Chapter 15: The Ice-Cream Bargain and the Waiting Tail

Now, the only thing left was figuring out ‘how to catch Han Seona’.

“So, how are you planning to find the evidence?”

Se-re-hen asked, watching him with an intrigued look.

She seemed to expect him to turn the place upside down, just like at Myung Jinhan’s Pet Shop last time.

But things were different now than they were back then.

Both the situation and his feelings had changed a lot.

You couldn’t possibly weigh a serial killer—especially one like Myung Jinhan, who killed his own Father—the same as a Nurse who may have committed theft or Deceiver.

Lee Jaehyun let out a soft hmm, thinking for a moment before replying.

“This time, I’ll do it by the book. Maybe tail her… or just watch her for a while.”

He was sure she had done something, but didn’t know what it was or where the Evidence might be.

Without clear Evidence, he couldn’t just ransack the hospital like he did with Myung Jinhan’s Pet Shop.

And besides, he’d just caused a big incident only a few days ago, so it was best to keep a low profile for now…

“I don’t think I need to make a big fuss turning things upside down, either.”

From what he’d heard, she hadn’t killed anyone; she just seemed to have committed some petty Crime here and there.

There was no reason to waste his strength.

That was what Lee Jaehyun was thinking at that moment.

“Tailing, huh… Should I give you a hand?”

“You?”

Lee Jaehyun paused at the unexpected suggestion.

Come to think of it, she’d offered to help find the Evidence at Myung Jinhan’s Pet Shop last time, too.

Since Lee Jaehyun needed to catch Criminals to earn Karma, it seemed Se-re-hen wanted to help so he could do it faster.

But it wouldn’t be for free.

Whatever it was, Se-re-hen was a Demon. Even if she was helping him to eat Karma quickly, there was no way it’d be without some price.

“Well, fine. But what’s your price?”

Lee Jaehyun shrugged and asked.

Demons are a race of traders.

If he wanted Se-re-hen to move, she’d have to get something in return.

At his question, Se-re-hen gave him a sly grin.

“I’m glad we’re getting to the point quickly. This is why I like you, Client. My price is… just one Ice Cream like last time.”

“Ice Cream? That’s all?”

Lee Jaehyun looked at her in surprise.

The price to get a Demon to move was just an Ice Cream?

Wasn’t that way too cheap?

Se-re-hen nodded and continued.

“Well, it’s not like I’m using my Skill, and last time, I ate my fill of Karma. So think of this as a service.”

“Well, that’s good for me.”

Lee Jaehyun shrugged and replied.

If he could tail a Criminal and dig up information just for an Ice Cream, that was a Business deal worth making.

With the deal made, Se-re-hen nodded with a satisfied expression and quickly moved.

Now, all that was left was to wait for Se-re-hen to bring back Evidence that Han Seona was committing Crimes.

Lee Jaehyun watched the direction Se-re-hen disappeared for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the examination room.

***

It didn’t take long for Mother’s Health Checkup to finish.

Lee Jaehyun helped Mother up as she came out of the recovery room after her Sleep Endoscopy.

“Are you feeling all right?”

“Oh, there were so many tests. My head is spinning.”

“You did well.”

He smiled as he gently massaged Mother’s shoulders.

There had been all sorts of tests, from bloodwork to urine samples.

And then a Sleep Endoscopy on top of that, so it must have been exhausting.

She was probably feeling a bit dizzy now.

As Mother’s steps wavered slightly, Jaehyun supported her under the guise of giving her a massage.

Mother seemed to know, but didn’t dislike it, and turned to Lee Jaehyun with a gentle smile.

“You’re the one who worked hard, waiting outside. Weren’t you bored just sitting out there?”

“There was no time to be bored.”

“What is there to do out there, for you to not be bored?”

“I know, right? It just turned out that way.”

Lee Jaehyun shrugged once as he replied.

The examination hadn’t been short, but there was no time to feel bored.

He’d spent the whole time tailing the Nurse after hearing what Se-re-hen said.

Maybe thinking he was just making an excuse, Mother gave him a wry smile and patted his back.

“Your Father’s matter will finally be over soon, too. I’d better hurry home and get lunch ready.”

“It’ll be tiring to cook again today. Let’s eat out before heading home.”

He held Mother’s hand.

After a Sleep Endoscopy, she’d still be dizzy.

There was a reason the hospital always said not to drive after a Sleep Endoscopy.

She could probably cook, but he was worried.

“What if you get hurt while cooking?”

He’d feel terrible if she cut her hand with a knife while preparing food.

She went through all this for her health checkup, so it’d be a shame if she got hurt because of it.

Might as well just eat out and go home.

But Mother shook her head.

“Eating out always costs money. Do you know how hard your Father works to earn money? Using it just to eat is too wasteful.”

“Your son earns money too, Mother.”

“That’s just the same. It’s money your son worked so hard to earn outside. You should use it for something better than just food.”

With a sharp sound, Mother pretended to glare at Jaehyun with a strict face.

But he wasn’t about to back down.

Just getting a Health Checkup seemed to have worn Mother out.

A simple meal out wouldn’t be a burden.

Lee Jaehyun took Mother’s hand and led her toward the restaurant area.

