Don't Feed the Professor! - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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But there was no time to discern anything further before the footage ended. It seemed impossible to learn much from this alone.
I turned to Lee Ha-young with a question.
“What about you, Lee Ha-young? Even if you weren’t free to come and go, you lived right next door. Didn’t you notice anything odd?”
“Anything odd? Well…I’m not sure….”
Lee Ha-young, who had been lost in thought for a moment, suddenly seemed to remember something and opened her mouth.
“As you must know, it was quite a long time ago that I came to the Fortress.”
Bibi nodded at her words.
“About eight years ago, wasn’t it?”
I remembered that much too. Back then, Lee Ha-young had been an extraordinarily popular young actress.
She debuted in musicals but went on to lead roles in major films and dramas, and appeared in quite a few commercials as well.
Even someone like me, who knew nothing of entertainment, recognized her name and face.
When she disappeared, it was a daily topic on the news. All manner of sinister rumors circulated at the time.
And yet here I was, meeting her at the Fortress eight years later, looking exactly as she had then.
Lee Ha-young continued.
“I can’t speak to the details, but my life outside back then was in shambles. So I’ve been living here reasonably content with my circumstances.”
“That’s fortunate, at least.”
“Of course, it wasn’t without its frustrations. In any case, Jusija never showed himself once in all that time—but recently, he began poking around the 12th Floor in the form of that child you saw.”
“When did that start?”
“Probably…about a month ago.”
Around the time classes started. So did the Intruder hide in Room 1202 around then?
The moment contact with Headquarters was cut, Bibi received a distress signal. Was that really coincidence?
“Professor—I mean, Director.”
“Mm?”
“That Ritual they were preparing in Room 1202. Do you have any idea what it was for?”
“Hmm….”
Mallo rolled his eyes. His expression was unmistakably one of someone concocting an excuse.
“Be straight with me. I’m not going to let you off just because you’re a professor.”
After all, I’m the detective here. Faced with my firm questioning, Mallo smiled and asked me this.
“Wasn’t I here in an advisory capacity?”
“…I suppose so?”
“An advisor should remain as neutral and objective as possible. In that sense, I can’t pinpoint anything definitively at this moment.”
“You can’t pinpoint anything….”
“All we can know is that the Intruder intended to do something here. The Ritual itself didn’t look good, and besides, the provisions and offerings were all far too mundane.”
He didn’t seem to be lying. Which meant there was nothing more to learn in this place.
First, I’d need to go back to the School and talk with someone who knew the Black Market well.
As I was gathering evidence, a thought suddenly struck me. If this was all Lee Ha-young could tell us, why had we needed to bring her to this interrogation room at all?
Setting up the entire set with spotlights and everything?
I glanced toward the director’s chair. Mallo simply sat there grinning, still wearing his Sunglasses.
“…But Lee Ha-young.”
“Yes?”
“The fact that you came here through the Witness Protection Program suggests you were involved in quite a serious incident, isn’t that right?”
It would be unusual to have a celebrity of Lee Ha-young’s stature take refuge in the Fortress unless it was something significant.
And for the Agency to take direct action, for eight years no less.
Lee Ha-young smiled gently.
“I can’t go into details with an agent present, but it was quite a major case at the time. Many high-ranking people were involved.”
“Would it be possible to discuss it later? When she’s not around?”
When I gestured toward Bibi, she frowned.
“Hey, what are you—”
“Of course. You’ve caused me some trouble already, after all. And I also need someone to talk to about these things.”
Before Bibi could interject, Lee Ha-young had already answered.
Bibi let out a resigned sigh.
“Director, cut.”
As I waved my hand, the lights flicked on with a bright snap.
‘I suppose that’s all for now.’
Whether the Intruder hiding in Room 1202 was even human, whether it was still alive—I couldn’t say. But one thing was certain: it had substance.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t have left behind something like a Pain Relief Pump.
And if it coming at me wasn’t coincidence, then I needed to know at least what its purpose was.
I stood and walked toward the director’s chair.
“Not bad, was it?”
Mallo asked as he removed his Sunglasses.
“What?”
