The Foreigner on the Periphery - Chapter 113

Once again, the smell of blood squirmed inside the skull – the trauma that he had forgotten to a certain extent, overcame to a certain extent, and resolved to a certain extent as time passed. The nightmare brought it to life. In such a situation, Minjun felt extremely reluctant because of the atrocious demands that she brought out. 

“I’m not stupid either. It’s not clear why you’re asking for that. Are you doing something similar to back then?” 

Homunculus dying or dead all over the secret laboratory was good in his eyes. As if nervous, Dell took a deep breath. Then, she said in a desperate tone. Deep emotions flashed in those eyes. “It’s not what I think right now. I’m trying to save you.” 

“Then explain.”

“…I can’t tell you the details.” 

Minjun replied bluntly. “Think about changing your position. The ex-wife, who had committed “something like that” in the past, is asking for the biological samples she was stealing secretly this time. But she still can’t explain in detail why? In this situation, is there anyone out there who will say, “I understand?”” 

“I can’t explain the reason, but I can explain the intention. I’m trying to make amends for that mistake. This is my atonement.” 

“You beat someone down and stab them with a knife as an apology. Is this an Endelion-style apology?” 

“I know it was terrible. But… there was a reason for that.” 

“Yeah, you’re crazy. That’s a great reason.” 

At this point, Dell eventually gave up. This was because time was already running out. Before she left, she had no choice but to mention everything else. “I want you to know the truth. To the end… I’m just trying to help you.” 

Then, she spoke again without giving him much of a chance to respond. “There will be another tax audit. Only for you.” 

At this, Minjun clenched his teeth. If this was true, his account balance would have had skyrocketed, so he appeared to be trying to contain it in some way. However, Dell added something unexpected.

“They can come at a much tighter time than before. Perhaps it will start as soon as he is notified.” 

“…You damn bastards.” 

“By the way, do you know this? They can inform the prisoners in a timely manner, but not the district representatives.” 

At this point, Minjun seemed to know the intentions of his ex-wife. “As long as I’m sitting there, Tax Collection Command must notify me in advance before sending an investigator to the district. At least a few days in advance. I’ll let you know when that moment comes. It is necessary to prepare from now on, but it would be helpful to know the exact moment.” 

Dell was continuously proving that she came to Earth because of Minjun. This time, she asked a question. “How’s the goblin thing going?” 

Come to think of it, it had been quite some time since he had received an update from Jenkinson. The time had come to check the status quo. “You’d better hurry. The committee’s movements are showing a strange pattern these days. Instead of having prisoners do it, we’re sending full-time staff to some dimensions to do the job. Yes, genetic sampling. Do you know what it’s like to come out like this?” 

The probability of success of the mission was very high, the point was judged to be near, and there was a little expected risk. Then, instead of having non-regular workers do the work, full-time employees were being dispatched directly.

The freedom of prisoners was, thus, a little farther away. “This frontier dimension has been pushed back from the priority list, but I can’t just relax. If you make a mistake, you will lose the ball to the full-time employees. I can buy some time by crushing their dispatch requests, but it is impossible to stop them altogether.” 

After a pause, Dell finally spoke of one last thing. “And the fragments of Asif-1.” 

“Did you receive a report?” 

“Yes. But I’m not sure what form it will take. It could be hidden in an intelligent soul, or it could be nested in an object. In the latter case, the probability of it being a swordsman is strong.” 

Minjun naturally thought of the ego sword. “I can’t go out officially, but I’m thinking of investigating it under the water. If anything comes up, I’ll let you know. It’s good to leave evidence that you moved from the beginning if you’re going to drive it to your court.” 

Dell had already listed several ways to help Minjun. The next, in case the first plan failed, and then yet another plan still. It was not a roadmap that could be built overnight. Nevertheless… 

“········” 

Minjun still couldn’t completely trust Dell. His wounds and feelings of betrayal were that deep. What was more, she was of an ancient race, she was from their royal family and at the same time, she was now a member of the committee. With this in mind, the prisoner decided to put off the frying pan story for now. If both that serpentine cookware and ego sword were indeed shards of Asif-1, it was not too late to open one of them first and observe the reaction of her and her committee. The other would be left as insurance. and···

‘Anyway, the story of the Ego Sword will quickly flow into Dell’s ears. That’s because she’s already started a police investigation.’ 

He pretended not to know. “Do you have any clues to determine that it is a fragment of Asif-1?” 

At this, Dell frowned slightly. “That’s the problem. The truth is, there is very limited information available.” 

They had put a bounty on them, not knowing how to find them either. There was a reason the large amount was set. “For once, no matter how small a fragment may be, it is certain that it has an ego. You may be asleep or you may be awake…” ”

“Then it would be almost impossible to find while sleeping.” 

“You should see that. If you can wake up and talk, you have to figure out what the cerebrum wants. If Asif-1 is correct, there is a high probability that he has a strange obsession.” 

“Which is?” 

“In a nutshell, it can be defined as an obsession with salvation.” 

In short, it was a sense of duty to save someone. “Salvation? What exactly do you mean?” 

“I think it should be understood as a concept that saves the other person from suffering in an attempt to provide happiness.” 

