Ch. 78 - Don't Feed The Troll

“Sorry? What do you mean by that?”

“Go ahead and try it. What kind of abilities do I have?”

Despite her puzzled expression, Lee So-Young focused on me and used her ability.

“You’re just a… magical girl.”

“Anything else? Do you sense any other abilities?”

“Uh... no. Nothing else. I mean, how could a person have more than one ability?”

So-Young gave me a look that practically screamed, What kind of obvious question is that? 

That confirmed it. I didn’t need to worry about Kim Tae-Sik. Now it was time to leave.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Huh? Already?”

“…You really just came to check in?”

Kim Tae-sik’s bewildered reaction made me chuckle bitterly.

“Yeah. Like I said, it was just a quick visit to say hi.”

“Tsk. Calling someone busy like me just for this…”

“Busy? A guy like you? All you do is sit around in prison all day. Let me know when you get released—I’ll bring you a block of tofu or something.”

“Quit joking and get out of here.”

With a scowl, Kim Tae-Sik stormed out of the visitation room.

As we left, So-Young gave me a nervous glance.

"Team Leader, are you planning to visit all the other criminals like this?"

As we left the visitation room, with nothing else to do there, Lee So-Young asked with a worried look.

"You gave me three names to look up, but are you planning to visit two more prisons...?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Sigh... By the time we're done, it'll already be late afternoon. Goodbye, my precious Saturday..."

"It's not even going to end late at night, so stop complaining."

Blame the system for not putting all the criminals in one place.

I didn’t know the ones I caught would be placed in different ones either.

***

The second visit was just as uneventful as the first. By the time we finished, it was already past 2 PM, so we decided to grab lunch.

“I’ll treat you. Since you’re here because of me, I at least owe you that much.”

“Hehe. No, it's fine…”

“Lunch and maybe some ice cream after. Happy now?”

“Hehe—okay, fine, if you insist~!”

Her words didn’t match the smile spreading across her face. There was no way I couldn't buy her a meal now.

We ended up at a nearby pasta place—not my choice, of course. As we passed the restaurant, So-young mentioned it was popular on Instagram and begged to go.

Personally, I was more in the mood for tonkatsu, but seeing how excited she was, I relented.

Inside, she chattered excitedly.

“I heard their vongole is amazing! I’ve been wanting to come here ever since I saw it on Instagram, but I didn’t expect to visit like this.”

“Uh-huh.”

Honestly, I wasn’t particularly thrilled. I’m not a big pasta fan, nor do I care about what’s trending on social media. I don’t even use Instagram, so it all goes over my head.

“Speaking of Instagram, Team Leader, don’t you have an account? I’d love to follow you!”

“Nope. Don’t have one, don’t want one.”

The typical "alpha male" trait: doesn't do social media.

Actually, it's more like the "loner" trait. I didn’t use SNS much even in my past life.

I just used it to chat with friends.

"Hmm... it would be nice if you did it. Since you're famous, wouldn't your followers skyrocket in just one day? Look, even now."

Lee So-young pointed her finger at a spot. There, a store employee was staring at us with their phone in hand.

"The store owner is also dying to take your picture, isn't she? She’ll probably come over soon."

Just as she said that, the employee started walking toward our table.

"Excuse me... have you decided on your order?"

"Yes. Two vongole pastas and one margherita pizza, please."

"Got it. But... are you, by chance, Shin Hye-Rim?"

"Yes, that's me."

"I knew it!"

The employee beamed with a wide smile and carefully spoke.

“Is it okay if we take a picture of you and post it on our store's Instagram for promotion? We'll even give you a little service!"

Ah, so they're trying to do what Kim Min-Seok did. He used me to promote his store and said his business did better.

It didn't really matter to me, so I allowed it.

"Sure. Feel free."

It turned out the employee was the store owner. She was so grateful for letting her take the picture that she gave us complimentary drinks and fries.

Watching this, Lee So-Young said seriously,

"Boss, I've been finding a lot of new places I want to visit lately."

"Just get to the point, no need for the long introduction."

"How about we do a food tour together? If I go with you, I'll get a lot of free services.”

I knew she'd say something like that. Her face had been full of greed since earlier.

"You used to say you didn't want to go on dates with me, right?"

"Things are different now. How can a person's feelings stay the same forever?"

"You're such a brat."

Looking at her boss like a walking food token, I'm disappointed, So-Young.

This kind of thing has happened many times before, but after the button incident, more people started recognizing me.

Before, it was just a little uncomfortable to feel the gaze of others, but now it's to the point where I blush out of embarrassment.

