Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: No Other Beastly Woman
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"Hey! Pfft. I heard you got beat up by a girl today?"
"No. What the... Where'd you even hear that? Sis."
"At the taekwondo dojang from Yuri? Mom sent you there so you wouldn't get beat up everywhere, and instead you're the one getting pummeled? By a girl, no less? What a riot."
I'd barely gotten home when my sister, who was six years older than me and in middle school, started teasing me.
But she was right—I was in the wrong, so I couldn't really argue back... and besides, it hadn't hurt that much or left any real injuries.
Yeah. I was the foolish one.
'We've been getting closer lately, so why'd I have to call Yuna a pig of all things? Idiot.'
Who was Han Yuna?
The girl who'd made the dojang master's hand go numb the next day after grabbing his pad with a roundhouse kick, then casually did a backflip.
And at school, she was the terrifying kid who could beat the whole class in dodgeball by herself and turn chalk into dust.
'Yuri said she can even punch through trees with her fingers.'
If other kids had said it, I'd have called it a lie, but coming from Yuna... it seemed plausible.
Calling a girl like that a pig? She wasn't even really fat—just a big eater—so yeah, that was on me.
Plus, at the end, Yuna had pulled her punch like she didn't want me hurt, and I'd twisted away to save myself anyway.
"Ugh, what are you two yapping about the second you get home? I've got fruit peeled—go change and come out!"
We were bickering in the entryway when Mom's voice rang out from the living room. My sister smirked down at me.
No. Wait. Sis. Why're you looking at me like that?
...Right?
You're not gonna tell Mom, are you?
Honestly, I just wanted this whole thing to quietly fade away—known only to my classmates and the teacher.
Yuna was still scary, sure, but she wasn't a bad kid. We'd made up, and even though she was ridiculously strong, she was cute—I didn't want to see her down in the dumps.
'If we fall out, no more sharing bibimbap.'
In the cafeteria, even though she'd grumbled, I couldn't help being tempted by the bibimbap she'd pulled from her bag, fragrant with sesame oil and red pepper paste.
But my sister ignored my silent plea.
"Mom!!! Jeongu got beat up at school!!!"
"What?!!"
"Ah! Sis!!!"
The second I kicked off my shoes and stepped inside, she ratted me out to Mom about everything that happened.
No! Yuri, why'd you have to tell my sister of all people!!
Mom's eyes went goblin-fierce at her words, and she rushed over, checking me all over.
"Son. Anywhere hurt?"
"...No. I'm fine, so don't worry."
"Don't worry? I send you to taekwondo so you don't get beat up, and you come home like this! I told you—if someone hits you, hit 'em back twice as hard and send them packing!"
Uh. Um. I'd probably die if I tried that.
Punch Yuna?
Couldn't even imagine it.
Hitting someone smaller and cuter than me was bad enough—but Yuna? She'd block my punch easy, glower like Mom, and charge. Just picturing it had cold sweat pouring down my back.
...Even if it meant making her mad with words, I'd never hit her.
"I started it anyway."
"Oh? Really? Yuri said that girl grabbed you and slammed you down, even took you to the nurse's office?"
"I teased her first. Truth is..."
Since Sis had spilled everything to Mom, I figured I couldn't hide it. So I confessed the whole story myself.
How I'd seen her mix leftover side dishes nobody ate and extra rice in a big tray with pepper paste and oil, and called her a pig.
How furious Yuna had gotten and hoisted me like some drama heroine Mom watches, slamming me down—but pulled back so I wouldn't get hurt.
And finally, how she'd freaked out seeing me on the floor, carried me to the nurse's office, and we'd apologized to each other.
Mom and Sis's reaction to all that...
"You deserved it."
"Kid's got a good heart, though. If your dad pulled that on me, he'd be in the hospital."
"Me? Nurse's office? I'd have beaten him right there."
"??"
Okay, sure, I'd messed up—but hearing that from Mom and Sis felt... weird.
"Still, that girl's in the wrong too. No matter what, violence against a friend? I'll have to check her out at school tomorrow."
"? Mom, didn't you say you'd beat Dad till he ends up hospitalized?"
"Your dad's a cheap bastard anyway. Didn't you hear he got wasted fishing with Yuri's uncle last year?"
'...Is this for real?'
"Uh... Yuna. She's the one who's been helping me study."
"??"
"Huh?"
I knew Mom and Sis had heard a bit about Yuna.
