Chapter 83

“Why did you suddenly bring up taking matters into your own hands?”

In contrast to Seonwoo Yeon’s grave expression, Kim Kiryeo remained as unruffled as ever.

“Oh, did I forget to explain? Don’t worry. What I intend to do won’t be quite so... violent.”

He spoke while idly turning the cup of jasmine tea on the table.

“Let me explain from the beginning. Personally, I divide the followers of that organization into three categories.”

“Three categories?”

“Yes. First, ordinary worshippers. Second, those subjected to indirect brainwashing. Third, those subjected to direct brainwashing.”

The F-Class Hunter raised his fingers one by one as he elaborated.

“The first group consists of ordinary people who have simply become immersed in the cult’s teachings.”

“I see.”

“The other two are people whose minds have been forcibly altered because the organization found them useful.”

Munch, munch.

Kim Kiryeo had a habit of helping himself to the sweet-and-sour pork whenever the conversation paused. Strangely enough, the sight allowed Seonwoo Yeon to relax a little and continue questioning him.

“What exactly is the difference between the second and third groups?”

The answer that followed contained far more alarming information than she had expected.

“The method of brainwashing.”

“Ah.”

“The second group is controlled through items such as the [Eyes of Temptation]. The third group, however, has been personally manipulated by an Awakened.”

“I see.”

“Those in the third group use items to create members of the second. The second group, in turn, faithfully recruits ordinary believers into the first. It’s essentially a pyramid structure.”

Tap.

As he spoke, he tucked the gold necklace hanging outside his shirt back beneath the fabric.

“When I examined the members of that organization before, I noticed something. Every person in the third group had been brainwashed by the same individual.”

“What?”

“In other words, there is only one person responsible for the direct brainwashing within the Rakshasa Temple.”

Kim Kiryeo delivered the shocking revelation without the slightest change in expression.

“And I can identify them.”

If that were true, then arresting the person at the center of the brainwashing network could restore the leadership’s senses and deal a devastating blow to the entire organization.

“How is that possible?”

As far as Seonwoo Yeon knew, tracing the user of a mental ability was impossible. With current technology, it was difficult enough to determine whether someone had been brainwashed at all, much less discover who had done it.

So how could Kim Kiryeo possibly—

“Trade secret.”

Unfortunately, that was the only explanation she received.

He was evidently reluctant to disclose the details of his abilities. Before long, the faint clatter of dishes was the only sound left in the room.

“Excuse me.”

Of course, since he was the one asking for a favour, Kiryeo could not remain silent forever.

“Hunter Seonwoo Yeon.”

“Yes?”

Once the meal was nearly finished, Kim Kiryeo quietly resumed the conversation.

“As I said, all I want is to help capture the person at the center of this.”

“...”

“To do that, I need to meet someone who has been brainwashed by the Rakshasa Temple. I also need someone who can serve as a bridge between me and the police.”

In other words, Kim Kiryeo desperately needed Seonwoo Yeon’s assistance.

“Is there really no way?”

Ordinarily, Seonwoo Yeon was not someone people approached with personal requests. She was known for her incorruptibility and for adhering unwaveringly to her principles.

‘I should refuse.’

That was the obvious conclusion.

Yet for some reason, the words would not leave her mouth.

‘But what if this really could bring those criminals down?’

How many people in the world were capable of upholding absolute righteousness in every situation?

This was Seonwoo Yeon’s weakness.

She was immovable when it came to bribes or personal gain, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° but arguments made in the name of the public good had a surprising ability to sway her.

‘Could he really do it?’

To someone with Seonwoo Yeon’s strong sense of justice, Kiryeo’s proposal was undeniably tempting.

‘Besides, he has no reason to lie.’

Targeting the person responsible for the brainwashing rather than the cult’s public leader was an exceptionally clever plan.

Preaching and recruiting might not necessarily be punishable crimes. Using a mind-control ability on another person, however, was unquestionably a serious offence.

‘At least the investigation wouldn’t end without results.’

This time, they might actually capture the core of the terrorist organization.

After a long internal struggle, Seonwoo Yeon finally gave him her answer.

“Very well.”

Though it came with a compromise.

“If I am assigned to an investigation involving the Rakshasa Temple, I’ll recommend that you be brought in as an appraiser.”

“Ah.”

“Until then, please wait.”

That was enough.

Kiryeo had never expected any great personal benefit. He merely wanted an opportunity to cause trouble for the Rakshasa Temple.

‘Success!’

His eyes brightened with anticipation.

“Approximately how long will I have to wait? I’d like to arrange my schedule accordingly.”

Seonwoo Yeon stopped eating and glanced aside.

“Well, I’m not in a position to choose which cases I’m assigned to, so I can’t give you an exact answer...”

Then she replied in a light, almost casual tone.

“Three months at most?”

***

[...Then when would be convenient? I can wait until your schedule is free. Haha.]

[About three months from now.]

Tap, tap, tap.

I skilfully moved my thumb across the screen and replied to Esther’s message.

“I only have three percent battery left.”

Furthermore, since unavoidable circumstances would soon force me to turn off the phone, I courteously informed the other party in advance.

[In any case, it will be difficult for me to respond for the time being. Please contact me again later.]

Perfect courtesy. Perfect formality.

At this rate, I would surely avoid doing anything that might displease the powerful people of this planet.

“Right. I should charge the phone first...”

Having successfully concluded my exchange with the Earthling, I turned my attention back to the desk in my studio apartment.

I had spent quite some time today working on an extremely important task.

“Phew.”

Dozens of magic-circle diagrams, all drawn in pencil, lay scattered across the desk.

