Chapter 168

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on March 2, 2025

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Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office.

Number of Prosecutors: 234.

It is the largest district prosecutor’s office in the country, and all politically or economically significant cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office.

The prosecution is often described as a quiet battlefield.

While incidents shaking the Republic of Korea come and go, the inside remains eerily silent.

In reality, there is little exchange of shouting among them, but a closer look reveals that a high-purity flow of mana circulates along the walls of the entire building, providing near-perfect soundproofing.

“What’s all this commotion? Is there some sort of event today?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t received any such notice.”

The other prosecutors, following the question from the deputy chief prosecutor, only tilt their heads in confusion.

A dozen security personnel were waiting in front of the elevator.

The deputy chief prosecutor, not understanding the reason, presses the button for the 13th floor, but their destination was the same.

“Hey, young folks, you folks have no business on the 13th floor.”

Usually, unless you’re from the general affairs department, you wouldn’t have any reason to visit the 13th floor, which houses the prosecutor’s office and deputy chief prosecutor’s office.

“Ah…! The chief prosecutor called for you.”

“Really? Why?”

After receiving so much concentrated fire from the media, he thought this person had finally lost it.

[13th floor.]

With the voice announcing the elevator floor, the door opens to reveal dozens of security personnel standing in formation on either side.

It was a scene that felt so tense that one might wonder if someone had died.

‘Is this a prosecutor’s office or a gang hideout?’

Out of curiosity, he peeked in front of the chief prosecutor’s office and widened his eyes as he turned back.

“Oh…! Someone is definitely going to die today…! Why did that person come here?”

* * *

“Ugh…”

Prosecutor Cheon Jeong-ho struggled as he sorted through a mountain of piled paperwork.

This was top-level confidentiality. He hesitated whether it was appropriate to allow outsiders any access, but what could he do?

He simply did not like people like Professor Cheon, who had extraterritorial rights.

“You look dissatisfied.”

“No, no! I’m just happy to see your face after such a long time… really!”

“Is this all the material?”

“Uh… Uh… yes. This is all I can access. Is it enough?”

“Thanks for the hard work. Come, take a seat.”

‘When I was being worked like a dog!’

Prosecutor Cheon glared with wide eyes at his brother, but it was now a time to endure.

“What do you want to drink, Bakan Cass or Sikhye?”

“I’d appreciate it if you could first close the door outside.”

His voice carried an aura, making it clear that it was more of a threat than a request, causing the man’s body to move.

Click—

The younger brother, now seated across from Professor Cheon Kyujin, cast anxious glances.

Having reunited after a long time, even his older brother could not escape the passage of time, as there were now more white hairs than black.

From a distance, it could be seen as gray. Moreover, he still maintained a formal suit.

“What is it then! It’s better to get hit early! Why is that guy suddenly bringing up the incident from seven years ago after not hearing from him for 20 years? Has he lost his mind?”

Cheon Jeong-ho was struggling with feelings of being pushed to the edge.

Putting down the folder he had been reading, Cheon Kyujin clasped his hands.

“You know about the survivors of the Valpurgis incident, right?”

At the low voice, Prosecutor Cheon was taken aback.

“How do you know that…?”

“Haah… Jeong-ho.”

“Why do you have to make it so difficult? I can explain everything! Do you know how many eyes are watching outside?”

Prosecutor Cheon gritted his teeth and stopped his older brother from standing. This was why security personnel had been stationed outside.

Even if they couldn’t protect him, he calculated that they could at least act as human CCTV.

“Cheon Semin is currently looking after our daughter at home. I need to get back home quickly, so let’s wrap this up as early as possible. Please.”

“Semin? Why isn’t this child studying? Wait, what? Daughter?”

‘Surely, I must have misheard that?’

It was a sentence combining two, no, three words that shouldn’t be used together like mint chocolate pizza.

Cheon Jeong-ho questioned in disbelief.

“No Name. That’s the name of the brave friend who became our daughter a few months ago.”

“…”

A unique name that one would never forget once heard.

It was certain.

“What were you doing last year?”

Professor Cheon pulled out a portable magic item writer from his sleeve and held it in his hand.

It had grown long enough to resemble a staff. He thumped it on the floor, and mana resonated out, spreading throughout the chief prosecutor’s office.

In an instant, a massive magic circle spread like a carpet.

[Cast: Local Crystallization]

[Unique Magic: Ice Flower]

An unbearable chill began to rise.

Every breath chewed out by Prosecutor Cheon turned to ice and fell lifeless to the ground.

Turning his head to check the magic circle, Prosecutor Cheon’s face turned pale.

Before he knew it, thousands of ice spikes floated in the air, aiming at his neck.

“Haha…”

Prosecutor Cheon wore a forced smile, looking at his brother with horror in his eyes.

Regardless, Cheon Kyujin pointed his staff at him and pressed on.

“You better answer me properly.”

The sorcerer’s eyes trained on the prosecutor were still glowing eerily blue.

* * *

The story takes us back to June of last year.

“Are you the guardian?”

“I’m not the guardian, but I’m similar enough. Where is the child?”

“I’ll guide you.”

On the day No Name was rescued, Prosecutor Cheon rushed to Asan Hospital to confirm her identity.

Seeing the girl in the hospital room, he had to ask the doctor again because she looked nothing like what he had expected.

On the surface, she seemed only five years old. She appeared too young to be a survivor of the Valpurgis incident.

“How old is this child?”

“Uh… Are you the guardian?”

“I’m Prosecutor Cheon Jeong-ho from Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office. I hope you can cooperate with matters related to the incident.”

“Ah… yes…”

Exactly 7 years old, height 103 cm, and 15.8 kg.

Her limbs were nothing but bones, and her stomach was slightly swollen.

