Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Accomplice Killers
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The entrance to Shin Dong Mountain.
The man climbed the mountain in silence, a backpack slung over his shoulders.
“Whew, the mountain air really is something else.”
“Winter’s a bit chilly, but there’s a certain charm to a snowy peak, right?”
“You know it. Hey, Young-hee’s mom, new parka?”
“Oh, my son just…”
The trail was bustling with hikers.
Leading the pack was a man carrying the banner of a hiking club, followed by what looked like its members.
With an average member age in the early forties, the club was never quiet.
The aunties clustered together, chattering endlessly about whose son did what.
Meanwhile, the uncles guffawed over life stories mixed with bawdy jokes.
*Noisy bastards. Should I just kill them all?*
The man eyed the people ahead of him.
Everywhere he looked, groups chatted amiably.
But not a single one had brought a kid along.
They called it a hiking club, but it was really just a playground for adults sneaking away from their families.
Subtle glances passed between some of the aunties and uncles.
*Disgusting.*
The man grimaced at the sight.
Humans were creatures of deceit.
They swore eternal love until death do them part, then plotted filth like this behind each other’s backs.
*If that’s how it’s gonna be, why bother with vows? Just hook up for a night and call it done.*
He couldn’t comprehend their behavior.
Sure, an outsider might say he didn’t get it.
But his parents had divorced over an affair.
His father gave up custody.
His mother demanded child support to raise him alone, but his father coldly refused and remarried.
He was five.
Years later, in elementary school, his mother died from overwork.
Her dying words: “I’m sorry.”
Abandoned by the father who refused to raise him, he bounced between orphanages and street families.
While other kids grew up loved and cared for, he stole and robbed to survive.
Born the same way, under the same moon—why did some get happiness and others misery?
Was that what they called freedom and fairness?
Rage boiled up at the thought.
*Affairs.*
If his father hadn’t cheated…
Life would’ve been so much better.
His mother wouldn’t have died, and he wouldn’t have ended up an orphan scraping by at society’s bottom.
That’s when he decided.
He’d kill cheaters.
His first murder was uncomfortable, unpleasant.
The target: a man fresh out of the divorce office.
The kid wailed with his mom.
The man brushed it off, saying goodbye like it was nothing.
That sealed it—the man’s first victim.
“Why are you doing this to me!”
“Shut up and go quietly, you trash.”
“No… someone help!”
The man begged for his life on the brink of death.
Watching him, the killer recalled tailing him discreetly.
They’d crossed paths by chance at the district office.
The guy filed divorce papers with his wife, then they parted ways.
Hours later…
By sheer coincidence, he spotted the absurdity: the man emerging from a motel with another woman.
Red hair, haughty eyes, draped in luxury brands—she clung to him, demanding more gifts.
He smirked and promised her the world.
Had his own father lived like this after ditching them?
*Idiot. Walking straight into hell.*
If her love felt sweet as designer bags, how long would it last?
Once the wallet emptied, that “love” would vanish—meaningless.
But the man craved it like an oasis in the desert, showering her with cash and gifts.
After they split, he trudged home alone.
The killer couldn’t stand it.
It mirrored his father abandoning him and his mother.
Throwing himself away bit by bit until he vanished nameless.
He kidnapped the man on the spot.
First time wasn’t easy.
A grown man’s strength was formidable; primal survival instinct unleashed terrifying power.
But the target was drunk. He subdued him, choked him out, and dragged him to his prepared workshop.
The man screamed bloody murder when he woke.
But begged for mercy at the sight of the killer’s arsenal.
Vrrr—
The chainsaw roared to life.
Its teeth shredded flesh on contact.
The killer’s hands shook, but he steeled himself and brought it down.
*These scum have kids too.*
By shirking responsibility, they’d doom those kids to wretched lives.
This was a bargain for ruining them.
In his final moments, the man screamed:
“Rot in hell, you demon…!”
Harsh words, but the killer accepted them.
As long as no more like him were born.
He’d do the dirty work.
Dyeing himself in darkness.
To prevent creating another demon like himself.
*Not even the cops caught me.*
After the first kill, he feared exposure.
Hid at home for three months, living on delivery food.
News was full of unrelated nonsense—random crimes, politics.
His murder was buried.
Confidence surged.
Even killers like him, the cops’ “protectors of the fools,” did nothing.
Arrogant? Maybe.
But it stopped more victims like him from being made.
Crimes grew bolder after that.
Leading him to climb this mountain with them.
“Whew, a young guy hiking alone? First time?”
He climbed quietly.
Then an auntie approached.
Hot pink pants, green tee, red hat—a middle-aged woman with a warm smile.
Hiking club armband shaped like a mountain.
“…Yeah.”
“Love the mountains, huh? If only my son did… all he eats is fast food and takeout. Makes my blood pressure spike just thinking about it.”
She fanned herself, fuming.
The young man listened with blank eyes.
He knew their patterns never changed.
The absurd part: despite not being a member, they swarmed him for hiking solo.
Why grab him instead of chatting with peers?
He just wanted silence to think.
And…
*Her. She’ll do.*
His eyes gleamed.
He’d come to sort thoughts, sure—but also to scout his next kill.
Hiking clubs started as mountain lovers’ groups, but now? Corrupted.
Perfect hunting ground.
And this auntie kept catching his eye.
*Not bad.*
A faint smile tugged his lips.
He’d seen her chatting on the trail.
No different from the rest.
Already on his radar.
Target locked, he flashed a bright smile.
Aaah—!
The second victim’s body wasn’t even recovered yet.
A scream echoed through Shin Dong Mountain.
* * *
Two killers behind the affair couple murders.
Confirmed via the site’s memories.
As Lee Jae-hyun predicted, the first and second killers had zero physical overlap.
The face peeking from mask and hat looked older…
Bulkier build too.
Lee Jae-hyun snapped out of the world-spinning aftershock.
Behind him, Oh Min-seok and Park Dae-hyung talked.
“Two perps… What’s your take?”
“Kid’s not wrong. Worth pursuing that angle.”
Park Dae-hyung glanced at Lee Jae-hyun.
Catching his eye, Lee Jae-hyun seized the moment.
“At this stage, prime suspect’s the son of the first victim—the dead woman. Secure him first.”
“Good. Let’s move.”
Decision made, Lee Jae-hyun geared up to go.
Heading down the mountain.
But something nagged—a loose end.
This wouldn’t end here.
Third, fourth killings followed.
All in common: murdered on mountains.
And…
*All affair couples.*
Memories from his past life hardened his face.
Targets, sites, weapons—all matched.
Two killers sharing a signature, active same time.
*Coincidence?*
No way.
He froze, then scowled.
“Damn it!”
He’d considered copycat or accomplice.
Now he knew.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Need to borrow a car quick.”
“Wait, explain.”
Park Dae-hyung pressed.
Not having seen Serhen’s visions like Lee Jae-hyun, his head must be spinning.
Lee Jae-hyun ran a hand through his hair, meeting Park Dae-hyung’s insistent gaze.
“Not a copycat. Accomplices.”
Yeah, they were smarter than he thought.
That’s why unsolved in the future.
“What? You mean…”
“They covered each other’s alibis.”
Low odds, didn’t want to believe it…
But 1% chance? Can’t ignore.
Face stiff, Lee Jae-hyun continued.
“They might be killing right now—to alibi each other.”
Park Dae-hyung and Oh Min-seok’s faces darkened.