S Chapter 27

“Do it quickly.”

“It’s too long.”

“No. No time. Find someone else.”

“Fine. Go. I’ll just end up a frustrated teenager who lost his dreams worrying about it.”

“You really have a knack for making people uncomfortable.”

Ah, I really don’t want to get involved! Shin Jukyeong felt like he was going to get stress-induced gastritis. But in the end, he waved the white flag. Shin Jukyeong was weak towards creatures younger and weaker than himself, no matter what… what nonsense. He just did it because it was annoying. Just listen quickly and leave quickly.

‘He won’t let me go until I listen anyway. Ugh.’

Shin Jukyeong asked, his face looking noticeably thinner.

“Do it! Go on. Let’s hear it. What’s this long deliberation of yours?”

“…”

“I said, what is it?”

Won Go-yu’s characteristic dark eyes stared at Shin Jukyeong. Soon, his tightly closed lips slowly parted.

“I don’t know how to comfort my uncle.”

“Uncle?”

“Yes. Bae Seong-du. The Hunter Association’s 2nd-ranked hunter. He was seriously injured last time while catching an unregistered criminal. He’s still hospitalized and has become quite depressed… I don’t know what to bring to comfort him.”

The Hunter Association’s 2nd-ranked hunter, seriously injured while catching an unregistered criminal? Shin Jukyeong fell silent, and Won Go-yu clenched his fist.

“Moreover, public opinion about my uncle isn’t good. They say he was knocked out in one hit, that he’s the Hunter Association’s 2nd-ranked hunter with such pathetic skill, that our cat’s paw-swat is stronger… Endless ridicule is rampant. And of all things, he’s an SNS addict, so he read all those articles and comments.”

Won Go-yu let out a frustrated gasp, then continued.

“It’s infuriating. Why should my uncle endure such insulting criticism? He merely sacrificed himself for the citizens! His only crime was trying to save everyone! It’s truly regrettable. Ha… He even developed erectile dysfunction recently. His mind is sick, and now his body is showing abnormal symptoms. Damn it, it’s all because of that unregistered individual!”

How sorrowful, how sorrowful! Won Go-yu poured out his heartfelt grievances about his uncle. He looked on the verge of sobbing. Shin Jukyeong, on the other hand, calmly closed his eyes.

[Forced replay of a moktak sound for peace of mind]. Click. A monk appeared, calmly chanting sutras. Maha Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva…

He knew how Won Go-yu’s uncle could recover. It was simple.

‘…Sacrifice me.’

Ah, damn it.

Whoosh.

‘It’s cold. My mouth will go crooked.’

He was sitting by the river, listening to the lamentations of a classmate he wasn’t even particularly close to, for the third hour straight. Oh, why was he doing this? It was nothing. Just the fate of the one who had beaten up someone else’s uncle.

‘Wasn’t this guy supposed to be the stoic type? He talks a lot.’

Shin Jukyeong cursed his damned conscience. He should have just pretended not to hear and left! What was so unsettling about it? Well, no. He said he even developed erectile dysfunction. That’s a bit… As a fellow man, how should I put it? A pang of conscience…

“Still, talking to you seems to make me feel a bit better. Thank you.”

Only you have been jabbering on and on. But fearing he might babble again, Shin Jukyeong hastily nodded.

“Uh. Well. Yeah.”

Won Go-yu suddenly shot up. Then he showed his clenched fist. His eyes were burning fiercely. It looked like the stance of a politician running for election. Therefore, Shin Jukyeong felt uneasy. He had never seen a guy like that make a sensible statement.

“I’ve thought of a way to restore my uncle’s honor.”

No, whatever it is, don’t think of it. He prayed fervently, but the world was harsh to Shin Jukyeong.

“Catch him.”

“W-what…?”

“That unregistered individual.”

“…”

Wasn’t this guy clearly ranked second in the whole school? Why is he so stupid? How could someone like you catch a guy that even your professional uncle couldn’t… No. Talking more would just be a headache. Only I would lose out.

“Yeah. Good luck.”

Shin Jukyeong compromised with reality. He just wanted to finish things up quickly and leave. Uh-huh. Yeah. Right. Don’t die, they say there’s pork cutlet for lunch next week. Hang in there. Just as he was slowly sizing up the timing to cut ties, a single phrase from the guy’s mouth stopped him in his tracks.

“What? Say that again.”

Shin Jukyeong stepped closer again and asked. Won Go-yu flinched, awkward at the sudden proximity. Cracks appeared in his ironclad face. It was a fresh expression, like an unripe apple. Won Go-yu stammered, continuing his explanation.

“…A tip, came in?”

“What kind of tip?”

“Too, close… too close… Um, cough, fake abilities—”

“No! Not that.”

“…Many teenagers—”

“Next.”

“Some students from our school are also seen?”

