An Unexpected Suspect
At Hanyoung Private Elementary School, the end-of-semester parent observation day was underway just ahead of summer vacation.
As a result, the hallways were bustling with activity.
"Look, that boy sitting right at the front must be Chul-jun. Oh my. He really is adorable."
"I know, right? He looked cute in photos, but he's even cuter in person."
"To think a little boy like that won the Grand Prize in the high school division of the KMC... Even my child's tutor was absolutely shocked when he read the article."
"I saw that article too."
"They say it's an incredible feat. An elementary schooler getting a perfect score on an exam where even high schoolers struggle to get one..."
"But I really wish they'd expand that special tutoring program for the second semester... Do you think that's possible?"
"I know. I can't even count how many times I've heard about Class 5 kids winning awards at math competitions."
"Class 1 used to be the gifted class..."
"Now Class 5 is much better. I heard their average performance assessment scores are overwhelmingly higher."
"I guess a teacher from Harvard really is different... I transferred my kid to another class after hearing complaints from parents whose kids were in Class 5 last year..."
"Oh dear, what a shame."
"Well, I had no idea things would turn out like this back then."
"Still, there were rumors that Mr. Go's classes were quite special."
"I just thought they were rumors. I never imagined he'd actually be this amazing..."
"By the way, it seems that boy's parents didn't come today? I was really curious about them."
"Ah, I heard his guardian is his uncle."
"His uncle?"
"Yes. He was introduced once in the fifth-grade parents' group chat. Don't you remember? Apparently, his uncle visited yesterday."
"Did he? The chat was moving so fast back then... But didn't someone claiming to be his mother join the chat too?"
"Oh, that was an impostor. She was kicked out shortly after because she couldn't provide a family relation certificate."
"Ah, really? Anyway, Chul-jun's guardian must be so proud. He's so handsome and incredibly smart, he'd be adored wherever he goes."
"I heard he has a wonderful personality too. He has lots of friends and is always smiling."
"Indeed, there's not a shadow on his face. He looks so gentle and innocent."
Parents who had finished observing their own children's classes inevitably gravitated toward Class 5.
They wanted to catch a glimpse of Chul-jun, whose reputation had spread all the way to the academies of Daechi-dong, and to witness the supposedly extraordinary teaching of Class 5's homeroom teacher.
Standing among the parents lingering outside the classroom window was Edward Kang.
'Hmm...'
So far, he hadn't noticed anything particularly unusual.
He observed closely, but the boy seemed just like any other child.
'His attitude in class is remarkably good, though.'
Highly gifted children often struggled to pay attention in class.
This was especially true for elementary schoolers, who had poor emotional regulation.
It was excruciatingly difficult for them to sit through a second or third explanation of something they had grasped instantly.
Edward himself had been scolded constantly as a child for being too restless.
His teachers had interpreted his behavior as a sign of disrespect.
Ultimately, he had been branded an uncontrollable troublemaker back then.
Only later did he realize.
That highly intelligent children often exhibited similar behavioral patterns.
Yet, this boy did not take his eyes off the teacher for the entire lesson.
He was actively participating and appeared incredibly calm.
This left Edward Kang feeling slightly puzzled.
'Actually, the homeroom teacher is the one who seems special.'
From listening to the parents' chatter, he learned the teacher was a Harvard graduate.
Come to think of it, he felt as though he had glimpsed that face before at a HYPSM Korean student association gathering.
'A Harvard graduate teaching elementary school...'
It was an exceedingly rare career path. As Edward watched more closely, he found himself quite impressed by the teaching style.
The teacher had designed engaging interactive segments and seamlessly integrated different subjects to make the lesson highly entertaining.
'Special tutoring?'
This was another piece of information he had gleaned from the parents' conversation.
Listening closely, it seemed to be a unique form of advanced study run by this Harvard-educated teacher.
'Hmm. So there was advanced preparation involved after all?'
While he couldn't say for sure yet, if the boy was indeed a gifted prodigy, he had certainly been fortunate enough to find an excellent mentor.
Edward had also observed the boy during recess, and he had behaved just like any ordinary child—playing games and joking around with his peers.
There were a few documented cases of high-functioning prodigies fitting in well with peer groups.
However, those instances almost always involved the prodigy taking on a leadership role.
Yet, that wasn't the vibe he got from this boy at all.
The boy would pout when he lost a game and gently went along with the other children's suggestions without any friction.
Consequently, a seed of doubt began to sprout in Edward Kang's mind.
"Oh? It looks like class is over. Since there are no after-school activities today, they'll start the special tutoring right away."
"How on earth does he teach for the entire class to be so good at math?"
Eavesdropping on the parents, Edward Kang narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had already reached a tentative conclusion.
At least in a school setting, the boy named Chul-jun did not seem particularly extraordinary.
Because of this, a worst-case scenario kept flashing through his mind.
He began to seriously worry if another professor had actually discovered the proof and put this clever, adorable child forward as a front to generate massive media hype.
