Chapter 5
Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Court Summons
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Behind the school grounds.
Kang Hyun stepped out into the backyard and looked up at the sky with a satisfied feeling.
"Feels refreshing."
He had been studying like a madman for the past few weeks and was curious just how far his skills had improved. He also knew that opportunities like this didn't come to everyone.
There had been a vague fear that it might all be a dream or some delusion from a messed-up mind.
But seeing his friends' jaw-dropping expressions, it was clear his abilities had skyrocketed.
'Just a bit more...'
Having cleared this hurdle called the exam, a sense of pride washed over him, along with a heavy responsibility.
His mother collapsing in tears before the debt collectors.
The creditors pointing fingers and vowing to return.
The 500 million won debt he couldn't even touch.
His shoulders felt weighed down.
Improving grades through studying wouldn't pay off the family debt.
'I can't let my guard down until the real results come in. Time to start looking for a job too.'
Debt collectors might lose patience one day and barge in, harming his mother.
As promised last time, Kang Hyun planned to find work on weekends as much as possible and earn money.
To cover living expenses and show the creditors he was paying back bit by bit.
Constantly slamming into reality like this only made his frustration grow day by day. That's why it only now dawned on him that he'd been living without a care, giving up on everything.
That was what it meant to be 'immature.'
But Kang Hyun had changed now.
'And I'm still not at the level to take top spot at a Korean university.'
There had been explosive growth, but in less than a month, he hadn't suddenly become a genius who could rival the nation's top prodigies.
The subjects he'd absorbed at a startling speed were now slowing down once they hit a certain track.
It was a realm he'd never experienced before—proving that even geniuses had to sweat for it.
In other words, College Scholastic Ability Test prep was different from the 'legal knowledge that popped out at a tap.'
It required effort.
'Stay sharp.'
He steeled his resolve, gazing at the sky. As he naturally scanned the surroundings with a deep breath,
"...What the hell is that?"
Behind the corner of the athletic field.
There was Park Hyuk-su, who hadn't shown his face since briefly appearing at morning assembly.
Hidden by the building, he wasn't fully visible, but it was definitely him. Thinking he was out of sight in the alley, he wasn't even checking around.
'Crazy bastard...'
What was even more outrageous was that Park Hyuk-su wasn't just smoking with kids—he was harassing a male student they'd surrounded, chuckling about it.
Kang Hyun instantly recognized who that group was and what Park Hyuk-su was doing.
'So those are Park Hyuk-su's gang?'
A mix of lowly delinquents who followed him and rich kids dressed like thugs.
Their followers were so solid that even the school turned a blind eye and hushed it up.
'He's out of his mind.'
Kang Hyun shook his head.
That scene was probably Park Hyuk-su calling out prey for breaking school rules, tossing him to the delinquents to 'play with.' It was Kang Hyun's first time witnessing it directly, though he'd suspected dirty dealings behind the scenes. Seeing it firsthand, though, it looked extreme.
Park Hyuk-su barked orders at the male student in a domineering tone, eventually raising his arm as if to strike and grabbing his collar.
Then the delinquents crowded around, saying something, and the student bolted away like a shot.
"...?"
His face flushed—probably from a slap—he sprinted toward the school store. Looked like he was running for dear life to buy snacks for that gang.
'The school's rotten.'
Kang Hyun clenched his fist against the subtle anger rising.
'Work harder.'
He wanted to flip everything over, but it wasn't time yet.
"Urgh. Huh? What?"
When Kang Hyun stretched and snapped out of it, the classroom was empty—everyone had gone to eat.
"Those sneaky bastards. They really ditched without me."
Truth be told, Kang Hyun was the one who'd shoved off the guys nagging him to hurry for lunch.
They'd even grabbed his arm to drag him, but he'd told them to go ahead—he had wrong answers to review.
Despite their pleas, he'd been so focused he'd kept his head buried in his books until now.
With lunch late anyway, Kang Hyun stretched again, figuring he'd grab something quick.
He'd been primed to bolt five minutes before the lunch bell, yet here he was, oblivious to mealtime for studying.
Clicking his tongue at his own madness, he turned his head—and that's when it happened.
The door burst open.
Yoon Haneul walked in.
"Not going for lunch?"
"I ate. You haven't yet?"
"Yeah, got caught up..."
"Studying works better on a full stomach."
"Yeah, got it."
Remembering Yoon Haneul munching a sandwich, Kang Hyun chuckled and turned away.
"Thanks. Seeing you fired up motivates me too."
Kang Hyun turned back at her unexpected thanks.
She flashed a bright smile and added,
"It's because of you I'll study harder. Congrats on the great scores."
