So he covered for me on purpose, knowing that the reason I hit Choi Woojin was because of him?
Ikseong. You are truly guilty.
This is practically a prison sentence!
Feeling such anger inwardly, I asked as calmly as possible outwardly.
“…Are you being this nice to me because of the fake relationship?”
“It cannot be said that there is absolutely no such reason.”
Kwon Ikseong also answered calmly.
I was slightly curious about how Kwon Ikseong acts in front of a woman he actually likes, but I soon decided not to wonder too much about my superior.
I felt like knowing more would become dangerous in many ways.
‘Be careful with office romances. Unless you want to become unemployed again.’
Why did Lee Yugyeom’s words come to mind?
“Some investigators have probably already noticed that I treat Investigator Lee Yuji specially. And that I lied as well.”
At those words, Hong Jaegyeol’s words came to mind, having already guessed that I hit Choi Woojin.
So he’s subtly making it obvious? Saying, ‘We have a special relationship’?
“If the Gamer is near us, he will notice it.”
At those words, I naturally felt my hand, which was reaching for the milkshake, flinch.
The Gamer near us?
Not just near us, we literally just had a meeting together!
Is this really going to be okay?
Actually, right now, my mind was incredibly complicated because of Choi Woojin, rather than the fake relationship.
How should I make the Gamer reveal his identity?
No, is it even okay to make the Gamer reveal his identity in the first place?
In fact, if I simply wanted to solve this quest, it’s not like there wasn’t a way.
‘I just need to possess Choi Woojin.’
And so make Choi Woojin confess all his crimes to the HIB.
However, I don’t have the confidence to handle the aftermath.
I’m worried about what kind of quest will appear when the strongest being in this world, Choi Woojin, recognizes the existence of ‘me’ and I become not just an extra he cares a little about, but a ‘closely watched extra’, and more importantly—
What if Choi Woojin’s identity as the Gamer is fully revealed after doing that?
Wouldn’t Choi Woojin die a dog’s death at the hands of Choi Jungu, and wouldn’t the HIB and everything else be entirely purged?
And in the first place, the fact that this system recognizes me as an ‘extra’ is because of the protagonist, so is a world where the protagonist disappears even sustainable?
A timeline created by the protagonist’s regression.
But what if that protagonist disappears?
It was a chilling hypothesis, bringing a surge of abyssal fear.
It was then.
As if he read my expression differently, Kwon Ikseong said.
“The Gamer might not be one, but several. It could even be one of us. You must always be mentally prepared.”
Kwon Ikseong’s tranquil eyes gazed quietly at me, as if telling me to brace myself.
Watching that, I suddenly asked.
“Then what is the other reason?”
“Pardon?”
“No, you just said that reason wasn’t entirely absent, meaning there’s another reason. What is the other reason you lied for me?”
I was suddenly curious.
At that, Kwon Ikseong answered with a subtle expression.
“Because I want to protect you?”
“…?”
You want to protect? Me?
What kind of move is this again?
I looked at Kwon Ikseong while clutching my helplessly thumping heart.
Then Kwon Ikseong spoke with an impassive face.
“It reminds me of Lulu.”
“…Pardon?”
What. Are you saying I’m like a dog?
Well, that excitement was short-lived.
Feeling my fluttering heart instantly return to its normal heart rate, I reached for a french fry.
“It was Lulu, right? When we first met, I mean.”
At Kwon Ikseong’s words, I popped a warm french fry into my mouth and nodded, studying his mood.
Oh well, everything’s been caught anyway. What can you do.
I didn’t hide the fact that the dog that almost rolled over and showed its belly to him back then was indeed me.
“You’ve been like that ever since. Simple, and clear. So I wanted to protect it. That clarity. Didn’t you also clearly show your anger towards the criminals on the day of the undercover investigation? Because it’s a trait I don’t possess. I like that about you.”
Does that mean he likes me because I’m simple and ignorant…?
I looked at Kwon Ikseong with a puzzled face.
Then Kwon Ikseong added, as if reading my thoughts.
“I do not mean simple and ignorant.”
“How did you….”
I was going to ask, ‘Did you read my mind?’, but as expected, Kwon Ikseong answered faster.
“It shows all over your face.”
…Damn it.
“Then let’s eat now. There are 20 minutes left until we must return to work.”
Once again, it was Ikseong being precise to the second.
* * *
And when I returned to my desk, a message from Ji Wongil had arrived.
What is it that you want to ask?
A short and simple message.
I hadn’t even brought up the word ‘favor’ yet?
