Chapter 226

EP.226 Kyoto Three Caves #2

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Adel was currently in a very excited state.

Because the trip with Sehwa was so much fun.

She wanted to go again. Next time with Jihyuk, and her sisters.

Currently, she had just hugged Sehwa tightly at the airport and parted ways.

She had deliberately told Jihyuk a different arrival time.

Because she wanted to surprise him.

What kind of reaction would he show if she suddenly appeared in front of him while he was working hard in the laboratory?

At the very least, he would hug her so hard she might break, or give her a big, happy kiss all over her face.

Adel, carrying a large bag, cheerfully walked towards the taxi stand.

Suddenly, she tilted her head.

“Huh…?”

She felt a familiar and ominous energy.

It was Magi. There was Magi at Gimpo Airport.

After looking around, she moved to a less crowded area.

Then, she focused her mind.

This was a place with a lot of foot traffic.

There were also many cameras, so she couldn’t fully unleash her power.

Just faintly enough. Just enough to continuously sense the Magi.

Whoosh-!

A nearly invisible transparent light emanated from Adel’s body and disappeared in an instant. Adel, rolling her eyes, looked around.

‘Did anyone see…?’

No! People were busily going about their way as if nothing had happened!

As expected, she was a very cool-headed Beast Slayer!

Adel, praising herself, started following the faint traces of black Magi she saw in front of her.

The traces led inside the airport.

This Magi was definitely not emitted by a demon.

She was sure of it. She had felt this before… when she first arrived on Earth with Silvia.

It was definitely the unpleasant energy emanating from a human corrupted by Magi.

Moreover, if a demon had appeared, the airport wouldn’t be this peaceful.

Adel, retracing her steps, swallowed hard when she saw the Magi leading to the women’s restroom in a corner.

She fiddled with her watch-like Device.

Purification was the top priority, but if the situation became truly unavoidable, she would transform.

She didn’t want her identity to be exposed, but Jihyuk would handle it, so it was okay.

“Hu…! Hu!”

Placing her hand on her chest and taking deep breaths, she entered, ready to transform at any moment.

“Yes, CEO. I understand.”

A beautiful voice softly came from the farthest stall.

The Magi also led there… and there was no one else in the restroom.

But was she on the phone right now?

If so, she might be able to get a clue related to Tairat.

Thinking so, Adel went to the front of the stall and pricked up her ears.

“Manager? It’s okay. No one recognizes me anyway.”

It was a voice so soft it felt like a whisper, but the restroom was quiet enough to barely hear.

No need for a manager, and no one recognizes her?

She seemed like a celebrity. Not very famous.

“Yes… now? I’m at the airport, and I just printed my boarding pass at the kiosk. Yes… I understand. Thank you.”

From the conversation, she seemed like a completely normal person, not corrupted by Magi.

That made Adel even more creeped out.

The human corrupted at the Grand Canyon last time was staggering like a zombie.

But look at her now, having a conversation. She was completely normal.

It was scary to think there might be more people like this.

At the same time, she felt relieved. If she didn’t have Divine Power, she would have passed by without noticing.

Adel, sending a prayer of thanks to Rosario, quickly entered the next stall and quietly used her power when the call seemed to end.

Whoosh-!

The condensed golden light went under the stall and affected the corrupted person.

The filthy Magi was being erased. The corrupted mind was being purified, and it felt like it was returning to its original state.

“Ah…!”

A short exclamation followed.

A voice that sounded like it had been freed from something.

As the unpleasant Magi filling her was erased, she clearly felt refreshed.

Adel, having completed the purification, smiled brightly.

‘Will Jihyuk praise me?’

Imagining Jihyuk’s reaction to her heroic tale, Adel giggled and pretended to wash her hands as she came out of the stall.

It was to naturally interrogate her.

If she asked outright, she might get reported, but fortunately, she knew some information about this person.

She could use that to extract more information.

