Chapter 69
Talent, gender, constitution, intelligence... Humans aren't mass-produced parts stamped out in a factory. That's why no two people are the same, and true equality is impossible. But far too many forget this obvious fact.
"Kill him...!"
"Die!"
An athlete's body is so exceptional, you could call it a mutation. Muscle fibers, bone density, skeletal structure, reflexes... Of course, what excels varies by sport, but overall, we're superior to ordinary people in every way. And I'm no exception.
Whoosh.
"Wha—? Aaaagh?!"
I easily dodged the steel pipe and slammed a Taekwondo kick into the guy's wrist with all my strength.
Grab.
I snatched the pipe away. Not a blade, so a bit disappointing, but more than enough against unarmed civilians.
'You wanna kill me?'
I don't know how many people these guys have killed, but it sure as hell isn't as many as me. Time to teach them what it really means to take a life.
Shiiiing—
My killing intent spread in all directions. Coach Gomushin warned me not to rely on it blindly, but could these worthless conscript-level punks even block it?
"What the...?"
"This is...?"
The men charging at me with their pipes raised froze in their tracks. Survival instinct. Their bodies, sensing they'd die if they attacked, refused their brains' commands.
"A-attack him!"
"He's just a punk kid!"
"No need to be scared!"
But they crushed their instincts with sheer numbers and charged again, swinging their pipes...
"Too slow."
Pop!
Part of me wanted to slaughter them all, but this country's laws don't recognize self-defense. ...Does that even make sense?
If you kill your attackers, it's murder and you go to jail. Might as well let yourself die without fighting back! It's insane.
Crack!
"Gaaahhh~?!"
"Agh! My arm~?!"
"Guh! My leg...!"
So I targeted their limbs—nothing vital. If I swung freely, even the second-hardest part of the human body, the skull, would shatter in one hit. Instant death.
"Demon!"
"He's a monster!"
"Ughhh...!"
It took less than a minute to drop them all. Like a cat toying with mice. A couple tried to flee, but I caught up in seconds and snapped their leg bones.
"Can't kill you... Maybe pop out your eyeballs one by one."
"Eek?!"
"Spare me!"
"I was wrong!"
Did they sense my mutter wasn't an empty threat? They all begged for mercy without exception, terror in their eyes.
"Too annoying... Just make sure they can't walk."
Tweet—
A whistle blew from behind as bodyguards and police swarmed in.
"My God..."
"What the hell...?"
"Jesus..."
They gaped at the bloodied men sprawled everywhere, speechless.
Whoosh~ I casually tossed the blood-smeared pipe aside.
"You're late. I must've died fifty times over by the time you showed up."
"......"
"......"
No one dared contradict me.
"Take your time investigating who sent them after me..."
"Athlete Kang Moon-soo. We'll take it from here."
A man who looked like the boss stepped forward with some nonsense.
"From now on? I don't recall dividing up duties with you guys."
"All matters related to your protection fall under our jurisdiction."
"What protection? What did you do?"
"...We're in the process."
"Process of what? I took them down. You just got here."
"Treat the injured..."
"As you can see, not a scratch on me."
Running out of excuses, the boss spouted even dumber crap.
"You might've been infected from contact."
"Hah?"
"Quarantine immediately, then move to a safe location."
"And if I refuse?"
"If you catch something and can't compete in the Olympics..."
"Ha! No problem almost dying from steel pipes, but a disease is bad?"
"Athlete Kang Moon-soo. That's not what I meant."
The boss frowned, clearly annoyed.
'This bastard?'
I picked up the fallen pipe as a warning.
"Freeze! Don't touch them. I caught them. I do the questioning."
"That's overstepping your authority."
"Not from the guys who failed to protect me."
"Road conditions were bad. We had no choice. And you're unharmed, aren't you? Stop being unreasonable."
"Unreasonable... Fine. The trauma's too much. I won't compete until you strip-search me."
"Wha—?!"
His eyes bulged at my words.
"Think I won't?"
"...Please don't."
Sensing how bad this looked for him, his voice turned servile.
"I think you're an accomplice anyway."
"Misunderstanding."
"You deliberately showed up late. Tracked my movements like surveillance, but no guards when shit hit the fan."
"We called for backup."
"Backup? One gun could've handled them. No need for a mob."
"You don't know the situation."
"So you arrive after the target is dead?"
"You're fine."
"Say it right. I'm fine because of me, not you. Hey! Don't take them yet."
I yelled at the cops cuffing the attackers and sneaking them into patrol cars.
"Athlete Kang Moon-soo. That's clear obstruction of justice."
"Sue me. I'll testify in court you almost got me killed and gave me PTSD."
"Why are you doing this to me?!"
"Why are you doing this to me?"