Of course, he would have to visit Seohan University, review the proof again, and speak with the boy in person to be absolutely sure. But for now, Edward's mind leaned heavily toward skepticism.
"Oh? It looks like they're starting."
"This is what I was most curious about!"
Edward Kang let out a soft sigh and looked inside the classroom.
'I'll just watch this "special tutoring" session and then... Hm?'
One of Edward's eyebrows twitched.
The Harvard-educated homeroom teacher stepped down from the podium and sat among the students. Meanwhile, Chul-jun stood up, walked to the front of the room, and greeted his classmates with a bright smile.
What followed was a lesson that defied all of Edward's expectations.
The boy presented a problem with a sunny smile, explained it with astonishing simplicity, posed questions, and guided his classmates to understand the answers. As Edward watched this sequence unfold, his pupils dilated, and his mouth fell half-open.
"Oh my goodness! How can he explain it so easily? Was that trigonometry just now?"
"Exactly. When my oldest learned that at an academy, they just made him memorize the formulas blindly."
"If you explain it like that, there's no need to memorize anything. You actually understand the reasoning behind it."
"Oh, look, the kids are asking so many questions, and he's answering every single one."
"I know. Even when someone gives a wrong answer, he asks them why they thought that way first."
"Wait, isn't that middle school math too?"
"Yes, I think my oldest learned that last year."
"But with his explanation, even I can understand it."
"Wow, if I had been taught like that in school, I wouldn't have given up on math."
"Haha, me too!"
"Where on earth did he learn to do that?"
"Maybe from his homeroom teacher?"
Listening to the parents' chatter, Edward Kang swallowed hard.
'That is not something you can just learn.'
The ability to map out another person's cognitive framework in real-time and explain concepts within that exact framework.
This was not a skill that could be achieved through mere teaching techniques.
It was a profound form of cognitive empathy—the capacity to understand another's logic as if it were one's own and deconstruct it.
'Ah...'
The way he taught those children was the product of a pure desire and deep understanding, born only when someone who had completely digested a concept wished to share it.
'But...'
Edward's brow furrowed even deeper.
As he continued to listen, he realized the boy's teaching style felt as though he was simply describing the world as he saw it to the other children.
And the children were accepting it without a shred of doubt.
'My god... A genius of an entirely different paradigm than anyone I've ever met...'
Before he knew it, Edward Kang was nudging parents aside with his shoulders, pressing himself flat against the window.
He felt an overwhelming urge to speak with the boy right this instant.
"Oh my. What is his problem..."
"How incredibly rude..."
Frowning at the sour smell of sweat wafting from him, the parents glared at Edward Kang.
Glancing at Edward Kang's face pressed against the hallway window, Go Chang-ho smiled warmly to himself.
It was only natural for him to be shocked after witnessing Chul-jun's lesson firsthand.
This was a unique facet of Chul-jun's genius, entirely separate from his mathematical prowess.
"That's all for today!"
Chul-jun wrapped up the lesson, bidding his friends goodbye with a bright smile. Go Chang-ho clapped his hands, stood up, and walked back to the podium.
Perhaps because there were so many onlookers outside today, Chul-jun's shoulders seemed a bit more squared than usual.
He had seemed slightly more energized throughout the special class.
As he returned to his seat, there was a trace of adorable smugness on his face.
Go Chang-ho still found it hard to reconcile this sight with the awe-inspiring Chul-jun he had seen in the lecture hall of the College of Natural Sciences.
'When he's like this, he's just a normal kid...'
In any case, seeing the great and revered Edward Kang standing there with his jaw dropped filled the homeroom teacher with immense pride.
"Alright, everyone! Just because there are no after-school classes today doesn't mean you should run straight to the PC cafe!"
"Yes, sir!"
"You all know about the suspicious person who's been spotted lately, right?"
"Yes!"
Recently, vile individuals had been appearing around the Gangnam area, targeting children of any gender by pretending to ask for directions before exposing themselves.
One had been caught, and shockingly, his profession turned out to be a doctor.
However, since at least two more suspects were still at large, the school had received an official directive to warn the students.
"What should you do if that happens?"
"Scream and run toward where there are lots of adults!"
"That's right. Avoid secluded areas at all costs, and always stay where there are plenty of people!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Alright, class dismissed."
Min-jun sprang to his feet.
"Bow to the teacher."
"Thank you, Teacher!"
"You're welcome! Thank you too, everyone! See you tomorrow!"
Go Chang-ho smiled warmly as he bid the children goodbye.
He glanced out the window, but Edward Kang was already gone.
'Ah... I was hoping to get an autograph...'
Well, he could always ask Chul-jun to get one for him later.
"So, you're not going to the university today?"
"Nope! That's pretty much finished!"
"PC cafe, then?"
"Deal!"
"Sweet!"
"Let's queue for a 3v3 ranked match today!"
"Is our Chul-jun finally hitting Diamond?"
"PC cafe tomorrow too?"
Chul-jun shook his head slightly.
