The Wolf Among the Sheep #5

The boy had once attended a Taekwondo dojo in his childhood. Since he was the type ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who excelled at anything he tried, he quickly became the center of everyone's attention. One day, his eyes fell on a six-year-old girl who was the same age as him. Unlike himself, she was clumsy at everything she did. It was almost shocking that someone in the world could be so inept and lacking.

“Uiseon, why don’t you look after her?”

His parents made the boy a small suggestion. That was the beginning of experiences that would later completely upend the boy’s entire worldview.

“Splits! Success! It’s all thanks to you!”

The boy diligently cared for and looked after the girl. With a level of patience unusual for such a young child. He was smart, and he understood that he was a little special compared to others and that his family was well-off, which made it possible.

The boy liked that about himself. He came to love the hard work and effort that came from helping others and caring for those in need.

But one day—.

For ruining the lives of six children, he received a fifteen-year sentence. In reality, however, he only served ten years.

The boy, who had been straighter than anyone, began to question Justice. At the same time, he realized what he needed to do, as if receiving a divine revelation.

“You will be pierced and die. Number six.”

“Ugh! S-save me! You m-monster! Monster!”

When the dawn sunlight from the first time he had ever carried out justice came to mind at age sixteen, the boy felt the morning sun, the blowing wind, and people’s voices more vividly and brilliantly than ever. That was the day he realized it. There were many people in the world who needed his help, and he had to be the one to help them.

“Kyahaha! As expected, I’m so smart!”

As the male student in front of him made a racket, the boy—Jeong Uiseon—had old memories float up in his head. It was because the punch had momentarily sent his mind floating. The fist was stronger than he’d expected.

Jeong Uiseon wiped the blood flowing from his nose with the back of his hand and stood up.

“Namjin. I still have so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠much work to do. There are far too many things that need to be cut out from this rotten world. No one else can do this job for me. It’s something only I can do.”

Srrrng—.

Jeong Uiseon pulled out a fountain pen with a sharp tip. It was the Bogu he had permanently borrowed from the Treasure Vault.

“That’s why I can’t let myself get caught by you. I have to become a symbol. A symbol of justice and fear.”

Jeong Uiseon placed his hand on his chest and activated his Concept. It felt like all the blood in his body was boiling like lava, and every sense became even sharper.

With a light leap, pat, Jeong Uiseon moved. Ha Namjin couldn’t react to his suddenly enhanced physical abilities, and as a result, the fountain pen pierced the male student’s abdomen.

“Aaaagh!”

The male student let out a loud scream and collapsed onto his back. It was probably because the Pain Concept dwelling in the fountain pen was shaking his brain and burning every nerve like lightning.

The Pain that could make even Yeomra—the special-class fugitive who had reigned like a devil—scream like a child was contained at the tip of this fountain pen.

“I’ll ask you one last time. Ha Namjin, won’t you come with me? The great evils I’ll have to face from now on seem like they’ll take too much time if I handle them alone.”

Jeong Uiseon didn’t trust other humans. However, he felt he could compromise and join hands with the male student before him. They were of the same kind, so to speak.

“Fuck off.”

But the male student, who had staggered to his feet despite the brain-shaking agony, rejected Jeong Uiseon’s proposal.

Jeong Uiseon was more surprised by the endurance that overcame the pain than by the rejection itself. But that wasn’t the only problem.

“Class president, you’ll have to run now. People who sensed the commotion will soon flock here and chase you like a dog. Then you’ll have to live hidden for the rest of your life.”

“So what? I’ve already prepared myself for that much sacrifice and danger.”

“Isn’t it funny? According to your own words, you’re the one doing the right thing, yet you’re also the one who has to hide.”

“……”

“You talk and act like you’re doing the right thing, but in reality, you’re not at all. What’s right is me, and you are wrong. You’re no different from the villains you’ve killed.”

###

A long time ago, he had once been shot in the stomach. The pain had been like getting stung by an enormous bee, shaking his skull so badly that he had to lie groaning in bed for days. It was the same now, after being stabbed by the fountain pen.

His hands and feet were trembling, and every cell in his body seemed to be screaming, “Lie down, thrash around, and scream!” He wanted to. But if he lost consciousness here, that class president bastard would definitely flee into the deep darkness. If that happened, he might never catch him again. And then the guy would keep interfering with his plans in the future.

