Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Probing the Corruption
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15.
“About the school corruption….”
Clunk.
As Jeong Eun-seong the journalist began his meaningful words, the vice principal entered rubbing his hands together, and he stopped speaking.
“Ah, Mr. Journalist. We’ve kept you waiting quite a while, haven’t we? Shall we move to the inner room over there? I’ve had some tea prepared as well. Kang Hyun, you’re okay with a quick interview, right?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Ah, it might be better to schedule a separate interview time with the vice principal. For today, a short one just with Kang Hyun should suffice….”
The journalist subtly steered things toward interviewing the two separately.
But regardless of the journalist’s intentions, the ever-greedy vice principal latched onto the mention of his own interview and responded with a broad grin.
“Ah! My interview! Haha! Yes, yes, I’ll adjust my schedule! Now, let’s head to that room with Kang Hyun! Kang Hyun, do well in the interview and congrats again!”
The vice principal clapped his hands sharply and pulled Kang Hyun to his feet.
“Thank you.”
Pushed along by the thrilled vice principal’s hand on his back, Kang Hyun suddenly found himself alone with Jeong Eun-seong the journalist.
Outside the window of the inner room, the weather was bright and clear, with sparrows chirping and clouds drifting leisurely by.
Jeong Eun-seong flashed a wide smile and gestured for Kang Hyun to sit.
“What an interesting school, huh? What do you think, Kang Hyun?”
The journalist’s probing question cut sharp.
Kang Hyun responded calmly.
“Well, it’s interesting in some ways.”
At that moment, the spark in the journalist’s eyes mirrored the fierce glint in Kang Hyun’s otherwise ordinary face as he asked.
As if to say, ‘You think the same as me, don’t you?’
“You seem really sharp, Kang Hyun. Hmm… mind if I get a bit more straightforward then…?”
“Go ahead. I’ll answer honestly for the interview.”
Kang Hyun had no interest in further testing the waters. He wanted to hear what the journalist was really after.
The journalist hesitated for a moment before beginning.
“You might have guessed already, but I didn’t just come to interview you. I’m here to investigate the grade manipulation at the school.”
Kang Hyun sat quietly and nodded.
Journalists had entered the school, but when they refused all interviews and tried to drive them out, resorting to this method. He was impressed by the man’s tenacity. No journalist hoping for an easy scoop would do something like this.
“I had a hunch when you hinted at ‘corruption’ earlier.”
“Haha, good. If you’re uncomfortable with me questioning or interviewing you like this, feel free to refuse or tell a teacher. And if you want the interview contents kept secret, I’ll honor that too.”
Kang Hyun felt a slight touch of admiration at the man giving him options.
He’d half-expected a sneaky prying or roundabout questioning that might make the interview unpleasant.
Instead, Kang Hyun replied as if it worked out perfectly.
“Even if you hadn’t come, I was planning to seek you out—since I heard a journalist was wandering the school—and give whatever interview I could.”
Surprised by Kang Hyun’s bold statement, the journalist asked.
“Hmm… Don’t the teachers tell you not to meet journalists?”
“Seoul Special City Ordinance No. 7887, Seoul Metropolitan City Student Human Rights Ordinance Article 26. Students have the right to participate in activities to protect their own or others’ rights, and they shall not face disadvantages for exercising it. They call it the ‘right to protect rights.’”
Jeong Eun-seong’s face showed a flicker of surprise at Kang Hyun’s precise recitation, but he quickly composed himself and replied.
“That’s right. Exactly. As expected, you live up to your reputation as a smart student. But the ‘Student Human Rights Ordinance’ is just a name— it’s not properly enforced in reality.”
“Probably because schools are seen as another closed society within society.”
“Exactly. That’s spot on too. Schools are so insular, it’s hard to expose the corruption. But that’s why I want to do it properly.”
Jeong Eun-seong trailed off as he spoke. It didn’t feel great explaining corruption to a young student….
But Kang Hyun responded as if he understood fully.
“Shall we start the interview?”
Jeong Eun-seong let out a sigh as he straightened the files he’d brought, conceding to the boy’s boldness.
“Hmm… I’m grateful you’re willing to cooperate, Kang Hyun….”
He trailed off carefully, revealing his true intent.
“But I need testimonies not just from you, but from many people. Especially from those involved.”
“…!”
Kang Hyun had sensed it from the approach, but this confirmed they weren’t after a simple interview.
What he wanted were testimonies from multiple students—and ideally, stories from inside ‘Park Hyuk-su’s gang.’
“First, let me explain. There’s an organization called the ‘National Academic Citizens’ Alliance,’ or ‘National Academic Alliance’ for short. We’re covering them closely, and if the grade manipulation suspicions prove true, they’ll file a formal complaint on behalf of the group.”
It seemed there was a real effort to root out school corruption.
“So we’re trying to confirm if the grade manipulation really happened. It might be a stretch, but I need your help, Kang Hyun.”
“What if I refuse?”
“Then we’ll find another way.”
He smirked as he said it.
Then he asked.
“Kang Hyun, you testified as a witness in that subway high school girl illegal filming case a while back, right?”
“How did you…?”
“And recently, you tracked down the library theft ringleaders and gave them what they deserved.”
“You really are a journalist.”
“You didn’t just get nominated for the citizen award out of nowhere. I did some digging before coming to meet you. And among journalists, you’re somewhat known by word of mouth. But of all places, it’s Korea High School… What are the odds?”
As Kang Hyun listened to Jeong Eun-seong, he racked his brain, considering countless ways to solve this.
‘Approaching the guy pegged as the grade manipulator would be fastest. He must know the rumors are spreading, and that’ll lead to the tail showing.’
