Chapter 93

HELHEIM SCANS

[Translator - Jjescus]

[Proofreader - Demon God ]

Chapter 93

Director Lee Jaehun didn't look pleased, and their cheerful chatter gradually faded to silence. Unlike in the original novel, this reaction showed that they hadn't yet completely lost their humanity.

Observing Lee Jaehun, Hong Kyungjun thought to himself:

‘…Of course, I still have many questions….’

But there was a time and place for everything.

Perhaps the others had spoken out of concern, but from the listener's perspective, it was unnecessary meddling if the recipient didn't appreciate it. Though Lee Jaehun didn't appear to be in normal condition, excessive consideration was unnecessary in such a situation.

‘We never know when another monster might show up.’

One fortunate aspect was that he now understood the cause of the peculiar feeling he'd been having.

‘If he had been wandering in this world from a young age, it’s no wonder he turned out this way.’

As a homicide detective, he often encountered psychopaths or sociopaths.

Contrary to popular belief, psychopaths were often easier to catch because they were less intelligent, whereas sociopaths were usually more cunning. A detective had to be sharp to deal with them.

During the investigation, detectives sometimes had to dissect the criminal's thoughts: their motives, objectives, the emotions revealed through their actions, what they had done, and what they might do next. It was repulsive to think about, but it resembled empathy in a way.

This process occasionally broke the detective.

“……”

Hong Kyungjun knew this because his mentor had deteriorated in such a manner.

‘…When a large number of people gather in such a world, crimes are bound to happen.’

According to his testimony, Lee Jaehun had been as young as 11 or as old as 13 in this harsh environment. It was strange to think that a vulnerable child could survive here and remain sane.

Moreover, he mentioned having returned to this place more than four times. Even for Hong Kyungjun, the thought of coming back here after escaping made his head spin. It's hard to believe that Lee Jaehun, who had experienced it at such a young age, could remain unaffected. Yet, he had survived all those times.

He must have adapted to this environment and its consequences.

‘It’s remarkable that he hasn’t committed any crimes in the real world.’

At least it meant he could distinguish between what was acceptable and what wasn't, which was a relief. If Lee Jaehun hadn’t shown any concern for others, Hong Kyungjun might have mistaken him for the serial killer he had been chasing.

Even if that wasn't the case, there was still a need to keep an eye on him, but Lee Jaehun's abnormalities had a plausible explanation. He even seemed to be aware that he wasn't completely sane….

‘Unless something happens to break his self-control, there shouldn’t be any issues.’

With these thoughts, Hong Kyungjun scratched the back of his neck and spoke.

“…I have many questions, but given the situation, I'll ask just one more.”

“Go ahead.”

“What exactly was that substance you gave to Noh Yeonseok?”

It was a small spherical object, even smaller than a typical grape.

That’s what it seemed like at a glance, but surely there was more to it. Glancing briefly at a tree root, he continued.

“If it can revive someone on the brink of death, it would be very useful for what’s to come. If it’s not a problem, could you tell me what it is, its exact effects, and how to obtain it?”

Noh Yeonseok, who was also curious, glanced at Lee Jaehun. He seemed subdued after his earlier outburst, but he was likely interested in the object that had revived him from near death.

Noticing this, Hong Kyungjun observed something strange.

‘…Is he anxious?’

It wasn't just about his previous insubordination; it was a more complex unease….

“It’s a type of medicine.”

“…Not a refined pharmaceutical, right? Did you prepare it outside the park?”

“No, I found it here. It’s a kind of fruit, picked from a plant….”

“A fruit.”

With a nonchalant expression, Lee Jaehun continued.

“The effects… it’s a complete cure. It can heal any ailment the patient has. Except for a few exceptions, most things can be fixed.”

“Then why didn’t you use it on yourself, Lee Jaehun?”

While Noh Yeonseok wasn’t in great condition either, the man in front of him was in far worse shape. It was understandable why people like Choi Jungman and others were wary of Lee Jaehun.

“You almost look like a corpse. Is there a reason you didn’t use it?”

“…The person who picks it can’t use it.”

“…What?”

“Anyway, it’s a medicinal herb collected in the wild… but if the person who picked it eats it, it turns poisonous. Someone else has to bring it to them for it to work as medicine.”

“……”

Knowing this and still choosing to collect it meant he did it solely to heal others. This wasn't a common thought for someone in his ragged condition.