No point talking to the aggrieved-looking boss.
"I'm just doing my job."
"You suck at it."
"Everyone makes mistakes."
"Killing someone and asking for another chance? That's unreasonable."
"No one died!"
"I'm losing my mind."
I wondered if I was even talking to a human.
"What do you want?"
"You to stay out of my way."
"We'll inform you of the investigation results right away."
"Just stand there. I'll handle the questioning."
"I said no how many times...!"
I ignored the guy who clearly didn't speak human and walked past.
"Hey."
"Eek?!"
I approached one of the attackers, who was sighing in relief as they loaded him into the ambulance.
"Who sent you?"
"I don't know anything! Just followed Big Bro's orders!"
"Where's this Big Bro? Name?"
Grab.
The boss put a hand on my shoulder to stop me.
"You can't do that."
"...Last warning. Interfere once more, and your life's over."
"Such threats...!"
"If you're not an accomplice, shut up and watch."
"Athlete Kang Moon-soo! Please stop! This puts me in a tough spot!"
Thud.
He ditched his initial arrogance and dropped to his knees. I ignored him completely.
"Answer me."
"Big Bro's name... I can't say."
"You think he'll protect you? Without cameras, he could kill trash like you anytime."
"......"
"...Spill. Unless you want the arms your parents gave you useless forever."
"Eek?! F-fine, I'll talk!"
"Smart choice."
Time to meet whoever wants me dead.
Another country's doing? A jealous athlete? Or... Nam Hae-su?
I was dying to know.
* * *
Modern Earth's crime investigations move fast. How? Once a detective or prosecutor deems it a crime, they can investigate unilaterally—no upper approval or red tape needed.
Why? Infinite trust in aptitude. Only those incorruptible by bribes or power become cops and prosecutors.
Meanwhile, the old era can't help it...
Unable to trust government or politicians, they prevent corruption through checks and balances. Separation of powers! Independent legislative, judicial, and executive branches keep each other in check like rock-paper-scissors.
On the surface.
"This pisses me off."
Rock beats scissors, but if the rock takes a bribe and lets scissors win? Or threatens scissors into beating paper? That's old-era politics.
"Moon-soo. You okay?"
Park Han-hee looked at me worriedly as I scrolled news on my smartphone.
"Hm... Not at all."
The 'Big Bro' who ordered the attack on me wasn't arrested until five days later—and that was it.
<Jealous of Athlete Kang Moon-soo...>
<Extremely unstable emotionally...>
<Admits fault and reflecting...>
With a human rights lawyer, he claimed mental illness for leniency and tried wrapping it as a solo crime.
Does that make sense? Unbelievable, but it was working in court.
"Your face is super red."
"Fever."
"No way! Infected...?"
"Nah. Just pissed."
What if this were the romance fantasy novel world of I Became the Youngest Daughter of the Count's Family? Half a day in the torture chamber and he'd confess.
'Criminals' human rights?'
Why protect the rights of thugs who trample innocents'? Beyond my comprehension.
'Cutting off the lizard's tail.'
A thug running the adults' playground 'jealous' of an athlete? Even a passing slime would laugh.
"Molrang~"
"...Yeah. I know."
Government officials shoved blame around to close the case quick. Why? Rock-paper-scissors. Someone's obstructing fair investigation—has to be.
And that someone? A power player. Only one in this country hates me enough to kill.
'Nam Hae-su.'
I recalled the warning note slipped under my door.
「Athlete Kang Moon-soo. Park Han-hee is deceiving you. Ignore my warning, and you'll regret it.」
Regret. Loaded word.
I'd thought it meant betrayal by Park Han-hee. But what if not?
"Why?"
"'Cause you're pretty."
"S-suddenly saying that...!"
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize! Say it more often. Sneak attacks strain my heart."
"Hm..."
Her face and words screamed she loved it. Around when Nam Hae-su started obsessing over me.
'Olympics a waste?'
No. If I hadn't fixated like now, I'd never meet 'Nam Hae-su's wife,' the track dreamer. And even if I did, no affection like this.
"Han-hee."
"Yeah?"
"Wanna take a trip? Just us. Change of pace."
"Just us?!"
"Pass if not."
"As if! But can we?"
Her cheeks flushed; the infection worried her.
"Who stops me healing my mental wounds at a resort?"
"Oh!"
"What do you say? Think on a chill 2 nights, 3 days."
"2 nights, 3 days?!"
"Too long?"
"Not that... Long's good, but... Same room?"
"Obviously."
That's the point.
"Hmm..."
"Pass if not."
"Dense idiot! Give me time to pretend to think!"
"Need that?"
"Yes!"
We'll see if Nam Hae-su cuts the tail again this time.
'After my life?'
No happy endings in this dream.