Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Yandere Fairy's Gaze is Strange
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"Gwangho, it's me again."
The face of Park Gwangho, lying in the hospital bed, seemed to have lost all emotion.
A blank expression, hollow eyes devoid of life.
He was alive, yet he seemed no different from the dead.
In one corner of the room, various medical devices were hooked up to his body, and the heart rate monitor emitted steady beeps, confirming his vital signs.
Yoo Seongjae the detective and Kim Jin-ho the detective quietly caught their breath as they gazed at him.
"I have something urgent to ask Gwangho."
"……"
The doctor finished a brief check-up, gave a light nod to the detectives, and stepped out of the room.
The moment the door closed softly, Yoo Seongjae slowly walked toward Park Gwangho and continued.
"Have you ever heard the name Yoo Seonghyeon?"
No response, as expected.
He continued staring only at the white ceiling of the room.
Yoo Seongjae knew that Park Gwangho had been in this state ever since he first woke up, but he desperately hoped for even a brief moment of clarity.
The reason being...
"There was an unsolved case five years ago. And the wounds on your body... I think they're just like my brother's."
"……"
"The perpetrator hasn't been identified yet, but my gut tells me the one who did this to you is the same person behind my brother's case."
"……"
As Park Gwangho showed no reaction, Kim Jin-ho, who had been watching the exchange, let out a quiet sigh.
He glanced at Yoo Seongjae beside him and spoke in a low voice.
"Looks like we should come back another time."
With zero response from Park Gwangho, there was no point in continuing the interrogation.
However, Yoo Seongjae gripped the bed's railing tightly, showing no intention of backing down easily.
He pressed his lips together for a long moment before finally playing his last card.
"Park Gwangho, do you know the name Sowol?"
"······!!"
At Yoo Seongjae's words, Park Gwangho—who had shown no reaction until now—suddenly convulsed violently.
BEEP——!
As the medical equipment blared urgent alarms, Kim Jin-ho jumped in surprise and checked on Park Gwangho.
His eyes were wide open, breath coming in ragged gasps.
Just like someone gripped by terror.
"H-heup...! Hah! H-hic...!"
BEEP——! BEEP——!
The monitor's alarms rang out even faster.
Blood pressure and oxygen levels dropping abnormally.
Park Gwangho gasped desperately, as if trying to say something, his mouth opening wide.
━Code Blue! Code Blue!!
In that instant, the hospital room door burst open, and doctors and nurses rushed in.
As the medical team moved frantically, Yoo Seongjae watched calmly, grinding his teeth.
This was no longer just a hunch.
He was certain.
The one who did this to Park Gwangho was the same bastard behind his brother Yoo Seonghyeon's case.
And so...
In the still-chaotic hospital room, Yoo Seongjae began racking his brains with eyes burning for revenge.
"Feeling a bit calmer now?"
Jiwon-i's mom, who had shown up at my house out of the blue, downed the glass of water I handed her and patted her chest with a deep breath.
"Phew! Much better."
I thought she was here with side dishes like last time, but she was empty-handed when I opened the door.
So why had she come? The question lingered only briefly.
Seeing the stiff expression on Jiwon-i's mom's face, I knew something was up.
Drag...
I carefully pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.
"What's troubling you?"
"W-well... Could you get me some more water first?"
Jiwon-i's mom, who seemed deeply troubled, emptied glass after glass.
I waited patiently without pressing, until she was ready to speak.
"You okay?"
"Y-yeah... Thanks to you."
She was usually so bubbly, the chattiest auntie in the neighborhood—what could make her this silent?
She had stayed till the end at my dad's funeral, even helping greet guests. I wanted to help however I could.
To lighten the heavy mood before she opened up, I shifted the topic.
"Grandma Choi's been grinning ear to ear about the new folks who moved in."
"Y-yeah, she has."
"Auntie told me—the newcomers bought Grandma Choi's land."
"Right, and a few more families moved in too."
"Haha! No kidding? Could our neighborhood's land prices actually shoot up like in Seoul?"
My hearty laugh and banter eased the tension bit by bit.
Jiwon-i's mom seemed calmer too, adjusting her posture in her chair.
"Haeseong, could I ask you a favor?"
She jumped straight to "favor." From experience, it was usually about borrowing money—which actually put me at ease.
With the Gold Fairy's gold bars, I had plenty, and for someone I'd known since childhood, it was no issue.
I raised my eyebrows gently.
"Sure, go ahead."
"Jiwon-i's been acting strange lately."
Her unexpected mention of Jiwon-i startled me, eyes widening.
"W-what happened to Jiwon-i in Seoul?"
"Not sure, but something feels off."
"How so? Tell me the details."
"She used to be so cheerful on calls, but lately she's quiet, barely talks... And a few days ago, she suddenly started crying."
"...Jiwon-i cried?"
Thinking of her daughter, Jiwon-i's mom's eyes welled up.
She bit her lip, pushing on.
"I asked why she was crying, but she said it was nothing and hung up."
"First time something like this?"
"Of course! She's just like me—always so bright! Something's definitely wrong!!"
"Maybe visit her place in Seoul..."
"I just came back from there."
"How'd she act when you went?"
Jiwon-i's mom shook her head vigorously, barely breathing.
"She acted normal, like it was no big deal that I was there."
"Did you at least ask straight-up if something was wrong?"
"I did, but she said the same as on the phone—nothing—and got snappy at the end. I was speechless."
Nothing concrete, so no police report. And prying might make her cut contact altogether.
Something really must have happened.
"Where's Jiwon-i's school?"
"Jaeheon University."
"I'm heading to Seoul tomorrow anyway—want me to meet her?"
Jiwon-i's mom perked up at the good news.
"R-really? You'd do that?"
"But to avoid suspicion, I need an excuse... It's been too long since I last saw her."
"Don't worry! Last time I went up, I forgot some side dishes."
"Ah! Perfect—I can say Auntie sent me to deliver them on my way."
"Exactly! I'll tell Jiwon-i ahead of time."
That said...
I'd offered to meet her out of pity for Jiwon-i's mom, but could I actually fix this?
She hadn't even told her own mom—why spill to an old hometown oppa?
'Still, for Jiwon-i's mom's sake, I should at least see her.'
Gathering info beforehand couldn't hurt.
I straightened up, leaning in eagerly.
"No boyfriend? Could be guy trouble."
"Nope! She promised to tell me first if one came along."
"Maybe not enough allowance? College kids need cash to hang with friends and seniors."
"Don't even—I've offered more, but she flat-out refuses."
Grades maybe?
Tsk, at twenty, she should be making friends and having fun over grade-chasing...
Been too long since I saw her—I couldn't guess.
'Hmm...'
No point overthinking when there's no answer yet.
Best to meet her first.
"Not sure if I can solve it, but I'll do my best."
"Haeseong... Thank you. When are you leaving for Seoul tomorrow?"
"To fit in seeing Jiwon-i, earlier than planned. Around... eight in the morning?"
"I'll bring the side dishes on time then. For our Haeseong too, of course!"
Junseok had brought plenty from Yerim, so I spread my hands with a grin.
"Really, it's fine. Peek in the fridge—friend overloaded me, still tons left."
"Alright? Just say if you need more!"
"Thanks."
"No, I'm the grateful one... Haven't done a thing for you, yet here I am asking favors. Sorry."
"Nah. You've looked out for me since I was little. And helped a ton at Dad's funeral."
"...Yeah. Truly thankful."
Worry making her hands tremble on the table.
I gently placed my palm over the back of Jiwon-i's mom's hand.
"Auntie, whatever it is, I'll do everything I can to sort it out."