He was a man whose actions were at odds with his appearance.

“…So, can this fruit also cure mental ailments?”

“That’s possible too. One downside is that if the fruit isn’t consumed within a month of picking, it spoils. In my experience, eating fresh fruit hasn’t caused any side effects.”

“What if someone eats spoiled fruit?”

“Rather than spoiling, it shrivels up. It looks so unappetizing that no one would want to eat it. I’ve never eaten one in that state.”

“Was it the same for everyone else? The fruit….”

“……”

“…Ah.”

As his expression calmed, Hong Kyungjun blinked.

“My apologies.”

In trying to resolve his curiosity, he had touched on a sensitive topic.

‘It seems most of them died.’

Recalling Lee Jaehun’s behavior during their last encounter, it seemed like he was always acting. It was unlikely that anyone around such a person would remain unaffected.

If anyone had survived and escaped this world with Lee Jaehun, he wouldn’t be in such a state. They would have built some kind of bond and kept in touch. Yet, from the reactions of Noh Yeonseok and the others, it seemed like they were unfamiliar with his dual nature. This meant he hadn’t confided in anyone about this world.

His fabricated demeanor repelled others. He seemed sensitive if put kindly, or overly rigid if not. Not seeking counseling suggested that unless they were fellow survivors, they wouldn’t see through his façade. It was likely there were no other survivors.

There was no need to provoke someone already so unstable.

“If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize, Lee Jaehun-ssi.”

“…I wasn’t uncomfortable.”

Then he added,

“It’s just not something I’ve ever really thought about.”

“……”

Lee Jaehun probably didn’t realize how much more somber his words felt.

HELHEIM SCANS

[Translator - Jjescus]

[Proofreader - Demon God ]

Yet, his expression remained calm. He didn’t seem angry at Hong Kyungjun’s insensitive question, nor did he seem saddened by the loss of those who had left his side.

‘I thought he might be a dangerous person with no empathy….’

At the very least, Lee Jaehun must have mourned the death of his former companions.

‘Considering how injured he is, it would be strange if he didn’t.’

Unconsciously, Hong Kyungjun scanned Director Lee Jaehun’s entire body.

His shoulder was stained red. It wasn’t overly alarming, but he was limping, and neither of his legs looked unscathed. Both palms, which had been holding a pipe, were soaked in blood, and one arm was wrapped in bandages. The bandages were visibly stained with blood, indicating a substantial wound.

‘Yet, the other members seem relatively unscathed.’

From what Constable Kim had told him, Lee Jaehun’s condition was much the same as it was now. However, when Hong Kyungjun had seen the other members of their group, they had appeared relatively fine.

In short, it meant that Lee Jaehun bore all the injuries himself to prevent the others from getting hurt. This was in stark contrast to Hong Kyungjun’s group, who each had injuries on their legs, arms, sides, and so on.

‘And his neck….’

It was probably a self-inflicted wound.

“No one has eaten a spoiled fruit. There's no need to risk dying by eating something potentially deadly.”

“…You’re absolutely right.”

There were times when he encountered strangled bodies. He’d examine the victim’s neck for clues like the size of the perpetrator’s hands or fingerprints, although that wasn’t his main responsibility. Still, he could tell if the marks were made by a man or a woman.

When Hong Kyungjun looked at the wounds on Lee Jaehun’s neck, they were clearly made by an adult male, and conveniently, Lee Jaehun’s hands matched the size. Even the bruises that looked like thumb marks confirmed that these were self-inflicted wounds.

‘Is it due to stress?’

Seeing the blood soaking through the bandage wrapped around his neck indicated it wasn’t just strangling; he had also scratched himself severely enough to make his face contort at first sight.

Someone who self-harmed and protected others to the point of near self-harm couldn’t have intentionally harmed others. Especially since the killer Hong Kyungjun was chasing derived near-sadistic pleasure from his ‘work’, it was evident that Lee Jaehun should be eliminated from his list of suspects.

If there were a suspect among them, it would more likely be….

“……”

At that point, Hong Kyungjun deliberately stopped his racing thoughts. The last thing a detective needed was prejudice. He couldn’t oppress someone based on mere intuition.

As he left Hong Kyungjun to his thoughts, Lee Jaehun continued speaking.

