Demon Child (2)
In modern society, when you believe you've been wronged, the options available to an individual are far more numerous than in the past. To give a few examples: you can tip off the media, share your situation on social media platforms like community forums, or stage a solo protest — all pretty effective ways to make your grievance known.
"But why are those people...?"
What did I even do wrong?
My parents are gone now, but I swear on them — I didn't do a single damn thing wrong. I just parked my car, went to eat, and came back to find it completely smashed up.
Did I threaten them during the settlement process? Of course not. I followed legal procedures with my lawyer present. If the other side had shown remorse and offered a sincere apology, I would've been willing to show some leniency.
But instead, the other side naturally tried to throw a few bucks at me to make the situation go away rather than apologize. And after seeing that attitude, I simply exercised the rights available to me.
So now they're writing posts on famous domestic car communities, begging for help on social media and mom cafes, and even trying to tip off the press.
A mom cafe post with a pretty violent title, cleverly omitting their own wrongdoing and focusing on my refusal to settle, while pleading for help against the insurance company's subrogation claim.
"This can't be the end of it, right? The way they're writing, I doubt they'll stop at just crapping on a mom cafe."
> It's also been posted on a domestic car community. The comment reaction is neutral, though. Probably because it's obvious the post is heavily biased toward the writer, so there's not much response.
"Yeah. That makes sense. But what the hell is up with this place?"
I'd seen some negative videos about mom cafes on YouTube Shorts before, so I didn't have high expectations for that space. But even reading a post that's obviously slanted in one direction, seeing people still fire criticism at the car owner — me — is just infuriating.
What the hell does me having money have to do with not settling because the kid acted like an entitled brat?
Looking at this attitude, they'd probably ban exams too if it hurt their precious child's feelings.
The world changes, and I understand the way kids grow up today is different from when I was young. But wrong is wrong.
"But boss, what kind of punishment does that kid who caused the accident get?"
Jacob asks as he walks through the door.
"Criminal punishment is exempt. In Korea, if a minor under 14 commits a crime, they don't receive any punishment — they get something called a protective disposition? Something like that. They absolutely never go to jail."
Jacob looks at me like I'm lying.
"No, I'm serious!"
"Back in North Carolina, it's only exempt if you're under 8... and even then, if it's a felony and not just a simple misdemeanor, you could end up in court."
Hearing that makes me think.
"I think that's the right approach too. These days, even little kids all have phones. Don't you think 14 itself is too high an age? That kid who wrecked my car probably knew he wouldn't get punished."
"Where was it, 8? Ours is like 12 or something."
I watch them all debating their home states' systems, and even the most progressive California has a lower age than Korea.
'I can't even grasp where this went wrong. I thought I heard they were lowering the age limit?'
Maybe my memory's off, but I recall hearing there was discussion about lowering the age of criminal immunity.
> There was discussion. But they just concluded to keep it at 14.
'Ah.'
> Also, they've tipped off the media. Expect reporters to start contacting Cheonmun and Kim & Jung soon.
'Isn't my info leaking from the police? I've heard some stories about that.'
> Since you had a lawyer present and the vehicle was high-value, the chances of a leak are low. But I can't be certain. I'll keep monitoring.
"Honey, look at this. Already over 100,000 views. And the comments are all on our side. We can teach that insolent little brat a proper lesson."
Hyeon-seong's mom sips her morning coffee and shows her husband how the mom cafe post she wrote a few days ago has spread across the internet. The article, poignantly detailing her grievance and the insolent little brat's behavior, had spread like wildfire across the internet, and several media outlets had even contacted her wanting to do stories.
Ka-talk! Ka-talk! Ka-talk!
Right then, her husband's phone starts buzzing like crazy. He'd pulled every connection he had — old and new — to ask for help, and had even managed to reach a social affairs reporter who was his college alumnus and put in a request.
"Oh, I got a message from Reporter Choi. Looks like it worked out?"
Without even checking the message, he calls back with a joyful heart.
"Reporter Choi! How is it? Great source material, right?"
He laughs heartily as he calls the reporter, about to ask how he's doing — but the other side starts laying into him loudly.
"Hyung-nim, are you out of your mind?! Are you trying to screw me over?!"
What came through the receiver wasn't a greeting, but a tirade of curses and shouts filled with fury at nearly getting screwed over.
"Huh? No, what are you suddenly talking about... Didn't you see the materials I gave you? That little brat did this to my son..."
"Ah, I'm about to lose my mind here! I saw the post your wife wrote on that mom cafe, and I just contacted the car owner's legal representative. And you know what they sent me?"
