Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze Felt Off
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The interview with the witness had wrapped up, and the sky had already grown dim.
In the heart of Seoul, on the fourth floor of a somewhat rundown building.
The elevator was out of order, and the stairs were piled high with delivery boxes.
Faint mold stains marred the walls, and the handrail rattled with every step.
They finally reached room 402.
Standing at the door, Detective Yoo Seongjae cleared his throat and pulled out his key.
"I should warn you ahead of time... it's pretty filthy in here."
"It's fine. All single guys' places end up the same."
"Should I just dash in and grab the documents real quick?"
"No, now that I'm here, I'd like to take a look around the place."
"W-well, if you insist..."
Kiiiek.
The moment the door swung open, a strange mustiness brushed past their noses.
The air inside was thick with humidity, dust, and the scent of old paper.
It was a tiny studio apartment at first glance.
A bed just big enough for one person, a small computer desk—that was it.
'No fridge in the house...?'
Shocked by the even worse conditions than expected, Han Haeseong blinked in surprise. Detective Yoo Seongjae kicked off his shoes and rushed inside, frantically clearing the clutter from the floor.
"H-hold on! I'll tidy up in a sec!"
He scooped up socks from the blanket and shoved a shirt draped over a chair—not a hanger—under the bed.
Something shattered faintly, but he paid it no mind and kept scrambling.
"Haha, it's not usually this bad. Just been pulling all-nighters lately and crashing here..."
"You must really pour yourself into the job, Detective."
Looking sheepish, Detective Yoo Seongjae nudged a ramen box toward the wall with his toe.
"Haha! Judging by this mess, you'd think I'm Korea's only detective."
Half-empty canned coffees lined the desk, and the computer screen blinked in standby mode.
The room felt cramped and stuffy overall, but somehow it brimmed with traces of everyday life.
"Detective."
"...Yes?"
"It's for your brother, isn't it?"
At Han Haeseong's words, Detective Yoo Seongjae froze for a moment before giving a wistful smile.
"The costs for Seonghyeon are way steeper than I bargained for."
As expected, he was covering his brother's treatment bills on his own salary.
Why did some poor innocent human have to suffer because of that lust-crazed, deranged fairy?
"Still, your brother has an amazing big brother."
"N-no, not at all! Truth is, I gave him hell when we were kids. Lately, I've been wondering if he's the one punishing me now."
Detective Yoo Seongjae brushed it off lightly, but a hint of unmistakable bitterness lingered in his eyes.
Moments later, he snapped back to attention, his eyes gleaming as he continued.
"Only spot to sit is... the bed. Hang on, I shook out the blanket. Just sit—don't lie down."
"It's fine. Sitting on the bed feels rude anyway."
Han Haeseong carefully settled into the rickety chair by the computer desk.
One leg was slightly uneven, so it creaked faintly with every shift.
"Alright, then I'll finish cleaning up."
"Sure, take your time."
While Detective Yoo Seongjae tidied, Han Haeseong quietly scanned the room.
A frameless graduation photo of the detective in his police uniform hung on the wall, and a bookshelf sagged under a jumble of investigation manuals.
Tucked among them was a single photo that caught his eye.
"Is this your brother?"
Detective Yoo Seongjae finished up and flopped onto the bed, propping himself against his own blanket like a backrest—a weary but familiar posture.
"...Yeah. Handsome, unlike his big bro, right?"
"He really is. Though you're handsome too, Detective—in a rugged, manly way."
"Aw, c'mon. Next to Haeseong getting mobbed by fans at that café earlier, I'm nothing."
"Why'd you have to bring up that embarrassing moment again?"
Han Haeseong's face flushed as he spoke, drawing a soft chuckle from Detective Yoo Seongjae.
"Speaking of which, you sure about skipping showbiz? I thought there'd been some accident at the café at first."
"It was... kind of an accident."
"With that kind of buzz, you'd get plenty of traction if you debuted."
His cheeks burned hotter.
Han Haeseong waved his hand through the air, hastily changing the subject.
