Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator : M.N 1391
Chapter: 9
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“School might not have that kind of thing, but instincts do. It’s human instinct to gauge whether someone is above you or below you, isn’t it?”
This was inevitable because humans are social animals. Nature is competition, and society places the competent who can ensure the survival of the species in higher ranks and allocates more resources to them.
Seeking a leader to follow, or wanting to become such a leader, and trying to confirm one’s superiority to do so, this was an undeniable instinct embedded in humans as social creatures.
Director Go frowned at Kyung-wan’s words and asked.
“So? Did you use violence just to show that you’re above that kid?”
“That’s not it?”
“Then what?”
To the director’s question, Kyung-wan straightened his posture, placed his hands on the desk, and answered with a serious tone.
“You see, I can tolerate mistakes, but I absolutely can’t tolerate stupidity.”
“That kid you hit did something stupid? Like what?”
“First of all, he’s not a friend. And that idiot said this, you know? He bragged about turning some loser outside into an even bigger loser. No wait, what he was actually bragging about was using his dad’s connections or whatever to turn what should’ve been a category 9 disposition into some short-term sentence.”
“.. And why is that stupid?”
“To keep his son’s stay short, his dad must’ve groveled like hell and begged someone with that ‘connection,’ probably getting his face trampled in the process. If the son can’t even appreciate that father’s heart, isn’t he just a moron?”
“So you hit him?”
“I didn’t hit him. I just said one thing.”
‘Eat lots of mugwort and garlic.’
‘Why?’
‘Don’t you know the Dangun myth? Become a human being, you little shit.’
The kid snapped and threw a punch, and Kyung-wan dodged and countered, then gave him a wake-up call with a face one-two punch and a groin knee-kick.
“He hits well, but doesn’t take hits well.”
Director Go nodded after hearing Kyung-wan’s explanation.
“Alright, I understand.”
“Then can I go now?”
“You may. But you get demerits.”
“Yes.”
“···.”
The director closed his mouth at the utterly calm response. It wasn’t the reaction he expected.
“Why?”
When Kyung-wan looked at him straight on, Director Go spoke in a complicated tone.
“You know that enough demerits can get you expelled from the facility, right?”
“Yes.”
“And you still react like that after getting demerits?”
Ah, demerits are annoying. I’ll never do that again…This was the attitude Director Go expected, and the attitude he’d seen in every other kid.
But what was this kid’s attitude?
Whether it’s demerits or merits, ‘I don’t care’, wasn’t that his meaning?
The merit-demerit system was an important tool to correct the actions of troubled youths whose behavior could stray at any time. If you follow the rules, you get rewarded; if you break them, you get punished. A tool perfectly suited to teach the principles of being a member of society. So as the head of the facility, Director Go had no choice but to feel concern about a child who completely disregarded such a system.
Kyung-wan answered.
“I have not a single penny. What am I supposed to do if I get out?”
“Ah, uh...”
Only then did Director Go recall that Kyung-wan was an orphan, utterly alone in the world. And the reason why. Even if he were expelled, wouldn’t that simply dump this child into an environment that would push him toward committing crimes?
After thinking for a moment, he said:
“How about preparing for a skills certification from now on? I’ll introduce you to a company I know. You’ll be able to make a living just fine once you’re out.”
Kyung-wan refused immediately.
“No.”
“Why?!”
He hadn’t expected the kid to refuse such a good offer. His voice rose. But the answer he got was shocking enough to leave him speechless.
“I’m going to become homeless.”
“What did you say?”
“Homeless. Being homeless is my dream.”
“·········.”
Director Go stared at him, mouth open, looking like an idiot. When asked about their dreams right before release, kids usually said they wanted to live a normal, stable life, not become homeless. This was the first time in his entire career that someone said they wanted to be a bum.
Ridiculous was ridiculous, but soon anger welled up, coloring his face red.
This brat, instead of trying to live properly, what? A homeless person~?
“You have such a bright future ahead of you! Why do you want to become a useless person?!”
At that, Kyung-wan replied with a shameless face as if wondering what he was talking about.
“How are homeless people useless? They’re a huge source of comfort for people who struggle every day, you know?”
“Homeless people?”
To the bewildered question, Kyung-wan nodded.
“Of course. People who suffer under shitty power trips and workplace politics, debating whether to quit or not, once they see a homeless person shaking a can begging for coins, their motivation to live harder shoots right up.”
“···..”
Director Go suddenly remembered a quote from philosopher Schopenhauer. People find comfort in seeing someone much more miserable than themselves.
Well, at least I’m better off than that guy… It was a sharp insight into human pettiness, but he’d never imagined he’d hear it from a kid like this.
Seeing the director speechless, Kyung-wan doubled down on his philosophy.
“To abandon all worldly desires, to live quietly without bothering anyone, to be grateful for others’ kindness, and to drop out of this brutal competition to create one extra spot for someone else, how noble and beautiful a life attitude is that?”
“······. Then just become a monk.”
Abandon worldly desires?
If anything, being a monk sounded better than being homeless.
But Kyung-wan refuted that too.
