Chapter 33: Judgment Served Cold

Before writing the Incident Report, Lee Jaehyun first went to see Park Chunbeom.

Part of him wanted to personally tear off the mask Chunbeom had been wearing all this time.

Another reason was that Se-re-hen had been saying she wanted to devour Park Chunbeom’s evil karma as soon as possible.

Even though Se-re-hen hadn’t shown herself since that conversation with Song Aram at the café, she would soon reappear.

Lee Jaehyun let out a breath and moved forward.

Ahead, Park Chunbeom was sitting quietly.

And, just as expected.

The moment Park Chunbeom appeared before him, Se-re-hen revealed herself.

When Se-re-hen, who had been quiet for some time, appeared, Lee Jaehyun turned his gaze from Park Chunbeom to her.

“Where did you go?”

When he asked, Se-re-hen answered with a bright smile.

“I had something to do, so I went out for a bit.”

Se-re-hen replied in a cheerful voice.

He didn’t know what she’d been up to, but seeing her smiling so much, it must have been something good for Se-re-hen.

Whether it was because she was a Demon, her smile looked just a bit eerie.

Putting that behind him, Lee Jaehyun turned his gaze back to Park Chunbeom.

Se-re-hen, too, looked at Park Chunbeom with a satisfied expression.

“Now, he’s ready to be eaten. Looks delicious.”

At Se-re-hen’s words, Lee Jaehyun tilted his head in confusion.

He found it a bit odd.

Was there a difference between a state where someone could be eaten and one where they couldn’t?

“Are there times when you can eat, and times when you can’t?”

He asked himself as he took another step toward Park Chunbeom.

Se-re-hen licked her lips before answering Lee Jaehyun’s question.

“You can only eat a human’s fate once it’s definitely set. At least, that person’s fate regarding evil karma has now been decided, so I can eat.”

Lee Jaehyun let a small smile play on his lips at her words.

What she meant was clear.

With the evidence he uncovered, with Song Aram’s help, Park Chunbeom’s fate had been sealed.

No matter what, he would have to face proper judgment.

With that, Lee Jaehyun took another step toward Park Chunbeom, who was about to meet the proper end he deserved.

Only then did Park Chunbeom react.

“So you’ve come. You left before the Investigation was even over.”

With a tone that bordered on sarcasm, Park Chunbeom spoke to Lee Jaehyun.

After all, Lee Jaehyun had gone all the way to the senior center, apprehended Han Seona, and dragged Park Chunbeom in too.

From Chunbeom’s perspective, there was no way he’d be glad to see Jaehyun.

Despite Chunbeom’s pointed words, Jaehyun let out a dry laugh and nodded.

“I had somewhere to be, so I got up first. Did the Investigation go well?”

Jaehyun’s tone was relaxed.

There was no need for courtesy.

He owed no courtesy to a criminal.

Chunbeom gave a crooked laugh at Jaehyun’s tone.

With a sigh mixed with a smirk, he opened his mouth.

“The Investigation went just fine. I just hope the misunderstanding gets cleared up soon. Seems even a young man like yourself has a bit of a misunderstanding…”

Chunbeom said in a light voice.

He still didn’t seem to know that Jaehyun had found the evidence.

Well, that made sense.

There wasn’t anyone who would’ve come to inform Chunbeom that the evidence was found.

Chunbeom looked like he wanted to say more, but Jaehyun cut him off.

“Don’t worry. The misunderstanding is resolved.”

“Oh, then are you letting me go now?”

At Jaehyun’s words, Chunbeom’s eyes lit up as he asked.

The phrase “misunderstanding is resolved” was just what Chunbeom wanted to hear.

Jaehyun chuckled.

“Oh dear. I think you misunderstood what I said—I meant the misunderstanding from five years ago.”

When Jaehyun shrugged, Chunbeom’s brows furrowed.

He stared at Jaehyun with an expression as if to ask, ‘What on earth are you talking about?’

Deep in his pupils, a strange emotion flickered.

Jaehyun knew exactly what that emotion was.

It was one of the typical feelings criminals show at the very end.

Anxiety.

Did he really get caught?

Am I really finished now?

That kind of anxiety.

And at those times, Jaehyun always made sure to turn that anxiety into certainty.

Oh, you’re done for now.

Jaehyun smiled and continued.

“I cleared up the misunderstanding that the accident was simply due to poor driving.”

“What… what are you saying…”

Park Chunbeom’s face twisted to a degree it could hardly twist anymore.

Jaehyun saw no need to hear anything more from him.

He hadn’t come here for anything except to tell Chunbeom the hopeless news himself. That was enough.

Sensing this, Se-re-hen immediately reached out her hand and drew a black aura from Chunbeom’s body.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Muttering those words, Se-re-hen instantly devoured the black energy.

Jaehyun looked at Park Chunbeom, who was gritting his teeth and glaring at him, having tried to shout something but now consumed with rage.

He could feel the emotions boiling within him.

And at the same time, he could see even more clearly the path he needed to walk.

Myung Jinhan, who committed crimes out of base desire.

Park Chunbeom, who killed his own brother for money and claimed the insurance payout.