I just said thanks for helping me last time, and that I wanted to treat him to a meal regarding that incident.
But where in those lines did you read a message related to a favor?
Can you read my facial expression too?
At my words, Ji Wongil, who was sitting in a secluded corner far away reading the case files Kwon Ikseong had given to him and Choi Woojin, glanced at me.
For reference, Choi Woojin was already missing from his seat as if he had bounced early, and only Ji Wongil was working overtime along with the other special team members to diligently read the materials Kwon Ikseong had given.
It was the destiny of a superior serving a parachute hire.
He would probably have to organize all the read contents into a summary by tomorrow and offer it up to Choi Woojin.
…No? What does that mean?
Never mind.
Forget it.
Thinking that, I decided to just ask for the favor.
After all, when resolving the matter with the grandmother Hunters last time, Ji Wongil had told me I was his lifesaver and that I could ask him for a favor anytime.
Lifesaver is a bit of a stretch, though……?
Ji Wongil
You really never have…… any self-awareness. Seriously……. Anyway, make sure to ask for a favor related to yourself next time. Well. Even if it’s a favor to save someone else like this again, I’ll still do it.
What about me?
Setting aside that question, I quickly stated the favor I wanted to ask before Ji Wongil changed his mind.
It’s nothing huge, but could you possibly look up the files regarding an incident where civilians died due to a dungeon break that erupted on the Incheon Bridge 18 years ago? The Hunter Administration Bureau probably has the records stored.
I was talking about the ‘Special Side Story’.
Not only was it unsettling that the Special Side Story was so unrelated to the quest, but even if it wasn’t, having even one more piece of information about Choi Woojin was better for me right now.
‘If worst comes to worst, I might even be able to get my hands on the information ‘The Gamer’ needs first and make a deal.’
I don’t know if there’s any information that he, with his S-rank abilities after regressing, couldn’t obtain—
But you never know.
In the main story, Choi Woojin never once mentioned that a female police officer had helped him during that accident.
‘His memories of that time might have been entirely wiped out.’
Because 5 years old is too young of an age to witness the death of one’s parents.
If that’s the case, that police officer might be the decisive evidence Choi Woojin is looking for—
The evidence that the accident back then was also orchestrated by Choi Jungu.
18 years ago? Is it related to the current case?
Ji Wongil asked at that moment.
To Ji Wongil, my sudden request seemed to be perceived as an official request related to the work of the Special Task Force.
Yeah. But I’d like you to look into it somewhat secretly…… without the other team members knowing.
Ji Wongil
Ah. Right. I suppose that could be the case.
I suppose that could be the case?
It was when I was frowning at the strangely nuanced sentence.
Another message from an unknown profile popped up in the window below.
But instead of reading that, I read Ji Wongil’s following message.
Is it because of Go Cheolwon? He was the head of the Dungeon Management Division under direct control of Incheon City at the time. I was actually looking up his background while reading Mayor Go Cheolwon’s file anyway. I figured looking it up would be helpful for work.
Are you saying you’ve already finished reading that file and are currently conducting additional research?
As expected, someone who passed the public administration exam is built differently.
There is a reason for everything behind him having a higher rank than me!
But Go Cheolwon was the head of the Dungeon Management Division under direct control of Incheon City 18 years ago?
Then is Go Cheolwon connected to the accident involving Choi Woojin’s parents?
It was when I was thinking that.
A window popped up below again.
(Unknown) has sent a message.
What is it, seriously?
At the message constantly popping up at the bottom, I finally opened the message window.
And then—
Wow. You finally read it.
I was wondering how long you were going to ignore it.
So what coffee do you want?
It was a message from the youngest guy in the Special Task Force volunteering for a coffee errand.
Iced Americano? Iced Vanilla Latte?
I told you the youngest is buying?
The message is completely overflowing with a slouching vibe.
I looked at the profile picture appearing on the messenger and completely froze.
A fox-faced man with piercings smiling brightly with scenery that looked like it was on a yacht.
It was Choi Woojin.
When you say it like that, that ‘treat’ feels less like buying coffee and more like actually shooting me.
So you hadn’t left work!
Only then did I look at the messenger bag adorned with a flashy luxury logo sitting on the seat next to Ji Wongil.
There’s no way that belongs to Ji Wongil…….
…Wait, no, how did you even get my contact information! And—
Even though you ate a handmade burger with the Team Leader earlier.
Kwon Ikseong’s strategy to lure out the Gamer was really working.
I saw everything, the two of you entering the interrogation room ^^
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