School Violence Victim (1)
'Whether those school violence perpetrators live or die is none of my business.'
The moment he heard those words, Seojun's face crumpled. He raised his fist.
"You wanna die?"
"Whoa! No violence!"
Scrambling in terror, my little brother quickly shielded his face with both arms and shouted. Satisfied that the threat had worked, I smirked, lowered my fist, and crossed my legs.
How dare some punk little brother scrunch up his face like that in front of his big sis?
"Anyway, no matter what you say, I'm not introducing you to my friends, so give up already. And if you dare ask me to set you up on a blind date, you'll die by my hand. Got it?"
"Argh, how many times do I have to tell you? It's not about a blind date!"
"Oh? For real? Then I don't have to set you up, right?"
"...You will, though?"
"You nuts?"
"This little—"
Was that subtle hope on his face for real? My chest tightened. See, that's what you get for being born ugly. If you'd been handsome, I might've considered it once or twice. Like me, for example!
"...Noona! Who's more precious to you—me, your one and only little brother, or your friends!?"
Hah. So that was his trump card? He had a long way to go.
"And you—who's more precious to you, me or your three-year buddy?"
"My friend, obviously!"
...Little bro. I expected that answer, sure, but did you have to spit it out so instantly? I figured you'd hesitate for at least one or two seconds. This big sis—er, big bro inside—is seriously disappointed.
Hurt, my voice came out snappish.
"Yeah, same here."
"Urgh..."
Seojun shut his mouth, out of arguments. Still...
It was weird. Like I'd said before, I was the type who cherished friends and family, treating them warmly. Seorin's prickly mom and dad were already family to me, and even this ugly punk pouting in front of me was family now.
So naturally, I should treat him warmly too. I should—but for some reason, I couldn't help teasing him or being rough. Was this that internet thing where siblings were coded to kill each other? Were the genes in this body ordering me to fight my brother!?
"Noona."
"What."
"Please help me out, I beg you."
Suddenly, Seojun dropped to his knees in front of me. Sigh... Was this worth kneeling for? Looked like this was way more serious than I'd thought.
I straightened up and met his eyes.
"Tell me the details. Like I said, the lives of school violence perps mean nothing to me. I'd rather they dropped dead ASAP."
"I agree completely. Whether those bastards live or die? Not my problem. Hell, it'd feel good."
"Then why?"
"...Noona, remember ten days ago, when you came back from the police station? Do you remember why I wanted to become a streamer?"
I frowned slightly, digging through memories. That was... right, when—
Ah.
"Your friend said he was gonna kill all the school violence perps?"
"Yep."
"You talked him out of mass murder, saying there was no need—just film them bullying and leak it online to ruin their lives."
"Exactly."
Got it perfectly.
"What does that have to do with me?"
"This little—"
"Little?"
"Little shit, you know? Become an exposé streamer, wreck the lives of trash like school violence perps! Rake in views too!"
"Not interested."
Sure, if it was bad for you, I'd step in. But this was his friend's issue, not his. And saving the necks of school violence perps...
Didn't sit right. Especially after hearing how his friend planned to kill them.
"They're not stabbing with knives or smashing skulls with hammers—easy to get busted for. It's curses, right? No cops involved, trash gets cleaned up neat. No problem."
"Whoa, noona, you sound like a total psychopath."
"Wanna die?"
This punk kept poking. Annoying.
Sure, I had zero empathy for others, but that was because I chose not to—not because I couldn't. So I was not a psychopath!
"Sigh, you think I haven't thought like that? I don't even see those bastards as human. Can't! Every time I see them strutting to school with that shameless look, like they didn't shove my classmate into hell? It makes me sick. You wouldn't get it, noona."
"..."
"Especially! The worst is seeing my friend—his guts twisting, retching every time they pass by!"
Surprising. Seojun, always so affable and forgiving at home, grinding his teeth in rage like this.
"Then why stop your friend? Wouldn't it be great if the trash died? Curse works, perfect. Fails, do your online exposé plan."
"Sigh, it's not just the curse... It'll mess up my friend too."
Seojun pulled out his phone, opened the gallery app, and handed it over.
"Check this out."
"This is...!"
"What do you think? Looks suspicious as hell, right?"
The image on Seojun's phone showed a scene that even I found grotesquely off-kilter. A teddy bear doll. Cute brown one. Looked pretty old—faded fur, worn bowtie around the neck. But well-preserved, not too damaged.
That bear was bound head to toe in black thread. No—hair. Long, black hair binding the bear doll.
"...Sigh."
Creepy enough already. But as if that wasn't sufficient, the floor beneath it had a magic circle drawn in blood-red liquid, radiating ominous vibes.
"Hey, Baek Seojun."
"Yeah?"
Eyes fixed on the photo, I asked.
