This is the special force squad S2
#30 "Death of a High School Student (6)"
I followed Seolmin's instructions and arrived at a warehouse covered in so much dust that it was practically crumbling. I opened the door, which looked like it might collapse at any moment, and found a jumping board, a few balls, and a hula hoop.
As soon as the door opened, everyone frowned at the stench that wafted out, and they hesitated to enter. However, they quickly stepped forward upon seeing a figure in the distance.
김 태 형
Wow… that smell is no joke! At this point, the body must have been decomposing for about three days…
김 남 준
You two, hurry up and search the body before anyone else comes. I'll check the warehouse for evidence.
Taehyung and Yeoju approached the body and knelt down. The uniform was free of any stains, not even blood. Only a faint dusting of dust covered it.
Namjoon walked along the outskirts of the warehouse, his hand resting on the wall. There were occasional rocks to trip over, but other than that, the area seemed largely unremarkable.
남 여 주
Uh… Senior Taehyung?
As Yeoju examined Won-guk's corpse, she called out to Tae-hyung, who was struggling with the stench nearby. Tae-hyung forced a smile and faced Yeoju.
남 여 주
Is the victim right-handed or left-handed?
김 태 형
Why is that? Is there something strange?
남 여 주
Look at this.
As Taehyung followed Yeoju's gaze, he saw a wound on her wrist made with a box cutter. Yeoju lifted her right wrist, where the wound was, and turned it over so that the wound was facing the ceiling.
남 여 주
There's something odd about the wound. The wound is on the right hand, suggesting it was drawn with the left hand. Usually, the marks are drawn from top to bottom. The victim's wound appears to have been drawn from bottom to top.
남 여 주
It's as if someone drew it right next to me.
김 태 형
There's no guarantee that everyone would draw from top to bottom. This alone wouldn't be enough to provide clear evidence of murder...
남 여 주
Senior, do you know how I feel?
Taehyung looked at Yeoju with a puzzled expression. Yeoju had a look on her face he'd never seen before. It wasn't sad, but it wasn't angry or happy either. It was utterly empty.
남 여 주
When people cut their wrists, it's because they're really struggling. Then, they want to die instantly. They don't cut their wrists half-heartedly just to hurt.
남 여 주
I know because I tried it.
The female protagonist seemed convinced it was murder. Even with her before his eyes, Taehyung still couldn't be certain whether it was murder or suicide. For a police officer, circumstantial evidence is one of the most dangerous temptations.
김 태 형
Let's assume it was murder, as you say. Then wouldn't the victim have left behind a dying message? Find evidence. All we have is evidence.
남 여 주
Yes… I will let you know as soon as I find it.
He looked quite disappointed. Not at Taehyung, who didn't agree with him, but at himself, who, after a while, had become choked up by his own feelings and swayed by his own emotions.
While she was busy searching the warehouse, Yeoju felt the vibration of her phone in her pocket. The bright screen read, "Caller: Team Leader Kim Seok-jin."
김 태 형
Team leader? I guess the background check results came back.
남 여 주
[ hello?
김 석 진
[ Oh, heroine. The investigation team's results came back, but there's nothing special about them. She's just an ordinary high school girl. She's a sister... Her parents are both working at small and medium-sized companies.
남 여 주
[ Sister? I haven't heard that you have a sister...
김 석 진
[ What's a bit strange is that your younger sister, Yeji, is a first-year student at your school. Her name is Hyunyerim.
남 여 주
[ Is this Hyun Ye-rim?
The female protagonist's voice echoed through the warehouse. It was already quiet, so it must have been incredibly loud. Namjoon, who was slowly walking towards them from afar, must have heard it too.
Namjoon paused for a moment, seemed to think about something, then quickly walked over to them and spoke.
김 남 준
If it's Hyun Ye-rim, isn't she the one who first discovered this incident? I think that first-year art club member's name was Hyun Ye-rim...
김 태 형
That's right! The first person to discover the victim and scream was Hyun Ye-rim.
Yeoju and Seokjin had long since hung up the phone, and at Taehyung and Namjoon's words, Yeoju left first, saying she wanted to meet Yeji. The door closed with a thud.
Lunchtime. The classroom was bustling, and Yeji was alone, organizing her performance evaluations. A shadow loomed behind her, and when Yeji turned around, Yeju was already sitting next to her.
남 여 주
Oh my… This is Korean language practice, right? Look at all the sheep, you guys are working so hard… Should I help you out?
현 예 지
Yes…? Oh, you don’t have to do that…
Despite Yeji's reassuring response, the heroine had already dragged half of the paperwork to the desk in front of her. She began to organize it, tapping the stacks of papers. She was quite skilled at it.
