CH 216

Chapter 216

’Honestly, he didn’t even send all that many messages!’

When I checked my message inbox with Moon Issak, only five lines appeared.

[ Moon Issak: kekekeke]

[ Moon Issak: Let’s meet soon and talk. You know my number, right?]

[ Moon Issak: hehe]

[ Moon Issak: It says you’ve been holing up at home, why aren’t you replying?]

[ Moon Issak: I’m not fond of this ‘playing hard to get’ tactic.]

More importantly, these messages had just been sent yesterday. It wasn’t like I’d been some stay-at-home recluse that you’d been trying to keep in contact with; he broke through someone else’s door just because I hadn’t hurried to answer his texts for 10 hours…  I could clearly sense that this guy was an insane jerk.

However…

“…I was truly resting at home because I wasn’t feeling well. I just saw those messages for the first time. I didn’t intend to ignore you…” Eventually, apologies dropped out of my mouth. I’d always known that the other wasn’t one to have much common sense. I could judge that he wasn’t one to reflect upon his own faults.

At my submissive posture, Moon Issak looked at me with his arms folded, as if he were searching for something. I adopted a relaxed expression, staring at Woo Ragi and hoping that the swordsman would now take back his echo blades from where it was, next to his nape.

Woo Ragi locked eyes with my blatant stare, raised one of his eyebrows, and asked, “Want me to stab him now?”

’Honestly, whether it’s that guy or this guy…’

Perhaps Seo Dawon noticed the signs of frustration flooding through me, the Mage waved his hands. Only then did Woo Ragi docilely collect his echo blades.

However, at that moment, Moon Issak suddenly placed his hand on my face. To be exact, he placed his palm on my forehead. It was so unexpected; I couldn’t avoid him. I shuddered and shivered at the coldness that came into contact with my skin.

Moon Issak murmured to himself, “You actually have a fever.”

”…….”

”Did he not have money to buy potions? He lives in such a good house.” Afterwards, Moon Issak slowly lowered his hand, though he did not completely take his fingers away. As he slid down, his fingertips swept across all the curves of my face.

As he frowned, brows furrowing in strange displeasure, Moon Issak stopped with his index and middle finger on my collar bone. He then slowly activated his skill. “[Remedy].”

Sacred light wrapped around Moon Issak’s fingertips and began to permeate into my body. Then, my body felt like it disassociated, rising slightly before falling down into its proper place. As my slight fever fell, my body began to return to normal.

“Moon Issak’s personally treating you?” Choi Kyung-sik, watching this scene, blurted out, as if he were surprised. I stood, dazed…uncertain of how I should react to his unexpected kindness.

Moon Issak immediately manifested his inventory, took out a potion with the label [hand sanitizer] printed on it, and cleaned his hands. Very meticulously…as if he touched something incredibly filthy.

In particular, he wiped his right hand so thoroughly–almost to the point that his nails may fall off… Watching that, my dislike overtook my bewildered gratitude.

After washing his hands well, Moon Issak turned to look at me with an absurd expression. “It’ll be bothersome if you catch a cold. Healing skills don’t work well on you.”

“…Yes, well… Thank you.”

“I tend to treat torture wounds I’ve dealt others. You’re not special, so please don’t feel too emotional.”

“……”

He pointed at me with his chin, continuing his unfriendly comments. “Well, then. Shall we continue our conversation? It’s not a matter that should be discussed while standing.”

Jung Garam, who had been throwing and catching his dagger brazenly, whispered, “Hyung, can’t we just kill him?”

I felt Seo Dawon contemplate that proposition; I hurried and walked ahead in order to protect Moon Issak in this rapidly deteriorating atmosphere. “…Follow me.”

I turned my back on Moon Issak and inhaled a deep breath, but… For some reason, my head still felt heavy even though I had already been treated.

* * *

I eventually took the inspector to the table next to the living room. As soon as Moon Issak sat across from me, he took out a long tape recorder from his embrace–the same kind of recording device that reporters might use. Without much explanation, he pressed the recorder’s playback button.

