《The Fake Magic Detective》


 Detective Rebirthed

    I was considered one of the best detectives in Korea, especially now since I easily detected where one of the most lunatic murderers in Korea was hiding not long after being put on the case¡ªwhich wouldn''t hurt my pay.


    I planned on retiring early at the ripe age of 40 after getting my paycheck and spending the rest of my days in rich peace after this last case, but fate is ruthless...


    I cornered the murderer in a dark alleyway, with other police officers surrounding him, guns pointing at him.


    "There''s nowhere for you to run. Surrender now," I said flatly.


    "Killing people is what makes me feel joy! You won''t take it away!" he screeched, his voice like nails on a chalkboard.


    Before I could react, he lunged toward me and stabbed me in the stomach with a knife hidden in his pocket.


    He smiled creepily, a smile that would make anyone instinctively back away in disgust.


    I grimaced from the pain, lamenting my carelessness.


    I worked so hard for living the peaceful life I wanted just to just to be killed by a crazy psychopath.


    Even though I saved enough money to retire early and finally be at peace, it had to become a fleeting dream because of my idiotic carelessness.


    {Revival for host in progress¡­.}


    What is this ringing in my ear?


    {Unsuccessful. Trying again¡­.}


    {Unsuccessful. Trying again¡­.}


    If I''m going to die it should at least be as peaceful as being stabbed in the stomach should be.


    {Putting the host in a different body....}


    Suddenly my vision suddenly turned black and it felt as if my soul wasn''t in my body and was moving to a new one. It was like riding a rollercoaster without the nausea.


    {Successful. Loading host into new body....}


    When I woke up, the first thing I saw was a stat window floating in front of me.


    -Status-


    Name: Ji-won Park


    Age: 16


    Profession: None


    Race: Human


    Magic Affinity: None


    [Basic Stats]


    Intelligence: 60


    Physical Endurance: 10


    Strength: 30


    Combat Skills: 10


    Deductive Reasoning: 60


    Magic Resistance: 20


    Mental Strength: 20


    Agility: 20


    Dexterity: 30


    Charm: 15


    Luck: -10


    XP Points: 0


    [Skills]


    Observation Mastery: Passive (Increased perception of your surroundings; +20 to observation-related tasks.)


    Unshakable Mind: Passive (Increased resistance to mental manipulation or stress; +10 to mental resilience.) Stolen story; please report.


    Keen Observation: Passive (Automatically notices small details about others, places, or things.)


    Intimidation Expertise: Passive (Pressing on a matter persistently makes people feel forced to reveal information; more effective against those with weak resolve.)


    "What is this?" I mumbled, studying it intently. Suddenly, the screen changed.


    {Welcome, User. Quest is loading...} {Investigate the room you woke up in.} {Reward: 20 XP.}


    I stared at the flat screen in front of me.


    A quest? Seriously?


    "What is this, some kind of game?" I muttered. For some reason, my voice sounded different. I tried to put my hand on the strange window, but it simply went through it.


    Why am I not dead? A better question: Why don''t I feel any pain? That was clearly a fatal injury that should''ve hurt like hell it sure did before I blacked out.


    I pressed a hand to my stomach where the knife should have left a wound. Nothing. No blood, no bandages. Just skin under the yellow shirt and a strange black-and-white jacket.


    I sat up, yanking the hem of the shirt up to see for myself. Sure enough, there wasn''t even a scar.


    My voice trailed off. The last thing I remembered was collapsing in the alley.


    I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood. For some reason, they didn''t feel like mine. I caught my reflection in a cracked mirror on the wall and froze.


    The face staring back wasn''t mine.


    "What the hell? Why do I look like some kind of high school kid?!" I exclaimed.


    I stumbled toward the mirror quickly. Black, messy hair. Sharp yellow eyes. My skin looked pale, and my features were smooth.


    I tried to stay calm and began looking around, noticing details surprisingly easily. The walls were lined with peeling wallpaper, and a crooked bookshelf filled with worn books.


    One title caught my eye: Magic Fundamentals: A Beginner''s Guide.


    I picked it up, flipping through the pages. It was filled with diagrams of symbols, spells, and magical theory.


    "Each individual possesses a unique affinity to magic, dictating their proficiency in spellcasting."


    What the hell is this?


    "The stats said I have no affinity, so I can''t use magic," I muttered.


    The rest of the room was just worn out and old, with stale air and dust everywhere.


    {Quest complete.} {Reward: 20 XP.}


    "Put 20 XP into agility," I said out loud.


    {20 XP Spent.}


    Agility: 20 +20 (40)


    I clenched and unclenched my hand.


    I don''t know why, but I''m alive. I should make the most of it. It''s a loss to have all my hard work gone to waste, but I can''t do much about it. I''ll just rebuild it¡ªa detective in this new world and after I save enough money at what I do best I''ll live the rest of my life peacefully.


    I opened the door, the sun and fresh air hitting my face as I looked at the exterior of the house. It was a crooked old cabin that should have been demolished years ago, and this place was in the forest. Was it abandoned?


    Suddenly, something flew at me, and I couldn''t react to it. It broke on the cabin''s wall. It was a booze bottle.


    "Hey! You didn''t pay this month''s rent, you fucking brat!" a man called out, appearing from one of the bushes.


    "Do you own this place?" I asked, unfazed.


    I studied him closely. He had dirty, baggy brown clothes, walked in an unnatural way, and looked really pissed off.


    That fucker''s probably drunk. There are always scumbags like this.


    "You got all brave all of a sudden. Don''t get cocky kid," he said, his breath unsteady, swaying toward me with dangerous eyes.


    Hmm. What should I do? I don''t need to fight him. Do I just run?


    "Don''t try to ignore me" He warned and ran toward me with the intention to kill. I quickly stepped to the side, gripping his arm and twisting it behind his back, making him fall to the ground.


    He stank of alcohol. I resisted the urge to pinch my nose.


    "If you don''t want any trouble, then leave. Nod if you understand," I warn.


    The man quickly nodded, clearly had immediately sobered up.


    "Do you actually own this place"


    I let go of him, and he didn''t waste a second running away, muttering curses under his breath as he left.


    How strange. I suddenly felt so natural in this body when he attacked me. For a moment, it was as if I''d always been like this.


    I shook my head. No need to focus on something I can''t answer just yet.


    I turned my focus to my surroundings, scanning for any clues about what this place was. My eyes caught a faint trail in the dirt, leading toward a clearing. I followed it and emerged at a small cliff, revealing a clear view of a bustling town.


    The streets below buzzed with activity. Vendors lined the roads. Food carts floated midair.


    "What a lively place," I muttered, heading down the cliff and into the town.


    I stopped at a vendor selling glowing fruits. They glowed with a dim light.


    "Are you interested in getting a berry? It improves your magic affinity for a full minute and its only 2 silvers" the vendor grinned his crooked teeth visible.


    "No I''m okay" I don''t even have any magic affinity so what could it even improve.


    I look around the town and notice a suspicious kid no older looking than eleven.


    His movements were quick, practiced, he knew exactly how to blend into his surroundings.


    He glanced around making sure nobody saw him and grabbed a small pouch of sparkling crystals from the counter, stuffing it into his tattered jacket.


    Hmm he''s good at stealing based on his clothes and appearance he might be an orphan.


    I cut through the crowd trying to catch up to the kid.


    "Gotcha," I said, pulling him back with a tug.


    The kid let out a yelp and turned to face me looking at me. Looking at this kid closely he was almost cute. He had dark brown hair and orange eyes that stood out against his brown skin.


    "What do you want creep?" He asked snarkily.


    Even though he looks kind of cute, his sharp tongue demolishes any cuteness he seemed to have.


    "If you don''t have anything to say then I''m leaving" He said hurriedly as if he wanted to try to escape.


    "Based on your skill you probably stole multiple times before" I remark casually.


    He glares at me.


    "You bastard, what are you going to do? Are you planning on blackmailing me" He asks warily.


    "No I''m here to strike you a deal that you won''t resist so what''s your name little man"


    "Shouldn''t you be introducing yourself first?" The brat snarled.


    "My name''s Park Ji-won," I told him.


    "What a strange name" He said candidly "My name''s Toonka"


    "Nice meeting you Toonka" I said to him, smiling at him.


    It wasn''t a lie, it was very nice meeting him, my first subordinate in this brand new world that is.