These were men who had committed sins that could not be forgiven as humans.

Making them receive judgment—by joining hands with a Demon, against those who were even more demonic.

Yes.

This is what Lee Jaehyun must do.

***

A few days flew by in an instant.

Han Seona’s Illegal Medical Practice, theft, and fraud didn’t draw much attention, but the case was safely concluded.

The highlight, of course, was Park Chunbeom.

The Park Chunbeom case was spotlighted again in the News.

The incident, closed five years ago as an accident, had now turned out to be murder. Naturally, the media took interest.

And with the Insurance Scam added in, it was a juicy topic.

While Korea stirred restlessly for a brief moment—

Jaehyun was buried in paperwork.

Since it was a murder case, there was a lot of information to turn over, and the Incident Report had to be thorough.

In police work, the bulk of the job is always paperwork.

Fortunately, this time, thanks to Sergeant Oh Seohyun at Incheon Seobu Police Station, who organized the materials well, things were a bit easier.

As soon as Jaehyun finished all the paperwork, he had to head straight back to Incheon.

Because there was a Witness Statement to give.

It wasn’t related to the Park Chunbeom case, but rather, Sergeant Oh Seohyun had asked if he could give a Witness Statement regarding Song Aram’s School Violence case.

In truth, he was simply on his way to give favorable testimony for Song Aram.

After all, a single word from an active police officer could have a significant effect.

On the drive to Incheon—

In the passenger seat, Se-re-hen was gazing intently at the Ice Cream in her hand.

“This is pretty strange.”

She held an ordinary vanilla cone, the kind you could buy anywhere.

Se-re-hen muttered quietly.

Jaehyun glanced at her, then focused on driving again.

He’d promised Se-re-hen ice cream as payment for tailing Han Seona and uncovering her crimes a few days ago.

Honestly, Se-re-hen had agreed to the deal lightly, so he hadn’t worried much.

After all, what was important to her was the evil karma of villains.

Ice Cream, for Se-re-hen, was just something that piqued her curiosity. Nothing more, nothing less, so she hadn’t pressed him about it.

That’s why Jaehyun only remembered to buy her ice cream after finishing all the paperwork, and finally bought it for her today.

Se-re-hen slightly opened her mouth and took a bite of the ice cream.

She froze for a moment.

Jaehyun glanced at the silent Se-re-hen.

She was blinking with the ice cream in her mouth.

Maybe the taste of her first ice cream was different from what she’d expected.

“How is it?”

“This is… better than I thought.”

Se-re-hen spoke as if surprised.

She took another small bite of the ice cream and let out a little breath.

“I think I’ll offer this as a trade condition every now and then.”

“Haha. You don’t have to make a deal—just say so if you want some…”

“No, it’s fine. A deal must always be fair.”

At Se-re-hen’s unexpectedly firm refusal, Jaehyun wore a blank expression.

She seemed to really like the ice cream, didn’t she?

But, judging by the way Se-re-hen was gazing deeply at the ice cream, she definitely enjoyed it.

“Well…”

“Really, it’s okay. I’m at least a moral Demon, you know.”

Se-re-hen shook her head and repeated herself.

Apparently, even demons have their own rules.

Hearing her say ‘moral Demon’ was so strange, Jaehyun fell silent for a moment.

How long did he drive like that?

Eventually, Incheon Seobu Police Station appeared before his eyes.

Se-re-hen disappeared again, and Jaehyun got out of the car alone and headed inside.

Inside the Police Station, the man he’d seen last time was sitting at the reception desk.

“Hello, I’m Patrolman Lee Jaehyun from Hanseong Capital Region Police Station. I’m here to see Sergeant Oh Seohyun…”

Jaehyun gave a polite nod.

The man looked up, recognized Jaehyun’s face, and brightened.

“Oh, hello. I saw you cracked that murder last time—impressive work!”

“Ah, yes…”

He received Jaehyun’s greeting warmly.

Unlike last time, when he’d been wary.

After all, Jaehyun hadn’t stirred up the case without reason, he’d uncovered the truth about the incident from five years ago, and he’d done so smoothly, without pointing out Incheon Seobu Police Station’s mistakes.

“You worked hard.”

“No, not at all. I was just doing my job.”

When the man said he’d worked hard, Jaehyun lightly shook his head in response.

He didn’t think of it as hard work.

Maybe reading Jaehyun’s feelings, the man grinned and pointed to one side.

“Sergeant Oh Seohyun is over at the Detective Department. You’ll find her quickly if you head that way.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After a brief farewell, Jaehyun walked in the direction the man had indicated.

Heading toward the Detective Department, people glanced at Jaehyun.

Feeling a bit awkward, he looked around, and soon Sergeant Oh Seohyun appeared.

“You’re here? It’s lunchtime—should we talk while we eat?”

“Food sounds good.”

At Oh Seohyun’s suggestion, Jaehyun replied immediately.

It was lunchtime anyway, and he was just starting to feel hungry.

He’d expected they’d just grab some Gimbap and talk during the interview, but Oh Seohyun raised her car keys and spoke.

“How about some soup?”

She grinned, and Jaehyun nodded.

A steaming bowl of soup was always welcome.