"What... what did they send?"
"Black box footage of your son jumping around on top of that car with his bicycle, going absolutely nuts!! Along with screenshots of him posting about it on social media, bragging!!"
"Come on, the kid was just playing around a bit..."
"Playing around? Don't give me that crap. You told me he just scratched it out of curiosity. But the kid climbed on top of someone else's car and did tricks, then posted online saying he did it deliberately with his own hands — what the hell am I supposed to do with that?!"
After yelling his lungs out, the reporter pauses to catch his breath and continues in a calmer voice.
"Seriously... you're in deep trouble. The law firm says this is clearly defamation and spreading false information. They've finished collecting evidence of your wife's post and all the comments supporting it."
The man's face drains of all color upon hearing that.
And next to him, Hyeon-seong's mom finally realizes the situation isn't good and puts down her coffee.
"The law firm threatened to take action the moment even a single line of false information goes to press. What am I supposed to do about that? I just got chewed out by my editor because of you, hyung-nim. Don't contact me again."
Beep — beep — beep —
Holding the phone that's been mercilessly hung up on, the husband just stares blankly into space.
"H-honey. What did Reporter Choi say? When is the article coming out?"
At his clueless wife's question, the husband's gaze slowly turns toward her.
"You... what did you tell me? You said Hyeon-seong scraped the car out of curiosity while riding his bike, and the other owner was being an ass about it."
"Huh? Uh... y-yeah... kids playing around can sometimes..."
"Then why did you conveniently leave out the part about him jumping around on top of the damn car and posting about it on social media, you stupid woman!!"
A thunderous yell fills the living room.
The wife, hearing her husband scream at her for the first time, shrinks her shoulders and tries to make an excuse — but then her phone rings.
Ding! Ding!
As she unlocks it to turn off the oblivious notification, she's bombarded with countless comments and messages from people who've seen the original black box footage, all cursing her out.
That afternoon, at the Kim & Jung law office's meeting room.
"Please, just let me meet the car owner once! My kid is immature, and my wife is an idiot! I'll kneel and apologize if I have to!!"
Letting him cause a scene in the first-floor lobby would damage the firm's dignity and upset other clients. Besides, the client had specifically requested that if they showed up, he should firmly draw the line and send them away. So they'd brought him to a quiet meeting room — but watching him prostrate on the floor and sob loudly was starting to get on Lawyer Song Min-woo's nerves.
The husband was desperately pleading with the lawyer to give him just one chance, but the wife still had a sulky look on her face, like she wasn't satisfied with how things were going.
"Get up, please. This won't do you any good here."
But Lawyer Song Min-woo, who'd seen all kinds of crazy in his decades as a lawyer, helped the husband up off his knees with an expressionless face.
"Lawyer! We barely bought this house with a loan! If you file a provisional seizure, our home will go to auction! My whole family will end up on the streets... please show some leniency...!"
Song Min-woo sends a message to his client through his phone, then looks up at the man who looks ready to grab his pant leg.
"As I've told you, the posts your wife uploaded on the internet have caused our client mental distress. Our client has notified us that he has no intention of settling or showing leniency, and that he does not wish to receive an apology either."
"Please... just let me meet him once..."
"Impossible. He's a busy man."
A mechanical answer, completely devoid of emotion.
"The vehicle will be shipped to the Italian headquarters for repairs, and you will be billed for rental of an equivalent supercar during the repair period. A complaint for defamation and spreading false information will also be filed shortly. If you feel wronged, you can explain that in court."
With that, Song straightens his tie.
"Time's up. Please leave safely."
With those words, he exits the meeting room.
Thud.
As he rises from his chair, the husband's legs give out as he thinks about the tsunami heading his way.
> Master, the perpetrator's family came to the law firm just now. Apparently they caused a huge scene before leaving.
I was staring at my monitor, filled with rage over a gacha game that went to shit, when Athena's report comes in.
"Judging by how they were talking, I thought their pride would never let them do something like that. Surprising."
> From what I can see, it seems the wife didn't tell the husband the full story. He's been running around trying to fix things after seeing the original black box footage and understanding the situation.
I do feel a bit sorry for the husband — coming home from work to find out your house is about to be taken away. But considering his attitude, he's not exactly normal either. He might be better than the kid and his mom, but I can't say his judgment or attitude was good either.
"It's all their own choices, isn't it?"
There were clearly several opportunities where they could have been forgiven. But they kicked every single one away. Everything that happens from now on is just the result of their own decisions.