 First Ally

    {Quest is loading...} {Make Toonka become your ally.} {Reward: 100 XP.}


    I was planning on making him my subordinate anyway since he had good potential in stealing which may be useful later on.


    ¡°How long are you planning on following me?¡± Toonka snapped at me.


    ¡°As long as I need to.¡± I shrug nonchalantly


    ¡°Are you some kind of stalker?¡± he asked incredulously.


    I ignored that. This brat sure has a lot to say.


    ¡°You have skill, but if you keep stealing like that, you¡¯ll get caught immediately.¡±


    He scoffed. ¡°Why are you so interested? Are you some kind of expert in stealing?¡±


    ¡°No, not even close. I¡¯m a detective.¡± I say proudly.


    You¡¯re joking, right?¡± He stared at me, exasperated. ¡°That job is so outdated. You¡¯re not from around here, are you? Magic here is everything; no one needs detectives anymore.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that¡± I mutter under my breath.


    ¡°You talk big for an orphan. Although you got potential you¡¯ll definitely get caught if you keep stealing like that. What are you going to do if you get caught? Nobody can share the burden with you, am I right?¡±


    I¡¯m pushing it here, and I know it. I¡¯m guessing based on his clothes, his rough look, his attitude. But if I¡¯m wrong, this little brat might never listen to me again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to know your whole life story to see the kind of trouble you¡¯re in,¡± I continued ¡°If you keep running on your own.¡±


    His fists clenched tightly, but he didn¡¯t make a move. The tension hung thick in the air between us for a few moments.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk somewhere else detective,¡± He says reluctantly.


    I smirk ¡°I know the perfect place¡±.


    ***


    I turned and led him back to the cabin where I had first woken up. It wasn¡¯t much to look at¡ªold, creaky, and barely holding together¡ªbut it would do for now. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the walls as I pushed open the door.


    Toonka stepped inside, his eyes darting around the small space. ¡°This dump?¡± he scoffed ¡°figures you¡¯d live somewhere like this detective¡±


    ¡°How rude this dump is where I was when I first opened my eyes¡± I replied dryly, sitting on a chair.


    ¡°So you were born in this garbage dump and what a weird way to phrase it¡± He said plainly plopping into the bed.


    ¡°So what do you want?¡± He asks, not bothering with pleasantries which I appreciated. I was never good with small talk.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to make a detective agency and I want you to be my first employee¡± I announce casually.


    ¡°You should know that thieves and detectives don¡¯t go well together¡± He said exasperated.


    ¡°Well I guess we¡¯ll be a weird combo¡± I shrug


    ¡°You¡¯re a real pain?¡± he sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve got nowhere else to go and nothing to risk, so... I guess I¡¯ll try something new but just so you know I¡¯ll ditch you if things get bad.¡±


    {Quest complete.} {Reward: 100 XP.}


    ¡®Put 60 XP into Luck¡¯ I thought


    {50 XP Spent.}


    Luck: -10+60 (50)


    So you don¡¯t have to say it out loud, that''s good. I don''t want people thinking of me as a crazy person that wouldn¡¯t be good for my reputation.


    {Quest is loading...} {Build the Reputation of your agency.} {Reward: 200 XP.}


    That''s strange. I was just thinking about that.


    ¡°Hey, what are you staring at detective?¡± Toonka¡¯s voice interrupted my thought. He was sprawled on the bed, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling like he owned the place.


    ¡°Okay, first, let¡¯s clean this place up. It¡¯ll be where we live now.¡± I stretched languidly.


    Toonka groaned. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re making me clean? This is your dump, remember?¡±


    ¡°It''s our dump now,¡± I shot back, scanning the room. The floor was covered in dust, the furniture was worn and wobbly, and the windows hadn¡¯t had a good washing in years. I was a clean freak before I came here so I can¡¯t resist the urge to clean this dump. ¡°If we¡¯re going to call this a detective agency, we can¡¯t have our clients running away¡±


    ¡°Clients?¡± he repeated. ¡°You really think anyone¡¯s going to come here?¡±


    ¡°They will,¡± I said confidently, though inwardly, I didn¡¯t feel as certain. ¡°But they definitely won¡¯t come if this place stays the same¡±


    I opened the storage chest in the corner of the room, hoping to find something useful. Inside were a few rags, and an old broom with most of its bristles intact.


    I guess increasing my luck was a good thing.


    I toss him a rag and broom and he catches both.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± he said, holding the rag like it was some sort of alien artifact. ¡°What are we supposed to do with this?¡±


    ¡°Clean,¡± I replied flatly. ¡°If we need more, I¡¯ll figure it out. There¡¯s bound to be a market or supply shop in the area.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I feel like I picked the wrong person to be my boss¡± He sighs exaggeratedly.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t pick me. I picked you,¡± I corrected, rolling up my sleeves. ¡°And since you¡¯re my first employee, you get the honor of helping me transform this place your welcome.¡±


    Toonka muttered something under his breath, probably an insult, but I ignored him and got to work. The broom was a disaster, shedding bristles with every sweep, and the rags smelled faintly of mildew. Still, it was better than nothing.


    ¡°Do you even have a plan, or are we just winging it?¡± Toonka asked as he half-heartedly swiped a rag over the dusty windowsill.


    ¡°Of course, I have a plan,¡± I said, brushing cobwebs off the corner of the ceiling. ¡°Step one: make this place livable. Step two: attract clients. Step three: solve cases. Step four: profit.¡±


    ¡°Great plan,¡± Toonka said sarcastically. ¡°But you forgot step five: survive.¡±


    I smirked. ¡°We''ll manage so don¡¯t worry about that.¡±


    He stopped cleaning and stared at me, his face unreadable. ¡°Why me? Out of all the people you could¡¯ve picked, why¡¯d you choose a thief?¡±


    I paused, considering my answer. ¡°Because I see potential in you. You¡¯re sharp, quick, and good at thinking on your feet. But more importantly I feel like I could act normal around you¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a lie. I felt like I could talk smoothly with him without beating around a bush.


    Toonka blinked, clearly caught off guard. He quickly turned away, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Yeah, well, I¡¯m only sticking around because I¡¯ve got nowhere else to go.¡±


    ¡°That works for me,¡± I shrug, going back to cleaning.


    We worked in relative silence for a while, the only sounds being the squeak of rags and the occasional creak of the old floorboards. By the time we finished, the cabin was still far from perfect, but it was leagues better than before. The windows were clear enough to let in some light, the floor was mostly dust-free, and the air smelled faintly of wood instead of mildew.


    We both collapse on the ground.


    Toonka groaned dramatically, his arms sprawled out like he¡¯d just fought a battle. ¡°That was terrible. I¡¯m starting to think I¡¯d be better off in jail might¡¯ve been easier than being your employee detective.¡±


    I look out the window. The sky is dark.


    ¡°Get some rest. Tomorrow¡¯s going to be busy.¡±


    Toonka didn¡¯t respond, already half-asleep on the floor. I shook my head, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips.


    This bastard was already asleep, sprawled on the now clean wooden floor. I sighed, walking over to him.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to hurt your back like that,¡± I muttered under my breath, grabbing him under the arms. He stirred slightly as I hoisted him up, but he didn¡¯t resist. This kid is heavier than he looks, I drag him toward the bed.


    After some effort, I managed to get him onto the mattress. He mumbled something incoherent.


    I guess this is what it''s like to have a little brother. It''s kind of nice.


    I stepped outside, taking in the crisp night air. The stars above twinkled faintly, their light barely piercing the darkness.


    Too bad I don¡¯t have the luxury to sleep.


    I stretch and go into the forest.


    The crisp night air greeted me as I stepped outside, the faint rustle of leaves in the forest surrounding the cabin.


    I twirled the stick in my hand absentmindedly, testing its weight. It wasn¡¯t much, but it had a decent balance. I felt sore from cleaning, but rest would have to wait. Training wasn¡¯t something I could afford to put off.


    I moved the stick through the air, doing slashes and thrusts. My skills sucked any professional who saw that would shake their head in disbelief.


    I was mid-swing when a sudden crack of a branch nearby snapped me to attention. I froze, my eyes darting toward the source of the sound.


    A figure emerged from the shadows. It was low to the ground, its movements eerily smooth. The creature¡¯s glowing yellow eyes locked onto mine, its form resembling a wolf but far more menacing.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± I muttered under my breath.


    The wolf-like creature growled, baring its fangs as it stepped into the clearing. Its body was lean, muscles rippling under its dark fur. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just some mindless beast.


