S Chapter 14

‘It’s quiet.’

From the second day of school, he could feel the drastically changed hierarchy. Shin Jukyeong, who had once been at the top of the invisible caste system, had somehow become an untouchable. He didn’t know if it was because a rumor had spread that he’d been beaten up by delinquents, or if he was being treated as a dropout due to his failed Ability Manifestation, but all the classmates who used to stick to him now ignored Shin Jukyeong. They didn’t even glance his way.

However, Shin Jukyeong was rather deflated by the reactions, which were exactly as he’d expected.

‘These little brats only learn bad things… Still, it seems my school reputation has dropped easily enough. No more annoying guys will try to get involved with me.’

He left the classroom, secretly satisfied. He did so even though he knew class would start soon. A few children sitting nearby exchanged glances, but that was all; no one asked where he was going.

‘I guess I’ll just slack off until U-dam gets out of school.’

Shin Jukyeong thought so and headed to the rooftop. It was a decision made because he no longer had the will to study, and he couldn’t just leave early, abandoning his brother.

How long had it been since he’d leisurely gazed at the sky?

‘It’s truly blue.’

Somehow, even his heart softened. One might think he was making a fuss over just the sky, but good things were simply good. The clouds were pretty, and the weather was clear, perfect for enjoying a moment of happiness. Just as he was debating whether to take a nap right there.

“How much is it this time?”

The rooftop door opened with a commotion.

“Damn it~ I want to go watch too.”

“Gah, spit!”

‘I guess I’m out of luck.’ Shin Jukyeong sat up. Fortunately, he was at an angle where they couldn’t see him, so there was no worry of being caught. More importantly, weren’t they supposed to be in class right now? These wet-behind-the-ears kids were already skipping school.

‘……Do I really have room to talk?’

Shin Jukyeong quietly pursed his grumbling lips. Hmm, it would probably be better to just attend class next time. Now that he thought about it, it seemed like an embarrassing thing for his brothers to see. It definitely wasn’t a good example. U-dam must be diligently attending class.

“Yang U-dam’s gonna make a shitload of money today.”

‘Right, diligently make a shitload of money…’ Huh? Shin Jukyeong froze. His languid mind became extremely alert.

‘What did they just say?’

‘He’s really got guts. If it were me, I wouldn’t even think about going to a fight club.’

The way he leaped over the roof was extraordinary.

‘Damn it!’

He couldn’t believe it. No, it was hard to believe. Could it be someone with the same name? His brother, who should have been quietly attending class, was suddenly at a fight club?

But when he later went to the classroom to check, his brother wasn’t there. Shin Jukyeong left the school with a stiff expression. While he thought the children had misunderstood, that it couldn’t be, he had a bad feeling. And bad premonitions usually came true.

‘This way!’

Following the presence, he arrived in the next neighborhood, at an old Abandoned Building. Shin Jukyeong pulled the tightly shut door. Thud! Bang! It didn’t budge.

‘They must have a lot to hide, huh?’

His features converged towards the center of his face. Anger and anxiety rapidly swelled within him.

‘Give me my brother, now.’

Veins bulged on the back of the hand gripping the doorknob. That’s it. Let’s just break it. Just as he was about to pull with force and break it, a small sign caught Shin Jukyeong’s eye.

[PUSH]

Creak… When he pushed, it opened smoothly.

“Ahem!”

Shin Jukyeong cleared his throat.

“My eyes have been a bit blurry lately… The letters are small here.”

He mumbled, glancing around unnecessarily. Seemingly very embarrassed, his steps quickened as he entered.

‘Not being able to tell “Push” from “Pull” isn’t just me; it’s a condition 98% of South Koreans experience.’

He grumbled, diligently making excuses in his head. No one was listening, but he stubbornly insisted.

‘Oh, it’s surprisingly spacious.’

Meanwhile, not forgetting his task, he diligently looked around, and a spacious and clean interior, surprisingly so for a closed-off place, came into view. Shin Jukyeong sighed, arms crossed. For now, the priority must be finding U-dam.

Fortunately, that was simple. Because a faint noise was reaching his sensitive ears.

“Five steps to the left… Twice diagonally.”

Shin Jukyeong, standing at the precise spot, lifted his leg. He intended to bring it down and smash the floor. Then it would be a free pass to where U-dam was… No, that wouldn’t do.

“Ah.”

He parted his lips like an idiot. He also carefully lowered his leg.

