ALL NOVEL Chapter 20
School Life is Freakin’ Spectacular #15
ㅡWhoosh!
“Save me!!!!!”
I’m practically advertising for help as I sprint! If I could, I’d hang up banners or even launch an airship with a plea for rescue!
“Stop right there!”
Ryu Cheon-hwi is chasing me from behind with a terrifying momentum.
My first response is to scream at the top of my lungs. I have to draw attention if I want to get out of this unscathed. Whenever something like this happens, making noise and alerting those around me is my go-to strategy.
But these shitty bastards, not even one is stepping forward to help!
Aren’t you all supposed to be heroes-in-training!
Why are you all ignoring injustice!
And then…
-Sssssssssh!
“This guy is so freakin’ fast!”
It was obvious, but Ryu Cheon-hwi seemed to be pretty adept with mana. He’s incredibly fast. Despite running at full speed, I can’t seem to gain any distance on him.
No.
If he wanted, couldn’t he catch me in an instant?
“Shut up, you noisy brat!”
Perhaps it’s because I’ve been yelling and drawing aggro that he can’t catch me, but if that’s the case, I’ll yell even louder!
“Aaaaaaahhhh!!!”
I am a staunch principle adherent.
When I scream in extreme situations, I make sure it’s loud enough to be heard in space.
It’s thanks to adhering to such principles that I’ve managed to survive unscathed until today. Draw the aggro, and you won’t get hit.
“You! Shut up already!”
“Would you shut up if you were in my place! Oh fuck, I even sang for you! We are born to be loved!”
“I’m sick of your bullshit!”
“Sihuuuuuuu! Help me if you’re there! Your friend looks freaking uglyyyyyyyy!!!”
“Y-you worthless, fight-incapable, swine-like creature dare to insult my father…!”
If you’re that pissed about your dad being insulted, you shouldn’t have started the feud in the first place! It’s one of my beliefs, initiating a squabble means you’re practically asking for your parents to be dishonored.
Do you pick a fight without even that much resolve? Fuck off! I’ll personally make sure you realize this truth!
As I continue to flee.
“Geun-chul! What’s going on!!!”
Over there, a shrill—wait, shrill?
“Lee Sihu?!”
It was Lee Sihu’s voice!
I thought he was off from school today, but it seems he caught wind of the trouble while coming in late! Now I’m saved! Ryu Cheon-hwi will have to be subdued by Sihu!
“Help me! Ryu Cheon-hwi is trying to kill me!”
“Kuh…!”
Sihu frowns at my words, and at that moment.
-Whoosh!
Sihu, who was over there, zipped past me. A sharp whirlwind brushed past me as well. Wh, what kind of speed is this? It’s astoundingly fast.
“Geun-chul. Stay behind me.”
“Uh. U-uhh…”
I hid behind the back of Lee Sihu, who was even smaller than me.
“This narrow back… looks bigger than anything!”
Ryu Cheon-hwi had stopped chasing me and was now glaring at Sihu!
“Lee Sihu. Planning to interfere with me again?”
“Cheon-hwi? Fighting with Geun-chul again? Didn’t I tell you? It’s not good for friends to fight.”
“Who said we’re friends?”
“Well… even if we’re not! You can’t just fight in school!”
“He insulted my father.”
“That is…”
“Ha. No use talking to an outsider. Anyway, I’ll make you understand what it means to stop me, Lee Sihu.”
-Tssk (sword being drawn)
With such a cringe-worthy line, Ryu Cheon-hwi pulled out his sword…! Seriously, is this really Korea? What’s with kids pulling out swords in a schoolyard scrap?! Is this Daerim-dong?
“Ah, damn it! Here we go again! If you really want to fight that much, I’ll oblige!”
– Whoosh!
At the same time, Sihu also drew his sword!
Can it get any cooler?!
“Sihu! You really are my true friend!”
“Stay back, Geun-chul! I’ll handle this! Quick, call for an instructor!”
“Alright!”
As I took half-steps back at the same time.
– Boom!
Sihu and Ryu Cheon-hwi collided.
“Ohh!”
Such an impressive battle. Their sword swings cut through the air with incredible speed. – Boom! – Crack! The violent sounds accompanied by the scattering particles of shattered mana.
– Bang!
