Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Standing Firm at the Station
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Kim Ga-eun from Class 2-2 of the second year was at the police station for the second time.
A place she never imagined visiting in her life, and already the second time this month.
She was spacing out when her friend spoke up from beside her.
This was the first time she'd really talked to her since starting second year. At first, she seemed like she was just showing off because she was good at studying, but now she trusted her more than anyone.
Kang Da-hye.
"What do you want to do? Your feelings are the most important here, Ga-eun."
"......I want that uncle to be ruined."
"Got it."
Da-hye seemed to think for a moment before speaking.
"That day Seo Jae-kyeom came, our KakaoTalk chat. You still have it, right?"
"Yeah."
"Good. When the police ask later, tell them everything—when that uncle came, what he said, what he did, and how uncomfortable it made you feel. If you have a diary or something, show it to them. If you don't remember well, say you'll refer to what you've written down."
Da-hye's warm hand gripped Ga-eun's tightly.
"After you give your statement, they'll show it to you one last time for confirmation. Even if it takes a long time, read every single detail carefully and ask to correct anything that's wrong. It's your right."
"...Okay."
"Don't be nervous."
"Yeah."
"...Well, the problem is actually getting to the statement in the first place."
Don't worry. I've studied up for this.
Da-hye said.
Ga-eun nodded along as if entranced.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Kids, let's just end this on a good note."
"Yeah, these things happen all the time in life. You gonna call the cops every time?"
"We'll give that uncle a stern warning so he never comes near you kids again. That should be good enough, right?"
"Ha."
If that's all they're gonna say, why not just drop the police altogether?
There are plenty of good cops in the world, but the ones in our neighborhood definitely aren't.
It pissed her off that even knowing the police would react like this, the first people she thought of in an emergency were the cops—and that they were her only option for help.
It made her mad every time, but every time, reporting to the police was all she could do.
And the fact that it happened "every time" often enough to call it frequent made her even angrier!
I've eaten this much sweet potato—time for some soda, right? Soda that expensive? It's 2,000 won at the convenience store! Someone pour some here! Glug glug glug!
"Those kids are gold diggers! Calling the cops right away like they've done this a hundred times! They're scammers, scammers!"
I didn't even want to call him "uncle." The bald dwarf and we had been temporarily separated, but his indignant shouts from what seemed like a conference room echoed clearly outside.
Every time his voice boomed, Ga-eun flinched, her shoulders trembling beside me.
"They glared at me with wide eyes, cursing up a storm and acting tough, but the second the cops showed up, they start pretending to be scared! You need to investigate them?!"
Cops, perps—where do they all take classes? Their lines are exactly what I prepped for.
Seo Jae-kyeom had scared the dwarf off last time, but just in case, I'd done some research afterward.
On the nonsense some cops and perps spout in cases like this.
And I was shocked at how spot-on my predictions were, not deviating even an inch.
'At least it's good. It means they're acting within what I expected.'
I'm all set to counter.
Bring it!
"If we take this case and start investigating, we'll have to drag you kids all over the place. Might need additional statements, or even court. You really wanna go through with it?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"We're serious. Our intent to punish is strong, so please file it."
"......"
"And victims aren't obligated to appear in court except as witnesses, right? For a case like this, is court really necessary?"
Honestly, almost never? Next.
"That guy's really pissed. He's strongly denying it ever happened. If we investigate and conclude he's innocent, he could countersue you kids for false accusation."
(Ga-eun's face paled)
"He even said from his own mouth he'd sue for false accusation...... We're just warning you because we have to inform you of all possibilities."
There it is. False accusation.
'If you report and it goes to trial but he's found not guilty, then he could sue the victim for false accusation,'
'If you don't file now, the report never happened, so he can't sue for false accusation.'
They scare people with that, and most naive civilians get annoyed and scared and say, "Ah, then just forget it."
But we all know now, right?
False accusation only applies if you knowingly report something false when you know it's innocent.
"But officer, even if that uncle goes to trial and gets acquitted, we reported him because we thought he was a molester. How could that be false accusation? It doesn't even apply from the start."
Not every no-charge or acquittal lets you countersue for false accusation? Next.
"Didn't Kim Ga-eun cuss at that uncle earlier? Cussing in front of others is insult. So the kid's guilty too. Still wanna file?"
"Ga-eun didn't insult the uncle. She was cussing at herself."
(Jeong Eun-seong suddenly jumps in) "Excuse me, officer. That molester is out there yelling 'gold diggers' loud enough for everyone to hear. Isn't that insult?"
(Ga-eun claps) "Right! Sexual harassment, assault, and insult."
(The cop grits his teeth) "Kids these days are so bold......"
Not bold—smart.
You cop bastard... If I hadn't regressed, I'd have a college junior just like you. Next.
The cop looked flustered.
Normally, victims would back down by now. In this awkward situation, the one reliable authority figure scaring them.
Top it off with "We'll make sure he never does it again," and game over.
'But we're not falling for it.'
Alright, time for the statement...
"Kids, we talked to him, and...... he was really drunk. He was out of it, and since he was close to the student normally, he felt hurt when she treated him like a perv."
Not letting up.
The cop from the conference room exchanged glances with our handler and switched places.
The new cop continued in a soothing tone.
"He doesn't even remember well now... Anyway, no intent. It was a drunken mistake. Can't you kids let it slide just this once?"
There it is, round two.
The classic excuse for sex offenders.
I was drunk. Not on purpose. I don't even remember.
Not escaping that way.
"That uncle wasn't drunk."
I held up my phone.
"He stood on his own the whole time and talked to us. About an hour ago, he even called our academy and made a scene. The call where he sounded perfectly fine is all recorded."
"A scene?"
"Yes. I just KakaoTalked the director, and they said all academy calls are recorded and will send the file right away."
"Huh......"
"He might've drunk some, but he wasn't blackout wasted when he did it. Ga-eun, show them our KakaoTalk from before too."
"KakaoTalk?"
"The day Seo Jae-kyeom came."
"Oh, yeah."
Ga-eun hurriedly pulled out her phone from her pocket.
"See here. Victim date, details, perp's actions, and the emotions felt—all recorded. My friend clearly expressed refusal."
"......"
"We've come here before asking for patrols because that uncle scared us. That day, then, and today. At least three times?"
Persistent, repeated, despite the victim's refusal.
Fine for today. Was he drunk those other times too?
"112 calls get auto-recorded, right? Check the one from earlier where the uncle spoke clearly from behind us."
"Huh."
The cop tossed his pen down like slamming it and leaned back in his chair.
Whatever. I said what I needed to.
"Last time, you told us it wasn't a case—just talking to passing students, no touching or kidnapping attempt."
"......"
"So we couldn't report, but this time it really happened. He touched her, and if I hadn't stepped in, who knows what could've happened."
"Student."
"Luckily nothing did, and we're here alive to report."
"......"
"Please file it."
