The Protagonist's End
My school days.
It felt as if the screams of Han Si-young, wailing in betrayal and sorrow, were echoing from somewhere.
This was the worst feeling I’d ever had while watching these memories.
And now, it felt like I was about to update that record for the worst feeling imaginable.
"Ugh, hng…."
Kang Gu-han looked down at Seong Si-hyeon, who was groaning while clutching his face, and spat on him with a look of utter contempt. Shin Jin-pae didn't even spare him a glance, his eyes fixed on Seo Ye-rin.
"Wouldn't it be so much better if you were cooperative? Ye-rin."
"Shin Jin-pae."
"If you satisfy them, you won't get 'worked over.' If you hold out just a little, you might even get a good position. So, just come along quietly."
"I, I don't want to."
The thugs giggled as they watched Seo Ye-rin backing away like a child.
"She's cute."
"Hey. Can I go first?"
Shin Jin-pae glared silently at the giggling thugs. The guys who had been acting like they feared nothing in the world stopped laughing and started reading the room. Shin Jin-pae spoke in a cold voice.
"Depending on the circumstances, I'll allow it."
"Oh, for real?"
"That's our Jin-pae for you!"
Hoo. Shin Jin-pae let out a sigh.
"Ye-rin. Do you have any idea how much the kids at school are suffering because of you?"
"......"
"It wasn't just Gu-han; I, the gentlemanly one, personally beat the hell out of the school kids to isolate you. Boys and girls alike. Do you even know how much trouble that was for them and for me?"
"So, were you having fun?"
Such absurd logic. A venomous glint appeared in Seo Ye-rin's eyes. Shin Jin-pae, staring right back at her, shrugged his shoulders.
"Not really. It's just work to me."
"Hey. Jin-pae. Is there more to say? Looking at her eyes, she isn't going to follow quietly..."
Kang Gu-han smacked his lips.
"Let's give her a taste of some dick first. Then she'll turn into a bitch and follow along just fine."
"...You heard him, right, Ye-rin? Just come along quietly. Then, well... I don't know about this 'Dojo Family' thing, but the other kids at school will be safe."
"...You guys, what are you thinking."
The fading voice belonged to Seong Si-hyeon. He kept his eyes closed, enduring the pain as he spoke.
"After doing something like this, do you think you'll be safe..."
THUD!
"Kack!"
Seong Si-hyeon, a foot buried into his solar plexus, rolled across the floor and screamed. Kang Gu-han sneered as he trampled on him while he let out miserable groans.
"You fucking bastard. We'll be perfectly safe. And you, you piece of shit, keep your mouth shut because I'm going to crush you soon anyway, you glasses-wearing dog."
"...Huk. Huk..."
"Or are you running your mouth because you trust the cops? Those incompetent, useless public servants who crawl before our fathers?"
"......"
'Was this what Drae meant?'
Just as Drae said, the police were no help. It was clear enough from the fact that they hadn't arrived yet, even though they’d been called over an hour ago.
In other words, the only one who could come to help was Drae. But even if he came, what could he do against this many people?
"Uwaaaaaaa!"
However, he let out a guttural cry, forced his body up, and threw himself somewhere. The thugs, who had been on guard, stared in confusion, and then—
CLICK.
The lights in the dojo went out.
"Oh, shit."
"Where did that dog go?"
"There's only one entrance here. The only place left is the roof."
The thugs, eyes unadjusted to the sudden darkness, scrambled about, and in that moment, Seong Si-hyeon grabbed Seo Ye-rin's hand and ran.
To the cot.
"Uh, uh?"
"Get inside."
When he lifted the sheet of the cot, there was a zipper in the middle. He hurriedly unzipped it and pulled, revealing a space. It was the very device he had told Drae about before.
'Even if I run to the roof... I'll get caught.'
'At least one person….'
Seong Si-hyeon, who had been monologuing, smiled faintly.
"No, wai..."
"Get in! Hurry!"
Seong Si-hyeon stubbornly tried to shove Seo Ye-rin into the secret compartment of the cot.
'No. It can't be. Si-hyeon will really die if he's alone.'
Seo Ye-rin struggled with all her might to convey her intent, but Seong Si-hyeon stubbornly pushed her in and covered it with the cushion he had removed. And just after he zipped it shut—
"What are you doing~?"