    It lunged without warning, and I barely had time to dodge to the side. The creature¡¯s claws scraped against the ground where I had been standing, leaving deep gouges in the earth.


    I swung the stick instinctively, aiming for its head. The blow connected with a sickening thud, but the creature barely flinched.


    ¡°Great. Of course, you¡¯re tougher than you look,¡± I muttered, backing away.


    The monster snarled, circling me like a predator sizing up its prey. I kept my eyes on it, trying to predict its next move.


    When it lunged again, I was ready. I sidestepped and brought the stick down hard on its side. This time, the creature let out a pained yelp, staggering slightly.


    I didn¡¯t give it a chance to recover. I darted forward, delivering another blow to its hind leg. The creature stumbled, its movements becoming sluggish.


    But it wasn¡¯t done yet. With a sudden burst of speed, it leaped at me, its claws outstretched. I barely managed to block with the stick, the force of the impact sending me stumbling back.


    The stick was splintering in my hands, but it held. I swung again, aiming for the creature¡¯s head. The blow landed with enough force to send it crashing to the ground.


    It didn¡¯t get back up.


    Panting, I stared at the creature¡¯s still body, my stick reduced to a cracked and splintered mess.


    I cover my mouth. I felt like throwing up. It was probably because my mental strength was too low but whenever I looked at the dead body I felt dizzy.


    {XP Gained: 120.}


    {Combat Skill: 50.}


    ¡®Put 50 XP points in Strength, dexterity, and mental strength¡¯


    {100 XP Spent.}


    Strength: 30+50 (80)


    Dexterity: 30+50 (80)


    -Status-


    Name: Ji-won Park


    Age: 17


    Profession:


    None Race: Human


    Magic Affinity: None


    [Basic Stats]


    Intelligence: 60


    Physical Endurance: 10


    Strength: 30


    Combat Skills: 50


    Deductive Reasoning: 60


    Magic Resistance: 20


    Mental Strength: 70


    Agility: 20


    Dexterity: 30


    Charm: 15


    Luck: 50


    XP Points: 10


    [Skills]


    Observation Mastery: Passive (Increased perception of your surroundings; +20 to observation-related tasks.)


    Unshakable Mind: Passive (Increased resistance to mental manipulation or stress; +10 to mental resilience.)


    Keen Observation: Passive (Automatically notices small details about others, places, or things.)


    Intimidation Expertise: Passive (Pressing on a matter persistently makes people feel forced to reveal information; more effective against those with weak resolve.)


    I let out a sigh of relief, dropping what was left of the stick. The dead wolf like body didn¡¯t bother me any more so I pulled carried it to the cabin


    I put the wolf outside of the cabin. I should probably be able to sell it so I shouldn¡¯t go ditching it when it could be worth something.


    I glanced up at the sky. The stars seemed a little dimmer now it was almost sunrise. Better get some sleep.


    When I finally returned, the cabin was quiet. Toonka was sprawled on the bed, snoring softly.


    Where do I sleep? He''s taking over the whole bed. I sigh and sit on the chair and put my head on the desk.


    It¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m a fast sleeper¡­

 Money Acquired

    I woke up in the afternoon with a stiff neck, the light shining through the windows. Toonka was still asleep, sprawled out on the bed, taking up most of the space. I stretched, feeling sore from both the fight last night.


    But I had to get moving since time was money.


    Suddenly, I heard a groan behind me, followed by the rustling of sheets. I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see Toonka sitting up, rubbing his eyes with one hand, clearly not ready to face the day.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°Your awake it''s the afternoon you sure sleep a lot might be because your still a kid¡± I replied


    He looks around and perks up like he finally figured out where he was and the events of the previous day.


    ¡°I killed something that looked like a wolf. How much do you think it''s worth?¡± I ask, not bothering to elaborate.


    ¡°Let me see it,¡± He said, not bothering to ask questions.


    I walked over to the door and pulled it open, motioning for him to follow. Toonka groggily got out of bed, stretching his arms above his head before following me outside.


    I led him around to where I''d left the wolf-like creature. It still lay there, its body lifeless in the soft light of the afternoon. The blood had begun to dry, and it was starting to smell faintly of decay.


    Toonka crouched beside the dead creature, inspecting it.


    ¡°These things are clever,¡± he said, tapping the creature¡¯s head with his finger. ¡°They''re called Karnoks and aren¡¯t just mindless monsters¡ªthey¡¯ve got some serious smarts so they''re pretty hard to catch and go for 50 silver coins.¡±


    ¡°Not bad you sure know your stuff¡± I said thoughtlessly.


    Toonka grinned, puffing with pride. ¡°Of course I do. I¡¯ve been studying different types of monsters since I was a kid.¡±


    Did he forget that he¡¯s still a kid?


    I just shrug the thought off ¡°Let¡¯s go to the town to sell it¡±


    Together, we hefted the wolf-like body, which was heavier than I anticipated. It took both of us to drag it back toward the bustling town below the cliff. The sun hung high in the sky, casting bright rays upon the vibrant marketplace, making it feel lively and welcoming.


    As we stepped through the entrance of the town, the sounds of merchants hawking their wares and people chattering filled the air. I could make out several stalls, some selling trinkets, others displaying food that glimmered with magic. My stomach grumbled, but I pushed that thought aside.


    "We need to focus," I reminded Toonka as we headed deeper into the market. We made our way through a throng of people until we found a stall that was relatively quiet.


    A stout man stood behind it, eyeing us curiously. His hands were covered in what looked like dried paint, and his apron was splattered with grease.


    ¡°Oi! What do you lot want?¡± the merchant grunted, wiping his hands on his apron.


    ¡°We have a Karnok to sell,¡± I said plainly.


    The merchant raised an eyebrow and leaned closer, scrutinizing our faces. "You kids catch a Karnok? Not many know how to deal with those things. Doing that at your age is pretty impressive but-."


    ¡°It''s 50 silver coins, right?¡± Toonka interrupted


    The man smirked, crossing his arms. ¡°That depends on the condition. Lemme take a look.¡±


    Together, we dragged the Karnok toward the edge of the stall. The merchant bent down to inspect the creature closely, his face set in concentration. After a moment, he nodded with approval.


    ¡°Alright then,¡± he said, standing up straight. ¡°I can give ya 30 silver coins for this one.¡±


    ¡°What¡ª30?¡± Toonka sputtered. ¡°It should be at least 40!¡±


    ¡°Let me tell you something about the market, kid,¡± the merchant said, leaning forward with a fake knowing smile. ¡°You learn quickly, or you¡¯ll find yourself outsmarted. 30 is still a decent offer, especially for a couple of kids.¡±


    That''s pretty good advice but I didn¡¯t really need it.


    I glanced at Toonka, who looked like he wanted to argue more. "That''s pretty low for a Karnok," I said, keeping my voice steady.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    The merchant crossed his arms. "Look at this mess," he gestured at the ragged wounds where I''d struck with the branch. "Everything''s all beaten up. Looks like someone went at it with a club rather than proper hunting tools. That''s gonna make the hide worth a lot less. Plus I gotta process it, store it..."


    "It''s still fresh," I countered, though I knew he had a point about the messy kills. Fighting with a stick definitely wasn''t the cleanest way to take down prey.


    He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe so, but with damage like this? Forty-two''s the best I can do."


    "Forty-seven," I said firmly.


    The merchant barked out a laugh. "You''ve got nerve, kid, but you''re dreaming. Look at these tears - they''re all jagged. Gonna lose half the hide just cleaning it up. Forty-three."


    "Forty-six."


    "Forty-four, final offer."


    I shook my head. "Forty-five and we have a deal."


    The merchant studied me for a long moment, then cracked a small smile. "Fine. Forty-five it is, but next time use a proper weapon. You''ll get better prices." He reached under his counter and pulled out a cloth pouch, counting out the silver coins one by one into my palm.


    Toonka stared at me to the point I could feel it pressing me.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I ask


    ¡°It''s nothing,¡± He says, looking away quickly.


    The merchant was already turning his attention to dragging the Karnok behind his stall.


    "Come back if you catch another one," he called over his shoulder. "And bring it down with a sword next time!"


    "We could''ve gotten more if we''d pushed harder." Toonka muttered.


    "Maybe," I said, pocketing the coins. "But sometimes it''s better to take what you can get and move on. Time is worth something too."