What were these magic circles for?

Naturally, they were intended to deal with the Rakshasa Temple.

“Hmm.”

‘I may have been a little too confident when I told Seonwoo Yeon I could identify the person responsible for the brainwashing.’

Fortunately, Kang Changho had now been prohibited from entering Red Gates, so there was nothing else demanding my attention.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Seonwoo Yeon said I would have to wait a few months anyway.”

There was no need to rush.

I rose from my chair and stretched. I had been concentrating for nearly ten hours without eating, so it was time to rest and replenish my nutrients—

♪♭~ ♬~

Oh.

A call.

“Hello?”

I answered immediately, deciding I would deal with it before taking a break.

A familiar voice came through the receiver.

It was the B-Rank Hunter.

—Are you available to talk?

After that customary polite opening, Seonwoo Yeon began explaining the situation.

“Yes. Yes.”

Anyone listening to the way I handled phone calls these days might have mistaken me for a fully fledged Earthling.

“Yes.”

In any case—

“Oh, I’ve been approved as well? Yes, I understand.”

After several minutes of listening to Seonwoo Yeon’s explanation, I turned off the screen.

Then, as I carefully connected the phone to its charger, I laughed.

“Haha. Damn it.”

It appeared that one of our Association employees had been exceptionally lucky.

Only a single day had passed, yet she had already been assigned to an investigation involving the Rakshasa Temple.

Which meant I now had to complete the magical formula within three days, before the official investigation began.

***

Have you ever heard of a substance called Blueshell?

It is a fruit commonly found in dungeons inhabited by plant-type monsters. When consumed, it temporarily enhances an Awakened person’s abilities.

Its distribution, however, is currently prohibited.

Blueshell can inflict severe damage on the body, but that is not the only reason it was banned. The surge in ability produces an intense feeling of exhilaration, making the fruit dangerously addictive.

[Breaking News: Complete Ban on Blueshell Collection to Take Effect in March...]

Despite being classified as a narcotic, Blueshell continued to circulate through several criminal organizations.

“What was that group called again?”

—The Gayang Faction. They’re known as the Gayang Faction.

The organization Seonwoo Yeon was currently pursuing was a branch of that very faction.

“So you’re arresting gangsters...”

At that point, an obvious question occurred to me.

On the surface, the case had nothing to do with a cult.

“What does any of this have to do with me?”

I adjusted my grip on the phone as I asked.

The B-Class Hunter answered in her usual calm voice.

—The Blueshell distributors have had frequent dealings with the Rakshasa Temple.

Dealings?

—Do you remember the hiker you encountered during the Eunpyeong-gu disappearance case?

Ah.

That was enough for me to understand the general situation.

Come to think of it, the hiker’s magical power had risen noticeably immediately after they chewed and swallowed something.

“Was that Blueshell?”

—Yes. We found evidence that a large quantity of Blueshell had been supplied to those terrorists. The Gayang Faction is the only organization known to handle it in such volumes.

Was the Rakshasa Temple one of their most valued customers?

‘They must have dealt with each other regularly.’

The police probably intended to do little more than question the distributor about the terrorists’ appearance.

My own suspicions, however, went further.

“It’s possible that members of the Gayang Faction have also been affected by the brainwashing ability.”

I stretched my stiff neck as I continued speaking.

“If they possess enough power to maintain an organization of that size, they wouldn’t hesitate to use it.”

Click. Click.

A faint discord slipped into the sounds produced by Kim Kiryeo’s borrowed vocal cords.

“If it were me, I would have influenced the distributor, at least to some extent.”

—Do you really think so?

“Imagine how convenient it would be if you could simply make another person feel favourably disposed toward you.”

This was not the kind of transaction involving a few coins, after all.

“Make certain you capture that distributor. There’s something I need to verify personally.”

My confidence must have been persuasive, because Seonwoo Yeon immediately agreed.

—Understood.

Still, she certainly had it difficult.

As a full-time employee of the Hunter Association, she was constantly being mobilized for government operations.

‘I feel sorry for her.’

Concerned that she might be overworked, I offered a few words of sympathy.

—Hahaha.

For some reason, the Earthling on the other end of the line gave a quiet laugh.

Why?

—I appreciate your concern, but I’m not actually doing very much. I’m only there as outside support.

I listened in silence.

From the outside, I appeared to be observing the proper attitude expected during a conversation.

Internally, however, a far less innocent calculation had already begun.

—The police officers are the ones entering the dangerous area. I only need to witness the search of the warehouse.

“A warehouse?”

—I wasn’t originally supposed to be involved at all, but they discovered a barrier around the Blueshell storage facility.

“...!”

—Once the barrier is dealt with, my work for the day will essentially be finished.

A warehouse.

Filled with Blueshell.

“Hmm.”

The substance dramatically increased an Awakened person’s abilities, but Earthlings avoided using it because the resulting damage to the body could be fatal.

That, however, was merely the Earthlings’ perspective.

If I possessed an exceptional ability to repair the body, might I not be able to withstand at least some of those side effects?

‘I wonder how it interacts with the human body.’

Even without consuming it, Blueshell was more than enough to capture a magician’s interest.

Perhaps that mysterious fruit contained some clue that could help resolve my current misfortune.

‘Interesting.’

I needed a sample.

Unfortunately, South Korea treated substances like Blueshell with extreme caution. There was little chance that even a small amount would simply be allowed to disappear.

“Hunter Seonwoo Yeon.”

I spoke vaguely into the phone’s microphone.

“...Wouldn’t you happen to need one more assistant for the warehouse search?”