Chapter 109: The Shape of Suspicion

“…Th-that can’t be true.

Absolutely not.”

“I haven’t even said the reason yet.

So how can you be that certain.

Are you saying there’s no way any evidence connected to the Director of the Support Administration exists.”

It seems she doesn’t realize that such strong denial only makes things more suspicious.

Thanks to Lee Rihyun’s attitude, I became even more convinced that the Director of the Support Administration had helped her.

Of course, I still don’t have concrete proof that the Director was involved.

It’s simply a reasonable suspicion, since this was on a scale that Rihyun couldn’t possibly manage alone, so it’s natural to assume her uncle had a hand in it.

Most likely, just like that rigid confidence suggests, the Director made sure not to leave behind any evidence.

“What do you… mean by that…?”

“How do you think news claiming I went crazy over money and changed my nationality managed to flood every single media outlet.”

“……”

This part would be hard to refute.

Without confirmation from a high-ranking official in the Support Administration, such sensitive news could never have been released.

The fact that the Support Administration controls the media was an open secret.

“Your uncle… no, a high-ranking official in the Support Administration.

How were they so sure I wouldn’t refute that article.”

Once again, Rihyun kept her mouth tightly shut.

Rather, it was obvious she was clenching her teeth, desperately trying to keep her emotions from showing on her face.

“Was the question too hard.

Rihyun, the answer is painfully obvious.

They were absolutely convinced I was in no position to refute it.

For example, believing I had been trapped in a collapsing gate and completely evaporated.”

She flinched.

At last, a crack formed in Rihyun’s mask.

Her eyes wavered, and her mind must have been spinning just as frantically.

She couldn’t tell whether I truly didn’t know she was involved, or whether I knew everything and was deliberately testing her.

Leaving behind Rihyun, who didn’t dare move her lips even slightly, I turned and walked the other way.

Go ahead and think until your head hurts.

Tremble in anxiety as you imagine the worst-case scenario, and desperately pray while clinging to even the smallest shred of hope.

“So… then you also don’t know what Sehyun-hyung did?”

“I told you, I don’t.

I was unconscious because of my rut.

How would I know where hyung went or what he did.”

Ah, if only they’d speak just a little louder.

If I got any closer, they’d definitely sense my presence, so I had no choice but to strain my ears from a distance and eavesdrop on Jaeyul and Rihyun’s conversation.

After being dragged around all morning because of the missing persons case, Jaeyul had just returned to the office when Rihyun quietly pulled him outside.

They left with a time gap between them, which felt odd, so I followed them, and this was the situation now.

“Why are you so curious about where hyung went and what he did.”

I think Rihyun had two reasons for calling Jaeyul out.

The first was to check how much Jaeyul knew about the incident.

More precisely, she wanted to know whether Jaeyul was aware that I suspected both her and the Director of the Support Administration.

Hearing Jaeyul say he knew nothing probably made her think things weren’t at their worst.

“Haah… I don’t know what happened over the past few days, but Sehyun-hyung seems kind of… unstable.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s fallen into delusions that people are trying to kill him.

He’s even saying absurd things like the Support Administration being behind it.”

Rihyun’s mind really does work well, in the worst possible way.

I don’t know when she managed to come up with a plan like that after talking to me.

I almost want to praise that diligent brain of hers.

Of course, her little schemes won’t work this time either.

Had Jaeyul already decided what to do with Rihyun.

No matter how long they’d been friends, this was a crime that couldn’t be forgiven, so he wouldn’t let it slide easily.

When that time comes, I’ll put my full effort into dragging both Rihyun and the Director down.

Whether by legal means or illegal ones.

“Delusions…”

“It’s n-not that serious, but since you’re on the same team, it’d be better to be cautious in advance.

I was thinking of telling the Director to have him get checked.

Maybe some counseling would help calm his mind….”

This must be the second reason Rihyun called Jaeyul out.

Strangely enough, I feel like I already know what the evaluation results would be.

Without a doubt, they’d say I’m mentally unstable.

After that, no matter what I say, it would all be dismissed as the ramblings of someone lost in delusions.

Given the situation, this seems like the best card Rihyun could play.

If I’m unlucky, I might not even be able to expose Rihyun’s crimes to the world.

But I’m not too worried.

No matter how many collaborators Rihyun has, I have Jaeyul, who’s more reliable than all of them combined.

Honestly, someone like Rihyun was never frightening to begin with.

“That’s not something you need to worry about.

I’ll handle it myself.”

“Ah… r-really…?

O-okay….”

Hmm.

Jaeyul’s reaction isn’t very satisfying.

He must understand Rihyun’s intentions perfectly, yet he stops her so gently.

Does he have some ulterior motive.

“By the way, remember back at the Academy when our cycle periods overlapped.

I couldn’t stop thinking about that during this rut.”

What is this sudden, out-of-nowhere topic.

