[The news just received says that Examiner Baek Seojin encountered Elder Hyeon Sujin. Don't worry. Fortunately, it seems Irina followed the trail and immediately engaged in combat, and the Elder retreated. Examiner Baek Seojin sustained no injuries whatsoever.]
The moment I heard grandfather's words, a sigh of relief naturally flowed out. How shocked I was by the sudden news. My heart is still beating roughly.
'Thank goodness. Thank goodness.'
I was about to go immediately to where the examiner was said to be. But the next words from grandfather made my heart surge again.
[However, the place where he was staying was completely destroyed. In a hurry, that Irina girl took Examiner Baek Seojin with her. From what I heard about the situation there, it seems like she's trying to take him directly to a hotel...]
The next content didn't enter my ears at all.
What's important right now is only one thing. That woman Irina is next to the examiner.
"Where does that woman live?"
Grandfather, who was asking that, also seemed to notice something. I could see some anxious emotion passing through his expression of disbelief.
[...Are you worried about that, Suhyeon?]
"You said Irina took him."
[Well, no matter what, everyone has eyes to see the world, so she wouldn't do such a thing...]
As expected, grandfather's words were cut off there. He's not confident. Not confident that Irina will think normally and act normally.
[...That girl would do it and more.]
He immediately agreed and I asked again. Exactly where is Irina's house? Where should I go?
Then grandfather thought a bit more and answered.
[It's where Dogyeong and Jisu are. Your cousin brother and sister.]
"You mean the Special Residential District."
[Yes. The exact location is...]
Fortunately, grandfather was acquainted with Irina's parents. He said he was once invited to their house and even had tea. Thanks to that, I could immediately know exactly where Irina's house was.
"Thank you, grandfather. Really thank you. You're always my benefactor."
[You, you girl. Suddenly what. Anyway, I hope things work out well. This old man is always cheering for you. And I always love you. My granddaughter.]
Grandfather ended the call with those words. It seems he's roughly figured out what kind of feelings I have for the examiner. The words of support and helping me are probably for that reason.
'That's why I must rescue the examiner from that woman's clutches even more!'
Irina, that woman, is looking at the examiner with impure intentions. I can feel it. Very strongly. That's definitely not the same pure heart as mine. A child who found an amazing toy. Right. Irina is exactly in that state now.
I immediately called a vehicle, got on, and headed to the Special Residential District. I'm very sorry to the driver and security personnel who responded to the sudden movement. But, but it can't be helped. I just hope they understand just this once.
It didn't take long to get to the Special Residential District. Luckily it was located not far from home. Plus I hurried as soon as I heard the news.
Several ability users standing in front stop the vehicle.
I'm not registered as a resident of this Special Residential District. Therefore, in principle, entry should be impossible.
But Dogyeong oppa and Jisu. My cousin brother and sister live right here. So I've occasionally come here to meet those two people. And grandfather said he'd already taken measures.
Thanks to that, there was no problem entering .
"How did you come... Ah. Yes! Confirmed!"
Gliding smoothly inside, we stopped in front of an apartment. This is it. The place where Irina's house is, as grandfather told me.
"I'm really sorry to everyone for the late hour."
"Not at all, miss. We just did our job."
"Thank you. And don't wait for me, please leave work first."
At my words, the driver and security personnel show flustered expressions.
Security is one thing since there's no safer place than here. But telling even the driver to leave work means staying here for a day. That wasn't in the schedule, so it's understandable they'd react like that.
"Don't worry. Grandfather already knows."
When I said that, these people finally nodded and agreed.
"We'll be going, miss. Call us tomorrow and we'll come immediately."
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work today too."
I saw off the driver and security personnel and sent them away from here. Then I immediately walked busily to the place grandfather had told me about.
'They haven't arrived yet and aren't inside already, right?'
With worried feelings, I looked around outside before going in. Fortunately, the lights aren't on yet. But I can't be relieved. I took the elevator up and even put my ear to the front door.
'...I can't hear anything.'
Really fortunate. It's not too late yet. Yes, they haven't come yet.
What I had to do after that was simple. Wait until the examiner and Irina come. And after waiting about 10 more minutes? The elevator started going down to the first floor. At the same time, I felt it. Very faintly, but this is definitely the examiner's aura.