    I noticed a stall selling kebabs. ¡°Excuse me, could we get two kebabs?¡± I ask and pay a silver.


    We found a quiet spot near the edge of the marketplace to eat, sitting on some empty crates. The kebabs were still hot, the meat tender and seasoned just right. I couldn''t remember the last time I''d had a proper meal.


    Toonka devoured it in what seemed like seconds, then looked at the empty skewer with disappointment.


    I was about to say something like ¡®you should have savored it¡¯ A loud scream cut through the market chatter, sharp and terrified. Both of us froze, heads turning toward the sound. People were running, pushing past people in a hurry to get away from something.


    "What''s going on?" Toonka asked, standing on his tiptoes to try to see over the crowd.


    I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward a stack of crates nearby. We climbed up, getting a better view of the chaos unfolding in the marketplace. My blood ran cold at what I saw.


    Three more Karnoks, larger than the one I¡¯d killed before, were prowling through the market. They moved with an unnatural grace, their eyes glowing purple that made them even more terrifying. Unlike the lone Karnok I''d encountered, these moved in formation.


    "This isn''t normal," Toonka said cautiously. "Karnoks don''t hunt in packs, and they never come into towns. Never."


    I watched as one of the creatures knocked over a fruit stand with a casual swipe of its paw, sending apples rolling across the ground. Its eyes were fixed on the fleeing townspeople, calculating and cold.


    Toonka grabbed my sleeve. "Look at their eyes."


    I looked closer and saw what he meant. The Karnoks'' eyes weren''t just glowing ¨C they were pulsing with a faint purple light. The same purple I''d seen in the ruins where I''d found Toonka.


    "Something''s probably controlling them," I muttered, pieces starting to click together in my mind.  "This isn''t a random attack."It''s possible for someone to be controlling them since this world has magic, not only that I could feel as though someone is watching me.


    The screaming had died down as most people had fled the area, leaving the marketplace eerily empty except for the prowling Karnoks. They moved with purpose, searching methodically through the abandoned stalls. I quickly eat my kebab and toss the stick.


    ¡°Hey, can you fight?¡± I ask, turning to Toonka.


    It¡¯s finally time to complete this quest.


    {Build the Reputation of your agency.} {Reward: 200 XP.}


    He looks at me, his expression serious. ¡°I can, but¡­¡± he trails off, glancing at the Karnoks. ¡°It¡¯s going to be tough. Those things are strong, not to mention They¡¯re being controlled can¡¯t we just run?¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± I step down from the crates, tightening my grip on a loose plank of wood nearby. ¡°Because we¡¯re going to need all the help we can get.¡±


    Toonka exhales sharply, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opens them, there¡¯s a faint shimmer in his gaze. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll show you how cool I can .¡±


    I watch as his body tenses, energy coursing through him. The air around him seems to hum faintly, a distortion that¡¯s hard to describe. His stance changes.


    So he can use magic well. It makes sense conjuring this is a place where people rely on it, now that I think about it. It''s my first time seeing someone using magic. How interesting.


    ¡°What is that?¡± I ask, keeping my eyes on the approaching Karnoks.


    ¡°My magic is enhancement-based. So I can make myself stronger and faster. But I can¡¯t keep it up forever, so let¡¯s make this quick.¡±


    One of the Karnoks charges toward us, its glowing purple eyes locked onto Toonka. Without hesitation, he leaps forward, meeting it head-on. His fist glows faintly as he strikes, sending a shockwave rippling through the air upon impact.


    The Karnok yelps, stumbling back from the force of his strike, but Toonka is already moving, his enhanced speed letting him dodge the beast¡¯s retaliatory swipe with ease.


    I take the chance to pick up a crude plank on the floor. It''ll have to do for now. I circle around, aiming for the Karnok¡¯s flank. As Toonka keeps the creature distracted, I swing with all my strength, striking its hind leg and throwing it off balance.


    ¡°These things are tough,¡± Toonka says, breathing heavily. ¡°There¡¯s definitely no way they¡¯re acting on their own.¡±


    ¡°Focus on taking them down. We¡¯ll figure out the ¡®why¡¯ later.¡±


    The remaining two Karnoks begin to close in, their movements deliberate and coordinated. Toonka glances at me. ¡°I don¡¯t think I could handle another one without getting eaten.¡±


    I nod. ¡°Leave the last to me.¡±


    I turn my attention to the Karnok, its glowing eyes fixed on me. My grip tightens on the plank.


    ¡°Let¡¯s finish this,¡± I mutter under my breath.

 Spreading News

    I observed the Karnok¡¯s movements as it prowled closer, its eyes never leaving me.


    It was larger than the other two, so it was likely the boss. The tension in the air thickened, each breath feeling heavier than the last.


    Toonka''s hands were on his knees, trying to catch his breath from his encounter with the first two.


    His magic flickered faintly as he prepared himself for another attack.


    The third Karnok lunged, its jaws snapping with unnatural speed. I dodged, ducking just in time to avoid its vicious bite. My heart pounded in my chest as I rolled to the side, narrowly missing the creature''s claws.


    "Come on!" I shouted to Toonka, desperate to finish this.


    He glanced over, his eyes still shimmering with his enhancement magic. "Hang on!" he shouted back, his voice strained. With a burst of energy, he leaped at the nearest Karnok, landing a punch that sent the beast staggering backward.


    I didn¡¯t waste any time. Seeing my opportunity, I closed the distance between me and the third Karnok. It was trying to right itself, clearly off-balance from the fight with Toonka. I raised the plank above my head, gripping it tightly as I swung with all my strength toward its head.


    The plank struck with a sickening crack. The Karnok let out a strangled yelp before falling to the ground, twitching slightly. Its glowing eyes flickered for a moment before dimming entirely. It wasn¡¯t dead yet, but it was down¡ªjust enough for me to finish it off.


    I quickly stepped back, pulling my foot back and kicking it in the ribs with everything I had. The creature let out one last groan before finally going limp.


    Breathing heavily, I wiped the sweat off my forehead and glanced over at Toonka, who had already finished his fight. The two other Karnoks were sprawled on the ground, motionless.


    Toonka wiped his brow, looking at the fallen creatures. "I didn¡¯t think they''d be that strong."


    "We managed," I said, sounding unexpectedly calm. "But we need to figure out who''s behind this and why they¡¯re controlling these monsters."


    Toonka nodded, his expression turning serious. "Right. The magic in their eyes, the way they moved... someone definitely has control over them." He looked at me. "You think it¡¯s related to the ruins we came from?"


    "It¡¯s possible," I muttered, feeling the weight of the situation. "But we¡¯ll need more information. There¡¯s something going on, and I don¡¯t think this is the last of it."


    The sound of footsteps approaching snapped me out of my thoughts. A few brave townspeople had started to come out of hiding, cautiously looking at the carnage in the marketplace. The merchant we¡¯d sold the Karnok to earlier was among them, his face a mix of confusion and awe.


    "Guess it¡¯s time to spread rumors," I smirked.


    I stood on a big crate and called over to all the people.


    "My name is Ji-won. I''m a detective," I shouted to all the townsfolk. "I live in the forest with my assistant, so feel free to come visit. No case goes unsolved," I added.


    Toonka sighed and shook his head. "You really are something, detective."


    I glanced over at Toonka, flashing him a grin. ¡°What can I say? I know how to rile up a crowd.¡±


    As if on cue, a man shouted, "Hey, were you the ones who killed the Karnoks?" causing a domino effect of people wanting answers and shouting at us.


    "Who are you kids? Did you bring those beasts here?" a woman shouted.


    "What¡¯s a detective doing here? I thought that profession didn¡¯t exist anymore."


    "What is with these weirdos?"


    "Ji-won? What a strange name. Is he a foreigner?"The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Mom, what¡¯s a detective?"


    The merchant we¡¯d sold the Karnok to earlier looked at us with his mouth wide open.


    "Well, I created enough chaos. Let¡¯s go home," I said contentedly and stretched. I was tempted to take the Karnoks since they cost a decent amount of coins but carrying them all would be too heavy for just me and Toonks.


    "You''re a menace," Toonka muttered, shaking his head.


    As we left the marketplace behind, I glanced at Toonka. "You ready for the next step?"


    He gave me a sideways glance. "I¡¯m starting to regret being your underling, detective."


    I grinned. "Well, it¡¯s too late now."


    "Hey, someone¡¯s got to keep things interesting," I replied with a grin, not looking back as I made my way down the quiet streets. The townspeople were still murmuring, but I was done with the noise. I don¡¯t have a reason to stay anymore.