They'd never met her, but the Dojang Master never stopped praising her to Mom.
Smart, polite, always greets nicely—said having a friend like that for me was a godsend, over and over.
And Yuri's uncle mentioned her sometimes too.
Last time we all barbecued together at Yuri's, Yuna came up, and he said...
'Ah~ Yuna? Come to think of it, she's the same age as Jeongu, right? Man, that kid's so sweet and well-mannered for her age. Last year when we adults got smashed on soju, she even made us honey water.'
At the mention of the friend every adult praised nonstop, Mom blinked.
Slap!!
"Aaaack!!"
"Ugh! You little punk! What'd you say to the girl helping you study!!"
My back...!!
Mom's palm cracked down on my back like fire, and I flopped to the floor rolling in pain.
It hurt way more than usual!!
"Aigoo!! You're insane! Insane!! Why tease the girl tutoring you?!"
Mom pounded her chest, yelling in frustration...
"...You're actually crazy, huh?"
And Sis looked at me pitifully, sighing.
N-No. Sure, thanks to Yuna, I'd gotten second in class and fifth in the whole school on my first midterm—but was that any reason to blow up like this... at me?
Of course it was.
Jeongu's mom wasn't much of a scholar herself, nor was her husband—but she wanted her kids to have study skills so their futures wouldn't be blocked. She'd send them to cram school and buy workbooks if they wanted.
His sister Jeongha wasn't terrible at school, but for her effort, her grades weren't great.
Hovering between 4th and 3rd tier.
She studied hard in class, reviewed and previewed before dinner, previewed again before bed—for that, her scores were low.
But heavens! Her youngest got 5th in school on his first midterm! Neighbors! Look! My baby boy's 5th in the whole school! Heh heh heh!!
Second in class stung a bit, but when it turned out to be Yuna—that mystery friend who tutored him every Saturday... and even weekdays sometimes—the story changed.
Obviously. She's top of the school, so first in class is hers. Second is impressive.
In her mind, Yuna was a faceless savior for her son.
Not just studies—her rowdy, grubby boy had become calmer and more mature after getting her as a desk mate. Deep down, she was always chanting 'Thank you, Yuna!!'—a typical family mom.
But!! Lately, her reliable, handsome-looking son teased that savior, calling her a pig?!
'No way.'
She couldn't let Yuna drift away from Jeongu.
Before heading to school to apologize to Great Yuna, she vowed to bow her head first and fastest.
"...So that's what happened."
"Ah. She still thinks well of you."
"More precious than me, even."
Hmm. Kinda bittersweet.
Parents valuing someone else's kid more can sting a bit. Yeah.
But when you fall for the beastly charms of Han Yuna... it's inevitable?
"Still, she seems more into your mom right now."
"...Is she really your mom?"
"What? You trash-talking my mom? Or saying I don't have one?"
"N-No!! Your mom's super pretty and young-looking. Like someone on TV. Our mom's face is all wrinkly."
Ah, fair enough.
Our mom was in her thirties but had taut twenties skin, no wrinkles, killer looks—and those huge, perky assets.
Plus a figure so hot she could pass for a college girl. Dangerous body.
Well, dangerous for Dad.
Dad had the face and build to match his age.
We sipped the fruit juice the teacher gave us, sitting on the playground bleachers outside while the parents chatted. Honestly, it felt so warm and fuzzy, like they had nothing left to say.
Jeongu's aunt adored me, saying if he pulled that again, rip off his limbs—and her eyes sparkled at my mom.
Dad was thrilled to see his drinking buddy after ages, swapping stories.
"Never say that in front of your aunt."
"Duh. She'd grab a switch and kill me."
Ooh. You get it.
Yeah. Mess with a woman on her looks or figure? You're done.
Did getting wrecked by me once teach him life lessons? Smarter now.
'...At least it's fine.'
The only kid in class I click with is Jeongu. If things got awkward with him, I'd be a total loner outcast.
Sigh. Self-reflection time, Han Yuna.
Next time I get mad, solve it with words—or if not, somewhere private, nothing serious, just a light tune-up. Stay calm...
"I'm thinking of training harder at taekwondo."
"?? Outta nowhere?"
"Yeah. So next time you hit me, I can take it."
"......"
"I slacked off usually, went down in one hit. Reflecting on it."
...Is he nuts?
Why reflect on that, you bastard.
Not like I can talk—I've reflected on beating him privately—but this punk's too feral for an eight-year-old.