Jung Young-su was less concerned with how the goddess in front of him knew his ID and more embarrassed that she actually knew his humiliating username.

“Ah…”

Then he noticed the phone screen in her hand. The same game screen. Only then did he realize why this goddess was glaring at him.

Young-su hastily looked around and then whispered to her.

“Uh, you should hurry up and run.”

“What? You're the one who should be running.”

Haru grabbed Young-su by the collar and dragged him behind the convenience store, where boxes were stacked in a secluded spot.

She folded her arms and tilted her chin up, looking down at him as arrogantly as possible. Imitating the delinquent girls she had seen before.

“Apologize. For hitting me, running away, and pissing me off.”

Young-su fidgeted anxiously, glancing around.

“No, I mean, I'm sorry. But right now… you should really run—”

Step, step, step.

“What the hell? It was a girl?”

“Whoa… what a lucky day.”

Two large men wearing caps and masks swaggered toward them. Young-su paled at the sight of them.

One of them placed a hand on Young-su’s shoulder.

“What were you babbling about, Young-su? Were you trying to take all the loot for yourself?”

“No, that’s not it… Uh, miss! Just hand over your items and leave!”

“Hey, where do you think she’s going? Young-su, is her pretty face giving you some courage?”

“I-I mean, no matter what, hitting a girl is…”

“Who said we were gonna hit her? We just wanna have some fun.”

Haru watched them silently, arms still crossed.

One man pushed Young-su down, gripping the back of his neck, while the other pulled his mask down to his chin and stepped toward Haru.

“Usually, we beat the crap out of anyone who shows up for a real-life fight, but I’ll give you a choice. Wanna get beat up here and lose your items? Or do you wanna have a nice little chat at that motel over there?”

Haru lightly touched her lips with her index finger before speaking.

“Stop doing this. If I see you again, I’ll report you to the police.”

With that, she turned to leave. But the man with the lowered mask reached out and grabbed her hoodie.

Thud.

At the same time, Haru extended her hand, twisted his arm around in one smooth motion, and pushed his underarm with her palm.

“Huh?”

The man stumbled back two steps, unable to even hold onto her hoodie.

He rubbed his underarm and chuckled.

“What the hell? You know some moves? Is that why you were acting all high and mighty?”

Whoosh—

He pulled something from his pocket and flicked it open in the air. A telescopic baton, just like the ones the police carried.

The other man, who had been restraining Young-su, also drew a baton and stepped toward Haru.

“Guess we need to give this lady a good beating. Don’t worry, we won’t mess up that pretty face!”

Despite his words, he immediately swung the baton at Haru’s head.

“N-no!”

Young-su screamed and shut his eyes tightly.

Whoosh—

Haru simply shifted her left foot slightly, letting the baton slice through the air harmlessly. The man’s side was completely exposed.

Haru lifted her phone and struck just below his ear with the edge of the device.

Thwack—

“Gah!”

“You little—!”

As one man clutched his ear in pain, the other swung his baton frantically.

Whoosh. Whoosh.

Haru easily dodged the attacks, reading the predictable movements from his shoulders, waist, and feet. Then she kicked behind his knee.

Thud—

“Ugh!”

As the man wobbled, dropping to one knee, Haru closed in and swung her phone.

Smack! Smack! Smack! Thud!

She struck his exposed underarm, throat, and nose in quick succession before finishing with a knee strike to his chin.

“Ack!”

The man collapsed with a groan. The one who had been clutching his ear struggled to get up.

Without even looking, Haru pivoted on her ankle, twisted her waist, and spun around, bringing her foot down on his neck.

Thud!

Hit cleanly by the spinning kick, the man, who had just been trying to stand, collapsed forward again.

“Whoa…”

Young-su was speechless with admiration. As Haru approached him, he hurriedly pulled out his phone.

“I-I’m sorry—”

Thwack—

Haru unhesitatingly jabbed him in the throat with her fingers, making him double over coughing. Then she raised her knee and struck his face, sending him sprawling.

Looking down at Young-su, who was groaning on the ground, Haru let out a long sigh.

“Ha…”

She had used a weapon, but she was the one who had come here after being provoked into a fight.

Worried about getting scolded, Haru hesitated before gathering her courage and picking up her phone.

“Um… there’s a problem.”

At the scene, Shin Haesu arrived in less than ten minutes.

At first, he thought Haru had finally gotten into trouble when he saw three men lying in a row. But then he noticed the telescopic batons in their hands and praised Haru instead.

“Haru, when someone swings a weapon at you like that, it’s important to break their arms to remove the threat.”

“Is… that really okay?”

“It’s okay.”

“Understood!”

Haru nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling.

“But how did this happen…”

Haesu’s gaze landed on Jung Young-su, who was nervously clutching his neck and glancing at him.

“And you are?”

“Uh… O-officer, sir. Haha…”

Haesu remembered him. Back when he was a rookie detective, Young-su had been a middle schooler. He had been caught installing hacking programs on computers at an internet café to steal game data, but the case had been resolved after settlements with the victims.

Gangjin Police Department, Major Crimes Division.

“Get in there already.”

“Stop pushing—”

Thud. Thud.

Haesu shoved Young-su and the other two men into the office. The detectives turned to look.

“What’s this? Haesu went out and brought something back again.”

“Seriously, this is why we’ll never catch up to Team 1’s numbers.”

The team leader approached with a grin.

“Our little battering ram, huh? Who are these young souls?”

“Give me the composite sketch the victim drew.”

“Oh, here.”

Before Haesu could grab it, Oh Gaeng placed the sketch next to Young-su’s face. The team leader’s lips curled up.

“What the hell? What kind of magic trick is this?”

“Just good luck.”

“Luck? Oh, is that the young lady—?”