    The walk back to the cabin was pretty calm. The air was cooler now, and the quiet of the surrounding forest felt more comforting than ever. It didn¡¯t take long before we reached the cabin.


    I pushed open the door, and we both stepped inside.


    "Home sweet home," I said sleepily, putting my bag of coins on the desk.


    Toonka didn¡¯t answer immediately. He just stared at the place with an unreadable expression. He walked over to the small table and brushed his hand against it.


    "I¡¯m going to rest. Don¡¯t make too much noise,¡± he finally spoke and plopped onto the bed.


    Well, it¡¯s understandable why he¡¯d want to sleep. It was an exhausting day. But that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s hogging the bed again!


    I lay down on the bed next to him and tried to go to sleep.


    Who had controlled those wolves was watching me. I don¡¯t know but I know one thing for sure: They''re a threat to my goal of having a peaceful life.


    ***


    "The Karnoks failed," a masked figure said, their voice deep and resonant.


    "Failed?" A sharp voice cut through the tension. A figure with tattoos running along their arms stepped forward. "Didn¡¯t you say those creatures were enchanted and wouldn¡¯t lose to fools."


    "They weren¡¯t stopped by fools," the masked figure replied, his tone sharp. "It was apparently the work of someone who announced himself as a detective. His name is Ji-won Park, It¡¯s a name I¡¯ve never heard of so he must have been a foreigner."


    "Detective?" another figure scoffed, this one leaning casually against the wall. "I never realized they still existed."


    The masked leader went on "This one is different. He isn¡¯t from here, and his methods are dangerous. He seemed to know the Karnoks were being controlled easily and the kid seemed very knowledgeable since he knew the Karnoks nature even though there''s no proper way of knowledge in a town as insignificant as that."


    A murmur spread among the group, a mix of agreement and doubt.


    "It¡¯s not only that the kid is capable of" A figure joined in they¡¯re voice as smooth as silk ¡°He was the one with the enhancement magic. Enhancement magic was supposed to be gone years ago due to physical and mental strain that all the people who had used it died."


    The masked figure sighed. "He¡¯s slightly strong and knowledgeable, we¡¯ll dig up information about him as well as the detective."


    The tattooed figure slammed their fist against the table. "Then I¡¯ll go check him out. I was bored anyway. I''ll go see what they¡¯re all about."


    "Do as you wish," the leader said flatly. "Don¡¯t underestimate him. This Ji-won might not be as weak as he appears. If you underestimate him, you¡¯ll end up like the Karnoks¡­ dead."


    The tattooed figure smirked, the snake tattoo on their arm looked as if it slightly moved. "Are you worried about me? Don¡¯t worry, I''ll take good care of myself."


    The leader just gestured to the door. ¡°Quit acting like that and just go.¡±


    Without another word, the tattooed figure turned and left.


    "That kid with the detective could be useful," the leader muttered, almost to themselves.


    ***


    The next morning, I woke up to sunlight streaming through the cabin window. Toonka was already up, sitting at the table with a cup of steaming tea in his hand.


    "You¡¯re finally awake," he said, not looking up.


    "Good morning to you too," I replied, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.


    ¡°By the way, I went shopping. We have about 30 silvers left,¡± he said nonchalantly, gesturing to the food and clothes in the bag next to him.


    He couldn¡¯t have asked? This little brat. Well it''s good to give out praise every now and then.


    ¡°Good job¡± I said nonchalantly.


    I never said I was good at praising.


    Toonka ignored it and nodded toward the desk. "You should take a look at this."


    I walked over and saw a newspaper. It was about me and Toonka, about how we saved the village from Karnoks and me being a detective, this must have been a big scoop for these people.


    "Looks like your performance yesterday got people''s attention. There are a lot of oddballs out there who are interested in you.."


    I smirked, setting the papers down. "That''s good we¡¯ll start sifting through them today."


    Toonka raised an eyebrow. "You¡¯re eager for someone who barely survived yesterday."


    "Survived is the key word," I said, grabbing a piece of bread from the table. "If the people are asking for help, it means we¡¯re already making an impact."


    "Or painting a target on our backs," Toonka muttered.


    "Good," I replied with a grin. "Let them come. It¡¯s more fun that way"

 Unseen Threat

    We made our way to the town, the path winding through towering trees. Despite the calm surroundings, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that we were being watched. I glanced over my shoulder, but the forest was as still as ever. The crisp morning air carried the scent of damp earth, but even that couldn¡¯t mask the unease crawling up my spine.


    ¡°I kind of get the feeling that something is watching us,¡± Toonka muttered cautiously.  He walked beside me, his small hand gripping the strap of his satchel tightly.


    I nodded, keeping my steps steady. ¡°I get that vibe to so keep your eyes peeled¡±


    The trees thinned as we approached the village outskirts, revealing a cluster of small houses with thatched roofs. Villagers moved about, their expressions a mix of curiosity and suspicion as they caught sight of us. But before we could take more than a few steps into the village, a figure stepped into our path.


    He was tall and lean, with long white hair tied back into a loose ponytail. His green eyes seemed to shimmer with a weird intensity, and a wide grin lit up his face. A cigarette dangled from the corner of his mouth, a thin trail of smoke curling upwards. His clothes were slightly disheveled and had a long coat draped over his shoulders, lined with gold accents that caught the light.


    ¡°Ah, newcomers!¡± he exclaimed, spreading his arms as if welcoming old friends. His voice was brimming with energy. ¡°What a surprise! You''re the people who beat those Karnoks. What brings you here?¡±


    His eyes flicked to me, and for a moment, I felt as though he was peering straight through me. I forced myself to remain calm, studying him just as intently. A tattoo snaked up the side of his neck, disappearing under the collar of his shirt. It felt significant somehow but I couldn¡¯t tell why.


    ¡°And who are you?¡± Toonka snarled at the man as he went and hid behind me.


    ¡°Oh, sorry! Got carried away¡ªeveryone¡¯s talking about you two.¡± He laughed ruffling Toonkas hair.


    ¡°My name''s Kael, nice meeting ya¡± He said grinning from ear to ear.


    This man is way too energetic, it feels like it would be tiring to simply be in the same presence as him.


    But the way he¡¯s acting feels iffy but I can¡¯t put my finger on what it is but something about him feels off.


    ¡°So what are your names?¡± He asks casually.


    ¡°My names Ji-won and the br- kid who¡¯s behind me name is Toonka,¡± I said, gesturing to Toonka.


    Kael''s eyes glinted with something unreadable as he looked between us. "Ji-won and Toonka, huh? A pleasure." He took another drag from his cigarette, the ember flaring briefly in the dim light of the village''s outskirts before he exhaled a cloud of smoke. "You guys are just two kids but you do pretty reckless things."


    ¡°Thanks for that, so do you need something?¡± I ask candidly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you around, you never got a full tour of this place right?¡± He said in a lighthearted voice.


    It was an enticing offer considering I never fully explored the town and I needed to get a weapon but had no idea where to look and however suspicious this man is he could provide some good intel.


    ¡°Sure we¡¯ll take you up on that offer¡± I smirk.


    Toonka looked at me in shock, his eyes telling me ¡®You''re seriously going to follow this suspicious man we¡¯ve only just met and think we¡¯ll be just fine!¡¯


    I ignore it. Let''s not worry about the consequences just yet.


    ¡°So are there any good places that sell weapons¡± I ask plainly.


    He started walking, gesturing for us to follow. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you there. You¡¯ll want to get geared up if you¡¯re planning to stick around long.¡±


    I glanced at Toonka, who was still glaring at Kael. The villagers continued to eye us curiously.


    ¡°Hey, which one is the detective?¡± a person whispers.


    ¡°It''s the one with the black hair and yellow eyes. He looks pretty unremarkable at first glance¡± another person said, gesturing to me slightly.


    I chose not to take offense to that. I never increased my charm but it might prove useful in the future.


    Kael didn¡¯t seem to care about the attention we were drawing. If anything, he looked like he was enjoying himself.


    ¡°I am,¡± I said simply. ¡°I¡¯m a detective.


    Kael chuckled. ¡°Fair enough. This town isn¡¯t much since it doesn¡¯t have a ruler so it owns it. It''s a free land unlike most towns, so it¡¯s got its quirks. You might find what you¡¯re looking for¡ªor you might find more questions. That¡¯s how it goes around here.¡±


    We walked in silence for a few moments before he stopped in front of a modest-looking building with a weathered wooden sign hanging above the door. The sign bore the image of a sword crossed with a hammer. The faint sound of metal striking metal echoed from within.


