Ch. 49 - Interlude - Detective Park Gangwoon

《STATUS WINDOW

Name: In Hayoon LV.1 [0/100]

Age: 17

Title: Wife Material

Disposition: ??? Click to reveal

Special Ability: None

Quirk: ???

Understanding: 5/100》

[Your understanding of the target character is too low. Please interact more with this character to obtain more information.]

Holding the bag of chicken in one hand, I went up to the fifth floor, my mind wandering everywhere.

‘That girl, what's up with her?’

Aside from her strange personality, what else was she hiding...

Hayoon's level of understanding was the same as the last time I checked.

Compared to Sunah and Gyeongwon, whose understanding had reached 50%, Hayoon's understanding was too low.

Which was the reason why I couldn't obtain more information about her.

‘Why is her title so peculiar?’

Her title Wife Material was quite peculiar.

As I began to wonder about the title, I couldn't help but remember the titles of the people around me, especially my club members and teachers.

Firstly, there was my title, which was The Main Character.

Sunah's title was Dirt Spoon.

Gyeongwon’s title was Pro WikiWarior.

Jinhee's title was Backseat Delinquent Girl.

Teacher Hwaeun's title was Old-Maid Teacher.

Dukhun's title was Otaku.

If I thought about the list of titles carefully, it seemed the titles of the people around me indicated their overall characteristics in one word. The titles must represent the personality of a respective character.

‘.... but, what does Wife Material mean?’

Before I knew more about her, I thought she was just a quiet, polite and kind girl, who gets along with others well.

However, after what she said at the entrance of the main building, my impression of her changed completely.

‘But, why is her title Wife Material?’

Even after completing several missions by the system, I still couldn't understand how exactly it worked. The messages that popped up during the tutorial session and also before creating the Ghost Story Club indicated that the system was interrupting reality and creating situations in its way.

However, I still couldn't interpret what those messages could convey.

As I walked up the stairs with a look of contemplation on my face, I reached the fifth floor before I knew it.

Seeing the door of the clubroom coming into view, I shook my head to shake away the unnecessary thoughts.

Since I knew that it was pointless thinking about it now, I decided to ponder about it later.

Although, I wasn't sure if she would tell me, I thought the quickest way to know about the title would be asking her straight the next time we meet.

For now, I just wanted to have fun eating chicken with my members.

Slid.

“Your chicken is here~”

As I opened the door and announced the arrival of the chicken in a joking manner, like a delivery man, to light up the atmosphere.

“.... Prez.”

“.... Joon.”

Except for Sunah and Gyeongwon, who wore a somewhat distressed expression on their faces as they looked at me.

There was another person in the clubroom.

Wearing a gray coat.

A broad shoulder.

It was a middle-aged man, who emitted a dangerous aura just with his presence alone. He was looking down the window with his back turned and hands behind his back.

‘That's my position.’

The middle-aged man was standing motionlessly by the window.

I raised my brows, asking Gyeongwon and Sunah silently what was happening. But they both shook their heads with a stiff expression, as if they themselves were unable to comprehend what was going on.

“Then I'll leave the chicken here.”

As I was about to escape the clubroom from the unusual atmosphere after putting down the chicken.

“So, you're Joon.”

The man slowly turned his head and looked at me.

His face, which was as scary as a bear, had a neat beard.

I remembered that the face belonged to the same man who winked at me from the stage during the Career session.

It was also him, who was lecturing about criminal cases on the stage.

Could it be that he is a cop?

“I’m a detective.”

Detective.

Desperation took me over as I thought inwardly.

Why did a detective come to me? Only one possibility came to mind in the situation.

[The search for extra manpower is complete.]

[Detective Park Gangwoon has been added as extra manpower for the Ghost Story Club.]

His appearance here must be related to the system prompt that came up when I raised the level of the club and ‘Manpower Capacity’ ability was unlocked.

At that time, the system announced that a detective had been added as a subordinate of our Ghost Story Club.

Perhaps, he came to meet me for that matter.

“....What happened?”

Thinking that he must be the one that system assigned, I suddenly became curious.

The system might have fabricated the situation and somehow brought the detective here. However, it was still a mystery to me for a detective to come to meet me. No matter how much I thought, I couldn't fathom what would make a detective come to meet a high schooler like me.

What did the system even do for the detective to be my ally?

“I ordered chicken today from the school cafeteria. You can have some if you want, Sir.”

Instead of answering my polite request, the detective looked at the bag of chicken in my hand with narrowed eyes.

It was embarrassing to hold the bag to him like that while he was scrutinizing it as if he was afraid a bomb was stuffed inside.

Therefore, seeing no response from him, I slowly put the bag of chicken down on my desk.

“What's the matter?”

When I asked him for the second time, the detective slowly looked at me with calm eyes before asking.

“Why do you think I came here?”

To be my assistant?

This was what I wanted to say, but it was something that only I was aware of, so I said something else which he wouldn't be suspicious of.

“I don't know. What could be the reason…”

“What do you think could bring a detective to you?”

The bearded man looked at me with a condescending smile.

