Chapter 48: Memories of an Early Summer Night
“Wow.”
I looked around.
“This is a nice place.”
Officer Kim’s home was not far from Jungbu Police Station.
She rented the entire second floor of a private house.
The house stood high on a hillside.
The climb probably made commuting difficult, but the rent was cheap, and the large balcony had a great view over the neighborhood.
“Grilling pork belly outdoors is unbeatable.”
I inhaled the cool breeze.
“This is perfect.”
Pork belly, vegetables, sauces, and drinks had already been prepared on the balcony.
“Detective Park.”
I looked at the table.
“Why are there five seats?”
“Oh.”
He walked out carrying scissors and tongs.
“Captain Kim said he’ll come later.”
“Why would you do something that irresponsible and unnecessary?”
“I didn’t call him.”
Detective Park defended himself.
“The captain called me and said he had something to discuss.”
“I couldn’t exactly go back to the station.”
I understood the situation.
But my plan to have a peaceful pork-belly-and-soju gathering with the four of us had been ruined.
“How is the place?”
Detective Park asked.
“It’s fine.”
I answered.
“I wasn’t asking you.”
He looked toward Aize.
“I love it.”
Aize answered.
Apparently, I had become invisible in Detective Park’s eyes.
“Oh my!”
Officer Kim Yeonhee came outside carrying small plates.
“Aize, you’re even prettier in person than on TV!”
“Hehehe. Unnie, you’re pretty too.”
“Oh my!”
Officer Kim looked genuinely delighted by Aize’s compliment.
Looking at them...
Aize and Officer Kim actually had somewhat similar atmospheres.
“Wow.”
I picked up a piece of pork belly.
“This one has diamond cuts.”
“Diamond cuts?”
Aize tilted her head.
“What’s that?”
“Look.”
I showed her the meat.
“They score the pork belly like this.”
“When the cuts open, they form diamond shapes.”
“That’s why it’s called diamond scoring.”
Aize immediately asked the important question.
“Does that make it tastier?”
“Obviously.”
“The inside cooks evenly, and all the juices come out.”
I grinned.
“It’s amazing.”
“Then hurry and cook it.”
Aize was strange.
When she was the Black Spirit Demonic Spear, she talked almost like Arang.
When she was human, she became the Queen of Short Answers.
Multiple personalities, maybe.
Officer Kim suddenly leaned forward.
“Hehehe. You two really seem close.”
Then the questions began.
“Aize, are you really dating Detective Kang?”
“How did the two of you meet?”
She had clearly been dying to ask.
Fortunately, I had expected this before coming.
“We met at the Seven Fairies fan meeting.”
I spoke confidently.
“I tried to get Aize’s autograph.”
“But she immediately fell for me.”
“So while signing, she secretly wrote a meeting time and place on the autograph sheet to seduce me.”
Officer Kim’s eyes widened.
“Really?”
“Aize, you were that bold?”
Detective Park looked equally shocked.
“That’s right.”
Aize naturally followed our script.
“That’s exactly what happened.”
“She fell in love at first sight.”
I pointed at myself.
“When you think about it, I’m pretty irresistible.”
Maybe that was a bit too much.
Detective Park and Officer Kim both looked at me suspiciously.
“Anyway.”
I quickly changed the subject.
“Detective Park, why were you already at Officer Kim’s house?”
This was part of the plan too.
Detective Park clearly had something to hide.
Once I attacked there, he wouldn’t ask any more questions about me and Aize.
“Hahaha.”
Detective Park immediately became awkward.
“Well, you know the cats Officer Kim asked me to look after?”
“I got attached to them.”
“So I come over often to see the cats.”
“I happened to be visiting them when you called.”
I mentally replaced the word cats with Officer Kim.
“Detective Park.”
“Yes?”
“I understand.”
I poured him a glass of soju.
“Have a drink.”
Then Officer Kim stared at me.
Her eyes seemed to ask, What about me?
“Officer Kim, would you like one too?”
“Yes!”
Apparently, she liked soju as well.
Then again, people working at police stations naturally became familiar with alcohol.
Then Aize stared at me too.
Her gaze became sharp.
“Aize... want a glass?”
“Obviously.”
Why does she like alcohol so much?
“That is because Taebaek also loved drinking.”
Arang’s voice suddenly appeared inside my head.
Arang!
I became happy.
Long time no see. You don’t seem as busy now.
Taebaek liked alcohol too?
“Yes.”
“Whenever a battle against evil spirits ended, Taebaek would drink with Mija to relax.”
“She is probably drinking now because she remembers those times.”
I looked toward Aize.
We had fought Rakshasa Pokgwi today.
Maybe Aize wanted to experience those old memories again.
Drinking after a battle.
Laughing together with Taebaek.
Aize seemed to have heard my conversation with Arang too.
She paused while drinking soju and winked at me.
Thousand-year partner....
For some reason, my heart became slightly heavy.
