Chapter 23
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Standing Up to the Bully
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Im Myeonggi had started getting subtly ostracized at school since entering fourth grade.
Part of it was due to his own peculiar childishness, but the bigger reason was the systematic bullying led by someone.
'...Kwon Daehyun, grandson of Rotche Group Chairman Kwon.'
Excluding Seonjin Group and YK Group, Rotche Group was still one of the top three conglomerates in Korea.
Whether it was the inferiority complex of Rotche Group—which was mocked as the perennial runner-up—extending even to children, Kwon Daehyun utterly despised Im Myeonggi.
At some point, he began badmouthing Myeonggi behind his back, and now he was openly harassing him and even snatching his things.
"Hey, didn't I tell you to stay out of our sight? You think my words are a joke?"
"Daehyun, s-sorry."
"Don't call my name, you punk!"
Thwack!
Im Myeonggi was shoved weakly and tumbled to the ground.
In the process, he dropped the toy he was holding. Daehyun picked up the fallen toy and sneered at Myeonggi.
"Kids, look at this. This otaku freak brought another toy."
It was the Luffy character from the anime One Piece.
It was the toy Myeonggi had been carrying around lately.
"G-give it back!"
"Still clinging to this crap! Hey, grab him!"
The kids who came with Daehyun seized Myeonggi's arms, holding him in place.
"He only carries toys as scrawny as he is. My dad says everyone from Seonjin Group is a wimp just like you."
"That's not true!"
"Don't make me laugh!"
Thud!
Kwon Daehyun kicked Myeonggi in the stomach without hesitation. Myeonggi, who had never been hit by anyone in his life, clutched his belly and rolled on the ground.
"Ow, it hurts."
"Hmph. Weakling."
Daehyun tossed the Luffy toy to the ground. Then, with a mischievous grin, he placed his foot on top of it.
Squish—
The toy's body compressed hard, bending as if it might snap at any moment.
"D-don't do that!"
"Admit that everyone from Seonjin Group is a weakling like you, and I'll give the toy back."
"Th-that's..."
Squiiiish!
Under Daehyun's foot, Luffy's body bent dramatically, on the verge of breaking.
"Say it quick. Or the toy's neck snaps."
Myeonggi alternated glances between Daehyun and the toy, his face on the verge of tears.
"...O-our Seonjin Group..."
"Yeah. Seonjin Group is..."
"All like me..."
Daehyun grinned, eagerly awaiting the next words. But the continuation came not from Myeonggi, but from behind him.
"...fucking strong."
The one chuckling while watching was none other than Kangyul.
"...Yi Kangyul?"
Im Myeonggi recognized Kangyul at a glance. He still couldn't forget the brutal beating and insults from when he was four.
Compared to the Kwon Daehyun in front of him, this Yi Kangyul was even scarier.
"You from Seonjin too?"
Daehyun stood in front of Kangyul, looking down at him.
He was short and looked much weaker than Myeonggi. Especially the chubby baby fat that wouldn't go away—it made him seem even more ridiculous.
"Me from Seonjin? Then are you from Rotche?"
"What? You little—!"
Daehyun didn't like that Kangyul wasn't backing down.
He tried to shove him like he did Myeonggi, but Kangyul had already anticipated that much.
With a slight twist of his body, he yanked Daehyun instead and slammed him to the ground.
"Argh!"
Kangyul gave Daehyun a cold sidelong glare before picking up the Luffy toy.
"Myeonggi hyung. Why are you letting these losers bully you?"
"W-well..."
Kangyul brushed the dirt off the toy.
Then he glared at Daehyun's lackeys holding Myeonggi's arms and bellowed.
"You little shits! Let go of him right now!"
Startled by Kangyul's shout, the kids jumped back from Myeonggi.
That was when it happened.
Furious at being taken down by such a small kid, Kwon Daehyun sprang up and charged.
"Kangyul!"
Acting like the older brother, Myeonggi rushed to protect Kangyul.
But Kwon Daehyun was a bit faster.
The problem was that Kangyul was much faster than Kwon Daehyun.
'Kids always need to see blood to learn. Sigh.'
Kangyul hurled the Luffy toy he was holding straight at Kwon Daehyun's face with all his might.
Thwack!
Kwon Daehyun clutched his stinging nose in pain, eyes welling up as he collapsed to the ground.
"Aaaagh!"
And something hot trickled down his face drop by drop.
"B-blood?!"
True to their age, the kids panicked at the sight of blood.
Only Kangyul kept his icy expression as he approached Daehyun and whispered in his ear.
