The World’s Best Childhood Friend Episode 877 (877/880)
The investigation is almost finished.
To be honest, there wasn’t really any investigation.
The horse was looking around the investigation area here and there, but there wasn’t anything to be found.
What more would you know when everything has already been cleared away?
All I can do is endure the smell of blood and clean up the corpse.
I searched hard to see if I could find something in it, but I found absolutely nothing.
‘You did a really clean job.’
I know you must be quite angry, but you handled it so perfectly.
This was another part where I realized what kind of being the Dark King was.
“Up to here.”
At my words, the Seongryongdae and Maeng’s unmanned forces stopped moving.
“I don’t think there’s any point in trying any more.”
“…”
Everyone seemed to agree.
There’s nothing we can do since we can’t find anything even after searching thoroughly.
“Nothing came out?”
“There are traces of something being erased, but nothing else is visible.”
“It can be this detailed….”
I searched the Gyecheonmun library and specific locations, but even after raiding branches and searching the main text, I couldn’t find anything that I could really understand.
That’s all I could figure out.
“Really… I never thought I’d be holding hands with Branch Manager Sapa.”
Through the ledger, it was possible to determine that the man with the last name Mokri was holding hands with Gyecheonmun.
It took a while to find it because it was hidden deep, but I finally found it.
“Would it be right to assume that the Demonic Cult left it there on purpose?”
“Since it was already information that was discovered anyway, I guess they didn’t think it was necessary to take it.”
“Then why isn’t there any talk about the Ilcheong sword?”
Not only did Ilcheonggeom join hands with Sapha and Gyecheonmun, but he was also connected to the Demonic Cult.
I was able to hear this shocking fact directly from Ilcheonggeom’s mouth.
“That’s… Maybe it was erased because there was information that had to be removed from the Demonic Cult.”
“That makes sense.”
“Whatever it is, since Ilcheonggeom said it with his own mouth, there’s no need to dig into that part any further.”
What’s more, Cheonma came and killed Ilcheonggeom himself.
Even if the information was lost, it was confirmed by Ilcheonggeom’s confession.
“Really… I never thought that the leader of the Murim Alliance would do something like that behind the scenes.”
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“There’s no one I can trust in this chaotic situation….”
Words that sounded like they were sticky. I said that after hearing them.
“Stop chitchat and get things done.”
“All right…!”
The drones moved urgently at my words. I thought of it as I watched them.
‘There is no one to trust… .’
That’s so true. There was no one in this world that could be trusted.
Even myself.
******************
I returned to the branch. The day had already passed and it was evening again.
“Send the report, even if it’s brief. The people from the party have come to support you, so let the kids rest.”
“insect.”
“I’ll cut the number of night guards in half and notify the party separately, so please adjust the time.”
“I will accept it.”
Even though it was only two days, it was a forced march.
Physical fatigue won’t be a problem since everyone is at the advanced level, but mental fatigue is the problem.
Everyone looked obviously tired.
If I try to do something with it, I feel like it’ll break down in no time.
So I had to force myself to take a break.
If you’re going to keep using it, it would be right to take care of things like this. That way, you can keep using it without breaking it.
“If the report is sent to the main office, will support come?”
“Yes, we are planning to postpone it for three months.”
“Then we won’t be here when you get there anyway.”
Three months would have been more than enough time to return.
‘I’ll figure that out.’
The belated investigation was just for show. I didn’t really have high hopes for the blind man’s handling of the matter.
“I’ve roughly confirmed it, so that’s fine. Everyone, get some rest. Tell Branch Manager Sung that I’ll be there in an hour.”
“All right.”
I spoke and moved. I headed to my destination.
‘I’ll take care of the matter regarding the Poison King by the day after tomorrow… I should also tell the higher-ups about the Dokcheondan.’
The iron line may have been passed down foolishly, but it had to be taken care of.
‘The open side too… Before the higher-ups find out, take care of those who took bribes.’
There were beggars who spread rumors without their superiors knowing.
Anyway, as soon as the rumor spread, the big bosses would have moved. It would have been right to clear everything out before that.
‘The Dark King seems busy. I have my own schedule too. But I don’t trust him to use Dangdeok.’
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That idiot is capable of anything if you leave him alone.
Honey, I have to ask someone else to do it… .
‘ah.’
There was one guy who just came to mind.
He was the guy who was supposed to be working on the west coast right now. I figured I could just let him do the job.
‘Then let’s just send a separate letter later…’
What to do next?
The moment I opened the door to my room with that thought in mind.
“You’re here.”
“…”
An eerie voice was heard.
When I raised my head, green eyes greeted me in the middle of the night.
“You’re late.”
It was a hot topic.