“I heard you defeated a Superior Hybrid Pokgwi.”
Arang continued.
“Captain Jeonghu praised you quite a lot.”
Jeonghu did?
“Yes.”
“Of course, I’m sure Mija did most of the work.”
Hey.
I became annoyed.
I worked pretty hard this time too.
“Fine.”
Arang laughed softly.
“I heard you plan to visit the Underworld later with Mija?”
I promised Jeonghu.
“Then I’ll see you when you come.”
Her voice became slightly serious.
“Because of the Rakshasa Pokgwi incident, I’ll be busy for a while again.”
“We’re trying to locate the Three Evils of the Underworld.”
...Good luck.
The connection with Arang ended.
It was slightly disappointing that our conversation had been so short.
“All right!”
I raised my glass.
“The pork belly looks done.”
“Everyone’s drinks are filled.”
“We should make a toast!”
Ding-dong.
The doorbell suddenly interrupted the mood.
Officer Kim went downstairs.
“Seriously.”
I frowned.
“Who comes at a time like this and ruins the taste of alcohol?”
“You bastard!”
Captain Kim’s shout came from downstairs.
“It’s your captain!”
Apparently, the old man had excellent hearing.
He had heard me from the second-floor balcony.
“Ohhh.”
A moment later, Captain Kim appeared.
“The pork belly smells incredible.”
Nobody invited him to sit.
He sat down anyway.
“Captain, have a drink.”
I poured him a glass.
“Sure.”
He accepted it.
“So, you’ve been hiding properly?”
Then he noticed Aize.
“Oh.”
“You must be that young lady.”
He looked at her sympathetically.
“You’ve suffered a lot after meeting this idiot from my team.”
His tone sounded like a father apologizing to a daughter-in-law for his useless son.
“It’s fine.”
Aize smiled.
“Oppa always treats me well.”
Then she picked up the bottle.
“Would you like me to pour you a drink?”
Captain Kim had just emptied his glass in one shot.
Aize handled the situation surprisingly well without any script.
She seemed quite used to dealing with older men.
“I used to drink with Grandpa Jade Emperor too.”
Aize spoke directly into my thoughts.
“So I understand this kind of atmosphere, oppa.”
Captain Kim nodded approvingly.
“I usually have a negative image of idols.”
“But you seem very proper.”
“I like you.”
Coming from Captain Kim, that was nearly the highest praise possible.
“So why did you come all the way here?”
I asked while eating a piece of pork belly.
“Oh, right.”
Captain Kim put down his glass.
“A sudden transfer order came down.”
“Oh.”
I nodded.
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Where are you being transferred?”
Captain Kim stared at me.
“You idiot.”
“Not me.”
“You.”
“...Me?”
“You three.”
Detective Park blinked.
“Me too?”
“You three.”
Officer Kim pointed to herself.
“Oh my. Me too?”
“Yes.”
“....”
The three of us looked at one another in confusion.
Transfers like this were not normal.
I asked on behalf of everyone.
“Where are we being transferred?”
“The Blue House.”
“...You mean where the President works?”
“Yes.”
My eyes widened.
Then...
“Wooooow!”
I shouted first.
Detective Park and Officer Kim looked equally happy.
Captain Kim frowned.
“You bastard.”
“Don’t look that excited.”
“Did you hate me that much?”
“Oh, come on.”
I immediately denied it.
“You know how much I love you, Captain.”
“Then why are you so happy?”
“The salary will increase.”
I looked toward Detective Park.
“Places like that pay more than us, right?”
“Probably.”
Detective Park looked puzzled.
“But why would we suddenly get transferred there?”
“What would senior and I even do at the Blue House?”
He thought for a moment.
“Maybe security guards?”
The bastard had casually placed me on the same level as himself.
“I don’t know either.”
Captain Kim shrugged.
“Anyway, report to the Blue House by nine tomorrow morning.”
Then he lifted his empty glass.
“Give me another drink.”
He clearly felt bad about parting with us.
Aize seemed to notice.
She quickly poured him soju.
“Ahjussi.”
She smiled.
“Drink this and cheer up.”
Her tone sounded almost like a superior comforting a subordinate.
Then again, Aize was over a thousand years old.
Maybe she was technically older than everyone here.
Captain Kim nodded.
“See?”
“You understand my heart.”
For some reason, Captain Kim and Aize seemed to get along surprisingly well.
I raised my glass.
“Okay!”
“Let’s stop making the pork belly wait.”
“Everyone, one shot!”
Officer Kim lifted her glass too.
“Come to think of it, I’ll be working with you two as a colleague now.”
She smiled.
“Please take care of me.”
“Oh, that’s true.”
Detective Park immediately turned toward her.
“We’ll be in the same department now.”
“Please take care of me too, Officer Kim.”
Apparently, I had become invisible again.
“You idiots.”
Captain Kim raised his glass with a disappointed expression.
“Do well after you leave.”
“If you perform well, Jungbu Station’s evaluation will improve too.”