“There’s nothing better than treating you to a meal, Mother. I’ll pay, so let’s eat out today.”

“Shall we?”

Mother, who’d been hesitating, soon nodded as if she’d sensed Jaehyun’s intentions.

A small smile crept onto her lips, as if she was happy inside.

Seeing that, Lee Jaehyun made up his mind.

“I need to earn more money.”

In his past life, he’d been so blinded by Revenge that he’d never thought about money at all…

But maybe this time, it was worth changing his outlook a bit.

In this life, with both his parents alive and healthy, he wanted to let them live comfortably if he could.

“So, is there anything you’d like to eat?”

“I like anything you eat, son.”

“Hmm, then how about abalone porridge?”

After a moment’s thought, Lee Jaehyun turned to ask.

Mother had been fasting since yesterday for the Health Checkup, and her stomach was still empty.

Something easy to digest and gentle would be best.

But, contrary to his expectations, Mother frowned slightly.

“Abalone porridge? Isn’t that too expensive?”

“Oh, it’s not as much as you think.”

Mother asked with concern, but Jaehyun waved his hand.

If it made her happy, he’d buy her abalone porridge any day.

At least it was better than seeing her relying on IV drips through the vein in her arm.

“I really do need to make more money.”

If he truly had a lot of money, Mother wouldn’t have to worry about things like this and could eat out as much as she wanted.

Most of all, there was no need for them to struggle so much.

He’d turned back time and knew what was coming in the future.

Not using what he could use would be stupid.

“At the very least, I should have enough to eat out without worrying about money.”

That would be his goal for now.

Lee Jaehyun held Mother’s hand and started walking.

***

In the end, that evening, they had a meal out.

Mother, who kept glancing at the menu and worrying about the prices, smiled as soon as he put a whole abalone on her porridge.

Father, who came in late after finishing his taxi shift, also smiled broadly as they ate.

Lee Jaehyun once again vowed to earn more money and ended the day feeling good.

As soon as he got home, he fell right asleep…

“Client.”

“Mm.”

The next morning.

As Lee Jaehyun tried to sleep in, a noisy voice made him frown and open his eyes.

There, floating in the air, was Se-re-hen.

She called out to Jaehyun again.

“Client!”

“What is it?”

He rubbed his eyes and sat up.

He’d planned to sleep in for once since it was his day off, but thanks to Se-re-hen, he was up early.

She flapped her wings and landed on the floor, grinning at him.

“Good, you woke up on the second call.”

He blinked at Se-re-hen, not understanding what she meant.

Come to think of it, there’s a saying that if a grim reaper calls your name three times, you die.

But this was a Demon, not just anyone, so it felt a bit weird hearing her say that.

“I wouldn’t really die if you called me three times, right?”

The thought made him shiver just a bit.

But she hadn’t called his name, just ‘Client’, so it should be fine.

“Saying it’s good I woke up after two calls… She’s just talking.”

Thinking that, Jaehyun shook his head a couple times to wake up, then looked at Se-re-hen and spoke.

“Anyway, how long are you going to keep calling me ‘Client’?”

He got out of bed and tried to change the subject.

‘Client’, really?

At first, he hadn’t minded, but now it felt kind of embarrassing every time he heard it.

When Jaehyun asked, Se-re-hen tilted her head.

“Then what should I call you? Lee Jaehyun?”

“No, I think it’s weird to add ‘sir’ to my name… Isn’t there something more natural?”

“Then just Lee Jaehyun?”

“That’s also kind of odd.”

He shook his head and scratched the back of his head.

Calling him ‘sir’ felt like something from meeting an internet friend.

But calling him just ‘Lee Jaehyun’ felt weird, given her young appearance.

“Isn’t there a better title?”

Jaehyun racked his brain for a while, but nothing good came to mind.

Se-re-hen watched him for a moment, tilted her head, then spoke.

“Then… Brother?”

She grinned up at Jaehyun and asked.

He shut his mouth at the suggestion he hadn’t expected.

It was a natural title, but somehow it felt strange.

Jaehyun shook his head to get rid of the odd feeling, then spoke.

“No, just keep calling me ‘Client’ for now.”

“I thought it was natural, but I guess I don’t really understand human standards.”

Se-re-hen frowned slightly and tilted her head as if she still didn’t get it.

Honestly, ‘Brother’ probably was the most natural, considering their apparent age difference.

The real issue was that Jaehyun’s mental age was ten years older than he looked.

It felt too odd to be called ‘Brother’ by a girl who looked like a middle schooler.

Anyway.

“Never mind that. Why did you wake me up so early?”

“Oh, right. I found her.”

Having decided to leave that problem for later, Jaehyun asked, and Se-re-hen clapped her hands.

It looked like she’d just remembered what she’d forgotten.

Jaehyun tilted his head at her reaction.

“Found who?”

“That Nurse.”

Se-re-hen spoke with a frown of impatience.

Only then did Jaehyun remember their deal from yesterday.

The agreement that Se-re-hen would tail Han Seona, the petty criminal he met at Myungseok Hospital, in exchange for some Ice Cream.

Which meant, Han Seona was on the move.

Now wasn’t the time to be standing around.

“Where is she? Let’s go.”

With a sharp look in his eyes, Jaehyun quickly got dressed.