“The direction. Didn’t it feel like a real classic detective story?”
“Well, it was a bit much, but…either way, detective stories rarely end in the interrogation room.”
“So?”
“You have to do field investigation.”
“Should we throw in a chase scene?”
“A chase scene?”
“That’s what detectives do, isn’t it? Nearly crushed under a massive boulder in a maze, tied to a train track having to decide which side to send the runaway trolley toward….”
“Ugh, stop talking about it!”
I decided right then I wouldn’t watch movies for a while. As I turned away shaking my head, my eyes met Bibi’s.
Her expression was stiffer than it had ever been.
Why was she looking at me like that?
“Um…you’re heading straight back to School too, right?”
“No, I need to look around Room 1201 a bit more. I also have a few things to ask Canaria.”
“Right, you said you needed to report to Headquarters. So the Professor and I should probably—”
“If you don’t mind.”
“Huh?”
“If you don’t mind, stay a while longer. I’ll drive you back to the Dormitory.”
Bibi’s mouth was firmly shut, but her gaze was fixed on Mallo—clearly a look of wariness.
Meanwhile, Mallo seemed to find something amusing, chuckling as he rested his chin in his hand.
“I don’t know what you’re getting at, Bibi, but—”
“You don’t know?”
At the sudden harsh edge to his voice, both Bibi and I flinched.
Folding my arms, I watched him. Bibi sighed and pulled me toward a corner of the set, where she spoke in a low voice.
“It’s dangerous.”
“Dangerous? What is?”
Bibi rolled her eyes as if to say: you really don’t understand?
“But you were the one who asked me to call the Professor in the first place. And now—”
“I called in an advisor. Not Memory Manipulation.”
“That was…I’m sorry, but it couldn’t be helped.”
“It couldn’t be helped? Do you really believe that?”
Bibi looked straight into my eyes.
“Honestly, I’m finding it hard to trust your judgment right now.”
I let out a bitter laugh without meaning to. Because I’d heard words like that before.
Growing up under pseudo-parents, being treated as crazy wasn’t unfamiliar to me. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
Besides, was this something that called for questioning my judgment? And it was Bibi who came to me asking for help in the first place.
But then again….
‘Is that really true?’
Mallo had said Memory Manipulation was unavoidable, but in the end, it was his assertion. The fact that I’d taken his word at face value—maybe that itself was….
“Should I give you some space?”
At that moment, Mallo asked in a casual, almost amused tone, as if watching someone else’s business.
“No. Let’s go, Professor.”
I collected myself and turned around.
“Amelie.”
Looking directly at Bibi, who was trying to block my path, I spoke.
“See you next time. I’m not going to talk with someone who treats me like I’m crazy.”
Bibi’s eyes widened.
“No, what I meant was—”
“I understood exactly what you meant. I’m disappointed. I thought you were a serious person. And another thing: stop doing that next time, with all your ‘this’ and ‘that.’ Either way, both of us have benefited from the Professor’s help.”
I left Room 1202 as I was. Mallo followed silently behind me.
When we reached the elevator, Bibi hurried after me. She shot a wary look at Mallo, then pressed something into my hand.
It was a Communicator—the same kind of device that Canaria carried.
I shook my head.
“No thanks. I’ll manage on my own. Besides, you said Headquarters isn’t even reachable right now.”
“I know. I do know, but….”
Bibi sighed.
Then the elevator chimed and opened. I finally put the Communicator in my pocket and stepped inside.
Mallo followed at a leisurely pace behind me.
As Bibi glared at him from outside the doors, Mallo smiled and spoke.
“Well then, take care, Agent.”
Bibi’s face twisted, and the doors closed.
….
Silence fell inside the elevator.
After a long moment, Mallo spoke.
“You’re like a duck.”
What was he talking about? I turned my head sharply to protest and felt his long finger poke my cheek.
Mallo chuckled softly.
“Did you get so upset over having a fight with your friend?”
“No, I’m not a kindergartener. What fight are you talking about?”
“Then why are you acting like that?”
“…I don’t know. Just…the situation’s gotten so much bigger, that’s why.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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