Truthfully, this wasn’t a problem solvable by brilliant legal knowledge or genius talent alone.
It required pure justice, courage to face danger, and persistence—which was why Jeong Eun-seong had chosen Kang Hyun.
Having sorted his thoughts, Kang Hyun nodded readily.
“Mr. Journalist, give me a little time. I’ll look into it.”
“Thank you. Not an easy decision. Honestly, I figured you’d cooperate.”
Winking one eye as if he’d gotten what he wanted, Jeong Eun-seong pulled out a business card and handed it over.
“Contact me anytime.”
With that, the conversation wrapped up smoothly. The formal interview passed in a blur, and Kang Hyun bowed his head in thanks before heading out.
As expected, Park Hyuk-su was waiting outside. He immediately barked.
“What’d you talk about with the journalist?”
“I did the interview.”
“But why’d it take so long?”
“We talked about my family situation too.”
At the words ‘family situation’ from Kang Hyun’s mouth, Park Hyuk-su smirked mockingly.
“Must’ve been a lot to say then. Move, I need to talk to the journalist.”
Park Hyuk-su shoved Kang Hyun aside and scurried over to the journalist, babbling about better people to recommend than ‘a guy like that.’
What a thoroughly obnoxious prick to the end.
Whatever. Kang Hyun headed to the classroom.
Fortunately, the classroom was quiet, and no one paid him special attention when he entered.
Kang Hyun sat down and called to Min-su beside him.
“Min-su.”
“Yeah? What? What’d they say? Why’d they call you?”
Still, Min-su was curious and stuck close like he’d been hoping for it, firing questions like a machine gun.
“I’ll tell you later. More importantly, that thing the kids were talking about earlier. The one who got one wrong due to the test error this time—who is it?”
“Huh? That one? Why?”
“Just curious. She’ll be first place, so I wanted to calculate my rank.”
“Wow! Kang Hyun, you’re the real deal. Got a rival, huh?”
Min-su spilled the info without a second thought.
“It was that Park, Park Dong-hee from two classes over?”
“Yeah? Thanks.”
When Kang Hyun shot up again, startled Min-su said.
“No way you’re going to her now? Hey!”
The old Kang Hyun wouldn’t act on a decision immediately, even if he wanted to.
But now was different.
Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today. No reason to hesitate once decided.
* * *
‘A girl?’
Park Dong-hee turned out to be an unexpected figure.
Not wanting to draw eyes, he’d called her to the hallway behind an unused classroom, away from prying views.
“Why’d you call me?”
Park Dong-hee spoke sharply the moment she arrived.
That she’d even come out promptly at his request was surprising.
“I didn’t think you’d come, so thanks for showing up.”
“Nothing to thank me for. Know why I came?”
Her haughty tone and expression made it clear she wasn’t here for a friendly chat.
“To see the face of the bastard spreading rumors.”
Short and fierce-looking, her sharp speech matched her vibe. Either someone had stirred her up, or she figured only the culprit would call her out like this—she clearly saw Kang Hyun as one of the rumor-mongers.
“That fake innocent look is disgusting.”
Park Dong-hee seemed to have run out of patience with her name on everyone’s lips.
Feeling the suspicious stares and behind-the-back criticisms like knives on her skin had sharpened her edges. Normal conversation didn’t seem likely.
“I don’t know why you’re misunderstanding me, but first off, I didn’t start the rumors. I just called because I was curious, and if you didn’t do it….”
“Shut up! What do you care!”
“...”
“Don’t go crazy just ’cause you did well on some grades, get lost! You were a loser before, one good score boost and you’re strutting around bossing people!”
Kang Hyun stared blankly at her cursing, then let out a deep sigh.
‘Yeah, talking won’t work easily.’
Abandoning the calm(?) approach, he switched tactics and recited something.
“2013Do6134 judgment, 2014Do5164 judgment, 2015Do9487 judgment….”
“What the hell? You crazy?”
“Know what these are? All case numbers for grade manipulation trials. First one: appellate court affirmed 3-year prison sentence, appeal dismissed. Second: 2-year sentence affirmed, appeal dismissed….”
“Wh-what?”
Only then did she stop her tirade.
“Grade manipulation gets you real jail time.”
As soon as he emphasized ‘grade manipulation,’ she erupted hysterically, her scream echoing down the quiet hallway.
“Fuck! You psycho?”
But Kang Hyun didn’t stop.
“The most recent one even requested a citizen-participation trial in the first instance, but public opinion turned sour, so their identity got exposed.”
“What’s that got to do with me!” “Nothing? Then why are your pupils shaking, and your whole body trembling?”
“…!”
She was trembling just as he described. No reaction if the rumors were false.
“Phew… calm down. I’m not here to attack you. Never spread rumors either. I just want to help.”
“...”
At his suddenly gentler tone, she lowered her head.
“But the people who got real sentences in those cases weren’t the manipulators themselves. They were the ones who leaked the test papers.”
“…Leaked?”
“Yeah, even if you got a leaked answer key and scored high, if you reflect, you won’t go to jail.”
“...”
“You’ve got to fix what’s wrong. I’m telling you again, I’m here to help you.”
Her eyes wavered.
“Liar….”
But she couldn’t hide her disbelief.
‘He’s really here to help me?’
Her mind swirled with thoughts.
No one had approached her like this before. Just people covering it up, pretending it was fine, while the constant pain had nowhere to go.
Day by day, anxiety ate her alive, and she didn’t know when it’d end.
Then a savior appeared.
After a long silence, she seemed resolved and forced open her parched lips.
“Th-that club Park Hyuk-su made….”
“Club?”
As she started to continue at Kang Hyun’s question, an intruder appeared.