Chapter 7. Seeing Is Believing
Once all the students had gathered in the gymnasium, a stylishly dressed man strode confidently onto the stage.
“Who’s that?”
“Do we have a teacher like him at our school?”
“I don’t know, but he’s handsome. Who is he?”
The unfamiliar face immediately drew everyone’s attention toward the stage. Thanks to that, the noisy, chaotic atmosphere in the gymnasium quickly settled down.
The man glanced over the students before picking up the microphone.
“Testing, testing. Hello, everyone. My name is Kim Seong-jin, and I’m a detective with the Metropolitan Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.”
“A detective?”
“Since when are detectives that handsome? Are we sure he’s actually a detective?”
The moment Seong-jin introduced himself as a police officer, the gymnasium erupted into chatter once again.
He had no idea what detectives were supposed to look like, but this was a reaction he encountered wherever he went. So, without paying it much attention, he continued speaking.
“First of all, I imagine today’s incident must have been quite shocking for all of you. I’m sure many of you are still shaken.”
Perhaps the shock of what had happened earlier hadn’t worn off yet. Here and there, he could see students quietly wiping away their tears.
“The reason I’ve gathered you all here is because we need your help to solve the incident involving your fellow student today.”
At that, the students’ expressions began to stiffen.
“I’ll ask you a few questions. If anything applies to you, please raise your hand quietly.”
Looking at their stiff expressions—or, more accurately, the fear written all over their faces—Seong-jin immediately realized that this wasn’t going to be easy.
“First, would anyone who was among the first to witness today’s incident please raise your hand?”
However, among the countless students filling the gymnasium, not a single hand went up.
I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.
Seong-jin frowned slightly and lowered the microphone, muttering under his breath as he watched the students remain completely motionless.
It was probably partly because they weren’t accustomed to this sort of situation. But he suspected their silence was also rooted in a vague fear that speaking up might somehow get them into trouble.
And he couldn’t exactly blame them.
This was simply too much for high school students to deal with.
“Everyone, please don’t worry. Raising your hand won’t get you into any trouble whatsoever. If you know even the smallest thing, please don’t hesitate to speak up.”
Seong-jin gently reassured them once more.
Only then did a few timid hands begin to rise among the students.
“Ah, thank you for finding the courage to speak up.”
Seong-jin gestured toward Detective Lee, who was waiting at the side of the gymnasium, signaling him to escort the students who had raised their hands outside.
But as the frightened students followed the detective out, the others began to grow restless.
“Now, now. There’s no need to be alarmed. We’re just going to ask them a few questions outside because it’s difficult to do that here. There’s absolutely nothing to worry about. We’re really just going to ask them some questions. I promise none of you will get into trouble or suffer any consequences. So please, don’t worry.”
Seong-jin did everything he could to calm the anxious students.
But once fear had spread through the crowd like wildfire, it had already shut their hearts tight.
He continued asking a few more questions, but all he received in return were cold, wary stares.
“All right, I have just one last question. Did anyone happen to record the moment of the incident on their phone?”
Seong-jin scanned the students, his eyes filled with a final glimmer of hope.
But, just as he’d expected, not a single student raised a hand.
“Phew…”
A sigh escaped him involuntarily.
“All right. I know today must have been difficult for all of you, so I really appreciate your cooperation.”
There was no point in asking anything more. Continuing would only waste everyone’s time. It was probably best to wrap things up here.
“Still, if you happen to remember anything later, please make sure to tell the police—or your homeroom teacher. I would really appreciate it.”
With a gentle smile, Seong-jin offered his final request to the students, who remained silent.
A little while later—
Bang!
The students streamed out of the gymnasium like the receding tide. Once the doors closed behind them, the smile on Seong-jin’s face disappeared, and the corners of his eyes tightened.
“Detective Lee. Where’s the chief right now?”
At the crime scene, police tape had been stretched around the area.
“Ms. Jeong, you really went through a lot today. You came all this way to help me, only to end up having such a hard time.”
Chief Choi had been examining the crime scene alongside the forensic team when he spotted In-hye coming out of the school building, wiping the blood from her hands and face.
He hurried over and offered her a handkerchief, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“Thank you. It’s nothing. It was the least I could do.”
In-hye smiled warmly, her expression so gentle that it made even those around her smile.
“Still, it’s not like this is an ordinary situation. Watching you work earlier was like watching a medical drama.”
“Aren’t you praising me a little too much?”
In-hye waved her hand bashfully and chuckled.