So I desperately clutched my pierced stomach and provoked the class president.

“Class president, you’re just a kid. A clown imitating the heroes from movies on TV.”

“Namjin, are you trying to provoke me so I can’t run away? No matter what you say, I won’t listen.”

Shit—! This is exactly why I hate smart bastards. Would it kill him to just obediently fall for the provocation?

I wanted to buy a little more time. Yu Yeoleum and Wang Jahyeon were somewhere nearby. If they came here, we could instantly gain a three-to-one numerical advantage.

“But Namjin, if you won’t join me, I think it’s right to end you here and leave. In my opinion, you seem like you’ll become my biggest obstacle going forward.”

Srrrng—.Flash—.

The tip of the fountain pen glinted. This time I’ll definitely dodge—.

That’s what I thought, but by the time I came to my senses, the bastard’s fountain pen was already stabbed into my thigh.

“Ughiiik!”

It was a speed I couldn’t even react to. In terms of pure speed, Jeong Uiseon was on par with that Yu Yeoleum. As expected of D-class’s Night Brooch. His skills were impressive enough to serve as class president in a D-class full of problem children. Honestly, he was more troublesome than the third-class fugitive Yeom Hoon.

Throb, throb—.

The Bogu he was holding was also annoying. Why does it hurt so much? It definitely had a Concept that amplified pain.

“You cowardly bastard! Using a Bogu! In that case, I’ll use mine too!”

Enduring the pain, I pulled out the Infinite Ketchup Bottle.

When Jeong Uiseon saw my Bogu, the Infinite Ketchup Bottle, a slight tension appeared in his eyes.

“That’s…”

“This is the Ketchup Bottle of Death. Anyone who touches the ketchup that comes out of this bottle will definitely die. From a terrible case of food poisoning! Norovirus!”

Squiiiiiirt—.

I squeezed out ketchup and created a barrier-like wall all around us. In truth, this ketchup bottle had the Recharge Concept and refilled completely about once an hour, but the class president didn’t seem to know that. I just had to trust the Deception Concept in my ring and my acting skills!

“The Concept of Death? There’s no way the school would lend a student something that dangerous.”

“I’m not just any student! I’m the super-special prospect who beat Yu Yeoleum in a group project and took down the third-class fugitive Yeom Hoon!”

Squiiirt—.

The ketchup barrier was finally completed in all directions. We faced off like butterflies trapped in a spiderweb.

Whoooosh—.

At that moment, a wind blew from somewhere, cooling the cold sweat on my forehead. Then Jeong Uiseon burst out laughing.

“That’s just a rechargeable ketchup bottle. I wondered what you were trying to do, but that was actually impressive. If someone didn’t know better, they might have fallen for it.”

What? He already knew this ketchup bottle only had the Recharge Concept? It seemed he just wanted to see what I would do with the ketchup.

But it was fine. The reason I’d taken out the ketchup bottle was to buy time anyway.

“My friend! What on earth is going on here!”

“Namjin!”

Familiar voices came from near the abandoned factory. They belonged to the team No Leftovers Day.

“As expected! I knew you guys would come patrolling near this abandoned factory! The question was when you’d arrive, but you came faster than I thought!”

“Hanam-jjin!”

Patapat—.

Bread-butt Baek Yeoul came running. I raised my trembling hand and pointed at the class president.

“That bastard is a total scumbag! A serial killer! A really bad guy! He’s the Judge!”

My vocabulary had dropped below that of bread-butt whose hair dye had seeped into her brain because of the pain, but my meaning seemed to have gotten across well enough. It was probably thanks to the camaraderie that forms between friends who have crossed the line of death together.

“Class president, you—!”

Baek Yeoul got angry.

Srrrng—.

Baek Yeoul lifted a frying pan with strange talismans stuck to it.

“You’ve finally shown your true colors! You sinister wolf-like bastard!”

“Wolf? Me?”

“Handsome, good personality, great at studying! There’s no way someone that perfect could exist in this world! Just like Seo Gaeul, I always thought you must have some huge flaw, and sure enough! You scumbag!”

Bread-butt’s intuition and observation skills were sharper than I’d thought. Soon Geum Taeseong arrived with Deoksoon, and a tense nervousness began to spread across the class president’s previously relaxed face.

