SSS-Class Suicide Hunter

br>Kim Gong-ja didn’t try to look around the house.
If you were a criminal, you would need to ensure there wasn’t a third party inside the house and how it was structured.”

The Tower Master held the stainless steel cup with both hands.

She took a sip to moisten her throat.

“None of Mr.
Kim Gong-ja’s actions are that of a criminal.
Therefore, I don’t believe that Mr.
Kim Gong-ja is a criminal who harbors ill intentions towards me.”

“…”

“So to answer Mr.
Kim Gong-ja’s question.
Yes, it’s fine.”

Chiiirp-

The sound of the cicadas echoed throughout the house.

In a daze, I just listened to the sounds of summer.

‘…huht!’

My mind was blown.

“Y-, you’re very articulate.
And smart.”

“Yes.”

The Tower Master calmly affirmed my words.

“I am smart.”

“…”

That was when I realised.

Even if she had lost her memories, the girl in front of me was not normal.

“That… I’m sorry, but do you mind if I used the restroom…?”
0
“It’s around the back of the house.
Be careful when you come back.”

After going to the squat-style toilet, I later realized why the Tower Master said ‘be careful when you come’ and not just ‘come back safely’.

It was as I left the restroom.

“Huh?”

I felt a faint presence in a warehouse built on the other side of the backyard.

I couldn’t feel any signs of them moving.

It was as if someone was hiding in the warehouse.

“…”

What was it?

Even though it was a hot summer, the back of my neck still felt a bit cold.

As I looked at the warehouse door, the presence remained silent, as if it was trying to avoid my gaze.

‘What really is it?’

I took a step closer.

With each step, the presence became stronger.

And the cold feeling on the back of my neck became more pronounced.

‘Hey.
No, what are you doing?’

I tried shooting some of my aura forward just in case, but there was no response.

The presence didn’t fade, and instead continued to grow stronger as I got closer.

One step.

Another step.

‘Fuck.’

I gulped slightly.

Just as I was about to grab the handle of the warehouse door.

“Don’t”

Someone grabbed my clothes from behind.

“Don’t go in.”

When I turned around, the Tower Master was looking at me with her expressionless face.

I didn’t notice when she arrived.

“Huh…?”

“Mr.
Kim Gong-ja will scare [those children] if you enter.”

Children.

“Uh, children… What do you mean by children…?”

“Please wait here for a moment.”

The Tower Master opened the warehouse door.

When the door opened, the presence increased sharply.

Until now, it felt like someone was stroking the back of my neck, but now, the sensation felt more like someone was scratching it with their nails.

“…”

“I’m sorry.
A guest came to visit.”

There were a number of curtains scattered around the warehouse.

When the Tower Master pulled one of the curtains aside, all I could see was a full length mirror.

As soon as the mirror was revealed, the sharp presence disappeared as if it had been washed away.

“Relax.”

The Tower Master picked up a nearby towel and began to wipe the surface of the mirror.

I couldn’t help but watch the Tower Master from behind.

“Th-, that mirror.
Isn’t there something strange about it?”

“Yes.
It’s a strange child.”

“I think it might hurt people…”

“This child won’t hurt anyone anymore.”

The Tower Master took back the rag and once again covered the mirror with the curtain.

I felt the presence again, but it wasn’t as harsh as before.

It felt like it was acting more obedient now.

“Isn’t it possible that it may cause harm in the future?”

“Humans are the same.”

“…”

Meow.

I heard a cat’s cry from my feet.

Without me realizing it, a [puppy doll] had climbed onto my feet.

“…”

Meow.

Without a doubt, the sound of a cat’s meow was coming from this puppy doll which had no mouth or vocal chords.

“Th-, this is?”

“It’s Meow.”

It was a name that shouldn’t have been given to a puppy doll.

“Never pet his head just because you think it’s cute.”

“What would happen if I pet it?”

“Until he finds his next owner, Mr.
Kim Gong-ja would make a meowing sound every 6 seconds.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

“Crazy.”

“For now, I put him in a puppy doll and he’s calm.
He’s still wondering if he’s a cat or a dog, so he’s been putting off finding an owner.
He’s a child who worries about his own identity first before relying on others.”

“This… isn’t this a bit dangerous?”

“It’s fine.
Once he has established his identity, I’ll move him to a squirrel doll.”

“Huhhh…?”

“Then he’ll start wondering if he’s a squirrel or not for about a year.
It’s safe as long as I change his body every 10 to 13 months.
No, Mr.
Meow.
Don’t bother the guest.
Please come over here.”

The Tower Master grabbed the puppy doll by the neck.

Meow.

The doll who was contemplating its identity was placed on a shelf.

“Oh my god…”

In shock, I looked around the warehouse.

Countless items were displayed on similar shelves.

A frame hung on the wall, and when I looked at it, the picture changed to Raviel.

“…what is that?”

“Whoever looks at that child will see the one they love the most.”

The Tower Master spoke calmly as if that wasn’t a big deal.

“Don’t look at it for too long.
The more you look, the more you forget about the one you love the most.
And in contrast to your fading memories, the image will become more and more alive.
Eventually, when all the memories of the person you love the most disappears, the image of the person you love the second most will take its place.”

I quickly looked away.

“Wh-, why do you collect these things?”

“If they were in another place, they would bother people.”

“B-, but aren’t you scared? After all, they’re like ghosts.”

“That’s a strange question.”

The Tower Master tilted her head to the side.

“If we’re talking about ghosts, Mr.
Kim Gong-ja also has one”

I blinked.

“…Huh?”

“There.”

The Tower Master pointed her finger behind me.

“There is a rugged muscular ghost behind Mr.
Kim Gong-ja.”

“…”

Where her finger was pointing, Bae Hu-ryeong was floating.

-Uh?

Bae Hu-ryeon was startled.

-What the hell? You can see me?

An expression that only I could see and a voice that only I could hear.

However, the Tower Master responded to Bae Hu-ryeongs question as if it was natural

“Yes.”

She was the first person other than me who could see Bae Hu-ryeong.

(Note:

1.Hanoks are traditional Korean-style houses.

2.In 1910, Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan.
After years of war(and other factors), the country was considered a part of Japan until 1945.)