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“Thank you so much. I don’t know how I should repay back your kindness…”
“No, it’s okay.”
“I really wish to pay you back somehow. If it wasn’t for you then my brother would have…Sniff, thank you so much.”
Stop it. How many times are you doing to thank me? I’m going to get a scar on my ear.
Of course, I can’t say that out loud so I just smiled without saying anything.
The one who called out to me was a girl with tears in her eyes.
She’s the older sister of the boy I just saved.
“I don’t have anything right now as I came in a hurry, but if you’re okay with it perhaps I could treat you to a meal…”
“No, It’s okay.”
Let me repay you. No, it’s okay. But still. No, it’s really okay.
This repertoire has been repeated about five times till now.
‘Wait, but.’
It’s strange. Why does she feel familiar the more I look at her?
I’m sure this is the first time we met but I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere…
It’s almost like I can remember it but can’t…Ah, I really hate this type of feeling.
While I was repeating ‘it’s okay’ like an automatic machine and trying to recollect my memory.
Behind the girl’s shoulder, I could see two men in suits walking this way.
Looking at the name tags on their chest,
‘It’s the association officials.’
I was in a dilemma about how to end this conversation with her so nice timing.
I took a step with an amicable smile on my face.
“The people from the association are here. Then, please excuse me first.”
“Uh, um then please accept this at least!”
While I was leaving the girl grabbed my hand and gave me something.
Damn, she’s really tiresome. Now, what is it this time?
Rustle-
It was a piece of paper. It felt a bit too stiff to be an A4 paper.
“This is my business card. Please call this number whenever you’re free. Later, I would really like to treat you to a meal sometime.”
You had a business card too? You look younger than me who’s twenty-three, I mean twenty so that means you should be a high-schooler.
I looked down and checked the contents of the business card.
-Guild: From <Maddock>
Player name: Lee Ji-yoon
HP: 010-xxxx-xxxx
“Huh?”
Turns out the girl standing in front of me is part of a guild.
I wasn’t surprised by the fact that she is a player at all.
Because nowadays there are players who are minors too.
“……”
But, I had goosebumps all over my back.
First, I was shocked reading her guild’s name but more importantly, I almost gasped at the girl’s name itself.
“…<Maddock’s> Lee Ji-yoon?”
No wonder I thought she was familiar since a while ago.
This girl. She’s her.
The demon.
During my first life, and exactly 1 year from now, the name people will keep talking about.
The mass murderer.
***
1 year from now.
That guild called <Maddock> disappears from the world.
It can’t be a coincidence that this was when the ‘demon’ started spreading it’s notoriety in the people’s perception.
Because that demon, Lee ji-yoon kills all of her guild members.
It was hard to believe that the one who caused the tragedy was a high school girl who didn’t even have a coming-of-age ceremony yet, but of course, the public was in a frenzy.
Reports about Lee Ji-yoon continued day after day in the media, and it was around that time she earned the nickname ‘demon’.
“Please be sure to contact me.”
Pat pat.
Lee Ji-yoon’s thin hand patted my hand holding the business card.
It felt as if my five senses and including my brain froze at the touch of that eerie feeling.
“Thank you very much for today.”
When I imagined the ‘demon’s’ face over that innocent-looking face, sweat dripped from my face without realizing it.
After smiling once again, Lee Ji-yoon left with her brother.
….It’s unfair, no matter how much I want to deny that her face just resembles the mass murderer’s face a lot, there’s no way out when it’s clearly written on this business card.
“What is this…”
Such a kind-looking girl later turns out to be that crazy witch?
What could have happened in 1 year for her to change so violentl-
“Are you the one who reported?”
A heavy voice cut off my train of thoughts.
Surprised, I looked back and saw the two employees from the association.
“Uh, y-yes, I’m the one who reported.”
I answered the man who looked like the boss out of the two.
Because my throat was dry and my voice came out hoarse, I coughed for a while.
Damn it, my mind is all over the place.
‘First, let’s stop thinking about Lee Ji-yoon.’
It’s not like it’s going to happen right now, what’s in front of me is more important.
Just in case, I’ll keep this business card safe.
Just then, the man next to his boss took out a document which I assumed to be a personal statement.
The contents of ownership of the monster’s leftover objects should also be included in that.
The boss reached his hand out to give it to me.
“Can I see your player registration card please?”
“Ah, actually…I don’t have it yet.”
“Pardon?”
“I was awakened just today morning. I plan on visiting the association and getting it issued soon.”
“…That means someone who has woken up today for the first time did all of of this on his-”
The man briefly cut off his own words and started counting the number of orcs.
Except for those who were difficult to figure out because they got crushed by a rock, there were about seven dead orcs.
“…You’re trying to say you defeated so many orcs alone?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“……”
He looked sharply as if he didn’t believe my words.
Yeah, well. There are times like that.
Some people deliberately don’t get a registration card even though it’s been a long time since they woke up.
Usually, such people are criminals who engage in illegal activities and they want to avoid the official state agencies.
But I’m not one of them.
Why would I do something that will get me caught by the association in no time?
That’s why don’t look at me like that.
“No matter how high your basic stats were, it’s not possible to defeat over ten orcs on your own on the first day of waking up.”
“But I’m telling you that’s what happened. On what grounds should I make you bel-….What are you doing??”
Shouldn’t you look at someone when they’re speaking, why’re you looking at your colleague?
