Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"I'll dig in."
"So, what brings you here...?"
"Do you know Park Gwangho?"
I was placing my teacup on the table, wondering why a detective had shown up at my house.
That's when the name 'Park Gwangho' came out of Detective Yoo Seongjae's mouth.
"Park Gwangho?"
As I tilted my head while sitting on the sofa, Detective Yoo Seongjae carefully adjusted his posture.
"This morning, we found Park Gwangho collapsed on the street, covered in blood. He's been taken to the hospital and is receiving treatment."
"C-Covered in blood!? Is he okay?"
"He's regained consciousness at the hospital, but his mental state isn't stable."
"Ah... Did he get into a car accident or something?"
At my words, Detective Yoo Seongjae cleared his throat awkwardly before continuing.
"We don't have an exact diagnosis yet, but it looks like he was beaten indiscriminately."
"Park Gwangho got beaten up by someone?"
As I blinked in surprise, Detective Yoo Seongjae leaned slightly toward me.
"That's why I'm asking—where were you last night, Haeseong?"
"...Pardon?"
"Don't get the wrong idea. This is just standard questioning."
Even as he said that, Detective Yoo Seongjae's eyes were clearly suspecting me of being the culprit.
I felt wronged, but I understood.
In this tight-knit neighborhood, there weren't many people who could overpower the vigorous Park Gwangho with brute force.
"I ran into Park Gwangho briefly at the convenience store the day before yesterday. I went there to buy some hangover remedies."
"...And?"
"That was it—just a quick sighting. Then Grandpa Hong grabbed me, and even though my stomach wasn't feeling great, I drank all night."
"Who's Grandpa Hong?"
"He's Grandma Choi's husband, the one who runs the convenience store."
"What time did you get home after drinking all night?"
"I slept in the store's back room yesterday. I came home this morning."
"Hmm..."
Detective Yoo Seongjae stroked his chin, his face full of contemplation.
I continued without paying it any mind.
"We were drinking on the wooden platform, and there are CCTVs at both the platform and the store, so you can check them."
"Even this rural area has CCTVs?"
"There was a break-in at the store a while back, so they installed three or four around the store and nearby."
"Why on the wooden platform...?"
"It's near the warehouse behind the store. You should have footage of me drinking with Grandpa Hong."
As soon as I finished speaking, Detective Yoo Seongjae, who had been listening from the sofa, leaned back slowly, keeping his sharp gaze while slightly raising one eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
Detective Yoo Seongjae wore an inscrutable expression, then glanced briefly at the other detective standing beside the sofa.
The look in his eyes said nothing explicit, but it was a clear signal.
The other detective nodded slightly without reaction and quietly stepped out of the house.
'He's probably off to check the CCTV. They didn't go together because they figured I might bolt in the meantime.'
Tsk.
I wasn't sure if the CCTV was still working, but with witnesses like Grandma Choi and Grandpa Hong, there was no way I'd be mistaken for the culprit.
Still.
Who the hell beat Park Gwangho bloody?
Did he pick a fight with some visitors?
Not many people come camping around here these days anyway.
Plus, it rained last night.
I could understand the detectives, but being suspected as the perp didn't sit well.
As if sensing my mood, Detective Yoo Seongjae awkwardly picked up the teacup from the table.
"As I said earlier, it's just procedure. Thank you for cooperating."
"No problem. But did Gwangho drink at all?"
"No alcohol in his system."
"That's weird. He's not exactly small-built."
"That's why we're focusing on males for now. Anyone in the neighborhood you suspect, Haeseong?"
"Most folks here are older, so there aren't many men who could take Gwangho down by force."
I stated it plainly, and Detective Yoo Seongjae's eyes widened slightly.
The awkward silence dragged on until the detective returned from checking the CCTV at the store.
"We confirmed Han Haeseong drinking with a man called Grandpa Hong on the wooden platform, then heading straight to the back room inside the store."
"Timeframe?"
"Less than fifty seconds from disappearing on the rear CCTV to appearing on the interior one."
With solid evidence in hand, Detective Yoo Seongjae's stiff expression softened.