“But I didn’t know psychiatrists could perform that kind of medical procedure. You were so decisive when you were treating him earlier. I was honestly amazed.”
Chief Choi gave her a thumbs-up, shaking his head in admiration.
“Didn’t you know I was originally a surgical resident before switching to psychiatry?”
In-hye handed back the handkerchief he’d given her and smiled brightly.
“Really? That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Goodness, but look at your clothes! They’re completely ruined. I’ll buy you an identical replacement.”
Chief Choi scratched his head apologetically as he looked at her white blouse, which was now a mess of sweat and blood.
“This is an expensive blouse, you know. Are you sure you can afford to replace it?”
“Is it really that expensive?”
“I’m kidding. Just buy me a meal sometime instead.”
In-hye burst into laughter at the flustered look on Chief Choi’s face.
“Still, I feel bad about it.”
“I’m really fine, so don’t worry about it. Chief, by the way, where’s Chae-rin? I haven’t seen her for a while.”
Now that things had finally calmed down, In-hye began worrying about Chae-rin, who had been missing from her sight for some time.
“They made an announcement earlier telling everyone inside the school to return to their classrooms, so she had no choice but to go back. Ah, she should be in the gymnasium now.”
“Does that mean the case involving the student who sent that letter will have to be put on hold for now?”
“I’m afraid so. This incident is just too big to ignore.”
Chief Choi frowned, glancing back and forth between the crime scene and the rooftop.
“Chief! Detective Kim says he has something to report at the gymnasium.”
Just then, Detective Lee came rushing over, interrupting their conversation.
“Got it. Well, Ms. Jeong, I’ll contact you later. And as for Chae-rin… Anyway, I hope the two of you can have a proper talk.”
Chief Choi swallowed the rest of what he’d been about to say. With an awkward wave, he hurried off.
The gymnasium was now completely empty.
“Anything?”
At Chief Choi’s question as he entered, the detectives simultaneously opened their notebooks.
“Detective Kim, you go first.”
Chief Choi sat on the edge of the stage, half-perched on it, and spoke with a sharp gaze.
“Yes, sir. First, we’ve secured the suspect in connection with the incident. His name is Lee Dong-gyu, eighteen years old. He’s in the same class as the victim, Kim Min-jun.”
“Did he push him? Or was it an accident?”
Chief Choi took a packet of mint candies from his pocket, tossed a few into his mouth, and frowned.
“According to the statements of the students who were there, the two got into a fight. Dong-gyu struck Min-jun on the head with an iron pipe, causing him to stagger before falling. However, there’s also a statement claiming that Dong-gyu pushed him afterward, so we’ll need to investigate further.”
“What about the CCTV footage?”
“There’s no CCTV installed on the rooftop. As for the cameras around the school, they’re mostly limited to the main gate and building entrances. There’s nothing particularly useful.”
Detective Lee, who was standing nearby, immediately chimed in.
“What about dashcam footage? Did you check the teachers’ cars, too? The place where he fell looked like it was near the parking lot.”
Chief Choi pressed them for every possible detail, hoping to uncover even the smallest clue.
“Unfortunately, there aren’t any. The school was holding festival events in the parking lot today, so the teachers were specifically told not to bring their cars onto the premises.”
“So that’s why you blocked off the school entrance earlier. Which means the students’ testimonies are going to be our most important evidence…”
Chief Choi muttered, rubbing his rough, stubbled chin with a troubled expression.
Having to rely almost entirely on witness statements without any decisive physical evidence was a considerable burden.
And to make matters worse, their witnesses were high school students.
His head was already beginning to ache.
“Chief, are we really taking this case? We’ve already got more than enough on our plates. Shouldn’t we just hand it over to the local precinct?”
Detective Lee spoke while rubbing the back of his neck, looking thoroughly exhausted.
Truthfully, this wasn’t exactly the kind of case the Metropolitan Investigation Division usually handled. They primarily dealt with major violent crimes, such as murder and drug-related offenses.
“It’s because this happened during the special campaign against school violence that the higher-ups specifically ordered us to take it. We don’t have much of a choice. Anyway, let’s call it a day and head back.”
“Chief, I’ll look around a little longer before heading back.”
Seeing Chief Choi’s expression twist into a frown, Seong-jin snapped his notebook shut and spoke with an air of confidence.
“What else do you expect to find at this point?”
“You never know. Maybe I’ll receive some divine inspiration, just like you, Chief, and stumble upon a decisive piece of evidence. I’ll see you later.”
