13 – So-young’s Request (2)
The place where Yeo-ul killed the masu.
To confirm the hypothesis that the malfunction of the magic detection device, he brought a new machine and conducted a magic detection test again, but only the magic of the masu was detected.
This meant that it was a proven fact that someone had defeated a masu that came out of a 3rd rank dimensional gate without magic.
As a result, the regional headquarters of the supernatural police agency in charge of the incident area became very noisy.
Is it really possible to possess such power without magic?
In their common sense, it was an impossible thing.
Considering that even with magic, there would still be a magic residue left when enhancing the body, it meant that the person used a normal person’s physical condition to break through the masu’s powerful magic barrier and inflict damage.
Setting aside body enhancement, is it really possible to break through a magic barrier without the help of magic?
The existence of magic barriers is the biggest reason why modern weapons cannot be used in hunting masu, so it was really unbelievable that it was bypassed without the help of magic.
Moreover, it even appeared as if he was standing still in the frame of the video, indicating that he divided the monster in the interval between the dense frames.
If this hypothesis is true, he might be a true supernatural with no need for magic, or one who controls a new power.
Regardless of which one he became, if it were true, it would create a huge shockwave in the hunter community.
Then, who is the person in the video?
His face was not clearly visible due to the noise.
The only information that could be inferred was that he appeared to be a tall man with long hair, measuring around 176cm.
There was no other information that could be obtained.
The resolution of supernatural cases is based on the existence of unique magic residues for each individual, so it was inevitable that it was impossible to estimate who that person was. How many men would fit that criteria?
It is mandatory to report the identity of the person who hunted the demon under the current law, but there is hardly any information that can be used to identify them, so the detectives were at a loss.
Due to the special nature of the Grade 3 dimensional portal that occurred in the middle of the city, there was also a lot of interest from higher authorities regarding this case.
Just like in previous spontaneous dimensional portal incidents, it was impossible to come to an inconclusive conclusion, claiming ignorance, in this case.
They couldn’t solely focus on this matter, so they had to resolve it as quickly as possible.
As time passed, the doubts and sighs of the detectives only grew.
And this news reached Park Byung-hoon, who happened to belong to that branch.
It was an inevitable event as the detectives in charge of the case were complaining here and there.
It was truly a distressing situation.
Upon hearing the full story of the incident, a thought came to Byung-hoon’s mind.
The incident that happened only a few days ago.
A man who claimed to be a returnee.
His name was…
Song Yeoul, wasn’t it?
Given that there had been a similar incident before, and after briefly reporting on what could be done about it, he had forgotten about that person due to other matters.
It was tentatively concluded within the police that he would not be recognized as a returnee due to the lack of magical powers.
However, he had appeared to be a perfect returnee in terms of circumstances, but it was intriguing that the fact that he had no magical powers came to mind at that moment.
Byung-hoon tries to recall what kind of person he was back then.
A pale, expressionless face.
A feeling as if there were no emotions.
A considerable charisma that was felt.
A cross-shaped earring that was presumed to be some kind of shape-shifting weapon, worn on the ear.
And…
Long hair.
Around 170 cm in height.
No magical powers…
Hmm?
Even the physical conditions match exactly, a person who is presumed to be a returnee despite having no magical powers.
Curious, Byung-hoon reported this again to his superiors.
He asked how to deal with this returnee named Song Yeoul, who had these characteristics.
If it had been an ordinary case, they would have ignored such speculative reports, but because the government was focusing on this case, even the higher authorities instructed Byung-hoon to investigate further, even if it was just a slight clue.
Decided to make contact, Byeong-hoon searched for Yeoul’s contact information.
Oh no.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t find a way to obtain her contact information as the process of vetting and registering returnees hadn’t been completed.
But it’s okay. He had planned to contact his younger sister anyway.
Byeong-hoon sent a text message to Ryu-won…
Informing her that Ryu-won had kicked Yeoul out of the house.
Because of this, Ryu-won couldn’t even imagine that she had no means of contacting Yeoul and was anxiously pacing around.
* * *
The next day after that incident.
As usual, So-young finished getting ready for work early in the morning and left her house to take the subway.
Unlike when she used to travel alone, there was someone accompanying her this time.
Although the subway was crowded with people due to the rush hour, she stood unaffected, staring at the subway map with a blank expression. That person was Yeoul.
As for why the two of them were riding the subway together, it was because Yeoul needed So-young’s help to dispose of the ma-seok she had obtained, as they had discussed the day before.
Due to the crowd, she stood tightly next to Yeoul, looking up at his face as he stared at the subway map, and So-young was immersed in deep thought.
Under the feeling of not wanting to return to the streets, she made a request to Yeoul.
Was it because it was the first time she had made such a regretful request to someone else?
Although Yeoul assured her several times that it was alright, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt for asking him such a favor.
She had been thinking about him since yesterday.
As evidence, her tail, which was always wagging happily, drooped as if it had been soaked in water.
It was her own choice to invite Yeoul into her house, but was it alright for her to accept it as a favor and even ask him for a difficult favor?
She was truly someone who could be described as unnecessarily kind.
However, in order to sustain her livelihood, she had to confront her values that she believed to be right.
At that time, when she thought that way, the train suddenly made a sudden stop.
Due to inertia, everyone inside the train staggered to one side with a loud noise.
So-young couldn’t resist the flow and was about to tilt her body, but…
With a thud.
“Are you okay?”
Yeoul, who had been endlessly staring straight ahead, grabbed onto her body that was about to fall.
She naturally leaped into his arms and became a pitiful sight.
The emotionless face looking down at her.
Soyoung blankly looked up at him.
A complicated heart.
A confused mind.
A tired body.
Guilt.
Gratitude.
Conscience’s reproach.
Somewhere among all of these.
Soyoung stayed in his arms for a moment.
Her ears, which had been stuck to her head since she made that request to Yeoul yesterday, trembled slightly.
“Soyoung.”
Yeoul, who had been silently looking down at her standing still in his arms, suddenly called out her name.
Soyoung’s mind cleared up in an instant at the voice that called her name without hesitation.
“Oh, I’m s-sorry…”
“No.”
Soyoung somehow felt that her own heart became more complicated.
* * *
“Here… it is.”
After the time passed in the subway that she didn’t even know how she got through.
Soyoung, who led Yeoul out of the station and walked a little, pointed to a building.
An old-looking building that stood quite high.
Soyoung led the way, and Yeoul followed behind her.
She pressed the button of the elevator.
“Soyoung, is there anything I should be concerned about?”
If it had been a normal situation, Yeoul wouldn’t have bothered with caring about other people’s opinions, but since Soyoung, his benefactor, was working there, he thought it would be better to know if there was anything he should keep in mind.
“No…! Yeoul doesn’t have to worry about anything…”
Soyoung, who had even asked him for a favor, didn’t want to create any more burdens for him.
When the transaction takes place, she said not to worry because she will be by his side.
“Understood. Then, I’ll see you again shortly.”
“Yes….”
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Sooyoung kept turning around to look back, and she got on the elevator.
She went up first, and Yeo-ul stood still, meditating while waiting.
Maybe a little time passed, or perhaps more.
When the elevator doors opened, Sooyoung came out.
“I’m sorry for making you wait so long….”
“No problem.”
Then, he followed her onto the elevator.
Yeo-ul put his hand in his pocket and rolled a stone named Maseok.
The time to repay the favor was coming soon.