It was said that the compulsion was usually directed at the intellect around the fragment. “If it resides in a person, it will touch the unconscious mind of the host and lead to action. If it is hiding in an object, it will evolve according to its function. If you imagine based on the sword with the highest probability…” She paused and narrowed her eyes. 

“You are trying to save someone by killing or hurting them.”

“It is a concept that is difficult to understand at first glance.” Here, Minjun decided to divulge his information. As his story continued, Dell’s expression changed as if she found it interesting. Minjun explained about a contract organization called Abrams Helper Service, a killer code-named Blade, and a murder case with an ego sword witnessed in Korea. Since she had just arrived on Earth today, she may not have come across all of this information yet. 

After the ex-husband finished explaining, Dell spoke. “There is something a little strange about it, but it meets the conditions in that it is an unidentified ego sword. I also like its suspicious abilities.” 

After hearing about at what point Minjun hit the wall, Dell nodded and got up. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can stay any longer. Hundreds of people from all over the world are waiting for me right now. More than half of them are ancient dragons.” 

It was now time to leave. Minjun opened the door and sent her off. A strange current flowed between the two. Minjun was still vigilant and at the same time suspicious. Dell felt sorry for him. “I will find out too. About that contract organization. For now, that’s the only place we can find a clue.” 

Before completely heading out the door, she suddenly stopped walking and asked. “By the way, that Breed Shifter earlier.” 

She was talking about Cathy. Dell asked in a calm tone, as if passing by, “Isn’t it possible that a savvy person like you doesn’t know?”

“…”

“You know, you pretend you don’t know, are you pushing me away?” 

What Dell did had changed many aspects of Minjun, but two of them were the biggest changes. He no longer had a deep relationship with anyone, and he never yielded his talents to anyone. Instead of explaining that fact, Minjun looked at his ex-wife. The silence alone contained many answers. 

She then looked at him with calm, deep eyes, reading countless memories from her ex-husband’s face. The years they had spent together were buried under a layer of skin and a cold expression. “Yeah, is that my fault too?” 

Whatever their intentions, what left the scars didn’t change. Minjun didn’t answer, and Dell took a step outside and looked back. However, Minjun didn’t notice that Dell’s eyes had stayed briefly in the drawer at the bottom of the desk. She muttered a little, “…But on the other hand, I think it’s fortunate.” 

And with that, Dell left. 

*** 

“Secretary… Please eat this….” The goblin held out a mug of herbal tea, but Cathy didn’t respond. Sitting in front of the counter at the Evergreen Bookstore, she had been staring intently at the outside of her shop for several dozen minutes. 

Dong-cheol was embarrassed when there was no response. “Hmm, hmm.” The bookstore owner coughed, and only then did she turn around. 

“Oh, Dong-cheol. thank you.” 

“Yes··.” 

However, instead of touching the cup, he stares outside. An undercover detective-like enthusiasm boiled over her expression. Lakefield, the old elf on the other side of the counter, asked. “Is it true that a customer came to the office? I haven’t seen anyone.” 

The goblin helped supply an answer. “Neither did I… I didn’t see anyone…” 

To go up to the second floor, you have no choice but to pass the bookstore. But the two of them agreed that there was no one there. Then Cassie answered in a sensitive tone. “Because I’m on the second floor and I’m down.” Lakefield did not understand at all.

“By the way, you told me to go to work? Why do you keep killing me here? Do you have anything to ask when the guest comes down? Then you can just go upstairs and say…” 

There was an unidentified woman who called Minjun by a very concerned title. She would be named ‘Dell.’ Cathy wasn’t going to move until the empty guest left. It seemed like she had to see with her own two eyes that she left without ‘staying longer than necessary’ to unravel her character. Cathy couldn’t seem to understand why she was doing this to herself, but her urge to do so dominated her head. 

“···Uh? Is this for real?” Without much of the sound of footsteps, someone walked in front of the bookstore. Looking at the circulation, it was clear that he had come down from the second floor and come out through the central entrance of the shopping mall. The eyes of humans, goblins, and elves were all focused on one place. 

Their gaze fell upon a certain woman walking away from the entrance of the bookstore, and who suddenly turned her head. Catching her eyes, Cathy was startled, and she picked up any book from the counter. It was a book full of unreadable alien language, with a cover where it was unknown to what extent it was a picture or a letter. With her face flushing red, she buried her face in the book.

The guest evidently found this amusing. A relaxed smile spread across her lips. She stared intently at Cathy in that state, as if observing her.

After a few seconds, the lips gently opened. It was a light muttering tone, a little farther away, but her voice rang out loudly, playfully. “…That book, you’re reading it backwards.” 

After she said those words, she looked away. She then walked on and then disappeared from their sight. 

“Hmm.” Lakefield salivated. “How did she know?” He looked at the cover of the thick book. 

After Cathy threw it on her counter, she found that she couldn’t seem to open her arms and legs because of her shame. ‘Why is there a book I can’t even read here…!’ 

‘Ah…why are you doing this?’ 

The moment the woman stared into the bookstore, the goblin felt the blood rushing through his body violently. What he saw was a polymorphed dragon. To put that feeling into words… it was very dangerous, overbearing, and it felt like a great being was right in front of his eyes.

“…” He was still looking in the direction where the guest had disappeared, and his eyes stayed there for a long time.