Kang Gu-han whispered right next to him with a chilling expression.
"......"
"Our shitty glasses-wearing class president. What are you trying to do with this? Huh? Did you think we wouldn't see this?"
"...No way. I didn't."
In an instant, Seong Si-hyeon thrust both arms deep into the gap that hadn't been fully zipped and covered it with his body. Kang Gu-han blinked and then burst into laughter.
"That's hilarious, you moron. Hey. Hey."
POW! POW!
Two blows struck his head. He felt like he would pass out from just that, but Seong Si-hyeon endured it desperately. His hands, thrust deep into the bed, were squeezed so tightly that even if he wanted to pull them out now, it wouldn't be easy.
"Hey. Hey. Ah, fuck, what a pathetic piece of shit."
POW. POW!
"So what if you endure? What if you endure? You’d be lucky to last five minutes. We have plenty of time. But how are you going to hold out?"
"This won't do."
Shin Jin-pae muttered lazily and bit into a cigarette.
"You guys beat him too. And Ye-rin, get a little taste."
"Yes!"
"That's it!"
Several thugs swarmed him and began to beat him. Seo Ye-rin’s monologue could be heard from under the bed.
'No. No!'
How much time had passed? Seong Si-hyeon, who they thought they could pull out in five minutes, had already been holding out for over ten minutes.
"Stubborn bastard."
"Wow."
While the thugs clicked their tongues, Shin Jin-pae stepped closer.
And then.
SZZZT.
"Awoo, awooo...!"
Even in his delirious state, excruciating pain tormented him. Shin Jin-pae, who had burned him with the cigarette, put it back in his mouth and said:
"Si-hyeon. It's useless to hold out."
His voice was truly gentle, and that was why it was so chilling. Even his own cohorts hesitated at the conflicting words and actions.
"If you move now. I'll help you live a normal school life. You have good grades, you should live an elite life, right?"
"......"
"Hey. Can't you hear me?"
He calmly burned Si-hyeon with the cigarette again, and this time, Seong Si-hyeon, gritting his teeth instead of groaning, said:
"I won't... move."
"What?"
"...The family, is family, and you shouldn't, abandon family... and I... am the protagonist, right now…."
"What are you talking about?"
Before Shin Jin-pae, who was bewildered by the incomprehensible words, something heavy flew through the air.
CRUNCH!
The sound was different from anything before. When he looked up with wide eyes, Kang Gu-han was holding a steel pipe and smirking.
"If you're the protagonist, then I should give you a trial worthy of one, right?"
"...Sur...prise! You fucking bastard! Say something before you hit!!"
The other thugs froze.
"Shut up, fuck…."
Drae gritted his teeth. It was a narration that was of no help and not at all appreciated.
"The fucker is being a pain."
CRACK. CRACK.
When they forcibly pulled Seong Si-hyeon out, strange sounds came from his arms. Ignoring that, Kang Gu-han pulled him out, threw the steel pipe away, and clenched his fists.
"What? Protagonist? Family? Are you filming a movie, you fucking otaku? I told you. I'd smash your glasses and your face."
POW! POW!
"I! Am! A man! Who keeps! His promises!"
POW! POW! POW!"
"Kwahahaha! Hey! Even his parents wouldn't recognize this guy's face now!"
He was a devil, giggling while looking at a face that was mangled and overflowing with blood. What else could you call him?
"Sigh. Do whatever the fuck you want."
Only Shin Jin-pae calmly bit into his cigarette.
"...That's what happened? The Director?"
"Yes."
"Wait, wait. You, who are so merciful to your enemies that even the male employees who admire you sometimes complain about your excessive kindness—you?"
Nakamura looked at Shin Jin-pae in front of him with an expression of disbelief. If the story were true, wasn't he a piece of trash that would make one click their tongue in disgust? On the other hand, he felt a chill for a different reason. What was the intention behind telling him such a story that could be used as a weakness?
'...Is he really planning to dispose of me?'
Whether Nakamura’s gaze changed or not, Shin Jin-pae continued his story.
"Yes. The me of now has changed. I'm grateful to Yeodre for that much, at least."
"......"