The collision of their mana created a spectacular light show… No. Now’s not the time to be awed by their combat! I have to quickly inform an instructor about this incident so that Ryu Cheon-hwi can be expelled!
School is no place for such a reactionary. What he deserves is prison…!
Anyway, I need to call for an adult quick!
“Instructorrrrrrrrm!!! Instructorrrrrrrm!!! Attempted Murder Incident Happeninggggggg!!! Arghhhhhhh!!!”
I made a huge fuss, screaming at the top of my lungs toward the nearby building! Adults only tend to act when there’s a commotion! Then the students who were filming the duel between Sihu and Ryu Cheon-hwi started to turn their cameras towards me instead.
“Crazy bastard! Is he a psychopath?!”
“What the hell is with that guy!”
“Ugh… my ears!”
“Have you ever seen someone so loud!”
“He must be a master of sonic arts!”
These crazy bastards are filming instead of trying to stop the fight!
“Instruct-”
Just as I was about to yell again.
“Quiet. I’ve arrived now.”
A low voice whispered into my ear.
“Halt, you idiots.”
And with that, the fight was over.
“…!”
“Huff!”
Instructor Lee Sora, after suddenly arriving, stepped between the two sword-wielding boys, grabbing both blades with her hands…!
“Ryu Cheon-hwi? Lee Sihu? Last I checked, absentees were competing on who can miss more of the school, not who’s the better fighter.”
“Instructor! It’s that—”
“Let go!”
“We’ll have this conversation in the cadet counseling room. Follow me.”
– Whoosh!
Lee Sora dragged both Sihu and Ryu Cheon-hwi by their wrists, and the two were helplessly pulled away. The difference in strength was staggering. It was like watching infants being dragged by an elephant.
No!
I can’t let Sihu be taken away like this!
“Instructor Lee Sora! Please, a moment!”
“Kim Geun-chul?”
“Sihu’s not at fault! It’s all Ryu Cheon-hwi, that bastard!”
“What are you dripping on about now!”
“Silence, you weapon-rampaging bastard! This guy is swinging a sword around our sacred school!”
“But-”
“Quiet.”
Her intimidating voice.
“…”
Instantly subdued by Instructor Lee Sora’s stoic gaze, my excitement dissipated.
“I said I would listen to all of you. Kim Geun-chul, you come along too.”
“Yes!”
And so we were dragged to what’s called the cadet counseling room.
*
*
*
And thus began the questioning of the incident.
“First off, Sihu is not to blame. It’s purely because he was trying to save me that it turned out this way.”
“Geun-chul…”
Having gained the right to speak first, I stared intensely into the eyes of Instructor Lee Sora, filling my words with appeal and sincerity.
“Shut up! You insulted my father!”
“Ryu Cheon-hwi. If you speak out of turn, I’ll have no choice but to suppress you physically. Right now, it’s Kim Geun-chul’s turn. Be quiet.”
“Kuh!”
Instantly silenced by Instructor Lee Sora’s stern command, Ryu Cheon-hwi slinks back. Her low-pitched voice carried a considerable amount of pressure.
This is seriously scary.
The fact that she could kill someone without batting an eye makes her even scarier.
“Kim Geun-chul? Continue with your story.”
“Ah! Yes!”
Thus I recounted everything to Instructor Lee Sora.
The start of this fiasco was when he kicked my back with his foot. That is why I initiated the insult to his parents, which led to what happened today.
“Hmm, insulting their father.”
“Yes. I insulted Ryu Cheon-hwi’s father. Very boldly so.”
“It’s difficult to understand… fighting is one thing, but insulting Ryu Cheon-hwi’s father?”
Instructor Lee Sora rubbed her head as she heard my story. Well, it’s a given. Lee Sora is an adult. She’s from an entirely different generation than ours, where insulting someone’s parents is a casual affair.
Surely she must think parent-related insults are the worst of the worst.
“That’s right. He insulted my father.”
“Ryu Cheon-hwi? Is it appropriate to speak informally to an instructor?”
(TLN: This doesn’t convey in english, but he spoke informally there)
“He insulted my father… I meant.”
“I’ve already heard that. So you attacked.”
“Yes.”
After Ryu Cheon-hwi’s low response, Instructor Lee Sora’s gaze was on me.
“Anyone would find it difficult to endure parental insults. Isn’t that right, Kim Geun-chul?”
It’s a valid point, really.