‘…Now why’s he wearing leather gloves..?’
If I remember correctly, that is an item equipped with a taser function that blocks mana and is used for suppressing players.
Aha, now I get it. So you wanna catch me huh?
“I don’t know if you’re aware of it, but if you don’t register yourself within 14 days of awakening, there will be legal punishment.”
“Yes. I know that.”
“In that case…I’m sorry but you will have to come with us. It will only take a moment. We just have a few questions to ask you.”
“So you mean, you suspect I’m an illegal player and right now you’re going to arrest me?”
“It’s just a simple interrogation. As you know, the crime rate of unregistered players is on the rise recently.”
“…….”
There was nothing I could answer back so I just scratched my ear.
Why are these guys making this much of a fuss when I contributed so much for the safety of the citizens?
[‘Sung Hyun-sook’ is shocked and says “I just came back after borrowing the money and now what’s going on?!”]
Oh! It’s mom.
…But looks like she really borrowed it. The God coins.
“Aren’t you overdoing it because of me? ….Hm? Ah! Don’t mind me. I was just talking to my Guardian deity. Ah, also instead of just standing still like that, can you call another staff member instead? I just don’t think I can get my words across you guys.”
“…….”
What’re you glaring at.
Without being bothered, I continued to have a cosy conversation with my mom.
[‘Sung Hyun-sook’ disappointingly says “There are only cheapskates here so I could only borrow very little.”]
“No, don’t be disappointed over something like that.”
I was feeling bad as it is, why is she being like that to make me feel worse.
[‘Sung Hyun-sook’ asks about the situation “Leave that, why are these guys bothering you again?”]
“They’re saying I’m a criminal.”
Haha, I’m going to tell on them to mom.
Even though in reality, there’s nothing she can do here.
“No, we’re not confirmed now, we’re just suspecting so we plan to investigate-….”
“Say things like that after you ask your colleague to take off those gloves.”
[‘Sung Hyun-sook’ is outraged and says “If it was me, I would have cut off that bastard’s balls!”
“My guardian deity says if it was here then she would’ve cut off your balls.”
I said while smiling and at my sarcasm, the man heavily frowned his forehead.
Your forehead is going to explode at this rate.
Looking at his boss, the loyal colleague released his folded hands wearing the gloves and walked towards me.
The dude glared with his eyes.
“…This is as far we will endure it.”
“Who’s the one who started it first?”
Where it won’t be enough to appreciate a citizen for what they did, they’re suspecting him instead?
Great going.
When the guy was about to hold my collar with his gloved hands, I pulled my head back and easily avoided his touch.
Just when the expressions of both the snobs turned sour, a hologram window appeared.
[‘Sung Hyun-sook’ delivers information “There’s an item called ‘Bead of forgetting’ and it deletes all the memories of the subject!]
[‘Sung Hyun-sook’ asks “I am able to barely buy it with the money I borrowed, would you like to get it sponsored?”]
In other words, it’s an item to make someone a complete fool. Isn’t that a scam?
If I could I totally wish to use it but…Sigh, forget it.
It’s only a waste of my item if I use it on these guys.
“If you keep doing this, you will be arrested and taken to court for obstructing the execution of official duties.”
“Okay fine. Did I ever say I won’t come along?”
“…….”
“I’ll come with you so take off those gloves. Because I’m so scared, I feel like I’ll pee.”
I even raised both my hands up to show that I had no intention of resistance.
This is good enough right?
Do they find my obedient attitude strange?
Both the snob’s had frowned faces.
What’s wrong, aren’t I nicely cooperating with what you want?
But instead,
“Before we go, I’d like to make a phone call. There’s no problem with that right?”
“……”
“I need to inform my guardian. Isn’t it better if I do it rather than you guys?”
I slowly took out my phone from my pocket.
The two snobs kept their mouths shut as if they didn’t care.
Great. You guys keep playing freeze tag like that.
When I called the saved number, the ringing tone soon stopped.
I put the phone on my ear and said.
“Hello?”
I smiled awkwardly at the other person over the phone.
I’m not acting or anything.
It’s just that it really was a bit awkward.
“Ah, yes. You must be surprised at my call after so long. I’m sorry, uncle. From now, I’ll call you often. Actually…it’s just that I was awaken-….ah, don’t scream at me.”
As soon as I said the word ‘awaken’ I heard a loud scream.
My ears hurt.
I continued talking, slightly moving the phone away from my ear.
“O-okay I get it. Please calm down and listen to me first. Yes, I woke up and right now I’m caught up in a bit of an awkward situation. So what happened is-”
After that, I explained to him about the current situation in detail from one to ten without summarizing anything.
At the same time, I rolled my eyes and glanced at the expressions of the snobs.
They kept looking at me as if to ask who I’m talking to.
Yeah, buddies. You feel a bit anxious, don’t you?
[Sigh…pass the phone to that employee.]
“No. I’ll put it on speaker. You can speak now.”
I raised the volume as much as possible so it would reach the snobs’ eardrums.
Then I pressed the speaker button,
[You guys won’t let me live.]
A sombre voice spread.
The voice of a middle-aged man who would have passed forty years at least.
I pushed my phone closer to the snobs who were still frowning.
The boss, after probably feeling uncomfortable about something, meekly brought his mouth closer to the phone.
“…W-who is this?”
[I’m the president of the association.]
This is the power of connections, you bastards.