Chapter 5
The title of the video uploaded to YouTube was as follows:
[Cheongsol High School's Loser Beats Up School Bullies: A Shocking Video]
A title boasting an irresistible, attention-grabbing power that made it impossible not to click.
Indeed, it had over 100,000 views and more than a thousand comments already.
In the desolate Abandoned Factory, students in school uniforms were smoking cigarettes and cackling.
In contrast, the student standing opposite them was incredibly scrawny.
What happened next was even more absurd.
The delinquent students began to fall one by one before the scrawny student.
The problem was that the entire process looked like a well-staged play.
└ LOL, are they kidding? They just brushed past him, and they're rolling around, screaming, making a huge fuss.
└ Are these kids Acting Majors from an Arts University? Their acting of pain is incredibly realistic.
└ Nah, that's Cheongsol High School uniform. And those are real School Bullies. Not sure why they're acting like that, though.
└ Don't lie.
At first, people mistook the students for Stunt Actors performing a choreographed fight.
However, as testimonies poured in through the comments, it became clear that it was a real situation.
└ Around 5:42, someone's screaming and scratching the floor so hard their fingernails are coming off. You think that's staged? No way.
└ If that's acting, they all deserve acting awards.
└ But if it's not acting, why are they doing that? Why are guys who came at him with wooden planks rolling around on the floor and throwing fits by themselves?
└ I don't know. Did he use a taser or something?
└ Nonsense. I've replayed it 30 times, there's nothing like that. He just dodged around and barely touched them.
└ That scrawny, skinny guy. His dodging is incredible. Did he learn boxing or something?
The Homeroom Teacher scrolled through the comments and looked at the dumbfounded Parents.
"What do you think about this, now that it's been uploaded?"
"W-what in the world is this?"
"Delete it right now! Our kids' faces are all over it!"
The School Bully Parents, belatedly coming to their senses, made a huge fuss.
Because the video's framing focused on the group, their faces were exposed too clearly.
The Homeroom Teacher swept his gaze over them with cold eyes.
"I can't delete this. And that's not what's important right now. You all claimed that Songtan was the School Violence Perpetrator..."
The Homeroom Teacher pointed at the TV screen.
"It seems the real Perpetrators are someone else, doesn't it? And since they even brought blunt weapons, their crime will be even more severe."
"Is that what's important right now!? If this gets out, it's only a matter of time before our kids' identities are spread everywhere! What are we supposed to do about our sons!? You should be giving us solutions, not talking about this!"
"Exactly. These days, if you have a School Violence Record, you can't even go to university... What are we going to do?"
The Homeroom Teacher shook his head, looking exasperated.
"That seems to be a problem for later. Since the facts have become clear, we'll have to open a School Violence Committee meeting first."
"What did you say!?"
As the situation flowed in a completely unexpected direction, the Parents exchanged glances.
Soon, heads began to nod.
"Just a moment."
Kim Hyeokjin's Mother slammed her palm down on the table.
"Is there any proof that video is real?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean, honestly, with AI and all these days, manipulating videos is nothing."
"That's right. If you put your mind to it, it's not impossible."
"Even if not, couldn't that student have deliberately set a trap and staged it to look like that?"
At their ridiculous insistence, the Homeroom Teacher's face grew increasingly stiff.
"What nonsense are you talking about..."
"No! Are our kids idiots!?"
As if to prove that the loudest woman wins, Kim Hyeokjin's Mother shrieked.
"Common sense dictates, how can nearly ten kids, armed with wooden planks, charge at him, and he's perfectly fine?"
She glared at Songtan as she spoke.
"Don't you agree? It's too strange, even if it's strange."
"You're right! Why are only our kids hurt? He should have at least a broken bone somewhere."
"It's clearly a manipulated video, filmed intentionally."
"He must have a grudge. He's deliberately trying to ruin our kids' lives."
"They said his family wasn't well off, but is he trying to resolve his inferiority complex like this? Honestly."
"Don't even get me started. Kids these days are terrifying."
Their words fueled each other, spiraling into an increasingly bizarre direction.
Songtan, who had been watching the ugly spectacle, uncrossed his arms.
He figured there was no point in listening any further.
Anyway, there was more than enough evidence.
He could just take it to the Police and file a report, and that would be the end of it.
The problem was that the level of punishment was all too predictable.
*At best, it would end with a soulless written apology or a few hours of community service.*
Since they were wealthy families, they would hire Lawyers first, and meticulously review every statement legally.
In the end, they would try to muddy the waters by framing it as mutual assault, a prank, or an accidental clash.
The bigger problem was that if they stubbornly dragged this out, his father could end up in a difficult situation.
He didn't want that, above all else.
*Anyway, those guys will suffer for the rest of their lives.*
Though not severe, their *qi* and blood flow were damaged.
They wouldn't feel pain, but over time, they would lose muscle strength.
*No matter how good the hospital or how expensive the examination, nothing would show up.*
Ironically, while such internal injuries would be easily treated in the *murim* world, they would be hard to even detect in this current world.
Because there weren't many who could manipulate *qi*.
Like a frog in boiling water.
They would slowly, imperceptibly, pay for their sins.
This was Songtan's own form of punishment for them.
Just as he was lost in his own thoughts.
"Anyway! We're officially filing a complaint and pressing charges against that student, Songtan."
Kim Hyeokjin's Mother deliberately raised her voice, as if making a declaration of war.
"You should know that too, Teacher."