“Since you may have fallen asleep during the lecture earlier and missed the introduction, let me introduce myself again. I'm a member of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. In simpler terms, I'm a crime investigation officer.”

Crime investigation officer.

Was he that kind of investigation officer from movies who catches murderers and fights gangsters?

“Are you still unable to figure out why I came here?”

“Yes. I can't figure out why you're here.”

The detective gazed straight into my eyes.

I didn't notice it earlier but seeing him up close, I felt like I've seen this person somewhere before. He seemed quite familiar, as if I had even talked with him.

Neither today or yesterday, but long long ago in time.

“I'm here for a murder case. Sit down.”

The three of us were stunned speechless at the detective’s calm statement.

“You don't have to worry about the chicken getting cold. I'll order more for you.”

“……”

“Sit down.”

At the stern voice and appearance, I could feel myself cowering in fear.

Although it was expected, he had a rather intimidating atmosphere.

However, I felt like he was still holding some of his sternness back. Perhaps because he understood that his opponents were students. He was afraid that if he came out too intimidating, we might get too afraid to speak. Thinking like that, I couldn't help but imagine how scary his appearance must be in front of criminals.

‘Murder case.’

What was going on?

Feeling nervousness gripping my whole being, I sat down slowly.

The detective looked at me calmly for a while before opening his mouth.

“Not long ago, the chairman of a broadcasting studio was arrested by the police on charges of murdering a trainee idol and burying the corpse at the broadcasting studio.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

The detective observed my expression quietly.

“So you know about the incident.”

“....It's on the news everywhere.”

“That's not what I mean.”

Is this what a criminal feels like when he is interrogated by a detective?

For some reason, I felt as if I was being pressured to spill out everything.

“How did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That someone was murdered and buried in that broadcasting studio. How did you know?”

A tone of interrogation.

Certainly, I was sure he was just asking questions, but his appearance and voice were so stern and scary that I felt like I was being interrogated.

The atmosphere in the clubroom sank in an instant.

With nervousness gripping my whole body, I opened my mouth slowly.

“I saw it on the news.”

“Before that, before the news was broadcasted. You know what I'm talking about.”

He figured everything out.

Huuu.

“Did the youngest member of Fourincess tell you that?"

The detective lightly nodded his head instead of answering.

Dasom, the youngest member of girl group Fourincess, was still a middle schooler.

I remember she contacted me after the incident of Song of Resentment was over and I returned back to the past.

I didn't know what happened after that, but it seemed the detective found out the information from her.

“What did she say?”

“Before that, I'd like to hear an answer from you.”

The detective said, staring at me intently.

“How did you know? That someone was murdered and buried there.”

Keeping my expression as neutral as possible, I began to think hard.

What position was I in?

The Chairman of the broadcasting studio, who murdered someone secretly and buried them in the floor, was caught thanks to me.

In a way, I knew that I was the one who provided the necessary information.

However, I wasn't someone who witnessed the murder with my own eyes. Therefore, it was quite impossible for me, who was a complete stranger, to know what happened when the people working there didn't even get the wind of it.

In movies, when such a situation occurs, the first person on whom the investigation is conducted is the one who provided the information firsthand. The person is generally suspected to be an accomplice when the investigation is conducted.

Was I being suspected?

So the detective came to the school to investigate me?

I glanced at the detective briefly, who was silently waiting for my answer.

Reversing my thought process, I started thinking from the detective's perspective.

It had been more than a week since the incident occurred. The criminal was already caught and taken into custody.

There was no reason for the detective to conduct an investigation on me now.

And the reason this person came here in the first place was because of the Career session.

I was scared because of the extreme atmosphere, but maybe there was no need to be intimidated?

“You're not suspecting me, right?"

The detective sat quietly, not responding to my question.

If he had come all the way here with doubts, then certainly he had done his research on me. He must have had all of my background information, such as my parents’ names and profession.

Since that was the case, there was nothing to be intimidated by.

Because I was really an ordinary high school student.

I was in a position that had no contact with the Chairman of the broadcasting studio or anything like that.

As I reached a conclusion, I thought all I had to do was answer everything confidently without any hesitation.

“Have you read the message I sent to the youngest member of Fourincess?”

The detective let out a smile at the question.

“Yeah, I've read it. That's the reason why I came here.”

His tone had slightly softened.

In addition to the murder case, the message that I sent to the youngest member of Fourincess was full of strange stories about ghosts and other supernatural things.

Now that I think of it, I remembered when and where I talked to this person before.

It was after the incident of the 300 heads explosion of Nakseong High School in my previous life.

He was the same tall, scary-looking, bearded detective, who visited me at the hospital after the incident.

That guy and this man were the same person.

The aura around him at that time was quite harsher and sterner than now. But because I really didn't know anything related to that incident, he just asked a few questions and left.

Didn't the youngest member of Fourincess think of me as an exorcist?

In that case, wouldn't it be okay to push ahead with the concept?

“Then this discussion will be over quickly. As I've written in the text message I sent to the youngest member of Fourincess, I'm gifted with a ‘vision’. I could see the ghost of the dead trainee. It was the ghost who hinted me where she was buried.”