Prosecutor Cheon, who had been donating to UNICEF occasionally, was well aware that she was displaying severe symptoms of malnutrition.

According to Detective Ma Beom-il, mana continuously seeped out from the capsule for unknown reasons, allowing her to survive until now.

While it was good news that she was alive, he was troubled by her condition.

“Is the child in very bad shape?”

“We can only tell once she regains consciousness and undergoes a thorough examination.”

“What does the doctor think at this moment?”

“Uhm… Based on AI diagnosis, it suggests Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and I’m not entirely sure, but it seems to be a type of muscular dystrophy. In my opinion, it looks like either EDMD or CMD, and also a complex case of Restless Legs Syndrome… It’s very serious. Surviving for over a month would be nothing short of a miracle, and even if a miracle occurs, it likely wouldn’t exceed a year.”

“Exactly what is wrong with her?”

“Well, maintaining body control seems difficult, and the main issue might be the Aura Heart. If subjected to such an environment for an extended period, it would be hard for the Aura Heart to adapt, making survival in such conditions challenging. To put it simply, think of it as being used to living in clean river water, then suddenly being thrown into a green algae-infested lake.”

“Will it die due to lack of breathable oxygen?”

“That would depend on how well the patient adapts.”

If only she had been rescued a little earlier, things might not have come to this.

Prosecutor Cheon could not hide his complex feelings.

He wandered the lobby of Asan Hospital, continuing to think.

Prosecutor Cheon Jeong-ho. He had moved up to the position of deputy chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office due to his efforts in unraveling the crimes of Valpurgis agents at the Jeju District Prosecutor’s Office.

Afterward, he presided over various district prosecutor positions in places like Cheongju and Suwon, ultimately earning a position at Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office.

Thanks to his contributions in extending a wobbly administration for another five years, he was now in a position to aim for the next attorney general.

‘If I can reveal that this child is a survivor of Valpurgis right now, that alone could be a significant achievement.’

The failure to rescue the hostages was always a stain on the government.

In other words, this was an opportunity to wipe away the ruling party’s sole blot.

‘Is this truly the right thing to do…?’

The only survivor of the incident.

In other words, both the ruling and opposition parties, all politicians would scramble like vultures over her.

The ruling party would present the child as a justification for the military operation they had conducted,

While the opposition party would push for a review of the case citing the horrors the child had experienced.

Especially in the current political climate, where support was split, it was clear they would rush in with burning eyes.

Neither side had the child’s best interests at heart.

“Haah… How tragic, truly tragic.”

Being led through life by a child sentenced to a short life is a grievously harsh ending.

After a sleepless day spent in deep contemplation, Prosecutor Cheon decided to bury the case and hide the child.

In today’s world, it wouldn’t be a significant problem for a child to live without Korean citizenship.

“Hello. Is this your first visit to Merlin Orphanage?”

“Yes. I’m not here to see the kids… I want to make a donation.”

“May the Lord’s grace be with you! Would you follow me? Is this a child sponsorship donation?”

“No, due to my circumstances, I can’t do that. I want to donate to repair the facilities and these old things.”

“Ah, I see! Do you have a specific amount in mind?”

“Um…”

As he reached into his wallet to pull out several one-hundred-thousand-won checks, the man stopped his hand again.

His desire to distance himself from anything directly linked to No Name ultimately stemmed from instincts of self-preservation and selfishness.

Feeling uneasy, Prosecutor Cheon put his wallet back in his back pocket and stated.

“200 million won. That amount should help a bit in running this place for a year, right?”

* * *

Prosecutor Cheon Jeong-ho gasped in admiration.

“Wow… it’s so small and yet…!”

Professor Cheon showed a photo taken on the day of No Name’s entrance ceremony at the academy.

He stared, astonished by how different she looked from that time.

Putting his phone back in his pocket, Professor Cheon conveyed No Name’s opinion.

However, Prosecutor Cheon crossed his legs and showed a displeased expression.

“So, this has been planned for a while? When was it ever revealed that the radicals from the progressive side had distributed that leaflet? Do you want to be caught for sedition as well?”

In reality, spies sent to sow discord between the UN forces and South Korea under North Korean orders had existed until recently.

“I believe in No Name. She isn’t the kind of child who would say such things thoughtlessly.”

“This guy, now that he’s older, has become somewhat cynical. Haven’t you seen those idiots demanding a reinvestigation of the incident at the memorial service every year? Where are the bereaved families? Sure, if looked closely, one might find a couple, but ultimately they’re all just politicians trying to secure a seat!”

This was a closed case, and resources couldn’t be wasted on further investigations.

Now, blaming the UN forces was no different from rebelling against a chaotic international situation.

“What No Name wants.”

“Oh, you’re so wrapped around your daughter’s finger. It probably won’t happen, but if that’s true, you know I can’t get that chief prosecutor’s position, right? It’s something I can’t help you with. It’s not a pleasant reality for me at all.”

However, that didn’t mean Prosecutor Cheon was a man without ambition.

Once demoted to the Jeju District Prosecutor’s Office, he clawed his way back up until emerging as a celebrated figure within the prosecution.

If No Name’s words were true, he had no idea to what extent the higher-ups who had led him to this position would be cut off.

It was clear that he himself would probably be demoted to a research advisor at the law enforcement training institute.

“Keep the case files within here. Absolutely no external transfers. Not even for older brother Byeong-ho.”

That was the last favor Prosecutor Cheon Jeong-ho could give to his brother.

Ding—

Professor Cheon Kyujin’s phone rang quietly.

It was a message from No Name.

[Professor Cheon, can I take a week off from the academy? I suddenly have a lot of work to do.]

“Who is it? Your daughter?”

“Yep. She’s complaining about not wanting to go to the academy. What should I do in this situation?”