"Humans don't change easily, and I only changed because I went through truly difficult trials. And there are two reasons why I'm telling you this."
"......"
"One. As I said before, if things go wrong, I will dispose of you."
'Go ahead and try.' Nakamura barely swallowed the words that were about to burst out and asked:
"And the second?"
"Two. If things are resolved well. I'll put you in the Director's seat."
"...What did you say?"
Did he hear him wrong? He'd put him in the Director's seat?
"If I solve the Yeodre problem, surely I can manage at least that much. Not just the Director's seat, perhaps even the Chairman's position might be possible."
What kind of blasphemous talk was this? It was the moment Nakamura was sweating cold sweat after being happy for a second.
BANG.
The door opened. The person who entered was the Chairman mentioned just a moment ago.
"Chairman!"
"...Kang Gu-han?"
Nakamura jumped up and bowed 90 degrees, and Shin Jin-pae spoke in a suspicious voice.
"We were having an interesting conversation."
"W-what brings you here!"
Usually, he was a secretive person who rarely showed his face. To think the Chairman of the 'Head Office' would visit in person. Nakamura swallowed hard, thinking that this meant the Chairman was very interested in this matter. He reminded himself once again that this was a huge opportunity for him.
Were the Gold Taeyang Clan doing well? Just then, a contact came through the communication magic tool plugged into his ear.
[We've brought Yeodre to the hideout. Education is scheduled to start soon. Get ready to come.]
Nakamura smiled a triumphant smile.
He had won. As expected, Director Shin was just scared by the shadow of fear from his childhood. In reality, he was nothing special.
There was the promise Shin Jin-pae had made, and now the Director's seat was his, Nakamura secretly smirked.
"Why are you like that?"
The moment Nakamura was about to answer happily at the Chairman's question, Shin Jin-pae laughed.
"Did you get a contact from the Gold Taeyang Clan saying they caught Yeodre?"
"...Yes. That is correct."
"Kekekekeke…."
Shin Jin-pae chuckled, wondering what was so funny.
"I, too, thought I had won back in those days."
"Yes?"
"I didn't know such things would happen later."
Shin Jin-pae looked at Nakamura with eyes that seemed resigned for some reason.
"Do you know this, Nakamura?"
"......"
"Yeodre is at his most dangerous when you think you've caught him."
Then, as if seeking agreement, he looked at 'Kang Gu-han'.
"Wasn't that right? Chairman."
Nakamura, who didn't know the two spoke informally in private, looked at them with wide eyes, and the Chairman ignored Shin Jin-pae and looked only at Nakamura, saying:
"Mr. Nakamura."
"Y-yes, sir!"
"I hope the matter is handled definitively. Otherwise..."
The words did not continue. Because of that, Nakamura had no choice but to swallow dry saliva, imagining the rest of the sentence.
WHEEEEEE.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP.
"Ah, what the fuck."
"Damn it…. Is that a siren?"
Just as they were about to clear Seong Si-hyeon away and open the cushion, the sound of a siren could be heard from outside.
"Ah, shit. They must be going somewhere else. More importantly, hurry up and get this girl..."
"No. Retreat."
At the thug's words, Shin Jin-pae twisted his face as if it were a disaster.
"They're coming this way."
"What? What kind of bullshit is that! You said that wouldn't happen!"
"Normally, it wouldn't. Just what kind of backing did they use to…."
'Are there still factors I don't know about?'
Shin Jin-pae’s monologue. In the midst of that, the thug screamed.
"Fuck! Then just take her and rape her! We've done all this, and now we're just leaving... Ugh!"
With a brutal sound of impact, the thug flew away. Kang Gu-han’s eyes were burning.
"You fucking bastard. Hey. Is Jin-pae your friend, you fucking moron?"
The thug, whose face was half-crushed, got up in a hurry and spoke in a groveling voice.
"N-no. It's not that…. I was just worried you’d be disappointed, Gu-han…."
"Disappointed? The thing I fear most is losing that guy's trust..."
"Gu-han. Don't say useless things, let's go."
"...Tch."
At Shin Jin-pae’s urging, Kang Gu-han and the thugs left the dojo.
And about a minute later.