Jaeyul abruptly changed the subject.

Rihyun looked a little flustered at first, but once the conversation turned to memories only the two of them shared, she grew animated and started chatting away.

As the story dragged on and began to bore me, a chilling feeling crept in.

It felt like they were clinging to the past, reminiscing with lingering regret.

“Haah, talking about the old days made me lose track of time.

Shall we go back in.”

Anyone could see that Rihyun’s face was filled with happiness.

Naturally, she’d spent a long time talking with Jaeyul without any particular topic.

Unless the other person was special, or there was some special intention, she wouldn’t waste that kind of energy.

“Ah, Rihyun.

Are you still living in that old place from before.

Still living alone.”

“Uh…?

Yeah, that’s right.

It’s the same place as back then.

You remember.”

“Of course I remember.

That’s good.”

“W-what is…?”

“Just… everything.”

Am I really mentally ill and lost in delusions, just like Rihyun said.

To my ears, it sounded exactly like they were making plans to meet later at Rihyun’s house.

No.

That can’t be.

Jaeyul would never do that.

He’s the one who jumped into a collapsing gate to save me.

There’s no way he’d forgive Rihyun so easily.

We almost lost our lives, me, Jaeyul, and even Poppy.

There’s no way.

I shook my head violently, forcing away those “what if” thoughts.

“Poppy, why do you think Jaeyul’s acting like that?”

Lying on the living room floor next to Poppy, staring at the ceiling, I asked.

“Ang.”

“Why is he so… different…?”

No matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand.

Jaeyul is no longer a child.

It’s embarrassing to say, but… I’ve confirmed it all with my own eyes.

Even so, it’s hard to sense any trace of ‘X’ in him.

I’m not talking about outward things like appearance.

‘X’ was someone who massacred humans mercilessly in any situation.

Even if he grew up in a different environment, shouldn’t at least some of that personality remain.

Does it make sense for him to act like a completely different person.

If he were the ‘X’ I remember, he would’ve torn Rihyun and the Director to pieces without hesitation.

Even if it turned out to be a misunderstanding, he would’ve done it anyway.

But Jaeyul isn’t doing that.

It’s as if he doesn’t know how to deal with Rihyun, his longtime friend.

His behavior is clearly different from when we dealt with Yukmangseong.

That difference is probably the biggest reason.

Maybe he really does have some grand plan, but the fact that he hasn’t told me anything suggests he’s just lost and uncertain.

“Doesn’t it feel like the older he gets, the purer he becomes.

With how kind he is, how’s he supposed to end the world like this….”

“Puu….”

This little brat sighs every time I talk.

I’m seriously thinking about why Jaeyul is nothing like ‘X’, and how he plans to deal with Rihyun.

“What are you doing in the living room?”

I was literally just breathing and doing nothing.

“You’re back?”

I sat up only after hearing Jaeyul’s voice.

“Why did you come home alone.

You should’ve waited a bit and come back with me.”

I didn’t wait for Jaeyul to get off work today.

No, to be precise, I slipped away midway.

“Na Dongchan kept pestering me, asking what happened while I was missing, so I just ran away.”

Most people’s attention was focused on Jaeyul, but Na Dongchan clung to me oddly enough, firing question after question.

Obviously, he must have been acting under the Director’s orders.

“Ah, let’s eat first.

I already made everything.

You just need to heat it up.”

“I could smell food as soon as I opened the front door.”

“…That’s a good thing, right?”

“Of course.

It’s nice to come home after work to someone greeting me like this, and to eat together with you, hyung.”

If only he’d stop talking like that….

Jaeyul jokingly wrapped his arms around me from behind, almost trapping me against his chest, and dragged me to the dining table.

He really doesn’t needlessly make people’s hearts flutter.

“Ahem… l-let’s eat.”

I hurriedly freed myself from Seon Jaeyul and sat down.

“Wow… why did you make so much?”

My mind was noisy, so as I cooked to clear my thoughts, I ended up emptying the fridge and making every side dish possible.

There was no special intention, but seeing Jaeyul eat well without being picky made me glad I’d made so much.

“Hey, Jaeyul.

What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.

Why…?”

Huh…?

For a moment, Jaeyul looked flustered.

“Tomorrow’s Team Leader Oh’s birthday, so everyone said we should grab a drink together.”

“Ah… what should I do.

I already have plans tomorrow, so I don’t think I can go….”

“What time’s your appointment.

We’ll probably drink until dawn anyway, so you can come late.”

“It might take a long time.

So you’ll go there tomorrow, hyung?”

Jaeyul asked, as if he’d never been flustered at all.

For some reason… there seems to be anticipation filling his eyes.

“I guess…?”

“Ah, then have fun.

Stay out late, relax.

I’ll probably be really late too.”

I felt it.

Tomorrow, Jaeyul’s appointment is with Rihyun, and the meeting place…

Is Rihyun’s house.