"Where'd this come from?"
"This? Hanwool showed it to me himself. Said he learned cursing from some nice guy he met. Took the pic to show you."
A memory flashed. Deepest part of Gwiam Reservoir. Coffin fixed to the bottom, holding a skeleton in white mourning clothes. And on the coffin's base—this exact magic circle.
"Let's go."
I shot to my feet.
"Huh? Where?"
"Your friend's place."
"Wasn't it none of your business?"
"Changed my mind."
I gripped his phone so hard it nearly cracked.
"Guide me to your friend."
The evil spirit I missed at Gwiam Reservoir. Il-sik, presumed mastermind or at least connected. Maybe Seojun's friend was linked to them.
That thought ignited fury. Daring to touch my friend, staining the Necromancer King's pride—and still breathing.
I'd planned to track them eventually for punishment, but this soon? Heh, the heavens were on my side.
Once in my sights—rip their souls to shreds!
Crunch.
"Ow."
"Whoa."
"..."
"..."
"...Sorry."
"...Nooo! My Galaxy! Nooooo!!"
Sheepish, I handed back the slightly cracked phone. Promised to buy him a new one from Ha-eun's stream profits later—finally calmed him down.
*
※ Today was Saturday. No school.
Back when I lived in Korea before becoming the Necromancer King, we had school on Saturdays too... Things had changed a lot. Anyway, no school was good. One extra day off a week. And it let me meet my brother's friend in broad daylight like this.
Ding-dong!
Following Seojun's lead, we rang the doorbell at his friend Seo Hanwool's apartment on the 13th floor.
Creeeak—
"Who is... Oh, Seojun?"
"Haha, hey?"
"What's up? No heads-up... Huh? Who's this?"
"Sorry for no notice. Phone broke in an accident. This is my noona, Baek Seorin."
"Hi?"
I gave a rough intro to the puzzled Hanwool and tried shoving past into the apartment. The homeowner blocked me.
"Coming in."
"H-Hold on! Barging in without permission? That's rude!"
"Baek Seojun, block him."
Pointing at the obstructive homeowner, I ordered. Seojun looked reluctant.
"Noona, honestly, you were wrong just now. Gotta ask the owner first."
"50,000 won."
"...70—no, 80,000."
"Deal."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Deal sealed, Seojun lunged beautifully, bear-hugging Hanwool from behind.
Grab.
"Hey, you crazy bastard! What the hell!!"
"Sorry, understand! New LoL legendary skin dropped—gotta have it! You'd get it, right!?"
"Selling out your friend for 80k? Traitor!"
"You'd block me for 80k too!"
"Yeah, true!"
Watching them bicker, I got why they were friends. Birds of a feather.
Leaving them, I slipped inside and scanned around. No one else? Hanwool lived alone, apparently.
I sniffed. Sorcery scent from the left end room. Marched straight there, yanked the door open.
Ha.
Exactly as in the photo. A putrid stench assaulted my nose—missed in the pic.
Yep... Nearly identical to the reservoir circle.
Whirled to face Hanwool.
"S-Noona? See it?"
"Sigh, Seorin... Noona? Even if you're his sister, this is too much!"
"Hey."
"Huh?"
Grabbed Hanwool's collar, slammed him against the wall.
Thud!!
"Gah! What the—? Yo, why's your sis like this!?"
"I-I don't know! Noona, what's wrong!?"
Panicked Hanwool yelled at Seojun; Seojun tried intervening—but I ignored and spoke first.
"Where'd you learn that curse?"
"Cough! Wh-Why...?"
"Shut up and talk."
Thud!!
"Urk!"
Slammed again; Hanwool gasped from back pain.
"J-Just... someone I know taught me..."
"Someone you know? Who. Spill properly."
"Th-There is one."
Terrified but lips sealed tight. He'd die before spilling, eyes said. Sure, push to the brink and he'd crack—but too far in front of his brother.
"Noona! What's that curse? You know something!?"
Seojun grabbed my arm, sensing trouble. I glanced at him, then glared at Hanwool.
"...Come here."
"Wh-What!?"
"Noona!"
Grabbed Hanwool's nape, dragged him to his room, tossed him in.
Thud!!
"Ngh..."
Hanwool groaned, rising and glaring daggers.
"Who the hell are you! What business is it of yours to manhandle me!? Whatever I do is none of your—"
Ha.
No more "sis" respect—casual speech now, spewing rage. Pathetic.
"Check it yourself. See what you're doing."
Infused spiritual power, snapped my fingers.
Snap!
Whoooosh!
Room's spiritual density spiked briefly. The invisible revealed itself.
Me, Hanwool, Seojun—our eyes locked on the doll.
There, in the doll's place.
A schoolgirl, bound head to toe in black hair, tears streaming as she wailed.