With an energetic grin, Seong-jin dashed out of the gymnasium.
“Why is there absolutely nothing here?”
Seong-jin had searched the rooftop and the surrounding crime scene over and over, combing through every inch in hopes of finding something he could show Chief Choi.
But he’d come up empty-handed every time.
“How on earth does the chief always manage to find evidence?”
Looking utterly dejected, Seong-jin trudged toward the school entrance and pushed open the front doors.
That was when he spotted a middle-aged man wandering around the crime scene.
“Ah, who’s that guy now? Hey, you—”
At first glance, Seong-jin assumed he was some nosy teacher or school employee. He was just about to call out to him when—
The man suddenly vaulted over the police tape and stepped into the restricted area.
“Hey, mister! What do you think you’re doing? You’re not allowed in there! Get out immediately!”
Startled, Seong-jin shouted and sprinted toward him at full speed.
But the man didn’t so much as flinch at his shouting. He simply continued looking around the crime scene.
“Can’t you hear me? Get out of there right now, or I’ll have you arrested for obstructing an official investigation—”
Seong-jin was furious. He reached out to grab the man’s shoulder and drag him out, but suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Dr. Yoon…?”
Tall and slender, with thin lips pressed firmly together. His expression was cold and sharp, and behind his round metal-framed glasses were a pair of keen, sensitive eyes.
It was none other than Yoon Ju-cheol, widely recognized as the number one forensic pathologist in the country.
But to Seong-jin, he was nothing more than an eccentric forensic doctor who seemed to enjoy showing up at crime scenes—or, more accurately, making everyone else’s lives difficult.
“What’s brought you here?”
“Detective Kim, the crime scene preservation here is a mess, too.”
Ju-cheol completely ignored Seong-jin’s question. His eyes remained fixed on the asphalt, where the bloodstains were still clearly visible, and his thin eyebrows twitched.
“It’s a school, after all. There was an emergency medical procedure earlier, students running around everywhere, and all sorts of chaos. Considering all that, I’d say the scene is actually in pretty good condition.”
Seong-jin wasn’t entirely sure why he felt the need to defend himself, but in situations like this, the best approach was to give the man a quick, vague answer and get it over with.
“Still, it’s a terrible mess. How do you expect to conduct an investigation like this?”
Ju-cheol clicked his tongue disapprovingly and pushed up the glasses resting on the bridge of his nose.
“Don’t worry. We’ll handle the investigation ourselves. But don’t you think you’ve been showing up a little too often lately?”
Seong-jin wasn’t unaware that the eccentric doctor spent more time at crime scenes than in the autopsy room at the National Forensic Service.
But recently, Ju-cheol seemed to be appearing at every crime scene with unusual frequency, and Seong-jin was growing increasingly tired of his unsolicited lectures.
“I wouldn’t be here if there weren’t a reason. Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Seeing something once is worth more than hearing about it a hundred times’? Anyway, the victim fell from that rooftop, didn’t he? Detective Kim, come up there with me.”
Ju-cheol stepped away from the police tape and gazed up at the rooftop with a serious expression.
“Seriously? The forensic team is going to send us their findings anyway, so why do you keep showing up and making my life difficult? And how did you even find out about this place?”
Seong-jin couldn’t help feeling both baffled and strangely impressed. It was almost unbelievable how Ju-cheol always seemed to appear at his crime scenes in particular.
“Because I happen to like you, Detective Kim.”
The sharpness in Ju-cheol’s expression softened slightly. With an easygoing smile, he patted Seong-jin on the shoulder.
Whenever a case was involved, Ju-cheol’s eyes always seemed to carry the sharp edge of a blade. But outside of work, he was an entirely different person—so laid-back and carefree that it was hard to believe he was the same man. He could even be downright absent-minded at times.
“Please don’t like me. But seriously, how did you know I was here?”
“Chief Choi kindly informed me.”
Ju-cheol held up his phone in front of Seong-jin and smiled.
“Ah! That Chief Choi, seriously…”
Seong-jin couldn’t help cursing his chief inwardly for conveniently dumping this troublesome man on him before slipping away.
“So, shall we go take a look at the rooftop now?”
Ju-cheol grabbed Seong-jin’s arm and began pulling him along.
“Just go by yourself. I need to get back to the police station.”
“Come on! What’s the harm in going together?”
“Ah, I said go by yourself…”
The two continued their playful tug-of-war, neither willing to give in.
But the moment they caught sight of something directly in front of them—
Both men froze.