‘I’m not going to catch a criminal right now. Am I planning to hurt U-dam too?’

He had no choice but to find another route to go downstairs. If only U-dam’s safety was secured, he’d just blast a straight path, damn it. In the end, Shin Jukyeong wandered for a long time before he could find the emergency stairs and go down. Those shady bastards certainly hid it well.

Next, after easily subduing two doormen, he cautiously entered. After passing through a long corridor, a gradually intensifying light source became visible. Plus, music that pounded his eardrums.

‘What a mess.’

Shin Jukyeong let out a scoffing laugh. You guys should be glad I didn’t come as a crackdown team.

‘Without Eve, it’s hard to conceal my identity.’

He grumbled, pulling on a stolen hoodie. And he clicked his tongue at the scene that was soon revealed. Dizzying purple lights, hazy fog, loud chatter, naked people…

It wasn’t much different from an ordinary club, but the problem was the giant iron cage sitting conspicuously in the center. At a glance, it looked like a dogfighting arena. Drunken and drugged individuals waved their tickets and screamed.

“You have to win!”

“I bet everything on you! Damn it, if you’re going to lose, just dieee!”

Does U-dam like this kind of thing? …Well, it’s true that the younger they are, the more susceptible they are to stimulation. However, he should try to steer him towards watching combat sports like UFC live in the future. This place was too bad for children’s emotional well-being and education.

Shin Jukyeong moved without hesitation, searching here and there. But strangely, his brother was nowhere to be seen. Just as his anxiety was about to surge again.

“Alright, alright, alright! Let’s get this excitement going before someone dies!”

“Woooooah!”

A man appeared, holding a microphone. At his words, people let out fervent cheers.

“……”

Shin Jukyeong also froze.

‘Why is that bastard over there?’

The reason for his surprise was simple. Goshinji. A B-rank ability user. The man with the microphone was, in the distant future, one of the Aolluseu members led by U-dam.

A chill climbed up his entire body. Amidst the pouring cheers, only Shin Jukyeong was silent. His ears felt muffled, as if he’d fallen into water. The sound of him swallowing, ‘gulped,’ was exceptionally loud. His breathing became rapid.

‘Why… you…’

‘…It’s been a while, hyung.’

A sticky pool of blood gathered on the floor. Upon it floated a cold, stiff corpse. A gaunt, emaciated body with its heart pierced. …Nausea surged. A deep black shadow fell over his hooded face.

“I thought too leniently.”

A husky voice, as if scratching his vocal cords, flowed out. He thought that if he, his brothers, and his father changed, it would be enough. Foolishly. He was too overconfident against fate.

“I should have removed all the seeds that could become the root of evil.”

That was right. He had to prevent them from coming near his brothers. It didn’t matter if they hadn’t committed a mortal sin yet, or if they were perhaps living ordinary lives. He would kill all Aolluseu members, excluding his brothers. It was a declaration to treat people who might have lived as good individuals until the end merely as potential threats and slaughter them.

Therefore, Goshinji, you must die here today. Shin Jukyeong cracked his knuckles and walked closer to the iron cage, then abruptly stopped.

“Alright~ Our rookie! The newcomer who’s been on a roll up to the second round! Yang! U! Dam!”

Because his brother walked out with a grin, accompanied by an exciting beat.

Shin Jukyeong’s chilling face contorted like a cream puff that had been punched. If this were a variety show, crows would probably be flying over his head. Caw, caw… Amidst the fervent atmosphere, only Shin Jukyeong was an isolated island.

‘N-not a spectator, but…’

He blinked his tiny eyes, then gaped in shock.

‘A fighter…?!’

He felt like he was going to faint.

‘Ah, damn it. Mother.’

Shin Jukyeong paused mid-prayer.

‘But whose mother should I call for? Our mother? U-dam’s mother?’

In this situation, he didn’t want to call for his father, Shin Taekyung.

“Haa, that bastard.”

In an instant, ‘my brother’ became ‘that bastard.’ It was understandable. Because he was grinning, oblivious to his brother’s burning heart. His swollen eyes and burst lip proved that he had already been in several brawls.

Shin Jukyeong now realized that he had misunderstood. He had briefly, very briefly, suspected that U-dam might have been pushed here by bullies, but seeing the confident upward curve of his lips, he knew.

‘He’s enjoying it.’

So those injuries from before were from this club? Damn it. If he needed more allowance, he should have said something, why is he doing this kind of shit?

Whether he was frustrated or not, the situation rapidly unfolded.