The siren stopped, and police officers entered and scanned the surroundings. Then, while talking on the radio cautiously, they finally discovered Seong Si-hyeon. They panicked and called for an ambulance.
Someone entered the dojo. It was Rachel. She pointed in the direction the thugs had fled while screaming. The police officers left, and soon, a man entered.
Yeodre.
He had come.
"......"
STEP. STEP.
The sound of footsteps echoed particularly loudly. Drae stepped onto the cot and checked Seong Si-hyeon’s pulse.
A few seconds passed.
"...Ha-rin…."
A thin sound leaked from Seong Si-hyeon’s mouth.
"Ha, Ha-rin.... Why... did you betray me.. Ugh, hng... I don't want to... die... Si-young... ah... Ye-rin... Su-ryeon..."
The muttering continued. After calling out names for a long time, he opened his eyes just a tiny bit through his mangled face.
Did he recognize that it was Drae?
With a trembling body, he brought up a story.
"I... like a protag...onist... brave... Drae... yah..."
And then there was no more talk. Even the trembling had stopped. In the silence-filled dojo, Drae blinked.
"...Seong Si-hyeon."
He called out, but there was no movement.
"Open your eyes."
As expected, he didn't open his eyes.
"Seong Si-hyeon."
In the silence, the voice once more...
"Si-hyeon-ah."
It rang out in vain.
"Move aside!"
Rachel pushed Drae aside and hoisted Seong Si-hyeon onto her back.
"It'll be faster to run to the hospital. You stay here. Got it?"
"......"
"Got it?!"
Drae nodded slowly, and only then did Rachel run off. Watching them get further away, he turned his head at the sound of someone approaching. Seo Ye-rin, covered in tears, revealed herself from the secret compartment of the cot.
When Kaits and his group saw him, Drae’s face was expressionless. Perhaps it even looked like he was smiling. But from Seo Ye-rin’s perspective, how would it look?
"Ah, ah-euh, th-that. Drae, no. I... I... because of me, ah-euh-ah..!"
Looking around, everything is full of sin.
What kind of place is this? Executives descended from the elevator and pointed their hands at each room as they climbed higher.
"Isn't it a cool place?"
Takashi, who had been busy directing the movement of the injured clan members, wrapped his arm around my shoulder as if we were close.
"......"
"Why are you like that~ Smile, smile. Now, if I were to introduce the place you're looking at, it's called the Mental Collapse Room. Usually, they use skills to train them, but it's a room used when skills don't work or when they want to train strong-willed bitches on purpose."
The place he pointed to was a room the size of a gymnasium, and dozens, hundreds of Gold Taeyangs were raping them.
"Ah, no! Nooooo!"
"Stop! Stop it, you fucking bastard!"
"Ah, honey! Honey! Save me!"
"......"
It wasn't just Gold Taeyangs. There were also guys who looked like monsters with black or blue skin. Were they demons?
Not only guys who looked like monsters, but there were actual monsters too.
Orcs. Goblins. Dirty, pig-like green monsters that smelled just by looking at them were violating human women.
"Ah~ that's the preference of some of the Gold Taeyang Clan who want to do it with monsters."
Takashi, noticing my gaze, sneered and pointed to another room this time.
"The real deal is that one."
"That's it."
In that place, besides Orcs and Goblins, there were countless nameless monsters. There were even insects, liquids, plants, and tentacle monsters... and what they were doing was also violating women.
"That's roughly called the experiment room and hard training room. We put them in for bizarre tastes, or for quests that require breaking their spirits to enjoy. Well... sometimes 'accidents' happen, though."
"Accidents?"
"Yeah. Sometimes their dicks are too big, or if the monsters get them pregnant, they are born really quickly? In that case, they rip through the mother's stomach and come out."
"....."
DING.
> [.....Scanning appearance.]
As I listened to a message being output continuously, Takashi said in a subtle voice.
"You'll be able to see it about once a month, so look forward to it~"
"Is that so."
"That's right. Ah, that room with fewer people is the Gay Room. It's a minority preference, but we're generous with sex? Well, I could send you there too."
"......"
"Oops. Don't look at me like that. If you act cooperatively, that won't happen."
"What is that room?"
"Hmm? That one? It's a place called the NTR Room."