“More importantly, I never let the fruit spoil. Usually, it was used up before then. With monsters everywhere, there were plenty of people on the brink of death….”

“So, you used it frequently.”

“…Yes.”

Surprisingly, the conversation halted at an unexpected point.

Lee Jaehun’s brows furrowed slightly. It wasn’t out of displeasure or anxiety but a small, light frown that appeared when he was trying to recall something.

He wiped his mouth once before answering again.

“It’s… not exactly. There was a slight inconvenience in using it.”

“……? Didn’t you say there were no side effects?”

“Not a side effect from the fruit itself, but. Maybe? Maybe not?”

It seemed that Lee Jaehun hadn’t fully understood the nature of the ‘fruit’ yet. Even though he had visited this world multiple times, he might not have known about this cure for long.

Reflecting on Lee Jaehun’s words, Hong Kyungjun murmured to himself.

‘Picking plants… fruit, plants. Not small and round. Cure….’

After a brief contemplation, he glanced at a tree root and spoke.

“…Is the fruit you mentioned that one?”

“What?”

Lee Jaehun’s face hardened as he followed Hong Kyungjun’s gaze. There stood a plant with round, orange fruits glowing faintly. It resembled a lily of the valley.

Leaving the stiffened Lee Jaehun behind, Hong Kyungjun approached it.

“Your reaction suggests it is. If we collect them….”

And then.

“…….”

“…….”

Lee Jaehun grabbed his arm.

“…Lee Jaehun-ssi?”

Hong Kyungjun raised an eyebrow and called out to him.

‘I had a feeling he was being evasive.’

But why? He momentarily wondered if Lee Jaehun wanted to monopolize the cure, but considering he had used it in front of them and answered their questions honestly, it didn’t seem likely.

Based on what Hong Kyungjun knew, Lee Jaehun wouldn't do anything to harm others.

And then, it hit him.

“……”

Lee Jaehun wouldn't do anything to harm others….

Conversely, it meant that Hong Kyungjun’s actions were putting himself in danger right now.

“…That… I mean.”

“…….”

“Did I misunderstand? I thought that plant was the cure you mentioned, but if it’s a poisonous plant or something…”

“…That’s not it.”

“Then could you tell me why you stopped me from going?”

“…….”

“Why?”

Lee Jaehun’s expression twisted, and the people around them began to tilt their heads in confusion. They, too, realized there was no reason for Lee Jaehun to stop Hong Kyungjun based on their conversation.

Seeing this, Noh Yeonseok approached him with a worried look.

“…Director….”

“…Tch.”

Turning completely away from Noh Yeonseok, Lee Jaehun slowly began to speak.

“…There are side effects.”

“Didn’t you say there weren’t any?”

“There aren’t any in the fruit itself, but, uh….”

Lee Jaehun let go of Hong Kyungjun’s arm and seemed quite troubled.

He was trying to keep his face stern to hide his inner thoughts, but it was clear that even he knew he wasn’t hiding it well, and he also seemed to be gauging Noh Yeonseok’s reaction. It was quite an unexpected sight.

After hesitating a few times, he finally spoke with a sigh.

“…It hurts.”

“…What?”

“The person who picks the fruit… instead of the patient, feels a bit of the pain.”

“…….”

Lee Jaehun continued, almost as if he was making an excuse, under Hong Kyungjun’s wide-eyed gaze.

“But the fruit itself is indeed non-toxic. I’ve eaten it a few times myself. The plant isn’t hard to find if there are many trees around. It’s one of the most common and effective cures in this world, but….”

“…….”

“The person who picks it… feels a bit of pain. It doesn’t hurt when you pick it, but when the fruit is used, the pain of the person who eats it transfers to the one who picked it. But if something other than a human picks it, the fruit loses its effectiveness. Animals, for example. So….”

His tone was low and calm, but he was speaking quickly. To Hong Kyungjun, this meant that Lee Jaehun was indeed flustered. It was easy to sense, even from just looking at his face.

At that point, Hong Kyungjun couldn’t hold back his questions.

“…Lee Jaehun-ssi, haven’t you already used it?”

“…….”

He couldn’t respond.

“…Ah.”

The reaction came from Noh Yeonseok, who was standing behind Lee Jaehun.

In an instant, his face turned deathly pale.

HELHEIM SCANS

[Translator - Jjescus]

[Proofreader - Demon God ]