"You tiny-dicked bastard. Try badmouthing Seonjin Group just once more. I'll rip your nose off. Got it?"
Overwhelmed by Kangyul's chilling warning, Daehyun finally burst into tears.
"Waaah!"
"Tch. Crying like a baby. C'mon, hyung. If these punks mess with you again, tell me. Got it?"
"...Y-yeah!"
Even Daehyun's lackeys were watching Kangyul warily.
'Hmph. Where do these pissants get off?'
As soon as they slipped out the back of the school, Kangyul handed the Luffy toy back to Myeonggi.
It was a bit creepy with Daehyun's blood on it, but luckily there were no breaks or damage.
"N-no! You take it, Kangyul. It's a gift. Hehe."
"I'm not a kid anymore. Why would I play with this?"
Myeonggi's face fell immediately at Kangyul's refusal.
'This guy. How'd he get so timid?'
"Hyung!"
"Hyung!"
The twins waiting at the school gate spotted Kangyul and ran over.
Deokyul approached but froze when he saw the blood on Kangyul's hand.
It was Daehyun's blood from picking up the toy.
"What the hell?! Did this jerk bully you?!"
Deokyul stepped in front of Kangyul, glaring at Myeonggi.
Jiyul followed suit, shielding Kangyul.
Even as triplets, Deokyul and Jiyul were already as big as Myeonggi.
"No. That's Little Uncle's son, Myeonggi hyung. Don't you remember from when we were little?"
"The hyung who hit my head?!"
Myeonggi flinched and hung his head.
"S-sorry!"
Kangyul walked over to Myeonggi and lifted his chin.
Something had been bothering him ever since he saw Myeonggi.
'Why's the kid so cowed?'
"Myeonggi hyung. Don't keep hanging your head like that. If you did something wrong, just apologize."
Deokyul nodded at Kangyul's words and spoke to Myeonggi like a little adult.
"Hmph. I forgive you. But if you do it again, I'll punish you."
"Got it."
Kangyul led Deokyul and Jiyul to the car where Jang Deokcheol was waiting.
"Myeonggi hyung. If those guys act up again, don't put up with it. Our family isn't light enough to be looked down on by trash like them. If it's too much, tell us. Okay?"
"Yeah! Thanks!"
The triplets hopped into the car and drove off leisurely.
Myeonggi couldn't take his eyes off the departing vehicle.
'...So cool!'
Myeonggi was a superhero otaku.
He believed they would always protect him from bullies. But starting today, he wouldn't like superheroes anymore.
'From now on, I'm a Kangyul otaku!'
He couldn't forget the powerful image of Kangyul saving him from crisis.
In a different sense, Kangyul had just gained an annoying tagalong.
Kwon Daehyun cried for a while before getting up forlornly when he realized no one was around. Even his toadies had ditched him the moment he lost.
'...Ungrateful bastards. After all I've bought them!'
Daehyun wiped his face and whimpered again at the red blood on his hand. But crying here wouldn't help—no one to pity him—so he held it in and headed out.
"D-Daehyun young master!"
"...Driver Kim!"
Spotting the driver waiting for him, Daehyun burst into tears again.
"H-how did this happen? Who dares touch the young master?!"
"I-It was... Im Myeonggi."
"Im Myeonggi? You mean... that kid from Seonjin Group?"
Daehyun nodded. Admitting he got beaten by a younger kid like Yi Kangyul was too embarrassing, and Myeonggi made a convenient scapegoat.
Driver Kim's face twisted in rage as he helped Daehyun into the car.
"Driver Kim, don't tell Mom."
"...Yes, young master."
Daehyun had no intention of escalating things.
He knew full well he was the one who started it. But contrary to his words, as soon as they got home, Driver Kim reported it straight to Madam.
"What? My son got beaten? What were you doing letting him get like this?!"
Slap!
Kim Mi-kyeong slapped Driver Kim the moment she saw Daehyun's blood-streaked face.
"S-sorry."
"What kind of world is this, hitting kids! Call the school right now and demand they expel the brat who did this!"
"Well... the one who hit the young master is the son of Seonjin Group's Im Myeongho."
"What? Really?"
Kim Mi-kyeong looked at Daehyun for confirmation.
Daehyun nodded involuntarily under her blazing glare.
Even young Daehyun knew his mom had a massive inferiority complex toward Seonjin Group.
"Then we can't let this slide. Driver Kim, I'll head to the school tomorrow too, so be ready."
"Yes, Madam."
'Expulsion's just the start. I'll make sure he can't show his face anywhere!'
Kim Mi-kyeong's eyes flashed like a venomous serpent.