The Transfer Student Who Brings the Storm #2

Our family was well-off. To give you an idea of just how well, we had a yard and a separate garage. It was a two-story house. You couldn't find so much as a cockroach inside. Mom and Dad had enough money to go shopping at department stores every week. From a young age, I had everything I could possibly want. I never lacked for anything.

Up until sixth grade, I was both class president and student council president. Basically the same position Wang Ja-hyeon holds now. Of course, Jeong Seok looked like he couldn't believe it.

"You?"

"Yeah, I was. I'm quiet these days, that's all. I used to be really popular. The girls in my class would beg the teacher to let them sit next to me..."

There might've been a little exaggeration there. But that wasn't the important part.

"It was the summer of sixth grade. Right before summer break. One day, my dad told me there was an old storage shed behind the house where he kept worn-out furniture and tools. He said it was dangerous and I was never, ever allowed to go near it. Absolutely not."

"Absolutely?"

"Yeah. He told me not to go near it and not to even dream of opening the door. I said okay. At the time, I was still..."

I was the kind of kid who listened to his parents. An obedient child. My parents' pride and joy. But... at some point, strange things started happening. I'd hear someone sobbing at night. The ice cream I'd saved in the fridge would suddenly disappear. The big house I lived in started to feel incredibly terrifying.

A ghost. There's a ghost in the house.

That kind of fear took hold, and when I worked up the courage to search every corner of the house, I found something in the storage shed my dad had forbidden me from approaching.

"...It was a girl. My dad had kidnapped a little girl... and was keeping her hidden in the shed. After that day, our family was completely destroyed. My dad, who had been a respected pastor, became a sex offender."

"Oh, shit..."

Jeong Seok grimaced and muttered the same way I had. My story must have been quite a shock to him too.

"After that, I lived with a scarlet letter on my chest all through middle school. Even the kids who used to be close to me started pointing fingers. And right at the center of it all was Wang Ja-hyeon."

Wang Ja-hyeon and my family actually saw each other quite often. His father was the associate pastor at the church where my dad worked. I used to think Wang Ja-hyeon was my best friend. Like how Jeong Seok is now. No, in some ways, even closer than that.

"Anyway, if that bastard Wang Ja-hyeon decides to target me again, he might start by trying to manipulate you first, Jeong Seok. I'm sure of it. I don't know why he's transferred here, but..."

Why would Wang Ja-hyeon, who was living comfortably in Seoul, come all the way to Gaeryong? Whatever the reason, to me it felt like standing on a roof with no cover, facing an incoming typhoon.

Then Jeong Seok asked,

"...So why did your dad do it? Kidnapping a child... why?"

"...I don't know. It could be the perverted pedophilic tendencies the news talked about. Or maybe..."

Honestly, I still don't know. I think about it sometimes even now. Why did Dad do that? And if I had never opened that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠storage shed door... would I still be living in that fancy two-story house like nothing had happened?

Whenever I think about that day, the summer heat, the sound of cicadas, and the sticky stench that hit me when I opened the door all come rushing back vividly.

In a way... I still hadn't escaped the nightmare of that day.

Soon, Jeong Seok said to me,

"Now I understand why the Status Window appeared for you. You're carrying the blood of a villain. You have everything it takes to become the worst villain in the world. That's what you are."

Was that supposed to be encouragement or an insult? Even after hearing my story, the way Jeong Seok looked at me didn't change. Well, it did change a little. Instead of contempt, he seemed to look at me with curiosity.

"Where is your father now?"

"In prison. He didn't even appeal. He just confessed to everything and went quietly. He was caught red-handed anyway..."

"Then what happened to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the girl? The one who was kidnapped."

Jeong Seok asked me. I shook my head.

"I don't know. I wasn't in any state to care."

Come to think of it, it wasn't just my family's life that got ruined. That girl might still be trapped in the nightmare of that day too. She'd probably never be able to forget it for the rest of her life.

"But why isn't the matching starting?"

I stared at the matching waiting screen that had been up for several minutes. Just as irritation started to build, Jeong Seok pressed the cancel button.

"...You said it was the summer of sixth grade, right?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe... I think all these events are connected within some kind of massive circle. That girl. The one your dad kept locked up for a whole month. I know who she is."

He knows who she is? And did I mention it was a whole month?

"The person is—"

Jeong Seok started to say something but closed his mouth. Someone was approaching us.

"There you are! Guys!"

It was a cheerful voice. The appearance of a beautiful girl who looked completely out of place in a PC bang made all the customers glance over. It was Yu Da-hee.

And that's when lightning struck in my brain.

The hot summer. The girl who had been living like an animal beyond that tightly locked storage door.

"Ugh!"

I couldn't hold back the wave of nausea and ran straight for the bathroom.

"...Did you already know, Yu Da-hee?"

Jeong Seok asked her once his friend had run off to the bathroom. Yu Da-hee tilted her head.

"You guys sent me a message saying you were at the PC bang. By the way, this is my first time ever coming to one! How do you turn on the computer? Can I play that game called League too?"

"Not that. I'm talking about what happened in sixth grade."

Jeong Seok and Yu Da-hee had been elementary school classmates. They hadn't talked much and weren't particularly close, but it seemed she remembered the events clearly. Yu Da-hee had gone missing right before summer break in sixth grade. For about a month. She had been kidnapped.

When the culprit was caught, the whole country was in an uproar. After that day, Yu Da-hee could no longer go to and from school without being driven. His friend Ha Yeong-won had just realized that fact and the truth behind it, and had bolted from his seat in uncontrollable nausea.

'Then what about Yu Da-hee? Does she know the truth? I know about the incident. A pastor from a large Seoul church kidnapped a young girl, imprisoned her, and sexually assaulted her... It was all over the news.'

