The Talk of the Town (1)
Gwak Seong was gruff and stubborn.
But even so, he'd never laid a hand on his family, not once, and never raised his voice in anger.
He simply fulfilled his duty as the pillar of the household.
He'd always taken pride in that.
He was the pillar of the home.
The house he'd built with money earned through blood, sweat, and tears.
The home where he'd shared his life with his wife.
His wife had died of illness, his son and daughter-in-law in an accident, but it was the house where their sole surviving bloodline—his grandson—still lived.
He had to protect that house.
"Grandpa~!"
He was proud of his grandson.
Unlike himself, who'd only finished elementary school before starting work, his grandson excelled in his studies.
Even without parents.
Even raised by a grandfather who'd never made it past middle school.
He'd studied alone and gotten into Seoul National University, the top school in Korea.
When neighbors praised him—"You've raised a fine grandson"—he'd just nod stoically.
But in truth, after finishing farm work and returning home alone, he'd hug photos of his late wife, son, and daughter-in-law, jumping for joy, weeping, even dancing.
He'd punch the air meaninglessly, he was so proud of his grandson.
To him, his grandson Gwak Junhyeong was an outstanding young man.
Despite being busy with studies, every summer he'd step up to help his grandfather, weeding the fields or harvesting crops.
It even made him swell with pride at old man Maeng next door's envy: "Kids these days don't give a damn about their grandparents."
That's why he cherished his grandson, loved him, and was immensely proud.
And now, that grandson was dead.
Attacked by an alcoholic addict.
Society's trash.
If his grandson had done something wrong, he might have beaten his chest in regret, blaming his own poor upbringing.
But no.
That madman was just a madman.
There was no reason.
He'd just gotten drunk, vented his rage at society, grabbed a knife, and gone out.
His grandson had died to a bastard like that.
While saving those around him.
A kid who'd just turned twenty.
Died trying to protect students even younger than himself.
The news reported it nonstop.
Everyone grieved.
Everyone mourned.
The perp got thirty years.
Even so.
Even so.
Gwak Seong could never forgive him.
That bastard.
And himself.
For failing to protect his irreplaceable grandson.
Gwak Seong, the elder.
He stared at me like a fierce old man from the movies, the kind who shields the hero and dies with charisma.
His eyes were those of a hunter.
But also the eyes of a grandfather who loved his grandson.
That's why he was afraid.
And desperately refusing to believe my words that his grandson would die.
Honestly, I'd do the same.
Someone who knows me might be different, but this elder had no reason to know about the internet-famous me.
That's why I'd been blunt from the start.
The orphanage director had taught me that back then.
To touch people's hearts, start with strong words right away.
They might seem weak for using them, but it was an effective style in its own way.
"Elder, do you know why Director Jang PD called me—and you hunters?"
"Well... because wild boars have been spotted around here."
"But what if we knew boars would appear—and attack the set?"
"...What are you saying?"
"Elder, have you heard of Kang Noah?"
"Sorry, never have. You some celebrity or something? Then sign this for me. My grandson asked me to get signatures since I'm heading to the set. Gotta know someone."
He held up his worn notebook, stained from use, and I lightly signed it.
I'm not one of those celebs wandering around, but I do broadcasts.
Maybe his grandson knew me.
"Hard to believe, right? So look me up when you get home. Better have your grandson do it if you can."
"......"
"Give me a call."
There. I'd done what I could.
"Gansonmi, your phone's under your car right now."
A reply came from Gansonmi shortly after.
Gansonmi has donated 1000 gold.
[Bro!! Found it! Thanks!]
No big deal.
I wasn't planning to react to the donation and was about to skip it.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number, so I ignored it, but it rang again.
"Hold on, gotta take this call."
"Dunno. Unknown number. Hold on... Hello?"
"...Teacher. It's Gwak Seong."
"Ah, Elder. Hello."
"Hello?! How could I be hello!! How can I be fine!!"
Gwak Seong's voice trembled.
Anxiety, depression.
A voice utterly unlike the gruff man I'd imagined.
A few in the chat reacted to hearing Elder Gwak's voice.
This might air on broadcast, so I hung up for now...
"My grandson dies?! Please!! Please help!! No! Teacher!! Please! This old man will be your slave, anything! If you want me to die instead, I'll die a hundred, a thousand times! Please!!"
