Killing the Possessor - Chapter 23
The flicker of hope that had been fading suddenly reignited. Without realizing it, I took a step closer, filled with desperation, and asked,
“What do you mean?”
“You said 18 chapters, right?”
“Yes, 18. Oh, I didn’t mean to curse; I just repeated it.”
Bali scoffed at my unnecessary explanation before continuing,
“Just get involved in 19’s situation.”
“19?”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, 19? A wave of unwholesome thoughts rushed into my mind. If it’s 19, then does that mean R-19… with the male leads…
“If you get involved in the content of Chapter 19, you could live longer, right?”
“……”
The imagination I had filled with bold assumptions fizzled out immediately.
Ah, she meant Chapter 19.
I pushed aside the embarrassment and thought carefully about what she said. Chapter 18 was the last one I was allowed, so I needed to make sure I was bound to end up in Chapter 19 somehow?
For example, maybe sticking close to the leads?
It wasn’t the most ridiculous theory. But there was one significant issue.
“The thing is… I don’t know where Chapter 18 ends.”
“True. Without a photographic memory, there’s no way you’d remember all of that.”
Bali responded casually, as if it was no big deal, before putting on a hat that had been sitting beside her. It was an extravagant hat with a large ribbon and a veil over the brim.
As I looked at the hat, I seriously began to wonder if concepts like empathy or emotion were even a part of her. Seemingly satisfied with her choice, Bali turned toward me, a broad smile on her face.
“Let’s do this. A win-win situation.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She clicked her heels as she approached me, and with slow, deliberate movement, her red-painted nails traced my jaw.
“I like you. You had the guts to come to Loitri late at night, and most importantly, the fact that you came back without any trouble after running into those public security guys, means you’ve got some real sense.”
“……And?”
“Join Hongik Ingan. I’ll take care of you.”
The moment I heard those words, I couldn’t help but feel suspicious.
Is she doing this on purpose? Is she testing whether I, as the reader, am suited to be an integral part of Hongik Ingan?
Inviting me to a bar that a noblewoman like me would never normally visit, and, as much as I didn’t want to believe it, perhaps even setting up that encounter with the officers—was that intentional?
Of course, I had already planned to join Hongik Ingan for my survival. It had always been part of my calculations that, if necessary, I might become one of them.
But…
“So what do I get out of this? You said you don’t know anything about the residence permit.”
The one thing I truly needed—the most essential information for my survival—was still absent from them.
The work that Hongik Ingan does is not without significant risks. In the game, you would have multiple lives to spare, but in reality, if I drew the attention of the Public Security Bureau, my chances of survival would plummet. I had to be cautious.
However, the words that came from Bali’s mouth were completely unexpected.
“Can you use magic?”
“Huh?”
I responded with a single syllable, confused by the sudden question, and she smiled slyly.
“You’re a magic major, right? Will you be okay without our help? Even if you’re not a full-fledged wizard, there will be times when you’ll need to use magic. If you end up getting interrogated, that’s the first thing they’ll check.”
“….”
“And even if you don’t know the details of Chapter 18, I can at least help you establish a connection with the lead. I can also provide ongoing support for your survival.”
The mention of the lead instantly caught my attention.
Right, the female lead. As someone with a fair amount of experience in the genre, I had already concluded that in order to get clues, I had to meet the female lead first.
But then…
“Do you know who the female lead is?”
Bali scoffed, as if hearing something absurd.
“Well, I’m a reader too.”
“…You’re a reader?”
“Yes, there are exactly three of us in this world. You included.”
She tapped my nose lightly before turning back to the mirror. The mood around her shifted dramatically.