"No, I have to go to the university tomorrow. They said I need to meet someone."
"Who?"
"They said he's a famous math teacher."
"Ugh, sounds incredibly boring!"
"Total nightmare!"
"Hehe. I think it'll be fun."
Smiling brightly at Min-jun and Ha-rang, Chul-jun suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket.
Using the dark, unlit screen as a mirror, he checked behind them.
"Chul-jun? What's wrong?"
Chul-jun shook his head.
"Oh, it's nothing."
Truthfully, Chul-jun didn't quite understand.
They weren't wielding knives or trying to kidnap anyone; they were just putting their hands in their pants or pulling open their shirts to show their bodies. Was that really what made someone a "dangerous person"?
But apparently, in Korea, even that was considered highly dangerous behavior.
Even if he didn't logically grasp the gravity of it, he knew enough to recognize that anyone acting like that in South Korea was considered dangerous, was breaking the law, and needed to be reported.
Chul-jun checked behind them once more using his phone screen.
The man had definitely been tailing them ever since they left the school gates.
What's more, three of his shirt buttons were undone, and his face was flushed with excitement as he stared at them.
'He must be one of those dangerous people, right?'
After a brief moment of thought, Chul-jun's round eyes sparkled.
"Hey, guys."
"Yeah, Chul-jun?"
"I think that dangerous person the teacher mentioned just showed up."
"Huh?"
"Where?"
Min-jun and Ha-rang's eyes went wide.
Chul-jun arched an eyebrow and grabbed both of their collars, pulling them close.
"Let's catch the dangerous guy."
"...What? Us?"
"No, no. Not us directly. Look over there."
Chul-jun gestured with his eyes toward a nearby police substation.
"Let's lure him over there."
"Oh! Chul-jun!"
Min-jun and Ha-rang's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Eleven years old.
It was the perfect age to be fueled by a burning sense of justice.
"Whoa, are we going to get official commendations and stuff?"
"Awesome!"
Chul-jun tugged their collars again.
"Don't make it obvious. First, let's see if he follows us near the station."
"Got it!"
"Okay!"
Ha-rang and Min-jun whispered back excitedly, and a small smirk played on the corner of Chul-jun's mouth.
This was turning out to be incredibly fun.
Keeping a close eye on the reflection on his dark phone screen, Chul-jun walked toward the police substation with his friends.
Edward Kang stared blankly at the children walking ahead of him.
'Should I just wait and meet him tomorrow at Seohan University...?'
He had followed them because he was desperate to talk to the boy right away, but he hesitated, realizing it might look strange for a complete stranger to suddenly approach them.
Yet, he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep a wink if he went back to his hotel like this.
Once he became fixated on something, his entire mind would consume itself with it—a lifelong habit he had failed to cure even with age.
Caught in this dilemma, he had ended up mindlessly trailing behind the boy.
'Whew...'
The weather was stiflingly hot.
It had been a very long time since he had experienced early summer in Korea.
Sweat poured down his body as if he had been caught in a downpour, completely drenching his shirt.
Because of this, he had undone another button and was fanning himself by tugging at his collar.
'Huh?'
The children, who had been walking along just fine, suddenly turned and walked straight into the police substation.
Edward Kang stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing.
'What's going on?'
Just then, the doors of the substation burst open, and several police officers rushed out, charging straight toward him.
'...Huh?'
As he tilted his head in confusion, one of the officers spoke up.
"Excuse me, sir?"
"Yes?"
"Were you just tailing those children?"
"Ah, well..."
The officers exchanged quick glances, and suddenly, they grabbed him by both arms.
"We're going to need you to cooperate and come with us."
"...Excuse me?"
"First, let's head inside the station..."
"No, wait, I was just... I just wanted to talk to that boy for a moment..."
"Sigh, of course you did."
Edward Kang blinked his wide eyes in disbelief as he was dragged away by the police.
"No, wait, listen to me..."
Gu Byung-ook, the Dean of Natural Sciences at Seohan University, was staring intently at his phone.
"Geez, he could at least send a reply..."
"Well, he is an incredibly busy man..."
"He is definitely coming tomorrow, right? Wait, shouldn't he be boarding his flight around now?"
"Ah..."
The department chair of mathematics frowned.
"True... If he had boarded, he would have let us know..."
"Sigh..."
"Let's just trust him and wait. Princeton did their own verification, after all. Even if he has some bad blood with the Korean academic community, he's not the type of person to go back on his word."
"I suppose so, right?"
"Yes. And once we introduce him to Chul-jun in person, it's game over."
"Haha. I'm already looking forward to it. I can't wait to see the look on that proud Edward Kang's face."
"I'm looking forward to it as well!"
Just then, Dean Gu Byung-ook's phone vibrated.
It was an unknown number.
'...Hm?'
Gu Byung-ook tilted his head and pressed the answer button.
"Yes, hello?"
And then,
"...Excuse me? What did you say?"
Gu Byung-ook's face turned pale with shock.