Killing the Possessor - Chapter 60

I was trying to avoid this, but strictly speaking, what I had asked wasn’t that, and the most pressing question was when he would finally let me go. I wanted to grab him by the collar and yell, but…

“…I see. Thank you for letting me know.”

As a possessor, I had to be extremely careful, so here, I was in a very submissive position. Anyone would feel that way in this cold, sterile room, unless you were as tough as Bali. Because of that, I had no choice but to give an awkward smile and offer a meaningless “thank you.”

Huff. I sighed deeply as the smoke poured out again. As a modern person, I knew all too well how bad secondhand smoke could be, and my brow instinctively furrowed.

I had never been a smoker even on Earth, and I didn’t particularly enjoy any kind of scent. Why was he smoking something like that in a place with no windows?

“Do you not like cigarettes?”

“Huh?”

“Your expression doesn’t look good.”

Was it obvious that I was uncomfortable?

I quickly shifted in my seat. Who said that? If you’re uncomfortable, change your posture first.

“Ah, well…”

I couldn’t exactly ask a normal question like, ‘Why would someone who isn’t a smoker like cigarettes?’ Why? Because here, there’s no such awareness that tobacco is carcinogenic.

In fact, on Earth, up until the 90s, smoking indoors was very common. People smoked in restaurants, hospitals, and even on airplanes.

“So…”

I couldn’t use health reasons as an excuse, especially not in front of the man who could easily figure out a possessor.

Even now, I was trying to look like a sluggish office worker, leaning my chin on my hand, but his sharp gaze made me feel like he could see right through me.

“The smell isn’t great.”

“The smell?”

“Yes. It’s a bit stuffy. There’s no ventilation here.”

I didn’t say it to be funny, but somehow, he laughed warmly as if something had clicked with him. He immediately turned off the lighter and began tidying up the pipe.

“My apologies. I’ll make sure to refrain from smoking in the future.”

“What? No, I mean, if you just refrain from doing it here…”

“I hear it’s bad for your health anyway.”

“…Is that so?”

I feigned surprise and widened my eyes.

That wasn’t information anyone around here should know. Did a possessor say that during their investigation?

But then, I found it hard to keep my expression steady after hearing the next part.

“A friend who’s a former Girl Scout told me that.”

“…?”

At first, I thought I must have misheard. Girl Scout? There couldn’t be such a thing here.

I wondered if it might be another word with a similar pronunciation, but no matter how much I thought about it, it was unmistakably Girl Scout.

“Girl… what did you say?”

I barely regained my composure and asked. Although I was a beat late, the timing wasn’t too awkward. Even if it was delayed, it wasn’t a completely strange response. The noble people here usually avoid revealing their ignorance.

But once again, Ren’s reaction was unusual.

“Girl Scout. Don’t you know?”

“…”

Isn’t it weirder that I know that? I’m a possessor and I won’t advertise that I am..

Is he suspecting me?

“I’ve never heard of it. My education was lacking…”

“That can’t be. You graduated from the Royal Academy, didn’t you? With a major in magic.”

“…That was a long time ago.”

The topic I had most feared before coming to the Public Security had now come up. Magic.

“If you had used magic, you’d have avoided that situation, wouldn’t you?”

He had sharply pointed that out when he saw me at the palace, taken by the evil spirit. Perhaps his suspicions started back then.

“So that’s it.”

Suddenly leaning toward me, he slowly extended his hand toward my face. His cold fingers brushed against my cheek, and then moved to push a strand of hair behind my ear.

“All your accessories are artifacts.”

His hand that felt warm from the touch, landed gently on my earlobe.

“Even your earrings.”

With a whisper, his fingers moved again, teasingly grazing my neck.

“Your necklace, too.”

Following my downward gaze, his hand rested on my wrist. He slipped his fingers between the thick ring bracelet around my wrist and lifted it, smiling.

“Your bracelet, and even the ring.”

With a soft thunk, he removed his fingers, and the weight of the metal gently struck my wrist, though not painfully. Still, it felt like I was bound by something, as if in shackles.

“A person capable of channeling magic like you… is this a bit excessive?”

“…”

“It’s like you’re armed. Like a soldier going into battle.”