Chapter 14

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: Group Class (3)

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Split by gender, guys and girls, roughly half and half.

So I'll just kill all the guys.

Why?

Because if I kill all the girls, they'll throw a fit saying they were killed for being women.

And then all the blame will land squarely on me.

Protests like in my first life will erupt at every station in Korea—Hyehwa, Gangnam, you name it.

And the Ministry of Gender Equality will become an even more untouchable fortress than before, truly impregnable.

Of course, I keep all this to myself, swallowing it down inside.

"And with that, Group 8's presentation is finished. Just so you know, I was only presenting because the group leader told me to."

"?! Hey, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hey~!!"

"Teacher."

Just like that, I smoothly passed the buck—not responsibility—to the homeroom teacher and the group leader.

"Uh... I've already covered everything I planned for today's lesson... What do I do now?"

Apparently, she was going to base the rest of class on what I'd just said.

The teacher could only stare in blank shock.

Then.

"Th-this stupid role-play is so damn unfair...! You little punk!"

Group 1's leader finally snapped at me, late to the party.

"Then what would you do?! Huh?!!"

I wondered when she'd ask that.

"Obvious."

I rattled off my prepared answer right away.

For starters, my parents prefer airplanes over trains anyway, so no trips like that.

And I don't have friends to begin with.

Therefore.

"So I'll pretend I didn't see anything, go home, wash my feet, and crash. It's Friday, gotta watch martial arts tomorrow."

And Sunday's a two-night binge.

Me, turning my total loser fantasies into reality.

Embarrassed?

What're you gonna do about it.

This is me.

I've already decided to live my way.

No intention whatsoever of ditching the pathetic, loser, total-loser version of me from round one just because this is round two.

What people call being "in" or popular...

If that means whittling me down to fit their mold...

Then I'll just be a loser and total-loser, thanks.

There's no room for my life in that "in" mold anyway.

A fat me like mine never fit their definition to begin with.

I carved away at my own flesh and ground down my bones to squeeze in, and that's how my first round ended up.

If I'm gonna live like that again, this wouldn't even be round two.

Just prime first round, repeat.

"Everyone flip through the pages? About four pages or so... Ah, open to page 52. There's a think-and-discuss there, so let's keep debating that. Anyone want to read it aloud?"

Second topic: the Good Samaritan.

Probably about some guy dying of thirst and hunger in a Middle Eastern desert.

And if a bad kid ignores him, the Good Samaritans get punished or something.

Feels like it'll hit someone hard.

Sure enough, Group 1's leader—who our Group 8 (really, me) had roasted—was glaring daggers and charging in.

"Um~ Uh~ That is..."

But I'm not the group leader anymore.

Never was, from the start.

"Hmm, that sounds right to me~?"

Our Group 8 leader handled it well.

Countering every attack with "If rebutted, you're automatically right."

I didn't participate much this time.

Losers need massive resolve to show off once, and it drains a ton of energy.

I was seriously wiped.

Quest should've cleared by now, right?

So while pretending to listen to other groups, I was jotting notes on something else entirely.

To onlookers, it looks like I'm deeply engaged in the debate.

And energy-wise, it's a hundredth of what presenting takes.

Gotta nail down the experiment plan first.

Even in the best case, a proper lab and real research won't start till high school at earliest.

First round, I went to a regular high school, so not sure.

But Seoul Science High has that R&E program for high schoolers.

So for middle school, focus on planning every future experiment so I can dive right in upon enrolling.

And squeeze in all the studies I wanted but couldn't do before.

Oh, and prep for Seoul Science High entrance too.

That arrogant gate that let me squeak through round one only to boot me in round two.

This time, I'll smash through front and center—as top rank.

"Whew, class was fun for once~ Han Kyung-jun, what would you have said? Han Kyung-jun? Hey, you listening~? Class is over~!"

"Ah."

When did that happen?

Got so focused, time flew.

"What the heck were you writing all this time?"

Shff.

I mumbled something about notes and shoved ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my notebook (research one) into the desk drawer.

Oh yeah, class ended but quest ain't cleared yet.

"So, Han Kyung-jun, what's your answer~?"

