“Get lost, will you!”
BAM!
The fiery yell echoed loudly at the front gate.
“Aunt Nan-ok, I rushed here due to the funeral notice, but isn’t this a bit much?”
Jeon Gil-san spoke to Jang Nan-ok, the daughter of Man Geum-jeon and the mother of the deceased Ma Yang-baek, with a hint of disappointment.
“I don’t want to see you! Not your grandfather! None of you!”
I expected her not to be welcoming, but her reaction was more intense than I anticipated. As a parent, she wouldn’t want to face anyone who might have influenced her child who took his own life.
“Dear Aunt.”
I cautiously called out to Jang Nan-ok.
“Who the heck calls me Aunt? I’ve never had a nephew with black hair!”
She looked ready to grab a broom and smack me.
There’s no helping it. I have to stick to the plan.
“I understand that you aren’t fond of me, but for the sake of my brother-in-law, Yang-baek, I would like to stop by for a moment.”
Do you think I came all this way just to see an aunt? I’m here because of Yang-baek!
“WHAT? How dare a barbarian mention my son…!”
Jang Nan-ok looked at me, utterly displeased that I would dare mention her son, but I didn’t care.
I had just asked Jeon Gil-san for help.
“That’s right. Yang-baek asked me to set up a drink with his brother-in-law.”
Jeon Gil-san jumped in as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“What do you mean?”
“Aunt Nan-ok, why don’t you remember? Before the first exam results were announced, Yang-baek gathered all the dropouts to drink together.”
At that moment, I secretly summoned him to arrange an introduction for the new brother-in-law.
“That… um, I think I’ve heard something like that.”
Jang Nan-ok nodded her head hesitantly when she recalled something that she already knew.
‘Lies!’
My name wasn’t mentioned at that gathering.
It was just a boast because he didn’t expect to fail. As the elder brother and victor, he probably wanted to show a little generosity to the losers. But that doesn’t matter.
I remembered that fact, and Ma Yang-baek had become the deceased.
The real world mixes truth with lies. I speak, and Jeon Gil-san guarantees it. Even if the two concoct the truth with lies brazenly, there’s no one left to verify the truth.
And thus, the mixed truth becomes the reality.
“I considered Yang-baek as an elder brother and had been looking forward to the day when we could drink together, but I never thought I would meet you like this…”
I just had to look heartbroken over losing my esteemed brother.
“Ugh…”
“May I meet my brother-in-law, please?”
I never intended to seek permission from a woman who despised me as a barbarian.
Your late son said he wanted to see you. Surely, the mother of the deceased wouldn’t break the promise to her departed child?
All I had to do was speak sweetly.
If I do that…
“…Come in.”
CLICK!
The door opened.
“Before preparing the funeral, you want to see Yang-baek?”
I sipped tea while offering formal words of comfort, eventually transitioning to the main topic.
“I have personal doubts and would like to see the body.”
“The embalming isn’t even finished! This kid died painfully in the water overnight! You want to see that?!”
Jang Nan-ok glared at me as if she couldn’t believe I’d say something so rude.
“Aunt.”
“Yang-baek must have seen you wrong! How dare a barbarian mock my son!”
In this world, it’s a principle that the family tends to the dead.
Having a servant handle the embalming is frowned upon, so a despised barbarian trying to involve himself? It was natural to be furious.
“Aunt, even though I couldn’t share drinks with my brother-in-law, the kindness he showed me can’t just disappear. I must naturally repay that kindness.”
I bowed politely.
“What do you intend to do?”
Gil-san, hurry up and speak. As I subtly signaled, Jeon Gil-san dramatically opened his mouth.
“Aunt Nan-ok! You don’t know the famous Ho Pil, Kang Yoon-ho? Isn’t he the most renowned Ho Pil in Wuhan?”
“Famous Ho Pil…? Now that you mention it, I think I’ve heard of that.”
Jang Nan-ok muttered as if she recalled something only then.