    ¡°Here we are,¡± Kael announced with a flourish. ¡°Best weapon shop in the village. Well, the only weapon shop, but that just makes it special, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    He pushed the door open, revealing a compact but well-organized space. Weapons of various shapes and sizes lined the walls, from swords and daggers to bows and spears, not to mention the place smelled of oil and grease.


    A heavyset man with a thick beard stood behind a counter, polishing the blade of a short sword.


    The man simply glanced at us and went back to polishing his sword ¡°Hey Kael, why''d you bring two brats here?¡± He grumbled.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°You''re so cold to your customers Garrick¡± Kael laughed.


    ¡°You''re no customer of mine¡± Garrick snorts.


    Since I had no part of their conversation I look around at all the weapons in the shop.


    ¡°Hey what weapon do you think would suit you?¡± I ask turning to  Toonka.


    His hands land on the twin daggers he grabs it and tests their weight.


    ¡°I want this,¡± He decides, throwing and catching them around easily like they were made for him.


    ¡°It suits you surprisingly well¡± I nod approvingly and look around the shop to choose a weapon that would suit me.


    I don¡¯t have to use something that''s powerful since I don¡¯t plan on fighting. I''d rather it not be too heavy and not focus on killing rather than immobilizing. I''m no serial killer after all.


    I look around and my eyes fall on a specific weapon.


    ¡°Excuse me, I''ll take this¡± I called out while picking up the weapon.


    Toonka tilts his head looking at it with a curious expression ¡°What kind of weapon is that supposed to be?¡±


    Kael studies the weapon intently. ¡°Are you sure you want that it doesn¡¯t seem that easy to use¡±


    I nod ¡°I like this one the best¡± I say plainly.


    Garrick glances at the weapon and gapes.


    Startlingly he starts laughing heartily like this was the funniest thing that he ever noticed. ¡°You want that weapon, you''re an interesting kid, you know that¡± He said his attitude completely changed from before.


    ¡°Sure, go ahead and take it so what did the other kid want?¡± He asks as if he¡¯s suddenly in a good mood.


    Toonka looked taken aback by his demeanor change and looked at me like I had an answer.


    I just shrug. I had no clue why he started acting so drastically different after seeing my weapon.


    After some back and forth Garrick wrapped the twin daggers in a leather sheath and handed them to Toonka, who accepted them cautiously. Kael, meanwhile, leaned against the counter carefree as ever.


    "You¡¯re a weird kid," Garrick said, handing over the weapon I''d picked. "I made that thing on a whim. I didn''t think anyone would actually want it but I still kept my hopes up good luck with it kid."


    I examined the weapon in my hand. It was an unusual choice ¡ª A chained flail blade I read about in an article on a whim since it looked cool. It felt lightweight but sturdy. I held the wooden handle with the chain showing a curved blade at the end.


    It would probably be hard to learn but I¡¯ll learn how to use it eventually.


    The reason I chose it was simple: it wasn''t designed for killing, rather it was to immobilize someone from moving. Like I could put the chain around a person''s body to keep them from moving.


    When I looked around I only saw weapons that could injure people instead of capturing them so it must be pretty rare to find this kind of weapon since there was only one.


    ¡°So how much for them¡± I ask nonchalantly.


    ¡°25 silver coins all together¡±


    I guess that means we¡¯ll be left with 5 silvers. I sigh and put the money on the counter.


    ¡°Good luck, kids,¡± Garrick said gruffly, though the faintest hint of a smile lingered beneath his beard. ¡°Hope you don¡¯t end up needing those weapons too soon.¡±


    Kael stretched lazily, pushing off the counter with a yawn. ¡°Now that you¡¯re all set, how about we grab a bite? There¡¯s a great little place not far from here. I¡¯ll treat you!¡±


    Toonka, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up. ¡°Why would you treat us? What¡¯s your angle?¡±


    Kael laughed, ruffling Toonka¡¯s hair again. ¡°You¡¯re sharp, kid. No angle, I promise. Just being hospitable. Consider it a welcome to our quirky little village.¡±


    I wasn¡¯t convinced, but food sounds good, and if Kael wanted to play the generous guide, I¡¯d let him¡ªfor now. ¡°Thanks for your hospitality then,¡± I said, motioning for Toonka to follow. ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    As we stepped out of the shop, the sun had climbed higher, casting warm golden light over the village. The air felt less tense now, though I couldn¡¯t fully shake the unease Kael stirred within me. He seemed too casual, too eager to help. People with no ulterior motives didn¡¯t bother to act like that.


    ¡°By the way,¡± Kael said as we walked through the bustling streets, ¡°word travels fast around here. You might want to watch your backs. The Karnoks you took down? They weren¡¯t just random monsters. Someone or something might not be happy you dealt with them.¡±


    ¡°Here we are!¡± Kael said, clapping his hands together. ¡°Best skewers in the village. Go ahead and pick what you like.¡±


    I stepped forward to examine the food on display. Toonka¡¯s constant glaring at Kael wasn¡¯t exactly helping me though.


    ¡°Hey, Toonka,¡± I said, turning to him. ¡°I need you to do something for me.¡±


    He blinked, startled. ¡°What?¡±


    I gestured toward a nearby fountain where townspeople were gathered. ¡°Go ask around and see if anyone¡¯s heard of anything unusual happening recently. Maybe something suspicious will land us a case.¡±


    Toonka frowned, his suspicion clear. ¡°Why can¡¯t you do it?¡±


    ¡°I need to talk to Kael,¡± I replied smoothly.


    He hesitated, his gaze shifting between me and Kael. Finally, he sighed. ¡°Fine. But don¡¯t do anything stupid while I¡¯m gone.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± I said, offering a small smile. ¡°Just stay alert.¡±


    Toonka gave Kael one last suspicious glance before heading off toward the fountain. Once he was out of earshot, I turned back to Kael, who was watching me.


    ¡°Smart move,¡± Kael said, grinning as he leaned against the stand. ¡°The kid¡¯s sharp, but I get the feeling he doesn¡¯t trust me.¡±


    ¡°You know I felt as if there was something off about you. I finally figured it out.¡±


    ¡°Oho and what exactly is that?¡± He asks with amusement.


    ¡°You¡¯re smile¡± I reply frankly ¡°It''s like you use it as a mask not as an expression.¡±


    Kael''s grin faltered for a split second, though he quickly recovered, his eyes glinting with something unreadable. He took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling up around him like a veil.


    ¡°A mask, huh?¡± he repeated, the amusement in his voice not quite reaching his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re perceptive. I¡¯ll give you that.¡±


    He pushed off from the stand, taking a step closer. ¡°But you¡¯re wrong about one thing, Ji-won. The smile isn¡¯t a mask. It¡¯s just the way I prefer to handle things. People find it¡­ comforting, you know? Easier to deal with someone who seems harmless than someone who seems dangerous.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if it''s comforting, it seems more creepy in my opinion¡± I say curtly.


    He blinked as though my reaction wasn¡¯t what he accounted for and started laughing ruffling my hair.


    It felt weird to have my hair be ruffled like that since I was actually 40 on the inside.


    ¡°Creepy, huh?¡± Kael repeated, still chuckling. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll have to work on that. But I can¡¯t exactly please everyone, can I?¡±


    ¡°Guess not¡± I shrug nonchalantly.


    Toonka suddenly appeared around the corner, his eyes wide and his breath short. He looked a little out of breath, but there was a noticeable excitement¡ªmixed with a hint of panic¡ªin his expression.


    ¡°Ji-won! We¡¯ve got a case!¡± he said, voice rushing out as he hurried over to us. He almost stumbled in his haste, but caught himself just in time.


    I raised an eyebrow, giving him my full attention. ¡°A case? What happened?¡±


    Toonka took a quick breath, his hands slightly shaking as he tried to explain. ¡°I was talking to the villagers, and they said there¡¯s been an murder in an alleyway! Some corpse is there, and people are freaking out. They want someone to figure out what happened, but no one seems to know who did it.¡±


    ¡°Well I guess we have a case to solve¡± I smirked. This will be my first case in this world so let''s make it count.

 Truth Comes out

    We made our way quickly toward the alley, Toonka leading the way, and Kael trailing behind us, still looking too relaxed for someone walking toward a crime scene.


