Chapter 186

Episode 186 It

was a truly pathetic thought, but Hong Gyeong-jun felt that human psychology was a very difficult concept.

‘Why on earth is he doing that?’

There were often people who not only did not sympathize with me, but also showed behavior that I could not understand.

That was a slightly different story from the intuition Hong Gyeong-jun sometimes felt. If I were to really ask the question, should I say that it feels like there is a lack of probability? Even if I understood the process itself, there were often times when I couldn’t understand or sympathize with why that person reacted this way or why it had to be this way.

Jeong In-ho was also one of those similar figures.

“You see Jaeheon Lee very often.”

“…Aren’t you watching it because it’s worth your attention, Detective Hong Gyeong-jun?”

Why do you hate me so much?

‘This is a question that is no different from that of students who struggle with interpersonal relationships…’

You might say it was a stupid question, but Hong Gyeong-jun was serious in his own way. I couldn’t find an answer as to why I dislike ‘Detective Hong Gyeong-jun’ so much. How should we accept results that came without any process?

Of course, it was by no means that Hong Gyeong-jun was a friendly person. It was not uncommon for people to be fed up with this personality of blindly doubting based on intuition, and given that Jung In-ho was a similar type of person, this could be explained.

The problem was that even if we looked at it that way, it could not explain the deep caution, irritation, and anger that Hong Kyung-jun showed.

“Since you’ve been hurt that much, isn’t it natural for anyone but me to care?”

“…That is correct.”

That was not something I could show to a person I had met twice at most, and only now had I made a proper statement. It was a reaction I would only show to an enemy who killed my parents.

If we were to pinpoint the point that In-ho Jeong was angry about…

“I don’t think there’s anything strange about us.”

It’s literally ‘Detective Hong Gyeong-jun’s suspicion’.

‘Even if it were the same situation, if someone other than me had shown suspicion, the reaction would have been different.’

That was strange. When have we ever seen each other before? At most, we only met face to face once, last time.

“It’s not strange. “It’s natural to worry about the safety of your colleagues.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“But I think the way In-ho Jeong looks is a bit excessive.”

It wasn’t just strange, it felt excessive.

“charge.”

“It’s something you can’t see in an ordinary co-worker relationship.”

“So is it a problem?”

So that might not be a problem?

‘Why are you this obsessed?’

The reason Hong Kyung-jun was wary of Jeong In-ho was not just because of Song In-myeong’s stories about this team. Isn’t it often said that defining the whole thing based on one person’s story can lead to the error of generalization? Determining the culprit after hearing only one testimony is an insane thing that no detective should do.

However, apart from that, Song In-myeong’s portrayal of Jeong In-ho’s team did not seem entirely wrong, even if it was a bit of an exaggeration. In particular, seeing Jeong In-ho’s unexplained anger and hatred toward Hong Kyung-jun, suspicions that had not been there before naturally arose.

“The manager is in very bad condition. However, you often leave your seat without saying a word or quietly hide your injuries…”

“Yes.”

“I have no choice but to keep my gaze on it for a long time.”

Jeong In-ho asked again.

“Is it a problem?”

Hong Gyeong-jun also really wanted to spit out the words and ask.

‘Then it won’t be a problem?’

I think obsession is bound to exist in all human relationships, but perhaps because of some kind of occupational disease, such obsession did not look very good to Hong Gyeong-jun.

He also met Director Lee Jae-heon once in person. At that time, I briefly saw an image similar to my senior in the other person, but that was all, and the situation where someone like Jung In-ho was so clingy to someone who was as tattered as me couldn’t help but feel strange to Hong Gyeong-jun.

Even though he never believed in a person named Song In-myeong….

“….”

“I’m fine.”

They both just seemed similar.

‘It’s clear that they don’t see humans as humans.’

That was Hong Gyeong-jun’s conclusion.

If we had to judge the severity, Song In-myeong’s was much more serious, but Jeong In-ho didn’t look normal either. The problem between the two became very serious to Hong Kyung-jun, who was already very suspicious. I knew that the unique atmosphere of this world was destroying my spirit, but it made me feel sick to my stomach.

If Hong Kyung-jun had been able to look into Jeong In-ho’s thoughts, he might have felt a little unfair. Hong Gyeong-Jun was different from the last episode and this episode, and there were no traces of events that would have clouded his judgment like before. It means that although I may have become more sensitive than last time, I have not become more stupid.

“Song In-myeong, are you going scouting?”

“Um, I’ll just take one lap and then come back. “It’s so stuffy here.”

“Please be careful.”

So he suspected everyone equally.

“If you meet someone, please report it.”

Song In-myeong’s case was not much different.

‘Rather, he is a strong suspect.’