"Anyway, good thing we met that witness today."
"Totally. I can still picture how shocked they were at the sketch you drew."
In truth, it was a drawing by butler Ihyeonseok, based on the fairies who hadn't been caught yet.
And the face of the Sowol Fairy that had gotten a reaction from the witness.
"Well, lucky break."
"You're incredible. Did something else come to mind this time too?"
"Uh... yeah."
Sheepishly smiling, Han Haeseong watched as Detective Yoo Seongjae leaned in slightly.
"By any chance... is the woman in that sketch the witness reacted to named Sowol?"
Sowol Fairy—the one who'd turned Detective Yoo Seongjae's brother, Yoo Seonghyeon, into a vegetable.
Han Haeseong coughed into his fist before replying.
"Ahem! No, it's not a woman named Sowol."
"...I see..."
"You sound disappointed...?"
For now, they'd agreed to keep the prime suspect's identity as the Sowol Fairy under wraps—to avoid personal feelings clouding the investigation.
Detective Yoo Seongjae rubbed his dry face with both hands and pressed on.
"Nah. We'll nab 'em one by one, and eventually that Sowol ghost who wrecked my brother too."
"You'll get her for sure."
He lifted his head at the encouragement.
"Y'know, when I think about it, I've been getting a ton of help from you on cases, Haeseong."
"Haha... that's just how life works—we help each other. Didn't you sort out that stalking mess for me?"
"Ah... yeah, that one."
"Right."
"From what I heard, you two settled it... you good?"
Han Haeseong let out a short sigh at the question.
"Couldn't just pretend I didn't know Soeun-i's parents."
"Ah... they said they've known you since you were kids... well..."
"In exchange, her folks are moving out."
"That's for the best. Living in the same neighborhood would've been awkward."
The mood turned a touch awkward.
Han Haeseong glanced around the room and offered a faint smile.
"Anyway, I really admire you, Detective."
"Me...? Admire?"
"Not many brothers would carve away at their own life to cover their sibling's treatment."
Detective Yoo Seongjae sighed briefly and shook his head.
"Truth is, bribes have tempted me as a cop, but I just couldn't stomach it."
"Why not?"
"Felt like if Seonghyeon's mind came back, he'd chew me out. 'You used dirty money to fix me up?'"
"......"
"That's why—gonna earn it clean, for the day he snaps out of it."
Was this what true brotherly love looked like?
How many ordeals had he endured before reaching this quiet resolve?
Detective Yoo Seongjae was one hell of a man.
Swish.
To break the awkwardness once more, Han Haeseong glanced around again.
"Haha... so, where are the documents?"
At his question, Detective Yoo Seongjae half-stood and tapped a paper on the desk.
"Right here. Stuff on the witness."
Han Haeseong rose quietly and took the file.
He flipped it open lightly with both hands, skimmed the key points, then slowly stood.
"I'll head out now."
"Already?"
"Got things to handle at home."
"Ah, at least let me walk you..."
He stepped to the entryway and raised a hand calmly.
"No need. You should get some rest too, Detective."
"Ah... but it's late... I'll at least see you to the car."
"C'mon, I'm not you, but I can handle myself."
He playfully shadowboxed the air, making Detective Yoo Seongjae pause before quirking a smile.
"Alright. Take care."
Before grasping the doorknob, Han Haeseong gave the room one last slow sweep.
It was a cramped, somewhat filthy studio, but oddly, it felt like it'd stick with him.
The reason wasn't clear, but it probably stemmed from his 'respect' for Detective Yoo Seongjae.
All the hidden hardships behind the badge, and one man's steadfast life in this tiny space to protect his brother.
'If it were me... could I live like this for a sibling?'
Mulling it over in his head, he quietly opened the door.
As he went to step over the threshold, he halted and turned back to Detective Yoo Seongjae.
"Detective, your brother... he can go out sometimes, right?"
"Ah... yeah. No overnights, but short outings for fresh air are fine."
Han Haeseong nodded.
Half-turning his body, he spoke clearly toward the detective.
"Could I meet your brother?"