    The alleyway was tucked between two tall buildings, casting long shadows despite the midday sun.


    A small crowd had gathered at the entrance, whispering among themselves in hushed tones, the air thick with anxiety and curiosity. As we neared, the crowd parted, making room for us.


    There, in the middle of the alley, lay the body.


    ¡°Excuse me for a moment¡± I said to the corpse, crouching next to the body nonchalantly.


    The corpse was lying face flat on the concrete floor, blood dripping from below.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you could look at it so freely I could barely look at it without feeling nauseous¡± Toonka said hiding behind the building peeking at the body.


    ¡°It would be weird If I weren¡¯t used to looking at dead corpses don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Do you think he died because of the way he fell? That could kill someone right away¡± Kael commented.


    How did he know that?


    ¡°Take a look at this¡± I say pointing at the man''s nape which had a small black hole on it. It wasn¡¯t too deep but it was there for a reason so I made a mental note of it.


    ¡°His hands seemed to have clenched reflexively but loosened partially as his strength faded.¡± I remark on studying the dead body.


    I turned his body around, his eyes were wide open as if in shock he looked in his mid-thirties, and was dressed in simple but well kept clothing.


    ¡°Does anybody have anything that they know about this man?¡± I ask the crowd.


    ¡°I was an acquaintance,¡± An old man said, raising his hand softly. ¡°He was a good man he always helped me with things I can¡¯t imagine anyone would hold a grudge against him enough to kill him¡±


    A woman raises her hand. ¡°I was his wife, I can''t imagine who would want to kill him¡± she said mournfully, barely holding back tears.


    A man this time raises his hand ¡°He was my best friend the fact that anyone would do such a thing is disgusting¡±


    After that people started speaking of how a good helpful man he was and couldn¡¯t think of anyone who would do anything like this.


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty obvious that the death was because of the fall, look at all the blood.¡±


    ¡°Yeah now that you mention it.¡±


    ¡°But who on earth killed him? Did he just fall on his own?¡±


    "Alright," I said, quieting the gathered crowd. "I''m going to need everyone to clear out for a bit. This area isn''t safe for anyone to linger around."


    After people started to disperse, Toonka peeked from behind the building, his eyes looking curious. "What do you think happened?" he asked casually.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have enough information,¡± I said simply.


    Kael had been leaning against a nearby wall, watching us with his usual casual expression. ¡°So, you think he was shot or stabbed in the neck and then tossed here?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I said, still studying the body. ¡°The hole¡¯s small, but deep enough to cause serious damage. But it''s not enough to kill someone. He could have been stabbed with something like a needle. I just need to find a syringe but its not in this area¡±


    ¡°What about this?¡± Toonka asked nonchalantly, picking up the syringe from where he was standing.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    I glanced over at Toonka, surprised. "You found it where you were standing?"


    I took the syringe from him, examining it closely. The tip was uncovered, and it had traces of something inside, though it was hard to tell what. I held it up to the light, the glass reflecting off the sun, and the liquid inside looked see through.


    I put a drop of the liquid into my mouth trying not to swallow it. It had a bitter taste and made my tongue feel a bit numb.


    Toonka and Kael both looked at me like I just did something absolutely crazy.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing? You don¡¯t even know what stuff is in that are you trying to kill yourself!¡± Toonka exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Why would you do something so stu-reckless?¡± Kael asked me in a bewildered voice.


    I spit it out and wipe my mouth with my sleeve. ¡°As I thought it''s a paralytic agent¡± I didn¡¯t think they would still have these things in this world. I read in a book that it would taste bitter or metallic and read that if you were to taste a tiny amount of a paralytic agent and immediately spit it out, the effects would be minimal.


    I did feel slightly dizzy though ¡°I¡¯m going to take a walk, it''ll probably help clear my brain¡± I said casually.


    As I turned to leave the alley, Toonka and Kael caught up with me.


    ¡°Why are you guys following me?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be left alone with a dead body,¡± Toonka said curtly ¡°And I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll do something stupid again¡± He adds frankly and glared at Kael with a look that said ¡®why are you following us¡¯


    ¡°I¡¯m scared of corpses too,¡± He laughs casually.


    I look at him with complete doubt in my eyes and sigh and just continue to walk ignoring them.


    As we walked in silence I overheard a snippet of conversation between a couple of the women gossiping to each other.


    "... she might be in more trouble than she realizes. It¡¯s still a taboo in this town. She can¡¯t remarry unless he¡¯s dead for real since that''s the law in this town but having an affair would ruin her socially.¡±


    I grin. I had finally found the answer. Good thing I went for a walk.


    ¡°Hey I finally figured it out, bring the people back to where the body was¡± I ordered Kael.


    Kael raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t question me. ¡°You order me around pretty easily you know¡± he teased and had a hint of curiosity in his voice.


    I shot him a glance, my grin still lingering. "Someone has to keep things moving around here. Now, get them back to the alley. I have a theory to test."


    Kael gave a small nod and then turned toward the crowd, telling them to follow him back to the alley. As we made our way back, Toonka¡¯s excited energy was palpable, but I could tell he was getting more invested in what was going on. His eyes darted between the people and me, trying to figure out what was happening.


    When we reached the alley again, I gave everyone a moment to settle. The crowd¡¯s unease was still thick, their eyes shifting between each other as if they were waiting for someone to speak.


    "Alright," I said, voice carrying through the quiet alley. "Let¡¯s clear this case up."


    "The cause of death wasn¡¯t just the fall," I continued, pointing at the blood pooling around the man¡¯s head. "The injury on his neck¡ªa small puncture wound¡ªwas the true cause of this man''s death."


    The crowd started murmuring to each other, so I held up a hand to silence them¡­ The strange thing is it really worked. People immediately hushed, eager to hear more.


    "And here¡¯s the key part," I said. "The paralytic would¡¯ve made him unable to move or scream, but his body would still be conscious. It would¡¯ve been a slow, agonizing death as his body slowly shut down from the poison. The final blow was the fall. He fell forward into the concrete hitting his head, making him instantly die."


    "His wife," I said, meeting the eyes of the people gathered, "was having an affair. She couldn¡¯t remarry unless her husband was dead, and that¡¯s where the law in this town plays a part. She knew the only way to move on with her life¡ªwithout breaking the law¡ªwas to have her husband killed."


    I could see the shock on the faces of the onlookers, but I pressed on, "The man followed his best friend¡ªbecause he came to him with a story about needing help with something urgent. A small task, probably. Maybe something dealing with an issue nearby. The husband, being the kind of man who always helped others, went with him without doubt."


    I gestured toward the body. "The friend¡ªhe knew the only way to make sure the husband would be out of the picture was for them to carry out the plan together. The wife injected him with a paralytic agent through the syringe. It¡¯s the same syringe Toonka found near the building," I explained, holding up the object for emphasis.


    ¡°To make sure the husband couldn¡¯t react, couldn¡¯t escape, the wife drove the needle into his neck. The paralytic agent took effect quickly. It didn¡¯t kill him right away, but it made him helpless. The man could do nothing but collapse in shock, his body going limp, before falling face-first into the ground.¡±


    The crowd exchanged glances, stunned speechless. I wasn¡¯t done yet.


    "And then, the wife and her lover¡ªher husband¡¯s best friend¡ªleft the alleyway. But in their haste, the syringe slipped from her hand, and that¡¯s how it ended up lying near the building. The evidence was left behind, a trace of their actions."


    I smiled at the wife and friend''s husband. ¡°So was I right?¡± I ask, tilting my head, mocking curiosity.

 Last move

    The silence that followed felt heavier than the air before a storm. The crowd stood motionless, processing the revelation, their eyes flicking between me, the wife, and the husband¡¯s friend. I could see their faces shift from disbelief to realization, and the tension became palpable.


    ¡°Borek was the one who suggested that we kill him. Kaler was too nice to everyone, not just to me. It felt like he thought he was doing me a favor by marrying me¡± She said in tears collapsing on the floor.¡±I don¡¯t know  what came over me before I knew it I murdered my own husband in cold blood.¡±


    He took a step forward, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. ¡°This is nonsense,¡± he spat, his eyes burning with cold fury. ¡°Dira is just trying to protect herself.¡± His gaze shifted to the wife, his words dripping with venom. ¡°She wanted this. Dira wanted to kill Kaler and didn¡¯t care unless we were together.¡±


    A witness came back to their senses from all that happened and stepped forward, holding a glowing crystal aloft. Its light flared once, sending a signal through the air.