“Don’t underestimate monks, please. Their desire for enlightenment is massive. Their daily schedule is packed. Their whole life is discipline. I can’t live like that.”
“If you’re going to become a homeless guy anyway, why are you worried about having no money when you leave?”
“This place is better for living as a homeless person. I get meals, heating, cooling… staying here longer benefits me.”
“···.”
Defeated, Director Go murmured like a man questioning reality.
“How did someone like you even end up here?”
“Ask the judge.”
At that, the director stared at him and asked:
“What exactly is inside that head of yours?”
“A brain.”
“··· Haah~.”
Director Go let out a long sigh.
If he were just another problem kid, he wouldn’t be this bothersome. But Kyung-wan was too different, too unique. A weirdo like none he’d ever seen.
When things got this frustrating, sticking to protocol was best.
He made sure to give Kyung-wan his demerit and a warning. Career guidance would come after.
“Be careful.”
“Yes sir.”
He answered well.
The director’s lips twisted.
= = = = =
Time in the juvenile facility passed quickly. The repetitive routine was dull, but so dull that one barely felt change, one day you’d realize the season had switched without noticing.
“Kyung-wan.”
“What?”
“I’m getting out.”
Gong Tae-sik, sentenced to a three-month short term for habitual theft, was already about to leave.
Kyung-wan said:
“Goodbye.”
“···.”
“What?”
“You really are a heartless bastard.”
Kyung-wan grinned and gave him advice that would become his blood and flesh.
“Live doing what you want.”
“.. What I want?”
“Well you don’t want to steal, do you?”
No elementary schooler ever says they want to become a thief.
Angel Girl Nettie? Kids aren’t stupid. They admire righteous robbers, but they’re not blind to reality. The dreams children present in class, jobs, careers, are all roles within society.
That’s what social animals are.
Gong Tae-sik answered.
“.. No matter how I look at it, you always talk shit that makes zero sense.”
“That means your head hasn’t fully ripened yet.”
“You little shit. … I’m going.”
“Don’t get sucker-punched out there. And if something feels off, run.”
Smirking, Gong Tae-sik left the room.
His empty spot was quickly filled. Even as society developed, wealth inequality worsened, homes broke apart, neglected children increased, and juvenile crime rose.
The empty beds never stayed empty long.
“Hi, I’m Cha Hyun-guk.”
“Lee Kyung-wan.”
The newcomer, Cha Hyun-guk, was in for assault.
His victim wasn’t seriously injured, and thanks to a settlement he received only a two-month sentence.
As someone who came in for assault, he had a bit of an anger-control problem, but thanks to sharing a room with Kyung-wan, it changed into anger-control well.
—Today I slapped the kid named Cha Hyun-guk. I didn’t say much, but he freaked out and lost his mind. The brat came in here for assault, and apparently still hasn’t fixed the habit. No choice but for me to sacrifice myself.
—After taking a few hits, he realized he wasn’t my match. I told him, “If you get angry at someone stronger than you, that’s righteous anger. But if you only get angry at those weaker than you, you’re human trash”. But maybe I struck a nerve, because he looked like he was about to cry. This won’t do. I work for the state; I should lend a hand to the teachers’ guidance…
“HEY!”
“Ah, holy crap! Why are you suddenly yelling?”
Director Go slammed the diary on the desk before he could read further.
If there’d been a ticket stub next to it, it would’ve flown from the force.
“I told you! To stop causing trouble!”
“Wow!”
Clap! Clap! Clap!
“What are you doing?!”
When Kyung-wan didn’t shrink back but instead clapped as if impressed, the director’s eyebrows shot up.
Kyung-wan explained.
“I thought you were going to hit me with that diary. The fact that you held back… you’re truly a man of great character.”
Director Go, stunned, let out a loud “Huhuhu, ” laugh, then snatched the diary like lightning and smacked it down on Kyung-wan’s head.
“If you want to get hit so badly, then fine! Take this!”
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Kyung-wan didn’t dodge.
He simply closed his eyes and humbly accepted the diary hits. Had the diary been rolled up and swung, he would’ve dodged, but this was fine.
With his irritation somewhat relieved thanks to Kyung-wan’s “sacrifice,” Director Go growled.
“Because of you, I’m really going to lose my temper! Seriously!”
“Aww, you must’ve seen way worse trash than me. Why act like it’s a big deal?”
“No one has ever turned my insides upside down like you!”
“That’s because you have hope for me.”
“···.”
The director momentarily lost his words at that.
It was true. Kyung-wan was smart, knew what justice was, and at the very least understood basic human decency. Compared to the kids who made him think, ‘This one’s coming back,’ or ‘This one is hopeless,’ Kyung-wan actually listened when spoken to.
After decades of working in juvenile rehabilitation, his professional instincts inevitably made him feel concern and pity for the boy.
“It’s easier if you give up.”
With a Zen-like smile, the kid spouted nonsense, and the director simply could not acclimate.
“Anyway, you and that kid can’t be together anymore. Consider it done.”
“Am I moving, or is he moving?”
“Either one.”
“Then I hope he moves. Packing is annoying.”
“.. You’re moving.”
“.. Ah.”