Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Prosecutor's Offer
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" Huh? The prosecutor's office?"
It was an astonishing proposal to Kang Hyun.
Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min grinned and handed his business card to Kang Hyun as he spoke.
"To get into law school, grades are important, but experience matters too. Institutions like ours select work-study students every quarter. Well, if you're interested, I could recommend you."
After witnessing Kang Hyun's performance today, he seemed convinced that Kang Hyun had a strong interest in this field.
'Law school?'
Kang Hyun swallowed hard.
Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min's prediction was spot on. He wanted to become a prosecutor or lawyer—and aim even higher.
But he planned to take the Judicial Examination.
Seeing him hesitate, Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min crossed his arms and let out a hearty laugh.
"Don't overthink it. I saw you in the courtroom and figured you were interested and had some thoughts on this stuff, so I mentioned it."
Kang Hyun had never considered law school, but the fact that he was bringing up something like this made it clear he recognized his potential.
"Oh, and if you work as a work-study student at the prosecutor's office, you can join the mock trial club. It's connected to Korea University Law School, the prosecutor's office, various college and high school branches. Of course, getting a recommendation from the section chief would be up to you."
Kang Hyun nodded slowly. They were all appealing conditions.
'Law school? Me?'
To him, who planned to take the Judicial Exam as soon as possible, law school—formally the 'Graduate School of Law'—felt like an insurmountable wall.
Right now, Judicial Exam graduates dominated the courts, but it was a given that law school alumni would become the mainstream in the legal world. Kang Hyun already suspected their influence was spreading to major law firms and Ministry of Justice agencies.
But Kang Hyun had no money. No specs stacked up for law school admission. That was the problem.
"I've never thought about law school, but I'll consider it. Thank you."
"Good. But if you just keep mulling it over, the train will leave without you. Give me a call. I'll head out now."
Kang Hyun bowed in thanks and slowly examined the business card.
"The prosecutor's office."
Experiencing something this thrilling and getting this as his first reward didn't seem bad at all.
"Kang Hyun-ah! Let's eat."
It had been ages since Mother came home early on her day off. Kang Hyun's eyes widened at the table laden with dishes.
"Mom? What's all this?"
"Our son works so hard studying, so I wanted to take care of you on my day off!"
He hadn't let on, but somehow she knew he'd been studying extra hard lately and prepared this meal for him.
Steaming white rice, hearty soybean paste stew loaded with tofu, warm green onion pancakes, tender bulgogi in a light sauce, soft and savory seasoned vegetables...
Anyone else might think it was just an ordinary meal, but Kang Hyun knew. He knew how much care his mother had put into making her son happy.
"I'll dig in."
"Yeah, eat lots!"
It had been so long since they sat face-to-face sharing a meal. Kang Hyun gazed tenderly at his mother's wrinkled forehead and gaunt cheeks.
Her face, filled with exhaustion and fatigue, emotionless from hardship—Kang Hyun wanted to change that expression.
"Mom, my report card came out."
"Really? Let me see..."
As she took the report card, her pupils began to tremble.
"Oh my goodness, what is this!"
Her tired face vanished, replaced by one brimming with joy and delight as she cried out.
"When did our son start studying so much!"
She stopped eating mid-bite and bounced her shoulders in excitement. This joyful mother from his early childhood memories—this was the original mother he remembered.
'To think I can make her smile and show filial piety with something this small. What have I been doing all this time?'
He wanted to see that smile more. He'd told Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min he'd think about it, but his heart was already set. Half proud, half regretful, Kang Hyun spoke up.
"Mom, and during break, I might work as a work-study student at the prosecutor's office."
"The prosecutor's office?"
Mother's eyes widened in shock.
"You mean the prosecutor's office from TV?"
"Yeah."
This time, her mouth fell open. It seemed she thought all the school talk meant he'd been working hard at various things, clearing up any misunderstandings.
Tears welled up slightly in Mother's eyes.
"Our son is studying so hard like this—I'll work even harder too."
"No, I'll do better and take care of our family, so just hold on until then."
Hearing that, Mother held back tears with eyes full of pity and gratitude.
"Yeah... let's keep pushing. Thank you, son."
"You too. I'm always so grateful you hold on like this."
They sat silently, gazing at each other. On the modest table, a small but shining hope glimmered.
A hectic week flew by, and the weekend arrived.
"I'll be back."
Kang Hyun habitually said goodbye to the empty house and stepped out.
