Necromancer Survival

Chapter 278

“That’s…something Jung Garam took, right?”

Bae Jaemin nodded. “So, in the end, that plan didn’t work out. Which is why I suggested we simply lock Koo Hui-seo up. Koo Kyungman… was half insane by that time as well.”

Since Ryu Hyerin had only known Koo Kyungman through the greasy glint in his eye, it was hard to imagine the ex-guild leader being nervously irrational.

However, Bae Jaemin sighed deeply as he reminisced on his memories, “He was strangely afraid of his brother.”

“He was?”

“Yeah. I think he said that his brother had almost stabbed him to death? I’ve met Koo Hui-seo a few times since that supposed incident, but from my perspective, Koo Hui-seo seemed to have a lot of affection for his brother… I couldn’t quite understand.”

“But?”

“As far as Koo Kyungman was concerned… Koo Hui-seo’s head is a bit like this–” After saying that, Bae Jaemin made circles with his index finger next to his head.

Ryu Hyerin frowned, “Koo Kyungman has a few screws missing too, though.”

“That’s true, but… In any case, because Koo Kyungman commissioned me to kill Koo Hui-seo, my situation became a bit precarious after I was unable to get my hands on Beatrice.”

“…I’m sure he threw a fuss.”

“Don’t even speak about it. He threw a temper tantrum–any childish tactics he had in his repertoire.” Bae Jaemin’s face distorted as if he were recalling the past.

Ryu Hyerin asked, “So, how did you reign Koo Kyungman in?”

“…I asked if we absolutely needed to kill his brother.”

“What?”

“I proposed we locked him up in a mental hospital. I’d provide Koo Kyungman with a diagnosis certificate.”

Ryu Hyerin blinked before inquiring, “Ah, you mean something like, ‘he had a seizing episode in a dungeon’?”

“I could forge a diagnosis like that as much as I want.” Because Priests and other healing classes were responsible for the safety and lives of the party, they had the legal authority to diagnose a party member’s condition and remove them from the dungeon before combat could break out.

In other words, if Bae Jaemin testified that Koo Hui-seo showed symptoms of insanity within the dungeon, the man could be confined in a mental hospital for a certain period of time–just as any other legal guardian could.

However, this authority was unable to work long-term; the diagnosis was only temporary. Ryu Hyerin pointed that out, “But, even so, your plan would only work for a day or two.”

“That’s true, but… But, once he’s been captured, one never knows what will happen within the hospital, right? I ordered them to lock the man up, drug him, and cut off his limbs.”

“What?” Startled, Ryu Hyerin looked at the Priest.

Perhaps flustered by the look in her eyes, he continued in an apologetic tone, “I didn’t actually command the hospital staff to cut off his limbs…I just wanted to debilitate Koo Hui-seo in a non-life-threatening way. Something like putting him in a coma for a very long time.”

“Wouldn’t the curse…stop that from happening?”

“No. It just needed to not be a threat to Koo Hui-seo’s life. The extent of the curse is clear. Furthermore… According to Koo Kyungman, certain stimuli can incite his brother to commit self-harm.”

“…But that means…”

“Right. In a twisted way, one can state that we’re not trying to ‘kill’ him, we’re trying to ‘save’ him. We’re suppressing his attempts to commit self-harm by locking him away.”

“……”

“I advised Koo Kyungman to take advantage of that loophole.”

She knew that Bae Jaemin was talented in the ways of trickery, but she was utterly surprised by this straightforward and easily accomplishable way to circumvent the curse. Even though Koo Hui-seo was cursed to block any killing attacks, that man was captured and trapped in the hospital for over three years.

Just as Ryu Hyerin wondered if Koo Kyungman had actually followed through with the threat to cut off his brother’s limbs, she recalled a recent picture of Koo Hui-seo that had been circulating around.

‘Seeing as how he’s walking around properly…Koo Kyungman must have simply placed him in a coma. Koo Hui-seo is Koo Kyungman’s older brother after all.’

Bae Jaemin must have had a similar thought. Adopting a surprised expression, he also exclaimed, “I also thought Koo Kyungman acted more moderately than I expected… Koo Hui-seo looked alright in his latest photo.”

Ryu Hyerin, listening to her partner thus far, called out to the Priest after a passing thought flashed through her mind. “Wait a minute.”

“What is it?”

“Then…if Koo Kyungman were to be tortured and interrogated before his death, wouldn’t this–the matter of Koo Hui-seo’s hospitalization–also leak out?”

“…There’s a high possibility, yes.”

“No, then… Won’t Koo Hui-seo target you for murder?”

Bae Jaemin’s expression became even more downcast, “That’s the problem.”

Only then did Ryu Hyerin fully understand the reason why Bae Jaemin was so anxious. If Koo Kyungman had confessed to the incident behind [Red Lotus]’s downfall, then there was no way Koo Hui-seo wouldn’t know about Bae Jaemin’s involvement in the man’s imprisonment.