Dang So-yeol greeted me with an expressionless face. I looked at her and asked.
“Why are you here…? No, since when… have you been waiting?”
“It hasn’t been that long.”
It hasn’t been that long. It feels like a long time.
‘I’m going to go back.’
My saliva is swallowed without me knowing.
No matter how absent-minded I was, I didn’t notice that Dang So-yeol was in the room.
What this means is.
‘You were really trying to kill the sound.’
This means that Dang So-yeol was doing his best to hide his presence.
This meant that something had been done not only in the room but also from the entrance to the residence.
Phew–!!!
As soon as our eyes met, a curtain appeared around me as if it had been waiting for me to do so.
It was amazing.
At first glance, it looks like it was prepared for soundproofing.
“You worked hard today too.”
“… Uh… Yeah… You too.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Really? Why would that be?”
“I couldn’t get my work done because I had something on my mind. Oh, it was my fault for not doing my work, so please scold me later.”
“…”
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Who would scold someone with such a fierce expression?
I couldn’t bring myself to spit it out, so I swallowed it inside.
“… Did you know that the head of the party was here?”
“Yes, I know.”
“Did you see the face?”
“No. Should I go and see it?”
“…Uh. No, I was just asking if you knew.”
“yes.”
“…”
“…”
After that, the conversation stopped.
Even if it seems like a trivial conversation, the thorns contained within it stab my neck.
It was a fear I hadn’t felt in a long time.
We were silent for a long time.
“Confucius.”
“huh…?”
Dang So-yeol looked at me and said.
“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
“…”
Gulp.
It’s come.
The larynx moved on its own.
It’s a fact that I had momentarily forgotten while dealing with work.
No, it’s a fact that I couldn’t forget and was trying to ignore.
-It won’t go over.
Tang So-yeol’s words as he looked at me and asked if I was a thousand horses.
And he even mentioned that this time he would definitely not let it go easily.
As I recalled that time, my body gradually became stiff.
When I was staying in the room for a long time without turning on a single light.
-ha.
A quiet sigh was heard.
“Confucius.”
“…uh.”
While I was unable to answer, Dang So-yeol added.
“Is Confucius the Heavenly Horse?”
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“…”
A sure kill that seems to never let go.
My heart sank and pounded.
All that is visible is a darkened room and Tang So-yeol’s eyes.
She looks only at me without blinking an eye.
It was my determination not to let go if you didn’t answer.
“…ah….”
What should I say?
What excuse should I make? No. What difference would it make if I made excuses?
Dang So-yeol is already confident.
She must have been curious to know what my answer would be, but inside she seemed to have made up her mind.
All I could do here was choose.
Whether to lie or not knowing that Dang So-yeol knows.
Should I spit out the truth I don’t want to tell?
It was just a matter of choosing that.
but.
‘how?’
How can you choose that? The breath vibrates inside your trembling eyes.
Couldn’t do it.
I stood there for a while longer, unable to say anything.
at that time.
Swish.
Tang So-yeol suddenly grabbed my hand.
“Confucius.”
The voice calling me is as calm as ever.
“I don’t know what Confucius is afraid of.”
For some reason, there was a faint smile on Dang So-yeol’s expressionless face.
“I like Confucius more than you think.”
“…”
“You know. I know. I know. How we view Confucius.”
Me. Me too. We.
The same expression, reversed, contained a lot.
“Normally… I would pretend not to know… or I would pretend not to know because it would be difficult for you to talk.”
The hand that wraps around my hand gently caresses the back of my hand.
“To do that… This time, Confucius went a little too far.”
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“… What did you do too much?”
When I was wondering what on earth I did to deserve this.
“Did you hesitate when you pushed me?”
“…”
I opened my eyes after hearing Dang So-yeol’s words.
She was right.
When he was about to make a scene wearing a mask, he hesitated for a moment as he saw Dang So-yeol rushing towards him.
I tried to cover it up somehow so that it wouldn’t be noticeable, but did Dang So-yeol notice it because of that?
“That’s not the only reason I noticed it. In fact, I wouldn’t have noticed it normally… I guess I’ve seen Confucius too much to not notice it.”
“…”
“That’s why I was curious. Why on earth are you standing there like that? What are you moving for? Most likely, it’s not for your own good. That’s the kind of person Confucius is.”
I wanted to deny what you said. I was doing this for myself. I was a lot more selfish than you thought.
I wanted to say that, though.
“That’s why I wanted to ask.”
“what….”
“I… I was wondering if I was the kind of person who could hear such words from Confucius.”
“…”
“I wonder if you’ve come to know a little bit about what we don’t know… That’s why I asked.”
His face completely relaxed. He was as excited as ever.
The indifferent and cold expression is nowhere to be found.