I was even thinking of wearing the wig I bought before when I left the house. I hate myself for feeling relieved when the Monster Association incident got buried.

"Anyway, this could benefit you too. How about making an Instagram account now?"

"No way. Too troublesome. Let's just eat and go."

"Hmm... okay. Since you don't want to, I can't really say anything."

After quietly eating pasta with Lee So-Young, we left the store.

It was really delicious, as expected from a famous place.

***

After finishing our meal and even having some ice cream, we headed to our next destination.

The person we were meeting this time was someone I had caught last year. Among the people we met today, she probably hated me the most.

"Long time no see, Choi Hye-Young."

Choi Hye-Young, whose life was destroyed because of me.

She was the daughter of a famous chaebol family in South Korea. However, her family was heavily involved in illegal businesses, including drug trafficking within South Korea.

It’s enough to say they were dealing drugs inside the country.

There had been an investigation into them, and her parents, the chairman and his wife, had resisted fiercely.

Both of them were Awakened individuals and killed police officers before fleeing. I was the one who captured them.

Why was Choi Hye-Young in prison, even though it was her parents who committed the crimes?

Because she tried to take revenge on me, using her abilities to fight against me.

"...Why are you appearing in front of me?"

Choi Hye-Young glared at me with eyes that seemed like they could kill me just with a look.

Seems like she really hates me.

"I just wanted to confirm something."

"Confirm? What now?"

"Have you ever thought about wanting to kill me?"

"...Is that really a question?"

At my words, Choi Hye-young gritted her teeth in even more anger.

"Do you mean have I ever thought about killing you, the one who killed my parents?"

"......"

"Isn't that obvious?"

Slam!

Choi Hye-young slammed her fist on the table.

"I want to rush at you right now and tear you apart."

"......Let me say this again. Your parents committed serious crimes."

"......"

"Even putting aside the illegal things your family has done, during their escape, they killed police officers and even took hostages. One of the hostages actually died."

"......"

"And since a shoot-to-kill order was given, I was just carrying out my duty."

By the time I arrived, it was already too late.

I immediately rushed there when I heard about her parents causing trouble, but the casualties had already occurred, and more were about to happen.

That's why the higher-ups had no choice but to make that decision.

"I was the one who killed them, but someone else would have had to take down your parents. Yet you still hate me? Without even considering the crimes your parents committed?"

"Of course I do."

Choi Hye-young answered immediately.

"No matter what anyone says, my parents were the ones who loved and cared for me. I can never forgive the one who killed them, even if I die!"

"...Is that so?"

I didn’t want to argue with Choi Hye-young any further. Even if she was thinking dangerous thoughts, she was already being punished, so there was no need for me to say more.

I just needed to confirm what I came for and leave.

"So-Young, please handle this."

"...Okay."

Lee So-Young, who had been quietly listening to the life-or-death talk, looked at Choi Hye-Young with a hint of fear.

"Team Leader."

"Yeah?"

"It seems nothing is unusual again."

"...Really?"

And the result was a bust.

I thought at least one of the three people we met today would show an abnormal reaction, but I guess not.

I felt a bit disappointed, but since our business was done, we decided to leave.

"We’ve done what we needed to, so we’ll be going now."

Leaving behind Choi Hye-Young, who continued to glare at me with hatred, we left the visitation room. However, just before we exited, Choi Hye-young called out to me from behind.

"Hey, Shin Hye-Rim."

"Hmm?"

"I, and my entire family, will hate you to the very end."

"Is that so? Do as you like."

I lightly dismissed her curse and walked out.

***

The whole world is talking about Shin Hye-Rim. On TV, online, and even in the Instagram post of the famous pasta place I just saw.

There's no place where Shin Hye-Rim isn't mentioned.

"...Damn."

It bothered me so much.

Shin Hye-Rim killed my parents and locked my sister in prison. Because of her, my family, our company, and my entire life were ruined.

Yet, she’s being treated like a hero and receiving endless love from everyone.

That was what bothered me the most.

"I will get my revenge. I’ll definitely make her pay!"

I want to take revenge. I want to punch her myself. But I’m not an Awakened one.

How can someone as powerless as me take revenge on Shin Hye-rim?

Just as I was feeling frustrated with that fact, a voice echoed in my head.

[You're such a selfish and twisted child.]

I heard the voice of a woman in my head.

"Huh?"

Even as I wondered about this strange event, the voice in my head continued.

[You're exactly the kind of cute talent I've been looking for.]

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