No matter how fine the man looks on the outside, Koo Hui-seo had been locked up in the hospital for three years. His mind couldn’t possibly be stable…

‘Koo Kyungman probably made sure to keep up appearances and keep his hyung physically intact–the ex-guild leader was sure to have done something to his brother. That’s why he died so soon…’

Ryu Hyerin clicked her tongue. “I suppose we’ll have to abandon all thought of attracting Koo Hui-seo to our side or negotiating with him.”

“…That’s right. Right now, I won’t be able to believe Koo Hui-seo even if he were to extend an olive branch.”

“Then, what’ll you do? Do you think Koo Hui-seo is the one behind everything? Will you focus your efforts on uncovering his weaknesses?”

“I’m not too sure he’s the only one–that’s the problem.”

“What?”

Bae Jaemin did not answer and, instead, rubbed at his temples for a while. What Ryu Hyerin had just voiced was something that he agonized over for a while. Bae Jaemin continued to talk, adopting a pained expression that conveyed a killer headache, “There’s a person that Koo Hui-seo persistently met, after leaving the hospital… Choi Lee-Kyung.”

“Choi Lee-Kyung?” Ryu Hyerin groped through her memories to try and match the unfamiliar name to a face.

However, Bae Jaemin dissuaded her efforts, “You wouldn’t know him. He’s not a User you’d take note of.”

“Who is he?”

“He’s a Necromancer… and a low-level one at that.”

“Necromancer? What’s that?”

“It’s a class. They summon skeletons or something.”

“Ah…?” Ryu Hyerin was a little dubious–this was the first time she’d heard of this class.

However, Bae Jaemin adopted a complicated expression–was that a smirk or a cringe? “That’s why this all makes no sense.”

“What makes no sense?”

“Choi Lee-Kyung being Jung Garam. Honestly, he’s someone that never had any contact on [Red Lotus] nor does he have the ability to kill Park Hoseok.”

Ryu Hyerin furrowed her brows and asked, “What’s his level?”

“He hasn’t even entered 4 digits yet.”

“…Does he have any special items we might not know about?”

“Even if all of Choi Lee-Kyung’s abilities were augmented with L-class ¹ items, he wouldn’t be able to touch a hair on Park Hoseok’s head. Besides, he isn’t really a martial attacker or a close-combat class.”

“……”

“It’s definitely not him. It’s not him, but… I still don’t understand why Koo Hui-seo keeps meeting Choi Lee-Kyung. Is Koo Hui-seo meeting someone else too? Are our sentries simply missing another of his contacts? Then, what method is he using to be able to meet with those that may be connected with the [Red Lotus]. If we can just uncover that line of contact, we would be able to plan a surprise attack…” Bae Jaemin shook his head.

After hearing his explanation, Ryu Hyerin felt the situation was even more strange. “Hey… What’s so strange about your doubts?”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“That person… How is he meeting Koo Hui-seo? How did he become close to Koo Hui-seo?”

“Huh?” Bae Jaemin blinked before frowning. Perhaps he thought that Ryu Hyerin didn’t believe him, he pouted and grumbled, “I mean… Even if he’s suspicious, he’s not really capable of anything. I’ve already investigated everything.”

“No! You idiot! How can a person with no particular talent hang around Koo Hui-seo? Do you think the current guildmaster of the Red Dragon is an ordinary person or something? You think just anyone can meet with him? Don’t you know that any sentries–any of our people–we placed within his home exited in a body bag? All of his bodyguards are legendary class Users. Then, how did Choi Lee-Kyung get to know him…enough to regularly spend time with him?”

Bae Jaemin looked at his partner for a while before answering in a slightly discomfited tone, “They’re probably…*special* friends.”

“What?” Ryu Hyerin was startled by the unexpected response and looked back through her memories again. That person was called ‘Lee-Kyung,’ right? “Is Choi Lee-Kyung a woman? I thought you said he was a man.” ²

“You’re right; he’s a man.”

“Hah?’

“Bae Jaemin recalled Choi Lee-Kyung’s appearance.

At first, more than any specifics about the Necromancer’s looks, Choi Lee-Kyung felt somehow familiar… Then, during the conversation, the way the Necromancer withdrew at every touch and advance stimulated and excited his sadism.

That’s why Bae Jaemin didn’t really find it weird to hear that Koo Hui-seo sent the Necromancer a flower bouquet (nor did he question his own actions when the Priest himself secretly sent a watchdog to observe the Necromancer). Bae Jaemin didn’t really consider those a big deal.

However, this matter wasn’t something he could explain to a bewildered Ryu Hyerin, so he simply shrugged his shoulders, “I suppose that’s the ‘mental illness’ that Koo Kyungman was referring to.”

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TL: Multiple things here:

a) ???Excuse me? Priests just have the leeway to forcibly admit someone to a mental hospital? That’s so mind boggling?

b) Another reason to hate Bae Jaemin: Being gay/bi isn’t a mental illness ):