The space, which was the size of three or four huge gymnasiums combined, had a transparent glass ceiling and was divided into countless rooms. Among them, one particularly huge room. There, I saw someone I knew.
One was the thug-like woman who had seduced Holland. She was shaking her hips on top of some Gold Taeyang while sucking a dick with both hands. She’s good at sucking.
The other one was Het. And a wizard whose name I was fuzzy on. Het was crying, keu-heuk, while masturbating, and in front of her, the white-haired wizard was shaking her hips on top of the guy I remembered.
It was Bold.
For reference, he was in a maggot-like state, just as he had been before. Even though his limbs hadn't healed yet, to be doing that shit... what a pathetic guy.
"I guess you know someone there~?"
"Yeah."
"Kekeke. Isn't it great? It's the NTR Room, which is like the reason for our existence. All sorts of situational training takes place there, and it satisfies sex-related quest conditions and personal tastes."
"Tastes?"
"Look at that one over there. The one buried under the woman wearing SM-like clothes. That's her boyfriend, but after a Gold Taeyang fucked her once, she betrayed him immediately, and after that, she sexually trained her boyfriend? She said she’d make him into a permanent M state who can't say anything even if she cheats? Kekekeke"
"......"
"In that guy's case, it's 'Woman Slut' mode. She gives it to everyone except her boyfriend~ Ah, and you saw the executive earlier, right? That's the Cuckoo mode, where she has her own child with a woman behind her husband's back and watches it, and that one over there is a setting where she visits a woman she raped years ago and rapes her again..."
He was sitting there giving examples in such an excited voice. But I had a question.
"Why do you necessarily do it inside there? Even if it's wide, isn't that the end of the advantages? And you said the setting was years later? If it's a setting, isn't it not real..."
Just then. Takashi grabbed my neck.
"Hey. If you interrupt me one more time, I'll pull your tongue out."
"......"
"...Ah~ sorry, sorry. I have a personality where my hands move first kekekeke. Sorry?"
"..Yeah."
'You should live a kind life.'
"...Yeah. Yeah."
'You should live a kind life.'
"Hoo. Yeah."
"Aigoo~ kekekeke don't get mad~ There are still many rooms I haven't shown you, so look forward to it. Ah, right. The funny thing is, most of them started with rape, but later they are sluts who corrupted themselves because they liked the dick? Do you want to fuck one in a while too?"
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"That person named Het must have been a subordinate of the girl named Reina. Can you handle the aftermath?"
Takashi’s brow twitched, and then he forced a laugh.
"...Is it just Reina~? We're planning to bring Poiz’s subordinates too."
"With your level?"
He seemed speechless, his face turned red as if he were angry, but soon he laughed.
"It didn't work on you, but we have a debuff that can catch even Rankers."
"Even Rankers?"
"Yes."
Stupid. Does he genuinely believe that will work? How have these morons who don't even know their place managed to live until now? I was thinking that, and he continued:
"And even if everything goes wrong, 'He' is here, so there's no problem."
"He?"
"Our boss behind us. You asked what the setting of the NTR Room was earlier, right? If it's his illusion, that’s a piece of cake. It's much more effective than the drug room over there. He can show illusions freely for any number of years."
"Illusion...?"
"Yes. The boss is a demon. On top of that, royalty."
I have a guess. A certain existence that was beyond the warp when I overwhelmed Bold. It must be that guy.
Takashi, who was smirking, said:
"Royalty of the succubus. Among the incubi, the blood of the royal family..."
"Kyaaaaa...!"
A scream was heard from somewhere. A woman was pointing her finger somewhere. Looking over, there was a woman trembling at a height of 20 meters, climbing the wall somehow.
"How the hell do these idiots manage things…. Tsk. Hey! Catch her!"
Several Gold Taeyangs, as well as monsters, moved to catch her. She looked around, and then looked this way as if hoping for salvation.
'You should live a kind life.'
Seeing that woman, a certain memory overlapped. A memory I had absolutely wanted to forget.
'I liked her. No, I like her.'
'At first, I really had no feelings, and I thought, what is this person?'
'From a young age, men around me looked at me with lewd eyes, so to me, men were always just animals of sexual desire.'
'But he was different.'
'The actions I thought were to look good to me. The actions to help with training all stemmed from pure goodwill.'
