Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: There's No Other Beastly Girl
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What? What the hell is this? Am I dreaming?
Big Baldy... No. Heo Young-shim, the guy from Ulleung Elementary who bragged about being tough with his fists, couldn't wrap his head around the situation he was in right now.
Was he just dumb? Or was it because he was a full-blown delinquent, true to his name?
Those factors probably played a part, but honestly, any boy his age wouldn't be able to stay calm in a spot like this.
Drag. Draaag...
"Where are you hiding~?"
"Hic! Sniff!"
The creepy scraping sound of wood grinding against the bumpy dirt road mixed with a voice that was clearly bright, pretty, and full of playful laughter from some girl.
But our Young-shim was curled up like a pupa next to an alley trash bin, trembling and sobbing in a way that didn't match his burly build at all.
He was called the Number Two among the sixth graders—the second-best fighter in school. That nickname had pumped his ego sky-high and filled him with confidence.
With his big frame and taekwondo training, he was stronger than the other kids, so leading his little gang felt like the ultimate thrill. Nothing beat bossing kids around and living that high life.
Studying was a drag compared to bullying kids, shaking them down for cash, and strutting around. But right in the middle of those wild teenage years, his mom had found him a tutor who was good at school and nagged him to learn something. Grumbling, he'd dragged himself to the taekwondo dojang.
And that day... Baldy Heo Young-shim fell head over heels in love for the first time.
Silky black hair swaying gently, a soft, cute voice greeting him sweetly... and the rest is history.
Basically, she was just too adorable, approaching him warmly without a care for his delinquent rep like the other kids did. It opened his eyes to love.
Even when he acted up, she never got mad—just smiled every time they crossed paths.
Smart, pretty, kind.
She nailed all three things that were tough to pull off on their own. How could he not fall for her?
So he'd warned his little brother: Yuna's mine!
Touch my girlfriend and you're dead.
And today... he'd finally gotten her to buy him tteokbokki and made his move with a confession.
Like the cool male lead from the dramas his mom watched, right in front of his crew.
Up until then, he'd been cocky as hell: 'Damn, I looked awesome. She'd have to be crazy to turn me down!'
That is, until he saw that dainty little hand bend a metal chopstick with a sickening creeeak.
Until he pulled a thousand-won bill from his pocket and apologized to the snack shop lady for breaking her chopsticks...
'Sh-she's not human...'
Her tiny frame had grabbed him by the collar, dragged him out of the shop, hurled him in front of his buddies heading home, and now she was approaching with a thick wooden stick. The moment he saw Yuna, instinct kicked in.
Oh shit. I'm gonna die if this goes wrong.
"Hmm~? I swear I saw you come this way~?"
"Gasp!!"
Oh, she's still here?! Damn... damn it...
Just pass by already. Did lunch digest that fast? My stomach hurts, and I feel like I'm gonna piss myself!!
Once Yuna's gone, I'll bolt, hit the bathroom, take care of business, and bawl my eyes out.
But I'm Number Two...
The second-toughest guy in school!!
Damn it! Damn it!!
'She won't get away with this.'
The fear toward that tiny, pretty girl—who looked like she'd burst into tears from one punch—quickly turned to rage.
Daring to humiliate me like this and reject my confession? I'll get the school kids to bully her and make sure she can't even show up at taekwondo.
Tomorrow, the second I see her...!!
CRUNCH!!!
"...?"
The massive trash bin that had been hiding him crumpled under the thick wooden stick.
Huh? That thing's supposed to be super sturdy. Why'd it dent like that?
The long, square wooden beam that smashed the bin now swatted it aside, sending it flying.
The tough, giant trash bin that had sheltered him toppled over with a massive clang! And right in front of it...
"Found you~?"
"Kyahaaaaack!!!"
Splurt, splatter, trickle trickle trickle...
"...Ew. Gross."
I finally understood what my teacher meant by "social death." Damn it.
Liquid burst from both ends, ballooning my pants, and that indescribable yet horribly familiar stench snapped me back to reality.
Ugh. What the hell is that? Not just pissing my pants—both front and back at once. Insane.
What? Don't guys only have one hole? Pfft. Even guys have a hole at the tip of the pillar!
How else would piss come out of the urethra if there wasn't one?
People picture lemonade as yellowish, but ugh, this... Yeah. Too nasty to describe. My stomach can't take it.