He suddenly stood from the sofa and extended his hand.
"Thanks for your cooperation."
The whole thing had felt like an interrogation, so I still wasn't thrilled, but Park Gwangho was from our neighborhood after all.
I even knew his parents, so helping out was the right thing.
I stood as well and shook Detective Yoo Seongjae's hand.
"...As a fellow neighborhood guy, please catch the perp quick for Gwangho."
"Ta-da!! I brought lots of side dishes, right!?"
Shortly after the detectives left, Soeun-i barged in, insisting on bringing over side dishes.
I buried my lingering unease deep and forced a bright smile.
"Thanks anyway. The kids came over last time, we ate, and I just ran out of the side dishes Grandma Choi gave me—perfect timing."
"I figured as much!"
"Tell your mom thanks too."
"Huh? I made these myself?"
"For real?"
I hurriedly checked the dishes, and the first things that caught my eye were stir-fried anchovies and beef in spicy gochujang—my favorites.
She's only twenty-four, and she can already cook like this?
"Soeun-i's really marriage material now."
"To you, oppa?"
"...Huh?"
"J-Joking! Oh, right! Is that car outside yours?"
"Nah, I borrowed it from a friend for the reunion."
Dad hadn't been gone long; if word got out I was splurging on a car, bad rumors would spread around the neighborhood.
Telling the truth would just lead to whispers about where the sudden money came from.
So.
I decided to keep my mouth shut.
The rooftop bathhouse was like a golden goose laying eggs.
Letting that slip would be like killing the goose for its innards.
Soeun-i pouted and tilted her head.
"Going to a reunion—did you really need to borrow a car?"
"My ex-wife's gonna be there, so I figured I'd show off a bit while I'm at it—"
Mid-sentence, I flinched and clamped my mouth shut.
Blood was trickling from Soeun-i's lips, bright red.
I frantically grabbed tissues from the table and handed them over.
"Y-Your lip's bleeding—are you okay?"
"Guess I bit it by accident. Anyway, where was I?"
"...Uh? Anyway, I borrowed the car from my friend."
"To impress your ex-wife...?"
"No way, we parted on bad terms—nothing to impress. Just wanted to rub it in a little."
"Ah... I see."
Soeun-i was sweet and all-around great, but she had this habit of firing off questions without brakes sometimes.
Is that how kids these days are?
Or just super curious?
Plus.
Maybe it was the blood on her lip, but she made these eerily chilling expressions now and then.
Made me wonder if I'd said something wrong.
"Hmm... Your place is always so tidy, oppa."
"Gotta keep it clean living alone."
Unlike my rattled mind, Soeun-i wandered around the house with her hands behind her back.
Then, as if out of things to say, she suddenly bowed.
"Well, I'll get going then."
"It's getting dark—let me walk you."
"No need. You must be tired from the Seoul trip—rest up."
"Didn't hear about Gwangho?"
"Park Gwangho? That oppa came back to the hometown too?"
"Looks like someone beat him up last night. That's why the detective was here earlier."
"That guy's the type who could get beat anytime by anyone, no?"
"Yeah... but still, better safe—I'll walk you."
In the end, I escorted Soeun-i to her house and came back.
Nothing much to do in the hometown except clean, so time flew by.
Though today was way different from usual.
'Hah... what a fucking shitty day.'
Anyway.
I'd promised to attend the Daesung Group party because of the blackmail, but what the hell was I supposed to do there?
Just sit quietly?
If I chatted and they realized I was a nobody, it'd put Seo Yerim in a tough spot instead.
"Screw it, who knows!"
Seo Yerim had only shown her face at the reunion anyway—no special favors for me.
Just ate some meat separately?
No need for me to feel any sense of duty.
Gurgle gurgle gurgle!
Gurgle gurgle gurgle!
Gurgle gurgle gurgle!
Then, the sound of rushing water I'd neglected since the Seoul trip hit my ears.
Today, it roared louder than ever.
I lifted my head and grinned.
Yeah, fuck it!
Dealing with the 'guests' comes first!