The children didn't care whether Yeoju was there or not. It was a blessing for Yeoju. They could have their own conversations without having to go through the trouble of going to and from a place.
남 여 주
You… said your younger sister is Hyun Ye-rim, a first-year student?
현 예 지
Yes? Oh, yes…
Yeji looked at Yeoju in surprise for a moment, then lowered her head and gave a small reply. Yeoju didn't respond at all. Or, to be precise, she pretended not to, and continued speaking calmly.
남 여 주
You know Choi Won-guk? Why, there's that third-year boy who had an accident a while ago.
현 예 지
Why, Senior Won-guk…? You’re just a student teacher, so it’s not something you should worry about.
남 여 주
But… now that I’m a teacher here, shouldn’t I know the school schedule?
남 여 주
Yerim was the first to discover it. Haven't you heard anything? Even you, teacher, really don't have any information.
현 예 지
Teacher, if the vice principal knew you were doing this, he wouldn't be able to keep quiet. Go quickly. If you want to keep working...
남 여 주
Sorry, but I'm not afraid of threats from students. And I have my own reasons for wanting to know about this, don't I? I can't tell you, but...
현 예 지
I don't know? I don't know! I'm having a hard time too. That girl, Hyun Ye-rim, suddenly got wind of something and won't even talk to me. She must be depressed, or something. She went crazy overnight...
현 예 지
I'm so fucking scared...
Yeji's voice trembled. Her hands, her eyelids, even her lips. As her hands clenched neatly on the desk trembled, the vibration was clearly transmitted to the woman sitting at the desk next to her.
The heroine closed her eyes for a moment and remained silent. Yeji glanced at her furtively, but felt embarrassed by her unmoving presence and averted her gaze.
Soon, the female protagonist slowly opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned her head toward Yeji. Yeji glanced at her sideways, observing her reaction. Soon, as Yeji's mouth opened, she looked down at the floor in a panic.
남 여 주
If I were a police officer… would I be more willing to cooperate?
At Yeoju's words, Yeji's expression changed rapidly. Surprise. Her expression showed no other emotion. Yeoju thought, "She's the type of person whose emotions are very clearly expressed on her face."
Yeji's impressive reaction made the heroine chuckle. Yeji, perhaps feeling a bit taken aback, turned her head away from the heroine, but her heart couldn't help but shift.
The bell rang five minutes before class began, and Yeoju straightened her clothes and rose from her seat. Yeji's gaze remained fixed on the other side of her.
남 여 주
I'll go. Come anytime you need help.
Yeoju left the classroom, and the children, one by one, found their seats. Soon after, the next period teacher came in, and Yeji had no choice but to shake off her thoughts of Yeoju.
+
Let's see... Class President? Are you done with your Korean language skills?
현 예 지
Yes? Oh, yes…
+
You did it so quickly… Your class has a lot of people, so it must have taken longer. Anyway, good work.
That evening, the three of them returned to the special lecture class, saying, "I'm going home from work for the first time in my life." Everyone seemed incredibly curious, and they, too, were eager to share their stories.
They huddled together like children listening to a fairy tale, and the three of them took turns telling their stories. When it was Yeoju's turn, she told Yeji that she had revealed herself to be a police officer, and the atmosphere instantly froze.
민 윤 기
Hey, are you crazy? We're undercover, undercover. I'm a cop, I'm here to investigate. Where do you have to advertise?
남 여 주
No…! Then what should I do? The child doesn’t trust me, so he keeps his mouth shut, whether it’s a statement or a confession.
남 여 주
His younger sibling is the first witness. He and his younger sibling are the only people who are less under the school's control and could serve as evidence. We have to somehow get them on our side, right?
Yoongi looked displeased. It was clearly an undercover investigation, and the school kept it hush-hush. What if rumors spread that the police were involved? They might not even be able to set foot on campus, let alone gather evidence.
Everyone was locked in an awkward stare-down battle, watching Yoongi, who was just sighing, and Yeoju, who was stiffly holding her head. Just when things were about to get awkward, it was Seokjin who broke the silence.
김 석 진
The heroine will probably handle it well. She's got the time to handle it now, right? She's not the same rookie cop we knew.
The woman who spoke to Seokjin had a smile on her face. However, since it was a situation where they couldn't fight, Yoongi seemed to take a step back.
Seokjin, seeing Yoongi like that, showed a look of understanding. Yoongi nodded slightly. Seokjin then turned his head towards Yeoju and continued his story.
김 석 진
So? What did he say? I wish he'd open his heart a little when he heard I was a police officer...
남 여 주
I don't know yet. He seemed quite flustered, judging by his expression. But what can I do? I guess I'll just have to wait.
남 여 주
If you're a high school sophomore, you should be old enough to know where you need to go to survive.