"Oh, thanks."
Kang Hyun finally returned an awkward smile. No time to clear up the zero-score misunderstanding—good thing.
Or maybe there wasn't even a misunderstanding. He'd forgotten all about that bet after their talk, but she'd apparently given her all without showing it. Anyway, hearing congratulations in her soft voice felt special.
Then, curiously, Kang Hyun asked,
"But you believe me? Everyone was saying I cheated."
His scores were a total shock. People were floored... One guy even smacked his head, yelling, 'Me worse than that idiot?!' overreacting wildly. Yet she showed no doubt at all.
She answered casually.
"Not weird. You worked hard. From watching you solve problems, it seemed like you'd been studying on the sly. Why's that strange?"
She must have gauged his skill from seeing him study.
He'd thought she paid no attention usually, but this thoughtfulness was a fresh surprise.
Or maybe smart people just saw through everyone? As he wondered, she thrust a bag at him.
"Here."
"What's this?"
Peeking inside, it was stuffed with cute character breads from the school store.
"Bought snacks. Eat them. Studying runs on food, you know? No food means your brain gets dumb."
"Uh? Oh..."
But it seemed like a lot for just snacks?
He took the bag awkwardly, and she looked oddly proud before heading out.
Was it her pale nape peeking from her ponytail, or the gentle care? Her backlit figure seemed to glow with a halo.
Stunned by her random kindness, Kang Hyun paused—then she peeked back in.
"Oh, and you'll keep coming early, right? You won the bet, so ask me anything you're curious about."
"Yeah? Thanks."
Watching her go after finishing, Kang Hyun stared blankly at the door.
Was she always this interested in him, or just liked seeing him study hard? He didn't know...
'Good things are good, whatever.'
Thinking of it as an unexpected reward—or bonus—Kang Hyun picked up his pen again.
Break time.
The door opened, and a student came looking for Kang Hyun.
"Kang Hyun here? Vice Principal wants you!"
Kang Hyun, deep in diligent study, perked up.
"Why?"
"Dunno."
The kid who'd called him was gone.
'What now?'
Kang Hyun closed his book, stood, and headed to the vice principal's office. Past the hallway to the main building, probably fourth floor?
'Around here?'
It was far from the vice principal or principal's offices, so his memory was fuzzy.
Glancing around the hallway, whispers reached his ears.
-That's him!
-Sudden second in the whole school?
-Yeah!
-But it's just a mock exam?
-Not that—supposedly he was dead last before!
-Guess he studied hard.
-As if that works?
Some gawked with eyes twice their size in shock, others muttered badly behind his back.
'Famous for studying now?'
Kang Hyun didn't mind the instant fame.
It was his achievement, after all. No reason to hide it, and with a long way to higher ranks, he should enjoy success now.
In front of the vice principal's office.
As he approached, a low, serious voice echoed inside.
Knock knock. Slide.
"You called for me."
The vice principal sat with a grave expression, and surprisingly, smug-faced Park Hyuk-su was there too.
On the table, a white envelope with a document—likely why he'd been summoned.
As Kang Hyun entered, Park Hyuk-su shot up like he'd been waiting and yelled at him.
"You punk! What the hell you doing wandering around outside!"
"...Pardon?"
"Park Teacher, compose yourself..."
"Pfft, I've known all along! Knew it! Useless punk. Left you alone 'cause you looked pitiful, huh."
"..."
Typical of him.
Though pissed, Kang Hyun calmly eyed the envelope.
[Subpoena, Seoul District Court 2015 Criminal Case 4531 Violation of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (Filming with Camera, etc.)]
"...?"
It was a subpoena.
Court subpoenas usually went home, but maybe his address was wrong or the slum delayed it—they'd sent it to school for quick receipt.
It had been sealed, but Park Hyuk-su must've ripped it open crudely.
"You act all bold! What'd you do to get a sexual crime paper from court!"
Seeing Park Hyuk-su bellow wildly, Kang Hyun gave a wry smile at the absurdity.
'It's a witness subpoena.'
No way—he'd seen 'witness subpoena' from court, freaked at the sexual crime term, and thrown this tantrum?
"Hold on. Teacher, give me time to explain so I can respond."
"No excuses—bow your head now, punk!"
"Park Teacher, calm down..."
"Vice Principal. This isn't time to calm down. Sexual violence?! This is serious! We gotta fix his attitude straight and call the cops now!"
Kang Hyun sighed softly at the raging man.
Legal ignorance aside, the vice principal couldn't even raise his voice to Park Hyuk-su.
What a spectacle.