during breaks. Ate lunch outside.
This much effort, and if he still got spotted, that'd be weird. Plus, no psycho shows up during class.
This should count as investigating the scene and leaving, right?
Satisfied, he headed to the dorms.
But...
"Oh? Lee Seong-hoon~"
Regret hit instantly.
Pink hair under a detective hat, sparkling eyes, a pipe clenched in her mouth with no smoke.
Cold sweat poured down his back. This couldn't happen. All his effort? Waiting at his house? Cheating!
"Another Lee Seong-hoon besides me?"
"How would I know?"
Ha... Chuckling emptily at Raphael's reply, he turned. A panicked voice called from behind, but he had one thing to do now.
Run.