After talking to police officer Kim Yeon-woo, the physique of the criminal she saw was similar to that of Song In-myeong. There are more suspects based on height alone, but Hong Gyeong-jun’s intuition clearly indicated that Song In-myeong was the most suspicious.

But he didn’t show it.

“Hey, how can you not stick together?”

“Why the fuck are you fighting again?”

“There’s a lot of monsters out there, but scouting is a breeze, right? “What are we doing here for fun?”

“Are you worried about me now, our gorilla?”

“Please don’t fucking scum, you’re trash.”

Although his mouth was a bit harsh, the expression on Seo Jang-hwa’s face was genuine concern.

‘…There’s no need to cause trouble.’

Although Song In-myeong spoke harshly and acted rudely, his cooperation was good. The survivors’ reputation for him was not bad because he took the initiative to go around the surrounding area or stand at the front to block monsters when they came. It feels like the nature itself is not bad even if social skills are poor.

“Yes, our boots are right. “I don’t think there’s any need to go out.”

“Our potatoes are worried about me too….”

“You need to be a little less annoying, In-myeong.”

“You bastards, if you want to worry, make it pretty. Why is this a parade of swear words instead of good words?”

“Wouldn’t we be embarrassed compared to you?”

Moreover, the relationship between those three seemed very strong.

‘If I reveal my doubts here, I will be attacked 100%.’

If the relationship was that good, there was a high possibility that he would deny it at least once even if he brought in the right evidence. Hong Gyeong-jun swallowed his feelings about Song In-myeong and came to a conclusion once again.

There are two final suspects.

“….”

It’s Song In-myeong from this team and Jeong In-ho from that team.

‘If I were to be honest, I think the culprit was Song In-myeong…’

The problem was that Jung In-ho also seemed to be quite crazy, just in a different direction. Even if this world had a way of destroying people’s minds, the same was true.

However, in this world, there are no laws and rules like in reality, no CCTV as a basis for identifying criminals, and no prosecutors or judges to bring criminals to justice. Even if there were two police officers, their status would not have any effect in the current situation. Hong Gyeong-jun could not hastily touch the suspects.

Therefore, the method used was in the name of ‘protection’.

“Where have you been?”

“Just go around to the lake over there…”

“If you act alone in a situation where monsters are everywhere, it could be a problem. The same applies even if you brought a piece of wood with you. “I would appreciate it if you could take at least one other person with you and then tell me where you went and what you saw.”

“…uh um yeah.”

Song In-myeong had a sour expression, but he was not angry. He didn’t seem to feel like he was being treated differently, as he expressed this kind of language and behavior to everyone except him.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I wasn’t annoyed.

“Aren’t you influenced by that guy with glasses?”

“What are you talking about?”

“…Fuck it. Anyway, there are no normal people.”

However, Hong Gyeong-jun felt that such complaining was also a type of behavior that showed concern.

‘You’re going to see how far I’ll react.’

I’m sorry if I was overly suspicious, but Hong Gyeong-jun’s intuition told me so. If you don’t want to make the situation more complicated than this, limit Song In-myeong’s actions as much as possible. However, I only acted like this because I knew rationally that if I restricted my actions to whatever I wanted, not to mention being criticized everywhere, I would be telling the truth.

Hong Gyeong-jun immediately apologized before receiving unnecessary attention as he had already become overly strict recently.

“I apologize if you felt bad.”

“Oh really. “It’s done.”

Song In-myeong, who said that, sat down among his friends with a strange frown on his face. I felt that Seo Jang-hwa and Vivian were glaring at me, but that didn’t mean I could just leave the prime suspect alone.

‘I thought I was meeting Jeong In-ho these days.’

I wasn’t sure, but that was the feeling.

I had the feeling that dangerous elements were meeting under the pretext of reconnaissance, but I didn’t know what the consequences would be if I approached too hastily, so I stayed quiet. This is a world where the saying “fists are closer than the law” is very fitting, so no matter how much Hong Kyung-jun tried, he couldn’t act as he wanted.

“Detective Hong, this time we met Jeong In-ho’s group at a small lake…”

“I see.”

“…Could it be possible to take some action against Mr. Lee Jae-heon? “I can’t exactly explain that you are suffering clear damage, but I personally feel uneasy.”

“That is correct.”

So it would have been better to approach it in a different way.

“Let’s meet tomorrow.”

Hong Gyeong-jun deliberately raised his voice to a level where Song In-myeong could be heard and was not noticeable. I could feel Song In-myeong’s gaze naturally reaching this direction and then falling, but Hong Gyeong-jun also did not show that he had noticed the gaze.

‘I’m sure there will be a reaction to something.’