“Seeing off the deceased with care is the job of the family, but I believe it’s also my responsibility to look into any injustices the deceased might have,”
I said to Jang Nan-ok with earnest eyes.
“Y-you’re not even a coroner, and you want to investigate?”
Jang Nan-ok stuttered, seeming to finally understand my point.
A coroner (仵作人).
It refers to a forensic examiner. In modern times, they’re intelligence professionals specializing in forensic science, but in this era, they’re looked down upon for just handling corpses.
It was no wonder Jang Nan-ok was shocked.
‘As if the famous Ho Pil would stoop to the lowly task of dealing with corpses.’
I’m a Ho Pil who catches criminals. Even if I lack rank, I wield the authority of a police officer. Imagine a person called a “famous Ho Pil” doing such dirty work.
“For my brother-in-law, there must be nothing unjust about his passing.”
I said with a smile, as if it were my duty.
“…Can you uncover something?”
Jang Nan-ok asked, momentarily stunned, her eyes trembling.
“I can’t claim that there’s something where there isn’t.”
I shook my head.
“Then why…?!”
Looking as she was about to get angry, I pointed, oozing certainty.
“However, if I can’t find it, no one in Wuhan will.”
“…!”
“That’s right, Aunt Nan-ok! Everyone is lining up just for a glimpse of his face. They’re lining up! Yet, I’m here for your brother-in-law, putting everything else aside.”
“Really?”
Jang Nan-ok looked surprised at Jeon Gil-san’s words and turned back to me.
“Please grant me this permission.”
I didn’t need to answer.
“…Fine, take a good look.”
As I approached with a sincere expression for the deceased, the family would move.
“The body is in the room.”
“Seeing my cousin’s body feels a bit odd, so I think I’ll wait outside.”
“Then you can stay with your aunt.”
Jeon Gil-san stayed awkwardly, but he seemed happy.
‘The investigation is merely a formality.’
I confidently said I would examine the body, but I’m neither a forensic expert nor a veteran detective.
‘What I want is only my aunt’s favor.’
It’s already confirmed as a suicide. Everyone has given up, but a famous Ho Pil examined the body with utmost care.
Our brother-in-law put in great effort for his deceased son. It was important to show them my efforts over results.
“Ho Pil! What an honor it is to meet you.”
Upon arriving in the room where the body lay, the guarding servant bowed politely. I heard he was one of the servants who attended to the deceased Ma Yang-baek.
“Where’s Yang-baek?”
“He’s covered with cloth. Please take a look.”
I walked slowly towards the body covered with cloth.
Having been here for over two years in this world, I felt far less repulsed by dead bodies. Rather, there’s one thing I need to do.
GASP!
As soon as I lifted the cloth off the body, I nearly let all the tears flow from my eyes.
“Why are you like this?”
Think sad thoughts.
Remember that time I put all my mobile game currency in the mailbox, planning to use it all at once, but ended up sleeping from exhaustion when I needed it the most and lost everything?
“I’ve always secretly admired the bravery of brother-in-law Yang-baek. I had awaited the day we’d become family and share drinks, yet now we meet like this… I just can’t hold back my emotions!”
My currency. How much is that worth in cash? The adult card’s alreadyLife Zero.
Suddenly, fervor boiled in my chest. This would fool anyone.
“You’re surprisingly a bit of a spoiled brat, aren’t ya?”
The servant shot back with a dissatisfied look.
“….”
“Oh! I’m sorry! I’ve been through a lot, and I couldn’t hold it in for a moment. P-please!”
As I looked at him in surprise, the servant seemed to realize his mistake, kneeling to beg for forgiveness.
“I’ll keep it a secret.”
Indeed, just like the rumors suggested, he was a troublemaker after all.
“Of course, it’s the duty of a famous Ho Pil!”
“Well, I’d prefer you keep your mouth a bit tighter in front of your aunt.”