Aize looked at me.
“Oppa, is this a good thing?”
“Of course.”
“My salary will increase.”
“Then I don’t need to work anymore to support you, right?”
“...!!”
Aize was apparently still deeply inside the script we had used at Crisis Model Line.
“Hahaha!”
I immediately changed the subject.
“That was a joke!”
I raised my glass.
“To our future!”
“Cheers!”
Everyone shouted happily.
That night, all fifteen servings of pork belly and ten bottles of soju disappeared so quickly that Detective Park had to go buy more.
Aize became excited.
She even said she wanted to sing and dance.
We laughed about getting a surprise guerrilla concert and used all our phones to play music loudly.
Aize sang in an extremely seductive voice and performed a sexy dance for us.
Hwang Jinhee had probably become drunk on the atmosphere and was working hard.
We clapped and cheered at Aize’s performance.
Apparently, we were too loud.
Some neighbors came to complain.
Then they recognized Aize and ended up staying to watch.
We drank, talked, laughed, and passed stories back and forth.
The cool night breeze mixed with the warm heat of alcohol.
It became a beautiful early-summer night I knew I would remember.
“First Ghost.”
Dae-ryeok Magwi Yu Ari’s red eyes burned.
“Repeat what you just said.”
First Ghost Terius Hyun trembled before her.
“Fourth Ghost Rakshasa Pokgwi and Tenth Ghost Pokyo-gwi are dead.”
He lowered his head.
“The Gwanggwi at Crisis Model Line also appear to have died.”
“I checked the CCTV footage.”
“It seems the idol Aize and that detective were responsible.”
Red soul power began blazing around Yu Ari.
First Ghost’s voice trembled in fear.
“Ninth Ghost Blade Storm Demon died after going to crush Madam Jang.”
Yu Ari’s expression became grim.
“If Ninth Ghost was killed, that woman must truly be Lady Sunhwa, wife of the Jade Emperor.”
She continued.
“But Eighth Ghost Violence Demon died to that detective.”
“And now Tenth Ghost and Fourth Ghost are dead too.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“This makes no sense.”
Yu Ari did not strike First Ghost with the Wicked Poison Bone Whip.
If she hit him now, he might be seriously injured.
Considering the situation, injuring First Ghost would be inconvenient.
“First Ghost.”
“Yes, my Queen.”
“Fourth Ghost Rakshasa Pokgwi devoured Wol-Rakshasa, whom I personally defeated a thousand years ago.”
Yu Ari’s voice became colder.
“She was a high-level Pokgwi and a Superior Hybrid.”
“Correct.”
First Ghost nodded.
“Fourth Ghost was powerful enough to rival one of the Five Great Pokgwi.”
Yu Ari clenched her teeth.
“Then how does it make sense that three of the Ten Ghost Kings have died to one mere detective?”
First Ghost thought carefully.
“The building and street are completely unharmed despite Fourth Ghost and Tenth Ghost dying.”
He looked up.
“That suggests a Ghost Domain was opened.”
Yu Ari’s eyes narrowed.
“So that detective is not an ordinary human of the living world.”
“That is correct.”
“Then who in Heaven is strong enough to kill both Fourth Ghost and Tenth Ghost?”
First Ghost fell into thought.
“Among the Four Great Generals, Commander of Spirits Jeongcheon is still alive.”
He continued.
“Then there is Heavenly Steel Chasa Cheongpung, ranked first among the Three Great Combat Chasa.”
“And Jangryeong, commander of the Royal Guard Chasa.”
Yu Ari suddenly asked,
“What about Inhwang Chasa Taebaek?”
First Ghost flinched.
“My Queen.”
“Inhwang Chasa Taebaek disappeared more than a thousand years ago.”
Yu Ari slowly wrapped the Wicked Poison Bone Whip around her hand.
“He didn’t disappear.”
“He has been repeatedly reincarnating in the living world as punishment from Heaven.”
First Ghost’s face changed.
“My Queen, then you mean....”
“Yes.”
Yu Ari’s eyes became sharp.
“That detective is almost certainly the final reincarnation of Inhwang Chasa Taebaek.”
First Ghost froze.
“Don’t tell me... the Inhwang has appeared in the present world?”
“First Ghost.”
“Yes, my Queen.”
“I am going to meet my elder sister and Lord Taerang.”
She stood.
“Handle everything here while I am gone.”
Yu Ari’s body dispersed like mist.
Then she vanished.
First Ghost remained behind.
“That detective is the Inhwang’s reincarnation....”
His face turned pale.
“This is bad.”
First Ghost was also one of the Five Great Pokgwi.
His true title was Pokmang-gwi Terius Hyun.
He remembered the Inhwang Chasa Taebaek from a thousand years ago.
A man who, with a single Black Spirit Demonic Spear, had slaughtered ten thousand evil spirits of Hell in an instant.
Terius Hyun’s entire body trembled with fear.