Shortly after, the stall opened, and a very pretty woman with a bright expression came towards the sink.

Seizing the opportunity, Adel began her act.

Looking at the woman’s face through the mirror, Adel asked.

“Huh…? Are you… that person?”

“Yes…? That person…?”

The woman’s surprised response. Adel pretended to think deeply and then said.

“A celebrity! I think I saw you in a drama… or was it a movie?”

At that, the woman’s mouth twisted awkwardly.

She seemed both happy and embarrassed that someone recognized her.

The woman, washing her hands, asked as she pulled out a hand towel.

“Which drama did you watch?”

Feeling a bit guilty, Adel tried to maintain a calm expression.

She just needed the name. Then she could look it up on a portal site.

“That… I can’t remember well. I think it was a romance drama…”

“Romance? The one distributed by TVI?”

“Yes! That’s the one!”

“I had a minor role. You have a good memory!”

“I remember faces well.”

Adel laughed and scratched the back of her head.

What should she do next? While pondering, the woman extended her hand.

“My name is Jihye. Lee Jihye.”

Adel, shaking the offered hand, smiled brightly.

“Please give me an autograph! And take a photo with me!”

It was a jackpot! The detective play was a great success!

Now, she just needed to tell Jihyuk to investigate this person!

**

“Jihyuk! Jihyuk!”

Am I dreaming right now?

Why do I hear Adel’s voice? I thought she was coming back much later.

Waking up from a nap in the doctor’s lounge inside the laboratory, I saw the face of Adel, whom I had been longing to see.

“Adel…? How are you here…? Did I oversleep…?”

“No! I came early as a surprise for you! I wanted to surprise you! But that’s not the issue, listen to me!”

Adel whined and pulled on my arms.

Rubbing my eyes and sitting on the bed, I looked at Adel’s sparkling eyes with a puzzled expression.

“What’s going on all of a sudden? Why are you like this?”

“I solved a case!”

“A case?”

“Here, look at this first!”

Adel rummaged through her phone and showed me a photo from her gallery.

A photo of Adel and another woman.

Seeing it, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

‘This is…’

The woman smiling next to Adel was Lee Jihye.

The actress from WW Entertainment, whose evil-tainted blood I had fed to make her a safe house.

Why was this woman with Adel?

A sense of unease sprouted. Could it be… could she have been purified?

Stay calm, stay calm. First, I need to hear the whole story.

“She’s pretty. Is she a celebrity?”

“Yes! Her name is Lee Jihye, an actress from WW Entertainment! She’s not very famous.”

“But why are you so excited…”

“I’ll tell you everything now, so pay attention! After getting off at the airport today…”

Adel, smiling brightly, began to explain the whole situation.

And as her story continued, my face stiffened.

The situation was simple.

Adel had coincidentally found Jihye and purified her.

Jihye was probably heading to Jeju Island for a shoot when Adel caught her.

‘It’s not a very serious case…’

Adel doesn’t know that I have a contract with WW Entertainment.

Of course. Adel probably didn’t have a proper conversation with the purified Jihye.

She just took a photo, got an autograph, and exchanged a few words.

It wasn’t something to be taken seriously. Just cut the tail and be done with it.

But the fact that this happened was annoying.

I looked down at Adel, wagging her tail like a puppy seeking praise.

Adel… my Adel…

Who told you to do such things? Huh?

Please, can you stop using that damn Divine Power?

If this keeps up, I’ll have to tell Boyoung to be careful too.

Stroking her bright blonde hair, I said.

“You did well. I’m proud of you. But it was a dangerous move. Next time something like this happens, contact me first and explain the situation.”

Speaking in a somewhat stern tone, Adel slightly bowed her head with a sullen face.

“I thought I could help… and it wasn’t that dangerous…”

Her quickly turning into a low-pressure system and fidgeting with her fingers was cute.

“It was a big help. Now we need to investigate WW Entertainment.”

