Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: 1. Evil's Regression (3)
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At that moment.
Unlike Kim Hyun-seong's class, where the lesson had ended, Park Min-cheol's gang still hadn't left the classroom.
“Everyone, keep this in mind. Today's lesson content will be on the midterms…….”
It was the Korean teacher, commonly known as Park Chan-ho.
Once he started talking, there was no end in sight. Even after the bell rang, he doggedly pressed on. For Park Min-cheol's gang, it was pure agony. They had planned to smash Kim Hyun-seong the second class ended, but with the lesson refusing to wrap up, their frustration surged.
“That damn Korean teacher. What a pain in the ass.”
“Tell me about it. They'd bitch if their own shifts ran late, but they can't stick to class time themselves.”
From the back of the classroom.
Park Min-cheol's gang vented their complaints.
Jeong Min-ho glanced at the clock on the wall and, thinking of Kim Hyun-seong, spoke up.
“But that Kim Hyun-seong punk—did he pop some pills or something? Things were supposed to go smooth, but he charged like he had no backup. You think the info leaked?”
“No way.”
Jo Yong-taek shook his head.
The clash between Park Min-cheol and Kim Hyun-seong.
It wasn't random.
Kim Hyun-seong had picked the fight, sure, but Park Min-cheol's gang had always intended to use him as bait to crush Kim Hyun-seong from the start. Yet Kim Hyun-seong reacted completely out of left field. He should've caved under their numbers and lowered his eyes, but even as Kang Chang-seok closed in, he didn't back down an inch.
Totally unexpected.
Their plan had gone to hell.
Jeong Min-ho replayed the incident with Kim Hyun-seong, his eyes flashing with fury.
“Whatever the reason, Kim Hyun-seong humiliated us in front of everyone. If we let that attitude slide, the other kids will start looking down on us too. Doesn't matter if we got asked to do it or not—we need to crush him for good. Make sure he never looks at us with that cocky glare again.”
“Damn right. That fucker—I'm gonna kill him.”
It was Kang Chang-seok.
Having nearly clashed once already, his mind was filled with thoughts of stomping Kim Hyun-seong.
Even the most tedious lesson eventually ended.
“With that, class dismissed.”
No rush.
As the Korean teacher exited, Park Min-cheol's gang rose leisurely from their seats and started walking.
“Let's go.”
No place to run anyway.
School was a confined space.
To fulfill their student duties, Kim Hyun-seong couldn't flee anywhere.
Park Min-cheol's gang was in Class 8.
Kim Hyun-seong was in Class 1-1.
With some distance between them, they strolled over, but Jeong Min-ho spotted students crowding around Class 1-1. A bad feeling crept up. The thought that Park Min-cheol might be in danger flashed through his mind, twisting his face as he broke into a run first.
“Fuck, that bastard!”
“Run!”
They bolted.
Arriving at Class 1-1, Park Min-cheol's gang froze at the scene before them.
“You're late.”
Eyes wide.
Park Min-cheol, covered in blood, hung limp by his collar, gripped in Kim Hyun-seong's hand.
* * *
No need for words.
Before they could even process it, hot-headed Kang Chang-seok lunged.
“You fucking bastard.”
Thud-thud-thud.
Fast.
As the hulking Kang Chang-seok charged, familiar memories flooded Kim Hyun-seong's mind.
The past ten years.
In a vegetative state, he'd simulated revenge countless times.
Park Min-cheol was never the real issue.
Kang Chang-seok was.
Even if he took down Park Min-cheol, the gang led by Kang Chang-seok was too much for any normal method. Kim Hyun-seong was decent in a fight, but not at handling one against many. If he were that strong, he wouldn't have endured three years of torment from Park Min-cheol's gang.
So.
What to do?
Through endless failures, Kim Hyun-seong devised a method his past self never would have.
Simple.
Crack.
Thwack.
“Argh!”
Kang Chang-seok screamed.
The instant he lunged to tackle Kim Hyun-seong, Kim grabbed a locker lock he'd scoped out earlier and smashed the metal end into his head. Fair fight? Didn't matter. For revenge, Kim Hyun-seong would use any means. As Kang Chang-seok staggered, he seized his hair and hammered the lock into his temple repeatedly.
Thwack.
Thwack, thwack.
Stumble.
Eyes rolling.
No matter how trained Kang Chang-seok was, a solid metal strike to the vitals was unbearable.
And then.
Crunch.
Yanking his head down, Kim drove a knee into his face.
Blood sprayed as Kang Chang-seok's massive frame toppled backward. The two who'd followed froze for a split second. It was mere instants. With Kang Chang-seok neutralized fast, Kim Hyun-seong charged before they could react.
‘Only chance is now.’
Target: Jo Yong-taek.
By the time the scrawny guy realized, Kim's tackle slammed into him.