Yu Da-hee was the victim of that case. She might know that Ha Yeong-won was the son of the perpetrator, or she might not.

'Yeong-won changed his last name because of the scarlet letter. He took his mother's surname instead of his father's and became Ha Yeong-won! So Yu Da-hee might not know that the perpetrator's son is Yeong-won!'

Jeong Seok suddenly felt like he had been careless with his words. It was as if he had unintentionally driven a wedge between Yu Da-hee and Ha Yeong-won.

As he squeezed his eyes shut, Yu Da-hee spoke.

"I know. I didn't at first. But after meeting him a few times and talking, I figured it out. Of course, it seems Yeong-won didn't recognize me."

Yu Da-hee puffed out her cheeks like she was a little sulky. Looking at her, Jeong Seok asked,

"Then... was everything in the news true?"

"The details... I don't remember them clearly. The memories from that time are blurry. They say it's because of the trauma..."

"That was around the same time you were looking for Yang Do-hui, Yang Ju-hui's older sister, and then suddenly said you didn't know anymore, right?"

"That's right. But there is one thing I remember. The voice I heard through the wall... I owe a debt to that voice. That voice saved me, but in return, I destroyed that child's life."

Jeong Seok could more or less understand why Yu Da-hee had taken an interest in Ha Yeong-won. And just like he'd said earlier, he felt that many things were tightly connected by a single thread.

It seemed his friend Ha Yeong-won had already gone home. Jeong Seok left the PC bang with Yu Da-hee and looked up at the sky. The evening sky was gradually taking on the appearance of summer.

Jjeek-jjeek-jjeek-

The cries of cicadas that had begun to sing. Someone staying near the foundation chairman's office heard it.

It was Kang Ba-da.

Kang Ba-da glanced at the time on his phone and entered the chairman's office. Cheon Dae-gon, the chairman, was sitting at his desk signing something when he paused.

"It's been a while, Chairman."

"Cut the crap. I know you've been sniffing around Da-hee lately. I don't have time to waste on the likes of you, so I'll be direct. Get out of Korea."

"Whoa, and if I don't?"

Kang Ba-da stroked his beard. The chairman silently narrowed his thin eyes. There was no need for further conversation. Kang Ba-da could feel the fate approaching him.

'Chairman Cheon Dae-gon. This man can do whatever he wants if he sets his mind to it. Getting rid of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠someone like me would be nothing to him. And he is the kind of person who would actually do it. This old man doesn't fire blanks.'

In the past, he would have backed down. Just like when he fled to Japan under the chairman's pressure. But Kang Ba-da had aged, and now he had a bit more spine.

"Chairman. You're still trying to drag people into that nightmare, aren't you? You did the same to your daughter In-na. And you're probably forcing your granddaughter Da-hee into it too."

"Get to the point."

"...I'll go. I'll go and bring you what you want. So please leave Da-hee out of this. I'm begging you."

Kang Ba-da knelt and pressed his forehead to the floor. Cheon Dae-gon didn't even look at the gesture. He simply laughed.

"Not necessary. You don't even know how to get inside in the first place, you fool. Besides, Miri has been doing quite well lately. She's entered that nightmare twice recently. Quite impressive."

At that moment, Kang Ba-da lifted his head. He stood up.

"But Oh-seong won't listen to you, will they? You haven't been able to contact Oh-seong properly lately, have you? You must know they're researching ways to send people into that nightmare place."

"Those bastards aren't even my competition. They're just merchants who sell a few trinkets. They don't even know who raised them to that position, yet they strut around like dogs."

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door. The door opened with a click. A tall male student bowed his head before Chairman Cheon Dae-gon.

"My name is Wang Ja-hyeon from Gwanak First Presbyterian Church. My father and Pastor Cheon Ae-soo asked me to deliver this gift as thanks for your help with my transfer procedures."

It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was a very luxuriously wrapped box. The chairman didn't even glance at it.

"Just leave it there."

"Then I'll take my leave. Oh, and one more thing. Now that I'm here, everything will return to normal. Please don't worry too much, Chairman Cheon Dae-gon. I'll be going now."

Bow.

What a ridiculously handsome boy, Kang Ba-da thought. But for the first time that day, Cheon Dae-gon openly showed his displeasure.

"Pathetic creatures who only know how to covet what belongs to others. The way they come running the moment they smell something good is exactly like stray dogs. They smile to your face, but the moment you turn around, all they think about is biting your neck."

"......"

"Fine. Kang Ba-da. I'll accept your proposal. I won't pressure Da-hee any further. But there is a condition. Instead of Yu Da-hee, we'll send that boy into the Idea. The son of Ha Chae-yeon."

"...You mean Chae-yeon's son?"

"Yes. Hehehehehe. You will teach that boy. Teach him how to survive even in hell. If he collapses in that hell, Da-hee will have no choice but to step forward again."

Cheon Dae-gon's laughter settled low throughout the room. Kang Ba-da felt dizzy.

"You say 'send him in.' You know full well that place isn't somewhere you can go just because you want to, or avoid just because you don't, right? Yeong-won seemed like... just an ordinary kid."

"There are ways. You know that too. You know how Oh-seong and the church create Watchers. The methods are a bit twisted, though."

"Chairman. Are you saying you're going to kill Ha Yeong-won?"

"It's not death. It's becoming neither alive nor dead. And that boy isn't Ha Yeong-won. He's Cheon Yeong-won."

I crawled under the blankets to recover my stamina when suddenly—knock knock knock—someone knocked on our front door. Was it Jeong Seok? Or maybe...

"Who is it?"

—It's me. Teacher Hong Mi-ri.

Hong Mi-ri had come to our house?