Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Dean's Invitation
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“Then, does that mean Student Kang Hyun is saying that the ‘ornamental constitution’ leans toward decisionism? That statement is dangerous.”
Professor Yoo Dong-hee countered with a slight tremble in her voice, but Kang Hyun was unfazed.
“I meant that decisionist perspectives, when fixated only on the microscopic aspects of the constitution, lead to misuse. This concept isn’t covered in the textbook you authored, Professor.”
“That’s a low-level answer.”
“Then are you saying the content in Volume 3 of your ‘translation edition’—the paper on Professor Hart from Leipzig University’s alternative viewpoint—is also a low-level answer?”
Professor Yoo Dong-hee, who had never encountered anything like this before, stared piercingly at Kang Hyun as if time had frozen.
But Kang Hyun didn’t falter, instead wearing an even more relaxed expression than hers as he spoke firmly.
“I’ll answer the next question too.”
“No, that’s enough. You live up to your reputation, Student Kang Hyun.”
Professor Yoo Dong-hee mumbled an excuse and turned back, ascending to the top row of the lectern.
“Congratulations. Student Yoon Chan-rim gets to keep the course thanks to his friend next to him.”
Kang Hyun glanced at Yoon Chan-rim, who sat with a deeply furrowed face, and quietly took his seat with complicated feelings.
“There seem to be a lot of complaints about the textbook, so here’s a proposal.”
Despite Yoon Chan-rim’s resistance and Kang Hyun’s efforts, he began driving the nail in.
“If there’s material that can replace the textbook, I’ll acknowledge it. Every theory, every paper, annotation, footnote in my book— not a single one omitted. But nothing illegal, of course.”
In the end, his declaration-like words meant they had to buy the book unconditionally.
Because ‘material to replace the textbook’ was impossible without illegally photocopying the entire thing.
“Otherwise, please acquire it as required. That’s all.”
After that, Professor Yoo Dong-hee’s orientation abruptly ended, and the students scattered in an instant to go their own ways.
Yoon Chan-rim also gave Kang Hyun a quick bow and vanished like the wind, so Kang Hyun had no choice but to slowly pack his bag and head out.
‘What kind of professor is that?’
Kang Hyun moved along with an uncomfortable, complicated mood.
He hadn’t even eaten breakfast amid the rush, so with the class canceled, he headed to the cafeteria thinking he should grab a meal.
Ding.
At the notification chime, Kang Hyun instinctively picked up his phone and read the message. It was none other than Professor Kim Jong-hwan.
[If you have time, come see me. -Professor Kim Jong-hwan-]
“I was planning to visit a bit later, but he’s straightforward.”
For a moment, Kang Hyun recalled Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min’s text: ‘Be careful of Kim Jong-hwan.’ He shook his head and put the phone down.
‘It’s about time to meet.’
He wanted to discuss this incident anyway, and dragging it out would only put him in a tough spot.
Kang Hyun changed direction and started walking while calling Woo Si-hyung.
-Hello?
“Hey, something came up for me. Want to eat first?”
-Okay? I have class anyway, so I’ll eat separately. Should I reserve the library spot?
“Yeah, sorry. I’ll catch up later.”
Kang Hyun quickly ended the call and began passing by a cafe in one corner of the large student union building.
The cafe wasn’t that big, but it was packed with students grabbing takeout coffee in a hurry and others sitting around chatting.
“Huh…?”
Glancing inside absentmindedly, he spotted a familiar face through the full glass window. A playful grin lit up his face, but it soon turned into a puzzled tilt of the head.
One was Yoon Haneul in a thin crop cardigan and jeans, and across from her sat a guy—an unexpected person.
“Yoon Haneul… and Yoon Chan-rim?”
At first, he thought it was a stranger, but the outfit looked familiar upon closer look. It was Yoon Chan-rim, who had sat next to him in class today.
Yoon Haneul was radiating a warm, friendly vibe she’d never shown anyone but Kang Hyun, while Yoon Chan-rim fiddled with his phone with an inexplicably bored expression.
“Are they acquaintances?”
Unlike him, Kang Hyun muttered his inner thoughts aloud.
‘Sigh… Feels awkward somehow.’
Normally, he would’ve texted Yoon Haneul or gone in to say hi, but for some reason, an uncomfortable feeling made him leave her be and quicken his pace toward Dean Kim Jong-hwan.
* * *
[Professor Kim Jong-hwan]
Standing in front of the professor’s office with the large nameplate, Kang Hyun straightened his clothes.
Knock knock.
-Come in.
Hearing the voice from inside, Kang Hyun cautiously opened the door.
“Hello.”
“Come in. I was waiting so long I thought my neck would break.”
Dean Kim Jong-hwan was the complete opposite of Professor Cheon Ung-jae.
While Professor Cheon Ung-jae was someone who competed solely on intellectual prowess without compromise, Kim Jong-hwan was a ‘prominent figure’ brimming with political leadership and capabilities.
Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, promoted to Chief in six months. Then Anyang Branch Chief, Central District Deputy Chief, Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office Deputy Chief, and later researcher at the Judicial Research and Training Institute…
He had made his name as the youngest-ever chief-level prosecutor, but his glamorous career also showed how complex his life had been, having been pushed out in fierce competitions at times and ‘returned home.’
Even now, having set everything aside to join the university, his influence across the legal world remained strong. At least, grabbing the line he threw wasn’t a rotten rope—that was the consensus.
Kim Jong-hwan sat comfortably in his chair and spoke to Kang Hyun in his characteristic dialect-tinged Seoul accent.