The brief wait felt like eternity. Could it be that Irina, that woman, already committed rudeness to the examiner? While biting my lip and waiting, the elevator door finally opened.
"...Ah, that startled me! What, who are you!?"
Irina screaming alone and covering her own mouth alone. But I didn't have the leisure to pay attention to that woman. I deliberately ignored Irina and checked behind her.
...Thank goodness. You're perfectly fine.
The examiner shows a very surprised expression. It seems he never expected to see me here.
Yes, thank goodness. That you weren't hurt. And really thank goodness. That I'm not too late.
The Special Residential District, and among that, the house of Irina, said to be South Korea's strongest. I had some curiosity about what that place would look like.
But now there was a bigger problem facing me than that curiosity.
Three men and women sitting around one table. One is Irina, one is Suhyeon, and the other is naturally me. These three were somehow having an uncomfortably awkward three-way confrontation.
'How on earth did the situation come to this point?'
Right. This is all because of Hyeon Sujin. Because of the Elder, the villain!
She said she came to inform me of birth secrets or ugly truths... Damn, but I'd like to decline such trials coming with it!
"Alright. Let's start by organizing things."
It's better for me to step forward first for both of them. So I turned my head toward Suhyeon and continued speaking.
"So, Suhyeon. You coming here was... because you were worried about me."
"Yes. I was worried about the examiner, so I couldn't just stay still."
I see. Yes, this examiner fully understands your words.
The encounter with an Elder again, the house collapsing, and coming to Irina's house. I understand. I more than understand. Anyone else would have done the same.
But what to do? Our Irina sitting next to me doesn't seem to have any intention of understanding.
"Wow. This is really absurd. Hey. Kim Suhyeon. What, am I going to eat Seojin oppa or something?"
Suhyeon gives an immediate answer as soon as Irina finishes speaking.
A quite sharp voice, and eyes clearly wary. From Irina's perspective, who's not particularly kind to others, this could be anger-inducing behavior.
So I tried to give Suhyeon a hint to be careful. But this time too, Suhyeon's reaction was faster than my action.
Well, Suhyeon. I know you hate Irina. But Irina wouldn't really try to eat me...
What? Why aren't you answering? You can answer, can't you? Irina, you weren't really trying to eat me, were you?
"You're not answering. Can't you?"
Suhyeon also picks up on that part and slightly pressures Irina. Finally coming to her senses, Irina slams the table with a bang! ...Did this not crack? I thought it would break immediately, but it's quite sturdy.
"Hey. You keep making me out to be a weird person. This is rude."
"Forcibly bringing someone who lost their home and calling it rude."
"Since he lost his home, our hou... Argh! Fine! My house! Happy?!"
Right, well done. Irina. This isn't our house but your house. From my position, it's thoroughly someone else's house. Some. One. Else's. House.
"Anyway! I was going to let him stay one night at my house. Tomorrow Seojin oppa is moving here anyway! As a future neighbor, I'm showing kindness once, but calling it rude? This is defamation!"
"If you were going to do that, there are hotels, and other safe houses too."
"Oh really? Listen here, miss? An Elder came and went. And it's a shadow that's unparalleled in stealth. The government curses that traitor woman came and went!"
Precisely speaking, rather than traitor, she's closer to a vengeful spirit. But there's no need to say that now, so I just sat quietly.
"In such a situation, where do you think would be safe immediately? Right here, my house."
"See? You can't refute it either. Because what I'm saying is right. Right?"
Honestly, looking at just that part, I don't have confidence to refute it either. A safe place when an Elder is showing interest in me? As Irina said, such a place was only Irina's house.
"...I acknowledge it. Yes, I'll acknowledge it."
"Right? Then apologize immediately..."
"So I'll also stay here briefly until tomorrow."
Both Irina and I reflexively asked "What?" at the same time.
"I said I'll stay here together until tomorrow. When the examiner leaves, I'll leave together then too."
"What sudden bullsh..."
"If you're kind enough to show such kindness to the examiner, you can show it to other people too, right? I even sent the driver back, so you can do that for me, can't you?"
If she really came here out of pure heart and pure kindness, wouldn't this be a situation she could accept sufficiently?
At Suhyeon's question, Irina couldn't say anything.
This is incredible. The Crimson Witch landed a proper hit on the crazy yellow woman.