Honestly, it makes sense.
In the Confucian nation of Korea, a parental insult is incredibly disgraceful.
“Instructor Lee Sora. Indeed, I insulted Ryu Cheon-hwi’s father. I’m not making excuses. But that was only after that bastard kicked me in the back for no reason.”
Thus, I nodded and answered.
“So, I absolutely refuse to compromise. This is a matter of pride. A man’s pride, to be specific.”
“Oh?”
“Even if I am weaker than Ryu Cheon-hwi, I cannot bend to such injustice. Picking a fight for no reason? Then that person deserves every bit of parental insult that comes their way! That’s why, without a moment’s hesitation, I insulted Ryu Cheon-hwi’s father!”
I stand up, raising my voice!
I am proud!
I don’t compromise on principles!
“That’s my code as a man! If you do something to deserve an insult, accept it! If you pick on someone for no reason, you are deserving of parents’ insults!”
“Geun-chul! Calm down…!”
“It’s okay, Sihu. I have to say what I need to say.”
I relay my convictions clearly to Instructor Lee Sora, who looks at me with intrigued eyes.
“And Ryu Cheon-hwi is still a minor! He’s not an adult, so he can’t take full responsibility! So his parents deserve the insult! If a child behaves in such a way, isn’t it the parents’ responsibility?”
“This kid…!”
Yet, Ryu Cheon-hwi still doesn’t get what he did wrong, his face turning red with rage!
“Ryu Cheon-hwi!!!”
– Shout!
Immediately, I pointed aggressively at Ryu Cheon-hwi and yelled!
“On your very first day, you kicked my back with your foot! Why did you do that?”
“Because you were being annoying!”
Boy, do I need to give this kid a piece of my mind!
“Annoying? All I did was ask you nicely to take your feet off my chair! Do you genuinely think that was okay, to act so confidently?! ”
“That is…!”
“Do you think because you’re humans you can do that to each other? Just because you’re a little annoyed you can kick someone with your foot? Even a complete stranger!”
“…”
“After doing that, you swing a sword at someone because they insulted your dad a little? Are you a normal human being? No sane person would act like that!”
Having said that, Ryu Cheon-hwi could only give me a glare, unable to come back with words.
“That’s why I insulted your father! When you behave like that, it casts doubt on your family education! If your parents had taught you the basics, you wouldn’t have acted like that!”
“…!”
“Your actions have insulted your own father! So, instead of being angry at me, why don’t you be mad at yourself! How were you educated by those supposedly superior parents?”
Having the upper hand, I let out everything I wanted to say! It’s my absolute favorite thing to do!
“I can’t help but want to insult such a person like you…! You don’t even realize what’s wrong. The very notion of thinking it’s okay to attack people for no reason is beyond comprehension. That’s why, as a man, I will never compromise! You are someone who deserves to be cursed at!”
“This, this little prick…!”
“Man’s pride is at stake! If there’s someone like you around, I’ll curse at them as much as I want! It doesn’t matter if you’re stronger than me! Wrong is wrong!”
Shouting that out made Ryu Cheon-hwi start to shake violently.
“…!”
Actually, he has been trembling for a while now.
“Then what about your parents!”
Shaking, he slowly spoke up.
“What?”
“Were you taught like that! If someone picks a fight with you for no reason… to pay them back with parental insults!”
I never said such a thing.
“I’m an orphan.”
“What…?”
“I have no parents. They’ve both passed away.”
After I said that.
“…Ah.”
Ryu Cheon-hwi suddenly covered his face with his hands and lowered his head. He’s not mocking me, is he?
But looking at him, he’s not laughing.
He seems to be seriously troubled by his thoughts.
What’s up with this guy?
“I’ve listened well to your story, Kim Geun-chul.”
“Yes. I’m finished.”
“I can understand Kim Geun-chul’s point of view. Ah, so… a man’s convictions. A man’s convictions are important. And admirable, unwavering convictions at that… the parental insults were a bit much, but if you have such bold convictions, I can’t really argue against that.”
Did she take a liking to it?
“Next, Lee Sihu? Anything to add?”
“No, I don’t have anything. It’s just as Geun-chul said…”
“Sihu was only trying to save me.”
“Understood. Then Ryu Cheon-hwi? Speak up.”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Ryu Cheon-hwi, who had his head bowed.