‘Drive with full body weight—Jo Yong-taek can't withstand it. Hallway behind him. Slammed to the floor, no way he counters follow-ups.’
Thud.
Crash!
Calculated to perfection.
Replaying revenge scenarios endlessly, Kim Hyun-seong had found the optimal way against Park Min-cheol's gang. As expected, Jo Yong-taek hit the floor dazed. While he flailed, Kim Hyun-seong rained unrestricted punches on his face. He swung his arms in resistance, but pinned in mount position, Kim beat him mercilessly.
Jeong Min-ho?
Ignored.
Whether he attacked from behind or not, Kang Chang-seok and Jo Yong-taek had to go down first.
Only then.
Would numbers even out.
Kim Hyun-seong's bloodshot eyes didn't stop as Jo Yong-taek's resistance faded.
Splat!
Thud, thud, thud!
Blood splattered.
Fists soaked red.
After pounding for what felt like ages, as the opponent stopped resisting, Kim Hyun-seong pulled back, heaving ragged breaths.
“Huff, huff.”
Exhausting.
Mentally prepped to perfection, but first-year high schooler Kim Hyun-seong's body couldn't handle the intensity. Still, he couldn't stop. Forcing down the breath burning his throat, he stood and glanced back.
One more left.
Turning, he saw Jeong Min-ho's horrified face, and behind him, the crowd of students gathered like a backdrop.
* * *
Jeong Min-ho was stunned.
His shaking eyes couldn't accept his friends dropping in seconds.
‘……Kim Hyun-seong's this strong?’
High school.
Might seem like kids' play to adults, but new male students brawl to establish hierarchy. Kim Hyun-seong was part of that. The diligent, good-kid image had clashed with the bullies a few times, proving himself enough to escape their target list.
But.
Not like this.
Taking down Kang Chang-seok alone should've been impossible, yet Kim Hyun-seong fought like a demon.
“Guh, guh.”
He gulped.
Shocked.
As Kim Hyun-seong rose and stared him down, he wanted to run.
‘No way I win.’
The sequence.
A monster.
Kim had smashed Kang Chang-seok's head with a lock without hesitation, then beat Jo Yong-taek unconscious on the floor. No holding back. Fearing the same fate, even battle-tested Jeong Min-ho lost all will to fight.
“We're not done.”
Kim Hyun-seong approached.
Fists stained with his friends' blood, Jeong Min-ho assumed a stance but his face twisted in terror.
Tense standoff.
Then.
“Hey, what the hell's going on?!”
A gruff voice.
A burly man pushed through the crowd.
Kim Young-cheol, Class 1-1's homeroom teacher, arrived after hearing the commotion.
* * *
An inevitable outcome.
Not in a classroom but the hallway—teachers had to hear.
Chaos erupted.
The school flipped out.
Major incident.
Not typical bullying—three students beaten bloody by Kim Hyun-seong.
After sending the victims to the hospital, Kim Young-cheol faced Kim Hyun-seong with a scowl.
“Hey, Kim Hyun-seong. You lost your mind? Guys roughhousing has limits—kids carted off in ambulances, faces pulp. This won't end at school. I've taught for over a decade, never seen anyone go this rogue. Brace yourself. Calling their parents soon—you'll pay.”
Hostile vibe.
Kim Hyun-seong's usual behavior or fight's origin? Irrelevant.
Look at the victims.
Might bear full blame as homeroom teacher—Kim Young-cheol drew a hard line, glaring daggers. Irritated. Quiet kid before, now causing max hassle—unfathomable.
Anyway.
School Violence Committee minimum.
Hold the meeting, make Kim Hyun-seong pay, or fallout hits him.
But.
“Teacher, no need to make a fuss.”
“……What?”
Unbelievable.
Kim Hyun-seong should beg forgiveness.
Kneel and cry—yet he looked up coldly, no remorse.
“School violence happens all the time, right? You teachers are good at it—burying without escalating. Handle it like that. Keep the heat off me.”
“You little shit.”
Slap—!
Head snapped.
Sharp crack drew teachers' eyes in the office.
They said nothing.
Violence in the staff room? They just grimaced, looking away like standard punishment.
‘That's how I died.’
Past life.
Not just bullying.
Torment from Park Min-cheol's gang like iljin.
Adults' indifference.
They choked him.
Especially Class 1-1's homeroom, Kim Young-cheol—a trash unfit for teacher.
Remembered clearly.
How Kim Young-cheol lived under that facade.
As he reared for another slap, Kim Hyun-seong bared bloodied teeth.
“Enough.”
“You punk!”
“Teacher, lower your voice. Keep screaming, and I'll spill how you take bribes from parents. Especially Jeong Min-ho's folks—you talk to them a lot. Want me yelling about it now? Plenty more otherwise. Like your affair with the English teacher.”
He smirked.
Voice low for Kim Young-cheol alone, as the man froze.
“So play nice, you fucking asshole.”