'Far from seducing me, he left me almost neglected, and yet he was careful not to let me feel alienated….'
'It’s truly absurd, but as I became conscious of him, I think I fell in love in an instant. Before I knew it, I was following him with my eyes. It was unexpectedly cute that he hated coffee, saying it was bitter.'
'When I was being threatened by Kang Gu-han’s gang because of my father’s work, I saw him again, and he was already drinking coffee well.'
'It’s Su-ryeon’s influence. I felt jealous that she had changed the him I knew. Even though I didn't have the right to.'
'I was happy that he told me about the sunset. It felt like he had opened his heart to me, and it was very sad that my mom died, but I was happy when he said Drae was the same as me. I was so happy that I felt guilty, so I cried a little later.'
'I was really happy that he kept coming even though I told him not to. So, I overdid it a little. Telling him to eat ramen and go….'
'I wondered why he kept calling me by my last name even though he told me to drop the honorifics. After watching him for a few days, I found out the reason. It was very simple. He was just shy.'
'He’s a person whose thoughts I don't know, but one thing was certain.'
'A person who tries to live kindly.'
'That’s why I liked him.'
'So, someone like me shouldn't… get in his way.'
The monologue. Ends.
"Seo Ye-rin."
Drae gestured. Seo Ye-rin was standing at the edge of the railing with both arms spread out. The dojo was a structure attached to the building. A 5-story building. 4-5m per floor. She was standing at the edge of the roof of a relatively tall building, about 20m in total.
"Come here."
"...Drae. What was the reason you chose someone like me as your backing?"
"That. Because Su-ryeon recommended you."
'At times like this, you could have lied.'
'He’s a person who can't lie.'
"Come here. Seo Ye-rin."
"...If someone like me is by your side, you will also be harmed. I know now. Who was behind this incident."
So if I disappear, you will be happy, Seo Ye-rin smiled.
"You are not in your right mind right now due to guilt, shock, and fear. So come down right now. Seo Ye-rin."
"...Do you know what I'm most afraid of right now?"
"Seo Ye-rin!"
Her feet moved.
"It's that the eyes you look at me with right now will turn into disgust because of the damage I caused."
Seeing him not answer, Seo Ye-rin said self-deprecatingly.
"I wish people would receive the price for what they did…. Why on earth is it not that kind of world."
She says while tearing up.
"Good for good, evil for evil... it's... so simple."
Drae said urgently.
"Ye-rin. Come here."
"...Ahat."
With a surprised face at the end, Seo Ye-rin tilted, and teardrops scattered into the air.
"You should have called me like that sooner."
WHOOSH.
He reached out his hand quickly. The hand he reached out was in vain, and Seo Ye-rin’s figure disappeared instantly. For a moment, the scenery blurred, so in a way, it looked like Drae had pushed her.
"......"
He withdrew his outstretched hand. Drae blinked. Still, on that face, there seemed to be no emotion.
SPLASH...
The scenery passes by.
"Hello."
"......"
A girl with hollow eyes, looking at her phone while hiding under the blanket.
Yoon Ha-min.
She, who used to be Han Si-young’s friend, stiffened at the sight of the sudden visitor. As if to prove the saying that you can't even scream if you're too surprised, she just repeated opening and closing her mouth, unable to even think of moving. The one who visited him was a man with long stature, long hair, and intellectual-looking glasses. He was a scholar.
'With Kaits' power, I can stay in a parallel world for at most five hours. I'll end everything in that time.'
Just then.
"KYAAAAAA!"
Yoon Ha-min let out a desperate scream and crawled into the corner.
"......"
Even though the scholar did nothing, the way she tried to curl her body up was enough to evoke pity. However, now was not the time to be swayed by emotions.
"Calm down."
"O, don't come. Don't come!!"
"Calm down. I'm sorry for the sudden visit, and I can't expect you to trust me since I trespassed…. But I don't intend to harm you."
It was strange from the start. The coordinates I asked Kaits for should have been next to the existence most hostile to Yeodre. But why did I come to this girl? Is this girl the mastermind?
"That guy! That guy sent you, didn't he?!"
"Do you mean Kang Gu-han?"
The scholar took a step forward.
"Or Shin Jin-pae?"