"No, even so, to go that far..."
The Homeroom Teacher immediately caught on to their intentions.
If they came on so strong, Songtan, who wasn't well-off, would get scared, and they could ultimately turn the situation to their advantage.
"You, too, call your father right now. The adults need to talk."
Just as the Homeroom Teacher, who wanted to prevent the situation from escalating, was trying to calm them down.
Thud—
The Conference Room door burst open, and a group of people streamed in.
Three men in sharp suits entered, followed by a middle-aged woman with an elegant gait.
The unusual aura instantly silenced the Conference Room.
The mysterious woman smiled, looking at the Homeroom Teacher.
"Perfect timing. I am student Songtan's guardian."
A stir went through the Parents at the woman's introduction.
Hadn't they heard he was raised by a single father with a disability?
Everyone looked at each other, dumbfounded.
Songtan, too, was inwardly surprised.
Her identity was Madam Na Hyeran, the wife of President Im Gwanhun, whom his father served.
His father, who said he would come, was nowhere to be seen, and he couldn't understand why she was here.
Perhaps sensing Songtan's gaze, Na Hyeran offered a faint smile.
The nuance conveyed was 'don't worry about anything from now on'.
Na Hyeran, who had instantly seized control of the atmosphere, slowly, very slowly, turned to face the Parents.
"I believe I just heard talk of filing a complaint and pressing charges..."
"And what about it?"
One Parent jutted out their chin.
"Oh my, how fortunate. We were just preparing for that ourselves."
Na Hyeran gestured, and the men in suits handed business cards to the Parents one by one.
"We are the Legal Team for student Songtan, from Law Firm Haeon."
"Legal Team...?"
"Wait a minute...!? Law Firm Haeon, you mean..."
The heavy pressure emanating from one of the Top 5 Law Firms in Korea made the air grow heavy once more.
"From now on, anything concerning student Songtan should be addressed through us."
"No, why would a huge Law Firm like Haeon represent a student like that...?"
Everyone just gaped, as if their brains had frozen.
"From outside, I heard many very interesting things being said."
"No, what did we do?"
"The facts confirmed so far are as follows. First, multiple students 'forcibly' led student Songtan to the Abandoned Factory. All CCTV footage proving this has been secured."
His voice was low and devoid of emotion. That made it even more intimidating.
"Second, the scene in question was filmed by a third party, and its authenticity has already been submitted for expert analysis."
As one Parent tried to interject, the Lawyer raised a hand to stop them.
"Please listen until the end before you object. That will be more advantageous legally."
Silence fell once more at his chilling words.
"Your claims of 'manipulation,' 'entrapment,' “possibility of accomplices,” and so on... Of course, you are free to make such claims. However, please be aware that unsubstantiated claims may constitute Defamation by Spreading False Information under Article 307 of the Criminal Act."
"Ahem..."
The Parents flinched at the cold, even tone of his voice.
The people who had been shouting just moments ago now began to exchange wary glances.
"Furthermore, any mention of the Victim student's family background is a clear Violation of Personal Rights and Secondary Victimization. We want to make it clear that Civil and Criminal Liability may be established even before the School Violence Committee convenes."
Someone among the Parents was heard swallowing hard.
"And finally, the most crucial point. In the current situation, your children are highly likely to be classified as Group Perpetrators, not Victims. If you proceed with excessive complaints and charges in that state, we will consider filing Retaliatory Lawsuits and charges of false accusation."
"W-we weren't trying to threaten him..."
Thud—
The Lawyer snapped the documents shut.
"This case will bypass the school and go straight to court. Please be clearly aware that at that point, you, the guardians, may also become Defendants."
There was no more commotion.
The voices that had been insisting on their absurd claims were now all silent, staring at the floor.
The pressure that they could potentially face real prison sentences for getting involved in a kids' fight humbled them.
Na Hyeran, who had somehow settled into the seat next to Songtan, turned her head to gaze at Kim Hyeokjin's Mother.
Her red lips parted slightly, and a soft exclamation escaped.
"Ah, now I understand. I was wondering where I'd seen you before."
"...?"
"You were the one exclusively handling the brokerage for the buildings I own in Mapo District, weren't you?"
Kim Kim Hyeokjin's Mother's face drained of color as something clicked in her mind.
"This is why you shouldn't leave building management to agents... I was too complacent."
"Surely not...?"
"You won't be handling the brokerage for my buildings anymore. Thank you for your hard work until now."
"M-Madam!?"
Kim Kim Hyeokjin's Mother's legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the spot.
She had never imagined losing her most stable and significant client in such a manner.
The bigger problem was the influence of that wealthy Madam in the Mapo District real estate market.
If she so much as uttered a word, a mere Real Estate Agent like herself would be as good as buried in this industry.
"Madam! It seems there's been some misunderstanding. Please, just let me explain..."
Regardless of her reaction, Na Hyeran indifferently turned her head and looked at the Homeroom Teacher.
"The School Violence Committee will proceed as planned, and we will separately take Civil and Criminal Liability actions. So, that's settled, right?"
"Huh? Ah... Yes."
The Homeroom Teacher nodded, looking as if possessed by a ghost.
Na Hyeran patted Songtan's shoulder.
"Shall we go now? Everyone's waiting."
"Who?"
"Who else? Your father and my husband."
Not only Madam, but also the Mr. President's summons.
Now he was truly curious.
What exactly had his father said, and how, to make these two individuals personally intervene?