It may be his own opinion, but Song In-myeong and Jeong In-ho were showing interest in Lee Jae-heon in different directions. Lee Jae-heon, whom I saw last time, seemed to be suffering from a slight headache due to the attention from such grown adults, but Hong Gyeong-jun felt that it was not a situation that could be taken lightly.

I wondered if he would react differently if detective Hong Kyung-jun approached him.

“Jaeheon Lee.”

So we met.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“…It’s not that I didn’t have something I wanted to say, but you know that this is a very unexpected first greeting, right?”

“….”

“…Do you really have to do it now?”

“If it is true that there are no personal problems with Mr. Lee Jae-heon.”

I sensed there was a problem.

‘I can’t see Munsan-gun and Jeong In-ho.’

And for some reason, I thought Song In-myeong might not be in the pavilion either.

“It doesn’t really matter, but I’ll speak first.”

“Of course.”

“…I think you misunderstand something about our children.”

“Oh, I misunderstood.”

Jaeheon Lee didn’t seem to feel anything special.

‘For a person like that, he must have been hurt this much.’

Hong Gyeong-jun felt a little tired. For some reason, I felt that the person in front of me, who I thought had ‘just similar tendencies’, was becoming more and more similar to the shooter I knew. You can’t say it’s completely the same, but overall, it seems like it’s distorted from the perspective of common sense…

“That’s right. Misunderstandings can often occur between people with different personalities and backgrounds. “I completely understand what you wanted to say.”

“…For something like that, the reaction….”

“However, even when looking at it objectively, I have doubts about the situation Mr. Lee Jae-heon is in.”

Of course, it wasn’t something to worry about right away.

“It’s natural that a critically ill patient like this shouldn’t move, Detective Hong Gyeong-jun.”

Hong Gyeong-jun shifted his gaze to Doctor Ha Seong-yoon, who came between them.

“There is no hospital that allows patients who are bleeding profusely from all limbs and sometimes unconscious to run around freely. “Even I, who works at such a hospital, acknowledged that Mr. Lee Jae-heon’s movements should be restrained.”

“I know you’re right, but what I want to talk about is a slightly different matter. I don’t know your situation well, but when I look at it from someone else’s perspective, there are some parts that are unclear. “Wasn’t the current Ha Seong-yoon always next to Lee Jae-heon as if he were watching over him?”

Although they were roughly contradicting each other, it seemed like they had a clear intention as the other person’s words became longer. When Hong Gyeong-jun thought about it, it was Jeong In-ho who seemed to have given Ha Seong-yoon an order that was not an order.

‘…I’d better get out of this place quickly.’

And I had to find In-ho Jeong and In-myeong Song.

Just as he was thinking that, Jaeheon Lee suddenly left and Hong Gyeongjun just followed him. Even though Hong Gyeong-jun knew that the plan was different from what I had imagined and that something was going wrong, Hong Gyeong-jun could not express a single complaint.

“…Jung In-ho?”

Jeong In-ho, who had been suspected, was half-collapsed, bleeding.

“Hong Gyeong-jun….”

Hong Gyeong-jun lost confidence in himself at the hatred and anger that flashed across his face.

Actually, I didn’t accomplish anything.

* * *

Coming back to the present, right after leaving Munsan-gun.

Hong Gyeong-jun was holding a Taser gun in his hand.

“….”

He didn’t really like this item.

‘…No, this is not a matter of preference.’

I’ve hardly ever practiced using a Taser.

It wasn’t just his problem. The cartridges and batteries used in Tasers were very expensive compared to their disposable nature. Because it is a huge burden to learn proper shooting techniques in school, most police officers graduate without knowing how to use a Taser gun.

Hong Gyeong-jun’s shooting skills were excellent, but that was all. I thought it was stupid to use a Taser gun on a criminal without knowing how to skillfully handle it, which could even lead to death if done incorrectly. Also, because this country does not have a good perception of guns, it could even be given the image of excessive suppression.

‘This time, because the criminal’s crime was so dirty, I was forced to wear it…’

So after coming to the other side of the world, I tried shooting at the monster, but the Taser gun had no effect on the monster. Rather, it only incited anger and was at a level where it could not be considered a good weapon.

“…Tsk.”

That left only one cartridge.

I didn’t want to use it, but I couldn’t hesitate when there was such a clear culprit.

‘Even if the green algae monster is coming.’

The Taser gun, which had been hidden in a corner of the pavilion because he did not want to use it and was ineffective against monsters, took its place in Hong Gyeong-jun’s hand. Although Hong Gyeong-jun was familiar with grasping, he couldn’t say that he had much experience with the next step. When the distance between the target and Lee Jae-heon became a little greater, he stared at Song In-myeong.

Our eyes met.

“….”

“…Oh shit.”

It was like a will.

That’s what Hong Gyeong-jun heard.