Chapter 16
The place we arrived at was a luxury officetel by the roadside.
It was extravagant for a high school student to live alone, but considering he earned an enormous amount of money doing secret White Killer work, I let it slide.
Especially since he had entered the Association early as a minor without parents and received support in many ways.
Yeon Jaehyun’s place was on the fourth floor.
Since it wasn’t very high, it seemed like he had purposely chosen a lower floor so he could run out quickly if a monster appeared.
“Excuse me.”
When I stepped inside, the living room was so neat it felt almost empty.
Maybe because it was spacious, it looked even more vacant.
“You really live here?”
“Yeah. Sit for a bit.”
He sat me down on a sofa that looked almost brand new from lack of use, then went into a room inside.
I passed time scrolling through my phone, and soon the owner of the house came back out.
“What do you want to drink?”
“…Ahem. Just give me some water.”
He had taken off the stupid glasses, wig, and mask, and changed out of his school uniform into casual clothes.
Seeing his bare face for the second time was still overwhelmingly my type. I couldn’t get used to it.
I turned my head, ignoring the slight heat rising to the tips of my ears.
Yeon Jaehyun returned from the kitchen and handed me a 500ml bottle of water.
“…You’re serving bottled water straight to a guest?”
“I don’t have cups.”
“Ha….”
I decided to give up on this conversation.
“You sit too.”
Instead of sitting next to me, he plopped down on the floor and leaned his back against the sofa.
We were desk mates at school—what was with the sudden distance? It was ridiculous, but I let it go.
“So. Why did you want to meet?”
“You’re a White Killer, right?”
At my blunt question, Yeon Jaehyun lifted his gaze to look at me.
There was no flinch, no sign of panic. He just seemed to be weighing my intentions.
Damn, he’s handsome….
Even in this situation, that was the thought that crossed my mind.
I awkwardly avoided his eyes. If I talked while looking at his face, I felt like I’d somehow lose.
“Why?”
It was short and clipped, but the meaning was clear.
Why do you think that?
I had no intention of spouting nonsense about reincarnation or novels. I had my own reasonable excuse.
“W-When you were looking for your gym clothes before, I saw it while you were rummaging through your bag. The thing White Killers use… what was it called again?”
“A knife.”
“Yeah, that. It even had the Association mark on it.”
I could feel his piercing stare, but I clenched my teeth and refused to meet his eyes.
I know. The evidence is weak. But what else can I do?
If I told the truth, I’d immediately be treated like a lunatic. For now, I had no choice but to cling to this flimsy proof.
“You didn’t think I might be a trainee? Minors can’t work as White Killers.”
“Then Jung Sumin would’ve mentioned it. But he never talks about you at all.”
To think Jung Sumin would be useful for once in his life… It really pays to live long enough.
I opened the bottle and took a sip, glancing at Yeon Jaehyun.
Maybe he thought my suspicion was reasonable, because he stayed quiet.
“If I say I’m not, will you believe me?”
“Not sure. The way you hide your face all the time is suspicious as hell.”
Which meant I wouldn’t believe him.
Yeon Jaehyun let out a shallow sigh.
I win.
It was practically an admission.
“So, what are you going to do now? Ask for money?”
“Ha! I’ve got plenty of money too, okay?! You know LS Construction? My mom’s boyfriend is the chairman!”
I snapped loudly, and his brows twitched slightly.
“Then what?”
“……”
I shut my mouth. From here on, it was a complete gamble.
My throat felt dry, so I gulped down the water.
“Pwah!”
Water dripped down my chin. I wiped it roughly with my sleeve and looked at him.
His expression was still unreadable. His poker face rivaled Seo Jinhyung’s.
“Are there… any classified things? Like… anything strange going on?”
“…?”
“At the Association! Something weird… or the reason you enrolled at Hwahyeon High.”
“The Association? Weird things happen every day. And I’m seventeen now, so I just enrolled at the nearest high school.”
“Not that!!”
My chest felt like it would burst.
Here I was, terrified that one wrong word would ruin everything, and he was calmly stating the obvious. It made my blood boil.
Still, I can’t lose my temper now.
I set the water bottle aside and rubbed my face. I even ran a hand through my hair. I still couldn’t calm down.
“…Phew. Is there any inside story about the White Killer death cases? Something the public doesn’t know.”
