Chapter 35
Chapter 35
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Director Steps In
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the end, we wrote the statements.
"He bought me jelly at the convenience store, you know? He was all, 'Hey mister, try one of these' while giggling like an idiot...!"
With the dwarf's genuinely aggrieved voice in the background.
"Kids, do you really have to go this far?"
Fueled by the nonsense from one cop who was empathizing with the perpetrator.
"He's an adult, after all. How can you ruin someone over a little mistake? Think about how his father would feel hearing his son went through this."
For reference, in Korea, what does 'he's an adult, after all' mean?
: What adults say when they've wronged someone half their age and don't want to apologize.
Traits of adults who say 'he's an adult, after all' or 'to someone old enough to be your parent': They know damn well they've screwed up.
"Looks like that guy's got a family. How devastating is this for the head of the household, huh?"
'I have a family too... A bunny-like mom and a monkey-like me.'
"It's not a good look when young people gang up on someone older like that. Adults can make mistakes because they don't know better..."
'If you've lived that long, live up to it.'
Someone old enough to be called daddy age, who's lived that long without a single accomplishment or achievement, sexually harassing teens—and then trying to exploit respect from the young just because 'I'm old'?
Who entrusted you with respect?
If respect goes by age, we'd have to respect Yi Wan-yong too. That guy's ancient. Born in 1858. So old he's already dead!
Just then, Jeong Eun-seong leaned toward me and whispered,
"That's what they call a No Deok-sul cop, right?"
"Exactly."
Another opportunistic Korean history review.
But this No Deok-sul issue resolved in an unexpected way.
BAM!
"Da-hye! Ga-eun!"
A booming voice honed by decades at the academy. Toughness and aggression forged from dealing with entitled parents.
"Where's that crazy pervert bastard?!"
An adult. The exact adult we desperately needed right now!
"Teacher!"
It was the director of Ibarji Academy, Gyeong Se-in's aunt!
💬 KakaoTalk 원장 선생님 21:55 Da-hye, today's your last day~^^ Thanks so much for all your hard work. Any troubles while working here...? You 22:40 Teacherㅠㅠ Help me Our academy phones auto-record, right? Can I get that file? "Kids, you done with the statements? What? You just got them now? Why?!"
The director strode in and glared at the cop who'd been spouting nonsense moments ago.
"Ma'am."
The cop tried to brush her off with a 'what's this now?' look.
"Ma'am?! Where do you see a ma'am here?! To a tax-paying Republic of Korea citizen?! What's your name!"
"T-Teacher, calm down first..."
"Speaking of which, where are these kids' parents? Hey, officers! These kids left the academy ages ago—why hand them statements now? What have you been doing this late with just the kids here, no guardians?!"
"Teacher, please calm down..."
"Calm down my ass! You slacked off because the victims are kids, didn't you?! Kids, tell teacher everything!"
"Quiet down! Keep raising your voice like this and we'll arrest you for obstructing official duties!"
"What? You couldn't catch the pervert terrorizing kids in time, but make a little noise at your workplace and it's instant arrest?! Arrest me! I'll report the guy who called me ma'am too! Do it! Right now!"
...I didn't even need to step in.
"If an adult wrongs a student, they apologize! That's what being an adult means!"
"Family?! That pervert has a family?! Someone with a family does that shit?!"
"Whose side are you cops even on?!"
Gem-like lines poured from the teacher's mouth—I wanted to jot them all down.
Ha.
So damn satisfying.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Sorry, teacher. For dragging you out this late."
After endless ordeal, we finished the statements well past midnight.
Ga-eun detailed the ongoing harassment from that dwarf, the assault today. I testified about him shoving me.
Some wrap-up left, but for now, done.
The problem?
'No anti-stalking law yet.'
He ruined Kim Ga-eun's March and gets a slap on the wrist. Insane world.
Not even a slap.
Cotton candy?
"My kids ran into a pervert and ended up at the station—what's time matter?!"
"Still."
"I'm suing that bastard too. For obstruction of business. Fake calls to the academy, impersonating a parent to harass students."
"You can sue for that?"
"Who knows!"
The dwarf, whining in the meeting room about how wronged he was and calling us gold diggers, got picked up by his wife.
Not some other crime—caught groping a minor. I'd never tell my wife if I were him. Criminal mindset's weird.
Looks like he really has a daughter.
☆Your dad gropes high school girls outside★
Even as an internet troll comment, it'd be 'whoa, too far.' But it exists in reality.
"Too late for buses now. How you kids getting home? I called your parents."
"I usually study at the reading room late anyway, so I'm good."
"Ga-eun? I can call your folks now if you want. Did you tell them?"
"No."
Ga-eun smiled awkwardly.
"They'd just scold me for no reason. Better to let it slide."
"Aigoo."
The teacher knew Ga-eun's parents well enough not to press. She patted Ga-eun's cheek and said,
"Still, you should've told another adult. Homeroom teacher or... at least us academy teachers."
"I actually told Teacher Seong-il."
"Right, he's your Class A homeroom. Why didn't he report to me?"
"He asked... if I was bragging."
"Bragging? About what?"
"If I was bragging that guys hit on me outside because I'm pretty."
"That fucker...!"
The teacher opened her mouth, rolled her eyes, and shut it. Glanced at the sky, sighed deeply, and pulled car keys from her pocket.
"Fine, I'll drop Ga-eun off. It's on my way anyway. What about the handsome one?"
"I'll take Kang Da-hye home first."
"Huh?"
First I'd heard.
But Jeong Eun-seong said it so naturally, and the teacher nodded approvingly.
"Da-hye, take a taxi with the handsome guy."
She pulled a 50,000 won bill from her wallet and pressed it into my hand.
"Whoa, teacher. I can't take that much."
"When an adult gives it, you say thanks and take it."
"Still..."
"Think of it as a bonus for your good work."
"...Thank you so much. Really."
I know even adults don't step up like this easily for strangers.
'Maybe harder because they are adults.'
Adults are swamped just handling their own lives. If they step in and it goes wrong, they're liable. More backstabbing experiences than kids.
"Felt like my own daughter. Imagine if it was my kid..."
"...Like your daughter."
"Yeah. I'll make sure that guy and his wife never show up at your school—told the cops firmly. If any issues, tell me right away."
"Yes. Thank you, teacher."
"Okay, okay. Hop in that taxi. It's here."
She raised her hand toward an approaching cab.
"I'll get my parked car. Ga-eun, wait here."
The teacher went inside, and Ga-eun grabbed my hand.
"Thanks, Da-hye."
"Yeah. Engrave this favor in your bones."
I said it jokingly, but Ga-eun nodded.
"I'll carve it on my grave too."
Dead serious, she continued.
"Heard from the cops earlier—that patrol request around our academy went up on the patrol app at that time. So they were nearby. That was you."
"Found the system and tried it."
"If not for you, I don't know what would've happened today."
For real. Seeing Ga-eun emphasize it, a chill ran down my spine.
'Before regression...'
I didn't work at Ibarji Academy back then.
So Ga-eun handled this alone?