"What. The Good Samaritan?"

"Yup~"

Guess I gotta answer this properly for full clear.

The bubbly girl kept pressing, so with an annoyed sigh...

"Just pretend I didn't..."

I started to dodge.

"Not 'go home, wash feet, and sleep' again?"

"......"

Busted instantly.

Her speech made me think she was airheaded, the type to dye her hair blonde and party with bad influences.

She's sharper than she looks.

"Dunno."

I mulled it over a bit.

"You'd save 'em, right?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah~"

"Why?"

"Because~ Wait, I said it all in my presentation. What were you even writing?"

True.

What was I writing?

My handwriting's chicken scratch anyway—you couldn't read it even if you tried.

"C-can we tweak the problem a little?"

"Like with Group 1? Nah, don't wanna..."

Don't wanna?

Then I'll push harder.

"Good Samaritan's still dying, but it's a robber. Gotta kill the robber to save him."

"No, you don't have to kill..."

"Or you get stabbed."

Not that extreme, right?

News is full of subway terrorists, murderers.

Even without that, you witness stuff like this all the time in life.

On streets, at work, home, even school.

"Ugh, I'd still save 'em~! Throw rocks from afar if he's got a knife! Big ones~!"

"You're under arrest. Fine: 5 million won."

I stuck out my hand like I wanted cash now.

"Why~?! I saved him!"

"Yup. Not Good Samaritan law—robber sues you for assault, guilty."

Real talk.

Happens all the time in Korea.

America's good with self-defense.

But proud Korea hits victim with attempted murder charge and Good Samaritan with assault—fair and balanced.

"Wh-what the hell~!!"

"Why?"

I explained step by step.

"You achieved the goal: saved the victim. Had the guts to chuck rocks at a knife-wielder knowing death was possible, so eat the fine."

Best bad ending ever.

Victim lives.

Robber gets attempted murder.

Samaritan takes assault for throwing rocks.

And cops/judges? Near-murder becomes two charges: win-win.

Peaceful ending.

"Or else you weren't gonna save 'em?"

The bubbly girl pounded her chest ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in frustration.

"No, why does it end like that~?! That's the same as before!"

"What, sophistry?"

"Yeah! Total bull!"

Bull my ass.

"That's debate."

Debate, especially arguments...

Trap the opponent in self-contradiction, you've half-won.

That's why listening trumps preaching.

They say respect opinions~ blah blah.

Really, feign respect while prepping to fling shit.

Know the enemy, know yourself: hundred victories.

Or at least no defeats.

Spot flaws, poke 'em—or better, lead them to stab themselves blind.

Hundred wins.

"Think: Proving you're right is harder than making them feel wrong."

Proof's tough.

Disproof's easy.

Prove you're not an idiot.

Easier to call you one.

Math too.

Proofs are brutal paths for true geniuses.

"Easiest: Rally opinion, finger-point. Like my presentation."

When I sophisted Group 1's leader, she countered "What would you do?!"

I spouted nonsense: "Gotta binge martial arts, home to wash feet and sleep."

But everyone but her cracked up.

Rile the dumb populists, sway opinion...

Making 'em feel wrong's easier than eating shit.

Debate ain't about right/wrong anyway.

"Whoa~ Han Kyung-jun, you're evil."

"Yeah?"

Sure is.

My 40 years were like that.

Relationships, work, politics, comment sections.

Doesn't matter if it's true.

If they think it's true, it is.

Right answer? Grader doesn't get it, X mark: zero points.

Quest clears always spam these.

Like when I mindlessly did "good deeds" to lower Assa Force—mostly F fails, occasional B.

Cs, Ds: harsh feedback, end of story.

Surprisingly decent evals?

Thought it'd tank my image with total-loser vibes.

Middle schoolers love edgelord stuff?

They're all first-years though...

"Group 1 leader's been glaring at us. Oh, she's coming~"

"Gotta take a dump."

Pat pat.

No, scram.

Heard "Hey, where you running, you punk!" from behind.

I bolted to the bathroom anyway.

Last tip: unbeatable argument win.

Never read replies, delete notifications ASAP~

"I-it's coming...!!"

Pat pat pat!