“But looking at Confucius’s reaction now, it seems like it’s not time yet… ”
If there is a difference, it is that there is a subtle sense of hurt and resentment.
“That’s okay. Not yet… I believe it will be possible someday. So I’ll pretend that today’s question never happened. So you don’t have to worry about it.”
Dang So-yeol, who had brought up the subject, moved.
He passed me by. But suddenly, Dang So-yeol stopped walking and spoke to me.
“Oh, I’m telling you just in case… .”
The gaze turns.
“I don’t care what Confucius looks like.”
The words sink in. My body moves.
“Actually, I liked you at first just by seeing your face… Anyway, now… Huh.”
Both arms pulled Tang Xiaoyeol towards him. His small body fit snugly into his arms.
“Ah, no…!!”
The body of the person holding Dang So-yeol trembled. Heat rose to his chest.
Dang So-yeol’s face must be warm.
“This, this. That… . That… This is…”
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“that’s right.”
“… Huh…?”
“I think that’s right.”
“…!”
I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud, so I gave a vague affirmative answer.
I blurted out those words without realizing it. As I watched Dang So-yeol leave, my body moved on its own.
“…and.”
He opened his mouth. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke to Dang So-yeol.
“I’m saying this because I’m afraid you might misunderstand. It’s not that I can’t speak because you’re nothing special.”
“sure?”
Quite the opposite.
“I’m afraid you’ll hate me if I tell you.”
“yes?”
“I just couldn’t say anything because I was scared.”
“…why…?”
“… That… much. Well, that. I guess it’s important.”
I’m afraid you might hate me for doing this.
I was so scared that I couldn’t say anything.
It was the same even now, he said, lowering his head.
Tang So-yeol was looking at me with a very red face.
What is my expression like right now? I don’t know. I can’t even imagine what kind of expression I’m making.
“So… right now… .”
“Confucius.”
The words he was trying to continue were cut off by Dang So-yeol.
Dang So-yeol said with a face that looked like it might explode at any moment.
“i love you.”
It was a sudden remark. It had nothing to do with the current situation.
“…uh?”
But I couldn’t argue. I didn’t have the capacity to do so.
“I know you already know this, but I’m serious.”
The moment I heard those words, my hair turned white.
Yes, I should have known that all along. Not knowing was just plain stupid.
But, when you hear it directly, it feels different.
When I couldn’t come to my senses because of the cold sweat that had started to flow.
“What about Confucius?”
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Dang So-yeol asked me.
“What about Confucius?”
“…”
me?
‘I am….’
What about me?
As soon as you think about it, your mind comes up with the answer.
It wasn’t difficult to find since I already knew about it.
I just couldn’t spit it out.
“I am….”
At that moment, I was about to answer Dang So-yeol.
-You know what?
Something suddenly popped into my head.
‘…what.’
It’s a memory.
But, I don’t know what I remember.
As I squinted and concentrated, I heard another person’s voice.
-What are you talking about?
It was my voice.
However, it was a little low and there was an indistinct hint of laughter in his voice.
-I love you.
This time it’s a woman’s voice.
-But you probably don’t know.
-I know.
-I know you know, but I’m saying you don’t know the details.
Am I delusional? I’m remembering conversations I’ve never had.
-I know very well. Why would you think I don’t?
-Because you wouldn’t know.
-I don’t understand.
-It’s okay if you don’t understand. Just know.
The woman continued, saying that was all.
Why? Her words sounded somewhat sad.
What are these memories in the first place? Why do they suddenly come to mind?
I frown because I can’t understand.
-I… I love you so much that I would do anything for you.
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-…
-So, you who are loved by someone as great as me. Always live with gratitude.
-That’s grand.
-That’s right. Because I am something grand and great.
-My self-esteem is also uselessly high. So, what should I do to receive the love of such a great person?
-Hmm? There’s no need to do anything.
-Does that mean I should just live by receiving?
-That doesn’t matter. That’s enough. But, if you insist on doing something for me,
I couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t see what the situation was or who I was talking to.
All I can feel is the voice.
-Call my name whenever you want.
-… What a strange reward. Is that enough?
-That’s enough. This is going to be a lot harder than you think. Whenever you say that… It’s going to be a lot harder than you think.
-It doesn’t matter. I can do that much.
-okay?
The woman laughed.
-Good. I’ll believe you then… That’s enough for me.
-I don’t understand… .
I laughed too, feeling dumbfounded.
at that time.
-Yeah, right.
The woman said to me.
-Can you call me now?
-now?
-Yeah. I wanted to hear it.
At that woman’s words, I spoke in my memory.
I blurted out that name without realizing it.
“…a simple story.”
It was truly a name like a scorpion.