“Isn’t it obvious I’ll convey the hard work of Ho Pil Kang Yoon-ho to the Madam with utmost sincerity?”
The servant nodded repeatedly, as if he understood what I meant. It was a satisfactory deal. I examined the body.
“Did you wash the body?”
It looked far cleaner than expected. I guess being in water does that.
“The Madam wiped away the dirty parts with her tears.”
“Troublesome.”
This was unexpected.
“What seems to be the trouble?”
“For an investigation, we typically need the body intact. With this, most of the evidence is washed away.”
Crime scene science. Forensics. In a time where the public lacks knowledge of investigative techniques, it’s a world where showing respect to the deceased comes first.
If something dirty was on the deceased’s body, as a mother, she likely would have done her best to clean it off.
“Is that how it is? I didn’t realize when I received the body that this would be the case.”
In an age where coroners are likely to clean up before handing over the body, there’s no point in arguing further. Ignorance can’t be blamed if it’s not common sense.
“Ah, what a problem…! But I’m not blaming anyone.”
Of course, I was.
“I was looking forward to an earnest investigation, but since the body is clean, I can’t find any evidence. But you understand I’m putting in the effort, right?”
I carefully pointed that out.
“What should we do… Ah! Would you like to see the report written by the coroner?”
“The report written by the coroner?”
“It’s the paper written by the coroner after discovering the corpse and confirming it as a suicide. Take a look.”
A death certificate, perhaps? I read the document handed over by the servant.
“Ma Yang-baek. Cause of death: drowning. Time of death: last night. No signs of external wounds. Water in the stomach. Signs of froth from the mouth and nose. Traces of dirt on the hands. Suicide is confirmed.”
“Although there were doubts about the absent young master being found as a corpse, the evidence is overwhelming and the motive overflowing…”
“Indeed, there are no signs of resistance or external wounds.”
The certificate indicated water in the stomach, and at first glance, there were no signs of bruising.
“It’s probably best to finish the funeral for the Madam’s sake.”
“I’ll inspect as thoroughly as possible.”
I pushed the servant back and began examining the body with utmost care.
Of course, no matter how diligently I examined the body, nothing would change. But the time spent doing so would serve as proof of my sincerity towards Ma Yang-baek.
‘It seems like a suicide.’
Did he really jump after disappointing himself for a month?
‘Do I really have to pull off a successful failed operation?’
This would use one of the tricks of the working class. We worked hard, but the world is unfair, so we ultimately failed.
I would try to find evidence of a slip and fall. If he truly jumped, he must have had a drink or two. Then I’d tell Jang Nan-ok.
It seems it was a slip due to despair, not a voluntary jump. But with most evidence already wiped away by others, it would be hard to confirm this.
The success would fall on me, while blame lies outside.
Given the effort was admirable, perhaps I could win their favor.
Moreover, I doubt Yang-baek would want to hate his remaining family over the fact he’s gone. I’d have to make a sorrowful yet heartfelt appeal.
That was my current best approach.
‘Just because I enjoy mystery stories doesn’t make me a great detective.’
I’m a writer of web novels who enjoys mystery stories; I’m not a detective.
Just liking mystery stories since childhood doesn’t mean I’ll suddenly become a genius detective.
While I can’t disregard my contribution to my title as the famous Ho Pil, my achievements have largely stemmed from coincidences and other people’s help.
Even if I’m called the famous Ho Pil, all I can do is mimic others.
Thinking of the murderer might come to mind, or perhaps there’s some trick involved—
I just need to approach this like a detective in a mystery story.
“Oh?!”
A mystery story?
Wait a moment. Could it be? I hastily examined the corpse again.
“What’s the matter?”
“Right now, call Miss Zhuge to my mansion.”
I said while touching the corpse.
If my suspicions are correct…
“Miss Zhuge? What’s this about?”
“Hurry and call her!”
“Yes! Understood!”
Just as I expected.
‘This is a murder case!’