Soon, the familiar voices of Moon Issak and Bae Jaemin could be heard from within the recording.

[Beatrice? Why would you ask about that?]

Bae Jaemin’s voice was unexpectedly calm. However, the tempo of his words was faster than usual–at least from the previous conversations I had had with him. It was a subtle difference. However, those that knew the Priest could definitely notice that this line of questioning was a sore subject for him.

[Hm? My question has no particular significance. Am I perhaps…the first person to ask you about that rosary?]

Moon Issak responded languidly. The inspector seemed to be pretending ignorance to the significance of his words, treating his question as nothing more than a greeting and needling Bae jaemin for his sensitivity. Just from his voice, I could gauge that the man had an artful acting talent–it seemed the Priest was taken in by the man’s act.

In a calm voice, Bae Jaemin replied,

[It’s quite different when Civil Administrator Moon-nim asks than when others pry, isn’t it?]

[Haha. I’ve never seen you so nervous, Bae Jaemin-ssi. I wonder if the Jeju Island incident has made you a bit thin-skinned.]

Moon Issak spoke as if he were playing with his food–Bae Jaemin. He felt a bit arrogant. The Priest must have finally returned to his senses; he responded elegantly.

[…It’s because the investigation has been prolonged. Even now I’m beginning to wonder if you’re still working the case… As a guild master, I have no choice but to worry.]

The priest sounded sincere, yet this response was incredibly clever as well. Moon Issak, listening along, said, “Jaemin-ssi was an incredibly good actor. If I had never gotten your tip, I wouldn’t have bothered to dig further.”

”……” I didn’t bother reacting to the Moon Issak and leaned my ear towards the recorder. After a brief moment of silence, Moon Issak persistently asked Bae Jaemin about Beatrice’s origin again.

[Beatrice is just a personal interest of mine. Other items that Bae Jaemin-ssi uses have documented histories and are quite famous in their own right. However, Bea 1 is the only one that has little public data.]

[……]

[Did you obtain it illegally? Well, I also stop by the black market when bored.]

[It’s not like that, actually…]

Bae Jaemin answered in a quiet, slightly shaky voice.

[This was the last…relic that Garam-ie gave me.]

[Ah……]

[If this were to be exposed to the media, I would have no choice but to answer a personally painful line of questioning.]

[I see. I’m sorry.]

[No, it’s alright. Well… It’s not like those close to me don’t know about it. Rather than trying to hide this… I just didn’t want to talk about it… Haah.]

[Oh my, I’m being too discourteous.]

[Not at all… Mm, the person who murdered Park Hoseok pretended to be Garam-ie as well…]

[Ahh…]

[Your question suddenly reminded me of something… Haah. A lot of thoughts are scurrying about in my head.]

[Whether the culprit impersonated Jung Garam or Bae Jaemin-ssi, the lingering message isn’t all that important to the investigation.]

[Is that so…? Anyway, personally, now that these events have occurred… I’d like to catch the criminal myself.]

[I understand that.]

[Please let me know if there’s any new information on the case.]

[Of course.]

The recording ended there. I had no idea if there was more to the recording and Moon Issak had just edited this tape.

I was angry at Bae Jaemin, who could lie without scruples; my fists clenched automatically.  I was worried about Jung Garam, who was sitting next to me with chin in palm.

“Did Bae Jaemin…like me?” However, rather than being furious, Jung Garam abruptly asked an absurd question.

Taking care to tiptoe around Moon Issak’s gaze, I took a furtive sidelong glance at Jung Garam. Woo Ragi placed his elbow on the young assassin’s head and giggled, “You didn’t know?”

“Haah. It’s so tiresome to be this cute.”

They were unexpectedly unbothered by Bae Jaemin’s lies. How should I put this… It felt like they were ridiculing the Priest?

TL: I adore (1) assassin.

Also, quick update, need to go–drowning in end of semester work~