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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Inquiry
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"Tell me the case summary. Quickly."
I started to press my subordinate to find out what had happened.
Arachne appeared again?
That can't be. Arte was definitely there.
Arachne couldn't have appeared…
"Yes, yes, sir. It's exactly as I told you over the phone. A spider symbol drawn in blood and a dismembered body. It's Arachne. The victim is another villain, a guy wanted for rape and murder."
"What's the difference?"
"Perhaps that the body wasn't finely cut into pieces. And the message 'Arachne was here' wasn't written. We're also considering the possibility of an imitator."
"An imitator?"
"No, that's not it." Ha-yul thought.
"…There's no evidence."
Perhaps Ha-yul is just mistaken, and as Claire said, she really is a junior trying to become a hero.
But it bothered him too much. At first, she seemed so suspicious that he thought she couldn't be the culprit.
Now, it's different. It felt more like she was mocking him.
Her expression was like that of a spectator looking at a tiger confined in a zoo cage.
It seemed she thought of him as nothing more than a tiger in a zoo cage.
If the cage were opened and he approached, he'd be a threat, but since that wouldn't happen, her expression was like that of a tourist enjoying themselves freely.
"Damn it. She's toying with me."
"Sir?"
"No, nothing. …Is there a possibility that Arachne isn't just one person?"
"Do you think it's a conflict between villain organizations?"
He nodded at his subordinate's words.
Because if Arachne isn't just one person, then it solves things.
She must have noticed that I was suspicious, even without any evidence.
As if to mock me, she threw out one of her associates, and when I still didn't drop my suspicions, she had someone commit the crime while she was meeting with me.
…Because if you put it that way, it makes sense.
But is that really it?
Is it right to suspect someone like this, without any solid evidence, just because they seem suspicious?
Am I overcomplicating things unnecessarily? What if it really is an imitator, and the real culprit has already been caught?
His mind began to get complicated.
…What should I do when I can't think of anything else?
After a long moment of deliberation, Ha-yul decided to change his approach.
"I'm sorry, but could you handle that case for a bit? There's someone I need to meet."
"What?! B-but I'm not ready to handle something like this yet…!"
"I'm doing this because I trust you. I'm counting on you."
"…! Yes, understood!"
This guy, he's easy.
It was quite convenient; a few flattering words and he'd gladly take on the work.
"By the way, who are you going to meet?"
"It's nothing big. If I've met the suspect, I should meet their acquaintances too."
Especially if they're people connected to the case.
He picked up the scattered documents on his desk.
"First, I should meet this kid, Yoo Si-woo."
---
"So, you came to see me?"
"Yes. I was wondering if you knew anything."
I returned the notebook that proved she was an investigator for the Association.
After that incident, there hadn't been any further talk, so I'd completely forgotten about it.
She was looking for the mastermind behind that incident.
It was such a shame Amelia wasn't here now.
Amelia would be much better suited for this kind of thing than me. …Even if she's a bit aggressive.
What should I do?
The investigator said she was chasing the culprit of that incident, but no matter how I thought about it, only one person came to mind as the target.
It must be Arte.
"You and your friend were near the crime scene at the time. Do you know anything?"
"No. At the time, I was too flustered by the attack to think about anything like that."
"Right. …Was there anything unusual? Like your friend not being visible?"
How blunt.
She didn't even seem to be trying to hide the fact that she suspected Arte.
The way she looked at me with sharp eyes, as if glaring at a culprit, made me involuntarily shiver.
"…Oh, sorry. My eyes are naturally a bit sharp. Don't worry. You won't be arrested or anything."
"Y-yes…"
Did she think I shivered because I was worried about being arrested?
She tried to reassure me.
But that's not what I'm worried about.
Is it really okay to involve this person to stop Arte?
She'll definitely be helpful. That much is certain.
There's no way an Association investigator specializing in superhuman crimes wouldn't be helpful.
…But there was something strange.
Why was she trying to get information from me?
I saw yesterday's news too.
That the so-called Arachne, who had brutally dealt with numerous villains, had been arrested.