Ogeng immediately recognized Haru, who was hesitantly following behind. As expected, detectives had sharp eyes.

Haesu explained the case without mentioning that he was living with Haru. Haru was soon released as her actions were deemed self-defense.

“Our team has to write the report, so who’s the kind detective who will escort this young lady home?”

“M-me!”

“I’ll escort her!”

“I used to be a military driver!”

Haru refused all the eager volunteers and left the police station on her own.

The case was not as simple as it seemed. Jeong Yeong-su was at the center of the crime, but it was difficult to charge him directly.

Although Yeong-su had engaged in item trading, luring players into real-life fights, acting as a decoy, enticing victims, and even physical assault, all of it was done under coercion.

His body bore traces of beatings, and there were recorded files as well.

As a result, Yeong-su was released without detention, while the two accomplices were detained as the investigation continued.

The money the group had earned from selling game items was mostly recovered. It turned out they had been saving it, waiting for it to reach 500 million won before making a big move.

“Something’s off…”

“What is?”

“Never mind.”

The Yeong-su Haesu remembered from middle school was quite smart. The fact that the assailants had the money but couldn’t use it, the irrefutable evidence of coercion—everything was too perfectly aligned.

“I need to step out for a bit.”

“Don’t bring back another case. I’m tired today.”

Haesu went to visit Yeong-su’s home. It was a rundown, single-story house in a neighborhood with many stairs.

Knock, knock.

Silence. The lights inside were on. Haesu waited patiently, and though there were no footsteps, a voice came from inside.

“Who is it…?”

It was Yeong-su’s voice, cautious.

“It’s me.”

Click, clack.

The old metal door creaked open, revealing Yeong-su. His expression was one of resignation, as if he had been expecting this visit. He bowed his head slightly.

“Hello. Please, come in.”

Inside, four phones and a computer were all displaying the same game.

Haesu observed them before speaking.

“When I knew you before, you weren’t someone who let others walk all over you.”

Yeong-su casually placed some tangerines on the table as he replied.

“When they threaten to kill your mother after finding out where you live, there’s not much you can do.”

“So, how does it feel, now that you’ve had your revenge?”

Yeong-su flinched.

After interrogating the two arrested men, it became clear that although they had orchestrated the crime, they didn’t have the intelligence to plan everything so meticulously. The more they talked, the more it seemed like they had been subtly led along by Yeong-su’s scheme.

Since they had held onto the stolen money, they saw themselves as the leaders of the crime.

“…”

Yeong-su remained silent, staring at Haesu. Eventually, he slumped his shoulders as if giving up and held out his hands.

“Are you here to arrest me?”

“No. There’s no evidence.”

“Of course. Then why are you here?”

Haesu didn’t answer immediately. He had come to confirm his suspicions, but now that he had, his thoughts were complicated.

Yeong-su had fought injustice in his own way. Ultimately, it was the others who had initiated the crimes. Yeong-su had gone along with it, only to later devise his plan for revenge.

“Why are you still holding onto that?”

Yeong-su clicked his mouse and replied.

“I need to make money.”

“Why not use your skills to become a white-hat hacker instead?”

“Who would hire an ex-con? Don’t worry about me. I’ll just keep playing games and live quietly. I can make enough money that way.”

Yeong-su peeled a tangerine and placed it in front of Haesu, changing the subject.

“That goddess—what’s your relationship with her? She called you her landlord. Ah, is she a cop too? No wonder she’s so skilled…”

Haesu stuffed the tangerine into Yeong-su’s mouth and stood up.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Just then, the door opened. It was Yeong-su’s mother. She looked surprised to see Haesu.

“Oh my, Detective, what brings you all the way here? Did Yeong-su cause trouble again?”

“No, I was just in the area and thought I’d stop by.”

“Oh, really? Why are you standing? Have a meal before you go.”

She immediately started setting the table, ready to serve a meal.

“I’m fine. Were you coming back from somewhere?”

“Oh… Just the restaurant.”

She glanced at Yeong-su as she spoke. As expected, Yeong-su, who had been fiddling with his phone, suddenly raised his head, his eyes blazing.

“Why are you still working at a restaurant? I told you I’m making money!”

“You should just focus on school. I’ll take care of the money.”

“Mom, just take care of your diabetes properly!”

At the mention of diabetes, Haesu glanced at her feet. He had noticed her slightly awkward gait when she entered.

Even through her socks, he could see signs of infection.

“Ma’am, may I see your feet?”

“Huh? Why my feet…?”

She hesitated, glancing at Yeong-su, reluctant to take off her socks. Yeong-su, however, quickly removed them for her.

Her big and second toes were decaying. It was a severe diabetic complication. If left untreated, amputation might be necessary.

“Oh…”

Yeong-su’s face darkened. He hadn’t even realized his mother’s condition had worsened. He had been too preoccupied, staying out all night due to his involvement in the crime.

“This needs immediate treatment. She might have to undergo amputation.”

“W-what? Detective, don’t say such scary things.”

At Haesu’s words, Yeong-su’s face turned even paler.

“I—I told you to get treated… I told you…”

His eyes welled up. He tried hard to keep from crying in front of others. He blamed himself for neglecting his mother.

In the end, Haesu couldn’t refuse Yeong-su’s mother’s insistence and stayed for a meal before leaving.

As he stepped outside, Yeong-su, who had come to see him off, suddenly bowed his head deeply.

“I… I was going to confess. I really was. But… I need to make money. If I go to prison… What happens to my mom…?”

Tears fell from his eyes. Haesu stepped closer and patted his shoulder.

“…Yeong-su, I’ll make sure she gets treated. At the best hospital. So don’t worry and…”

He whispered in a warm tone.

“Confess.”

No matter how tragic the circumstances, a crime couldn’t be concealed.