    ¡°I¡¯ve activated the alert crystal. The guards are on their way.¡±


    Not a moment later, a shimmering portal appeared, and two guards appeared wearing dark, polished armor.


    A tall man with a stern expression scanned the crowd. ¡°We received an alert. What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    I stepped forward, gesturing towards Dira and Borek. ¡°These two are responsible for the murder of Kaler.¡±


    Without hesitation, the guards moved in. Dira collapsed to the ground, sobbing, offering no resistance as a guard restrained her. Borek, on the other hand, took a step back, his face twisting in anger.


    ¡°This is all a lie!¡± Borek snarled, his voice trembling with fury. ¡°That so-called detective is setting me up¡ªarrest that bastard instead!¡± he yelled, but his protests were cut short as glowing binds appeared around his wrists, locking him in place.


    ¡°Enough,¡± one guard said sharply. ¡°You¡¯ll explain yourself in prison.¡±


    The guards led Dira and Borek through the portal, leaving the crowd stunned and murmuring in their wake.


    I don¡¯t think I could keep being here with this atmosphere so I should quickly leave this place before things get more messy and weird rumors start.


    ¡°Now that it''s settled lets go Toonka¡± I said casually turning to Toonka who snapped out of his trance.


    ¡°Huh you''re leaving, what a shame¡± Kael sighed exaggeratedly.


    Toonka glanced between Kael and me. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s get out of here,¡± he said, seemingly fine with the tension in the square. He fell in step beside me .


    A sly grin playing on Kaels lips. ¡°Ji-won it seems as though you¡¯ve got a knack for pulling skeletons out of closets.¡±


    I ignored him and walked back to the cabin with Toonka.


    The walk back to the cabin was quiet, the evening air filled with the faint hum of crickets and the rustling of leaves.


    When we finally reached the cabin, I pushed open the creaking door and stepped inside, the familiar scent of wood and herbs greeting us.


    ¡°Detective, you know we¡¯re broke right,¡± Toonka said, dropping onto a chair with a heavy thud. ¡°That last case? We didn¡¯t do any payment, just five silvers. How do you plan to fix that?¡±


    I stiffened at his comment. Shoot I was so caught up in solving the case It completely slipped my mind!


    ¡°Well¡­think of it as a free trial I bet after people see how we did they¡¯ll come swarming here¡± I said trying to act nonchalant about it. I swear I will never forget about payment again.


    Toonka looks at me suspiciously so I try to divert his attention ¡°It¡¯s getting late I¡¯ll make food so help out will you¡±


    I rummaged through the bag of food Toonka brought: beef, cheese, potatoes, salt, oil, and a dozen eggs. As I looked over the ingredients, I realized we had more than enough to make something filling. I glanced at Toonka, who was still lounging in the chair, looking more amused than helpful.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    I moved to open the cabinet, finding a couple of battered but functional pans. "I¡¯ll make do with these," I muttered, feeling relieved that I wouldn''t have to improvise too much.


    ¡°Help out will you¡± I sigh, moving to peel and dice the potatoes.


    Toonka groaned but didn''t protest. I handed him the knife, "You can chop the beef. It''ll cook faster in smaller pieces."


    With a half-grin, Toonka took the knife, expertly slicing through the beef. Meanwhile, I turned on the stove, heated some oil in a large skillet and tossed the diced potatoes in, letting them sizzle as they began to brown. The smell of cooking potatoes filled the air.


    "Looking good," Toonka said, glancing up from his work as he watched me cook.


    "You''re pretty good with a knife." I said casually.


    He simply shrugged and went back to chopping up the beef and gave it to me and I put it in the pan.


    Once the beef was browned and the potatoes were crispy, I mixed them together in the larger pan. Toonka, finishing with the eggs, cracked two into the pan, letting them cook on top of the beef and potatoes.


    When everything was done, I plated the meal and set it down in front of Toonka. He dug in without hesitation, and I followed suit.


    "This is... actually really good," he said between bites.


    ¡°It''s still hot you¡¯ll burn your tongue¡± I said blowing on my spoon before eating it.


    He ignores what I said and keeps eating hurriedly as if it''s his last meal.


    I grin. "You¡¯ll get used to this," I mutter loud enough for him to hear, making his expression look a bit longing.


    As we finished eating, I looked at the leftovers in the pan. "Where do we even put this?" I asked, glancing around the cabin. There wasn¡¯t exactly a kitchen setup here.


    Toonka pointed toward a small wooden chest in the corner. "That¡¯s a cooling box. It¡¯s lined with ice crystals¡ªkeeps food from spoiling too fast. It''s added to every house or cabin."


    I walked over and opened the chest. The interior was faintly cold, with tiny shimmering fragments embedded in the wood. "Huh. Convenient," I muttered, transferring the leftovers into a small dish before placing it inside.


    I yawn. ¡°Lets go to sleep¡±


    Toonka and I plop down on the bed and sleep¡­


    ***


    "So how was the visit with that detective guy?" A masked man with sunglasses on his head asked casually.


    ¡°It was fun, he''s more entertaining than I thought¡± Kael hummed clearly in a good mood.


    ¡°Lucky you I wish I got to meet him¡± A boy with black horns pouted, leaning back his chair.


    ¡°No way? You¡¯ll definitely cause a panic since you''re a demon¡± A girl with long untrimmed brown hair in pigtails scoffed.


    The boy glared at her ¡°Don¡¯t you-¡±


    ¡°Stop this trivial conversation¡± the leader interrupts making everyone go quiet.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been careful,¡± the leader continues, his voice low and steady. ¡°But we can¡¯t afford to make any more mistakes. Not now.¡±


    A boy with black horns, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, shifted uncomfortably. ¡°What¡¯s the plan, then?¡± he asks, clearly eager for action.


    The leader turned to face him, his gaze piercing. ¡°We¡¯re moving to the next phase. The groundwork is in place. It¡¯s time to execute.¡±


    The masked man, who had been silent until now, adjusted his sunglasses, his lips curling slightly. ¡°I take it that means we¡¯ll be going after the others now?¡±


    The leader didn¡¯t immediately respond. Instead, he turned his attention to the girl with the long brown hair in pigtails, who was staring at the table with a bored expression. ¡°Yes. We can¡¯t afford to wait any longer. We¡¯ve done enough lurking in the shadows. The time to act is now.¡±


    The girl scoffed, tapping her fingers against the glass table. ¡°About time. I¡¯m getting tired of waiting.¡±


    Kael chuckled, leaning back in his chair, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s always the waiting that gets to people. But when it¡¯s finally time¡­ well, that¡¯s when things get interesting.¡±


    The leader¡¯s eyes flicked toward him for a brief moment, sharp and calculating. ¡°This isn¡¯t a game. We¡¯ve reached the point where we need precision. Mistakes can¡¯t happen.¡±


    Kael raised his hands in mock surrender. ¡°Of course, I know that. I¡¯m just saying, once we set things in motion, there¡¯s no turning back.¡±


    ¡°You have a point¡± A woman with shoulder length light grey hair commented casually.


    ¡°Of course I am¡± Kael grinning proudly and then his expression changes as if he remembered something.


    ¡°What''s wrong?¡± The masked man asked.


    ¡°Hey guys¡± He starts seriously making tension in the room, ¡°So do what do you think of my smile¡±


    ¡°Can I smack you¡± the girl in pigtails asks clenching her fist.


    ¡°No, your punches hurt,¡± Kael said almost instantly.


    ¡°Hmm, your smile feels comforting like an older brother to me¡± said the boy with the black horns.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have to answer,¡± the woman with shoulder length light grey hair told him.


    The leader simply shakes his head and sighs.


    ***


    A sharp knock on the door startled me awake. I groggily sat up, rubbing my eyes as sunlight streamed into the room.


    ¡°Toonka, get the door,¡± I mumbled, but he was snoring loudly in the corner, oblivious. With a sigh, I got up and shuffled to the door, pulling it open.


    Standing there was a woman in her late thirties, her face pale and drawn with worry. Her hands clutched the edges of a shawl tightly.


    ¡°Are you the detective?¡± she asked, her voice trembling.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me,¡± I replied, instantly alert.


    ¡°Please,¡± she said, her eyes filling with tears. ¡°I need your help. My daughter is missing.¡±