Supernatural Investigation 101: Chronicles Of Nakashima Wakana

"You know that I can't," Mrs Phaendry tells her. "The Council is strict. Laws have changed."

She doesn't continue. The main problem is the anklet on Dierre's ankle. That anklet prevents her from leaving the world. Dierre is an extremely unstable hybrid with an activated gorgon's blood. This petite girl can kill any living being with her gaze alone. The anklet not only restricts her from leaving this world but also acts as a tracker. There is no lack of people who might want to use her to wreak havoc.

Dierre sighs. It's not her fault that she has eyes like that. Why does she have an allergy? Well, she doesn't like humans anyway. 

"Humans aren't that bad, Dierre." Mrs Phaendry's voice is gentle. "I can start therapy. The Council will --" 

"I am leaving, Mrs Phaendry." Dierre drags her feet toward the door. The Council. Oh, she hates them more than she hates humans. Was it her fault that she killed a few humans? There are so many of them. If she killed a few, it didn't change the number much. Why did they punish her for something so small? She can't control her eyes, and she didn't even know that she was allergic to them. It was self-defence!

She can't even leave this country without the Council's permission.

Dierre Virevo ambles toward her apartment. How does she pay that filthy human? Why does a gorgon have to worry about paying rent? Humans are multiplying so fast. Creatures like her are losing their dwellings to them. She takes a deep breath. How can she find a way to leave this world? 

"Aaah!" She screams when she bumps into a man. Staggering backwards, Dierre Virevo looks up at the man in front of her. Enchanted by his sea-green beautiful eyes for a moment, she forgets about running. A small head peeks out of her hat and hisses at the man. She snaps out of her daze and turns around to run. 

The man grabs her arm. "Dierre Virevo?"

She becomes still. How does he know her name? She sniffs the air. He smells human. She tenses her shoulders and fists her hands. Nausea builds up in her throat. She whimpers. "Let go of me!"

"I need your help." Choi Minho bends his neck to take a look at her. She's covered from her head to the toes. What kind of creature is she? "Akabane Houmi recommended you."

That phoenix's priestess? This human can't be normal. Dierre Virevo turns her head toward the man. His human scent makes her dizzy. She retches. "I will throw up if you don't let go of me."

Choi Minho releases her right away. He's been trying to read her mind, but he hasn't been able to hear a single thought. His skills aren't limited to humans. Surely, he can't hear ghosts' minds. Then, what could she be? Is she strong enough to make a barrier around her mind like Akabane Houmi? "I need you to exorcise a demonic grudge from someone's soul."

Exorcise? Dierre Virevo takes a step back. She has never exorcised someone before. "Who told you that I can exorcise?"

"Akabane Houmi said that?" She takes another step back. "I have never exorcised anyone before, and why would I help you? You are a human!"

He creases his forehead. What is she saying? Is it a problem if he's a human? "I am an immortal."

"An immortal human…" Dierre Virevo narrows her eyes. "Why did you not become a demon then? You should already choose a path. Don't go to the light." 

So, this one doesn't like humans. He lets out a sigh. Time is the only thing that he doesn't have at the moment. He takes a long stride toward her and grabs her collar before she could sprint away from him. She widens her eyes and inhales sharply when the space around her becomes blurry. In a flash of light, she finds herself inside a room with pale blue walls. The faint scent of disinfectant wafts into her nose. Her nose twitches when she pinpoints another human scent. She turns her head around and sees a female human lying on the bed. Next to her, there's a male human with brown hair and brown eyes, watching her with widened eyes. 

Choi Minho gapes at the snakes flailing in all the direction, hissing at him. He doesn't have to read their minds to know that they are enraged at him for kidnapping the girl. 

The door is pushed open and Nishimura Soichiro walks in. He had been dealing with the aftermath of the case. Since Okuyama Mikio wasn't the true criminal, the Council has taken charge. It's impossible to let the boy go free because he is still the vessel of the demon. Okuyama Mikio will probably get a lighter prison sentence with the help of a lawyer from the Council. "Minami, I need your --"

The rest of the words drown in the shock that he receives after seeing the snakes. His legs become numb; his mouth is wide open. He can't look away. Is this a dream? Medusa is here. Nishimura Soichiro closes his eyes right away. "W-W-Why did you bring a Medusa here, Choi-san?"

"It's not a Medusa." Dierre Virevo barks at the human. "I am a hybrid gorgon."

A hybrid what? Nishimura Soichiro hasn't memorized the monster encyclopedia. Spare him! It's not one or two. There are more than a million creatures in that encyclopedia. In any case, Medusa was supposed to be dead!

Minami Sei stands up, pointing at the snakes with a curious look in his eyes. "Why do you have a snake-nest on your head?"

"Those are my…" Dierre Virevo shuts her mouth. Why is she explaining this to them? She turns to face Choi Minho. "Take me back to K Country. I am on parole. I am not allowed to leave the country without the Council's permission."

She's a hybrid. That explains why he can't read her mind. Besides, those snakes are also a part of her mind. It must be chaotic to hear all of them. Choi Minho inhales and exhales. A gorgon! Of all the creatures, it's a gorgon. Dealing with an ancient phoenix priestess is bad enough. They have a gorgon now. 

"Hey!" She yells at him. There are four humans here. It's a death valley for her. On top of it, she has left the country without the Council's permission. "I am going to tell them that you brought me here."

"Don't worry about the Council." His voice is low but distressed. Choi Minho closes his eyes and holds his head. What kind of crime did this creature commit? Who is the Council's president now? "Help me this time."

She crosses her arms and raises her brow. Not worry about the Council? Is he an important figure? This is her chance, right? "You know the rules. Nothing is free. What will I get for helping you?"

It's good that she is showing interest. He regards her solemnly. "What do you want?"

"I need to get rid of this." She pulls her pants, revealing the anklet on her pale ankle. "I can't leave this world because of it. If you can't help me get rid of it, I won't help you either."

It's a red anklet. She's pretty dangerous for obvious reasons. Choi Minho stares at her. "I can't promise you, but I assure you that I will talk to the president of the Council about this."

"Talking isn't enough." Dierre Virevo glares at him. Though she's wearing dark glasses, Choi Minho's body becomes stiff. "Immortal human, I need something solid. I want to leave this world. If you can't find a way for me to leave this world, I can't help you."

"I will find a way," Choi Minho promises her. He didn't say when. He's an immortal and she's not. But he will do his best. "You are a gorgon. If a human looks into your eyes, he will die. But I am sure that your intense gaze can dispel the grudges from human souls. It acts as a cleanser."

"I didn't know that." She scratches her chin. "Did Akabane Houmi say that?"

Akabane Houmi wouldn't have said her name if Dierre Virevo couldn't do it. A gorgon's eyes hold a high intensity of destructive magic. It devours the essence for a living being's body and turns it into stone. Choi Minho gives her a command, "Try it."

"Send them away first." Dierre Virevo glances at Minami Sei. "I don't want to kill someone accidentally and get my punishment extended."

Having heard that, Nishimura Soichiro opens the door and steps outside. He takes a breath of relief. He has seen a real Medusa, and he's still alive.

Minami Sei is reluctant to leave, but he can't do much about it. He doesn't know much about these things. If he had any doubt left, they left his mind after he saw the girl with snakes on her head. He looks at Wakana. Her skin has a purplish tint. Hopefully, Choi Minho knows what he's doing. He walks out of the room with a heavy heart. 

He has to change if he wants to protect Wakana.