Amelia and I had already suspected Arachne's identity. Arte, who hadn't shown up there for a while. It could only be her.
That's why I was so disappointed after seeing that news.
Because I thought I couldn't expect help from the Association.
But why suddenly now?
"Anything is fine. Tell me if there was anything suspicious."
"…Why are you asking that?"
"Hmm?"
"Arachne was caught. Didn't the news say that?"
"Yes, it did. It was a huge commotion. Did you see it online too?"
"…Yes."
The internet's reaction was fervent.
And it made sense. Because the troublesome villains were dead.
Not just one or two, but a massive number, around 200 people.
"'Release Arachne.' …I even heard talk like that."
"That's…"
"I know. It's extreme. But you know, don't you? People intensely dislike villains."
Yes, that's right.
People hate villains. No, it would be better to say they loathe them.
"Why should we feed criminals in prison who steal our peaceful daily lives?"
"'Just kill them all. Criminals have no human rights.' Such talks circulate frequently."
"Trash that disrupts society, forcing superhumans, who are already insufficient for dealing with monsters in the outer regions, to remain in the city for public safety."
…That's the citizens' assessment of villains.
In the current climate, where hostility towards criminals is endlessly high, Arachne cleanly killed villains who would clearly live off of taxpayer money in prison even if caught.
A villain killer who never killed civilians, only slaughtered villains.
It was inevitable that extreme statements would emerge.
"But regardless of public opinion, crime is crime, and murder is murder. …Listen, Arachne hasn't been caught yet."
"…"
"Today, there was one more victim of Arachne."
"W-what?!"
I was flustered by her words, but at the same time, I was certain.
As expected. The culprit is Arte. She was Arachne.
Otherwise, there's no way the number of victims would increase even after the culprit was supposedly caught.
"It hasn't been released to the media yet, but it will be soon. This victim is also a villain. …However, we're going to say it was an imitator."
"An i-imitator?"
"Yes. If we boast about catching them and then admit to a mistake the very next day, the Association's prestige would be in tatters."
"It's the influence of higher-ups, you see."
Saying that, she leaned closer to me and clutched my hand as if pleading.
"Even if it's just to prevent more victims, please tell me if there was anything suspicious. Even something trivial is fine. Physical evidence would be even better."
"Th-then…"
Is it okay to say it?
That Arte is suspicious?
Won't she just scoff at it as absurd?
'Actually, I think she's behind the recent sensational incidents.' …Even if I say that, will she really believe it?
No, even if she believes it, what can she do alone? Even if *she* believes it, will the Association believe it?
As I closed my mouth to think about what to do, she waited, as if she would give me time.
A sudden silence hung in the air.
"What interesting things are you talking about? Let me join in."
And that silence was instantly shattered by an intruder.
"Ah, Arte. Nice to see you."
"We meet again, Investigator. What brings you here today?"
"I was worried that students might be struggling psychologically after experiencing the attack. Just a brief consultation."
"Ah, I see."
"Well then, Yoo Si-woo. You seem fine, so I'll be going. If you ever need to talk, please contact me at this number."
Investigator Lee Ha-yul quickly slipped away.
…Her expression seemed to say she hadn't expected Arte to show up.
It was the look of someone who had bad luck.
"Hi, Arte."
"Hello. I saw you talking with the Investigator outside. …Was I interrupting?"
"No, not at all."
I realized it from the situation just now.
The investigator merely suspects Arte; she has less information than us.
She didn't know that if she talked to me in an open place, Arte would come find her.
"The Investigator really doesn't need to worry so much. …Right?"
"…Right. After all, I'm an Academy student. That much is no problem."
"Hehe. That's cool. Well then, I'll be going. You should head back soon, okay? Things are quite unsettling these days."
Watching Arte leave as quickly as she had appeared, I suddenly thought.
…I don't even get surprised anymore when Arte suddenly appears.
Had I somehow grown accustomed to Arte appearing at all times?
Si-woo let out a small sigh.
To get used to someone constantly watching me. I never thought I'd get used to something like this.
Well, I've certainly lived to see strange things.