“So, any difficulties adjusting to school life?”
“Yes, it’s fun.”
“Not just fun—you’re making real gains too, from what I hear. Professor Cheon said you demolished your opponent and shot up to star status. Is that true?”
Professor Cheon Ung-jae praising him from behind—clearly, he’d left a deep impression.
“Ah… You mean the debate class? It was just class. It was also the result of good preparation with my classmate.”
“Ha! Professor Cheon’s first class is designed to kill off the students. You’re the first to say something like that.”
Kang Hyun smiled silently at his frank words.
“Where’s your hometown?”
“Seoul.”
“What high school?”
“Korea High School.”
“What year?”
“My class is… 36th or 37th year.”
“Ancient history.”
“Even by university class years, it’s ancient.”
He glanced at Kang Hyun’s face, then continued the casual chat with an amused expression.
“Getting in on full scholarship isn’t easy. What drove you to study so hard?”
“I had to, or I couldn’t get in. My family situation isn’t great.”
“Honest—I like that. Planning to go to law grad school, or prep for the Judicial Exam?”
Kang Hyun paused slightly at the question before answering with a serious expression.
“…I’ll pass the Judicial Exam and then enter law school.”
“You punk, a total blockhead.”
The barrage of questions stopped.
Kim Jong-hwan scanned Kang Hyun with sharp eyes.
It had been ages since anyone gave him an answer like that in front of him. Maybe the first time ever.
“If you pass the Judicial Exam, you go to the Judicial Research and Training Institute. If not, law school.”
“I plan to do both.”
“Ha! Pass the Judicial Exam, then go to law school—your cohort will call you ‘Prosecutor’?”
Even as he said it, he didn’t hide his intrigued expression.
Looking at his face, Kang Hyun calmly stated his ambition without losing composure.
“It’s just a dream for now. I’ll prep for the Judicial Exam, but focus on law school admission. Since there are seniors who’ve done it. Test me if you want. Plus, I think fighting between Judicial Exam and law school grads is wasteful.”
“So you’ll grab both? Your class year will be a mess.”
“But if I pull it off, no one will treat me lightly. With both titles, it’ll be different. If taking the hard path raises my chances of reaching higher, I won’t choose the easy one.”
“Good. Honest, and an interesting idea.”
Kim Jong-hwan seemed lost in thought, gently stroking his beard. Probably gauging if Kang Hyun was just a fool burning with naive justice, or an exceptional genius with a sense of mission.
“Passing the Judicial Exam first round alone gives you a title to soar in law school. If you can do it, go for it.”
“Thank you for the support.”
“Ha, what support.”
Kim Jong-hwan grumbled but, satisfied with the Q&A, pulled something out and handed it over.
“This is…”
“Take it, read it, and if you want your name on it, come back.”
What Kim Jong-hwan offered was a research proposal. Kang Hyun skimmed it and slowly read the tentative title at the top.
“Practical Operation Review of Major Institutions in Criminal Justice.”
“It’s an ‘academic paper plan’ for publication in the KCI-listed journal ‘KAOP (Korean Association of Law and Politics).’ With some young blood, things would move faster. What do you think?”
A research participation offer to a first-year freshman just starting university. Sensing Kim Jong-hwan’s intent, Kang Hyun’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…I think young blood would be good.”
“Perfect.”
That was it.
Kim Jong-hwan clearly intended to back Kang Hyun. Today’s answers must’ve been a perfect 100.
“It’s an era of ability. You need a proper paper to avoid being looked down on. It’s not that impressive when you dig into it, so don’t overthink, but having one won’t hurt.”
Getting author credit on a prestigious journal before even entering law grad school. He downplayed it, but in reality, it’d be an amazing spec.
Even undergrad seniors occasionally made noise as co-authors; a first-year?
Kang Hyun, starved for opportunity, had no reason to refuse.
“Thank you. But…”
“Why?”
Kang Hyun nodded.
He seemed quite satisfied seeing Kang Hyun, who hadn’t changed expression once, now look flustered and ask urgently.
“Because I like you.”
Kim Jong-hwan grinned wickedly.
“I like you, so here it is. I’m quick. If I like someone, I don’t hold back.”
Suddenly struck, Kang Hyun sensed Kim Jong-hwan was an even stranger person.
But him selecting Kang Hyun was a huge boon. He’d be busier, but Kang Hyun was confident he could handle it—and knew such chances were rare.
“Thank you. Then I have a proposal. Only add my name if I make a real contribution to the research. I don’t like gossip.”
“Ha. Prove it with skill?”
“Yes.”
“Why make it so hard? These days, even a little survey help gets you co-author credit.”
“Still, I prefer it clean. Better no future scandals.”
“Haha, thinking about public opinion already? Scared of the press? Or parliamentary audits? Aiming to be a squeaky-clean Prosecutor General?”
“All of the above.”
“Ha, really.”
He stared at Kang Hyun with curious eyes, saying nothing.
“If my proposal doesn’t sit well, I’ll decline. My future can’t have a single blemish.”
“Hmm.”
He looked up at the outspoken Kang Hyun and sipped his coffee contentedly.
“Straightforward, eh. Fine, we’ll judge coldly based on performance. I’ll be corresponding author. If you do well, first author with the master’s students; very well, co-author; otherwise, out.”
“Thank you. I agree.”
Satisfied with the outcome of his blunt explanation, Kim Jong-hwan grinned widely and crossed his legs.
Kang Hyun finally relaxed his stiff posture and leaned back in the chair.
“Then, to get in as fifth or sixth author quick, you’ve got a task. Your first errand as research participant.”