Whoa, the elder's got some lungs.
I hesitated, then nodded and stepped out of the room.
"Elder, calm down and speak slowly. And what I told you—I was already planning to help."
"Ah... Thank you... Thank you, Teacher...!!"
"Let's meet and talk."
I gave him the meeting spot.
Back at my seat, everyone was freaking out.
"Hm. Not sure if I should say, so I'll keep quiet for now."
"Hard to say due to privacy. Four days from now, a random stabbing in Hongdae. Avoid the area if possible."
Everyone seemed skeptical.
But I said it anyway.
Maybe this would prevent the random stabbing.
But it happens.
Among those who left chat out of curiosity, some witness it.
People die.
Gwak Seong's grandson, Gwak Junhyeong, avoids death, but in the original future, the innocents he saved—the good kids who don't watch this stream and don't even know me—die.
So, time to get some help.
Elder Gwak Seong arrived about two hours after the stream ended.
He looked anxious.
None of the dignity I'd seen on set.
Desperate.
The moment he spotted me at the cafe table, he rushed over.
"Teacher! Teacher!"
"That guy again?"
"An old man this time...?"
"Huh? Isn't that Kang Noah...?"
Damn.
Can't come to this cafe anymore.
"Elder, calm down."
"How can I calm down...!!"
"Aigoo. Flip this quick."
"Yes! Yes!"
Unlike before.
He flipped the card immediately.
It was the Wheel of Fortune, upright.
Meaning: unexpected luck.
Coincidence or fate, it fit Gwak Seong perfectly.
"Your grandson won't die."
"...Aaaah... Really... really?"
"Yes. And..."
Then the cafe door opened.
In walked a burly man with a stern face.
"Here."
"Ah, Teacher."
Detective Inspector at Dobong Police Station, Team 2 leader.
Kang Injeong, freshly promoted to inspector.
"What brings the call?"
"Well, it's this."
I explained the situation.
A random stabbing near Hongdae.
Need help then.
If it were a stranger, he'd call bullshit.
But Kang Injeong had worked with me once.
The seeds I'd sown were bearing fruit; he was basically my guy now.
His eyes changed.
"Hongdae... huh?"
"Yes. Not your jurisdiction, but can you borrow some police power?"
"Reporting a predicted crime from fortune-telling? They'd call it nonsense, even with my record."
"Is that so?"
"But I can step in personally."
"Oh. Really?"
"Yes."
Kang Injeong said it casually.
"I'll go."
In that instant, his future changed.
From getting stabbed by the random attacker's knife.
He doesn't die, but it's still dangerous.
So.
"Prepare stab-proof gear."
Just be ready.
Hongdae's Fridays are chaotic.
Not just the clubs.
Office workers wrapping up a grueling week gather too.
Smiles lit the faces of crowds in the neon-lit streets like a city that never sleeps.
Joy. Vitality.
That ruled the streets.
That.
That.
Yang Gilsu hated it.
I'm living so miserably.
Why are you all so happy?
I struggle to buy a bottle of soju.
You drop tens of thousands at bars?
Hate it.
Hate you all.
The booze he'd chugged fired up his brain.
Hated the smiling faces.
Felt like they were mocking him.
So.
So.
He drew his knife.
Hated the laughing boy and girl walking toward him.
I'll kill you.
Daring to mock me?
In reality, the girl just laughed at the boy's joke, taken with him.
Didn't matter to Yang Gilsu.
He pulled the knife from his pocket.
The blade gleamed under the flashing signs.
The boy's eyes widened as he chatted smiling with the pretty girl beside him.
Yeah.
Look at me.
Watch what I do.
As he bared his teeth at the girl and swung.
A man darted in between.
Yang Gilsu's knife stabbed the man's gut.
But it didn't pierce.
Bounced off something hard, slicing his own hand instead.
Followed by a takedown.
A big guy tried to pin him as he rolled on the ground.
Knife hits the ground
"Kyaaaaak!!"
Screams echoed.
"Aaaak!!"
Cries of pain from being subdued.
In the chaos, the man who'd pinned Yang Gilsu.
Only Kang Injeong stayed calm, cuffing the bastard's wrists.