“Right…? I did well, didn’t I?”

“Yes. You did well. But promise me. From now on, consult with me before taking action.”

“I promise… I won’t try to do anything alone again.”

Her slightly pouting tone made me laugh.

Holding her tightly, I enjoyed the joy of reunion for a long time and then asked.

“Did you bring a gift?”

“Yes… but I won’t give it to you now.”

“Why?”

“Later… I’ll give it to you tomorrow night…”

At night? Did she buy some high-end oil?

“Okay.”

“I’ve been tense all this time and I’m tired, can I sleep here for a bit?”

“Of course. While Adel sleeps, I need to investigate this Lee Jihye.”

“Wake me up when the investigation is over.”

“Okay.”

Adel, taking off her indoor slippers, climbed onto the bed.

I covered her with a blanket and smiled warmly, then went out and sat in front of the situation board.

Then, I pressed my temples.

One of my safe houses, known only to me, not even Sehwa or Marcella, has disappeared.

Although it wasn’t a huge loss, it definitely raised my alertness.

Even though I almost have Earth in my grasp, I can’t let my guard down.

Sneaking out of the laboratory, I called Boyoung.

-Yes, CEO.

“Tell Marcella to help you clean up your mess and move agencies, finish it by the day after tomorrow. And focus on raising Stella. Don’t think about going anywhere.”

-Understood.

Hanging up, I was about to go back inside when,

Whoosh-!

A text came from an unknown number.

[It’s Yuria. Please call this number if you’re available. I have about 2 hours.]

Yuria… She must have gotten another burner phone to avoid the doctor’s eyes.

I immediately called her.

-Hello.

“Have you been well?”

-Yes, Jihyuk. Let me get straight to the point. The doctor is currently running around investigating everything. She went to Syria and is now in the US.

“She went to Syria herself?”

-Yes. And she asked a lot of questions about you and Sehwa. Like if your personalities suddenly changed, if you had contact with demons… things like that. I played along, but she said something strange.

“What did she say?”

-That Tairat might have secretly infiltrated Earth and is influencing many people… that Sehwa, you, and even the doctor herself might have fallen for his schemes…

She didn’t equate Tairat with me, but she’s figured out quite a bit.

“I see. What is the doctor doing in the US now?”

-She’s investigating what happened from the beginning of the cluster bomb incident until you were imprisoned. All the guards who worked at that time are dead, making it difficult, but… she found out one is still alive. She plans to meet him tomorrow.

One? There was a guard named Sinclair who kept me company back then, and I showed him mercy in return.

I told him not to show up at the money exchange, to keep his mouth shut and live quietly.

“Is his name Sinclair?”

-Yes.

Huh, really… investigating this far?

If Sinclair blabs, the doctor will find out I had a good time in prison.

I pretended to be broken to fuel her hatred for humans, but that would be exposed.

Ultimately, she would become even more suspicious of me.

Even if Sinclair deeply remembers my warning and stays silent, she’ll sense something odd.

He’s probably living comfortably with the money Marcella gave him, but while she can’t trace the source, she can easily figure out his previous financial state with her capabilities.

Moreover, if my name comes up, Sinclair, being just a guard and not an actor, won’t be able to control his expression… and the doctor, with her keen insight, will definitely pick up on something.

-What should we do?

“Does the doctor trust you?”

-She definitely does.

“If you think she’s digging too deep, if she seems suspicious, just bring her in. I’ll leave it to your judgment.”

-Got it. What about Sinclair?

“If he’s a good actor and the doctor finds nothing, leave him be. Use him as a pawn. But if the doctor suspects something from the conversation? Then…”

-Yes, I’ll kill him.

“Good, keep up the good work.”

Hanging up, I gripped my phone tightly.

The safe house disappearing, the doctor’s actions…

I thought my luck was good lately, but maybe not.

Really messed up things are happening one after another. How can I not use force in this situation?

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