“…”

Won Go-yu’s explanation of the situation was as follows: Recently, an unusual number of incidents and accidents related to unregistered individuals had been occurring without cease. But upon capture, it turned out they were not ‘manifested individuals’. Meaning they had no abilities. In other words, they were ordinary people.

Unregistered individuals, yet ordinary people who hadn’t manifested? It was a contradictory statement that didn’t make sense. But it was possible. Investigations revealed that they all unanimously stated they had paid a large sum of money to a man named ‘A’ and received temporary abilities. Naturally, the Hunter Association didn’t believe them, but various test results proved it wasn’t a lie…

‘They suspect me of being A, don’t they?’

Shin Jukyeong felt wronged. He didn’t have time to spare, nor had he ever done anything so outlandish. The concept of ability granting was news to him from the start. He’d never even heard of it in the future.

But what bothered him most wasn’t the unknown A or the ability granting. “Students from our school…” A certain troublemaker at home suddenly came to mind. No way?

‘He’s been quiet lately, but, hmm. No, it couldn’t be.’

Cold sweat ran down his back. Honestly, he couldn’t give a definite answer. Lately, he thought his brother was leading a healthy life, with no injuries and always home on time. Had he let his guard down…? Hmm. Even if he didn’t want to suspect him, his brother’s past record was so flamboyant that he worried. What if he was frequenting dangerous places again?

“My grandfather won’t permit it, so I plan to infiltrate secretly. If I get caught, I can just claim I was catching other delinquents for the sake of school order. Well, those guys would probably be expelled, though.”

…What?

“Thank you for listening. I’ll repay your favor.”

Won Go-yu bowed briefly then turned to leave. The word ‘expelled’ echoed in Shin Jukyeong’s ears like a round song.

No!

Squeeze!

“…?!”

“Where are you going, friend…”

This time, Shin Jukyeong grabbed Won Go-yu. His grip was so strong that Won Go-yu flinched in surprise.

“I’m going home, but…?”

“On second thought, no.”

“What do you mean, ‘no’?”

Shin Jukyeong bit his lip hard. He genuinely didn’t want to get involved. He also didn’t want to be entangled in troublesome matters. But as long as there was even a slight possibility, he had to check.

“I can’t send you alone.”

‘I can’t let my brother get expelled.’

Won Go-yu’s eyes widened.

“What?”

“It’s dangerous… I have to protect you.”

‘My brother!’

Shin Jukyeong didn’t know. He had just created a huge misunderstanding.

“Protect…?”

For Won Go-yu, it was a word he had never heard in his life.

On the evening of the promised weekend, the two met.

“Are you going like that?”

“Is there a problem?”

“Well… yes, there is.”

“What is it?”

Shin Jukyeong slapped his forehead. This idiot came in his school uniform. We’re supposed to go undercover, kid. Everything seems to be off to a rough start. …Fine. If he doesn’t know, he can learn. Shin Jukyeong secretly sighed and waved his hand.

“Follow me. We need to change clothes first. Oh, and you’ll be paying, just so you know.”

“Why are we buying clothes?”

“Are you going to school? Is there a student disciplinary committee? They’re going to welcome you with open arms if you go in your uniform.”

“They said there were many teenagers there.”

“They’d have been in casual clothes, wouldn’t they? We need to get into the club first, don’t we?”

“Makes sense.”

“…”

“Are you picking them out for me?”

“Yeah. So stop talking and just try them on.”

Shin Jukyeong walked ahead, his brow furrowed deeply. His face brought to mind a bad-tempered raccoon living somewhere.

‘How can the Chairman’s grandson not even grasp the basics…? Does that old man not pay attention to his grandchild? That’s strange. He used to be fiercely protective of him.’

Unlike the troubled Shin Jukyeong, Won Go-yu seemed quite pleased. His stoic face remained the same, but his steps were light.

And so, the two found a nearby clothing store.

“Shin Jukyeong.”

“Something jet black would be good… Uh. I’m listening. Speak.”

“They’re selling egg bread next door, do you want some? I’ll buy it for you.”

He heard it and ignored it.

“Shin Jukyeong.”

“What.”

“Coffee?”

‘…He’s a kid, endure it. Don’t hit a child.’

His movements while picking clothes were visibly more annoyed. From afar, he could see the shop owner tearing up, but he pretended not to notice. Instead, he would buy the most expensive item, so he hoped for forgiveness.

“Hmm. This should do. Pay for it and come out wearing it.”

“Shin Jukyeong.”

“Ah, what is it now. What—!”

Shin Jukyeong turned around angrily, and whoops, the distance was too close. At this rate, their lips might touch. A physiological repulsion surged, and he stumbled backward, his feet getting tangled. Just as he thought he was bound to fall, Won Go-yu swiftly wrapped his arm around his waist.