Yoon Ha-min clutched her head as if she couldn't hear him and muttered incessantly.
"He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He came. He sent someone. He's going to kill me. That guy will come himself. He came. He came..."
"Hey."
And then, Yoon Ha-min said a certain name. And the scholar stopped dead in his tracks.
The scenery changed. A hill with a good view. The boy standing in front of the railing looking up at the sunset is undoubtedly Drae.
"What is this. What happened after? Si-hyeon, Ye-rin?"
Raeband muttered in an anxious voice, and immediately after, a woman with hair close to red stood next to Drae.
Rachel.
"Shin Jin-pae’s gang. Those guys, they are the ones I’ve been investigating for a long time."
"......"
"They are trash who hide their tails well, so I couldn't put them away because there was no evidence. They are good at doing bad things, so they are things that shouldn't be left alone… We call those guys, Shin Jin-seung and his subordinates, the Masked Men. Something like that."
"Is that so."
"Yes. Even if there was no evidence, I should have crushed them somehow, and I intended to."
Then why didn't she? Drae’s eyes didn't contain such a question. He was calm as usual.
'He can't be calm.'
'His heart is empty, or he doesn't want to think about something, anyway, he is breaking down.'
Rachel’s monologue rang out. Even though she was worried inside, she feigned composure on the outside and chose her words.
The narration added an explanation as if it were fun, but it didn't matter now.
"The reason I didn't is because Shin Jin-seung’s tail has become strangely short since a few years ago."
"?"
"There is circumstantial evidence or situational evidence that they committed crimes, but there is no physical evidence. They were always cautious and rarely left evidence, but now it feels like they are reading my movements and moving first. No, nine times out of ten, that will be the case. I’ve ignored evidence and everything and raided them, but there have been one or two times they had already fled."
"......"
"It’s not that there’s a traitor among us. I didn't want to, but I investigated my colleagues thoroughly. So... I think, perhaps, those guys have supernatural powers. It’s hard to believe, but a small number of such guys exist in this world."
Rachel bit into a cigarette and exhaled smoke.
"I understand your feelings. But stay out of this matter. The opponents aren't guys who just need to be good at fighting. They are professionals at murder, huge enough to sway a country, move organizationally, are cruel, and on top of that, they have firearms."
"Firearms?"
"Yes. It’s their method, they find a target they want to play with, which they call 'work', and point firearms at them without warning... think about what happens after that."
"Hmm."
It was a somehow ominous groan.
"You seem to be thinking something else. The guys who store firearms and the location are somewhere in this city, just as you are thinking. But they are thoroughly protected by a gangster organization called Kang Gu-jin, so they are not opponents you can handle. So hide in the dojo quietly."
Because we will protect you.
Drae did not answer Rachel’s words. Only cigarette smoke rose to the sky in the silence. A long time later, Rachel opened her mouth.
"I wish your dad was here. As you know, he’s a crazy guy who is amazing at combat, so he’s perfect for catching such trash."
Rachel laughed.
"When this matter is finished well, come find me. Instead of your dad, I will train you."
And Rachel left, and Raeband bit his thumb as if he were anxious.
"That’s a line for a character who gets beaten up later, right? Isn't he going to get crushed after acting all heavy like that?"
"Then that’s a relief."
"......"
Raeband let out a sigh of relief, and Kaits opened his eyes a little wider.
"...Huh?"
The moment Raeband felt something strange about the content of the narration. The scenery changed again.
This time... school.
Drae is on his way to school without even carrying a school bag. He passes the faculty office with a walk no different from usual.
"Seong Si-hyeon? His grades are good, but his personality is completely dirty, and to exaggerate a bit, he was a thug. Yes? Kang Gu-han? Even if he looks violent, he has deep affection…. Yes. So Seong Si-hyeon, that ba... I apologize. He will have nothing to do with that guy's incident."
The homeroom teacher is on the phone. Drae passed by, glancing at the principal and vice-principal standing next to him with anxious faces. What he saw when he went to the classroom as it was….
It was the sight of Su-ryeon being grabbed by the collar by Kang Gu-han, and Shin Jin-pae smirking next to her. At the sight that overlapped as if he had seen it somewhere, Drae.
Smiled.