Anyway, reason kicked in, and I figured it was time to call it quits. I tossed the bat into the fallen trash bin, dusted off my hands with a few claps.
Count yourself lucky, Big Baldy.
If your luck had been any worse, I'd have yanked every hair off that head until it was a buzz cut.
Ending it here is good for me too—no need to beat you and then give my pregnant mom more bad news or stress her out.
Hell, even if I did hit you, it'd be self-defense, right? But... you're kinda pitiful.
"Hey?"
"Hic! Sniff!! Huff...!!"
"Answer me."
"Y-yeah...!!"
"You talking down to me 'cause I'm younger?"
"N-no...!"
Good boy.
Kids need to feel the power gap young to learn manners, huh?
Look at him now. The delinquent who strutted around like a big shot, trying to lure a little girl with food? One show of strength, and he's using polite speech!
Couldn't hit him or yell when he was paying for tutoring sessions, but things are different now.
I already got paid. We said our goodbyes, right?
But he didn't just pick a fight—he hit me with a confession assault!
It gave me full-body chills and straight-up trauma!
If it'd been someone cute like Yuri or calm like Jeongu... no, even that mini-baldy punk gets a pass as a kid. I'd laugh it off like, "What do kids know about dating?" But a 13-year-old who knows better? That's crossing the line.
Shouldn't you at least think before you do something stupid?
If he'd just said honestly in private, "I like you~," it'd be creepy, but I wouldn't have gotten mad.
I'd have politely turned him down: "Sorry, no dating for me~" and that'd be that.
We'd be awkward, sure, but I wouldn't have seen this mess!
Whatever. Now that he's been through this, he won't confess to me again. Moving on.
"Why live like that?"
"...Huh?"
"'Huh?' is casual speech too. No. Why steal other people's money? Wouldn't you hate it if I took yours for no reason?"
One type I really can't stand is kids who bully and rob others just 'cause they're strong.
Being strong? Great. No one looks down on you.
I get wanting to show off being tougher than others. Kids and adults alike feel good being better.
But using that strength to trash-talk and belittle people for no reason? Unacceptable.
"Don't live like that. If I hear you've been shaking down friends or bullying at school, I will come after you."
"......"
"Answer."
"Y-yes...!"
Dunno if a few words will stick, but it's better than nothing.
"Alright, I'm heading home now. Ugh, the smell... Gonna puke up all that tteokbokki."
Sheesh. I just wanted a quick tteokbokki snack and head straight home. What a mess.
Won't Mom be worried?
Exams are over, so she expects me home by now. My lonely mom must be pacing, wondering where I am.
Gotta rush back, tell her it's nothing—just got caught in something weird—and reassure her.
"Mom. Dad. I got a confession today."
"Huh?"
"Wh-what?!"
Got home, and Dad was there too. We sat in the living room as a family, munching fruit and chatting happily. That's when I casually explained why I was late.
"Wh-who? Jeongu? Oh my god."
"...No. Dad couldn't even confess before meeting Mom, so why would you?"
"Not Jeongu. The kid from taekwondo who tutored me... Sixth grader. Fat, ugly, smelly one."
"??"
"Pfft. Of all people, you get that one... Ow!!"
"Watch your mouth, bro!! Say it nice!!"
Dad got forehead-flicked, then a back-smack from Mom while he admired aloud. I couldn't help but giggle.
Right? Of all people, that one.
Mom pounds Dad's back like crazy, but sneaks a peek at me, dying to know what happened next.
"Duh, what was she gonna do? Honey, you think Yuna would've said yes after describing him like that?"
"W-well, true. Still worrying, though. Our Yuna takes after Mom and Dad—she's so pretty. What if she gets a boyfriend? Seriously."
"I'm not making a boyfriend~? And duh, I shot him down! But get this. Super creepy! He buys me tteokbokki, drags me off saying today's our anniversary one-month, humiliates me in front of everyone!"
So I flipped the table!
Chased the fleeing punk down the alley with my bat and scared him shitless—literally!
"...?"
"...Wow."
So don't worry!
No more punks confessing to this proud daughter of yours, Lady Han Yuna!
I grin, hands on hips, puffing out my tiny chest. Mom looks baffled, Dad's impressed by my mature handling!
"...You didn't kill him, right?"
"Honey, if he shit and pissed himself, he's alive, at least."
"R-really?"
"?? Um, hello?"
No. Why are you guys suddenly worried about Big Baldy?!