“I can handle the others, but fighting Taeseong is out of the question. Your ability has bad compatibility with mine. Sorry, but I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“T-that bastard’s trying to run awaaay! Guaaaak!”

I wanted to run over and grab him, but the wound from the fountain pen in my thigh hurt so badly that tears threatened to pour out.

But should I just sit here and watch the class president escape?

“N-now’s the time to bring out my secret weapon.”

Srrrng—.

At that moment, Baek Yeoul pulled a lunchbox out of her bag. While I wondered what she was going to do, she picked up chopsticks in her hand.

“Chopstick Throw!”

Pshoo—.

Baek Yeoul threw the chopstick like a North Korean special forces soldier. It embedded itself like an arrow into the class president’s abdomen.

Shunk—.

“I-I hit it…!?”

Baek Yeoul looked flustered even though she was the one who had thrown the chopstick. Naturally, the class president was shocked too.

“What the…”

“Baek Yeoul! You mere extra—!”

Yeah, I suppose he would be pissed. In Jeong Uiseon’s life, the members of No Leftovers Day must have been nothing more than insignificant NPCs. So how furious must he be that those very people were now standing in his way?

Gurgle—.

At that moment, a strange sound came from the class president’s stomach.

“Ugh…!?”

“Th-that chopstick has special food poisoning made by Baekdang on it! It wasn’t originally meant for you! But from now on, for a maximum of five minutes, you will… lose your dignity!”

Gurgle gurgle—.

The more his stomach churned, the more Jeong Uiseon’s face turned deathly pale like a patient facing his end. Seeing his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠completely lost composure, Baek Yeoul chattered excitedly.

“You’re not the dark hero ‘Judge’ that people talk about—you’re just a shit-pants! You’re going to become a laughingstock for the whole world!”

The Judge, who had mocked the justice system and become a symbol of radical justice, was about to become nothing but a shit-pants. Baek Yeoul was literally trying to murder his character. It was a truly terrifying attack, and I suddenly grew curious who she had originally intended to use that food poisoning on.

“Baaaaek Yeouuuul!”

Jeong Uiseon howled like an enraged wolf. I didn’t miss the opening and shouted.

“All his nerves are focused on his sphincter right now! This is it! Now! Go beat the shit out of him!”

Patapat—!

Everyone charged at the serial killer. Since we had already done coordinated attacks several times before, our teamwork was perfect this time.

Thudthudthudthudthudthudthudthud—.

“Aaaaaagh! You son of a bitch! I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can’t get caught like this! At least not like thiiiiis—!!!”

Jeong Uiseon almost seemed a little pitiful. At the same time, I felt a chill at how he maintained his ‘dignity’ until the very end. Even though he was the enemy, his superhuman endurance deserved praise.

“I just called the Captain! The instructors will be here any moment!”

“Namjin! Get a hold of yourself! Namjin!”

At that point my vision gradually grew blurry. I felt someone hugging me.

“Student Namjin! Wake up! Captain! I’ll take this kid to the infirmary first—.”

That was the last thing I heard before a brief knockout.

When I came to, I was lying on some bed with Teacher Nokae, wearing an eyepatch, sitting beside me. I tried to get up, but the pain in my thigh and stomach was so bad that tears welled up.

“Guuuuak!”

“Stay still. The wound itself isn’t deep, but the pain from being stabbed by the Fountain Pen of Pain will last at least four days.”

“What about that guy? Did you catch him? How much time has passed?”

“We caught him. He’s currently detained in the special detention center. It’s been three hours since you lost consciousness, Student Namjin. It’s five in the afternoon, so it’s about time to head home.”

We caught him! I felt a huge weight lift off my chest. All my suffering had been worth it.

“The problem is that no matter how much we interrogate him, that kid refuses to talk. He’s stubbornly saying he’ll only speak to you, Student Namjin. You’ll have to go see him.”

Rustle rustle—.

I was getting up from the bed when—

“Student Namjin, honestly, I see you in a new light. If you want to transfer to F-class, just tell me.”

“Will Teacher Nokae give me a kiss if I do?”

“No.”

“Then I’m not going.”

“What if I do give you a kiss?”

“That’s also a no. You smell like cigarettes, Teacher Nokae.”

Crinkle—.

Even without the Emotion Concept, it was easy to tell that Teacher Nokae was frowning hard.