“And if there is?”
His dark eyes sharpened as he answered without hesitation.
None of his reactions matched my expectations.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and shouted.
“Is there or not?! Hey, you’re the one at a disadvantage right now!”
“…I’m at a disadvantage?”
“W-Well….”
Yeon Jaehyun stood up from the floor and walked toward me.
Startled by the shadow looming over me, I leaned back.
He placed one knee on the sofa and leaned his upper body toward me.
Thud.
His large right hand pressed against the sofa behind me.
Thump, thump. My heartbeat roared in my ears. He was too close.
I awkwardly gripped the sofa leather and turned my face aside.
“I’m curious how exactly I’m at a disadvantage. You’re weaker than me, and you don’t even have evidence in your hands. What, are you going to the police and report that the White Killer Association is using minors?”
“That’s….”
“Even if you report it without evidence, who would believe you? And even if they did, the Association wouldn’t stay still. You don’t think the Association is weaker than some construction company, do you?”
Cold sweat ran down my cheek. Yeon Jaehyun lifted his other hand and grabbed my chin, forcing my face back toward him.
His grip wasn’t gentle. A dull pain throbbed as I had no choice but to look at him.
From below, his face looked cold.
“You followed me here even after I said I live alone… Are you lacking some sense of reality or awareness?”
“!”
My face burned hot.
I lifted my leg and kicked him hard in the stomach.
“……”
Only then did he let go and step back.
I’d kicked with all my strength, but he didn’t even flinch or groan. It was unsettling.
…Am I really stupid? Trying to threaten a crazy guy like this….
Drip.
Something slid down my cheek before I could stop it. It wasn’t sweat.
“…!”
It was the first time I’d seen Yeon Jaehyun look surprised.
And then I became twice as shocked as he was.
What the hell?! Why am I crying?!
So that’s what had been running down my face—tears.
I quickly turned away and scrubbed at my eyes with my sleeve.
But instead of stopping, the tears poured out like a fully opened faucet.
“Hng… ugh….”
Even sobs escaped. I clenched my teeth, but I couldn’t stop it. I was unbelievable.
“…I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Sh-Shut… up…. hic—”
I felt so wronged. So unbelievably wronged that I couldn’t hold it in.
The stress from the past three weeks had piled up.
Whatever. Screw it.
I flopped face-first onto the sofa.
“Waaah…!”
If you can’t hold it in, you have to let it all out. That was the petty wisdom I’d gained in my second life.
Face buried in the sofa, I cried freely.
Yeon Jaehyun? Whether he watched or not, I didn’t care.
“Aaagh!! You bastards, hic, waaah!! Do I look easy to you?!”
Thump. Thump.
I kicked wildly, and the sofa thudded under my feet.
While I was beating the sofa like it had murdered my parents, Yeon Jaehyun just stood there and watched my dramatic meltdown.
Even as I cried hysterically, I was reminded of a similar situation I’d gone through with someone else before.
Kim Seyun’s Crying Theater, Part 2.
“…Are you done crying?”
“…Yeah.”
My voice was hoarse.
I was sprawled across the sofa, and Yeon Jaehyun was sitting at the edge.
“Sorry if I startled you. I didn’t think you’d cry.”
“Me neither.”
Now that I’d come to my senses, I was so embarrassed I wanted to die.
I wiped the lingering tears with the tissue he’d brought me.
“So, why are you curious about the White Killer death cases?”
“I don’t know….”
I still couldn’t tell him about Seo Jinhyung.
Unlike accusing Yeon Jaehyun of being a White Killer, I had no proof that Seo Jinhyung was a murderer.
I’d look more suspicious instead.
Until I found solid evidence that could actually get Seo Jinhyung arrested, it was better to keep my mouth shut.
Even if he’s the protagonist, he can’t just arrest an innocent Seo Jinhyung….
If I recklessly poked around and Seo Jinhyung found out I’d accused him of being a White Killer serial killer, that would be the day of my funeral.
Of course, if that happened, Yeon Jaehyun would immediately start suspecting Seo Jinhyung.
After I’m dead, though. Haha.
I had no noble desire to sacrifice my life for society.
“If you don’t have a reason, I can’t tell you anything. You’re a civilian.”
“Then do you know how to become related personnel?”
I asked desperately, clinging to a last straw.
