After working as a detective for a long time, you inevitably end up witnessing all kinds of filthy deeds.
Physically, biologically, and politically, it was evident how much everything around me was rotting in plain sight.
Honestly, I would have preferred a narrow, dirty alley. Crimes occurred there too, but I could catch everyone involved. In those places, there was no reason for anyone to cover up the crimes, and no judge would show leniency. The results would simply match the individual’s wrongdoing.
However, the glossier and more extravagant the place, the greater the potential for things to twist.
Even if you managed to catch someone, they would often get released due to lack of evidence. Even if it went to trial and they were punished, they only received the minimum sentence thanks to their expensive lawyer. There were countless times when bribery from someone high up prevented any proper handling of the case.
Just like when I saw that girl last time.
“So, I’d like to have a personal consultation. Is that okay?”
The bureaucrat from the district office said that.
It was obvious that the police would come back to get involved, so they’d inflated the situation to get here. My boss was furious, but I thought it was better this way. I was planning to quit soon anyway.
…I won’t say that all wealthy people are necessarily criminals, but the larger the crime, the more likely it is that the person involved is rich. Once this was over, I was thinking I could live without dealing with this kind of stuff again.
I just felt sorry for the junior who followed me around.
Even if she was said to be the richest teen on Earth, and part of the world’s largest conglomerate, she was ultimately just a young girl in her mid-teens. When I saw her anxious, trembling eyes, I knew something was definitely up.
I really hoped that she would honestly tell me everything.
*
Huh, what do I even say?
As I climbed the stairs to my room, I felt a little anxious.
Of course, I knew this situation was a good opportunity. It was a chance to get Choi Na-kyung in a tough spot.
But the problem was, I also had a lot of things that made me uneasy.
Throwing around several million won to friends at school doesn’t exactly seem normal, does it? Helping friends bribe the school, spending hundreds of millions on a friend pretending to be a maid…
Wow, now that I think about it, each of those actions is just insane.
It’s all your fault anyway.
That’s true.
It would be fair to say my sense of money had gone completely numb. Once I realized my assets were in the billions, spending a few hundred million didn’t feel like a big deal at all.
…Is that strange?
And there was one more person here who had completely lost their sense of money.
No, it would be more accurate to say this person never had a sense of money to begin with. They probably had never spent it properly.
….
It seemed they really didn’t have one.
The place I brought the bureaucrat into was my room.
“…Uh…”
And the bureaucrat was momentarily speechless after seeing my room.
With a space larger than most homes, it’s understandable—then their gaze fixed on an enormous bed, which made me wonder.
“…”
Uh, is this kind of dangerous?
…Surely they wouldn’t have weird thoughts looking at the bed, right?
Thinking back, this world was one where even scandalous situations occurred between women. They might think weirdly if they saw two beds or just one big bed.
Although, considering the look on Choi Na-kyung’s face every time she saw Sara, it might not be too far off, but still.
Thanks to this, I could avoid sitting on the bed as I usually did.
I awkwardly turned towards the table. The bureaucrat silently followed suit, surveying the surroundings.
Standing in front of the table, I briefly thought about what I should do.
Should I offer for her to sit first?
But since she was silently waiting for me, I hesitated and sat down first.
“Well then,”
After I settled into my chair, she finally took her seat and flipped open the notebook she had in one hand.
“I’m Kim Seul-ki from the Health and Welfare Consultation Center. It’s nice to meet you.”
She introduced herself in a gentle voice.
“Ah, yes, hello…”
I answered somewhat awkwardly, and she smiled at me before continuing.
“As I mentioned downstairs, we received a report of domestic violence and came here. May I ask you a few questions regarding this?”
“…Sure.”
With a soft expression and voice throughout, she nodded reassuringly, which made me feel at ease.
It didn’t feel necessary to go that far, but it made sense since they didn’t know about me yet and genuinely came because of a violence report.
“You may need to bring up some painful memories.”
…Will that be okay?
I asked Sara meant for herself.
What’s wrong?
Sara seemed genuinely curious.
What if you end up having to talk about your past?
Of course, I didn’t plan to reveal everything here. The more I got involved with these people, the more complicated things would become. Even if Choi Na-kyung faced judgment due to related laws later, I couldn’t just spill everything without strategy.
“Then, first…”
She clicked the pen and said,
“Have you had any injuries recently?”
“Injuries?”
Was she indirectly asking if I had been hit by Choi Na-kyung?
“No.”
I shook my head.
At least I hadn’t been hit. I had said as much when talking to Sara at night. Emotional abuse was significant, but I had experienced no physical violence.
……Wait, isn’t emotional violence violence as well?
Noticing my momentary contemplation, Kim Seul-ki jotted something down in her notebook.
Then, after briefly glancing around my room again, she asked,
“Have you ever received unnecessary physical contact from your mother?”
“…What?”
I was taken aback by the staggering question.
Oh right, I remember now.
This world comparatively accepted homosexuality as something normal.
Not knowing exactly when it began, it was likely accepted long ago.
And naturally, sexual crimes would also be scrutinized regardless of gender.
If friends of a similar age hug one another, it could merely be friendship, but if an aging adult hugs a child, it is considered pedophilia.
“…”
And Choi Na-kyung did just that.
…Thinking back, this was overwhelmingly serious.
As I remained silent, unable to respond, the bureaucrat’s gaze sharpened.
…You…
And I became furious with myself as well.
What Choi Na-kyung wanted was Sara’s body. Although there had been no immediate assault, there could always be a situation that would arise.
Even if Sara wanted to cling to Choi Na-kyung, I should have stopped it. Using her adoptive daughter to grope her thighs and waist while fiddling with her face is undeniably odd.
If the person involved weren’t female, but male, I would have refused.
Of course, Choi Na-kyung was objectively beautiful, but… sexual crimes aren’t determined by looks, are they?
It’s fine, really… I’m okay…
Sara’s small voice cut in, but I shook my head.
I was not okay.
Even if it was for the sake of memory, I couldn’t leave Sara in Choi Na-kyung’s care. So far, she hadn’t done anything, but who knows what Choi Na-kyung might do in the future.
She had the audacity to dress a girl who had just become a high school student in a wedding dress. It could genuinely become dangerous.
“Do you have something to say?”
The bureaucrat asked.
But…
Is it okay to answer that here?
I didn’t have any solid evidence yet. I probably wouldn’t in the future, as I would ensure I wouldn’t.
“…”
As I fell silent, ultimately, she gave up and smiled at me.
“If it’s too difficult to talk about, you don’t have to say anything today. We can wait as long as needed. Just speak whenever you’re ready in the future.”
Hearing that, I sighed in relief internally.
I somehow managed to get through today.
“Just in case, we will check in periodically to ensure Sara is safe and sound, if that’s okay?”
“Yeah?”
Taken aback by the unexpected statement, I asked in surprise, but she merely nodded with joy as if she had thought I would appreciate it.
…This is a genuine disaster.
*
After finishing the not-so-consultation and coming down, this time, the problem lay with them.
Two police officers were sitting stiffly with grim faces. Haneul, Sohee, Sua were restlessly fidgeting while Yang Hye-in just stood there expressionlessly.
…What the heck is going on here?
Did they get into a fight with the police or something?
