Leon Mask Executes Justice at Delinquent High
html, body { margin:0; padding:0; } President: GeumTaeyang22
This bastard is the sidekick of that detective who grilled me earlier. It was so funny watching him clumsily tailing me that I struck up a conversation, and I got an unexpected response.
"Do we really need to catch him?"
"Do we really need to catch him?"
There are countless people who idolize Leon Mask. Of course, just as many see him as a shameless criminal, but it's undeniably unusual for an obvious criminal to garner this kind of public support. And yet, even a detective chasing the case thinks this way. What an intriguing discovery.
"Leon Mask is a villain. Don't you think so, Detective?"
"That's right. He's definitely a criminal. But doesn't the world have such a thing as a necessary evil?"
"A necessary evil, huh."
In truth, Leon Mask is neither necessary nor evil. People are just being fooled by surface appearances.
"The world seems so unfair. The scumbags you want to rip apart don't get enough punishment—they serve a slap on the wrist and walk free. Their victims suffer in agony for life. And this happens way too often in our society."
"Sounds like there's some emotion in your voice. Personal experience?"
I said it half-mockingly. The detective nodded with a bitter expression.
"Embarrassing, but yes. Back in school, I did judo. Got messed up bad."
He showed me his hand as he spoke. There was a massive scar on the back of it, like it'd been carved with a knife. A vivid mark that hadn't faded even as new skin grew over it.
"Our school was full of total assholes. A rotten senior played this prank on my hand. When I complained, he beat me so hard my shoulder dislocated. And that senior? He ruined my judo career completely and went on to thrive."
"You somehow made it to violent crimes detective."
"Through sheer grit and spite. I wanted to put guys like that behind bars. But it's funny. I thought becoming a cop meant enforcing justice. What a naive delusion. We're just cogs in society's machine."
He spat out his frustration.
"I... don't even know why I became a cop anymore. At home, I'm just a paycheck machine. At work, a clueless rookie. And in society... a rusty bolt fragment. Meanwhile, Leon Mask..."
His eyes flashed. I sensed intense conviction in his gaze. This guy's an interesting type.
"He's someone society desperately needs. Maybe this society birthed him to enforce the justice we can't."
"I see."
This is Juran High School. Next stop: Jinglebell Gym Citizen Park.
"Let's get off."
I said that and stepped off the bus. He followed me. No more hiding his identity, apparently.
"This is..."
"Juran High School. Jinglebell City's top delinquent hellhole. Half the students smoke, 3% of the girls get pregnant, famous online as a pipeline to juvie. Only pro gamers show up just for diplomas, or actual normals."
"Why are you here?"
At his question, I pulled the Hidden Mask from my inventory.
"Borrowing your words, to enforce justice."
"Th-that's!"
I put on the mask. Then beckoned him.
"Follow discreetly so no one else spots you."
I strode to the school gate. No one guarding it. Today's target: some punk named Yoo Jin-su. Iljin ranking 58 or whatever. What's an iljin ranking anyway?
"H-hey! That's Leon Mask, right!?"
"What!? For real. Why's Leon Mask at our school..."
"Crazy he hasn't shown up sooner. Fuck, maybe 'cause of that cigarette grab at the convenience store last week?"
"Idiot. He'd come for something that petty? Anyway, let's bounce..."
The students recognized me. I'm already a nationwide star.
"Kyaa! It's Leon Mask! For real!?"
"No way!? Pic time!"
Not all students feared me. Most actually liked me. Guess they're at that media-obsessed age.
I headed to Class 2-3 senior year. That's where this Yoo Jin-su asshole hangs out.
This guy with his flashy record of assault, theft, attempted arson is a promising pick for the Hammer Crew, apparently. Doesn't matter now that Jinglebell's Hammer gang is fucked.
'Committing crimes like that without ever hitting juvie. Smart little shit.'
Most major crimes were as a juvenile delinquent. He realized after growing up that he needed to lay low, dodging like a ghost. Prime criminal seed.
'This punk sparked a juvie law debate before. Nationwide star in his own right.'
I kicked open the door to Class 2-3.
BAM!
"Kyaaak!"
Class was in session. But it was a joke—most kids chatting or napping with pillows. The bald teacher jumped at the sight of me.
"Leon Mask!"
"What a shitshow. Fits a nationwide delinquent school's rep."
I slammed the podium. It split in two instantly. Sleeping kids jolted awake.
"Who's Yoo Jin-su?"
Every eye locked on one spot: the back corner. The guy, just woken, scowled.
"Fuck. What? I was sleeping good."
"Sorry about that."
"Huh!? Gah! N-no way, Leon Mask!?"
I backhanded the groggy Yoo Jin-su. His head snapped 90 degrees, corn kernel flying. Nosebleed inevitable.
"Guhk!"
"Jin-myung!"
His buddies freaked. I grabbed his head and smashed it into the desk. Desk toppled.
Some kid filmed me on his smartphone. The teacher looked lost, face crumpling.
"It's really Leon Mask! He's beating Yoo Jin-su!"
Most students cowered, but not all. Some watched the unconscious punk with glee. I get it. Probably his victims.
Even in delinquent world, there's hierarchy. Primal human instinct. Juran High, with its 50% smoking rate, still has bullies and nerds. Leon Mask is the nerds' idol.
"Leon Mask! Say something!"
"Huh? What? We live?"
I smirked at the smartphone. Mask hides it. I preferred this manic vibe over beating bullies.
"I'm Leon Mask. Here to take down iljin rank 58, Yoo Jin-su."
"I can't believe I see the real Leon Mask! Kill that fucker Yoo Jin-su!"
"Leon Mask! Leon Mask!"
"Killing's too merciful. Habitual thief, beats kids? Hmm. Maybe he doesn't need an arm."
I wrenched his arm backward. CRACK! The chilling sound echoed. Even the cheering nerds froze.
I left Yoo Jin-su with his ragdoll arm and exited. Mission accomplished, easy.
At the gate, the detective stood waiting, handcuffs out.
"Y-you're under arrest for..."
"Gonna cuff me? Your idol?"
"......You're a criminal."
"Thoughts and actions don't match."
"I'm a detective. It's my duty to arrest you."
"Haha. Defying instinct for duty? You're a good guy."
Good. Praise he hears often. But realizing the uncomfortable truth behind it wouldn't feel so nice.
"'Good' means sucker. Polite way to call fools like you who take losses and gain nothing. You know it. You need to get worse."
"Don't shake me."
"Think it over. Oh, right—got curious chatting with you. That judo senior you mentioned. Name?"
"......Park Seung-bae."
"He needs justice too, right? You can't. I can."
I handed him a business card with Hanbang Pawnshop's number.
"Call if you change your mind."
I walked past slowly, casually slipping the scene.
He stood frozen, cuffs in hand, unable to arrest me as I strolled away.
I ditched the mask in a nearby building bathroom. Didn't forget to hack local CCTVs and dashcams with the Hacking Tablet.