Detective Seoyeon's Insight
“Mister, if you don't have any business here, why don't you just leave?”
“Ha, you kids……”
“Ah, seriously? Why do you keep pissing us off? Let's just let this slide nice and easy.”
The male student shoved the security guard's shoulder again.
“Urk!”
But the push must have been pretty strong, because the guard toppled backward and landed flat on his ass.
Crazy……
The moment I saw it, I couldn't help but frown. And I wasn't the only one. Most of the onlookers around me grimaced at the male student just like I did.
Flustered by the reaction, the guy glanced between the fallen guard and us before scowling and yelling,
“What? You all gawking? Get lost!”
As he shouted and raised his hand threateningly, most people turned their heads away. A few tougher types, though, kept glaring daggers at him, brows furrowed.
“……Fucking embarrassing.”
The atmosphere was starting to turn ugly.
What the hell are the girls doing?
Tsk tsk. I clicked my tongue and pulled up the Manager App again, just like yesterday, to summon them to the Training Room.
“O-oppa! Let's stop this, okay?”
Right as I was about to select the women to bring to the Training Room, Hee-yeon urgently grabbed the male student's arm.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Let's go drink somewhere else. Yeah?”
As she pressed her chest right up against his arm, the guy's anger seemed to melt away. He grinned goofily and replied,
“W-well…… yeah, maybe?”
“Yeah, let's go! You guys get up too!”
Hee-yeon took the lead, grabbing beer cans and bottles. Only then did the other female students start picking up their stuff and folding the mat.
In the meantime, the guard got to his feet and thanked Hee-yeon before heading off the lawn.
Nicely wrapped up.
Confirming the scene, I let out a faint chuckle and pocketed my smartphone.
Should I give it a call?
Lee Eunha seriously mulled over the flyer she'd seen in the alley last night.
The more she thought about it, the more the description on the flyer matched exactly what had happened to her. Except, in her case, the man hadn't said a word.
……What should I do?
Fidgeting with the smartphone in her hand, Eunha finally made up her mind and dialed the number on the flyer.
The line rang for a bit—drurrrr—then clicked as someone picked up.
“Hello?”
It was a young woman's voice.
“Ah, hello!”
“Who is this?”
“Yes? Oh, uh…… I saw the flyer and I'm calling about that.”
As Eunha spoke, there was a sudden thud from the other end of the line.
“What? You saw that pervert bastard?”
“Pardon? Oh, yes…… probably.”
“'Probably'? Look, forget this—let's meet up. Where are you? I'll come to you, just tell me quick.”
The woman's voice was pushy and demanding. Eunha blinked in surprise for a moment, then calmed herself and mentioned a nearby coffee shop.
The woman on the other end shouted, “Close by! Stay put, I'll be right there!” before abruptly hanging up.
“……”
A bit thrown off by the one-sided attitude, Eunha still felt a surge of excitement at meeting someone who'd gone through the same thing. It outweighed any awkwardness.
Yeah, this is good!
If this led to catching the culprit, it was perfect. Steel resolve in her heart, Eunha told Ye-eun—who was washing up in the bathroom—that she'd head out first, then left her friend's place.
She entered the agreed coffee shop, ordered a coffee, and took a seat. After about ten minutes, her smartphone buzzed on the table.
“Hello?”
Eunha snatched it up quickly.
“Where are you?”
The blunt question made Eunha chuckle awkwardly as she glanced around.
“Me?”
At that moment, a sharp female voice came from behind.
Turning toward it, she saw a stunning beauty in office attire standing there.
“Yes?”
“You're the one who called me. Looks like it.”
The woman sat across from Eunha, fanning her face with her hand—probably because it was warm.
She's kinda…… weird.
Now that she'd met the woman face-to-face, Eunha felt a chill of unease.
“……So it's true? You saw that pervert fucker.”
“Pardon?”
“Did you? That piece of shit I'd devour whole!”
The woman yelled indignantly. From her reaction, she'd clearly been through hell with the masked man.
Recalling her own ordeal, Eunha's ears turned bright red.
“Y-yes, probably.”
“What do you mean 'probably'? Speak clearly. How'd he get you? Tell me everything.”
She suddenly leaned forward toward Eunha, a thick perfume scent wafting over—seductive and alluring, not off-putting at all.
“W-well…… I don't remember details, but I woke up in a strange room. Tied to a chair……”
“And?”
Under the prodding, Eunha's lips trembled as she continued.
“A man in a mask came in. Stared at me for a while, then suddenly started touching me……”
Eunha bit her lip hard. It wasn't the right place to say more.
The woman nodded in understanding.
“That's the pervert bastard, alright.”
Tsk tsk. She clicked her tongue, gnashing her thumbnail and muttering. Strangely, even that looked seductively alluring—like the epitome of a modern woman.
“……You.”
“Yes?”
“Didn't that masked pervert tell you to reflect or some shit?”
Eunha blinked in shock, tilting her head.
“R-reflect?”
“Yeah, like…… didn't you do something wrong?”
“No. I was just in my room.”
The woman looked baffled at Eunha's firm headshake.
“Like, maybe noise complaints?”
“No, I was studying for certifications.”
“Blasting loud music or something.”
“No……”
As Eunha kept denying it, the woman's confusion deepened.
“Then what'd the masked freak say? 'Reflect,' 'apologize,' anything?”
Eunha shook her head firmly.
“No, he didn't say a word to me.”
“……”
The woman turned her head slightly, propping her chin on her hand. After gathering her thoughts, she stared straight at Eunha.
“……What's your name?”
“Lee Eunha.”
“Got it, Eunha.”
Calling her by name, the woman—Yu Seoyeon—gazed even more intently.
“……Here's my take. That masked pervert…… I think he's someone you know.”
Eunha's eyes went wide in shock.
“What? Someone I know?”
Her face paled as she demanded an explanation. Seoyeon tapped the table with her index finger.
“He didn't say a word to you, right?”
“R-right……”
“That's 'cause he didn't want you recognizing his voice.”
“Then…… someone with a grudge against me?”
Eunha asked cautiously, but Seoyeon shook her head firmly.
“Nah, more like someone close to you. Did he force himself on you?”
“N-no……”
“Just groped you all over?”
“Yes……”
Seoyeon's expression grew more convinced.
“Bet that pervert fucker summoned you by mistake. Heh, what an idiot.”
Grinning wickedly for some reason, she suddenly stood up.
“……Let's start around your place first. Know anyone?”