Before the accident, weekends meant lounging at home or hanging out with friends. But things were changing one by one for Kang Hyun, so today he slung his school bag over his shoulder in casual clothes and headed to the library.
"Time to study. Gotta study."
Muttering to himself, he turned back to look at the house.
His shabby clothes and bag didn't matter. Even the crumbling house was fine.
If only he could ease the debt his mother had shouldered. So their family could live ordinarily.
'I need to do better. First, let's pull up these midterm grades at least.'
With top admission to Korea University as his goal, his accumulated internal grades so far made it nearly impossible. Still, he had no intention of slacking on the upcoming midterms.
Whether mock exams or midterms, they were important tests to him—a chance to measure his skills.
'Plus, Yoon Haneul wants to bet again, so I can't say no.'
Since the subway incident, she'd occasionally trot up to the studying Kang Hyun, offering tips on problems or bringing him bread.
Kang Hyun didn't know why she paid him so much attention, but at the point where his grades had skyrocketed, she kept saying he was her motivator, so he let it be.
He kept going to school early, and naturally, sharing breakfast with her became routine.
During school hours, he was buried in studying, and with people around her, days passed ordinarily enough.
Lost in such thoughts, he spotted a bus approaching his stop in the distance.
"At least it's close."
He'd wondered if he could even get there from the hillside slum, but since he'd never cared about the library before, finding out it was just 20 minutes away was great.
Kang Hyun grumbled as he descended the hillside, boarded the bus right away, and headed to the library.
It wasn't a big library, but it was nearby, clean enough, with assigned seats—perfect for studying.
As he entered, a tired-looking staff member greeted him.
"Hello. I'm Kang Hyun. I applied for a seat."
"Ah, student Kang Hyun? First time here?"
"Yes."
The male librarian with large glasses looked up at him.
"Here's your assigned seat card. From now on, you can just scan it to enter without coming to the desk."
"Thank you. Um... sorry to ask on a first meeting, sir."
Kang Hyun asked cautiously.
"Could I get a seat in the inner assigned area over there?"
Looking around, he saw the quietest window seat in the very back, completely empty. Naturally, as someone studying, he preferred quiet spots, so he politely requested a good one.
"Ah, Kang Hyun. Those seats are hard to assign right now."
"Yes?"
Kang Hyun made a puzzled face at the unexpected reply, and the librarian looked troubled as he explained.
"Well, lately there've been complaints about things going missing from the library. Especially in those blind spots."
"The library?"
"Yeah. Most recently, even a laptop disappeared—big fuss. If you leave stuff on the desk and step away, it keeps happening... Hate to say this to a student, but it's tricky."
Kang Hyun couldn't comprehend it.
A library, sacred ground for students sweating blood to achieve their dreams—being infiltrated by petty thieves?
And because of them, unable to study in the quiet areas.
Kang Hyun's eyes blazed.
"Sir, just give me the inner seat. Blind spot with no cameras? Doesn't matter."
"Pardon? What?"
"I want to focus and study in the inner seat. I understand what you said, and I'll be careful, so just assign it."
Thinking he'd misheard, the librarian looked up and stared piercingly at Kang Hyun.
Some people requested such seats assuming he was withholding good ones or being lazy about assignments.
Looking at Kang Hyun, he answered seriously.
"Got it. If you want it, I can give it, but I'm saying it again: we can't take responsibility for stolen items. It's entirely on you. Still want it?"
"Yes. I understand perfectly. I won't complain or anything. I'll take full responsibility."
Kang Hyun finally got the corner assigned seat. Studying while catching the culprit? That'd be killing two birds with one stone.
Kang Hyun moved to his assigned seat.
He pulled out his books, opened them, and let out a deep sigh.
'Why didn't I study for these easy exams before?'
Regret swelled at the thought of time wasted until now.
Kang Hyun moved his pen swiftly, as if to make up for lost years.
Be it the College Scholastic Ability Test, the Law School Admission Test 'LEET,' or the Judicial Examination—none had fixed study periods or predefined scopes.
But high school midterms and finals were different.
When exam time came, they told you the textbook and reference book ranges, and some teachers even hinted at question types.
If he'd realized this a bit earlier and built up grades diligently, he'd have had more options toward his goals and been a pillar for his mother—that regret lingered.
'No, it's not too late!'
But he didn't forget: starting now, this moment of giving his all, was something to be grateful for.
'This is fun.'
And astonishingly, the pleasure and pride surging each time he grasped something new kept growing.
This had become his motivator, letting him immerse for long stretches.