It was true to some extent.

It was true that I met the ghost of the trainee idol who disappeared quietly after the murderer was caught.

“Are you satisfied?”

“Your words were mixed up with reasonable truths and lies.”

I opened my eyes wide, surprised as the detective just sat still and stared at me.

Could it be that the detective could tell whether a person is lying or not just by looking at them?

However, I wasn't caught.

In the first place, the truth behind this incident was the game-like system and my continuous regression after each death.

It was something that ordinary people would never be able to figure out. The detective, among other ordinary people, just had keen sense, that's all.

He just made that judgement based on my facial expression, tone of voice, and movement of pupils.

Ping-

[Your understanding of the character Park Gangwoon has increased by 10.]

Just as I thought that, a message popped up in front of me.

‘…I guess I was right.’

“Is there anything floating in front of you?”

The detective, catching my pupils moving momentarily, asked with suspicion laced in his voice.

Even though I knew he couldn't see the message, I flinched back.

“What are you talking about? Speak properly.”

“....You really can see things. I have never met anyone like you in my life. I guess people learn new things as they live longer.”

The detective nodded to himself, as if he seemed to understand something, and stood up.

Then, he trudged to me.

“You seem like a smart fellow, so I'll explain things to you straight. The investigation is over, so don't worry about the matter. You know better that it's irrelevant.”

“...Yes.”

“The testimonies of the members of Fourincess were contradictory and suspicious, so I personally looked into it further. And, when I found out that you were the one who provided the information, I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was also at this moment when I was invited to come to this school. You don't have to be afraid at my sudden appearance.”

I wasn't really afraid.

Sweeping my pounding heart, I consoled myself.

“So you have vision, Hmm... Vision…”

The detective smiled and reached into the top pocket of his coat and took out something.

“Of course, I don't believe in things like this. However, I know you're not lying, Joon.”

After saying that, he patted me on the shoulder and gave me his business card.

“My phone number is written on the card. Next time, when your extraordinary ‘vision’ is triggered, please contact me.”

“……”

“Then, I'll see you again. I have ordered lunch for you guys.”

Saying that, the detective trudged to the door and left the club room.

What do you mean, you ordered lunch for us?

The chicken that I brought was what we ordered before.

The answer was revealed through a delivery worker of the school who appeared in our clubroom a while later.

“Is this the Ghost Story Club? Your chicken is here. Normally, it's not possible for us to deliver food inside the main building. But because you guys had paid a huge extra fee while ordering, someone had to come. But please remember you can't keep doing this. Even if we receive a lot of money, if the administrative office of the school catches us, we'll be in big trouble.”

“Yes, I'm sorry.”

As I abruptly apologized, the delivery worker left a huge bag of chicken on the desk. It was so big that he couldn't even seem to hold it in both hands.

“Oh, my God, how many chickens are here?”

“Wow.”

The serious atmosphere from earlier was instantly relieved upon seeing the chicken.

Fried, marinated, soy sauce, Korean fried chicken, snow cheese, onion, green onion...

In addition to a variety of chicken, there were side menu dishes including cheese balls, seasoned potatoes, onion rings, and fried snow crab.

As I stood there, blankly staring at the display of the food, so much that the desk was about to explode, the rest of the club members soon gathered to prepare for the Club Activity session.

“Wow, F*ck! What's this?”

Jinhee shouted in surprise.

“Aw, awesome.”

Dukhun appeared drooling.

“Joon, you ordered a lot.”

Hayoon exclaimed with her usual calm expression.

“Guys! What's going on! Oh my god!”

Teacher Hwaeun came running and screaming.

Thanks to the huge amount of food, we spent the whole Club Activity session eating chicken.

However, even after eating our fill, there was still a lot of food left. As we rolled on the floor with bloated stomachs, only Dukhun and Teacher stuffed their mouths until the end.

The last piece of chicken was eaten by Teacher Jang Hwaeun.

“Delicious!”

“Kuso.”

Teacher, she had a healthy body. But perhaps she was quite pretty, I didn't know she could eat this much.

* * *

After school, I had someone I needed to question, so I quietly made a phone call.

[Hello?]

“Hello.”

[It's been a while... How have you been?]

“Not good. A detective just came today and interrogated me.”

[Oh, oh my God...]

Dasom, the youngest member of Fourincess, whispered in a voice as small as a mouse.

[I, I'm sorry. The detective was persistent, he kept asking me questions…. I kept saying that I didn't know, but it didn't work... But he's the only one! No one knows, not even the police. I promise I'll keep it to myself...]

“When will your show finish?”

[May, maybe I'll be free before the next show in summer. I promise to make an appointment with you and treat you, which I couldn't do last time! I'm so sorry! I have to go now... I'm hanging up. I'm sorry!]

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.

“Haa.”

I breathed a tired sigh.

I wonder what kind of treat she would be giving to her benefactor.

‘Oh well, she's still a middle schooler and also very busy. I guess it can't be helped.’

Looking up at the darkening sky quietly, I couldn't help but think, there were still three more months left before summer.

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