Ch#213
"If only you'd done this from the beginning."
Tese tan muttered indifferently.
At the same time, a seal stamp rolled across the low desk with a clatter.
The husband of Jeong Myung-ja had dropped it from his trembling hand.
"N-Now it's done, right? Now you'll get rid of these things?!"
He asked hurriedly, glancing at Tese tan's face.
His eyes busily scanned the empty air around him.
Tese tan gazed leisurely at Tie sitting on his lap.
"Daughter, the uncle's asking? If we'll get rid of his minions now."
Tie, who had been poring over the divorce agreement, finally looked up.
Then answered with a puzzled face.
"No?"
The man flinched at the word.
But Tie continued brightly.
"Doesn't Daddy know? I saw it in a drama. After 'Stamp it!', there's a divorce mediation period."
An amused smile spread across Tese tan's lips.
"Is that so?"
"Yes! Then the husband and wife have to go see the judge uncle together, and that takes a long time, so......"
Tie eyed Jeong Myung-ja's husband with distrust.
"The uncle might go back on his word later."
"Then we say he changed his mind."
"Yeah, that."
Chae Bok-su, listening to the father-daughter exchange, gazed at Tie fondly.
"In the world, there can't be such a smart child."
A faint smile touched Tese tan's lips too.
Meanwhile, Jeong Myung-ja's husband fidgeted restlessly, watching Tie's expression.
The shirt he wore was soaked with cold sweat long ago.
'Hee-hee-'
'Kekeke-!'
The hallucinations in his ears grew worse as time passed.
The ghosts tormenting him grew ever more mischievous too.
Suddenly poking his lower back,
popping up right in front of his nose with grotesque faces!
"I-It's not a lie!"
Desperately shouting, he grabbed the desk.
"I won't come near this place anymore! I won't approach that woman!"
"Hmm."
"For real! I swear! I swear-!"
Tie narrowed his eyes.
'Doesn't seem like a lie.'
Even so, Tie needed to be very careful about this matter.
'After Tie leaves, there really won't be anyone to protect Auntie.'
What if the man came back to Auntie anyway?
What if he treated her even worse to get revenge for today?
As he pondered deeply.
"......Then go to the police station with us and turn yourself in."
A trembling voice came from behind.
Turning his head, Jeong Myung-ja, who had been silent, rose from her seat.
She walked over with a face full of strange resolve and sat facing her husband.
The man asked incredulously.
"What are you saying right now? To me?"
Jeong Myung-ja looked at Tie.
Then hesitated before rolling up her right sleeve.
Revealing large and small scars on her inner arm, wrist, and back of her hand.
"You did all this. Even after Tie healed them, this much remains."
Jeong Myung-ja's voice quivered faintly.
"So turn yourself in for everything you've done. I have evidence. Photos, videos, all recorded. And medical reports too."
Her husband's mouth gaped open.
"You're really crazy?"
"Yeah. So just, just a bit......!"
[If that's true, this makes things even easier.]
At that moment, Marbas bounced onto the desk from somewhere.
"Hiiik!"
The man startled and recoiled, but Marbas continued nonchalantly.
[According to Article 840, Clause 3 of the Republic of Korea Civil Code, in cases of 'severe unfair treatment by a spouse,' one can immediately petition the family court for divorce.]
"......"
[If evidence of violence is clear, one can also apply for a protection order alongside the divorce petition.]
"Protection what?"
Tie tilted his head.
[Yes. It means issuing an approach prohibition order so the perpetrator, this man, cannot approach the victim, Master's aunt.]
Tie's eyes widened.
'That's amazing!'
Of course, he hadn't planned to rely only on the law from the start.
But if they could apply for an approach prohibition order?
"Killing two birds with one stone......!"
Tie jerked his head up.
Auntie 203's hunched shoulders seemed a bit straighter too.
Marbas continued his speech.
[More importantly, if spousal violence is acknowledged, even the usual 1-3 month divorce mediation period can be waived.]
"The mediation period waived......?"
This time, Jeong Myung-ja asked hesitantly.
Marbas nodded.
[Of course? The required documents are simple too. Just medical reports or evidence of violence.]
"If, even after the approach prohibition order, he keeps coming......"
[Don't worry. According to the laws here, the perpetrator faces immediate criminal punishment.]
"Tie punishment too!"
Tie raised one hand high and shouted.
The mana flowing from the child went to Jeong Myung-ja's husband.
"If you harass Auntie again, Tie will send a hundred minions after you."
As the man shuddered, Marbas added approvingly.
[Excellent plan, Master. And furthermore.]
Marbas stared at the man.
[You must never dream of publicizing our existence or reporting us to any agency.]
The man swallowed hard.
Marbas's eyes glowed red.
[There is no technological device in this world I cannot tamper with. They use something called CCTV to track people here. I was surprised there are dozens in this area alone. But.]
"......"
[When I leave, I plan to leave no trace of Master or us. Tampering with the circuits doesn't seem too difficult.]
Marbas bounced in front of the man.
[So even if you go around saying a great mage appeared and threatened you, you'll end up treated as insane.]
"Marrr, so cool!"
Tie cheered from behind.
But the child soon approached with a pleased face and said.
"But we don't need to do that."
The child rolled up his pajama sleeve for Marbas.
"Look at this."
What emerged was a sparkling pretty bracelet.
"This is called Oblivion's Sanctity, and......"
Tie's explanation grew long.
Marbas's eyes widened with curiosity and scholarly zeal as he listened.
A while later.
Jeong Myung-ja's husband left room 107 in a daze and returned to 203.
Packing his bags in the dark room, he kept repeating the same words.
"Can't go. Can't go."
He absolutely must not go near Jeong Myung-ja.
He must divorce and never set foot in this alley until he died.
"To divorce quickly, I have to turn myself in first......"
Gathering his few belongings, he headed straight to the police station.
The reason for this sudden behavior?
"Just doing it. Have to. Yes, have to, must do it......"
Even as he muttered, an inexplicable fear gripped his heart.
If he didn't turn himself in now.
If he didn't divorce Jeong Myung-ja now, something horrific would chase him.
"I beat my wife."
The moment he entered the station and spoke, the police rose from their seats.
Jeong Myung-ja's husband began confessing everything.
"Started using violence the night we married, and after we separated, I went to her demanding money, and if she didn't listen......"
* * *
That evening.
In the room where four lay side by side, steady sleeping breaths echoed.
As the moon tilted, Tie opened his eyes at the voice calling him.
[Master.]
Marbas whispered beside his head.
[Let's go outside for a bit.]
Marbas pointed at the ceiling.
There, the fully charged Harmonium floated quietly.
Tie looked at Daddy, Grandma, and Auntie, then quietly slipped outside.
The moment he came out, Marbas asked.
[The Harmonium is full, so I plan to head to Talochioum first. We need it to bring Master over.]
"Yeah."
[But before that, there's something I want to confirm.]
Marbas asked seriously.
[Are you really okay not staying here?]